1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:01,984 maybe you look like you're falling 2 00:00:01,984 --> 00:00:04,190 asleep there . You look like you were 3 00:00:04,190 --> 00:00:07,360 falling asleep on me yet , uh , sorry 4 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:10,750 again for the delay , guys . Just a 5 00:00:10,750 --> 00:00:13,650 couple of things at the top today . We 6 00:00:13,650 --> 00:00:17,180 were , uh , delighted to have the first 7 00:00:17,180 --> 00:00:19,540 lady Dr Biden visit facilities of 8 00:00:19,550 --> 00:00:21,717 military one source the call center in 9 00:00:21,717 --> 00:00:25,350 Arlington . Her She announced today the 10 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:27,527 return of joining forces and her visit 11 00:00:27,527 --> 00:00:30,020 recognized the important role of the 12 00:00:30,030 --> 00:00:32,197 military . One source Call center . As 13 00:00:32,197 --> 00:00:34,419 the department's flagship program for a 14 00:00:34,419 --> 00:00:36,530 comprehensive resources in support of 15 00:00:36,530 --> 00:00:38,697 well being and readiness , the program 16 00:00:38,697 --> 00:00:40,586 provides worldwide access to 24 7 17 00:00:40,586 --> 00:00:42,530 information and support to service 18 00:00:42,530 --> 00:00:44,808 members , their families and survivors . 19 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:47,151 Dr . Biden also had an opportunity to 20 00:00:47,151 --> 00:00:49,207 meet and thank the call center staff 21 00:00:49,207 --> 00:00:51,096 and team members who answered the 22 00:00:51,096 --> 00:00:53,040 phones and provide virtual support 23 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:55,096 every day . Military one sources the 24 00:00:55,096 --> 00:00:57,373 departments as I said flagship program . 25 00:00:57,373 --> 00:01:00,520 Earlier today , uh , the first lady 26 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:02,742 also officially announced the return of 27 00:01:02,742 --> 00:01:04,409 joining forces , a nationwide 28 00:01:04,409 --> 00:01:06,576 initiative calling on all Americans to 29 00:01:06,576 --> 00:01:08,464 mobilize around service members , 30 00:01:08,464 --> 00:01:10,631 veterans and their families to support 31 00:01:10,631 --> 00:01:12,742 them through wellness , education and 32 00:01:12,742 --> 00:01:14,798 employment opportunities . Also this 33 00:01:14,798 --> 00:01:16,853 morning , some of you may notice the 34 00:01:16,853 --> 00:01:19,076 defense p o w m I . A accounting agency 35 00:01:19,076 --> 00:01:21,187 conducted a commemoration of the 20th 36 00:01:21,187 --> 00:01:24,030 anniversary of the M I 17 tragedy here 37 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,810 in the p o w M I . A corridor at the 38 00:01:26,810 --> 00:01:29,620 Pentagon . The event honored 16 U . S . 39 00:01:29,620 --> 00:01:31,842 And Vietnamese personnel who lost their 40 00:01:31,842 --> 00:01:34,000 lives in an April 7th 2000 and one 41 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,150 helicopter crash in Vietnam for those 42 00:01:37,150 --> 00:01:39,317 connected to the Department of Defense 43 00:01:39,317 --> 00:01:42,360 Mission . Uh , we're all bonded by a 44 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:44,360 solemn oath to never leave a fallen 45 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:46,471 comrade , and today they commemorated 46 00:01:46,471 --> 00:01:48,193 the legacy of 16 extraordinary 47 00:01:48,193 --> 00:01:50,249 individuals who sacrificed their own 48 00:01:50,249 --> 00:01:52,249 lives . In keeping with this oath , 49 00:01:52,249 --> 00:01:54,304 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General 50 00:01:54,304 --> 00:01:56,416 Milley attended , as well as Mr Kelly 51 00:01:56,416 --> 00:01:59,100 McKee , director of the Defense P . O W 52 00:01:59,100 --> 00:02:02,580 M I , a accounting agency , also the 53 00:02:02,590 --> 00:02:06,360 ambassador of the Socialist Republic of 54 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:08,582 Vietnam . The United States attended as 55 00:02:08,582 --> 00:02:10,950 well and delivered remarks . Finally , 56 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:13,071 Secretary Austin spoke by phone today 57 00:02:13,071 --> 00:02:15,293 with his Finnish counterpart , Minister 58 00:02:15,293 --> 00:02:17,016 of Defense , a needy K . Conan 59 00:02:18,140 --> 00:02:20,362 Secretary . Austin thanked the minister 60 00:02:20,362 --> 00:02:22,362 for the robust defense relationship 61 00:02:22,362 --> 00:02:24,418 with Finland and look forward to its 62 00:02:24,418 --> 00:02:26,307 continued growth . Secretary also 63 00:02:26,307 --> 00:02:28,529 reaffirmed that the U . S . Seeks to be 64 00:02:28,529 --> 00:02:30,529 the partner of choice for Finland's 65 00:02:30,529 --> 00:02:32,584 defense modernization needs . Mr Chi 66 00:02:32,584 --> 00:02:34,640 Conan congratulated the secretary on 67 00:02:34,640 --> 00:02:36,862 his position and expressed appreciation 68 00:02:36,862 --> 00:02:39,029 for a long standing bilateral military 69 00:02:39,029 --> 00:02:41,084 cooperation and shared values . They 70 00:02:41,084 --> 00:02:43,084 expressed a understanding of mutual 71 00:02:43,084 --> 00:02:45,029 understanding of regional security 72 00:02:45,029 --> 00:02:47,196 aspects of climate change , which will 73 00:02:47,196 --> 00:02:49,418 be the most pronounced in the Arctic in 74 00:02:49,418 --> 00:02:51,640 the near term . Both individuals , both 75 00:02:51,640 --> 00:02:53,696 leaders , expressed a shared concern 76 00:02:53,696 --> 00:02:55,529 about the deteriorating security 77 00:02:55,529 --> 00:02:57,473 situation resulting from increased 78 00:02:57,473 --> 00:02:59,584 Russian Federation activity along the 79 00:02:59,584 --> 00:03:01,700 Ukraine border . Leaders agreed to me 80 00:03:01,700 --> 00:03:03,922 in person at the earliest opportunity . 81 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,151 With that , we'll go with questions . 82 00:03:06,151 --> 00:03:09,570 Bob John in connection with the U . S . 83 00:03:09,570 --> 00:03:12,680 Iraqi strategic dialogue . The joint 84 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:14,900 statement that was put out afterwards 85 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:19,020 included a line that said that the U . 86 00:03:19,020 --> 00:03:21,570 S . Mission military mission in Iraq 87 00:03:21,570 --> 00:03:24,990 has reached a point where it allows for 88 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,770 quote the redeployment of any remaining 89 00:03:27,770 --> 00:03:30,140 combat forces in Iraq . And I'm 90 00:03:30,140 --> 00:03:32,362 wondering whether this is an indication 91 00:03:32,362 --> 00:03:34,418 that you that Secretary Austin might 92 00:03:34,418 --> 00:03:36,640 agree that the time has come to further 93 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:38,584 reduce forces there . They seem to 94 00:03:38,584 --> 00:03:40,584 agree to that Well , uh , the joint 95 00:03:40,584 --> 00:03:43,130 statement says that what we what the 96 00:03:43,130 --> 00:03:45,200 two sides have agreed to is to some 97 00:03:45,210 --> 00:03:47,750 additional technical talks on the 98 00:03:47,750 --> 00:03:50,270 eventual redeployment , and I think we 99 00:03:50,270 --> 00:03:52,600 all realized when we were invited in by 100 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:55,100 the government of Iraq , Um , that this 101 00:03:55,100 --> 00:03:58,960 mission was aligned against Isis , 102 00:03:58,970 --> 00:04:01,150 um , and that there was no expectation 103 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:02,882 that that it was going to be a 104 00:04:02,882 --> 00:04:06,340 permanent enduring , uh , mission or 105 00:04:06,340 --> 00:04:08,451 footprint . So I think we've all been 106 00:04:08,451 --> 00:04:10,760 working towards the eventual , uh , 107 00:04:10,770 --> 00:04:14,480 redeployment when we both agree . And 108 00:04:14,490 --> 00:04:17,390 and the Iraqis believe that there's a 109 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:19,567 there's a need for that mission to end 110 00:04:19,567 --> 00:04:21,960 and there's no need for American 111 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:24,360 support on the ground . So I think what 112 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:26,138 you saw in that statement was a 113 00:04:26,138 --> 00:04:28,330 reaffirmation of the partnership that 114 00:04:28,330 --> 00:04:31,410 we have enjoyed with Iraq . Uh , and 115 00:04:31,420 --> 00:04:33,550 the significance of the mission that 116 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:36,450 still exists against Isis , um , and 117 00:04:36,450 --> 00:04:39,440 that eventually we will want to talk 118 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:41,662 about when it's the appropriate time to 119 00:04:41,662 --> 00:04:43,996 talk about the proper redeployment . Um , 120 00:04:43,996 --> 00:04:46,162 and the scoping of that footprint , it 121 00:04:46,162 --> 00:04:48,600 doesn't represent a decision to move 122 00:04:48,610 --> 00:04:50,832 beyond where you were before . In other 123 00:04:50,832 --> 00:04:52,943 words , towards towards withdrawing ? 124 00:04:52,943 --> 00:04:55,166 No . There was no specific agreement of 125 00:04:55,166 --> 00:04:57,750 a date certain or a certain number of 126 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:00,550 troops by a certain date . Um , it was 127 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,190 again a reaffirmation of what we always 128 00:05:03,190 --> 00:05:05,412 believed about the mission there . That 129 00:05:05,412 --> 00:05:07,579 it wouldn't be a permanent one that is 130 00:05:07,579 --> 00:05:09,640 aligned against Isis and that we 131 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:13,580 whatever changes to that mission and to 132 00:05:13,580 --> 00:05:15,524 that footprint would occur in full 133 00:05:15,524 --> 00:05:17,747 collaboration with our Iraqi partners . 134 00:05:17,747 --> 00:05:19,802 And I think you saw that basically , 135 00:05:19,802 --> 00:05:21,580 throughout the document was was 136 00:05:21,580 --> 00:05:24,300 reiterated . Yep . Sure , go ahead here . 137 00:05:24,310 --> 00:05:26,830 Is it essential for the U . S . 