1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:04,350 everybody , couple of 2 00:00:04,350 --> 00:00:05,860 things here at the top . 3 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:13,490 So I think all you know , effective 4 00:00:13,490 --> 00:00:17,170 today , all Defense Department eligible 5 00:00:17,170 --> 00:00:19,337 and authorized adults are able to make 6 00:00:19,337 --> 00:00:21,281 an appointment by contacting their 7 00:00:21,281 --> 00:00:23,503 local military treatment facility for a 8 00:00:23,503 --> 00:00:27,130 covid vaccine directly or using their 9 00:00:27,130 --> 00:00:29,600 military treatments facilities 10 00:00:29,610 --> 00:00:32,660 appointing process . This obviously 11 00:00:32,660 --> 00:00:34,882 supports President Biden's direction to 12 00:00:34,882 --> 00:00:36,771 make the vaccine available to all 13 00:00:36,771 --> 00:00:38,771 eligible and authorized adults . By 14 00:00:38,771 --> 00:00:40,890 Today 19 April the services will also 15 00:00:40,890 --> 00:00:44,540 redirect 31,500 additional doses of 16 00:00:44,540 --> 00:00:46,380 Moderna to overseas locations in 17 00:00:46,380 --> 00:00:48,590 european command . On top of their 18 00:00:48,590 --> 00:00:50,960 already allocated Moderna vaccine 19 00:00:51,410 --> 00:00:53,330 Services will also redirect 20 00:00:53,340 --> 00:00:55,820 approximately 30,000 additional doses 21 00:00:55,820 --> 00:00:59,620 of moderna Two vaccine to Indo Pacific 22 00:00:59,620 --> 00:01:01,842 Command and Central Command . And we'll 23 00:01:01,842 --> 00:01:03,787 be and that we expect that will be 24 00:01:03,787 --> 00:01:06,140 completed by the end of May , May 21 . 25 00:01:06,140 --> 00:01:08,370 Roughly , this will help keep the 26 00:01:08,370 --> 00:01:10,770 vaccination efforts on pace To provide 27 00:01:10,770 --> 00:01:13,030 initial doses to over 80 of our 28 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,151 overseas personnel and their families 29 00:01:15,151 --> 00:01:17,262 by the end of that month . Uh just to 30 00:01:17,262 --> 00:01:20,750 remind , 83 of vaccines received by the 31 00:01:20,750 --> 00:01:22,361 Defense Department have been 32 00:01:22,361 --> 00:01:24,472 administered exceeding the us average 33 00:01:24,472 --> 00:01:26,510 of 78 and more than 28 of our total 34 00:01:26,510 --> 00:01:29,040 forces now vaccinated . So we're making 35 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,760 progress and we're happy to see that um 36 00:01:31,770 --> 00:01:33,900 on an exercise front , the U . S . 37 00:01:33,900 --> 00:01:35,622 Pacific fleet unmanned Systems 38 00:01:35,622 --> 00:01:38,070 Integrated Battle Problem 21 exercises 39 00:01:38,070 --> 00:01:40,510 taking place off the coast of San Diego 40 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:43,800 from the 16th to the 26th , settlers 41 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:45,800 will have the opportunity to engage 42 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:47,800 with the latest unmanned technology 43 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:49,856 which will drive faster learning and 44 00:01:49,856 --> 00:01:51,911 rapid employment of these systems in 45 00:01:51,911 --> 00:01:54,078 the fleet . This exercise will improve 46 00:01:54,078 --> 00:01:55,967 U . S . Pacific fleet warfighting 47 00:01:55,967 --> 00:01:58,133 advantages by integrating multi domain 48 00:01:58,133 --> 00:02:00,244 manned and unmanned capabilities . Uh 49 00:02:00,244 --> 00:02:02,670 as exercises of this nature evolved the 50 00:02:02,670 --> 00:02:04,614 opportunity for coordination among 51 00:02:04,614 --> 00:02:06,670 allies and partner nations will also 52 00:02:06,670 --> 00:02:08,892 arise , creating stronger relationships 53 00:02:08,892 --> 00:02:11,114 in the indo pacific and with that we'll 54 00:02:11,114 --> 00:02:13,281 take some questions . I think leader , 55 00:02:13,281 --> 00:02:16,430 your first john thanks um to thanks . 56 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:20,000 The Eu you've probably seen is now 57 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:21,890 saying that they believe They are 58 00:02:21,900 --> 00:02:24,110 estimating that there are 150,000 59 00:02:24,110 --> 00:02:27,700 Russian troops um along Ukraine's 60 00:02:27,700 --> 00:02:30,190 borders . And I know you have not 61 00:02:30,190 --> 00:02:32,260 wanted to put a number on that 62 00:02:32,270 --> 00:02:34,381 previously , but I'm wondering if you 63 00:02:34,381 --> 00:02:37,760 can tell us if that is indeed um an 64 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:40,260 accurate or relatively accurate number . 65 00:02:40,640 --> 00:02:44,490 Um And then secondly , um can you say 66 00:02:44,490 --> 00:02:47,030 how many National Guard troops the 67 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:50,860 district has requested ? Even if you 68 00:02:50,860 --> 00:02:52,880 can't say whether or not it's gonna 69 00:02:52,890 --> 00:02:54,946 prove or how many are being approved 70 00:02:54,946 --> 00:02:56,946 and at least talk to give us a some 71 00:02:56,946 --> 00:02:59,780 sort of sense of the scope of the 72 00:02:59,790 --> 00:03:01,901 request from D . C . For the Garden . 73 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,151 Thank you . Thanks , lita . Um You're 74 00:03:04,151 --> 00:03:06,373 right . I'm not gonna get into specific 75 00:03:06,373 --> 00:03:08,596 numbers or troop formations in terms of 76 00:03:08,596 --> 00:03:10,429 the Russian build up . We do can 77 00:03:10,429 --> 00:03:13,120 continue to see that build up uh uh as 78 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,110 it was before very seriously concerning 79 00:03:16,110 --> 00:03:20,100 to us . Um And uh we call on Russia to 80 00:03:20,110 --> 00:03:22,770 obviously make their intentions uh more 81 00:03:22,770 --> 00:03:24,790 clear . We don't believe that this 82 00:03:24,790 --> 00:03:26,901 build up is conducive to security and 83 00:03:26,901 --> 00:03:29,580 stability along the border with Ukraine 84 00:03:29,580 --> 00:03:31,900 and certainly not in occupied Crimea . 85 00:03:31,910 --> 00:03:34,410 Um So again we call on the Russians to 86 00:03:34,420 --> 00:03:38,080 um to cease their provocations uh and 87 00:03:38,090 --> 00:03:41,410 uh to contribute to better security and 88 00:03:41,410 --> 00:03:43,632 stability there . And they can start by 89 00:03:43,632 --> 00:03:45,854 being more transparent about what their 90 00:03:45,854 --> 00:03:47,966 intentions are and what they're doing 91 00:03:47,966 --> 00:03:51,080 on the D . C . Guard request . I know 92 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:53,760 that there is a request that the army 93 00:03:53,770 --> 00:03:56,060 is looking at right now lead to I don't 94 00:03:56,070 --> 00:03:59,060 have the details of it . Um And I 95 00:03:59,060 --> 00:04:01,450 suspect we'll know more once uh the 96 00:04:01,450 --> 00:04:05,090 army has made a final decision um and 97 00:04:05,090 --> 00:04:07,201 is able to speak to that in general . 98 00:04:07,201 --> 00:04:09,312 All I can tell you is that there is a 99 00:04:09,312 --> 00:04:11,479 request in the building army's looking 100 00:04:11,479 --> 00:04:13,590 at that and I don't want to get ahead 101 00:04:13,590 --> 00:04:16,750 of their process . Certainly the I 102 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:18,880 could refer you to the army too to 103 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:21,730 speak to it as well , but if and when 104 00:04:21,730 --> 00:04:23,952 we get more information about this will 105 00:04:23,952 --> 00:04:27,020 certainly pass it on as a follow up of 106 00:04:27,020 --> 00:04:30,760 course , um on Ukraine . 107 00:04:31,340 --> 00:04:33,590 Are you seeing or can you even 108 00:04:33,590 --> 00:04:36,250 characterize whether this build up has 109 00:04:36,260 --> 00:04:38,780 grown over the last several days since 110 00:04:38,780 --> 00:04:41,250 last week or because there's been some 111 00:04:41,250 --> 00:04:43,480 discussion that some things are sort of 112 00:04:43,490 --> 00:04:46,430 kind of , is that a study state ? Can 113 00:04:46,430 --> 00:04:48,319 you give us a sense as to whether 114 00:04:48,319 --> 00:04:50,700 there's more activity or additional 115 00:04:50,700 --> 00:04:52,900 troops in recent days ? Well , without 116 00:04:52,900 --> 00:04:55,950 getting into too much tactile uh 117 00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:00,590 um specifics sort of day by day , what 118 00:05:00,590 --> 00:05:02,757 I can tell you is in general , we have 119 00:05:02,757 --> 00:05:05,090 continued to see this build up increase . 120 00:05:05,090 --> 00:05:07,380 Um and uh and again , that is 121 00:05:07,380 --> 00:05:09,350 concerning to us . And I said we 122 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,540 certainly uh would like to have a 123 00:05:11,540 --> 00:05:13,651 better sense of what their intentions 124 00:05:13,651 --> 00:05:17,280 are . But in the in the main over the 125 00:05:17,280 --> 00:05:19,447 last couple of weeks we have continued 126 00:05:19,447 --> 00:05:22,820 to see uh an increase uh in the in the 127 00:05:22,820 --> 00:05:25,100 forces along the border with Ukraine in 128 00:05:25,110 --> 00:05:28,790 occupied Crimea . Okay , in the 129 00:05:28,790 --> 00:05:32,630 room , Yes , sir , who are you ? I'm 130 00:05:32,630 --> 00:05:34,150 sorry . Who are you ? 