1 00:00:01,540 --> 00:00:03,707 that would have been . That would have 2 00:00:03,707 --> 00:00:07,150 been nice . Yeah . 3 00:00:08,540 --> 00:00:10,484 Alright . Thanks everybody . Happy 4 00:00:10,484 --> 00:00:13,000 friday to you . Thank you so much . 5 00:00:13,140 --> 00:00:16,640 What day is it today ? Yeah . 6 00:00:17,540 --> 00:00:19,707 All right . Just a couple of things at 7 00:00:19,707 --> 00:00:21,818 the top and I know you've got lots of 8 00:00:21,818 --> 00:00:25,410 questions um on Tuesday I think you 9 00:00:25,410 --> 00:00:27,577 saw the director of the Defense Health 10 00:00:27,577 --> 00:00:29,410 Agency issued a directive to all 11 00:00:29,410 --> 00:00:31,577 military treatment facilities to pause 12 00:00:31,577 --> 00:00:33,854 the use of johnson and johnson vaccine . 13 00:00:33,854 --> 00:00:36,021 In accordance with the F . D . A . And 14 00:00:36,021 --> 00:00:37,854 C . D . C . Recommendations , we 15 00:00:37,854 --> 00:00:39,966 briefed you last week the D . O . D . 16 00:00:39,966 --> 00:00:42,188 Intended to use the johnson and johnson 17 00:00:42,188 --> 00:00:43,966 vaccine to support our overseas 18 00:00:43,966 --> 00:00:45,966 personnel and their families . This 19 00:00:45,966 --> 00:00:48,132 week the vaccine distribution planners 20 00:00:48,132 --> 00:00:50,132 on our covid task force developed a 21 00:00:50,132 --> 00:00:52,354 plan to reallocate doses of the Moderna 22 00:00:52,354 --> 00:00:54,577 vaccine to our Overseas Commands . Each 23 00:00:54,577 --> 00:00:56,521 service Will now direct a total of 24 00:00:56,521 --> 00:00:58,632 approximately 30,000 additional doses 25 00:00:58,632 --> 00:01:00,910 of moderna throughout the month of May . 26 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:03,950 That's around roughly 10,000 per week , 27 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,200 beginning May 10 To overseas locations 28 00:01:07,210 --> 00:01:09,380 in European Command . In the Pacific 29 00:01:09,380 --> 00:01:11,670 Command and Central Command . This will 30 00:01:11,670 --> 00:01:13,892 help keep the vaccination efforts right 31 00:01:13,892 --> 00:01:15,892 on pace to provide initial doses to 32 00:01:15,892 --> 00:01:18,003 over 70 of our overseas personnel and 33 00:01:18,003 --> 00:01:20,114 their families by the end of May . So 34 00:01:20,114 --> 00:01:22,790 we are adjusting fire as appropriate to 35 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:24,856 to make sure we continue to get that 36 00:01:24,856 --> 00:01:28,830 vaccine flow overseas . Um then one 37 00:01:28,830 --> 00:01:32,570 other thing I think , I 38 00:01:32,580 --> 00:01:34,636 actually don't know if this has been 39 00:01:34,636 --> 00:01:36,691 announced , but also this week , the 40 00:01:36,691 --> 00:01:38,747 Dwight D . Eisenhower Carrier Strike 41 00:01:38,747 --> 00:01:40,524 Group began dual carrier flight 42 00:01:40,524 --> 00:01:42,747 operations with the french Navy Charles 43 00:01:42,747 --> 00:01:44,858 de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group in the 44 00:01:44,858 --> 00:01:46,913 Arabian Sea that started on the 13th 45 00:01:46,913 --> 00:01:49,136 Charles de Gaulle is currently assigned 46 00:01:49,136 --> 00:01:51,247 to Us Naval Forces Central Command as 47 00:01:51,247 --> 00:01:53,580 Commander , Task Force 50 Come Sorry , 48 00:01:53,580 --> 00:01:56,520 Coalition Task Force 50 leading 49 00:01:56,530 --> 00:01:58,419 planning and execution for strike 50 00:01:58,419 --> 00:02:00,419 operations . This duel , these dual 51 00:02:00,419 --> 00:02:02,363 carrier operations demonstrate our 52 00:02:02,363 --> 00:02:04,586 combined capability to operate together 53 00:02:04,586 --> 00:02:07,230 and it's not new . The Icann Charles de 54 00:02:07,230 --> 00:02:09,119 Gaulle actually have a history of 55 00:02:09,119 --> 00:02:11,063 operating together , including air 56 00:02:11,063 --> 00:02:13,174 support to operation inherent resolve 57 00:02:13,174 --> 00:02:15,080 Uh , back in 2016 from the 58 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,330 Mediterranean Sea . And then again last 59 00:02:17,330 --> 00:02:19,219 year when they conducted maritime 60 00:02:19,219 --> 00:02:21,274 operations in the Red Sea . So we're 61 00:02:21,274 --> 00:02:23,270 glad to see those two carriers and 62 00:02:23,270 --> 00:02:25,780 their sailors working together again in 63 00:02:25,780 --> 00:02:27,947 support of shared national interest in 64 00:02:27,947 --> 00:02:31,420 the region . Lastly , um , I know that 65 00:02:31,430 --> 00:02:34,080 one of your colleagues , Marcus 66 00:02:34,090 --> 00:02:36,320 Weisgerber , is recovering right now 67 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:40,050 from uh health , uh 68 00:02:40,060 --> 00:02:42,610 concern and I just wanted to express to 69 00:02:42,610 --> 00:02:45,450 all of you and certainly too , him and 70 00:02:45,450 --> 00:02:48,010 Oriana , that we here at OsD public 71 00:02:48,010 --> 00:02:50,177 affairs . Our hearts and prayers . Our 72 00:02:50,177 --> 00:02:52,343 thoughts are with him . And uh , we're 73 00:02:52,343 --> 00:02:54,621 praying for a speedy recovery . And uh , 74 00:02:54,621 --> 00:02:56,732 we look forward to seeing him back at 75 00:02:56,732 --> 00:02:58,899 it and asking me tough questions again 76 00:02:58,899 --> 00:03:01,010 with that leader . Thank you , john . 77 00:03:01,010 --> 00:03:04,590 Um so a couple questions on 78 00:03:04,590 --> 00:03:07,010 Afghanistan , The president has said 79 00:03:07,010 --> 00:03:09,232 that some troops will begin withdrawing 80 00:03:09,232 --> 00:03:11,343 by May one . Can you give us at least 81 00:03:11,343 --> 00:03:13,566 some general assessment and they're not 82 00:03:13,566 --> 00:03:15,732 going to go into detail ? Give us some 83 00:03:15,732 --> 00:03:17,843 general assessment as to whether that 84 00:03:17,843 --> 00:03:19,954 will be dozens , hundreds or what you 85 00:03:19,954 --> 00:03:23,850 expect to the initial withdrawal to 86 00:03:23,850 --> 00:03:25,890 look like . Since that's obviously 87 00:03:25,900 --> 00:03:28,350 meant as a signal to the taliban that 88 00:03:28,350 --> 00:03:31,690 the what dr Brown is beginning ? Um 89 00:03:31,700 --> 00:03:35,610 Second um would you expect 90 00:03:35,610 --> 00:03:37,832 that over the next several months there 91 00:03:37,832 --> 00:03:39,943 will be an uptick in troop numbers in 92 00:03:39,943 --> 00:03:42,260 Afghanistan in order to do the 93 00:03:42,260 --> 00:03:44,370 logistics and the troops security 94 00:03:44,370 --> 00:03:47,360 necessary to complete the drawdown . 95 00:03:47,530 --> 00:03:50,210 Considering the taliban has said it 96 00:03:50,210 --> 00:03:52,266 would be that they will increase the 97 00:03:52,266 --> 00:03:54,700 tax . Um all troops are not out . And 98 00:03:54,700 --> 00:03:57,740 how contentious do you expect this 99 00:03:57,750 --> 00:04:00,083 withdrawal to be after write these down . 100 00:04:00,083 --> 00:04:02,139 now ? I was going good until you ask 101 00:04:02,139 --> 00:04:04,361 the third one and then I know I'm gonna 102 00:04:04,361 --> 00:04:06,950 I'm gonna forget it . Um 103 00:04:09,340 --> 00:04:12,720 paper I'm writing . Are you you're 104 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:16,520 gonna mess me up now ? Wait , you're 105 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:19,870 not being helpful . Uh huh . On your on 106 00:04:19,870 --> 00:04:22,037 your first question , I don't think it 107 00:04:22,037 --> 00:04:24,259 will surprise you that I I just I can't 108 00:04:24,259 --> 00:04:26,370 I don't have specific information now 109 00:04:26,370 --> 00:04:30,340 about uh initial units uh Departing 110 00:04:30,340 --> 00:04:33,010 Afghanistan and when that might be uh 111 00:04:33,020 --> 00:04:35,760 there was I think as you know already , 112 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:37,520 because under the previous 113 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:39,631 administration , the agreement was to 114 00:04:39,631 --> 00:04:42,050 leave by May one . So there had already 115 00:04:42,050 --> 00:04:45,280 been some preliminary drawdown plans 116 00:04:45,280 --> 00:04:47,169 done . Those plans now have to be 117 00:04:47,169 --> 00:04:48,947 revised given President Biden's 118 00:04:48,947 --> 00:04:51,620 Direction to begin the drawdown on May 119 00:04:51,620 --> 00:04:55,310 one and the military leadership is 120 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:57,900 working on that right now . Um further 121 00:04:57,900 --> 00:05:00,380 tasking more specific tasking will be 122 00:05:00,380 --> 00:05:02,380 coming from Secretary Austin very , 123 00:05:02,380 --> 00:05:04,491 very soon . Uh So we'll have a little 124 00:05:04,491 --> 00:05:06,950 bit better clarity as we get closer to 125 00:05:06,950 --> 00:05:08,950 the end of the month . I just don't 126 00:05:08,950 --> 00:05:11,061 have that right now . But preliminary 127 00:05:11,061 --> 00:05:13,117 plans that had already been drawn up 128 00:05:13,117 --> 00:05:15,172 now are being revised to accommodate 129 00:05:15,172 --> 00:05:17,394 President Biden's direction . You asked 130 00:05:17,394 --> 00:05:19,339 about additions , We've done these 131 00:05:19,339 --> 00:05:21,450 transitions before . You've seen that 132 00:05:21,450 --> 00:05:24,150 particularly in Iraq . Again , I can't 133 00:05:24,150 --> 00:05:26,428 speak with great specificity right now , 134 00:05:26,428 --> 00:05:28,860 since the plans are still being worked , 135 00:05:28,870 --> 00:05:31,320 but it is not out of the realm of the 136 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:33,320 possible that for a short period of 137 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:35,230 time there will have to be some 138 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:37,460 additionally additional enabling 139 00:05:37,540 --> 00:05:40,670 capabilities added uh to 140 00:05:40,670 --> 00:05:43,960 Afghanistan to again help affect a safe , 141 00:05:43,970 --> 00:05:46,620 orderly and deliberately planned 142 00:05:46,630 --> 00:05:49,830 drawdown of everybody um by the 143 00:05:49,830 --> 00:05:52,420 President's deadline here , by by by 144 00:05:52,420 --> 00:05:55,410 early september , I don't , I can't 145 00:05:55,420 --> 00:05:57,790 speak today with exactly what that 146 00:05:57,790 --> 00:05:59,846 would look like , how many when they 147 00:05:59,846 --> 00:06:01,734 would be going in . But but as we 148 00:06:01,734 --> 00:06:03,901 transitioned out of Iraq , of course , 149 00:06:03,901 --> 00:06:06,068 you know , it's logical to assume that 150 00:06:06,068 --> 00:06:08,012 you may need some logistics help , 151 00:06:08,012 --> 00:06:10,640 maybe some engineering help . Uh you uh 152 00:06:10,650 --> 00:06:12,430 you may have to add some force 153 00:06:12,430 --> 00:06:14,880 protection capabilities again temporary 154 00:06:14,890 --> 00:06:16,890 