138 00:05:26,840 --> 00:05:29,070 Military to stay in Iraq for the time 139 00:05:29,070 --> 00:05:32,450 being ? This is a mutual decision by 140 00:05:32,450 --> 00:05:34,460 the Iraqi government and the United 141 00:05:34,460 --> 00:05:36,682 States government . And again , here we 142 00:05:36,682 --> 00:05:38,627 are there at the invitation of the 143 00:05:38,627 --> 00:05:40,738 Iraqi government . And the mission is 144 00:05:40,738 --> 00:05:43,550 singly focused on going after Isis . 145 00:05:43,550 --> 00:05:45,606 And particularly you saw this in the 146 00:05:45,606 --> 00:05:49,210 communique . Our role is is advise and 147 00:05:49,210 --> 00:05:50,988 assist were there to help Iraqi 148 00:05:50,988 --> 00:05:53,043 security forces forces improve their 149 00:05:53,043 --> 00:05:55,700 capability and their competence against 150 00:05:55,700 --> 00:05:57,867 Isis . Um , and I think again , if you 151 00:05:57,867 --> 00:05:59,978 look at that communicate , you'll see 152 00:05:59,978 --> 00:06:02,200 that both sides agree that that mission 153 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,422 is still important . Um , and that that 154 00:06:04,422 --> 00:06:06,589 we're going to continue , as we always 155 00:06:06,589 --> 00:06:08,700 will in any operational environment , 156 00:06:08,700 --> 00:06:11,110 continue to review and look again about 157 00:06:11,110 --> 00:06:13,110 our for our footprint and our force 158 00:06:13,110 --> 00:06:15,054 posture and determine whether it's 159 00:06:15,054 --> 00:06:17,850 appropriately sized and scoped to the 160 00:06:17,850 --> 00:06:20,120 mission . The mission still valid . The 161 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:22,231 invitation by the Iraqi government is 162 00:06:22,231 --> 00:06:24,453 still in place , and we're continuing , 163 00:06:24,453 --> 00:06:26,453 as we have been even before today's 164 00:06:26,453 --> 00:06:28,176 talks , to talk with the Iraqi 165 00:06:28,176 --> 00:06:30,342 government about what ? That what that 166 00:06:30,342 --> 00:06:32,509 mission and that footprint is supposed 167 00:06:32,509 --> 00:06:34,676 to look like . So the statement refers 168 00:06:34,676 --> 00:06:37,450 specifically to remaining combat forces . 169 00:06:38,540 --> 00:06:41,860 Our combat forces included in that 2500 170 00:06:42,540 --> 00:06:44,710 number that we use because we recently 171 00:06:44,710 --> 00:06:47,950 found out that in Afghanistan , 2500 172 00:06:47,950 --> 00:06:50,260 does not include all the troops that 173 00:06:50,260 --> 00:06:53,770 are really there is 2500 . The real 174 00:06:53,770 --> 00:06:57,150 number 2500 is the number of US 175 00:06:57,150 --> 00:07:00,830 forces in Iraq . The mission 176 00:07:00,830 --> 00:07:02,886 largely has been and for a long time 177 00:07:02,886 --> 00:07:04,830 has largely been one of advise and 178 00:07:04,830 --> 00:07:08,500 assist . 250,500 is the footprint of US 179 00:07:08,500 --> 00:07:12,300 forces in Iraq , David . The mission 180 00:07:12,310 --> 00:07:14,740 is largely advise and assist , and that 181 00:07:14,740 --> 00:07:17,800 is the goal and the purpose of the 2500 . 182 00:07:17,810 --> 00:07:20,560 Uh , U . S personnel that are in Iraq 183 00:07:20,570 --> 00:07:22,930 are to help assist the Iraqi security 184 00:07:22,930 --> 00:07:24,930 forces in their efforts to go after 185 00:07:24,930 --> 00:07:26,560 Isis , including 186 00:07:27,740 --> 00:07:31,380 the 2500 U . S . Personnel in Iraq are 187 00:07:31,380 --> 00:07:33,450 there to advise and assist Iraqi 188 00:07:33,450 --> 00:07:36,290 security forces that and I don't . So 189 00:07:36,300 --> 00:07:40,050 there they're in the communique . 190 00:07:40,060 --> 00:07:43,060 It reflects that communicate reflects , 191 00:07:43,070 --> 00:07:45,710 uh , the environment . As as it has 192 00:07:45,710 --> 00:07:47,821 been for quite some time in Iraq , in 193 00:07:47,821 --> 00:07:51,320 terms of us posture , I'm gonna take a 194 00:07:51,330 --> 00:07:55,070 nine years ago . Um , can I ask you a 195 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:58,290 second question ? He referred to the 196 00:07:58,300 --> 00:08:01,870 deteriorating security situation along 197 00:08:01,870 --> 00:08:04,520 the Ukrainian border . What ? What What 198 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:06,640 do you mean by deteriorating ? How is 199 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:09,430 it deteriorating ? I mean , that's well , 200 00:08:09,430 --> 00:08:11,541 just as recently as a couple of weeks 201 00:08:11,541 --> 00:08:14,990 ago , uh , back in late march , Uh , 202 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:17,940 there were a couple of Ukrainian 203 00:08:17,940 --> 00:08:21,160 soldiers killed in in 204 00:08:21,740 --> 00:08:24,160 skirmishes and the 205 00:08:25,140 --> 00:08:28,450 rapid and building . 206 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:32,060 Uh um , 207 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,240 presence of Russian forces along that 208 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:38,850 border and in Crimea 209 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:42,960 certainly are not conducive 210 00:08:43,500 --> 00:08:45,760 to creating a 211 00:08:47,140 --> 00:08:50,680 an air of stability , you know , in 212 00:08:50,680 --> 00:08:53,880 Ukraine . As I said yesterday , it's 213 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:57,100 not completely clear what the Russians 214 00:08:57,100 --> 00:08:59,322 are doing their We'd like to understand 215 00:08:59,322 --> 00:09:01,322 that more . And that uncertainty is 216 00:09:01,322 --> 00:09:03,780 obviously not contributing to a more 217 00:09:03,780 --> 00:09:07,230 stable , more secure situation . No 218 00:09:07,230 --> 00:09:10,320 sense to be an exercise . I've seen 219 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:12,431 that the Russians have assessed it to 220 00:09:12,431 --> 00:09:14,542 be an exercise . I'm not going to get 221 00:09:14,542 --> 00:09:16,764 into intelligence assessments here from 222 00:09:16,764 --> 00:09:18,820 the podium , David , as I said . The 223 00:09:18,820 --> 00:09:20,876 full intentions are not 100% clear , 224 00:09:20,876 --> 00:09:23,042 and we'd like to understand more about 225 00:09:23,042 --> 00:09:25,264 what it is the Russians are doing there 226 00:09:25,264 --> 00:09:27,431 and what they intend to do there . But 227 00:09:27,431 --> 00:09:30,300 it is not conducive this this build up 228 00:09:30,310 --> 00:09:32,477 and a fairly rapid build up , it's not 229 00:09:32,477 --> 00:09:34,620 conducive to , uh , to greater 230 00:09:34,620 --> 00:09:36,960 stability . Let me go here to the 231 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:40,560 phones . Nick Schifrin , PBS 232 00:09:41,540 --> 00:09:43,390 Thanks , John , um , couple on 233 00:09:43,390 --> 00:09:45,660 extremism . Just making sure that 234 00:09:45,660 --> 00:09:47,827 there's no update on the readouts from 235 00:09:47,827 --> 00:09:49,880 the services to the secretary and 236 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:51,769 trying to ask a question that you 237 00:09:51,769 --> 00:09:54,530 haven't been asked repeatedly last week . 238 00:09:54,540 --> 00:09:56,651 Can you take on a couple of specifics 239 00:09:56,651 --> 00:09:58,929 that the advocates say , um , you know , 240 00:09:58,929 --> 00:10:00,984 why can't you reveal how many people 241 00:10:00,984 --> 00:10:02,930 have been separated because of 242 00:10:02,930 --> 00:10:06,440 extremist actions ? Can you have this 243 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,170 ability into those who have conducted 244 00:10:09,170 --> 00:10:12,820 extremist actions below the threshold 245 00:10:12,820 --> 00:10:14,980 of a crime and therefore earned some 246 00:10:14,980 --> 00:10:17,720 kind of administrative rebuke ? Uh , 247 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:19,664 and the overall criticism that the 248 00:10:19,664 --> 00:10:21,776 military has talked about this in the 249 00:10:21,776 --> 00:10:23,890 past but not actually confronted this 250 00:10:23,890 --> 00:10:25,890 in a serious way ? Thanks . I don't 251 00:10:25,890 --> 00:10:28,057 have any updates for you in terms of , 252 00:10:28,057 --> 00:10:31,450 uh , secretaries , uh , getting a 253 00:10:31,450 --> 00:10:33,561 readout from the services that hasn't 254 00:10:33,561 --> 00:10:35,561 happened yet . It will happen later 255 00:10:35,561 --> 00:10:37,672 this week , and certainly when we can 256 00:10:37,672 --> 00:10:39,783 we'll , uh , we'll be able to provide 257 00:10:39,783 --> 00:10:41,728 you more context about that . Your 258 00:10:41,728 --> 00:10:43,950 other question gets it . It's something 259 00:10:43,950 --> 00:10:46,172 that I think the secretary wants to get 260 00:10:46,172 --> 00:10:48,394 his hands around to , which is a better 261 00:10:48,394 --> 00:10:50,561 sense of the data . And , uh , I can't 262 00:10:50,561 --> 00:10:52,740 You know , we don't have all that data 263 00:10:52,740 --> 00:10:55,630 right now , but we are working more 264 00:10:55,630 --> 00:10:58,000 closely now with law enforcement to try 265 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:00,700 to get a better sense of the sorts of 266 00:11:00,700 --> 00:11:03,250 investigations they're doing of 267 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:06,860 people affiliated with the military , 268 00:11:07,540 --> 00:11:10,080 Uh , and being investigated for 269 00:11:10,090 --> 00:11:11,979 criminal behavior associated with 270 00:11:11,979 --> 00:11:13,979 extremist ideology . And I say that 271 00:11:13,979 --> 00:11:16,201 very clearly military affiliate doesn't 272 00:11:16,201 --> 00:11:18,270 mean necessarily somebody on active 273 00:11:18,270 --> 00:11:21,240 duty and reserve capacity . Most of 274 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:24,190 them happen to be veterans . Uh , and 275 00:11:24,190 --> 00:11:26,246 obviously we don't have purview over 276 00:11:26,246 --> 00:11:28,870 veterans . Um , and as for your other 277 00:11:28,870 --> 00:11:31,520 question about , uh , data surrounding 278 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:34,570 separations , Um , uh , that is 279 00:11:34,580 --> 00:11:36,747 certainly something that the secretary 280 00:11:36,747 --> 00:11:38,802 is interested in trying to pursue in 281 00:11:38,802 --> 00:11:41,024 terms of a better data collection . But 282 00:11:41,024 --> 00:11:43,136 as you pointed out in your question , 283 00:11:43,136 --> 00:11:45,760 Nick , sometimes individuals are 284 00:11:46,140 --> 00:11:48,670 administratively punished