131 00:05:35,540 --> 00:05:39,280 I just still not a 132 00:05:39,280 --> 00:05:42,080 Russian agent . No . Well , my name is 133 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,300 Roger Zala . I work for an Iraqi 134 00:05:44,300 --> 00:05:46,710 kurdish tv . Okay . And my question is 135 00:05:46,710 --> 00:05:50,170 on Iraq , obviously the recent attacks , 136 00:05:50,180 --> 00:05:52,291 we've seen more and more attacks , do 137 00:05:52,291 --> 00:05:56,050 you think uhh your 138 00:05:56,050 --> 00:05:58,050 small scale limited kind of 139 00:05:58,740 --> 00:06:00,980 counterattacks , are they are they 140 00:06:00,980 --> 00:06:03,202 enough to deter these attacks ? Because 141 00:06:03,202 --> 00:06:05,147 we're seeing more and more attacks 142 00:06:05,147 --> 00:06:05,110 happening ? And then including the 143 00:06:05,110 --> 00:06:09,090 recent one with a drone that we're not 144 00:06:09,090 --> 00:06:11,500 really sure how was that ? Not detected 145 00:06:11,510 --> 00:06:14,430 before ? You know , targeting the 146 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:16,496 airport in there , Bill ? Well , I'm 147 00:06:16,496 --> 00:06:18,880 not gonna get into the specific details 148 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:22,050 of each attack . Obviously , in that 149 00:06:22,050 --> 00:06:25,250 case of this , of the one you're 150 00:06:25,250 --> 00:06:27,650 mentioning , there was a measure of 151 00:06:27,650 --> 00:06:29,817 success there , right , Because it hit 152 00:06:29,817 --> 00:06:33,220 it , hit a hanger . Uh And 153 00:06:33,330 --> 00:06:36,800 what I would say is that so a couple of 154 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,420 things . First , our forces in Iraq are 155 00:06:39,420 --> 00:06:41,650 there to help our Iraqi partners 156 00:06:42,340 --> 00:06:44,930 continue to prosecute their operations 157 00:06:44,930 --> 00:06:47,690 against ISIS were their invitation , 158 00:06:47,700 --> 00:06:49,700 that's what we're there to do . And 159 00:06:49,700 --> 00:06:51,811 it's a fairly limited presence on the 160 00:06:51,811 --> 00:06:53,756 ground in Iraq . We had a terrific 161 00:06:53,756 --> 00:06:55,930 Iraqi Iraq strategic dialogue just a 162 00:06:55,930 --> 00:06:57,930 couple of weeks ago where we talked 163 00:06:57,930 --> 00:07:00,097 about the importance of this mission . 164 00:07:00,097 --> 00:07:01,874 We talked about the ways we are 165 00:07:01,874 --> 00:07:03,986 enabling and improving the capability 166 00:07:03,986 --> 00:07:05,874 of Iraqi security forces . And of 167 00:07:05,874 --> 00:07:07,874 course there was talk about holding 168 00:07:07,874 --> 00:07:09,874 technical talks in the future about 169 00:07:09,874 --> 00:07:09,820 what that footprints going to look like 170 00:07:09,820 --> 00:07:13,320 going forward . Um uh So uh I think the 171 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:17,230 relationship with uh the government uh 172 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,230 in uh in Iraq and with Iraqi security 173 00:07:20,230 --> 00:07:23,920 forces is strong um when it comes to 174 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,690 these uh these attacks and the ones you 175 00:07:27,690 --> 00:07:30,830 mentioned , the Iraqis are as is their 176 00:07:30,830 --> 00:07:33,220 right investigating and looking at that . 177 00:07:33,230 --> 00:07:35,174 We're gonna give them the time and 178 00:07:35,174 --> 00:07:37,397 space to do that . Um And I'm not gonna 179 00:07:37,397 --> 00:07:39,520 Presuppose or speculate about future 180 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:41,650 responses except to say that if 181 00:07:42,140 --> 00:07:45,690 response is deemed warranted , then 182 00:07:45,700 --> 00:07:48,880 we're gonna work with the Iraqis uh to 183 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,102 do that on our own time and in a manner 184 00:07:51,102 --> 00:07:54,310 of our own choosing um uh to have the 185 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:57,110 effect that we want . Clearly you're 186 00:07:57,110 --> 00:08:00,810 right , uh uh these attacks continue 187 00:08:00,810 --> 00:08:02,754 and that's concerning and we're in 188 00:08:02,754 --> 00:08:04,866 consultations with our Iraqi partners 189 00:08:04,866 --> 00:08:06,754 right now about what the best way 190 00:08:06,754 --> 00:08:08,699 forward is on that . But first and 191 00:08:08,699 --> 00:08:10,754 foremost , we want to make sure they 192 00:08:10,754 --> 00:08:12,977 have the time to look at this , give us 193 00:08:12,977 --> 00:08:15,630 their views um and to reinforce for our 194 00:08:15,630 --> 00:08:17,741 own commanders , not that they needed 195 00:08:17,741 --> 00:08:19,797 it , but just to reinforce that they 196 00:08:19,797 --> 00:08:22,019 always have the right of self defense . 197 00:08:22,019 --> 00:08:23,963 Is it fair to say that right now , 198 00:08:23,963 --> 00:08:25,963 you're not sure what's the best way 199 00:08:25,963 --> 00:08:28,186 forward is ? I wouldn't go so far as to 200 00:08:28,186 --> 00:08:27,910 say , we don't know what the best way 201 00:08:27,910 --> 00:08:29,910 forward is . We're working with our 202 00:08:29,910 --> 00:08:31,410 Iraqi partners and they're 203 00:08:31,410 --> 00:08:33,632 investigating these and I think we want 204 00:08:33,632 --> 00:08:33,420 to let them do their work before we 205 00:08:33,420 --> 00:08:35,587 jump to conclusions here about what to 206 00:08:35,587 --> 00:08:37,642 do next . What's the what's the next 207 00:08:37,642 --> 00:08:40,350 approach ? Uh Well , I won't go there , 208 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:43,030 that's fine . Megan extremism . Working 209 00:08:43,030 --> 00:08:45,150 group has a number of short term fast 210 00:08:45,150 --> 00:08:47,180 action items to work on . Are there 211 00:08:47,180 --> 00:08:49,410 details about the deadlines for those 212 00:08:49,410 --> 00:08:51,632 yet ? I don't have specific details for 213 00:08:51,632 --> 00:08:54,110 deadlines . And those guys you saw in 214 00:08:54,110 --> 00:08:56,530 the memo , some of those were immediate 215 00:08:56,530 --> 00:08:59,020 actions that they're moving out on now . 216 00:08:59,030 --> 00:09:02,270 Uh And so it's not as if there's a 217 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,391 deadline to complete their moving out 218 00:09:04,391 --> 00:09:06,336 on them now . But then the working 219 00:09:06,336 --> 00:09:08,613 group will take as you saw in the memo , 220 00:09:08,613 --> 00:09:11,370 take a longer view of uh say like data 221 00:09:11,370 --> 00:09:13,481 collection and how to better do a job 222 00:09:13,481 --> 00:09:15,592 at data collection and there that's a 223 00:09:15,592 --> 00:09:17,592 longer term project . I'm not aware 224 00:09:17,592 --> 00:09:19,648 that there is a specific deadline on 225 00:09:19,648 --> 00:09:21,870 the calendar for when they have to come 226 00:09:21,870 --> 00:09:24,037 back for that . Sure . But in terms of 227 00:09:24,037 --> 00:09:26,259 the coming up with a definition or this 228 00:09:26,259 --> 00:09:28,426 study that they're supposed to get off 229 00:09:28,426 --> 00:09:30,592 the ground or their milestones there , 230 00:09:30,592 --> 00:09:30,180 that they're supposed to , I don't have 231 00:09:30,180 --> 00:09:32,291 any milestones the report today . I'm 232 00:09:32,291 --> 00:09:34,402 happy to go back to the working group 233 00:09:34,402 --> 00:09:36,569 and see if they've developed something 234 00:09:36,569 --> 00:09:36,430 in the interim , but I'm not aware of 235 00:09:36,430 --> 00:09:40,410 any right now . It's only no , I 236 00:09:40,420 --> 00:09:42,587 would like to go back to Ukraine . The 237 00:09:42,587 --> 00:09:45,430 EU says that this military build up is 238 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:49,250 the largest ever , uh near Ukraine . 239 00:09:49,260 --> 00:09:52,880 So , I wanted to know if you are more 240 00:09:52,890 --> 00:09:55,750 concerned than last week about this 241 00:09:55,750 --> 00:09:58,410 build up or if you still think it's 242 00:09:58,410 --> 00:10:02,250 linked to military exercise , It is the 243 00:10:02,260 --> 00:10:04,371 largest build up we've seen certainly 244 00:10:04,371 --> 00:10:07,550 since 2014 , which resulted in the 245 00:10:07,560 --> 00:10:11,040 violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and 246 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:14,130 territorial integrity . Um , and again , 247 00:10:14,130 --> 00:10:16,019 I'm not gonna I'm not prepared to 248 00:10:16,019 --> 00:10:18,630 qualify for you . How much bigger it is ? 249 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:22,150 It is , it is certainly uh Biggest than 250 00:10:22,150 --> 00:10:26,150 that than that than that went into 2014 . 251 00:10:26,540 --> 00:10:29,450 Um , and again , as for , you know , we 252 00:10:29,450 --> 00:10:31,339 certainly heard that the Russians 253 00:10:31,339 --> 00:10:33,117 proclaim that this is all about 254 00:10:33,117 --> 00:10:35,339 training . It's not completely clear to 255 00:10:35,339 --> 00:10:37,394 us that that's exactly the purpose . 