just to make sure that the drawdown 155 00:06:16,890 --> 00:06:19,057 goes in a safe , orderly and effective 156 00:06:19,057 --> 00:06:21,279 way . Again , we'll know more as we get 157 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:23,501 closer but that would not be out of the 158 00:06:23,501 --> 00:06:25,557 realm of the possible . And then you 159 00:06:25,557 --> 00:06:27,668 asked how contentious it will be . Uh 160 00:06:27,740 --> 00:06:29,960 We've made it very I I can't speak for 161 00:06:29,970 --> 00:06:32,560 the taliban obviously . Um 162 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:38,060 we have seen their threats and 163 00:06:38,740 --> 00:06:40,740 it would be imprudent for us not to 164 00:06:40,740 --> 00:06:43,800 take those threats seriously . It would 165 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:45,856 also be imprudent for the taliban to 166 00:06:45,856 --> 00:06:47,967 not take seriously what the President 167 00:06:47,967 --> 00:06:49,967 and what Secretary Austin both made 168 00:06:49,967 --> 00:06:52,078 clear that any attack on our drawdown 169 00:06:52,078 --> 00:06:54,310 on our forces or our allies and 170 00:06:54,310 --> 00:06:56,810 partners as they draw down will be met 171 00:06:56,810 --> 00:06:59,100 very forcefully . Just doesn't follow 172 00:06:59,100 --> 00:07:01,044 up you brought up Iraq a couple of 173 00:07:01,044 --> 00:07:03,280 times . But as we all know , the 174 00:07:03,290 --> 00:07:06,360 withdrawal from Iraq which many of us 175 00:07:07,140 --> 00:07:10,560 witnessed in december 2011 was not done 176 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,710 under these circumstances . So exactly 177 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:15,960 does this one look a lot different ? 178 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,662 Yes , and I wasn't trying to I was only 179 00:07:18,662 --> 00:07:20,551 comparing it in terms of when you 180 00:07:20,551 --> 00:07:22,218 transition out , you may need 181 00:07:22,218 --> 00:07:24,329 additional help . You're right . That 182 00:07:24,329 --> 00:07:26,551 help is gonna be scoped and tailored to 183 00:07:26,551 --> 00:07:28,607 the situation . This is not the same 184 00:07:28,607 --> 00:07:28,210 situation , it's not the same country , 185 00:07:28,210 --> 00:07:30,210 not the same terrain , not the same 186 00:07:30,210 --> 00:07:32,043 distances . Um it's a landlocked 187 00:07:32,043 --> 00:07:36,000 country . Um and um there 188 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:39,310 is clearly the potential for resistance 189 00:07:39,310 --> 00:07:42,890 here opposition as we begin to draw 190 00:07:42,890 --> 00:07:45,001 down . So all of those things lead to 191 00:07:45,001 --> 00:07:47,112 have to be taken into consideration . 192 00:07:47,112 --> 00:07:48,946 Which is why again I say without 193 00:07:48,946 --> 00:07:51,057 specificity it's not out of the realm 194 00:07:51,057 --> 00:07:53,057 of the possible that some temporary 195 00:07:53,057 --> 00:07:54,946 enabling functions may have to be 196 00:07:54,946 --> 00:07:57,960 introduced into the region to permit 197 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:00,016 this to be as safe and as orderly as 198 00:08:00,016 --> 00:08:01,960 possible . That would be the right 199 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:04,182 thing to do . The prudent thing to do . 200 00:08:04,182 --> 00:08:03,280 Be irresponsible if we weren't thinking 201 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:06,820 about that . Okay . Um yeah let me go 202 00:08:06,820 --> 00:08:09,042 to tom and then I'll come back to you . 203 00:08:09,042 --> 00:08:11,264 I've got to get on the phone to john if 204 00:08:11,264 --> 00:08:13,487 you can talk about the way ahead here . 205 00:08:13,487 --> 00:08:15,431 The secretary honest and Secretary 206 00:08:15,431 --> 00:08:17,542 Clinton talked about the U . S . Will 207 00:08:17,542 --> 00:08:17,280 maintain a strong relationship with the 208 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:19,613 Afghan government , the Afghan military . 209 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:22,480 So with us and NATO forces leaving well , 210 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:24,570 the training effort come to an end . 211 00:08:24,630 --> 00:08:26,770 Number one and number two is the 212 00:08:26,770 --> 00:08:28,881 secretary talked about supporting the 213 00:08:28,881 --> 00:08:31,159 Afghan Air Force special Missions wing , 214 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:33,607 that's all being done by contractors . 215 00:08:33,607 --> 00:08:35,980 Do you expect contractors to remain 216 00:08:35,990 --> 00:08:38,060 when all troops leave or do you know 217 00:08:38,060 --> 00:08:40,227 yet ? So on the contractors , we don't 218 00:08:40,227 --> 00:08:42,338 know exactly there's some preliminary 219 00:08:42,338 --> 00:08:46,210 plans . Clearly the goal is uh to 220 00:08:46,210 --> 00:08:49,390 get all our personnel out . 221 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,970 Uh and I suspect that contractors will 222 00:08:52,970 --> 00:08:55,026 be part of that . Whether there will 223 00:08:55,026 --> 00:08:57,520 still be a need for some contract to 224 00:08:57,520 --> 00:08:59,687 support , I just don't know , we don't 225 00:08:59,687 --> 00:09:01,798 have that level of detail right now , 226 00:09:01,798 --> 00:09:04,076 where we're still working through that ? 227 00:09:04,076 --> 00:09:06,076 I'm sorry . Your first question was 228 00:09:06,076 --> 00:09:08,409 training every will that come to an end ? 229 00:09:08,409 --> 00:09:10,440 The the mission Resolute support 230 00:09:10,450 --> 00:09:13,180 mission will be ending ? Uh and that 231 00:09:13,180 --> 00:09:15,520 includes the training , the support 232 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:18,730 that we will , the offering the and 233 00:09:18,740 --> 00:09:22,130 DSF going forward will be 234 00:09:22,140 --> 00:09:24,620 largely through a financial 235 00:09:24,630 --> 00:09:27,430 perspectives . Well , I mean , how does 236 00:09:27,430 --> 00:09:30,560 that work ? Because , you know , right 237 00:09:30,560 --> 00:09:32,960 now , the Afghan military can't 238 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:36,640 maintain its own equipment so they need 239 00:09:36,650 --> 00:09:38,872 contractors , they can't do it on their 240 00:09:38,872 --> 00:09:40,928 own . So are you saying you just cut 241 00:09:40,928 --> 00:09:43,250 them a check ? Uh And tom we're still 242 00:09:43,250 --> 00:09:45,590 we're still working out what the future 243 00:09:45,590 --> 00:09:47,534 bilateral security relationship is 244 00:09:47,534 --> 00:09:49,757 going to be without Afghanistan , we're 245 00:09:49,757 --> 00:09:51,701 going to transition to a bilateral 246 00:09:51,701 --> 00:09:53,923 relationship with military relationship 247 00:09:53,923 --> 00:09:55,868 that's more akin . So the kinds of 248 00:09:55,868 --> 00:09:57,701 relationships we have with other 249 00:09:57,701 --> 00:09:59,979 countries , um it will not include a U . 250 00:09:59,979 --> 00:10:02,201 S . Military footprint on the ground in 251 00:10:02,201 --> 00:10:04,201 Afghanistan , with the exception of 252 00:10:04,201 --> 00:10:06,368 what's going to be required to support 253 00:10:06,368 --> 00:10:08,479 the diplomatic mission there . Uh and 254 00:10:08,479 --> 00:10:10,646 all that's still being worked out . So 255 00:10:10,646 --> 00:10:12,701 I can't speak with specificity today 256 00:10:12,701 --> 00:10:14,646 about what contract support uh the 257 00:10:14,646 --> 00:10:16,646 Afghan security forces are going to 258 00:10:16,646 --> 00:10:18,646 need going forward . Um And I would 259 00:10:18,646 --> 00:10:20,701 take some issue with your Assumption 260 00:10:20,701 --> 00:10:22,646 that they can't take care of their 261 00:10:22,646 --> 00:10:24,590 stuff . I mean , they have been uh 262 00:10:24,590 --> 00:10:26,812 you're talking about a force that's now 263 00:10:26,812 --> 00:10:28,979 grown to roughly 300,000 people . They 264 00:10:28,979 --> 00:10:31,090 have their own air force um and there 265 00:10:31,090 --> 00:10:33,800 and they are fighting the vast majority 266 00:10:33,810 --> 00:10:36,100 of fact , pretty much all the missions 267 00:10:36,100 --> 00:10:38,044 right now and sort of securing and 268 00:10:38,044 --> 00:10:40,211 defending their people and they're far 269 00:10:40,211 --> 00:10:42,211 more competent and capable now than 270 00:10:42,211 --> 00:10:44,211 they have ever been before . So I I 271 00:10:44,211 --> 00:10:46,156 take issue and I would suspect the 272 00:10:46,156 --> 00:10:48,156 afghans would take issue with , you 273 00:10:48,156 --> 00:10:47,340 know , with the allegation that they 274 00:10:47,340 --> 00:10:49,673 can't take care of their stuff . I mean , 275 00:10:49,673 --> 00:10:51,840 they do have an air force and they are 276 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:53,729 caring for it . Do they need some 277 00:10:53,729 --> 00:10:53,540 contracts report at least right now ? 278 00:10:53,540 --> 00:10:55,540 Yes , they do . But what that looks 279 00:10:55,540 --> 00:10:57,762 like in the forward , that doesn't mean 280 00:10:57,762 --> 00:10:59,762 that it can't they can't still have 281 00:10:59,762 --> 00:11:01,762 contract support going forward . Uh 282 00:11:01,762 --> 00:11:03,984 It's just gonna be maybe of a different 283 00:11:03,984 --> 00:11:05,929 character . Okay . Yeah . Good job 284 00:11:05,940 --> 00:11:08,310 Secretary of Defense set on Wednesday 285 00:11:08,310 --> 00:11:10,590 that they keep some anti terrorism 286 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:14,210 forces in the region . Can you clear 287 00:11:14,210 --> 00:11:16,520 please that aware of the region which 288 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:18,631 countries what the Secretary said was 289 00:11:18,631 --> 00:11:22,350 that we will maintain counterterrorism 290 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,460 capabilities to 291 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,170 continue to prevent Afghanistan 292 00:11:30,170 --> 00:11:34,050 from becoming a launching pad for 293 00:11:34,050 --> 00:11:37,050 terrorist attacks on our homeland . And 294 00:11:37,060 --> 00:11:40,160 he also said that we have a vast 295 00:11:40,740 --> 00:11:43,010 range of capabilities available to us 296 00:11:43,020 --> 00:11:46,970 um uh and we're not going to 297 00:11:46,980 --> 00:11:49,620 speak to the details of exactly how 298 00:11:49,620 --> 00:11:51,287 we're going to maintain those 299 00:11:51,287 --> 00:11:53,009 capabilities and utilize those 300 00:11:53,009 --> 00:11:54,953 capabilities . But there there are 301 00:11:54,953 --> 00:11:58,010 already in central command um a 302 00:11:58,020 --> 00:12:01,160 terrific amount of capability at at the 303 00:12:01,170 --> 00:12:03,430 disposal of the United States and we'll 304 00:12:03,430 --> 00:12:06,020 examine this going forward . Okay , let 305 00:12:06,020 --> 00:12:08,160 me get on the phone here , Sylvie . 