below the 285 00:11:48,670 --> 00:11:51,330 level of a court martial for activity 286 00:11:51,330 --> 00:11:53,219 that violates the uniform Code of 287 00:11:53,219 --> 00:11:55,770 military justice . And , um , and 288 00:11:55,780 --> 00:11:58,170 there's there's there's never been a 289 00:11:58,170 --> 00:12:00,880 central database of that here at the 290 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:03,047 department . That is something that is 291 00:12:03,047 --> 00:12:04,936 done at local level local command 292 00:12:04,936 --> 00:12:08,930 levels , Um , and and usually on a 293 00:12:08,930 --> 00:12:10,930 regional basis , not something that 294 00:12:11,140 --> 00:12:13,970 that would be looked at here . The 295 00:12:13,970 --> 00:12:16,081 other thing and I've said this before 296 00:12:16,081 --> 00:12:18,850 is that , um , even for criminal 297 00:12:18,850 --> 00:12:21,670 behavior , Um , that does rise to the 298 00:12:21,670 --> 00:12:24,820 level of of court martial . It's It's 299 00:12:24,820 --> 00:12:27,120 not like it's always evident what 300 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:29,720 motivated that behavior . Sometimes it 301 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:31,790 is . Sometimes it's not . So . It's 302 00:12:31,790 --> 00:12:34,960 very hard for us to be able to spit out 303 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:36,960 data for you . That's that's that's 304 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:38,738 very specific , with respect to 305 00:12:38,738 --> 00:12:41,770 disciplinary actions over behavior that 306 00:12:41,770 --> 00:12:43,992 is inspired by extremist ideology . But 307 00:12:43,992 --> 00:12:46,880 again , that's part of this exercise is 308 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:48,824 to figure out what we don't know , 309 00:12:48,824 --> 00:12:51,047 figure out what we can know and and how 310 00:12:51,047 --> 00:12:53,213 do we go about knowing it ? And that's 311 00:12:53,213 --> 00:12:55,380 again , I think , all gonna be wrapped 312 00:12:55,380 --> 00:12:57,213 up into the discussions with the 313 00:12:57,213 --> 00:12:57,000 secretary , and I'm sure we'll help 314 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:00,160 inform whatever decisions and policies 315 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:02,327 he wants to pursue going forward . And 316 00:13:02,327 --> 00:13:04,271 on that overall criticism that the 317 00:13:04,271 --> 00:13:06,382 military has talked about this in the 318 00:13:06,382 --> 00:13:08,604 past . Uh , said it was going to tackle 319 00:13:08,604 --> 00:13:10,660 the problem , but never actually did 320 00:13:10,660 --> 00:13:12,771 speak for what was done in the past . 321 00:13:12,771 --> 00:13:14,604 Nick , all I can do is speak for 322 00:13:14,604 --> 00:13:16,771 Secretary Austin and what we're trying 323 00:13:16,771 --> 00:13:18,882 to do right now . Um , and the , uh , 324 00:13:18,882 --> 00:13:20,938 stand down , uh , now has ended . He 325 00:13:20,938 --> 00:13:23,049 does expect to get a readout from the 326 00:13:23,049 --> 00:13:25,049 services here before the end of the 327 00:13:25,049 --> 00:13:27,104 week , and then we'll move forward , 328 00:13:27,104 --> 00:13:26,590 and we'll keep you as informed as we 329 00:13:26,590 --> 00:13:28,590 can as we move forward . What I can 330 00:13:28,590 --> 00:13:30,590 tell you now is he's taking it very 331 00:13:30,590 --> 00:13:33,410 seriously . Megan , Another stand down 332 00:13:33,410 --> 00:13:35,650 question . Now that it is complete , 333 00:13:35,650 --> 00:13:37,740 there are some reports , some tweets 334 00:13:37,740 --> 00:13:39,796 out there that particularly National 335 00:13:39,796 --> 00:13:41,796 Guard units haven't completed their 336 00:13:41,796 --> 00:13:43,907 stand downs . I will ask the National 337 00:13:43,907 --> 00:13:46,073 Guard Bureau about this , but is there 338 00:13:46,073 --> 00:13:48,129 any accountability mechanism from up 339 00:13:48,129 --> 00:13:50,129 here to make sure that all of those 340 00:13:50,129 --> 00:13:53,100 units are president accounted for in 341 00:13:53,100 --> 00:13:55,267 terms of the standard ? I haven't seen 342 00:13:55,267 --> 00:13:57,433 those tweets . Megan . The secretary's 343 00:13:57,433 --> 00:13:59,600 expectation is that all the services , 344 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:01,600 including the National Guard , will 345 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:03,711 have completed there stand downs over 346 00:14:03,711 --> 00:14:05,822 the course of two months . That's why 347 00:14:05,822 --> 00:14:08,100 he gave them 60 days to do that . Well , 348 00:14:08,100 --> 00:14:10,156 we'll learn more and no more when he 349 00:14:10,156 --> 00:14:12,211 gets a chance to speak to the Chiefs 350 00:14:12,211 --> 00:14:14,489 later on this week , is there ? I mean , 351 00:14:14,489 --> 00:14:16,711 do the services even have a way to make 352 00:14:16,711 --> 00:14:18,544 sure from their level from their 353 00:14:18,544 --> 00:14:20,767 headquarters levels , that all of those 354 00:14:20,767 --> 00:14:22,878 standards have been done so that they 355 00:14:22,878 --> 00:14:24,933 can go to the secretary and say with 356 00:14:24,933 --> 00:14:27,156 absolute certainty , Yes . Every single 357 00:14:27,156 --> 00:14:29,489 one of our people has had this briefing . 358 00:14:29,489 --> 00:14:29,210 That's a question for the services to 359 00:14:29,210 --> 00:14:31,377 answer . They would have to do that on 360 00:14:31,377 --> 00:14:33,488 individually in accordance with their 361 00:14:33,488 --> 00:14:37,460 own reporting . Ah , processes . Um , 362 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:41,790 see , uh , Tony 363 00:14:41,790 --> 00:14:42,460 Capezio . 364 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:49,496 Hey , John , can you hear me ? Yes , 365 00:14:49,496 --> 00:14:51,607 sir . Okay , Have a personal question 366 00:14:51,607 --> 00:14:53,830 on light on late Friday . The White 367 00:14:53,830 --> 00:14:55,886 House nominated Michael Brown is the 368 00:14:55,886 --> 00:14:58,108 Pentagon's top weapons buyer . I've had 369 00:14:58,108 --> 00:15:00,163 a couple of questions . I understand 370 00:15:00,163 --> 00:15:02,386 that Secretary Austin really pushed the 371 00:15:02,386 --> 00:15:04,497 White House for his nomination . Uh , 372 00:15:04,497 --> 00:15:06,719 do they have a previous relate business 373 00:15:06,719 --> 00:15:08,830 relationship ? I'd be curious to hear 374 00:15:08,830 --> 00:15:08,680 that . And secondly , if you look at 375 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:10,720 his bio , it's tapped heavy and 376 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:13,230 commercial software experience . And , 377 00:15:13,230 --> 00:15:15,230 of course , his Silicon Valley work 378 00:15:15,230 --> 00:15:17,397 with the Defense Innovation Unit . But 379 00:15:17,397 --> 00:15:19,397 he's got no real defense , industry 380 00:15:19,397 --> 00:15:21,397 background or apparent expertise in 381 00:15:21,397 --> 00:15:23,286 assessing technical risk of major 382 00:15:23,286 --> 00:15:25,341 weapons systems like the F 35 or the 383 00:15:25,341 --> 00:15:27,500 Columbia Submarine program . So what 384 00:15:27,500 --> 00:15:29,556 expertise that would he bring to the 385 00:15:29,556 --> 00:15:32,410 job ? Have confirmed . Well , Tony , 386 00:15:32,410 --> 00:15:35,060 I'm not gonna speak about the 387 00:15:35,070 --> 00:15:38,030 secretaries advice and recommendations 388 00:15:38,030 --> 00:15:39,697 to the president . These were 389 00:15:39,697 --> 00:15:41,808 nominations made by President Biden , 390 00:15:41,808 --> 00:15:43,974 and obviously we were glad to see them 391 00:15:43,974 --> 00:15:46,197 as you saw in the secretary statement . 392 00:15:46,197 --> 00:15:48,308 And we look forward to these talented 393 00:15:48,308 --> 00:15:49,919 individuals getting a speedy 394 00:15:49,919 --> 00:15:52,330 confirmation in the Senate . Um , but 395 00:15:52,340 --> 00:15:54,396 Michael Brown has deep experience in 396 00:15:54,396 --> 00:15:56,562 national security that we believe will 397 00:15:56,562 --> 00:15:58,618 prove essential in helping guide our 398 00:15:58,618 --> 00:16:00,618 efforts to defend the nation and to 399 00:16:00,618 --> 00:16:00,550 secure our interests around the world . 400 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,150 Uh , as you noted yourself , he 401 00:16:04,150 --> 00:16:06,350 recently served as the director of the 402 00:16:06,350 --> 00:16:08,350 Defense Innovation Unit here at the 403 00:16:08,350 --> 00:16:10,183 Pentagon . He also co authored a 404 00:16:10,183 --> 00:16:12,406 Pentagon study on China's participation 405 00:16:12,406 --> 00:16:15,190 in the U . S . Venture ecosystem . The 406 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:17,660 secretary is confident that he has the 407 00:16:17,660 --> 00:16:19,827 skills , the talent , the experience , 408 00:16:19,827 --> 00:16:22,030 um , and the acumen to take on this 409 00:16:22,030 --> 00:16:24,197 role . And again , he looks forward to 410 00:16:24,197 --> 00:16:26,197 working with the Senate towards the 411 00:16:26,197 --> 00:16:28,419 confirmation of Mr Brown as well as the 412 00:16:28,419 --> 00:16:30,641 other nominees . So don't you ? But his 413 00:16:30,641 --> 00:16:32,752 technical expertise and major weapons 414 00:16:32,752 --> 00:16:34,641 programs , it seems to be lacking 415 00:16:34,641 --> 00:16:37,010 working die with small silicone valley 416 00:16:37,010 --> 00:16:39,066 contracts is a little different than 417 00:16:39,066 --> 00:16:41,177 managing risk on the F 35 . Would you 418 00:16:41,177 --> 00:16:43,010 not agree to that , Tony ? The 419 00:16:43,010 --> 00:16:46,030 secretary is 100% confident , um , in 420 00:16:46,030 --> 00:16:49,120 this nominee and and his ability and 421 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:51,453 his talent and experience to do the job . 422 00:16:51,940 --> 00:16:54,420 Yes , in the back there . Thank you . I 423 00:16:54,430 --> 00:16:56,780 want to ask you about the latest U . S . 