256 00:10:37,394 --> 00:10:39,630 And so we are going to remain seriously 257 00:10:39,630 --> 00:10:41,910 concerned about this build up and we 258 00:10:41,910 --> 00:10:44,021 call on Russia to be more transparent 259 00:10:44,021 --> 00:10:46,290 about their intentions . And um in 260 00:10:46,290 --> 00:10:48,620 addition to that , to cease the 261 00:10:48,620 --> 00:10:50,850 provocations were there was a couple of 262 00:10:50,850 --> 00:10:53,072 Ukrainian soldiers killed just a couple 263 00:10:53,072 --> 00:10:55,530 of weeks ago , uh , to abide by their 264 00:10:55,540 --> 00:10:59,120 Minsk agreement requirements . Um , and 265 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:02,880 to take actions that decrease that not 266 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,320 escalate the tensions on that border 267 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:09,140 and in Crimea . And also today , 268 00:11:09,150 --> 00:11:13,050 Poland announced that american F 269 00:11:13,060 --> 00:11:16,900 15 and F 16 fighters have 270 00:11:16,910 --> 00:11:19,110 arrived in the country . I wanted to 271 00:11:19,110 --> 00:11:21,480 know if it's linked to the military 272 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:24,280 build up or if it's no relationship at 273 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,960 all . This is an exercise that they 274 00:11:27,740 --> 00:11:29,950 they call an agile combat employment 275 00:11:30,060 --> 00:11:33,140 exercise . Um , it's 276 00:11:33,150 --> 00:11:36,000 uh , it's basically both an active and 277 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:37,840 a reactive operational scheme of 278 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,980 maneuver executed 279 00:11:41,540 --> 00:11:44,510 uh , within tight timelines , uh , to 280 00:11:44,510 --> 00:11:47,150 try to test and improve our , uh , 281 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:49,500 survivability while generating combat 282 00:11:49,500 --> 00:11:51,667 power from the air . So it's a routine 283 00:11:51,667 --> 00:11:53,833 exercise , been in the works for quite 284 00:11:53,833 --> 00:11:57,030 some time . It is not a specific 285 00:11:57,030 --> 00:12:00,820 reaction to what's going on on the 286 00:12:00,830 --> 00:12:03,400 border with Ukraine or in Crimea . This 287 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:05,750 is , this is fairly routine . We do 288 00:12:05,750 --> 00:12:07,860 this all the time . As you know , we 289 00:12:07,860 --> 00:12:09,749 have had a rotational presence in 290 00:12:09,749 --> 00:12:11,804 Poland , which we greatly appreciate 291 00:12:11,804 --> 00:12:14,027 and welcome . Uh , and this is all part 292 00:12:14,027 --> 00:12:16,193 of that rotational element of training 293 00:12:16,193 --> 00:12:18,527 and readiness on the european continent . 294 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:23,480 Let's see address from 295 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,450 Reuters . Hey john , thanks for doing 296 00:12:26,450 --> 00:12:28,506 this . Um If I could just go back to 297 00:12:28,506 --> 00:12:30,920 the Russian bounty uh story from last 298 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:33,430 week , the reports , um just to make 299 00:12:33,430 --> 00:12:35,541 sure that I understand it correctly . 300 00:12:35,541 --> 00:12:37,486 So last week , from from the White 301 00:12:37,486 --> 00:12:39,708 House podium , jen Psaki said the intel 302 00:12:39,708 --> 00:12:41,874 community had concluded that there was 303 00:12:41,874 --> 00:12:43,986 only a load of moderate confidence in 304 00:12:43,986 --> 00:12:45,874 the reports about the bounties on 305 00:12:45,874 --> 00:12:47,819 friday . You said , you know , you 306 00:12:47,819 --> 00:12:49,874 won't speak to intel from the podium 307 00:12:49,874 --> 00:12:51,986 and there is a direct quote is enough 308 00:12:51,986 --> 00:12:54,152 uncertainty about it , that we believe 309 00:12:54,152 --> 00:12:56,830 we need to know more End quote . So two 310 00:12:56,830 --> 00:12:59,850 questions . firstly , uh , 311 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:03,000 is it that the White House can talk 312 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,111 about until from the podium , but the 313 00:13:05,111 --> 00:13:07,222 pentagon can't , or does it depend on 314 00:13:07,222 --> 00:13:09,580 the circumstances ? And secondly , does 315 00:13:09,580 --> 00:13:11,413 the department and the secretary 316 00:13:11,413 --> 00:13:13,636 believed that the intel community , the 317 00:13:13,636 --> 00:13:15,580 conclusions they've come to on the 318 00:13:15,580 --> 00:13:17,747 Russian bounties are wrong and further 319 00:13:17,747 --> 00:13:19,913 investigation is needed . If you could 320 00:13:19,913 --> 00:13:22,080 just clarify those two . Look I wasn't 321 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,136 trying to separate the pentagon from 322 00:13:24,136 --> 00:13:26,302 the White House on this . We certainly 323 00:13:26,302 --> 00:13:28,530 agree with the way uh my colleague at 324 00:13:28,530 --> 00:13:30,697 the White House couch this and the way 325 00:13:30,697 --> 00:13:32,808 the intelligence community has spoken 326 00:13:32,808 --> 00:13:34,863 to it of a low to moderate degree of 327 00:13:34,863 --> 00:13:37,086 confidence . So I wasn't trying to walk 328 00:13:37,086 --> 00:13:40,060 away from that at all . But uh low to 329 00:13:40,060 --> 00:13:42,010 moderate doesn't mean non existent 330 00:13:42,020 --> 00:13:44,200 either . Uh And so as I said the other 331 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:47,250 day uh we believe it's a serious enough 332 00:13:47,250 --> 00:13:49,361 issue that we that we would like more 333 00:13:49,361 --> 00:13:51,472 clarity from their Russians on this . 334 00:13:53,940 --> 00:13:56,960 Okay . Uh Mike go ahead . 335 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:00,007 Not about Russia . Uh ask you but it's 336 00:14:00,007 --> 00:14:02,118 been about six months since the covid 337 00:14:02,118 --> 00:14:04,229 rollout or the code vaccine rollout . 338 00:14:04,229 --> 00:14:06,890 Aaron bot was wanting to get your get 339 00:14:06,890 --> 00:14:09,490 your take on how you think it's been so 340 00:14:09,490 --> 00:14:12,230 far and how you see it going forward . 341 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,070 What the vaccine rollout within D . O . 342 00:14:15,070 --> 00:14:18,680 D . Yeah . Well I mean I think I kind 343 00:14:18,680 --> 00:14:21,380 of I sort of tease to that a little bit 344 00:14:21,380 --> 00:14:24,060 mike in my in my opening um 345 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,062 We know we've got a lot more work to do 346 00:14:28,062 --> 00:14:30,050 here . So I think I said 28 of the 347 00:14:30,050 --> 00:14:33,230 forces now vaccinated . That means 348 00:14:33,230 --> 00:14:35,341 there's an awful lot that isn't fully 349 00:14:35,341 --> 00:14:38,860 vaccinated right now . Um but uh we're 350 00:14:38,860 --> 00:14:41,550 not keeping vaccines on the shelf , 351 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:44,830 said 83 of what we have in stock is 352 00:14:44,830 --> 00:14:46,663 being administered . So it's not 353 00:14:46,663 --> 00:14:48,719 waiting too long before we get we're 354 00:14:48,719 --> 00:14:51,700 getting it into arms . Um And we're 355 00:14:51,700 --> 00:14:53,700 moving pretty healthily through the 356 00:14:53,700 --> 00:14:57,040 tears . Um And as I also announced at 357 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:00,700 the top now we believe we're far enough 358 00:15:00,700 --> 00:15:02,367 along that now we can open up 359 00:15:02,367 --> 00:15:05,340 eligibility to everybody uh including 360 00:15:05,340 --> 00:15:08,570 beneficiaries , retirees , and adult uh 361 00:15:08,580 --> 00:15:12,460 dependence as well . Um We've 362 00:15:13,340 --> 00:15:16,360 so like Just in raw numbers , more than 363 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:18,582 three million doses have been delivered 364 00:15:18,582 --> 00:15:20,800 to Dodie . We've administered 2.5 365 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:24,680 million plus . Um Uh 366 00:15:24,690 --> 00:15:27,660 so that , you know , 1.5 million have 367 00:15:27,660 --> 00:15:29,493 their initial dose , another one 368 00:15:29,493 --> 00:15:31,716 million have their second dose . So and 369 00:15:31,716 --> 00:15:33,938 of the single dose vaccines , some like 370 00:15:33,938 --> 00:15:37,220 66,000 of them have had that . So we 371 00:15:37,220 --> 00:15:39,276 believe we're making progress here . 372 00:15:39,276 --> 00:15:41,442 There's a lot more work to do . And as 373 00:15:41,442 --> 00:15:43,609 I also said at the opening were making 374 00:15:43,609 --> 00:15:46,020 efforts to get , You know , more modern 375 00:15:46,020 --> 00:15:49,450 vaccines overseas uh to help out our 376 00:15:49,450 --> 00:15:51,672 overseas populations as well . But it's 377 00:15:51,672 --> 00:15:53,783 not just vaccinating the force , it's 378 00:15:53,783 --> 00:15:56,006 helping vaccinate the American people . 379 00:15:56,006 --> 00:15:58,061 And we still have more than 30 teams 380 00:15:58,061 --> 00:16:00,339 out there . Uh this doesn't even count . 381 00:16:00,339 --> 00:16:03,690 The more than I think 20,000 National 382 00:16:03,690 --> 00:16:05,880 Guards , men and women who have been 383 00:16:05,890 --> 00:16:08,112 already have been doing this in support 384 00:16:08,112 --> 00:16:10,460 of their states and local communities . 385 00:16:10,470 --> 00:16:12,692 Uh , but we have more than 30 teams are 386 00:16:12,692 --> 00:16:16,580 out there assisting with the fema 387 00:16:16,590 --> 00:16:19,220 federalized mission around the country . 