306 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:13,790 Hello , yep . I got you . I have a 307 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:17,540 question on Russia and Russia has 308 00:12:17,540 --> 00:12:21,150 announced that it's going to restrict 309 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:24,230 the navigation of foreign military and 310 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:28,020 official ships um in some parts of the 311 00:12:28,020 --> 00:12:31,070 Black Sea . So I wanted to know if you 312 00:12:31,070 --> 00:12:33,360 have a comment on that and if you can 313 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:35,940 confirm that the U . S . Navy has 314 00:12:35,940 --> 00:12:39,610 canceled the deployment of two warships 315 00:12:39,620 --> 00:12:42,750 in the Black Sea this week . Thanks . 316 00:12:42,750 --> 00:12:44,583 So we were aware that Russia has 317 00:12:44,583 --> 00:12:46,417 announced its intention to block 318 00:12:46,417 --> 00:12:48,528 foreign naval ships and state vessels 319 00:12:48,528 --> 00:12:50,750 in the Kerch strait the sea of Azov and 320 00:12:50,750 --> 00:12:53,028 parts of the Black Sea through october , 321 00:12:53,028 --> 00:12:54,861 citing what they say are Russian 322 00:12:54,861 --> 00:12:57,070 military exercises . Russia has a 323 00:12:57,070 --> 00:12:59,126 history of taking aggressive actions 324 00:12:59,126 --> 00:13:01,292 against Ukrainian vessels and impeding 325 00:13:01,292 --> 00:13:03,403 international maritime transit in the 326 00:13:03,403 --> 00:13:05,626 Black Sea , particularly near the Kerch 327 00:13:05,626 --> 00:13:05,440 strait . This would be just the latest 328 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:07,800 example of its ongoing campaign to 329 00:13:07,810 --> 00:13:09,990 undermine and destabilize Ukraine . We 330 00:13:09,990 --> 00:13:11,712 call on Russia deceased . It's 331 00:13:11,712 --> 00:13:13,934 harassment of vessels in the region and 332 00:13:13,934 --> 00:13:15,990 reverse its build up of forces along 333 00:13:15,990 --> 00:13:18,212 Ukraine's border and occupied Ukraine . 334 00:13:18,540 --> 00:13:21,120 We reaffirm our unwavering support for 335 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:23,231 Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial 336 00:13:23,231 --> 00:13:25,287 integrity within its internationally 337 00:13:25,287 --> 00:13:27,287 recognized borders extending to its 338 00:13:27,287 --> 00:13:30,080 territorial waters . And as for your 339 00:13:30,090 --> 00:13:32,257 other question , uh so , you know , we 340 00:13:32,257 --> 00:13:34,770 don't talk about operational uh 341 00:13:34,780 --> 00:13:36,613 specific operational movements . 342 00:13:36,613 --> 00:13:38,724 Certainly , we don't talk about um uh 343 00:13:38,724 --> 00:13:40,836 maritime operational movements in and 344 00:13:40,836 --> 00:13:44,530 out of uh specific choke points . I 345 00:13:44,530 --> 00:13:46,697 would tell you that we have and you've 346 00:13:46,697 --> 00:13:48,863 seen this yourself , we have routinely 347 00:13:48,863 --> 00:13:51,410 operated uh naval warships in the Black 348 00:13:51,410 --> 00:13:55,040 Sea and that will continue . Well , 349 00:13:55,050 --> 00:13:58,990 the Turks have been speaking about 350 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,880 your plans to deploy these 351 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:06,480 two black two ships in the Black Sea . 352 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:08,930 So that's why they have been speaking 353 00:14:08,930 --> 00:14:11,097 about it perfectly . That's why I want 354 00:14:11,097 --> 00:14:13,320 you to have a fair question . And then 355 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:16,220 we've seen those statements . But uh 356 00:14:16,230 --> 00:14:18,270 it's these are our naval assets to 357 00:14:18,270 --> 00:14:20,492 speak to and we simply don't talk about 358 00:14:20,492 --> 00:14:22,548 hypotheticals and we don't speculate 359 00:14:22,548 --> 00:14:24,820 about future operations we have in the 360 00:14:24,820 --> 00:14:27,660 past operated vessels , navy vessels in 361 00:14:27,660 --> 00:14:29,882 the Black Sea . And I suspect that that 362 00:14:29,882 --> 00:14:32,104 will continue going forward and when we 363 00:14:32,104 --> 00:14:34,216 can talk about that we will . But I'm 364 00:14:34,216 --> 00:14:36,160 not going to speculate about these 365 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:38,327 reports coming out of Turkey . Yeah go 366 00:14:38,327 --> 00:14:40,493 ahead . You just follow up to Sylvia . 367 00:14:40,493 --> 00:14:42,382 What's the current posture of the 368 00:14:42,382 --> 00:14:44,493 United States military in Black Sea ? 369 00:14:45,140 --> 00:14:48,770 Well , I'm not aware of any U . S . 370 00:14:48,770 --> 00:14:51,048 Navy assets in the Black Sea right now . 371 00:14:51,048 --> 00:14:53,090 And on on Afghanistan . How many 372 00:14:53,090 --> 00:14:55,146 contractors are we talking about ? I 373 00:14:55,146 --> 00:14:57,312 don't have that figure for you today . 374 00:14:57,312 --> 00:14:59,423 I don't have that figure . I can take 375 00:14:59,423 --> 00:15:01,590 the question that we can see if we can 376 00:15:01,590 --> 00:15:03,701 get back to you . Not all contractors 377 00:15:03,701 --> 00:15:06,034 in Afghanistan are contracted through D . 378 00:15:06,034 --> 00:15:08,090 O . D . Funds , but the ones that we 379 00:15:08,090 --> 00:15:10,146 can speak to , I'll try to get you a 380 00:15:10,146 --> 00:15:12,090 number on that . Thank you folks . 381 00:15:12,090 --> 00:15:14,090 We're putting together the drawdown 382 00:15:14,090 --> 00:15:16,312 plan . When is the deadline to get that 383 00:15:16,312 --> 00:15:18,479 to set it up so it can be reviewed and 384 00:15:18,479 --> 00:15:20,534 I don't have a deadline specific for 385 00:15:20,534 --> 00:15:22,701 you . Uh As I said to leader , I think 386 00:15:22,701 --> 00:15:24,757 that more specific direction will be 387 00:15:24,757 --> 00:15:26,868 coming from the sec def very soon . I 388 00:15:26,868 --> 00:15:28,979 just I don't want to get ahead of him 389 00:15:28,979 --> 00:15:31,890 and his directives to military 390 00:15:31,890 --> 00:15:33,890 leadership . So I don't have a date 391 00:15:33,890 --> 00:15:36,080 certain for you Now , obviously , Um 392 00:15:36,090 --> 00:15:38,740 everybody understands the need to move 393 00:15:38,740 --> 00:15:40,907 with some alacrity here . The drawdown 394 00:15:40,907 --> 00:15:42,907 has to start on on May one . That's 395 00:15:42,907 --> 00:15:45,010 just a couple of weeks away . I also 396 00:15:45,020 --> 00:15:47,187 would point you to the fact that there 397 00:15:47,187 --> 00:15:49,076 had already been some preliminary 398 00:15:49,076 --> 00:15:51,076 planning , retrograde planning done 399 00:15:51,076 --> 00:15:53,187 already . Um so it's really now about 400 00:15:53,187 --> 00:15:55,409 refining those plans and adjusting them 401 00:15:55,409 --> 00:15:58,700 to the new timeline as we can get more . 402 00:15:58,700 --> 00:16:02,080 We'll give you I also thanks to your 403 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,080 question . I just want to make sure 404 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:06,770 that I stressed you all that again to 405 00:16:06,770 --> 00:16:08,992 lead his question . I mean , we have to 406 00:16:08,992 --> 00:16:11,700 take seriously the threats that the 407 00:16:11,710 --> 00:16:15,560 taliban have made , which means that um 408 00:16:15,940 --> 00:16:18,820 that there's going to be . And I think 409 00:16:18,820 --> 00:16:20,987 you would expect there's going to be a 410 00:16:20,987 --> 00:16:23,160 limit to how much transparency we can 411 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:25,350 offer about the each is about the 412 00:16:25,350 --> 00:16:28,010 details of the draw down on a day by 413 00:16:28,010 --> 00:16:30,190 day basis , because we want to make 414 00:16:30,190 --> 00:16:32,440 sure that nobody gets hurt . Uh , and 415 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:34,384 that this is done . You know , the 416 00:16:34,384 --> 00:16:36,551 first word when you hear us talk about 417 00:16:36,551 --> 00:16:38,607 this is safely and and the secretary 418 00:16:38,607 --> 00:16:40,662 takes that very seriously . So we're 419 00:16:40,662 --> 00:16:40,320 going to be very mindful and very 420 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:42,320 cautious about how much information 421 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:44,431 we're releasing about this particular 422 00:16:44,431 --> 00:16:46,598 draw down . And I think you guys would 423 00:16:46,598 --> 00:16:48,653 all understand that . Let me go back 424 00:16:48,653 --> 00:16:51,120 here millie , my brief us on any , 425 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:53,493 there's always that possibility . Megan . 426 00:16:53,493 --> 00:16:56,360 There's always that possibility . Uh 427 00:16:56,370 --> 00:16:58,850 let's see . Uh Jeff from task and 428 00:16:58,850 --> 00:17:01,800 purpose . Thank you . The latest 429 00:17:01,810 --> 00:17:03,477 Special Inspector General for 430 00:17:03,477 --> 00:17:05,940 Afghanistan Reconstruction report found 431 00:17:05,940 --> 00:17:08,180 the Afghan Air Force has less than half 432 00:17:08,180 --> 00:17:10,200 of the maintainers it needs . The 433 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,256 Afghan military was completing about 434 00:17:12,256 --> 00:17:14,720 20% of its maintenance work orders and 435 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:16,887 the Afghan Police was completing about 436 00:17:16,887 --> 00:17:18,942 12% of its maintenance work orders . 437 00:17:18,942 --> 00:17:22,730 Does this describe a an effective 438 00:17:22,740 --> 00:17:25,380 fighting force that can survive without 439 00:17:25,380 --> 00:17:28,200 us military systems , Jeff , the Afghan 440 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:30,089 national Security Forces as we've 441 00:17:30,089 --> 00:17:31,922 talked about , have been greatly 442 00:17:31,922 --> 00:17:34,610 improved over the years . Uh certainly , 443 00:17:34,620 --> 00:17:37,590 uh like any military force , um they've 444 00:17:37,590 --> 00:17:39,646 got needs and they've got capability 445 00:17:39,646 --> 00:17:41,646 gaps and they have things that they 446 00:17:41,646 --> 00:17:43,590 know that they're going to need to 447 00:17:43,590 --> 00:17:45,757 improve . And as also as the secretary 448 00:17:45,757 --> 00:17:47,868 said we're going to continue to stand 449 00:17:47,868 --> 00:17:49,812 by them . Though we may not have a 450 00:17:49,812 --> 00:17:51,979 footprint on the ground . That doesn't 451 00:17:51,979 --> 00:17:54,090 mean that we're walking away from our 452 00:17:54,090 --> 00:17:56,146 Afghan partners will continue to pay 453 00:17:56,146 --> 00:17:55,790 salaries . For instance , as he said , 454 00:17:55,790 --> 00:17:57,970 we're going to continue to uh support 455 00:17:57,980 --> 00:18:01,580 uh their Afghan air force . So we're 456 00:18:01,580 --> 00:18:05,100 not walking away from from them or 457 00:18:05,100 --> 00:18:07,870 from our recognition that they still 458 00:18:07,870 --> 00:18:09,981 have improvements that they that they 459 00:18:09,981 --> 00:18:12,148 have to make as many militaries around 460 00:18:12,148 --> 00:18:14,290 the world do . Well . Is the U . S . 