424 00:16:56,790 --> 00:16:59,990 Navy's freedom of navigation operations 425 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,380 in the Strait of Taiwan . The seventh 426 00:17:03,380 --> 00:17:06,300 freeze announced Wednesday that the 427 00:17:06,310 --> 00:17:09,540 guided missile destroyer USS John 428 00:17:09,540 --> 00:17:12,350 McCain tour and they did the Taiwan 429 00:17:12,350 --> 00:17:15,210 Strait . Is it the response to China's 430 00:17:15,220 --> 00:17:18,270 announcement earlier this week that the 431 00:17:18,270 --> 00:17:21,580 Chinese aircraft career conducted 432 00:17:21,590 --> 00:17:25,210 military exercises near Taiwan ? We 433 00:17:25,210 --> 00:17:27,210 don't conduct freedom of navigation 434 00:17:27,210 --> 00:17:30,560 operations around the world , uh , 435 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:34,420 to send , uh , to respond to 436 00:17:34,430 --> 00:17:38,140 some specific event or the specific 437 00:17:38,150 --> 00:17:40,900 action of another country . We conduct 438 00:17:40,900 --> 00:17:43,122 freedom of navigation operations around 439 00:17:43,122 --> 00:17:45,233 the world to send a message about how 440 00:17:45,233 --> 00:17:48,080 strongly we believe , um , in 441 00:17:48,090 --> 00:17:51,570 international law , um , and then the 442 00:17:51,580 --> 00:17:54,250 freedom that all nations have to sail , 443 00:17:54,250 --> 00:17:56,472 operate and fly in accordance with that 444 00:17:56,472 --> 00:17:59,350 international law . Freedom of the seas 445 00:17:59,350 --> 00:18:01,128 doesn't just exist for fish and 446 00:18:01,128 --> 00:18:03,183 icebergs . And that's the purpose of 447 00:18:03,183 --> 00:18:05,210 conducting these operations to to 448 00:18:05,210 --> 00:18:08,170 reinforce that notion . Okay . 449 00:18:08,940 --> 00:18:12,480 Yeah . John Ukraine , Ukraine 450 00:18:12,490 --> 00:18:15,350 Emergency asked for membership to NATO . 451 00:18:15,740 --> 00:18:17,518 Would the United States support 452 00:18:17,518 --> 00:18:19,930 Ukraine's ? I think you saw our 453 00:18:19,930 --> 00:18:21,930 statement yesterday that this is an 454 00:18:21,930 --> 00:18:24,970 issue for NATO to bring up . And I 455 00:18:24,970 --> 00:18:26,970 think you saw my counterpart at the 456 00:18:26,970 --> 00:18:29,330 White House make clear that the 457 00:18:29,340 --> 00:18:31,820 President is is certainly willing to 458 00:18:31,830 --> 00:18:33,860 have conversations . But this is an 459 00:18:33,860 --> 00:18:36,250 issue for NATO also . Does the United 460 00:18:36,250 --> 00:18:38,380 States have any naval capabilities 461 00:18:38,380 --> 00:18:42,260 currently in the Black Sea ? I 462 00:18:42,270 --> 00:18:44,520 don't have an operational lay down for 463 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:46,687 you . We have been routinely operating 464 00:18:46,687 --> 00:18:48,909 inside the Black Sea . I can't tell you 465 00:18:48,909 --> 00:18:50,853 at this point where I know we have 466 00:18:50,853 --> 00:18:53,020 ships there or not , but you guys have 467 00:18:53,020 --> 00:18:55,131 been tracking this and following it . 468 00:18:55,131 --> 00:18:58,820 It's routine for us to to operate again . 469 00:18:58,830 --> 00:19:01,163 Freedom navigation inside the Black Sea . 470 00:19:01,163 --> 00:19:03,163 But I don't know what's there now . 471 00:19:03,163 --> 00:19:05,274 Okay . Let me go back to the phones , 472 00:19:05,274 --> 00:19:08,310 guys . I'll get to everybody . Paul 473 00:19:08,310 --> 00:19:11,430 Shenkman , US news . Yeah . Hi , John , 474 00:19:11,430 --> 00:19:14,040 Can you hear me ? Okay , sir . Just a 475 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,262 clarification on your comments just now 476 00:19:16,262 --> 00:19:18,720 about Iraq . So there's some local news 477 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:21,620 reporting about the statement today and 478 00:19:21,620 --> 00:19:23,731 in the meetings that have been taking 479 00:19:23,731 --> 00:19:25,953 place , that implies that there is some 480 00:19:25,953 --> 00:19:28,120 sort of new agreement that takes place 481 00:19:28,120 --> 00:19:29,842 a new intention to plan for US 482 00:19:29,842 --> 00:19:33,050 withdrawal and a change to the U . S . 483 00:19:33,060 --> 00:19:35,600 Mission in Iraq that now it's limited 484 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:39,060 to train , advise and support . So 485 00:19:39,540 --> 00:19:42,520 I guess my questions are it sounds like 486 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:44,520 from what you said , that this is a 487 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:46,409 reaffirmation of things that were 488 00:19:46,409 --> 00:19:48,464 already in place . Is there anything 489 00:19:48,464 --> 00:19:50,353 new today ? That was not the case 490 00:19:50,353 --> 00:19:52,410 yesterday . And does the U . S still 491 00:19:52,410 --> 00:19:54,640 have the ability to conduct unilateral 492 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:57,470 strikes in Iraq or Syria ? Talk about 493 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,810 operational authorities specifically in 494 00:20:00,810 --> 00:20:03,170 Iraq . Paul , Um , there's a lot in 495 00:20:03,170 --> 00:20:05,380 that communique . Not all of it had to 496 00:20:05,380 --> 00:20:07,500 do with the security sector and the 497 00:20:07,510 --> 00:20:09,260 fight against Isis and I would 498 00:20:09,260 --> 00:20:11,371 encourage you to read the whole thing 499 00:20:11,371 --> 00:20:13,704 because I think there was a lot of , uh , 500 00:20:13,704 --> 00:20:15,593 interesting developments in there 501 00:20:15,593 --> 00:20:17,927 beyond just the security component . Um , 502 00:20:17,927 --> 00:20:19,927 clearly one of the things that they 503 00:20:19,927 --> 00:20:22,038 agreed to and this was to continue to 504 00:20:22,038 --> 00:20:23,982 have technical talks going forward 505 00:20:23,982 --> 00:20:26,093 about the potential redeployment . So 506 00:20:26,093 --> 00:20:29,010 that that is that is a new thing in the 507 00:20:29,010 --> 00:20:32,770 document . Um , but the idea that 508 00:20:32,780 --> 00:20:34,336 there would eventually be a 509 00:20:34,336 --> 00:20:36,558 redeployment of U . S forces in Iraq is 510 00:20:36,558 --> 00:20:38,613 not new . I mean , we didn't go into 511 00:20:38,613 --> 00:20:40,336 Iraq again . We went in at the 512 00:20:40,336 --> 00:20:42,558 invitation of the Iraqi government . We 513 00:20:42,558 --> 00:20:42,350 didn't go in there with the idea of 514 00:20:42,350 --> 00:20:44,461 being a permanent presence . The idea 515 00:20:44,461 --> 00:20:46,517 was to defeat Isis . Uh , and that's 516 00:20:46,517 --> 00:20:48,683 still the goal . Uh , and that's still 517 00:20:48,683 --> 00:20:50,517 the objective . That's still the 518 00:20:50,517 --> 00:20:52,517 mission . But , uh , we have always 519 00:20:52,517 --> 00:20:55,210 known that eventually , and I think 520 00:20:55,210 --> 00:20:57,266 that word is in there . Eventually , 521 00:20:57,266 --> 00:20:59,377 there's going to be a redeployment of 522 00:20:59,377 --> 00:21:01,321 forces from Iraq . Of course there 523 00:21:01,321 --> 00:21:03,270 would be . Yeah . Go ahead , Joe , 524 00:21:03,740 --> 00:21:07,480 what's the department assessment of the 525 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:11,100 attack against the Iranian service ship 526 00:21:11,100 --> 00:21:13,880 yesterday in the Red Sea ? As you may 527 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:16,520 know , many Iranian reports have 528 00:21:16,530 --> 00:21:18,950 indicated that the attack happened 529 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:21,496 below the water line . Based on your 530 00:21:21,496 --> 00:21:23,551 experience , is there something that 531 00:21:23,551 --> 00:21:25,850 you could we could you could read 532 00:21:25,850 --> 00:21:28,410 something out of it ? I obviously were 533 00:21:28,410 --> 00:21:31,580 aware of the reporting of this incident . 534 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:34,573 What I can confirm for you is that no U . 535 00:21:34,573 --> 00:21:36,851 S forces were involved in the incident , 536 00:21:36,851 --> 00:21:38,962 and I can't speak beyond that . Quick 537 00:21:38,962 --> 00:21:40,910 follow up . The New York Times has 538 00:21:40,910 --> 00:21:44,760 quoted US officers that Israel informed 539 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:46,890 the United States that it's going to 540 00:21:46,890 --> 00:21:49,840 attack the the ship that is being used 541 00:21:49,850 --> 00:21:53,530 by the IRGC for intelligence purposes . 542 00:21:53,810 --> 00:21:55,977 Could you confirm The New York Times ? 543 00:21:56,140 --> 00:21:59,460 Uhh ! Very important . No , I cannot . 544 00:22:00,340 --> 00:22:03,470 I cannot back to the phone . Jeff 545 00:22:03,670 --> 00:22:07,200 Showgirl . Thank you , the Taliban and 546 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:09,770 of Attack Kandahar Airfield and Bob 547 00:22:09,780 --> 00:22:12,070 Chapman . What is the military doing to 548 00:22:12,070 --> 00:22:14,190 stop Taliban attacks on US and NATO 549 00:22:14,190 --> 00:22:17,580 troops ? We condemn today's attack on 550 00:22:17,580 --> 00:22:21,410 Kandahar field , home to several 100 U . 551 00:22:21,410 --> 00:22:23,730 S . And coalition personnel . While the 552 00:22:23,730 --> 00:22:25,730 attack resulted in no casualties or 553 00:22:25,730 --> 00:22:27,674 damage , the Taliban's decision to 554 00:22:27,674 --> 00:22:29,341 provoke even more violence in 555 00:22:29,341 --> 00:22:31,452 Afghanistan remains disruptive to the 556 00:22:31,452 --> 00:22:33,730 opportunity for peace presented by 557 00:22:33,730 --> 00:22:36,910 ongoing negotiations . Thank you . I 558 00:22:36,910 --> 00:22:38,799 didn't quite hear an answer to my 559 00:22:38,799 --> 00:22:40,799 question as to what the military is 560 00:22:40,799 --> 00:22:43,300 doing about the continuing attacks . We 561 00:22:43,310 --> 00:22:46,680 always have the right 562 00:22:46,690 --> 00:22:49,850 of self defense for our troops . 