388 00:16:19,230 --> 00:16:21,450 Uh , so , I mean , we're not just 389 00:16:21,450 --> 00:16:23,506 leaning in to try to help our people 390 00:16:23,506 --> 00:16:25,450 were leaning in to try to help the 391 00:16:25,450 --> 00:16:27,530 american people follow up on this 392 00:16:27,540 --> 00:16:29,830 refusal issue . Is there anyway ? Why 393 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:31,540 dont couldn't do something to 394 00:16:31,540 --> 00:16:33,810 incentivize it ? Like some companies 395 00:16:33,810 --> 00:16:36,350 are doing maybe a three day pass or 396 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:38,920 whatever is there , you know ? Yeah . 397 00:16:38,930 --> 00:16:41,097 So you've seen reports that some local 398 00:16:41,097 --> 00:16:44,760 commanders are putting in place , some , 399 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:48,670 some local sort of uh , 400 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:51,850 incentives . Um , we don't believe that 401 00:16:51,850 --> 00:16:54,128 that's our mandate to do that . And we , 402 00:16:54,128 --> 00:16:56,440 we we know we have to be careful here 403 00:16:56,450 --> 00:16:59,360 because it is , it is still under 404 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:01,582 emergency use authorization . Therefore 405 00:17:01,582 --> 00:17:04,780 it's still voluntary . Um And what we 406 00:17:04,780 --> 00:17:06,891 want is to provide enough information 407 00:17:06,891 --> 00:17:08,947 and education so people can make the 408 00:17:08,947 --> 00:17:11,058 right decisions and can talk to their 409 00:17:11,058 --> 00:17:13,280 doctors and their families about what's 410 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:13,200 right for them because it may not be 411 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:15,367 right for everybody given whatever pre 412 00:17:15,367 --> 00:17:17,478 existing conditions they might have . 413 00:17:17,478 --> 00:17:21,380 So at our at the D . O . D . Level , I 414 00:17:21,390 --> 00:17:23,501 think you're going to see us continue 415 00:17:23,501 --> 00:17:25,112 to be very careful about not 416 00:17:25,112 --> 00:17:28,040 implementing or instituting incentives , 417 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:30,262 artificial incentives to try to do this 418 00:17:30,262 --> 00:17:32,560 again . The secretary believes that the 419 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:36,050 best incentive um is to make the best 420 00:17:36,050 --> 00:17:38,272 decision for you and your family and to 421 00:17:38,272 --> 00:17:40,439 think about your teammates . Uh and if 422 00:17:40,439 --> 00:17:42,606 and if the vaccine makes sense for you 423 00:17:42,606 --> 00:17:44,494 from a medical perspective , that 424 00:17:44,494 --> 00:17:46,780 should be incentive enough uh to get it 425 00:17:46,780 --> 00:17:48,558 so that you're helping out your 426 00:17:48,558 --> 00:17:50,502 teammates and your family and your 427 00:17:50,502 --> 00:17:53,620 friends . Does that help ? Dark ? Oh I 428 00:17:53,620 --> 00:17:55,620 know you said you didn't have a lot 429 00:17:55,620 --> 00:17:57,787 about the National Guard request . But 430 00:17:57,787 --> 00:17:59,787 I do want to come back to that they 431 00:17:59,787 --> 00:18:02,009 made according to the mayor and the D . 432 00:18:02,009 --> 00:18:05,270 C . Uh talked to D . C . Officials 433 00:18:05,270 --> 00:18:07,492 earlier today . They made the request a 434 00:18:07,492 --> 00:18:09,381 couple of weeks ago . It has been 435 00:18:09,381 --> 00:18:11,548 pending at the pentagon has been under 436 00:18:11,548 --> 00:18:13,770 consideration and they wanted to have a 437 00:18:13,770 --> 00:18:16,870 National Guard capability in place as 438 00:18:16,870 --> 00:18:19,280 soon as today knowing the verdict and 439 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,336 the Children trial could come at any 440 00:18:21,336 --> 00:18:24,520 time . So I don't understand why this 441 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:26,353 is still pending and still being 442 00:18:26,353 --> 00:18:28,710 discussed . You would the secretary , 443 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:30,887 given what happened last time ? Not be 444 00:18:31,310 --> 00:18:33,366 extremely concerned about having the 445 00:18:33,366 --> 00:18:37,250 proper public safety measures in place . 446 00:18:37,330 --> 00:18:39,441 Of course he would barb I can't speak 447 00:18:39,441 --> 00:18:43,170 to the specific process by which 448 00:18:43,740 --> 00:18:47,190 this request was handled inside the 449 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:49,367 pentagon . I would refer you to our me 450 00:18:49,367 --> 00:18:51,490 to speak to more detail about uh when 451 00:18:51,490 --> 00:18:53,823 it came in and and how it's been worked . 452 00:18:53,823 --> 00:18:56,046 I can tell you that army leadership are 453 00:18:56,046 --> 00:18:58,101 looking at this as you , I think you 454 00:18:58,101 --> 00:18:59,890 know the army secretary has the 455 00:18:59,890 --> 00:19:03,080 authority to approve D . C . National 456 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:05,530 Guard employment . Um and that still 457 00:19:05,540 --> 00:19:08,340 remains his authority . So again a 458 00:19:08,350 --> 00:19:10,406 specific process , I'd have to point 459 00:19:10,406 --> 00:19:12,517 you to army on that . And let me also 460 00:19:12,517 --> 00:19:14,739 ask just to follow up on what the dress 461 00:19:14,739 --> 00:19:18,110 asked just to completely be 462 00:19:18,120 --> 00:19:21,080 absolutely clear . You have not closed 463 00:19:21,090 --> 00:19:23,600 the door here today to the notion that 464 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:25,660 some type of payment was made 465 00:19:28,140 --> 00:19:30,140 in furtherance of an effort to kill 466 00:19:30,140 --> 00:19:32,650 american forces in Afghanistan . You 467 00:19:32,650 --> 00:19:35,200 just haven't closed the door that some 468 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:38,350 kind of bounty was paid . It's not it's 469 00:19:38,350 --> 00:19:40,480 not the pentagon not closing the door 470 00:19:40,490 --> 00:19:42,830 barb . The intelligence community's 471 00:19:42,830 --> 00:19:46,390 assessment as has been stated more than 472 00:19:46,390 --> 00:19:49,600 once , is low to moderate level of 473 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:53,020 confidence and that's why on friday , I 474 00:19:53,020 --> 00:19:56,550 said , given that there's at least some 475 00:19:57,340 --> 00:20:00,440 measure of confidence , perhaps not 476 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:02,850 high , but some it's serious enough for 477 00:20:02,850 --> 00:20:05,072 us to be concerned about . And you want 478 00:20:05,072 --> 00:20:07,128 more answers . And when you say that 479 00:20:07,128 --> 00:20:10,780 and the if biden administration is 480 00:20:10,780 --> 00:20:12,780 keeping the door open to the notion 481 00:20:12,780 --> 00:20:15,310 that there were bounties paid by 482 00:20:15,310 --> 00:20:17,160 someone who was Russian . Do you 483 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:19,790 believe that you're looking for 484 00:20:20,070 --> 00:20:21,580 official Russian 485 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:26,073 support for this effort ? Do you 486 00:20:26,073 --> 00:20:28,240 believe it was just people in africa , 487 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:30,184 you know anything about what it is 488 00:20:30,340 --> 00:20:32,451 you're looking for ? As I said , we'd 489 00:20:32,451 --> 00:20:35,170 like we'd like to know more . We we 490 00:20:35,170 --> 00:20:37,850 believe Russia should hold themselves 491 00:20:37,850 --> 00:20:39,970 to account for that given it with 492 00:20:39,970 --> 00:20:41,692 military personnel potentially 493 00:20:41,692 --> 00:20:43,930 victimized by this . Has there been any 494 00:20:43,940 --> 00:20:46,210 reach out recently to the Russian 495 00:20:46,210 --> 00:20:48,810 military to ask them to explain ? Well , 496 00:20:48,820 --> 00:20:50,931 first of all , as I said , friday , I 497 00:20:50,931 --> 00:20:53,330 know if I can't , I know of no specific 498 00:20:53,330 --> 00:20:56,240 linkage to casualties . Two american 499 00:20:56,250 --> 00:20:58,720 service members in Afghanistan to this 500 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:02,560 idea . I know no linkage there and I 501 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:04,671 want to be clear about that . And I'm 502 00:21:04,671 --> 00:21:08,270 also aware of no specific outreach to 503 00:21:08,470 --> 00:21:10,526 the Russian military with respect to 504 00:21:10,526 --> 00:21:12,850 this . So what's the door open to here ? 505 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:15,960 As I said , it's a , 506 00:21:16,740 --> 00:21:19,450 uh , the low to moderate serious enough 507 00:21:19,450 --> 00:21:21,770 that that we're concerned about this . 508 00:21:21,780 --> 00:21:24,820 Um , and we we believe that the 509 00:21:24,820 --> 00:21:28,550 Russians need to be more forthcoming , 510 00:21:28,940 --> 00:21:32,670 um , and to be transparent , um , about 511 00:21:33,140 --> 00:21:35,390 the , the veracity of this . 512 00:21:37,540 --> 00:21:39,651 Yeah . Hey brian , thanks . I want to 513 00:21:39,651 --> 00:21:41,651 follow up on , my colleague likes a 514 00:21:41,651 --> 00:21:43,762 question about vaccination and no you 515 00:21:43,762 --> 00:21:45,930 did . Um , there was a letter from 516 00:21:45,930 --> 00:21:48,208 California Congress member of Congress , 517 00:21:48,208 --> 00:21:50,374 you might recall to the president , uh 518 00:21:50,374 --> 00:21:52,208 asking to make it obligatory for 519 00:21:52,208 --> 00:21:54,319 service members to have the vaccine . 