461 00:18:14,290 --> 00:18:17,080 Military prepared to evacuate the U . S . 462 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:19,660 Embassy in Kabul should the Taliban 463 00:18:19,670 --> 00:18:22,720 become a threat to the Jeff ? That's a 464 00:18:22,730 --> 00:18:24,674 terrific hypothetical that I'm not 465 00:18:24,674 --> 00:18:26,786 going to get into today . We're going 466 00:18:26,786 --> 00:18:28,897 to , as you heard , the President and 467 00:18:28,897 --> 00:18:30,952 the secretary say , we're as part of 468 00:18:30,952 --> 00:18:33,174 our analysis going forward to make sure 469 00:18:33,174 --> 00:18:35,160 that we um that we're working in 470 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:37,271 lockstep with the State Department uh 471 00:18:37,271 --> 00:18:40,000 to make sure that we can help protect 472 00:18:40,010 --> 00:18:42,343 and secure our diplomatic mission there . 473 00:18:42,343 --> 00:18:44,343 What that looks like , I don't know 474 00:18:44,343 --> 00:18:46,566 right now , we're still working our way 475 00:18:46,566 --> 00:18:48,621 through that , but I'm not gonna get 476 00:18:48,621 --> 00:18:50,732 into hypotheticals about uh potential 477 00:18:50,740 --> 00:18:53,950 operations that may occur in the future . 478 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:57,990 Our goal here is to 479 00:18:57,990 --> 00:18:59,879 make sure this transition is done 480 00:18:59,879 --> 00:19:01,712 safely and effectively and in an 481 00:19:01,712 --> 00:19:04,040 orderly fashion and that we continue to 482 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:05,929 stand by Afghan national security 483 00:19:05,929 --> 00:19:07,929 forces as they continue to stand by 484 00:19:07,929 --> 00:19:10,330 their fellow citizens , jennifer , john , 485 00:19:10,450 --> 00:19:13,000 have you seen any change in the force 486 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:15,056 posture of the Russian forces on the 487 00:19:15,056 --> 00:19:17,278 border with Ukraine since the sanctions 488 00:19:17,278 --> 00:19:19,167 were announced ? I won't get into 489 00:19:19,167 --> 00:19:21,333 intelligence assessments , Jan I think 490 00:19:21,333 --> 00:19:23,444 you can understand that . What I will 491 00:19:23,444 --> 00:19:25,611 say is we continue to watch this build 492 00:19:25,611 --> 00:19:27,833 up very , very closely . Um it is still 493 00:19:27,833 --> 00:19:30,500 of serious concern to us about the 494 00:19:30,500 --> 00:19:32,990 number of forces they have along the 495 00:19:32,990 --> 00:19:35,410 border with Ukraine in occupied Crimea , 496 00:19:35,420 --> 00:19:38,350 which is still there . Again . I won't 497 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,650 talk about specific intelligence 498 00:19:40,650 --> 00:19:42,594 assessments , but it is of serious 499 00:19:42,594 --> 00:19:44,817 concern and I would just reiterate what 500 00:19:45,340 --> 00:19:47,730 we've been saying and that's that we 501 00:19:47,730 --> 00:19:50,040 call on Russia to be more transparent 502 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:52,207 about what they're doing , why they're 503 00:19:52,207 --> 00:19:54,870 doing it and to not further aggravate 504 00:19:54,870 --> 00:19:57,148 what is already a very tense situation . 505 00:19:57,148 --> 00:19:59,770 It was clear to the secretary uh in 506 00:19:59,770 --> 00:20:03,710 brussels how uniformly our NATO 507 00:20:03,710 --> 00:20:07,490 allies , all Other 29 of them , how 508 00:20:07,500 --> 00:20:09,667 uniformly they all felt about the same 509 00:20:09,667 --> 00:20:12,760 level of concern about what's going on 510 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:14,927 and uh and concerned about the lack of 511 00:20:14,927 --> 00:20:17,149 transparency from Russia . And lastly , 512 00:20:17,149 --> 00:20:20,840 do you , does the pentagon now view the 513 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:24,690 reports and the unverified intelligence 514 00:20:24,690 --> 00:20:27,930 about Russia paying bounties to the 515 00:20:27,940 --> 00:20:31,870 taliban to attack us soldiers to 516 00:20:31,870 --> 00:20:34,510 be a false report . Or can you where do 517 00:20:34,510 --> 00:20:37,690 you stand on that ? We uh you saw the 518 00:20:37,690 --> 00:20:40,910 administration uh mentioned this 519 00:20:40,910 --> 00:20:44,550 yesterday , this exact issue . Uh 520 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:48,500 It is it is it is reporting that is 521 00:20:48,500 --> 00:20:51,490 still of concern . Um and it and again , 522 00:20:51,500 --> 00:20:55,330 uh that while the 523 00:20:55,590 --> 00:20:59,580 intelligence assessment , Um you know , 524 00:20:59,590 --> 00:21:03,580 isn't there not 100 sure of all the 525 00:21:03,590 --> 00:21:05,790 details ? Um it's a serious enough 526 00:21:05,790 --> 00:21:08,470 charge that we continue to be concerned 527 00:21:08,470 --> 00:21:10,581 about that . And we and we call again 528 00:21:10,581 --> 00:21:13,860 on Moscow um uh to make it clear 529 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,462 uh what involvement they might have had 530 00:21:16,462 --> 00:21:18,462 in this . I mean , we have a sacred 531 00:21:18,462 --> 00:21:20,684 obligation to protect our men and women 532 00:21:20,684 --> 00:21:23,080 in harm's way as best we can . Um and 533 00:21:23,090 --> 00:21:26,810 uh and should it should it 534 00:21:26,820 --> 00:21:29,090 have been true , I mean that's that's a 535 00:21:29,100 --> 00:21:31,322 pretty serious charge . So we want more 536 00:21:31,322 --> 00:21:33,489 transparency out of Moscow and that as 537 00:21:33,489 --> 00:21:35,711 well , there ever any evidence that U . 538 00:21:35,711 --> 00:21:37,933 S . Troops were targeted as a result of 539 00:21:37,933 --> 00:21:40,100 Russian bounties . I'm not prepared to 540 00:21:40,100 --> 00:21:44,100 speak to specific evidence linking uh 541 00:21:44,110 --> 00:21:46,630 attacks on our troops to potentially 542 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:49,130 potential bounties being paid , but it 543 00:21:49,130 --> 00:21:51,074 is a serious enough charge that we 544 00:21:51,074 --> 00:21:53,650 believe it needs to be explained . Yeah . 545 00:21:54,740 --> 00:21:57,850 So since the conditional approach has 546 00:21:57,850 --> 00:22:00,017 been dropped in making the decision to 547 00:22:00,017 --> 00:22:03,630 withdraw from Afghanistan . And noting 548 00:22:03,630 --> 00:22:06,690 that many times the secretary and then 549 00:22:06,690 --> 00:22:08,523 yourself said that there is full 550 00:22:08,523 --> 00:22:10,746 confidence in General Mackenzie and the 551 00:22:10,746 --> 00:22:12,960 leaders in Afghanistan to be able to 552 00:22:12,970 --> 00:22:15,380 conduct like a drawdown whenever that 553 00:22:15,390 --> 00:22:18,990 decision was made . Why Not abide by 554 00:22:18,990 --> 00:22:21,980 the May one date ? According to the 555 00:22:21,980 --> 00:22:25,250 Doha agreement noting that as well , 556 00:22:25,260 --> 00:22:27,360 Taliban is making serious threats 557 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:30,062 towards US troops and foreign troops in 558 00:22:30,062 --> 00:22:32,510 Afghanistan . The president made the 559 00:22:32,510 --> 00:22:34,800 decision to start to draw down on May 560 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:38,230 one and to have all of our uh troops 561 00:22:38,230 --> 00:22:41,430 out by By September 11 562 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:43,551 early September . And that's the plan 563 00:22:43,551 --> 00:22:46,210 that were going on . As you heard in 564 00:22:46,210 --> 00:22:48,360 the President's speech . The Doha 565 00:22:48,360 --> 00:22:50,416 agreement is perhaps not the kind of 566 00:22:50,416 --> 00:22:52,527 agreement he would negotiate it , but 567 00:22:52,527 --> 00:22:54,693 we are where we are now . Um we wanted 568 00:22:54,693 --> 00:22:56,916 to have a thorough review of our Afghan 569 00:22:56,916 --> 00:23:00,650 policy before having any decision 570 00:23:00,660 --> 00:23:03,680 made and the president ran a very 571 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:05,847 inclusive , deliberate decision making 572 00:23:05,847 --> 00:23:08,780 process that led to him making this 573 00:23:08,780 --> 00:23:12,460 decision to with to withdraw . And 574 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:15,100 now we've got to execute it . So it 575 00:23:15,100 --> 00:23:17,322 doesn't , you know , it's not about why 576 00:23:17,322 --> 00:23:19,544 you didn't do it before . We were going 577 00:23:19,544 --> 00:23:21,656 through a review process um to figure 578 00:23:21,656 --> 00:23:23,822 out where we wanted to go forward . In 579 00:23:23,822 --> 00:23:25,878 Afghanistan , President has made his 580 00:23:25,878 --> 00:23:25,450 decision and now we're executing , 581 00:23:25,460 --> 00:23:28,460 where will the troops uh will be going 582 00:23:28,460 --> 00:23:30,627 to ? Are you going to maintain , where 583 00:23:30,627 --> 00:23:32,738 will the troops be going to ? Are you 584 00:23:32,738 --> 00:23:34,849 going to maintain some contingency in 585 00:23:34,849 --> 00:23:36,904 the area ? Do you have any decisions 586 00:23:36,904 --> 00:23:39,820 about follow on uh deployments for the 587 00:23:39,820 --> 00:23:41,653 troops that are in Afghanistan ? 588 00:23:41,653 --> 00:23:43,876 Haven't been made yet ? Again , I think 589 00:23:43,876 --> 00:23:43,410 you're gonna get there'll be more 590 00:23:43,410 --> 00:23:45,577 specific guidance and direction coming 591 00:23:45,577 --> 00:23:47,799 from the secretary soon . I'm not gonna 592 00:23:47,799 --> 00:23:50,190 speculate about where , you know , 593 00:23:50,190 --> 00:23:52,412 where they go in a follow on capacity . 594 00:23:52,412 --> 00:23:55,270 Uh I would suspect that 595 00:23:55,940 --> 00:23:58,830 most if not all , will be returning to 596 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:00,830 stateside basis . We have a robust 597 00:24:00,830 --> 00:24:02,997 capability in the central command area 598 00:24:02,997 --> 00:24:05,870 of operations as it is . But again , I 599 00:24:05,870 --> 00:24:08,170 won't speculate , we need to get the 600 00:24:08,170 --> 00:24:10,320 drawdown plan written up and approved 601 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:12,376 by the secretary and then executed . 