563 00:22:50,340 --> 00:22:52,900 But our focus right now is on 564 00:22:52,900 --> 00:22:55,070 supporting a diplomatic process here , 565 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:57,760 uh , to try to bring this war to a 566 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:01,640 negotiated end with an indoor during 567 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:03,640 and sustainable peace . A political 568 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:05,807 settlement . And that's our goal right 569 00:23:05,807 --> 00:23:07,920 now as well . As of course , the 570 00:23:07,930 --> 00:23:10,550 current mission is in effect , uh , 571 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:12,504 which is to continue to advise and 572 00:23:12,504 --> 00:23:14,782 assist Afghan national security forces , 573 00:23:14,782 --> 00:23:17,004 uh , as they improve their capabilities 574 00:23:17,004 --> 00:23:20,580 to defend their own citizens . Um , 575 00:23:20,590 --> 00:23:22,646 okay , let's get back in here in the 576 00:23:22,646 --> 00:23:25,620 room . Dan . So going back to Iraq , 577 00:23:25,650 --> 00:23:28,900 you described how the threat from Isis 578 00:23:28,900 --> 00:23:32,280 has diminished and that would shape the 579 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:34,447 discussion going forward . Whatever in 580 00:23:34,447 --> 00:23:37,200 Syria is what is the justification to 581 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:40,450 keep U . S troops in Syria ? The scene . 582 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:43,970 It's a counter isis mission . The very 583 00:23:43,970 --> 00:23:46,490 small number less than 1000 that we 584 00:23:46,490 --> 00:23:48,601 have in Syria are working with Syrian 585 00:23:48,601 --> 00:23:50,820 democratic forces to again advise and 586 00:23:50,820 --> 00:23:53,700 assist and help enable their ability to 587 00:23:53,700 --> 00:23:56,170 go after Isis . Presumably , that's 588 00:23:56,170 --> 00:23:58,360 also under review . And you don't see 589 00:23:58,360 --> 00:24:00,416 that as an open ended president ? Of 590 00:24:00,416 --> 00:24:02,690 course not . And we constantly , as I 591 00:24:02,690 --> 00:24:05,960 said before , where we have troops 592 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:08,240 engaged in operations . It's a constant 593 00:24:08,250 --> 00:24:10,410 review process . It's something we're 594 00:24:10,410 --> 00:24:12,632 always looking at . Another factor that 595 00:24:12,632 --> 00:24:14,521 you also have to devote a certain 596 00:24:14,521 --> 00:24:16,743 amount of resources to protecting those 597 00:24:16,743 --> 00:24:18,799 troops that are on in Iraq and Syria 598 00:24:18,799 --> 00:24:20,743 and that as you look at the global 599 00:24:20,743 --> 00:24:22,966 forces that you want to deployed , that 600 00:24:22,966 --> 00:24:25,050 in Asia you need more , perhaps 601 00:24:25,050 --> 00:24:27,440 resources . And by withdrawing troops 602 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:29,607 from Iraq and Syria , you also free up 603 00:24:29,607 --> 00:24:31,662 other resources . Two things there . 604 00:24:31,662 --> 00:24:34,840 One we always , uh , consider force 605 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:36,729 protection where we have troops , 606 00:24:36,729 --> 00:24:38,784 particularly in harm's way . But all 607 00:24:38,784 --> 00:24:40,951 around the world , I mean , you always 608 00:24:40,951 --> 00:24:43,007 factor in the kinds of functions and 609 00:24:43,007 --> 00:24:45,173 capabilities and resources you need to 610 00:24:45,173 --> 00:24:47,340 provide proper force protection that's 611 00:24:47,340 --> 00:24:49,396 always baked into the process . Um , 612 00:24:49,396 --> 00:24:51,370 but your larger question gets to 613 00:24:51,380 --> 00:24:53,602 exactly why the secretary is conducting 614 00:24:53,602 --> 00:24:55,824 a force posture review around the world 615 00:24:55,824 --> 00:24:58,047 to take a look at the footprint and the 616 00:24:58,047 --> 00:25:00,269 resources and making sure that they are 617 00:25:00,269 --> 00:25:00,010 properly aligned to whatever our 618 00:25:00,010 --> 00:25:01,960 strategies are and the mission's 619 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:04,182 inherent to those strategies are around 620 00:25:04,182 --> 00:25:07,940 the world . Jenny done I 621 00:25:07,950 --> 00:25:10,910 education on the independent exercise 622 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:14,200 of USFK . I think you hear there 623 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:17,490 already as part of the North Korea 624 00:25:17,500 --> 00:25:21,160 denuclearization , the U . S 625 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:25,150 forces in South Korea has recently 626 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:28,940 conducted the single exercise to lead 627 00:25:28,940 --> 00:25:30,950 to leave North Korea's 628 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:35,080 WMD weapons of mass 629 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:38,270 destruction . What was the reason 630 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:42,170 for the training that excluded 631 00:25:42,740 --> 00:25:45,950 South Korean military that excluded . 632 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:48,160 Is that your question ? I I point you 633 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:50,271 to U . S forces Korea to speak to the 634 00:25:50,271 --> 00:25:52,327 specifics of their training events . 635 00:25:52,327 --> 00:25:55,070 Jenny , I don't have a great depth of 636 00:25:55,070 --> 00:25:57,181 knowledge in this particular training 637 00:25:57,181 --> 00:25:59,181 event that you're talking about . I 638 00:25:59,181 --> 00:26:01,348 can't really confirm it . Uh , and I'm 639 00:26:01,348 --> 00:26:03,570 certainly in no position to confirm the 640 00:26:03,570 --> 00:26:05,570 specific details we've talked about 641 00:26:05,570 --> 00:26:07,626 this many times before . Training is 642 00:26:07,626 --> 00:26:09,848 important on the peninsula . We have to 643 00:26:09,848 --> 00:26:12,070 make sure that the alliance's sound and 644 00:26:12,070 --> 00:26:14,292 solid and ready to obviously defend our 645 00:26:14,292 --> 00:26:16,237 interests and the interests of our 646 00:26:16,237 --> 00:26:19,830 career allies on any given day focus on 647 00:26:19,830 --> 00:26:23,190 the review of the North Korean policy 648 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,100 at the level of the Ministry of Defense . 649 00:26:26,100 --> 00:26:28,211 I mean us depends . What is the level 650 00:26:28,211 --> 00:26:30,910 of what the Ministry of Defense for the 651 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:34,050 the review of the There's Korea policy 652 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:38,480 is the focus . I said , 653 00:26:38,490 --> 00:26:41,950 Focus , focus . Yeah , um , 654 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:45,280 the view of the North Korea policy at 655 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:48,150 the level of the Ministry of Defense . 656 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:50,484 Well , as you know , this 657 00:26:50,484 --> 00:26:52,596 administration is conducting a review 658 00:26:52,596 --> 00:26:56,010 of North Korean policy that's ongoing 659 00:26:56,040 --> 00:26:58,540 not going to get ahead of that , uh , 660 00:26:58,550 --> 00:27:01,540 as we talked about before . The goal 661 00:27:01,540 --> 00:27:04,750 here is the denuclearization of North 662 00:27:04,750 --> 00:27:07,570 Korea . That's that's where the threat 663 00:27:07,580 --> 00:27:11,500 comes from . But how exactly we're 664 00:27:11,500 --> 00:27:13,722 going to achieve that goal is all again 665 00:27:13,722 --> 00:27:16,000 being discussed and analyzed right now . 666 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:18,167 And as I think you heard the secretary 667 00:27:18,167 --> 00:27:20,400 say , when we were out there in Seoul 668 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:22,289 that we're gonna that we're gonna 669 00:27:22,289 --> 00:27:25,270 whatever we as an administration decide . 670 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:27,502 Is that a proper course ? It's going to 671 00:27:27,502 --> 00:27:29,410 be done in close consultation and 672 00:27:29,410 --> 00:27:32,670 coordination with our Korean allies . 673 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:37,090 You're welcome . them off Washington 674 00:27:37,090 --> 00:27:40,350 Post . Good afternoon , John . Thanks 675 00:27:40,350 --> 00:27:42,406 for your time . When we follow up on 676 00:27:42,406 --> 00:27:44,780 Jeff Shovels . Question particularly 677 00:27:44,790 --> 00:27:47,690 whether or not the Pentagon has an 678 00:27:47,690 --> 00:27:49,670 assessment of the Taliban's attack 679 00:27:49,670 --> 00:27:51,781 today . Do you think that's an effort 680 00:27:51,781 --> 00:27:55,700 to end the the ongoing dialogue ? Um , 681 00:27:55,710 --> 00:27:58,240 why would they do that at this time ? 682 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:01,810 And I guess why not respond ? Is there 683 00:28:01,810 --> 00:28:03,532 an effort here to sort of have 684 00:28:03,532 --> 00:28:05,477 strategic patients and not can not 685 00:28:05,477 --> 00:28:08,560 respond ? I think look , whether or not 686 00:28:08,940 --> 00:28:12,790 so first of all , uh , it's hard for me 687 00:28:12,790 --> 00:28:14,901 to get , uh , it's hard for us to get 688 00:28:14,901 --> 00:28:16,846 inside the head of the Taliban and 689 00:28:16,846 --> 00:28:19,012 exactly what their goal and intent was 690 00:28:19,012 --> 00:28:21,870 here . Um uh , and this just happened 691 00:28:21,870 --> 00:28:25,860 today , so I can't deliver a 692 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:28,820 a comprehensive analysis of , 693 00:28:28,830 --> 00:28:32,500 uh , what we believe they were trying 694 00:28:32,500 --> 00:28:36,040 to achieve . Uh , what message ? Well , 695 00:28:36,050 --> 00:28:39,650 they were trying to send clearly , As I 696 00:28:39,650 --> 00:28:42,290 said , we condemn the attack . Um , and 697 00:28:42,290 --> 00:28:44,123 we believe that this decision to 698 00:28:44,123 --> 00:28:46,068 provoke provoke even more violence 699 00:28:46,068 --> 00:28:48,830 remains disruptive to what we believe 700 00:28:48,830 --> 00:28:51,020 is an opportunity for peace that's 701 00:28:51,030 --> 00:28:54,890 presented by these ongoing negotiations . 702 00:28:55,020 --> 00:28:58,160 And I'm not prepared to again today 703 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:00,920 offer an assessment here of exactly 704 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:03,990 what this means to the agreement or to 705 00:29:03,990 --> 00:29:06,790 the peace process going forward . And 706 00:29:06,790 --> 00:29:10,100 then your question about , um , why not 707 00:29:10,100 --> 00:29:12,211 respond ? I mean , this just happened 708 00:29:12,211 --> 00:29:15,040 today . I think we need to do a fuller 709 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:18,490 assessment of , uh , of ourselves 710 00:29:18,500 --> 00:29:20,960 ourselves of of what happened and , uh , 711 00:29:21,340 --> 00:29:23,490 and why , before any potential 712 00:29:23,490 --> 00:29:26,110 operational decision is made one way or 713 00:29:26,110 --> 00:29:28,277 the other . As I said , our commanders 714 00:29:28,277 --> 00:29:30,499 always have the right of self defense . 