520 00:21:54,319 --> 00:21:56,630 Is that something that Secretary Austin 521 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:00,140 favors ? And then also , uh does 522 00:22:00,140 --> 00:22:02,196 Secretary Austin still , is he still 523 00:22:02,196 --> 00:22:04,029 not interested in asking service 524 00:22:04,029 --> 00:22:06,251 secretaries for rates of declination or 525 00:22:06,251 --> 00:22:08,362 for service secretary to collect that 526 00:22:08,362 --> 00:22:11,660 data ? And also used to release data 527 00:22:11,670 --> 00:22:14,410 for infection rates and then compare it 528 00:22:14,420 --> 00:22:16,642 to the general population . Do you have 529 00:22:16,642 --> 00:22:19,010 that ? And then also , finally , as you 530 00:22:19,020 --> 00:22:21,970 open up to the full military , um , 531 00:22:21,980 --> 00:22:23,924 service members who could schedule 532 00:22:23,924 --> 00:22:25,980 their vaccines ? Uh , there's always 533 00:22:25,980 --> 00:22:28,147 that top tier , that top tier in those 534 00:22:28,147 --> 00:22:30,530 people , uh in strategic areas who are 535 00:22:30,530 --> 00:22:33,590 deploying and you're going back two 536 00:22:33,590 --> 00:22:35,812 times three times four times and asking 537 00:22:35,812 --> 00:22:38,550 them , is anything further more 538 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:40,890 effective in getting that top tier to 539 00:22:40,890 --> 00:22:42,950 accept their new strategies that are 540 00:22:42,950 --> 00:22:45,170 working ? Thanks . Is there more 541 00:22:45,170 --> 00:22:47,710 questions you think you're good with 542 00:22:47,710 --> 00:22:50,100 those five or six ? Yeah . I want to 543 00:22:50,100 --> 00:22:52,267 cover all the bases with you covered a 544 00:22:52,267 --> 00:22:54,433 lot of them . All right . So I'm , I'm 545 00:22:54,433 --> 00:22:56,544 probably gonna miss him . I should've 546 00:22:56,544 --> 00:22:58,711 been writing this down and I apologize 547 00:22:58,711 --> 00:23:00,933 for that . I'm sure you do . Um , as of 548 00:23:00,933 --> 00:23:04,640 today , the total cumulative cases , uh , 549 00:23:04,650 --> 00:23:06,761 COVID cases that we've experienced is 550 00:23:06,761 --> 00:23:10,220 278,686 . That's 551 00:23:10,220 --> 00:23:12,600 cumulative . That's not . Who has it 552 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:16,530 now . Um , and total deaths , uh , in 553 00:23:16,530 --> 00:23:20,090 the department are 338 and again our 554 00:23:20,100 --> 00:23:22,267 thoughts and prayers go out to all the 555 00:23:22,267 --> 00:23:24,600 families that are grieving those losses . 556 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:26,711 Um , and this , those numbers include 557 00:23:26,711 --> 00:23:28,490 active duty military as well as 558 00:23:28,490 --> 00:23:30,580 reservists . It includes civilians 559 00:23:30,580 --> 00:23:32,691 dependence and contractors . It's the 560 00:23:32,691 --> 00:23:34,469 universe . That's and those are 561 00:23:34,469 --> 00:23:36,990 cumulative numbers . Uh , the vaccine 562 00:23:36,990 --> 00:23:38,601 is still under emergency use 563 00:23:38,601 --> 00:23:40,768 authorization . The secretary respects 564 00:23:40,768 --> 00:23:43,101 that and it remains a voluntary vaccine . 565 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:47,210 Um , uh , what else did you ask ? 566 00:23:47,220 --> 00:23:51,040 Uh , we're doing ? Uh , as for , as 567 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:53,660 for education and information , we 568 00:23:53,660 --> 00:23:56,000 continue to look at ways that we can do 569 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:58,350 a better job at 570 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:01,510 providing information about the safety 571 00:24:01,510 --> 00:24:03,890 and efficacy of the vaccine . Um , and 572 00:24:03,890 --> 00:24:06,050 what we're doing to get it to more 573 00:24:06,060 --> 00:24:09,470 places . Um , we've tried here for our 574 00:24:09,470 --> 00:24:12,340 part to , to put regular covid 575 00:24:12,340 --> 00:24:14,173 briefings back on the schedule . 576 00:24:14,173 --> 00:24:16,340 There'll be another one this week that 577 00:24:16,340 --> 00:24:18,340 we're gonna do here in the briefing 578 00:24:18,340 --> 00:24:20,520 room and the services have all uh , 579 00:24:20,530 --> 00:24:22,740 done a terrific job using their own 580 00:24:22,740 --> 00:24:25,010 communication vehicles to help get the 581 00:24:25,010 --> 00:24:27,121 word out about the vaccine . Um , and 582 00:24:27,121 --> 00:24:29,066 how it's being distributed . Their 583 00:24:29,066 --> 00:24:31,121 combatant commanders are , are doing 584 00:24:31,121 --> 00:24:31,000 this as well , trying to the best they 585 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:32,944 can to make sure they're informing 586 00:24:32,944 --> 00:24:34,970 their population . So it's a it's a 587 00:24:34,980 --> 00:24:37,147 constant effort . We're always looking 588 00:24:37,147 --> 00:24:39,036 at what we're doing to inform and 589 00:24:39,036 --> 00:24:41,036 educate and asking ourselves are we 590 00:24:41,036 --> 00:24:43,760 doing enough ? Uh is there is there 591 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:45,871 more context we can provide ? And can 592 00:24:45,871 --> 00:24:48,093 we do that in a more efficient way ? So 593 00:24:48,093 --> 00:24:51,070 I can certainly speak for our our 594 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:53,247 organization here ? And it's something 595 00:24:53,247 --> 00:24:55,302 I talk to my staff about every day . 596 00:24:55,302 --> 00:24:57,469 You know , what are we doing ? Right ? 597 00:24:57,469 --> 00:24:59,691 What are we , what are we doing more to 598 00:24:59,691 --> 00:25:01,858 to get more information out there in a 599 00:25:01,858 --> 00:25:03,969 timely fashion ? Can just as a follow 600 00:25:03,969 --> 00:25:06,136 up , Can you clarify , wow , Why is it 601 00:25:06,136 --> 00:25:08,358 that the secretary is not interested in 602 00:25:08,358 --> 00:25:10,580 rates of declination ? I didn't say the 603 00:25:10,580 --> 00:25:12,302 secretary is not interested in 604 00:25:12,302 --> 00:25:14,469 declination . I never said that . What 605 00:25:14,469 --> 00:25:16,691 I said was and I've said it quite a bit 606 00:25:16,691 --> 00:25:19,024 is that we're not tracking it right now . 607 00:25:19,024 --> 00:25:21,136 At the OsD level . At the D . O . D . 608 00:25:21,136 --> 00:25:23,800 Level . The services are beginning to 609 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:26,300 get a better sense now but you gotta 610 00:25:26,300 --> 00:25:28,522 remember Abraham the reason why they're 611 00:25:28,522 --> 00:25:30,689 able to get a better sense now because 612 00:25:30,689 --> 00:25:32,689 now we've moved out of tier one and 613 00:25:32,689 --> 00:25:34,800 Tier one B . Tier one A . And one B . 614 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:36,940 And the services are now moving into 615 00:25:36,950 --> 00:25:39,200 one C . And tier two which is basically 616 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:41,200 everybody . So now there's just a 617 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:44,720 larger percentage of people vaccinated 618 00:25:44,730 --> 00:25:47,270 or who have been offered the vaccine in 619 00:25:47,270 --> 00:25:49,381 the force . So it's so it's easier to 620 00:25:49,381 --> 00:25:51,650 get a better sense but that number you 621 00:25:51,650 --> 00:25:53,761 call it declination rate . I've heard 622 00:25:53,761 --> 00:25:55,872 some people say refusal rate whatever 623 00:25:55,872 --> 00:25:58,039 you want to call it . It's really only 624 00:25:58,039 --> 00:26:00,450 as valid as the population offered is I 625 00:26:00,450 --> 00:26:03,500 mean so you know you can say of the of 626 00:26:03,500 --> 00:26:05,667 the tear that we've worked through say 627 00:26:05,667 --> 00:26:08,830 tier one A what you know in your 628 00:26:08,830 --> 00:26:11,270 service , how many are in that ? You 629 00:26:11,270 --> 00:26:13,600 know what the denominator is And so you 630 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:15,767 can do a better job with the numerator 631 00:26:15,767 --> 00:26:17,933 because it's it's done . It's complete 632 00:26:17,933 --> 00:26:19,933 but you can't take that rate , that 633 00:26:19,933 --> 00:26:22,044 acceptance rate and say it applies to 634 00:26:22,044 --> 00:26:24,211 the whole force when not a whole force 635 00:26:24,211 --> 00:26:26,267 has been offered it . Now we're in a 636 00:26:26,267 --> 00:26:28,489 new category now we're opening it up to 637 00:26:28,489 --> 00:26:30,656 everybody . Uh And so I think in a few 638 00:26:30,656 --> 00:26:32,878 weeks we'll have a much better sense of 639 00:26:32,878 --> 00:26:34,933 what you call acceptance and refusal 640 00:26:34,933 --> 00:26:37,100 rates across the force . But you gotta 641 00:26:37,100 --> 00:26:38,989 remember , I mean it's we've been 642 00:26:38,989 --> 00:26:41,044 working through this in tears and so 643 00:26:41,044 --> 00:26:43,100 the data is only as good as you work 644 00:26:43,100 --> 00:26:45,322 through those tears and complete them . 