602 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:14,751 Asked to find a question . The global 603 00:24:14,751 --> 00:24:17,890 threat assessment um is basically for 604 00:24:17,890 --> 00:24:21,600 seeing um some military 605 00:24:21,610 --> 00:24:25,060 advances by Taliban when the US 606 00:24:25,060 --> 00:24:28,420 seizes military support to the afghan 607 00:24:28,650 --> 00:24:31,680 security forces . Uh If that acts , 608 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,580 that assessment turns to be basically 609 00:24:34,580 --> 00:24:36,600 true or materialist , What type of 610 00:24:36,610 --> 00:24:38,920 assistance is the U . S . Willing to 611 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:41,500 provide to the afghan U . S . Forces ? 612 00:24:41,510 --> 00:24:43,566 And I'm not aware of this assessment 613 00:24:43,566 --> 00:24:45,630 that you're citing . Uh so I can't 614 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:47,160 speak to that . 615 00:24:49,210 --> 00:24:51,810 The president and the secretary of both 616 00:24:51,810 --> 00:24:55,790 made clear that that it's 617 00:24:55,790 --> 00:24:58,123 still in our national security interest , 618 00:24:58,410 --> 00:25:00,521 the terrorist attacks on the homeland 619 00:25:00,521 --> 00:25:02,743 don't emanate from Afghanistan . Uh and 620 00:25:02,743 --> 00:25:04,743 that not be a safe haven for groups 621 00:25:04,743 --> 00:25:06,799 like Al Qaeda , uh another terrorist 622 00:25:06,799 --> 00:25:09,077 group that would threaten the homeland . 623 00:25:09,077 --> 00:25:10,799 And they're serious about that 624 00:25:10,799 --> 00:25:13,021 objective . And as the Secretary said , 625 00:25:13,021 --> 00:25:15,110 we will maintain um as robust as 626 00:25:15,110 --> 00:25:17,040 possible the counterterrorism 627 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:19,100 capabilities in the region and 628 00:25:19,100 --> 00:25:21,560 available to us um to prevent that from 629 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:23,727 happening and what that looks like and 630 00:25:23,727 --> 00:25:25,838 how that's manifested . Uh I wouldn't 631 00:25:25,838 --> 00:25:27,949 get into you , you wouldn't you would 632 00:25:27,949 --> 00:25:30,116 imagine we're not gonna telegraph that 633 00:25:30,116 --> 00:25:33,640 that kind of activity . I think my 634 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:36,300 question is about Afghan security 635 00:25:36,300 --> 00:25:38,950 forces Who partnered with the US . for 636 00:25:38,950 --> 00:25:41,360 20 years . The us put blood and money 637 00:25:41,360 --> 00:25:43,210 training these troops . You said 638 00:25:43,210 --> 00:25:45,760 they're like standing 300,000 now 639 00:25:46,140 --> 00:25:48,280 soldiers if these and they're in the 640 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:51,670 fight . So after the withdrawal , 641 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:54,518 these troops under attack from Taliban . 642 00:25:54,518 --> 00:25:56,890 The US . That's not the U . S . Problem 643 00:25:56,900 --> 00:25:58,956 anymore . Is that what you say , our 644 00:25:58,956 --> 00:26:01,850 mission in Afghanistan , our military 645 00:26:01,850 --> 00:26:03,961 mission in Afghanistan is coming to a 646 00:26:03,961 --> 00:26:07,530 close , we will continue to maintain 647 00:26:07,530 --> 00:26:09,530 the kinds of capabilities necessary 648 00:26:09,530 --> 00:26:13,260 sufficient uh to to prevent 649 00:26:13,270 --> 00:26:15,159 terrorist attacks on the homeland 650 00:26:15,159 --> 00:26:17,381 emanating from Afghanistan . Uh But the 651 00:26:17,381 --> 00:26:19,381 Afghan national security forces are 652 00:26:19,381 --> 00:26:21,548 right now defending their own people , 653 00:26:21,548 --> 00:26:23,492 defending their securing their own 654 00:26:23,492 --> 00:26:25,659 borders . And they will continue to do 655 00:26:25,659 --> 00:26:27,770 that and our support for them . While 656 00:26:27,770 --> 00:26:29,826 it will shift transitions from , you 657 00:26:29,826 --> 00:26:31,659 know , being boots on the ground 658 00:26:31,659 --> 00:26:33,881 advisors , it will shift from that to a 659 00:26:33,881 --> 00:26:35,937 measure of support for their efforts 660 00:26:35,937 --> 00:26:39,100 going forward . Uh And we we had 661 00:26:39,110 --> 00:26:41,277 terrific discussions in brussels about 662 00:26:41,277 --> 00:26:43,332 other framework nations also lending 663 00:26:43,332 --> 00:26:45,443 their support . And we're not walking 664 00:26:45,443 --> 00:26:48,820 away from the progress that the Afghan 665 00:26:48,820 --> 00:26:50,876 national Security forces have made . 666 00:26:50,876 --> 00:26:52,598 But the relationships going to 667 00:26:52,598 --> 00:26:54,764 transition to one that is more akin to 668 00:26:54,764 --> 00:26:56,931 the kind of bilateral relationships we 669 00:26:56,931 --> 00:26:58,987 have with other countries . It won't 670 00:26:58,987 --> 00:27:01,042 include of military footprint on the 671 00:27:01,042 --> 00:27:03,264 ground in a perpetual conflict . Okay , 672 00:27:03,264 --> 00:27:04,653 let me get back to the , 673 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:10,690 to the phone address from Reuters . Hey 674 00:27:10,690 --> 00:27:13,050 john , um two questions first . This 675 00:27:13,050 --> 00:27:15,217 clarification on the contractors and I 676 00:27:15,217 --> 00:27:17,383 may have misheard um if you could just 677 00:27:17,383 --> 00:27:19,650 clarify , so are all contractors going 678 00:27:19,650 --> 00:27:21,890 to also be leaving by september the 679 00:27:21,890 --> 00:27:24,680 11th or is that something that you 680 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:26,847 haven't decided on yet and then have a 681 00:27:26,847 --> 00:27:29,069 separate follow up ? Yeah . As I said , 682 00:27:29,069 --> 00:27:31,236 I think the tom's question , there are 683 00:27:31,236 --> 00:27:33,290 preliminary plans that are being 684 00:27:33,290 --> 00:27:36,950 revised to to extract 685 00:27:36,950 --> 00:27:39,350 contractors with military personnel . 686 00:27:39,350 --> 00:27:42,360 But its preliminary and we don't have 687 00:27:42,370 --> 00:27:45,940 a firm specific answer on on what 688 00:27:45,940 --> 00:27:47,940 that's exactly what that is exactly 689 00:27:47,940 --> 00:27:50,840 going to look like . Okay . So we don't 690 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:53,007 know if it's all , some , I don't have 691 00:27:53,007 --> 00:27:55,118 that level of detail for you injuries 692 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:57,327 and then separately , just back on the 693 00:27:57,327 --> 00:27:59,160 contractor . Sorry , the Russian 694 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:02,190 bounties in Afghanistan , um you said 695 00:28:02,190 --> 00:28:04,357 if the charge of Russian bounties , um 696 00:28:04,357 --> 00:28:06,301 it's time to be true would be very 697 00:28:06,301 --> 00:28:08,301 serious . General Mackenzie . And I 698 00:28:08,301 --> 00:28:11,170 think , you know , your predecessors um 699 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:13,840 under trump have said they couldn't 700 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:15,784 find any corroborating evidence to 701 00:28:15,784 --> 00:28:17,896 support those views . So is your view 702 00:28:17,896 --> 00:28:20,229 that this matter is not closed or is it ? 703 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:22,351 But you're still looking if you could 704 00:28:22,351 --> 00:28:24,351 just provide some details on that ? 705 00:28:24,351 --> 00:28:27,560 Again , as I said , uh and as uh our 706 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:29,616 colleagues at the White House said , 707 00:28:29,616 --> 00:28:31,671 this is a serious charge , um and we 708 00:28:31,671 --> 00:28:33,838 believe it should be taken seriously . 709 00:28:33,838 --> 00:28:36,670 Um and uh you know , we call on Moscow 710 00:28:37,830 --> 00:28:41,160 two to be more forthcoming 711 00:28:41,540 --> 00:28:45,480 about this , about this charge . So I 712 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:47,702 don't know what more , more more to add 713 00:28:47,702 --> 00:28:49,960 to that and I can't speak for what 714 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:52,950 other leaders have said about this in 715 00:28:52,950 --> 00:28:55,510 the past . Uh , but it's the kind of 716 00:28:55,510 --> 00:28:57,650 thing that has been analysed and 717 00:28:57,650 --> 00:29:00,950 assessed for quite some time . Uh And 718 00:29:00,950 --> 00:29:03,750 again , we we feel it should be 719 00:29:03,750 --> 00:29:05,806 addressed and addressed in a serious 720 00:29:05,806 --> 00:29:09,660 way . Um Okay , in the room , laura , 721 00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:13,620 thanks john , So we still be able to 722 00:29:13,620 --> 00:29:15,676 provide air support to operations in 723 00:29:15,676 --> 00:29:17,820 Afghanistan . And um where will these 724 00:29:17,820 --> 00:29:19,820 forces be based in future ? Once we 725 00:29:19,820 --> 00:29:22,910 leave if you mean air support in terms 726 00:29:22,910 --> 00:29:25,460 of support of the Afghan national 727 00:29:25,460 --> 00:29:27,460 security forces as counterterrorism 728 00:29:27,460 --> 00:29:29,627 operation ? Well again , I'm not going 729 00:29:29,627 --> 00:29:30,960 to talk to the specific 730 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:33,238 counterterrorism capabilities and what , 731 00:29:33,238 --> 00:29:35,910 you know , we have a wide range of 732 00:29:35,910 --> 00:29:38,077 capabilities at our disposal . And the 733 00:29:38,077 --> 00:29:40,188 secretary was very clear on Wednesday 734 00:29:40,188 --> 00:29:42,354 night that we intend to use um all our 735 00:29:42,354 --> 00:29:45,870 capabilities uh and whatever mixes best 736 00:29:45,870 --> 00:29:47,537 appropriate to deal with that 737 00:29:47,537 --> 00:29:49,481 particular threat emanating out of 738 00:29:49,481 --> 00:29:51,710 Afghanistan . But where and when and 739 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:53,760 how that's going to manifest itself 740 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:55,927 over coming months and years . I'm not 741 00:29:55,927 --> 00:29:58,260 prepared to speak to specifically today . 