715 00:29:30,499 --> 00:29:33,180 I would add that , um that there were 716 00:29:33,180 --> 00:29:35,890 no casualties , no damage , and in fact , 717 00:29:35,900 --> 00:29:38,067 preliminary indications are that these 718 00:29:38,067 --> 00:29:40,400 rounds didn't even uh huh fall inside 719 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:44,260 the perimeter of the airfield . Um , 720 00:29:45,140 --> 00:29:47,307 let's go back . Alright . Just did the 721 00:29:47,307 --> 00:29:49,529 phone . So I go back here to the room . 722 00:29:49,529 --> 00:29:51,418 Abraham , follow up on that . The 723 00:29:51,418 --> 00:29:53,473 Taliban attacked Kandahar airfield , 724 00:29:53,473 --> 00:29:55,640 Airfield and U S forces are there . Is 725 00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:57,751 that a violation of the agreement ? I 726 00:29:57,751 --> 00:29:57,720 think I think I just actually kind of 727 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:00,410 dealt with that question . Uh , talking 728 00:30:00,410 --> 00:30:02,521 to Dan . I'm not prepared to give you 729 00:30:02,521 --> 00:30:04,688 an assessment right now one way or the 730 00:30:04,688 --> 00:30:06,632 other as to how the suits with the 731 00:30:06,632 --> 00:30:08,743 agreement . Clearly , the violence is 732 00:30:08,743 --> 00:30:11,670 too high . Clearly this attack , uh , 733 00:30:12,140 --> 00:30:15,560 certainly indicates , um 734 00:30:15,570 --> 00:30:18,680 that that's going to be disruptive to 735 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:21,210 the opportunity to achieve a peaceful 736 00:30:21,210 --> 00:30:23,154 negotiation . But I'm not prepared 737 00:30:23,154 --> 00:30:25,400 today to give an assessment of of this 738 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:27,590 attack has balanced against the Doha 739 00:30:27,590 --> 00:30:30,950 agreement . Okay . Yes , sir . Thank 740 00:30:30,950 --> 00:30:33,070 you for your question about US Africa 741 00:30:33,070 --> 00:30:35,610 Command specifically in Asia , West 742 00:30:35,610 --> 00:30:38,030 Africa . A delegation of U . S Africa 743 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:40,096 Command attended the inauguration of 744 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:42,264 newly elected President of Nigeria 745 00:30:42,330 --> 00:30:44,386 President Mohamed Hossam last week . 746 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:46,618 The delegation included African 747 00:30:46,618 --> 00:30:48,729 Ambassador Andrew Young , the U . S . 748 00:30:48,729 --> 00:30:51,410 Ambassador to Tunisia , Two questions . 749 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:53,091 Do you have an update on the 750 00:30:53,091 --> 00:30:55,147 approximate number of US troops in ? 751 00:30:55,147 --> 00:30:57,091 And secondly , what is the U . S . 752 00:30:57,091 --> 00:30:59,940 Military's going with Under Secretary 753 00:30:59,950 --> 00:31:01,770 Austin ? Because in the past , 754 00:31:01,780 --> 00:31:04,040 administration the U . S . Goal to help 755 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:07,010 militarily in appeared to be a big day 756 00:31:07,020 --> 00:31:09,240 and undefined . Given the this , I was 757 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:11,184 an extremely dangerous part of the 758 00:31:11,184 --> 00:31:13,550 world . And in 2000 and 18 , 4 US 759 00:31:13,550 --> 00:31:15,780 soldiers were killed by Islamic state 760 00:31:15,780 --> 00:31:18,890 in . Thank you . I'm gonna have to get 761 00:31:18,890 --> 00:31:20,890 back to you on the number . I don't 762 00:31:20,890 --> 00:31:23,160 have that , uh , with me here today . 763 00:31:23,170 --> 00:31:26,170 Um , and , uh , we'll get you a more 764 00:31:26,170 --> 00:31:29,020 specific answer on on the bilateral 765 00:31:29,020 --> 00:31:31,880 relationship with Nigeria , but in 766 00:31:31,880 --> 00:31:35,050 general , Okay , in general , uh , in 767 00:31:35,050 --> 00:31:37,870 the saddle and Africa African works 768 00:31:37,870 --> 00:31:40,040 very hard on the relationships the 769 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:42,200 partner relationships with with many 770 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:44,650 countries there on the continent , uh , 771 00:31:44,660 --> 00:31:48,170 designed largely to help them , uh , 772 00:31:48,740 --> 00:31:50,530 improve their capability in 773 00:31:50,530 --> 00:31:52,840 counterterrorism . That's the general 774 00:31:52,850 --> 00:31:55,490 thrust of the of the security 775 00:31:55,500 --> 00:31:57,700 relationships that we have , uh , in 776 00:31:57,700 --> 00:31:59,756 Africa . But we'll get you something 777 00:31:59,756 --> 00:32:01,867 more specific to better answer . Your 778 00:32:01,867 --> 00:32:04,089 question on Nigeria wasn't prepared for 779 00:32:04,089 --> 00:32:06,311 that one today or back to Ukraine for a 780 00:32:06,311 --> 00:32:05,660 moment . Have there been followed 781 00:32:05,660 --> 00:32:07,271 conversations with Ukrainian 782 00:32:07,271 --> 00:32:09,382 counterparts ? And is there any sense 783 00:32:09,382 --> 00:32:11,604 of whether Ukraine believes the Russian 784 00:32:11,604 --> 00:32:13,604 president's there is an exercise or 785 00:32:13,604 --> 00:32:15,716 otherwise ? I have no more updates no 786 00:32:15,716 --> 00:32:17,938 more conversations or our consultations 787 00:32:17,938 --> 00:32:20,104 with Ukrainian officials to read out . 788 00:32:20,104 --> 00:32:22,104 And I would point you to Ukraine to 789 00:32:22,104 --> 00:32:24,049 speak to what they believe The the 790 00:32:24,049 --> 00:32:26,160 Russian presence is all about there . 791 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:29,970 Um , yeah , boy . Jennifer from New 792 00:32:29,970 --> 00:32:33,530 York Times . Hi . Thanks . Um , so at 793 00:32:33,530 --> 00:32:35,697 what point ? There was a request for , 794 00:32:35,697 --> 00:32:38,370 like , 10,000 troops to support FEMA 795 00:32:38,370 --> 00:32:41,110 vaccine sites . Um , we see operation 796 00:32:41,110 --> 00:32:43,332 warp speed . Kind of . It's not a thing 797 00:32:43,332 --> 00:32:45,443 anymore . Would you describe the role 798 00:32:45,443 --> 00:32:47,554 of the military in the vaccine effort 799 00:32:47,554 --> 00:32:50,020 as , uh , kind of reduce reducing at 800 00:32:50,020 --> 00:32:52,242 this point , still ramping up ? What is 801 00:32:52,242 --> 00:32:55,310 the role at present actively involved 802 00:32:55,310 --> 00:32:58,240 in supporting FEMA vaccination centers 803 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:00,640 Right now , As of today , there's 804 00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:04,610 4242 active duty 805 00:33:04,620 --> 00:33:06,564 troops deployed in support of this 806 00:33:06,564 --> 00:33:08,890 mission . That does not count . Uh , I 807 00:33:08,900 --> 00:33:10,678 think more than 20,000 National 808 00:33:10,678 --> 00:33:12,678 Guardsmen that have been supporting 809 00:33:12,678 --> 00:33:14,950 local and state efforts to help vaccine 810 00:33:14,950 --> 00:33:18,060 American vaccinate Americans apologize . 811 00:33:18,540 --> 00:33:22,290 Um , there are total of 31 vaccination 812 00:33:22,290 --> 00:33:25,590 teams deployed of various sizes . I we 813 00:33:25,590 --> 00:33:27,646 can get you a breakdown by state . I 814 00:33:27,646 --> 00:33:29,757 have it here , but I'm not gonna read 815 00:33:29,757 --> 00:33:31,970 it . Uh , it would take a long time to 816 00:33:31,970 --> 00:33:34,137 get through all of it . But there's 31 817 00:33:34,137 --> 00:33:37,400 teams deployed . Um , and I don't have 818 00:33:37,400 --> 00:33:39,456 any additional announcements to make 819 00:33:39,456 --> 00:33:41,770 with respect to more teams , but , um , 820 00:33:41,780 --> 00:33:44,190 but we're very much still engaged in 821 00:33:44,190 --> 00:33:47,950 this mission . Yes , sir . 822 00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:51,130 Thank you . I have a question about US 823 00:33:51,130 --> 00:33:53,730 military base in Okinawa , Japan , 824 00:33:53,740 --> 00:33:56,520 particularly the relocation project of , 825 00:33:56,530 --> 00:34:00,320 uh , Marine Corps Air station . So , um , 826 00:34:00,330 --> 00:34:04,190 April 12 marks 25 years since the U . 827 00:34:04,190 --> 00:34:06,301 S . And Japan has announced they have 828 00:34:06,301 --> 00:34:08,600 reached agreement on return of , uh , 829 00:34:08,610 --> 00:34:12,390 Gemma 25 years later in the no . 830 00:34:12,560 --> 00:34:14,727 The returning still not accomplished . 831 00:34:14,840 --> 00:34:17,980 And construction of the educational 832 00:34:17,980 --> 00:34:19,760 facility is facing a technical 833 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:23,130 difficulties and returns now expected 834 00:34:23,140 --> 00:34:26,090 to delay into 2000 thirties . So my 835 00:34:26,090 --> 00:34:28,146 question is , how do you assess this 836 00:34:28,146 --> 00:34:30,750 delay of construction of the facility ? 837 00:34:31,240 --> 00:34:34,000 And the second question is , does that 838 00:34:34,010 --> 00:34:36,620 impact have any impact on the ongoing 839 00:34:36,630 --> 00:34:40,630 global posture review ? Um , so on , 840 00:34:40,640 --> 00:34:42,751 Lieutenant , I think you heard , uh , 841 00:34:42,751 --> 00:34:44,918 Secretary Austin when we were in Tokyo 842 00:34:44,918 --> 00:34:47,140 just a couple of weeks ago , Uh , thank 843 00:34:47,140 --> 00:34:49,418 the government of Japan for their , uh , 844 00:34:49,418 --> 00:34:52,160 continued , uh , coordination on this . 