645 00:26:45,322 --> 00:26:47,211 That's that's and that's why it's 646 00:26:47,211 --> 00:26:49,378 really been more up to the services uh 647 00:26:49,378 --> 00:26:51,489 to try to track that then it would be 648 00:26:51,489 --> 00:26:53,433 be for us . But I wouldn't say the 649 00:26:53,433 --> 00:26:55,656 secretary is not interested in and he's 650 00:26:55,656 --> 00:26:55,210 done a public service announcement on 651 00:26:55,210 --> 00:26:57,432 this . He's talked to troops about this 652 00:26:57,432 --> 00:26:59,520 when we go overseas . Uh , he's 653 00:26:59,530 --> 00:27:02,560 obviously made it a priority and 654 00:27:02,840 --> 00:27:05,007 empowering the covid task force and in 655 00:27:05,007 --> 00:27:06,729 staff meetings . I mean , he's 656 00:27:06,729 --> 00:27:08,896 certainly interested in more more than 657 00:27:08,896 --> 00:27:10,840 that , though . He's interested in 658 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:13,010 making sure that everybody has the 659 00:27:13,010 --> 00:27:15,177 information they need to make the best 660 00:27:15,177 --> 00:27:17,121 decision for them . That's what he 661 00:27:17,121 --> 00:27:19,121 really wants to do . And that's why 662 00:27:19,121 --> 00:27:21,121 your other question is frankly more 663 00:27:21,121 --> 00:27:20,850 valid . And that's what are we doing to 664 00:27:20,850 --> 00:27:22,961 try to provide that information ? And 665 00:27:22,961 --> 00:27:25,017 as I said , we're looking at our own 666 00:27:25,017 --> 00:27:27,072 processes every day . Believe me , I 667 00:27:27,072 --> 00:27:29,183 know we could be doing more and doing 668 00:27:29,183 --> 00:27:31,350 it better and and and we're working on 669 00:27:31,350 --> 00:27:33,406 that . Fine . I'm so sorry . But the 670 00:27:33,406 --> 00:27:35,461 word complete . When you say when we 671 00:27:35,461 --> 00:27:37,683 complete them . Tier one A one B . Read 672 00:27:37,683 --> 00:27:39,739 me by the word complete . I mean you 673 00:27:39,739 --> 00:27:41,770 get you vaccinated enough in those 674 00:27:41,770 --> 00:27:43,992 tears that it's safe enough to use your 675 00:27:43,992 --> 00:27:46,840 vaccines now to to move into lower 676 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:48,951 tiers that that there's enough people 677 00:27:48,951 --> 00:27:51,007 are vaccinated in that tier , You're 678 00:27:51,007 --> 00:27:53,173 not gonna get everybody right . Uh but 679 00:27:53,173 --> 00:27:55,007 you want to get enough that it's 680 00:27:55,007 --> 00:27:57,173 comfortable and this is where it comes 681 00:27:57,173 --> 00:27:59,284 down to service chiefs and commanders 682 00:27:59,284 --> 00:28:01,451 about where they're comfortable moving 683 00:28:01,451 --> 00:28:03,562 to the next year . Okay , thank you . 684 00:28:03,562 --> 00:28:05,960 Let me take some more from Jeff Selten . 685 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,130 That's for doing this . I wanted to get 686 00:28:11,130 --> 00:28:14,330 back to Afghanistan wondering is the 687 00:28:14,330 --> 00:28:16,219 pentagon working with the current 688 00:28:16,219 --> 00:28:18,650 Afghan government to set up whatever 689 00:28:18,650 --> 00:28:20,594 agreements would be necessary ? So 690 00:28:20,594 --> 00:28:22,706 should a counterterrorism force needs 691 00:28:22,706 --> 00:28:24,817 to go back into Afghanistan after the 692 00:28:24,817 --> 00:28:27,039 pullout is complete , that they're able 693 00:28:27,039 --> 00:28:28,650 to do that . And how is that 694 00:28:28,650 --> 00:28:30,761 complicated by the negotiations going 695 00:28:30,761 --> 00:28:32,817 on between the Afghan government and 696 00:28:32,817 --> 00:28:34,872 the Taliban ? Is any such agreements 697 00:28:34,872 --> 00:28:36,928 that you put in place right now ? Is 698 00:28:36,928 --> 00:28:38,928 that going to have to be revised or 699 00:28:38,928 --> 00:28:40,817 redone if there's a power sharing 700 00:28:40,817 --> 00:28:43,430 agreement ? I'm not gonna ? Yeah I'm 701 00:28:43,430 --> 00:28:46,730 not I can't speculate about the future 702 00:28:46,730 --> 00:28:49,180 of the negotiated settlements and the 703 00:28:49,190 --> 00:28:51,468 and the negotiations that are going on . 704 00:28:51,468 --> 00:28:53,468 I mean that's really for uh for our 705 00:28:53,468 --> 00:28:55,579 colleagues at the State Department to 706 00:28:55,579 --> 00:28:58,480 speak to the president was clear , we 707 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:00,950 are removing all U . S . Military 708 00:29:00,950 --> 00:29:04,010 personnel from Afghanistan and we will 709 00:29:04,010 --> 00:29:07,810 remove them . But by the you know early 710 00:29:07,810 --> 00:29:09,780 september all of them , with the 711 00:29:09,780 --> 00:29:11,558 exception of what's going to be 712 00:29:11,558 --> 00:29:13,502 required to protect the diplomatic 713 00:29:13,502 --> 00:29:16,320 mission in Afghanistan . So , I know of 714 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:19,480 no discussions with the government in 715 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:22,100 Kabul about reinserting 716 00:29:22,100 --> 00:29:23,822 counterterrorism forces inside 717 00:29:23,822 --> 00:29:25,822 Afghanistan . As the secretary made 718 00:29:25,822 --> 00:29:27,933 clear in brussels last week , we will 719 00:29:27,933 --> 00:29:31,030 maintain uh sufficient counterterrorism 720 00:29:31,030 --> 00:29:34,420 capabilities in the region uh to deal 721 00:29:34,420 --> 00:29:37,070 with emanating threats from Afghanistan 722 00:29:37,070 --> 00:29:39,237 threats to our homeland from terrorist 723 00:29:39,237 --> 00:29:42,040 groups . But but the president's 724 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:44,530 direction was crystal clear . All U . S . 725 00:29:44,530 --> 00:29:46,697 Military personnel with that exception 726 00:29:46,740 --> 00:29:49,660 are going to be leaving Afghanistan by 727 00:29:49,660 --> 00:29:51,771 the fall by early fall . So under the 728 00:29:51,771 --> 00:29:53,900 plan would U . S . Counterterrorism 729 00:29:53,900 --> 00:29:55,733 forces ? It may be just going to 730 00:29:55,733 --> 00:29:57,456 Afghanistan without the Afghan 731 00:29:57,456 --> 00:29:59,178 government's provisions if the 732 00:29:59,178 --> 00:30:00,900 president is determined it was 733 00:30:00,900 --> 00:30:04,140 necessary . Uh There's no plans to 734 00:30:04,150 --> 00:30:06,810 reintroduce american boots on the 735 00:30:06,810 --> 00:30:09,640 ground in Afghanistan . Uh We we we 736 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:11,807 have , as the Secretary said , we have 737 00:30:11,807 --> 00:30:13,862 robust counterterrorism capabilities 738 00:30:13,862 --> 00:30:15,973 all around the world . Um and I think 739 00:30:15,973 --> 00:30:17,862 as he also , you heard him say in 740 00:30:17,862 --> 00:30:19,807 brussels , there's not a parcel of 741 00:30:19,807 --> 00:30:21,918 earth that we can't hit if we need to 742 00:30:21,918 --> 00:30:25,610 hit it . But there are no plants and no 743 00:30:25,610 --> 00:30:28,970 discussion about reintroducing american 744 00:30:28,970 --> 00:30:30,692 combat forces on the ground in 745 00:30:30,692 --> 00:30:34,090 Afghanistan . Okay , I can go here . 746 00:30:34,150 --> 00:30:36,630 Good sir . Thank you sir . Two quick 747 00:30:36,630 --> 00:30:39,010 questions on us . Africom as it relates 748 00:30:39,010 --> 00:30:40,843 to the headquarters and set card 749 00:30:40,843 --> 00:30:43,310 Germany . Last year trump planned to 750 00:30:43,310 --> 00:30:45,740 relocate Afrikaans headquarters in step 751 00:30:45,740 --> 00:30:48,290 card Germany . And last week the 752 00:30:48,290 --> 00:30:50,401 secretary said they're going to be an 753 00:30:50,401 --> 00:30:53,200 additional 500 troops in Germany . So 754 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:55,560 is this plan to relate to relocate 755 00:30:55,940 --> 00:30:58,162 africa and headquarters and stood still 756 00:30:58,162 --> 00:31:00,329 on the table ? And the second question 757 00:31:00,329 --> 00:31:02,440 is why is Africa even based in europe 758 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:04,551 in the first place ? Wouldn't it make 759 00:31:04,551 --> 00:31:06,662 more sense that he based in somewhere 760 00:31:06,662 --> 00:31:08,662 like the Horn of Africa ? Somewhere 761 00:31:08,662 --> 00:31:10,496 near Camp Lemonnier ? Djibouti ? 762 00:31:10,496 --> 00:31:12,607 Because it's a strategic area . Thank 763 00:31:12,607 --> 00:31:15,250 you . There was a long discussion years 764 00:31:15,250 --> 00:31:18,560 ago going , Africom was established 765 00:31:18,560 --> 00:31:20,616 about where it was going to be based 766 00:31:20,616 --> 00:31:22,949 and it was decided to base it in europe . 