742 00:29:58,260 --> 00:30:00,482 And then separately , the british Chief 743 00:30:00,482 --> 00:30:02,593 of Defence staff said in an interview 744 00:30:02,593 --> 00:30:04,649 that this withdrawal decision is not 745 00:30:04,649 --> 00:30:06,760 what he wanted . So have you received 746 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:08,871 any negative feedback from other NATO 747 00:30:08,871 --> 00:30:10,927 allies about this decision ? I think 748 00:30:10,927 --> 00:30:12,649 the allies should be given the 749 00:30:12,649 --> 00:30:14,871 opportunity to speak for themselves and 750 00:30:14,871 --> 00:30:16,982 their governments and their and their 751 00:30:16,982 --> 00:30:18,816 populations . They are sovereign 752 00:30:18,816 --> 00:30:21,230 nations and we respect that of them . I 753 00:30:21,240 --> 00:30:24,900 can tell you that in brussels , 754 00:30:24,910 --> 00:30:28,770 the secretary noted the the 755 00:30:29,340 --> 00:30:33,060 um the positive reaction that 756 00:30:33,540 --> 00:30:35,651 he and Secretary Blinken got from our 757 00:30:35,651 --> 00:30:37,818 allies with respect to this decision . 758 00:30:37,818 --> 00:30:39,929 So how does that explain the negative 759 00:30:39,929 --> 00:30:42,096 reaction that you got from the british 760 00:30:42,096 --> 00:30:44,318 Chief of Defence ? I would ask you that 761 00:30:44,318 --> 00:30:46,318 that's a question better put to our 762 00:30:46,318 --> 00:30:48,262 british allies . I'm thinking writ 763 00:30:48,262 --> 00:30:51,670 large , writ large . The Secretary was 764 00:30:51,670 --> 00:30:53,960 grateful for the generally positive 765 00:30:53,970 --> 00:30:57,270 reaction that he got uh in brussels , 766 00:30:57,280 --> 00:31:01,020 uh , but each ally should speak for 767 00:31:01,020 --> 00:31:03,298 their own equities and we respect that . 768 00:31:03,298 --> 00:31:05,409 We wouldn't we won't run in any other 769 00:31:05,409 --> 00:31:07,520 way . It's not our place to speak for 770 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:09,798 for them . We just tell you that again , 771 00:31:09,798 --> 00:31:12,020 it was a generally positive reaction to 772 00:31:12,020 --> 00:31:13,853 this decision . In brussels . Uh 773 00:31:13,853 --> 00:31:16,020 Secretary Austin said that the U . S . 774 00:31:16,020 --> 00:31:19,610 Uh was providing support material to 775 00:31:19,620 --> 00:31:22,230 Ukraine and would like to continue to 776 00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:25,680 do that based on their needs . There 777 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:28,780 any plan to maybe 778 00:31:28,790 --> 00:31:32,590 provide uh support any additional 779 00:31:32,590 --> 00:31:35,660 support or there any request from the 780 00:31:35,660 --> 00:31:39,660 Ukrainian Side giving the situation 781 00:31:39,670 --> 00:31:42,570 on the borders ? Well , I think , you 782 00:31:42,570 --> 00:31:45,000 know , I don't have any specific to 783 00:31:45,010 --> 00:31:47,010 announce or speak to you today with 784 00:31:47,010 --> 00:31:49,066 additional assistance . We have been 785 00:31:49,066 --> 00:31:50,954 providing a mix of non lethal and 786 00:31:50,954 --> 00:31:53,177 lethal . In fact , I just recently $125 787 00:31:53,177 --> 00:31:56,500 million dollars worth uh was approved . 788 00:31:56,940 --> 00:31:59,860 And I suspect , well , I don't suspect 789 00:31:59,860 --> 00:32:02,760 I know that support will continue uh to 790 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:06,060 help Ukraine defend itself . Okay . 791 00:32:07,340 --> 00:32:08,960 Peter . Mhm . 792 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:15,930 I don't Hi john , thanks a lot . I 793 00:32:15,930 --> 00:32:17,874 wanted to ask about Prime Minister 794 00:32:17,874 --> 00:32:19,874 Soglo's visit today . Um will he be 795 00:32:19,874 --> 00:32:22,280 meeting with any defense officials have ? 796 00:32:22,290 --> 00:32:24,457 Uh what kind of information I know you 797 00:32:24,457 --> 00:32:26,679 don't like to speak to these specific ? 798 00:32:26,679 --> 00:32:28,901 Uh I'm trying to work it carefully . Um 799 00:32:29,040 --> 00:32:32,250 uh what what how much has Taiwan come 800 00:32:32,250 --> 00:32:34,250 up in discussions for preparing the 801 00:32:34,250 --> 00:32:36,306 President on on this discussion ? Uh 802 00:32:36,306 --> 00:32:38,417 and any other comment you have on the 803 00:32:38,417 --> 00:32:40,770 Prime Minister's visit ? I would refer 804 00:32:40,770 --> 00:32:43,800 you to the White House to speak to the 805 00:32:43,810 --> 00:32:46,900 details of uh of the discussions . And 806 00:32:46,900 --> 00:32:50,680 as I understand it , the they will have 807 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:52,990 more to say about this meeting later 808 00:32:52,990 --> 00:32:55,101 this afternoon , so I'm certainly not 809 00:32:55,101 --> 00:32:57,157 going to get ahead of that . Um As a 810 00:32:57,157 --> 00:32:59,268 matter of fact , as I understand that 811 00:32:59,268 --> 00:33:01,434 the meeting is ongoing as we speak and 812 00:33:01,434 --> 00:33:03,546 as for defense officials , I can tell 813 00:33:03,546 --> 00:33:05,657 you that Secretary Austin is there at 814 00:33:05,657 --> 00:33:07,712 the White House and participating in 815 00:33:07,712 --> 00:33:09,768 the bilateral discussions . So short 816 00:33:09,768 --> 00:33:11,768 answer to your question is yes , he 817 00:33:11,768 --> 00:33:14,101 will be speaking with defense officials , 818 00:33:14,101 --> 00:33:13,850 he'll be speaking to the top defense 819 00:33:13,850 --> 00:33:15,906 official in the country . Will be in 820 00:33:15,906 --> 00:33:18,017 the room for the bilateral meetings , 821 00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:20,500 Tony has been involved in Afghanistan 822 00:33:20,500 --> 00:33:22,667 issues for quite a number of years . I 823 00:33:22,667 --> 00:33:24,778 wanted a broad question to you . What 824 00:33:24,778 --> 00:33:26,667 potential benefits does Secretary 825 00:33:26,667 --> 00:33:28,778 Austin see to the U . S . Military in 826 00:33:28,778 --> 00:33:31,570 this drawdown ? I find it hard that I 827 00:33:31,580 --> 00:33:34,770 believe that the withdrawal 2500 troops 828 00:33:34,780 --> 00:33:37,570 is going to help us reposition for or 829 00:33:37,570 --> 00:33:39,520 facilitate the repositioning too 830 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:42,390 graphic for Asia or against Russia or 831 00:33:42,390 --> 00:33:44,570 the regions . Is this mostly savings 832 00:33:44,580 --> 00:33:46,690 the $3 billion a month that's being 833 00:33:46,690 --> 00:33:49,950 spent there being shifted to other uh 834 00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:52,238 others more ? It's more than that Tony . 835 00:33:52,238 --> 00:33:54,293 I mean , and you heard the Secretary 836 00:33:54,293 --> 00:33:56,460 talk about this a little bit Wednesday 837 00:33:56,460 --> 00:34:00,050 night , I think uh to remind that 838 00:34:00,740 --> 00:34:04,470 the President's decision also gives the 839 00:34:04,470 --> 00:34:06,581 department and opportunity to refocus 840 00:34:06,581 --> 00:34:10,560 our efforts uh in areas and on threats 841 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:12,782 and challenges that we believe are more 842 00:34:12,782 --> 00:34:14,880 relevant to our way of life , to 843 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:17,102 threatening our way of life here in the 844 00:34:17,102 --> 00:34:19,510 United States . Now then , a greatly 845 00:34:19,510 --> 00:34:21,343 diminished terrorist threat from 846 00:34:21,343 --> 00:34:23,820 Afghanistan . And you've heard the 847 00:34:23,820 --> 00:34:26,042 Secretary talk about this and testimony 848 00:34:26,042 --> 00:34:28,264 and up here at the podium with you that 849 00:34:28,264 --> 00:34:30,598 he considers china are pacing challenge . 850 00:34:30,598 --> 00:34:34,100 We certainly have obvious and deep 851 00:34:34,100 --> 00:34:36,267 concerns about where Russia is going , 852 00:34:36,267 --> 00:34:38,433 not only in the region , but elsewhere 853 00:34:38,433 --> 00:34:41,530 around the world . Um uh we've got uh 854 00:34:41,540 --> 00:34:43,707 continued malign activity from Iran in 855 00:34:43,707 --> 00:34:46,420 the Middle East . Um uh and of course 856 00:34:46,430 --> 00:34:48,319 there's north Korea . There are a 857 00:34:48,319 --> 00:34:50,400 plethora of uh of significant 858 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:53,880 challenges um and threats to our 859 00:34:53,880 --> 00:34:55,991 national security interests and those 860 00:34:55,991 --> 00:34:58,047 of our allies and partners . And the 861 00:34:58,047 --> 00:35:00,158 President's decision allows us now uh 862 00:35:00,158 --> 00:35:02,360 to to better focus on those more 863 00:35:02,360 --> 00:35:04,520 relevant threats and challenges . And 864 00:35:04,520 --> 00:35:07,910 that's what this decision helps helps 865 00:35:07,910 --> 00:35:10,410 us do . And as you also know , Tony , 866 00:35:10,420 --> 00:35:14,160 you know , you talk about 2500 867 00:35:14,540 --> 00:35:16,890 troops on the ground . And while that 868 00:35:16,890 --> 00:35:18,980 may sound minuscule to some people , 869 00:35:18,990 --> 00:35:22,920 it's still 2500 . And there 870 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:26,790 was another What 8000 or so 871 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:28,856 from our NATO allies on the ground , 872 00:35:28,856 --> 00:35:31,022 there was a total of 10,000 , really . 873 00:35:31,022 --> 00:35:33,244 Uh and then we've talked about contract 874 00:35:33,244 --> 00:35:35,900 support . Um I don't have the exact 875 00:35:35,900 --> 00:35:38,550 number , but there are a lot of 876 00:35:38,550 --> 00:35:40,606 contractors in the country , some of 877 00:35:40,606 --> 00:35:42,830 which uh answer to contracts that we've 878 00:35:42,830 --> 00:35:46,420 let . Not all . Um uh and then you 879 00:35:46,420 --> 00:35:48,531 mentioned the financial commitments , 880 00:35:48,531 --> 00:35:51,060 uh , financial commitments , right . 881 00:35:51,340 --> 00:35:53,451 Those are resources now that can help 882 00:35:53,451 --> 00:35:55,800 us also apply to more to refocusing on 883 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:57,800 other threats and challenges . That 884 00:35:57,800 --> 00:36:00,022 said , as the secretary also made clear 885 00:36:00,022 --> 00:36:01,856 we're going to continue to offer 886 00:36:01,856 --> 00:36:03,800 financial assistance to the Afghan 887 00:36:03,800 --> 00:36:05,967 National Security Forces . But clearly 888 00:36:05,967 --> 00:36:09,480 uh drawing down will allow us to focus 889 00:36:09,490 --> 00:36:12,380 all our resources , People and 890 00:36:12,380 --> 00:36:15,780 financially on focusing on the threats 891 00:36:15,780 --> 00:36:18,002 and challenges that we believe are most 892 00:36:18,002 --> 00:36:20,224 important to the American people now in 893 00:36:20,224 --> 00:36:22,169 2021 . All right , thanks . Okay . 