845 00:34:52,170 --> 00:34:56,120 Um , uh , we still support the 846 00:34:56,120 --> 00:34:58,342 relocation . I don't have an update for 847 00:34:58,342 --> 00:35:00,287 you on the construction delays . I 848 00:35:00,287 --> 00:35:02,509 think we're gonna have to take that and 849 00:35:02,509 --> 00:35:04,509 get back to you . I just don't have 850 00:35:04,509 --> 00:35:06,620 that information with me . But , uh , 851 00:35:06,620 --> 00:35:10,510 obviously , uh , we 852 00:35:10,510 --> 00:35:13,520 appreciate the government's role here , 853 00:35:13,530 --> 00:35:16,440 um , and and support , um , And again , 854 00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:19,790 as you saw , uh , say when we were in 855 00:35:19,790 --> 00:35:22,123 Tokyo not long ago . I mean , this is a , 856 00:35:22,123 --> 00:35:24,940 uh , an alliance that's ironclad . And 857 00:35:25,040 --> 00:35:27,262 we take our security commitments very , 858 00:35:27,262 --> 00:35:29,318 very seriously to the government and 859 00:35:29,318 --> 00:35:31,860 the people of Japan . Yeah . I want to 860 00:35:31,870 --> 00:35:34,520 follow up on Iraq on this line in the 861 00:35:34,530 --> 00:35:36,740 joint statement , since this is the 862 00:35:36,740 --> 00:35:40,670 mission now advising and yeah , 863 00:35:41,190 --> 00:35:43,023 and the training . So what's the 864 00:35:43,023 --> 00:35:45,134 difference between the mission of the 865 00:35:45,134 --> 00:35:47,246 coalition and the mission of the NATO 866 00:35:47,246 --> 00:35:49,246 in Iraq ? Mission of NATO in Iraq ? 867 00:35:49,246 --> 00:35:51,301 NATO has a training mission there as 868 00:35:51,301 --> 00:35:55,250 well They do . I'm not gonna speak for 869 00:35:55,250 --> 00:35:57,417 NATO . They do have a training mission 870 00:35:57,417 --> 00:35:59,590 in Iraq . There's , uh that is also 871 00:35:59,590 --> 00:36:01,701 aimed at improving the capability and 872 00:36:01,701 --> 00:36:04,380 competency of Iraqi security forces . 873 00:36:04,390 --> 00:36:06,390 We also have an American mission in 874 00:36:06,390 --> 00:36:08,279 Iraq that is largely advising and 875 00:36:08,279 --> 00:36:10,650 assisting , uh , the Iraqi security 876 00:36:10,650 --> 00:36:12,990 forces as they prosecute the fight 877 00:36:12,990 --> 00:36:15,950 against Isis . Okay . 878 00:36:16,430 --> 00:36:17,450 Salmon . 879 00:36:21,530 --> 00:36:23,640 Okay . Thank you , John . Um , last 880 00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:26,360 month , on March 25th , North Korea 881 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:28,360 launched two short range ballistic 882 00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:30,304 missile . I know you've been doing 883 00:36:30,304 --> 00:36:32,620 analysis of dismissal . So what is it 884 00:36:32,620 --> 00:36:35,130 you set someone on dismissal ? Is this 885 00:36:35,140 --> 00:36:37,750 upgrade ? One and second question is , 886 00:36:38,230 --> 00:36:40,230 do you think that North Korea has a 887 00:36:40,230 --> 00:36:42,170 platform capable of delivering 888 00:36:42,300 --> 00:36:44,467 submarine launched ballistic missile ? 889 00:36:45,730 --> 00:36:47,397 I won't get into intelligence 890 00:36:47,397 --> 00:36:49,810 assessments of what the DPRK is 891 00:36:49,810 --> 00:36:52,100 pursuing , and we have not finished our 892 00:36:52,100 --> 00:36:54,370 analysis and assessment of the March 893 00:36:54,370 --> 00:36:57,340 25th launches . Mhm , Jared . 894 00:36:58,930 --> 00:37:00,819 Hi , John . Thank you . Two quick 895 00:37:00,819 --> 00:37:02,819 questions . First , are you able to 896 00:37:02,819 --> 00:37:04,819 confirm access ? Report that sector 897 00:37:04,819 --> 00:37:06,708 Austin ? Uh , Secretary Defense . 898 00:37:06,708 --> 00:37:08,819 Austin will be traveling to Israel in 899 00:37:08,819 --> 00:37:10,708 the near future . And then second 900 00:37:10,708 --> 00:37:12,486 question , um , about the joint 901 00:37:12,486 --> 00:37:14,541 statement , Uh , today with the Iraq 902 00:37:14,541 --> 00:37:16,763 Strategic dialogue , strategic dialogue 903 00:37:16,763 --> 00:37:19,310 with Iraq . Um , is it possible that 904 00:37:19,310 --> 00:37:21,588 the U . S . Coalition combat Excuse me ? 905 00:37:21,588 --> 00:37:24,160 US coalition forces may remain in Iraq 906 00:37:24,530 --> 00:37:27,740 after combat forces are pulled out in 907 00:37:27,740 --> 00:37:30,240 order to further support or facilitate 908 00:37:30,240 --> 00:37:33,570 NATO's expanded mission . Um , I don't 909 00:37:33,570 --> 00:37:36,850 have , uh so there's a lot there 910 00:37:37,430 --> 00:37:40,790 on the trip . I don't have any travel 911 00:37:40,800 --> 00:37:42,689 to speak to an announced to today 912 00:37:42,689 --> 00:37:46,440 announced today on your Iraq 913 00:37:46,450 --> 00:37:49,960 question . I don't have any 914 00:37:51,030 --> 00:37:53,840 announcement or expectation to speak to 915 00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:57,810 you today about what the presence 916 00:37:57,820 --> 00:38:00,910 of American forces will be in support 917 00:38:00,910 --> 00:38:03,132 of the NATO mission . The Iraq security 918 00:38:03,132 --> 00:38:05,910 dialogue today was really about the 919 00:38:05,920 --> 00:38:08,087 bilateral relationship between our two 920 00:38:08,087 --> 00:38:11,130 countries and the the US Iraqi mission 921 00:38:11,140 --> 00:38:14,320 inside Iraq to prosecute the fight 922 00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:16,340 against Isis . Um , and I wouldn't 923 00:38:16,340 --> 00:38:18,507 speculate one way or another right now 924 00:38:18,507 --> 00:38:20,980 about , uh either the future footprint 925 00:38:20,980 --> 00:38:23,040 and posture of that mission or the 926 00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:25,140 future footprint and posture of the 927 00:38:25,140 --> 00:38:27,630 NATO mission going forward . I just 928 00:38:27,630 --> 00:38:30,040 follow up on that real quick . Yeah . 929 00:38:30,920 --> 00:38:33,320 Has has NATO officials requested 930 00:38:33,330 --> 00:38:35,240 additional U . S support for the 931 00:38:35,240 --> 00:38:37,360 expansion of the of NATO's mission in 932 00:38:37,360 --> 00:38:39,530 Iraq . Not aware of any such request , 933 00:38:40,420 --> 00:38:42,430 Nancy , I fell upon . All right , 934 00:38:42,430 --> 00:38:45,000 Please . I have two questions , and the 935 00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:47,390 communicate says that , um , there will 936 00:38:47,390 --> 00:38:50,210 be talks about upcoming technical talks 937 00:38:50,210 --> 00:38:52,500 about the future of U . S forces 938 00:38:52,510 --> 00:38:54,566 deployed in Iraq . Can you offer any 939 00:38:54,566 --> 00:38:56,677 details on what those technical talks 940 00:38:56,677 --> 00:38:58,954 would be ? Who would be a part of them ? 941 00:38:58,954 --> 00:39:01,066 Um , and what sort of timeline you're 942 00:39:01,066 --> 00:39:03,288 you're thinking of ? I don't actually , 943 00:39:03,288 --> 00:39:05,960 uh , Nancy ? Um uh , no technical talk 944 00:39:05,960 --> 00:39:08,060 Sounds like an interesting bit of 945 00:39:08,060 --> 00:39:10,930 jargon , but it does refer to bilateral 946 00:39:10,930 --> 00:39:13,041 discussions going forward . I suspect 947 00:39:13,041 --> 00:39:14,819 that both sides will be equally 948 00:39:14,819 --> 00:39:17,300 represented . Um , and my understanding 949 00:39:17,300 --> 00:39:19,200 is that these talks would not 950 00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:21,400 necessarily be at the same level of 951 00:39:21,400 --> 00:39:23,690 participants that we saw today in the 952 00:39:23,690 --> 00:39:25,760 Iraqi security dialogue today . The 953 00:39:25,760 --> 00:39:27,960 strategic dialogue . Excuse me . So 954 00:39:27,960 --> 00:39:30,840 we'll probably done by , uh , more 955 00:39:30,840 --> 00:39:33,250 staff level individuals to get it to 956 00:39:33,250 --> 00:39:35,410 each is of what that posture should 957 00:39:35,410 --> 00:39:37,632 look like over what period of time Have 958 00:39:37,632 --> 00:39:39,577 a sense of who , if anyone , would 959 00:39:39,577 --> 00:39:42,540 represent . I don't right now , but 960 00:39:42,540 --> 00:39:45,450 certainly when we get to the next talk , 961 00:39:45,450 --> 00:39:47,450 whenever that is , we'll be able to 962 00:39:47,450 --> 00:39:49,672 speak to it from the podium and let you 963 00:39:49,672 --> 00:39:51,894 know right now , as I understand it , a 964 00:39:51,894 --> 00:39:53,728 follow on discussion hasn't been 965 00:39:53,728 --> 00:39:55,839 scheduled yet , so we're a little bit 966 00:39:55,839 --> 00:39:58,061 of ways from that right now . Bumped to 967 00:39:58,061 --> 00:40:00,283 cook . Did you say that these technical 968 00:40:00,283 --> 00:40:03,380 talks are new thing A new step ? Well , 969 00:40:03,380 --> 00:40:05,158 I mean that they that they have 970 00:40:05,158 --> 00:40:07,380 announced that we're going to conduct a 971 00:40:07,380 --> 00:40:09,491 round of talks going forward to re to 972 00:40:09,491 --> 00:40:11,602 re examine the footprint . I mean , I 973 00:40:11,602 --> 00:40:14,550 think that that was an outcome that was 974 00:40:14,550 --> 00:40:17,020 a result of today's dialogue Is that a 975 00:40:17,020 --> 00:40:19,010 reference to a continuation of the 976 00:40:19,010 --> 00:40:20,788 process was just the start of a 977 00:40:20,788 --> 00:40:23,640 technical talks were just that new is 978 00:40:23,640 --> 00:40:26,440 that we've been in consultation with 979 00:40:26,450 --> 00:40:28,339 our Iraqi partners throughout the 980 00:40:28,339 --> 00:40:30,420 mission there . My understanding is 981 00:40:30,420 --> 00:40:32,550 that the decision to continue the 982 00:40:32,560 --> 00:40:35,430 decision to conduct technical talks 983 00:40:35,430 --> 00:40:37,652 going forward is an outcome is a result 984 00:40:37,652 --> 00:40:39,850 of today's dialogue . That's my 985 00:40:39,850 --> 00:40:42,590 understanding . But have we ? I don't 986 00:40:42,590 --> 00:40:44,757 want to leave you with the notion that 987 00:40:44,757 --> 00:40:46,868 we haven't today ever had discussions 988 00:40:46,868 --> 00:40:49,520 with our Iraqi partners at staff levels 989 00:40:49,520 --> 00:40:51,631 about what we're doing there and what 990 00:40:51,631 --> 00:40:53,742 the footprint looks like and what the 991 00:40:53,742 --> 00:40:55,909 capabilities are we have . But I think 992 00:40:55,909 --> 00:40:57,909 in today's communicated they made a 993 00:40:57,909 --> 00:40:59,964 point of noting that we will conduct 994 00:40:59,964 --> 00:41:02,390 now a series of technical talks going 995 00:41:02,390 --> 00:41:05,680 forward . So I as I said , I my 996 00:41:05,680 --> 00:41:07,847 understanding is that that is a bit of 997 00:41:07,847 --> 00:41:09,902 a new development as a result of the 998 00:41:09,902 --> 00:41:13,060 dialogue today , Yeah , in the back 999 00:41:13,060 --> 00:41:16,740 down on Iraq , just a little bit more 1000 00:41:16,860 --> 00:41:19,082 the last time U . S forces kind of left 1001 00:41:19,082 --> 00:41:21,193 Iraq and that's the Iraqi military to 1002 00:41:21,193 --> 00:41:23,249 stand on its own . They didn't do so 1003 00:41:23,249 --> 00:41:25,304 well when Isis came calling and came 1004 00:41:25,304 --> 00:41:27,416 knocking on the door , and it kind of 1005 00:41:27,416 --> 00:41:29,193 melted away faster than defense 1006 00:41:29,193 --> 00:41:31,138 officials were expecting . What is 1007 00:41:31,138 --> 00:41:33,360 different about the process this time ? 