767 00:31:22,949 --> 00:31:22,720 I'm not going to relitigate that 768 00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:25,100 decision today . Um You're right . The 769 00:31:25,100 --> 00:31:27,211 Secretary did announce while we're in 770 00:31:27,211 --> 00:31:29,730 Berlin an additional 500 soldiers that 771 00:31:29,730 --> 00:31:32,310 will be going to the West Baden area uh , 772 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:35,790 to help us with coordination , uh , 773 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:39,020 cyber issues , uh , and other 774 00:31:39,030 --> 00:31:42,450 regional security requirements . Um 775 00:31:42,940 --> 00:31:45,107 uh , there is , as you know , a global 776 00:31:45,107 --> 00:31:47,273 posture review going on right now that 777 00:31:47,273 --> 00:31:49,740 the Secretary has commissioned . We 778 00:31:49,740 --> 00:31:51,629 expect it will be complete by mid 779 00:31:51,629 --> 00:31:53,796 summer . I'm not going to get ahead of 780 00:31:53,796 --> 00:31:56,250 decisions about what that's gonna come 781 00:31:56,250 --> 00:31:58,472 back and look like . But the idea is to 782 00:31:58,472 --> 00:32:00,320 take a look at where we have our 783 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:03,120 resources . Um are they , are they the 784 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:05,280 right ones and the right places ? And 785 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:07,447 do we need to adjust given the threats 786 00:32:07,447 --> 00:32:09,336 and talent challenges uh , of the 787 00:32:09,336 --> 00:32:11,558 security environment that we face and I 788 00:32:11,558 --> 00:32:13,836 just won't get ahead of that right now . 789 00:32:13,940 --> 00:32:17,440 Um See , paul 790 00:32:17,440 --> 00:32:18,860 shankman us news 791 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:23,720 john I'd like to ask you about the 792 00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:25,720 Afghanistan withdrawal . So there's 793 00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:27,887 been a lot of reporting in recent days 794 00:32:27,887 --> 00:32:29,776 about top military leaders having 795 00:32:29,776 --> 00:32:31,609 disagreed with President Biden's 796 00:32:31,609 --> 00:32:33,498 ultimate decision uh to order the 797 00:32:33,498 --> 00:32:35,664 withdrawal . I know that the Secretary 798 00:32:35,664 --> 00:32:37,831 said that he expects his commanders to 799 00:32:37,831 --> 00:32:40,053 obey orders , but I wonder does he have 800 00:32:40,053 --> 00:32:42,276 any concerns that it appears publicly ? 801 00:32:42,276 --> 00:32:44,109 At least that the military's top 802 00:32:44,109 --> 00:32:45,831 leaders are diverging from the 803 00:32:45,831 --> 00:32:47,553 president on how to proceed in 804 00:32:47,553 --> 00:32:49,776 Afghanistan secretaries . Concern right 805 00:32:49,776 --> 00:32:51,887 now is making sure that we execute on 806 00:32:51,887 --> 00:32:53,942 the president's direction , which is 807 00:32:53,942 --> 00:32:55,887 for a safe , orderly and effective 808 00:32:55,887 --> 00:32:58,220 drawdown by september 11th . That's 809 00:32:58,220 --> 00:33:00,164 what his focus is on . And I think 810 00:33:00,164 --> 00:33:02,276 that's what it's going to remain on . 811 00:33:02,276 --> 00:33:04,387 And then one quick question about the 812 00:33:04,387 --> 00:33:06,442 Black Sea , I tell that you spoke on 813 00:33:06,442 --> 00:33:08,553 friday about uh not commenting on the 814 00:33:08,553 --> 00:33:10,776 reports of the two Navy ships that were 815 00:33:10,776 --> 00:33:10,670 deployed there . Can you say today ? 816 00:33:10,670 --> 00:33:12,837 Can could the Navy conduct foreign ops 817 00:33:12,837 --> 00:33:15,490 in the Black Sea if it wanted to ? We 818 00:33:15,490 --> 00:33:18,200 will continue to sail , operate uh 819 00:33:18,210 --> 00:33:20,790 where international law permits . We 820 00:33:20,790 --> 00:33:23,580 routinely operate uh in the Black Sea . 821 00:33:23,580 --> 00:33:25,469 And as I said on friday , I would 822 00:33:25,469 --> 00:33:27,636 expect those operations to continue as 823 00:33:27,636 --> 00:33:31,080 appropriate . Uh Yeah , in the back 824 00:33:31,080 --> 00:33:33,890 there man , Christina , Anderson VPs 825 00:33:33,890 --> 00:33:37,190 News . So I wanted to ask , given that 826 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:39,660 given the climate summit this week at 827 00:33:39,660 --> 00:33:41,660 the White House , is there anything 828 00:33:41,660 --> 00:33:43,827 going on with the working group here , 829 00:33:43,827 --> 00:33:45,938 the Climate Change working group here 830 00:33:45,938 --> 00:33:48,104 that we can talk about ? And he knew I 831 00:33:48,104 --> 00:33:48,060 don't have an update for you from the 832 00:33:48,060 --> 00:33:50,004 working group today . I mean , the 833 00:33:50,004 --> 00:33:52,171 secretary is very much looking forward 834 00:33:52,171 --> 00:33:54,520 to the climate summit . Uh , he'll be 835 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:56,490 participating and uh , he believes 836 00:33:56,490 --> 00:33:58,657 strongly that that climate change is a 837 00:33:58,657 --> 00:34:00,768 national security threat . That's one 838 00:34:00,768 --> 00:34:02,823 of the reasons why he stood up . The 839 00:34:02,823 --> 00:34:05,330 working group , uh networking group is 840 00:34:05,330 --> 00:34:07,497 engaged in the planning for the summit 841 00:34:07,497 --> 00:34:09,663 as as it relates to our equities there 842 00:34:09,663 --> 00:34:11,886 and the Secretary's participation . But 843 00:34:11,886 --> 00:34:13,774 I don't have anything specific to 844 00:34:13,774 --> 00:34:16,120 announce uh huh on Space Force . 845 00:34:16,130 --> 00:34:18,690 There's been some reporting that the 846 00:34:18,690 --> 00:34:22,390 billets are going unfilled . And is 847 00:34:22,390 --> 00:34:24,557 there anything there that you can tell 848 00:34:24,557 --> 00:34:26,779 us ? I'd have to refer you to the space 849 00:34:26,779 --> 00:34:28,946 force to speak to their recruiting and 850 00:34:28,946 --> 00:34:31,057 retention issues there . So central , 851 00:34:31,057 --> 00:34:33,168 so much of industry and everything we 852 00:34:33,168 --> 00:34:35,600 do . I don't disagree . But I I'm not 853 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:37,378 prepared to speak to individual 854 00:34:37,378 --> 00:34:39,267 services and their recruiting and 855 00:34:39,267 --> 00:34:41,322 retention programs that referring to 856 00:34:41,322 --> 00:34:43,378 space forces . Last thing , is there 857 00:34:43,378 --> 00:34:45,500 anything uh general Walters last week 858 00:34:45,500 --> 00:34:47,611 spoke about Wagner group being active 859 00:34:47,611 --> 00:34:49,556 in some of these combat areas . Is 860 00:34:49,556 --> 00:34:52,600 there any um , any idea that they might 861 00:34:52,610 --> 00:34:55,130 be involved in Ukraine and along the 862 00:34:55,130 --> 00:34:57,352 border there or anything ? I'm afraid . 863 00:34:57,352 --> 00:34:59,574 I don't have anything for you on that . 864 00:34:59,574 --> 00:34:59,160 Today . I'd refer you to General 865 00:34:59,160 --> 00:35:01,850 Walters and his staff to speak to that 866 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:04,284 laura Seligman politico . 867 00:35:06,740 --> 00:35:09,560 Hey john , I wanted to ask you , um 868 00:35:09,560 --> 00:35:11,449 actually , just to follow up on a 869 00:35:11,449 --> 00:35:13,616 question that was asked earlier , um , 870 00:35:13,616 --> 00:35:16,800 specifically on moving out Africa 871 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:18,800 Command out of Germany , you didn't 872 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:20,800 really enter the question . Is that 873 00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:22,967 something that is still on the table ? 874 00:35:22,967 --> 00:35:24,911 Africom and headquarters . Africom 875 00:35:24,911 --> 00:35:27,244 Headquarters ? They're doing great work . 876 00:35:27,244 --> 00:35:29,356 Secretary had a chance to get a brief 877 00:35:29,356 --> 00:35:32,200 while he was there . Uh , and uh , and 878 00:35:32,200 --> 00:35:34,820 he's very confident that uh , that 879 00:35:34,820 --> 00:35:38,220 there , that they're leading um , that 880 00:35:38,220 --> 00:35:40,331 they're working on the alliance , are 881 00:35:40,331 --> 00:35:42,276 our partnerships in Africa is very 882 00:35:42,276 --> 00:35:44,980 comfortable that headquarter staff um 883 00:35:44,990 --> 00:35:47,212 uh knows what it's doing and knows that 884 00:35:47,212 --> 00:35:49,323 its mission is really important and I 885 00:35:49,323 --> 00:35:51,657 certainly have nothing to speak to that . 886 00:35:51,657 --> 00:35:53,268 Would that would change that 887 00:35:53,268 --> 00:35:56,290 perspective . So the headquarters of 888 00:35:56,290 --> 00:35:58,500 Africa command will have no change . I 889 00:35:58,500 --> 00:36:00,222 know of no plans to change the 890 00:36:00,222 --> 00:36:02,222 headquarters location , Laura , but 891 00:36:02,222 --> 00:36:04,389 again , there's a global force posture 892 00:36:04,389 --> 00:36:04,330 review going on and I'm not going to 893 00:36:04,330 --> 00:36:07,510 get ahead of that process On it . And 894 00:36:07,510 --> 00:36:09,510 then just a quick clarification , I 895 00:36:09,510 --> 00:36:11,621 wanted to make sure I understood what 896 00:36:11,621 --> 00:36:13,843 you said earlier . Did you say that the 897 00:36:13,843 --> 00:36:15,843 Russian build up today on Ukraine's 898 00:36:15,843 --> 00:36:17,954 border is bigger than the build up we 899 00:36:17,954 --> 00:36:20,840 saw in 2014 ? Yes , I did say that . Oh , 900 00:36:21,330 --> 00:36:23,330 okay , thank you , You're welcome . 