894 00:36:22,169 --> 00:36:24,391 Louis I have two questions . One of the 895 00:36:24,391 --> 00:36:26,613 contractors and I just feel like I know 896 00:36:26,613 --> 00:36:28,724 you were talking about something very 897 00:36:28,724 --> 00:36:30,836 preliminary but addressing the notion 898 00:36:30,836 --> 00:36:32,970 of only american contractors inside 899 00:36:32,980 --> 00:36:34,924 Afghanistan . Yeah , just blue . I 900 00:36:34,924 --> 00:36:37,360 don't have the detail . I mean , I I 901 00:36:37,370 --> 00:36:39,370 knew this was gonna come up today . 902 00:36:39,370 --> 00:36:41,426 Wasn't like I didn't think about the 903 00:36:41,426 --> 00:36:43,648 fact that you guys will be asking about 904 00:36:43,648 --> 00:36:45,703 contractors . I just don't have that 905 00:36:45,703 --> 00:36:47,814 preliminary plans are being worked on 906 00:36:47,814 --> 00:36:47,670 right now to figure out what the 907 00:36:47,670 --> 00:36:49,781 contract situation is gonna look like 908 00:36:49,781 --> 00:36:51,837 going forward . And when we can talk 909 00:36:51,837 --> 00:36:53,948 about that with more specificity , we 910 00:36:53,948 --> 00:36:56,170 will and thank you and moving on to the 911 00:36:56,170 --> 00:36:58,059 bounties . Um you're calling it a 912 00:36:58,059 --> 00:37:00,630 charge , jen Psaki yesterday referred 913 00:37:00,630 --> 00:37:02,590 to it as low and moderate level 914 00:37:02,590 --> 00:37:04,730 intelligence or excuse me , low and 915 00:37:04,740 --> 00:37:07,820 moderate level of confidence . That the 916 00:37:07,820 --> 00:37:10,700 allegations are true . That the Russian 917 00:37:10,700 --> 00:37:13,560 bounties when you when you label it at 918 00:37:13,560 --> 00:37:15,393 a charge and we label it low and 919 00:37:15,393 --> 00:37:18,640 moderate levels of confidence . Is that 920 00:37:18,640 --> 00:37:21,290 enough for you to then believe that 921 00:37:21,290 --> 00:37:25,200 this is actually the case ? Because I 922 00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:27,311 would think that this is that the bar 923 00:37:27,311 --> 00:37:29,500 is kind of low at that point , is that 924 00:37:29,510 --> 00:37:31,566 the bar high to prove this ? Where's 925 00:37:31,566 --> 00:37:34,460 the Barlow ? It's because it's because 926 00:37:34,460 --> 00:37:37,960 the idea is so serious . This idea that 927 00:37:39,030 --> 00:37:42,650 a nation state could 928 00:37:43,930 --> 00:37:47,840 offer cash bounties uh 929 00:37:48,430 --> 00:37:51,290 two for others to kill American 930 00:37:51,290 --> 00:37:53,623 soldiers . It's because it's so serious , 931 00:37:53,830 --> 00:37:56,050 we want to be careful in the way it's 932 00:37:56,050 --> 00:37:58,161 being described . I make no apologies 933 00:37:58,161 --> 00:38:02,000 for that . Um and because it was 934 00:38:02,010 --> 00:38:03,899 characterized by the intelligence 935 00:38:03,899 --> 00:38:07,500 community as low to moderate . Um it it 936 00:38:07,510 --> 00:38:10,030 specifically then I think calls out 937 00:38:10,420 --> 00:38:14,360 from Moscow to explain itself . But 938 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:16,416 you don't think then that the bar is 939 00:38:16,416 --> 00:38:18,249 set very low because when you're 940 00:38:18,249 --> 00:38:20,510 calling it low level and confidence , I 941 00:38:20,510 --> 00:38:22,732 mean typically that's not operational , 942 00:38:22,732 --> 00:38:24,970 that's not actionable . Uh So what what 943 00:38:24,970 --> 00:38:26,970 made this uh in this case , again , 944 00:38:26,970 --> 00:38:29,370 action Well , you're getting into an 945 00:38:29,370 --> 00:38:31,537 intelligence assessment here louis and 946 00:38:31,537 --> 00:38:33,640 I can't I'm not gonna go there . I 947 00:38:33,650 --> 00:38:36,770 think we've all tried to be as 948 00:38:36,780 --> 00:38:38,640 transparent on this as possible 949 00:38:39,120 --> 00:38:41,064 specifically because we don't like 950 00:38:41,064 --> 00:38:43,342 talking about intelligence assessments . 951 00:38:43,342 --> 00:38:47,200 Um And by characterizing as low as low 952 00:38:47,210 --> 00:38:49,321 to moderate it says it's I think it's 953 00:38:49,321 --> 00:38:51,670 as honest as forthcoming as we can be 954 00:38:51,680 --> 00:38:55,250 because again it's such a serious idea . 955 00:38:55,620 --> 00:38:58,810 Um You want to be careful how you couch 956 00:38:58,810 --> 00:39:01,950 it and again I think mhm . 957 00:39:02,420 --> 00:39:06,250 Even being low uh 958 00:39:06,260 --> 00:39:08,860 is serious enough . Even if your 959 00:39:08,860 --> 00:39:10,693 assessment is that it's low it's 960 00:39:10,693 --> 00:39:12,610 serious enough that it demands 961 00:39:12,610 --> 00:39:15,980 accountability from Russia . As to the 962 00:39:15,990 --> 00:39:19,920 veracity of it . Let's 963 00:39:19,920 --> 00:39:22,253 talk about the facts of the bounty case . 964 00:39:22,450 --> 00:39:26,240 It's not that there is a broad body of 965 00:39:26,240 --> 00:39:28,810 intelligence suggesting bounties . It 966 00:39:28,810 --> 00:39:31,800 came from a detainee interview that now 967 00:39:31,800 --> 00:39:34,022 the intelligence community says has low 968 00:39:34,022 --> 00:39:37,370 to moderate confidence was even true . 969 00:39:37,530 --> 00:39:39,430 If you don't have evidence that 970 00:39:39,440 --> 00:39:41,720 bounties were paid , why is the U . S . 971 00:39:41,720 --> 00:39:43,720 Government still accusing Moscow of 972 00:39:43,720 --> 00:39:47,470 paying for bounties ? I'm jen I've 973 00:39:47,470 --> 00:39:51,080 not accused anyone here 974 00:39:51,400 --> 00:39:53,678 and I don't think we've accused anyone . 975 00:39:53,678 --> 00:39:56,410 We've said that it's a serious 976 00:39:57,720 --> 00:40:01,430 potential charge here . One detainee 977 00:40:01,430 --> 00:40:03,486 saying I'm not going to speak to the 978 00:40:03,486 --> 00:40:05,763 intelligence or where it's coming from , 979 00:40:05,763 --> 00:40:07,986 jen come out already . It's not I'm not 980 00:40:07,986 --> 00:40:07,570 going to speak to intelligence here 981 00:40:07,570 --> 00:40:09,792 from this podium . I just won't do it . 982 00:40:09,792 --> 00:40:11,792 Is there enough to suggest that you 983 00:40:11,792 --> 00:40:13,848 still have concerns that Russia paid 984 00:40:13,848 --> 00:40:17,330 bounties as I think we made clear we 985 00:40:17,710 --> 00:40:20,960 uh are concerned enough about this that 986 00:40:20,960 --> 00:40:23,127 we want Moscow to be transparent about 987 00:40:23,127 --> 00:40:24,127 it . 988 00:40:27,610 --> 00:40:29,554 Go ahead . What's your what's your 989 00:40:29,554 --> 00:40:31,610 question ? It just seems like you're 990 00:40:31,610 --> 00:40:33,554 still trying to give this credence 991 00:40:33,554 --> 00:40:35,730 after it's been basically , you know , 992 00:40:35,740 --> 00:40:39,210 wipe shown to be pretty pretty thin 993 00:40:39,210 --> 00:40:41,377 stuff . Just the way you're describing 994 00:40:41,377 --> 00:40:43,266 it . We want Moscow was said they 995 00:40:43,266 --> 00:40:45,910 didn't do it . I mean I don't take 996 00:40:45,910 --> 00:40:49,560 their word either , but I mean what ? 997 00:40:49,570 --> 00:40:51,737 That's not like you're still trying to 998 00:40:51,737 --> 00:40:53,903 say that there's something there . I'm 999 00:40:53,903 --> 00:40:56,180 saying . We'd like to know more about 1000 00:40:56,190 --> 00:40:58,970 what is there ? Okay . What if nothing 1001 00:40:58,970 --> 00:41:01,400 is there ? I mean , How do you do that 1002 00:41:01,490 --> 00:41:05,440 1 ? Detainee says something . Thank you . 1003 00:41:06,610 --> 00:41:08,832 There's nothing else . I mean , I don't 1004 00:41:08,832 --> 00:41:10,610 know . I mean , I'm not I don't 1005 00:41:10,610 --> 00:41:13,170 understand what your what your it just 1006 00:41:13,170 --> 00:41:15,380 seems like you're trying to it does 1007 00:41:15,380 --> 00:41:17,491 sound like you're trying to still say 1008 00:41:17,491 --> 00:41:19,500 there's a foundation of this rather 1009 00:41:19,500 --> 00:41:21,611 than being there's enough uncertainty 1010 00:41:21,611 --> 00:41:25,020 about it that we believe , that we 1011 00:41:25,510 --> 00:41:28,510 believe we need to know more . And and 1012 00:41:28,520 --> 00:41:31,670 I'm a little bit perplexed as to why 1013 00:41:31,670 --> 00:41:34,530 the very idea of this uh 1014 00:41:34,910 --> 00:41:37,130 why why you 1015 00:41:38,710 --> 00:41:42,440 you wouldn't want us two 1016 00:41:43,610 --> 00:41:46,930 want to take it seriously and to know 1017 00:41:46,930 --> 00:41:49,800 more about it . This idea that the the 1018 00:41:49,800 --> 00:41:51,856 idea even just the idea of it , that 1019 00:41:51,856 --> 00:41:53,967 the nation state would potentially do 1020 00:41:53,967 --> 00:41:56,078 something like this , why wouldn't we 1021 00:41:56,410 --> 00:41:58,960 want more answers on that ? You should 1022 00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:00,849 be calling us on the carpet if we 1023 00:42:00,849 --> 00:42:02,849 weren't asking more questions about 1024 00:42:02,849 --> 00:42:05,071 this was brought up as a campaign issue 1025 00:42:05,071 --> 00:42:07,680 during the election . Okay , mm . The 1026 00:42:07,690 --> 00:42:09,857 right wing doesn't like it . The right 1027 00:42:09,857 --> 00:42:12,023 wing media is taking throwing shots at 1028 00:42:12,023 --> 00:42:14,079 this because it's a new york . Times 1029 00:42:14,079 --> 00:42:16,079 broke it . So that's all . Well , I 1030 00:42:16,079 --> 00:42:18,246 can't speak to that to me . I mean , I 1031 00:42:18,246 --> 00:42:20,246 just don't understand why we why we 1032 00:42:20,246 --> 00:42:22,134 wouldn't why you wouldn't want us 1033 00:42:22,134 --> 00:42:24,023 nobody . We had to deal with this 1034 00:42:24,023 --> 00:42:26,134 during the Last administration and we 1035 00:42:26,134 --> 00:42:28,246 questioned them about the veracity of 1036 00:42:28,246 --> 00:42:30,468 it and the consensus from this building 1037 00:42:30,468 --> 00:42:32,960 was there was no evidence of bounties 1038 00:42:32,960 --> 00:42:35,016 having been paid . So we reported on 1039 00:42:35,016 --> 00:42:38,870 that back a few months ago and so 1040 00:42:38,870 --> 00:42:41,037 we're just trying to understand do you 1041 00:42:41,037 --> 00:42:42,926 have new evidence suggesting that 1042 00:42:42,926 --> 00:42:46,090 bounties were paid ? Is is this true or 1043 00:42:46,090 --> 00:42:47,868 not ? And I think that's a fair 1044 00:42:47,868 --> 00:42:49,880 question as well . It is . Again , 1045 00:42:49,880 --> 00:42:51,936 we're not going to get into specific 1046 00:42:51,936 --> 00:42:54,158 intelligence assessments and I won't go 1047 00:42:54,158 --> 00:42:56,213 beyond what the White House said the 1048 00:42:56,213 --> 00:42:58,630 other day that this this is um it's 1049 00:42:58,630 --> 00:43:01,050 concerning enough that that we we want 1050 00:43:01,050 --> 00:43:03,410 more answers about it . I think that's 1051 00:43:03,410 --> 00:43:05,600 fair for us to say . I think that's 1052 00:43:05,600 --> 00:43:07,656 fair for us to say . And I think you 1053 00:43:07,656 --> 00:43:09,970 would expect us all to want to know 1054 00:43:09,980 --> 00:43:12,202 fair for us to question and this is not 1055 00:43:12,202 --> 00:43:15,370 a right wing issue , Tony . I'm not 1056 00:43:15,370 --> 00:43:18,050 going to get into the politics of it . 