1008 00:41:33,360 --> 00:41:35,193 And how much confidence does the 1009 00:41:35,193 --> 00:41:37,304 Pentagon have that the Iraqi military 1010 00:41:37,304 --> 00:41:39,304 will be able to withstand ? Whether 1011 00:41:39,304 --> 00:41:41,416 it's another surge of Iraq of an isis 1012 00:41:41,416 --> 00:41:43,582 two point oh , or challenges from Iran 1013 00:41:43,582 --> 00:41:45,860 that the military , the Iraqi military , 1014 00:41:45,860 --> 00:41:47,860 will maintain cohesion and will not 1015 00:41:47,860 --> 00:41:50,138 disappear in the face of the challenge ? 1016 00:41:50,210 --> 00:41:52,377 Well , I mean , I think if you go back 1017 00:41:52,377 --> 00:41:54,670 to 2014 and we and you look at how the 1018 00:41:54,670 --> 00:41:56,670 Iraqi security forces performed , I 1019 00:41:56,670 --> 00:41:58,726 mean and we said it at the time that 1020 00:41:58,726 --> 00:42:00,837 that when when the United States left 1021 00:42:00,837 --> 00:42:02,781 Iraq , it did leave Iraqi security 1022 00:42:02,781 --> 00:42:05,059 forces much more capable and competent . 1023 00:42:05,059 --> 00:42:08,000 Um , but But after our departure , um , 1024 00:42:08,010 --> 00:42:11,020 management leadership , um 1025 00:42:11,800 --> 00:42:15,590 uh was , uh , was was 1026 00:42:15,600 --> 00:42:18,540 not sufficient to keeping their combat 1027 00:42:18,540 --> 00:42:22,060 capability in place . Um , and , uh , 1028 00:42:22,070 --> 00:42:24,660 and that , you know , And that resulted 1029 00:42:24,660 --> 00:42:28,560 in a , um , uh , more 1030 00:42:28,560 --> 00:42:32,360 sectarian force that that lacked the 1031 00:42:32,360 --> 00:42:35,850 ability to effectively fight Isis in 1032 00:42:35,850 --> 00:42:38,590 the early in the early months of Isis 1033 00:42:38,590 --> 00:42:41,510 is , uh , a rise there . 1034 00:42:42,300 --> 00:42:45,980 Um , but we've been there now 1035 00:42:45,990 --> 00:42:47,870 for several years again at the 1036 00:42:47,870 --> 00:42:50,050 invitation of the Iraqi government and 1037 00:42:50,050 --> 00:42:52,161 in full support and coordination with 1038 00:42:52,161 --> 00:42:54,217 Iraqi security forces . And they are 1039 00:42:54,217 --> 00:42:56,383 better , and they are more competent . 1040 00:42:56,383 --> 00:42:58,700 And Isis is while still a threat , no 1041 00:42:58,700 --> 00:43:02,240 question is nowhere near what it was 1042 00:43:02,240 --> 00:43:04,810 back in 2014 , both in terms of size 1043 00:43:04,810 --> 00:43:07,032 capability , resourcing , recruitment , 1044 00:43:07,032 --> 00:43:09,870 um , and and their own competence . And 1045 00:43:09,870 --> 00:43:11,481 certainly from a territorial 1046 00:43:11,481 --> 00:43:14,890 perspective , uh , they virtually have 1047 00:43:14,900 --> 00:43:18,380 almost no ground anymore . So and 1048 00:43:18,380 --> 00:43:21,630 that's a testament not just to what the 1049 00:43:21,630 --> 00:43:23,400 United States has been able to 1050 00:43:23,400 --> 00:43:25,511 contribute to the effort , but to the 1051 00:43:25,511 --> 00:43:27,733 whole coalition . Because it's not just 1052 00:43:27,733 --> 00:43:29,900 about the U . S . Uh , in Iraq , there 1053 00:43:29,900 --> 00:43:32,122 is a There is a coalition still aligned 1054 00:43:32,122 --> 00:43:33,844 against Isis , and it's also a 1055 00:43:33,844 --> 00:43:36,122 testament to the Iraqi security forces , 1056 00:43:36,122 --> 00:43:38,289 uh , and the manner in which they have 1057 00:43:38,289 --> 00:43:40,430 they have improved their capability , 1058 00:43:40,700 --> 00:43:43,040 um , and , uh , and responded to the 1059 00:43:43,040 --> 00:43:44,873 training and the assistance that 1060 00:43:44,873 --> 00:43:46,929 they've been getting from , uh , the 1061 00:43:46,929 --> 00:43:48,929 coalition . So they are much better 1062 00:43:48,929 --> 00:43:50,929 force now than they were before and 1063 00:43:50,929 --> 00:43:53,420 again . You know , it's not as if you 1064 00:43:53,420 --> 00:43:56,320 know we're turning off the lights today 1065 00:43:56,320 --> 00:43:58,542 as a result of the strategic dialogue , 1066 00:43:58,542 --> 00:44:00,598 What we agreed to today was that the 1067 00:44:00,598 --> 00:44:02,820 partnership is still really important , 1068 00:44:02,820 --> 00:44:04,931 that the threat is still really there 1069 00:44:04,931 --> 00:44:07,153 and that eventually we're going to have 1070 00:44:07,153 --> 00:44:09,530 to continue to monitor that threat and 1071 00:44:09,530 --> 00:44:11,660 that presence , uh , you know , going 1072 00:44:11,660 --> 00:44:13,870 forward and that eventually , as we 1073 00:44:13,870 --> 00:44:16,037 always assumed , eventually the United 1074 00:44:16,037 --> 00:44:18,500 States would not be needed to be there 1075 00:44:18,500 --> 00:44:20,950 to help the Iraqi forces continue to 1076 00:44:20,950 --> 00:44:23,117 prosecute this fight . They are a They 1077 00:44:23,117 --> 00:44:25,117 are a vastly better force than they 1078 00:44:25,117 --> 00:44:27,800 were before . Okay , I got time for one 1079 00:44:27,800 --> 00:44:30,380 more . Therese . Yes , I have two 1080 00:44:30,390 --> 00:44:33,260 questions this month is sexual Assault 1081 00:44:33,260 --> 00:44:35,316 Awareness Month . And so I wanted to 1082 00:44:35,316 --> 00:44:37,316 ask , What is the Pentagon doing to 1083 00:44:37,316 --> 00:44:40,910 recognize that ? Also , what would be 1084 00:44:40,920 --> 00:44:44,520 the military leaders ? Words of 1085 00:44:44,520 --> 00:44:47,010 encouragement for survivors who may be , 1086 00:44:47,590 --> 00:44:49,701 you know , stuck between whether they 1087 00:44:49,701 --> 00:44:51,812 should report an assault or whether , 1088 00:44:51,812 --> 00:44:53,923 you know , face backlash . If they do 1089 00:44:53,923 --> 00:44:56,034 report assaults . I know the military 1090 00:44:56,034 --> 00:44:57,923 cracking down on people reporting 1091 00:44:57,923 --> 00:45:00,034 sexual assault . So is there anything 1092 00:45:00,034 --> 00:45:02,201 that cracking down on people reporting 1093 00:45:02,201 --> 00:45:04,850 sexual assault ? Your Excuse me ? No . 1094 00:45:04,860 --> 00:45:07,140 You want people to afford No , you're 1095 00:45:07,150 --> 00:45:09,680 investigating reports more thoroughly 1096 00:45:09,690 --> 00:45:11,857 than before , like they're being steps 1097 00:45:11,857 --> 00:45:13,746 that are being taken to encourage 1098 00:45:13,746 --> 00:45:15,357 service members to feel more 1099 00:45:15,357 --> 00:45:17,523 comfortable with reporting and kind of 1100 00:45:17,523 --> 00:45:20,300 how the process works . Look April , 1101 00:45:20,300 --> 00:45:23,710 maybe Sexual Assault Prevention and 1102 00:45:23,710 --> 00:45:25,710 Awareness Month , but for Secretary 1103 00:45:25,710 --> 00:45:28,120 Austin is something he focuses on every 1104 00:45:28,120 --> 00:45:32,060 day and his second day . 1105 00:45:32,070 --> 00:45:34,320 The day after he reported aboard the 1106 00:45:34,320 --> 00:45:36,150 Pentagon , he issued his first 1107 00:45:36,150 --> 00:45:39,440 directive was on trying to get our arms 1108 00:45:39,440 --> 00:45:41,273 around sexual assault and sexual 1109 00:45:41,273 --> 00:45:43,440 harassment . Here in the ranks , it is 1110 00:45:43,440 --> 00:45:45,790 something he has repeatedly continually 1111 00:45:45,790 --> 00:45:47,790 talked about and stressed . So it's 1112 00:45:47,790 --> 00:45:49,957 every day here at the Pentagon and you 1113 00:45:49,957 --> 00:45:52,123 saw I think you are . You participated 1114 00:45:52,123 --> 00:45:54,123 in the last press conference we did 1115 00:45:54,123 --> 00:45:56,850 with Lynn Rosenthal , the chair of the 1116 00:45:56,860 --> 00:45:58,916 Independent Review Commission . Just 1117 00:45:58,916 --> 00:46:00,916 today , she conducted the second of 1118 00:46:00,916 --> 00:46:03,270 what will be three engagements virtual 1119 00:46:03,270 --> 00:46:05,430 engagements with sexual assault 1120 00:46:05,430 --> 00:46:08,040 advisors I'm sorry , sexual assault 1121 00:46:08,040 --> 00:46:10,400 survivors and advisory groups 1122 00:46:10,580 --> 00:46:13,850 associated with victims and survivors 1123 00:46:13,850 --> 00:46:15,440 as well as military service 1124 00:46:15,440 --> 00:46:17,860 organizations , and that dialogue will 1125 00:46:17,860 --> 00:46:20,082 continue . She wanted to introduce them 1126 00:46:20,082 --> 00:46:22,138 to the highly qualified experts that 1127 00:46:22,138 --> 00:46:24,630 she has enlisted to join the commission 1128 00:46:24,640 --> 00:46:26,900 and the field and and solicit field 1129 00:46:26,900 --> 00:46:29,070 questions and solicit their ideas . So 1130 00:46:29,080 --> 00:46:31,302 it is something we're pressing on every 1131 00:46:31,302 --> 00:46:33,413 single day , and you're right . We do 1132 00:46:33,413 --> 00:46:35,469 want people to feel more free , more 1133 00:46:35,469 --> 00:46:37,580 comfortable to to report incidents of 1134 00:46:37,580 --> 00:46:39,469 the chain of command . And that's 1135 00:46:39,469 --> 00:46:41,524 that's again going to be a continual 1136 00:46:41,524 --> 00:46:41,510 focus . It is still a problem in the 1137 00:46:41,510 --> 00:46:43,830 ranks . It's still a serious threat to 1138 00:46:44,070 --> 00:46:46,460 the men and women who serve in the 1139 00:46:46,460 --> 00:46:48,516 United States military . And I think 1140 00:46:48,516 --> 00:46:50,738 you'll see Secretary Austin continue to 1141 00:46:50,738 --> 00:46:53,170 keep the pressure on the entire time 1142 00:46:53,170 --> 00:46:55,200 he's in office . Okay , thanks , 1143 00:46:55,200 --> 00:46:57,311 everybody appreciate it . Sorry again 1144 00:46:57,311 --> 00:46:59,478 for being late , and that's becoming a 1145 00:46:59,478 --> 00:47:01,700 habit . And I promise I will try to fix 1146 00:47:01,700 --> 00:47:03,867 that going forward . That's not that's 1147 00:47:03,867 --> 00:47:05,978 not what I want to do , and it's it's 1148 00:47:05,978 --> 00:47:07,978 not good for you or me . So for the 1149 00:47:07,978 --> 00:47:10,000 building , Yeah , Captain , do all