1057 00:43:18,060 --> 00:43:21,320 We're talking about the the 1058 00:43:22,000 --> 00:43:24,167 safety and well being of our troops in 1059 00:43:24,167 --> 00:43:27,490 harm's way . And and I we won't make 1060 00:43:27,490 --> 00:43:29,268 any apologies for wanting to be 1061 00:43:29,268 --> 00:43:32,220 concerned about that . Um , and I guess 1062 00:43:32,220 --> 00:43:35,940 I I you might think it's 1063 00:43:36,220 --> 00:43:38,660 not worth us asking more questions 1064 00:43:38,660 --> 00:43:40,771 about it . I guess we would just take 1065 00:43:40,771 --> 00:43:44,230 issue with that Christina . 1066 00:43:47,900 --> 00:43:50,420 Thank you for taking my question . Um , 1067 00:43:51,200 --> 00:43:53,510 so I'm wondering about this , these 1068 00:43:53,510 --> 00:43:57,260 reports about North Korea , um , 1069 00:43:57,270 --> 00:43:59,190 indications of new re processing 1070 00:43:59,190 --> 00:44:01,079 campaign designed to expand North 1071 00:44:01,079 --> 00:44:03,190 Korea's inventory of fissile material 1072 00:44:03,190 --> 00:44:06,400 for nuclear weapons . Um , this is from 1073 00:44:06,400 --> 00:44:09,720 a think tank that's reputable . So , um 1074 00:44:10,490 --> 00:44:12,601 is there anything there ? Do you have 1075 00:44:12,601 --> 00:44:15,850 any comments or anything to shed ? You 1076 00:44:15,850 --> 00:44:18,110 don't want to talk about intelligence ? 1077 00:44:19,290 --> 00:44:21,401 Yeah , you're ahead of me . I haven't 1078 00:44:21,401 --> 00:44:23,512 seen that assessment of that report . 1079 00:44:23,512 --> 00:44:27,290 Uh , we uh we're all committed 1080 00:44:27,290 --> 00:44:30,150 to the denuclearization 1081 00:44:30,790 --> 00:44:34,300 of North Korea . Uh , we're going to 1082 00:44:34,300 --> 00:44:36,411 continue to work towards that end . I 1083 00:44:36,411 --> 00:44:38,470 won't speak to specific reports by 1084 00:44:38,470 --> 00:44:40,637 independent agencies . That's really a 1085 00:44:40,637 --> 00:44:42,748 question better put to them . And I'm 1086 00:44:42,748 --> 00:44:42,240 obviously not going to talk about 1087 00:44:42,240 --> 00:44:45,800 intelligence here here . You mentioned 1088 00:44:45,800 --> 00:44:47,950 in your opening statement , the 1089 00:44:47,960 --> 00:44:50,580 Eisenhower and the goal in the Arabian 1090 00:44:50,580 --> 00:44:53,680 sea uh involvement against terrorism , 1091 00:44:53,690 --> 00:44:55,900 against dash and resolve and other 1092 00:44:55,900 --> 00:44:59,870 things . Can you add also that this is 1093 00:44:59,870 --> 00:45:02,400 also directed as a message to Iran not 1094 00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:04,860 to interfere in the freedom of 1095 00:45:05,030 --> 00:45:07,550 navigation . And and you mentioned at 1096 00:45:07,550 --> 00:45:10,820 least once or twice the Iranian malign 1097 00:45:10,890 --> 00:45:14,230 activities we exercise 1098 00:45:14,240 --> 00:45:16,870 with foreign navies all the time . Uh 1099 00:45:16,870 --> 00:45:20,490 and that's common of navies around the 1100 00:45:20,490 --> 00:45:22,379 world . And we want to take every 1101 00:45:22,379 --> 00:45:24,550 opportunity we can uh to improve our 1102 00:45:24,550 --> 00:45:26,830 own readiness at sea . So dual carrier 1103 00:45:26,830 --> 00:45:28,886 operations , whether they're between 1104 00:45:28,886 --> 00:45:31,108 two U . S . Carriers or U . S . Carrier 1105 00:45:31,108 --> 00:45:33,163 and and one and one of our allies is 1106 00:45:33,163 --> 00:45:35,052 again not something that's that's 1107 00:45:35,052 --> 00:45:39,040 uncommon . Um uh and it's not 1108 00:45:39,050 --> 00:45:42,990 a raid or uh you know specifically to 1109 00:45:42,990 --> 00:45:45,810 send a message to any one country . As 1110 00:45:45,810 --> 00:45:49,240 much as it is to send a message to our 1111 00:45:49,240 --> 00:45:51,240 navies and our sailors that we take 1112 00:45:51,240 --> 00:45:53,184 their training and their readiness 1113 00:45:53,184 --> 00:45:54,962 seriously and to our allies and 1114 00:45:54,962 --> 00:45:57,184 partners in the region that we take our 1115 00:45:57,184 --> 00:45:59,407 commitments are security commitments in 1116 00:45:59,407 --> 00:46:01,800 the region seriously . Sam That's 1117 00:46:03,680 --> 00:46:05,680 uh my question's been addressed . I 1118 00:46:05,680 --> 00:46:08,880 yield back . Okay , yield back . Don't 1119 00:46:08,880 --> 00:46:11,570 hear that much in your or in . The 1120 00:46:11,580 --> 00:46:13,858 President has said it was very stately , 1121 00:46:13,858 --> 00:46:16,000 very stately . The president said it 1122 00:46:16,000 --> 00:46:17,944 was not a hard decision for him to 1123 00:46:17,944 --> 00:46:20,111 withdraw . Wasn't a hard decision or a 1124 00:46:20,111 --> 00:46:22,333 hard recommendation for the secretary . 1125 00:46:22,333 --> 00:46:24,444 And has the secretary's position been 1126 00:46:24,444 --> 00:46:26,667 throughout this process that the reason 1127 00:46:26,667 --> 00:46:28,778 the mission we went to Afghanistan is 1128 00:46:28,778 --> 00:46:31,000 complete ? Or has this position evolved 1129 00:46:31,000 --> 00:46:30,690 throughout the discussions in the inter 1130 00:46:30,690 --> 00:46:32,357 agency on it when it comes to 1131 00:46:32,357 --> 00:46:35,900 Afghanistan mission complete that ? 1132 00:46:36,280 --> 00:46:39,210 Well , let me me back up , 1133 00:46:41,180 --> 00:46:43,330 as the Secretary said on Wednesday , 1134 00:46:43,330 --> 00:46:46,680 fully supports this decision and he 1135 00:46:46,680 --> 00:46:49,940 was deeply involved in the process , a 1136 00:46:49,940 --> 00:46:51,996 process that he described for you on 1137 00:46:51,996 --> 00:46:53,884 Wednesday night as deliberate and 1138 00:46:53,884 --> 00:46:56,400 inclusive . Um and he's confident that 1139 00:46:56,780 --> 00:46:59,300 uh that not only was his voice heard 1140 00:46:59,300 --> 00:47:02,240 but that of the military leaders . Uh 1141 00:47:02,250 --> 00:47:04,850 he's also , as I said fully in support 1142 00:47:04,860 --> 00:47:06,860 of this decision , very comfortable 1143 00:47:07,080 --> 00:47:09,640 with moving ahead now and executing on 1144 00:47:09,640 --> 00:47:11,696 the commander in chief's direction . 1145 00:47:11,696 --> 00:47:15,050 Okay , I got one more go ahead . My 1146 00:47:15,050 --> 00:47:18,260 question is on Taiwan . So china is 1147 00:47:18,260 --> 00:47:20,149 ramping up the pressure on Taiwan 1148 00:47:20,149 --> 00:47:23,890 military and what does the US expect 1149 00:47:23,900 --> 00:47:27,130 or want from Japan to enhance the 1150 00:47:27,130 --> 00:47:29,800 security of Taiwan or push back china 1151 00:47:30,180 --> 00:47:32,402 on the situation in Thailand straight , 1152 00:47:32,402 --> 00:47:34,640 I'll let the leaders who are meeting 1153 00:47:34,640 --> 00:47:37,290 now at the White House speak to that 1154 00:47:37,290 --> 00:47:39,300 later this afternoon . Our alliance 1155 00:47:39,300 --> 00:47:42,230 would . Japan is Ironclad Secretary was 1156 00:47:42,230 --> 00:47:44,360 just there last month . Terrific 1157 00:47:44,360 --> 00:47:47,380 discussions in Tokyo . Um uh 1158 00:47:47,390 --> 00:47:50,300 uh nothing has changed about 1159 00:47:50,680 --> 00:47:53,400 Our adherence to the one China policy 1160 00:47:54,080 --> 00:47:56,290 and to our commitment through 1161 00:47:57,080 --> 00:47:59,191 bipartisan administrations going back 1162 00:47:59,191 --> 00:48:02,080 now many years to helping Taiwan defend 1163 00:48:02,080 --> 00:48:04,270 itself . And I'll let the Japanese 1164 00:48:04,270 --> 00:48:06,640 government speak , speak for this 1165 00:48:06,640 --> 00:48:08,473 themselves and I think you'll be 1166 00:48:08,473 --> 00:48:10,418 hearing from them very soon . So I 1167 00:48:10,418 --> 00:48:12,473 think it's better for me to defer to 1168 00:48:12,473 --> 00:48:15,780 them . Okay , thanks . It's about the 1169 00:48:15,780 --> 00:48:18,540 families and the soldiers who sacrifice 1170 00:48:18,540 --> 00:48:21,450 in Afghanistan , whether who died or 1171 00:48:21,450 --> 00:48:23,750 who got injured , the president said 1172 00:48:23,760 --> 00:48:26,000 and the secretary echoed his message 1173 00:48:26,000 --> 00:48:29,570 and brussels that the US has long since 1174 00:48:29,570 --> 00:48:31,237 accomplished its objective in 1175 00:48:31,237 --> 00:48:33,292 Afghanistan . What do you say to the 1176 00:48:33,292 --> 00:48:36,650 families and loved ones of the soldiers 1177 00:48:36,650 --> 00:48:38,761 who lost their lives and sacrifice in 1178 00:48:38,761 --> 00:48:42,180 Afghanistan in that period between 1179 00:48:42,190 --> 00:48:44,760 accomplishing those objectives and 1180 00:48:44,760 --> 00:48:46,982 getting to the point where there's been 1181 00:48:46,982 --> 00:48:49,038 a political decision to finally pull 1182 00:48:49,038 --> 00:48:50,871 out and put an end to the war in 1183 00:48:50,871 --> 00:48:53,730 Afghanistan . I can't do it any better 1184 00:48:53,730 --> 00:48:55,897 than the secretary did . I'd point you 1185 00:48:55,897 --> 00:48:57,730 back through his comments , uh , 1186 00:48:57,730 --> 00:49:01,240 Wednesday . But what we say is , thank 1187 00:49:01,240 --> 00:49:05,230 you , thank you for The 1188 00:49:05,230 --> 00:49:07,452 service and sacrifice of your loved one 1189 00:49:07,452 --> 00:49:09,890 who did make so much progress possible 1190 00:49:10,350 --> 00:49:12,950 in Afghanistan and not just american 1191 00:49:12,950 --> 00:49:15,370 soldiers , but soldiers from so many 1192 00:49:15,370 --> 00:49:17,537 different countries over so many years 1193 00:49:17,537 --> 00:49:19,537 who made the progress possible that 1194 00:49:19,537 --> 00:49:21,259 Afghanistan now enjoys and the 1195 00:49:21,259 --> 00:49:23,426 opportunity now that the Afghan people 1196 00:49:23,426 --> 00:49:26,800 have and Thank you for preventing 1197 00:49:26,950 --> 00:49:29,060 another 9:11 from not letting that 1198 00:49:29,060 --> 00:49:32,430 happen . Uh , there's not too many 1199 00:49:32,430 --> 00:49:34,486 people you walk around this building 1200 00:49:34,486 --> 00:49:36,708 and I know we're still in covid manning 1201 00:49:36,708 --> 00:49:39,380 here . Uh , but there's not too many 1202 00:49:39,380 --> 00:49:41,324 people you walk around this , this 1203 00:49:41,324 --> 00:49:43,324 building that doesn't know somebody 1204 00:49:43,324 --> 00:49:45,380 including me who didn't make it back 1205 00:49:45,380 --> 00:49:47,047 home alive from Afghanistan . 1206 00:49:49,000 --> 00:49:52,140 And we're always gonna be grateful for 1207 00:49:52,140 --> 00:49:55,200 what they made possible . Okay . Thanks . 1208 00:49:57,570 --> 00:49:57,780 Mhm