901 00:36:23,530 --> 00:36:27,030 Yeah . So on Syria , Russian 902 00:36:27,030 --> 00:36:30,180 media are reporting that There's been a 903 00:36:30,180 --> 00:36:32,910 major air strike by Russian air forces 904 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:36,390 on militants based in 905 00:36:36,610 --> 00:36:38,990 Central Syria , that killed over 200 906 00:36:38,990 --> 00:36:42,400 militants . Did you monitor any such 907 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:44,622 strike ? Or do you have any information 908 00:36:44,622 --> 00:36:46,622 on that ? I don't I don't . Can you 909 00:36:46,622 --> 00:36:49,030 guys take the question of if I'm happy 910 00:36:49,030 --> 00:36:51,197 to take the question , but I would not 911 00:36:51,197 --> 00:36:53,141 expect us to be able to give you a 912 00:36:53,141 --> 00:36:55,252 detailed answer about what we monitor 913 00:36:55,252 --> 00:36:57,740 uh overseas in real time . Uh , that's 914 00:36:57,740 --> 00:36:59,907 not the kind of thing that we're going 915 00:36:59,907 --> 00:37:01,907 to talk about . And there's been at 916 00:37:01,907 --> 00:37:04,180 least one news report about a new 917 00:37:04,180 --> 00:37:06,236 mechanism that's been agreed between 918 00:37:06,236 --> 00:37:09,460 Russia and Iran . By which Russian 919 00:37:09,830 --> 00:37:13,410 uh military ships , warships will 920 00:37:14,430 --> 00:37:18,420 Iranian tankers moving uh wheat 921 00:37:18,430 --> 00:37:20,930 and oil from Iran to Syria to prevent 922 00:37:20,930 --> 00:37:24,560 any attacks on Iranian um , tankers . 923 00:37:25,170 --> 00:37:28,740 Did you detect any such mechanism ? 924 00:37:29,130 --> 00:37:31,360 Do you have anything on this ? I don't 925 00:37:31,360 --> 00:37:33,890 have anything to add on that report , 926 00:37:33,900 --> 00:37:35,956 but I think that is a great question 927 00:37:35,956 --> 00:37:38,178 for somebody to ask officials in Moscow 928 00:37:38,178 --> 00:37:41,350 and Tehran . Well thank you . Yes , sir . 929 00:37:42,950 --> 00:37:46,370 Nippon television At the Japan us some 930 00:37:46,370 --> 00:37:48,440 meeting last weekend . Uh the 931 00:37:48,450 --> 00:37:50,560 importance of peace and stability in 932 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:53,230 the Taiwan Strait was clarified in a 933 00:37:53,230 --> 00:37:55,341 joint statement for the first time in 934 00:37:55,341 --> 00:37:58,820 52 years and also it was agreed to 935 00:37:58,820 --> 00:38:00,764 strengthen the defense cooperation 936 00:38:00,764 --> 00:38:02,931 between two countries . So my question 937 00:38:02,931 --> 00:38:05,670 is in what specific areas and the fuse 938 00:38:05,680 --> 00:38:07,736 do Japan ? The United States need to 939 00:38:07,736 --> 00:38:10,180 develop defense cooperation uh in order 940 00:38:10,180 --> 00:38:12,710 to maintain peace in the Taiwan strait ? 941 00:38:12,860 --> 00:38:16,260 And do you think uh it is necessary to 942 00:38:16,260 --> 00:38:19,530 formulate a joint operation plan in 943 00:38:19,530 --> 00:38:22,150 preparation for Taiwan confrontation 944 00:38:22,520 --> 00:38:24,490 and to provide a kind of the joint 945 00:38:24,490 --> 00:38:28,180 exercise in anticipation of the case ? 946 00:38:28,190 --> 00:38:30,412 Well , without speaking specifically to 947 00:38:30,412 --> 00:38:32,579 Taiwan , as I've said , we support the 948 00:38:32,579 --> 00:38:34,634 one china policy and nobody wants to 949 00:38:34,634 --> 00:38:37,280 see things come to blows over Taiwan . 950 00:38:37,290 --> 00:38:39,670 We remain committed as we , as we have 951 00:38:39,670 --> 00:38:42,930 for multiple administrations to the , 952 00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:46,560 to aiding Taiwan and it's self defense 953 00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:50,280 to providing uh material for 954 00:38:50,280 --> 00:38:52,224 their for their for them to defend 955 00:38:52,224 --> 00:38:54,280 themselves . Um so I'm not gonna get 956 00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:56,169 into speculation about that . The 957 00:38:56,169 --> 00:38:58,590 secretary was proud and privileged to 958 00:38:58,590 --> 00:39:01,180 be able to participate in a meeting on 959 00:39:01,180 --> 00:39:03,270 friday with Prime Minister Saga . As 960 00:39:03,270 --> 00:39:06,300 you know , his very first overseas trip 961 00:39:06,310 --> 00:39:08,760 was to that region and his very first 962 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:11,650 stop outside the continental outside of 963 00:39:11,650 --> 00:39:15,350 the United States was to Tokyo to to to 964 00:39:15,350 --> 00:39:17,572 meet with his counterparts . And it was 965 00:39:17,572 --> 00:39:19,517 a terrific a couple of days we had 966 00:39:19,517 --> 00:39:22,580 there , which gave him a chance to 967 00:39:22,580 --> 00:39:25,550 learn more about the region from the 968 00:39:25,550 --> 00:39:28,130 Japanese perspective and to also 969 00:39:28,140 --> 00:39:31,760 reaffirm our commitment to our treaty 970 00:39:31,760 --> 00:39:34,820 obligations and to our assistance in in 971 00:39:34,820 --> 00:39:36,987 the defense of Japan . There are a lot 972 00:39:36,987 --> 00:39:39,100 of things that they talked about and 973 00:39:39,100 --> 00:39:41,378 you can go back and I won't restate it , 974 00:39:41,378 --> 00:39:43,378 but you can go back and look at the 975 00:39:43,378 --> 00:39:45,100 press conference . They did uh 976 00:39:45,100 --> 00:39:46,989 Secretary Blinken was there , but 977 00:39:46,989 --> 00:39:46,510 there's obviously a lot of things that 978 00:39:46,510 --> 00:39:48,960 we can continue to work on bilaterally 979 00:39:48,960 --> 00:39:51,740 with the Japanese self defense force to 980 00:39:51,750 --> 00:39:55,080 improve our collective capabilities uh 981 00:39:55,090 --> 00:39:57,090 in the , in that region , given the 982 00:39:57,090 --> 00:39:59,840 scope of the threats across the region , 983 00:39:59,850 --> 00:40:02,540 uh you know , to include , you know , 984 00:40:02,540 --> 00:40:04,818 the threats emanating from north Korea . 985 00:40:04,818 --> 00:40:06,651 So there's a lot of work to do . 986 00:40:06,651 --> 00:40:08,762 Secretary was delighted to be able to 987 00:40:08,762 --> 00:40:11,690 start uh in Tokyo and and to have those 988 00:40:11,690 --> 00:40:13,634 discussions and we look forward to 989 00:40:13,634 --> 00:40:15,579 continued close relationship going 990 00:40:15,579 --> 00:40:17,840 forward Quick for is how do you create 991 00:40:17,840 --> 00:40:20,007 the importance of the joints new joint 992 00:40:20,007 --> 00:40:22,770 statement between two leaders ? I think 993 00:40:22,770 --> 00:40:24,826 it was significant . I mean any time 994 00:40:24,826 --> 00:40:27,860 you get uh two leaders like uh 995 00:40:27,870 --> 00:40:30,037 President biden , Prime Minister Seaga 996 00:40:30,037 --> 00:40:32,092 together like that to talk about the 997 00:40:32,092 --> 00:40:34,203 strategic issues and then the issue a 998 00:40:34,203 --> 00:40:33,520 joint statement . Obviously that's 999 00:40:33,520 --> 00:40:35,409 significant . And as I said , the 1000 00:40:35,409 --> 00:40:37,520 secretary was proud and privileged to 1001 00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:39,631 be a part of that meeting on friday . 1002 00:40:39,710 --> 00:40:41,030 Okay to gender . 1003 00:40:47,310 --> 00:40:49,421 Hello , can you hear me ? I got you . 1004 00:40:49,421 --> 00:40:53,100 Yeah , I have two short questions . One 1005 00:40:53,100 --> 00:40:56,450 is about the media reports are saying 1006 00:40:56,450 --> 00:40:58,617 that you know , we know that there's a 1007 00:40:58,617 --> 00:41:00,783 modest increase in the pentagon budget 1008 00:41:00,783 --> 00:41:03,870 for this coming year . I think it's 715 1009 00:41:03,870 --> 00:41:06,500 billion or something . Will this impact 1010 00:41:06,510 --> 00:41:08,770 Pentagon's commitments towards its 1011 00:41:08,780 --> 00:41:11,330 alliances in the indo pacific area ? 1012 00:41:12,110 --> 00:41:14,166 Well , I'm not going to get ahead of 1013 00:41:14,166 --> 00:41:17,720 the actual um specifics in the budget 1014 00:41:17,730 --> 00:41:19,730 to gender . Uh we're still working 1015 00:41:19,730 --> 00:41:22,063 through that process I think , you know , 1016 00:41:22,063 --> 00:41:24,510 that I would say , and I point you back 1017 00:41:24,510 --> 00:41:26,677 to what the secretary said when he was 1018 00:41:26,677 --> 00:41:28,899 testifying to the Senate Armed Services 1019 00:41:28,899 --> 00:41:31,190 Committee before his confirmation . Um 1020 00:41:31,200 --> 00:41:34,850 that uh he believes the 1021 00:41:34,860 --> 00:41:37,440 PRC is the pacing challenge for this 1022 00:41:37,440 --> 00:41:39,750 department . He believes we do need to 1023 00:41:39,750 --> 00:41:41,861 make sure we're ready for great power 1024 00:41:41,861 --> 00:41:43,861 competition and for the threats and 1025 00:41:43,861 --> 00:41:45,970 challenges that that many nations 1026 00:41:45,980 --> 00:41:48,820 states pose uh to our national security . 1027 00:41:48,830 --> 00:41:51,210 Um and a lot of that exists . A lot of 1028 00:41:51,210 --> 00:41:53,321 those threats and challenges exist in 1029 00:41:53,321 --> 00:41:55,654 the indo pacific area of responsibility . 1030 00:41:55,654 --> 00:41:57,877 Which is again , why that was the first 1031 00:41:57,877 --> 00:42:00,043 uh geographic area outside the country 1032 00:42:00,043 --> 00:42:03,350 that he visited uh after becoming the 1033 00:42:03,350 --> 00:42:05,294 Secretary Defense . So , again , I 1034 00:42:05,294 --> 00:42:07,517 won't get into details of the program . 1035 00:42:07,517 --> 00:42:10,600 Uh you'll see that developed in the 1036 00:42:10,600 --> 00:42:12,700 appropriate time . But I do think 1037 00:42:12,700 --> 00:42:14,478 you're going to continue to see 1038 00:42:14,478 --> 00:42:17,660 Secretary Austin focused keenly on the 1039 00:42:17,670 --> 00:42:21,360 indo pacific area . Okay . And 1040 00:42:21,360 --> 00:42:24,300 my question is about the withdrawal 1041 00:42:24,300 --> 00:42:27,370 from Afghanistan and the peace process 1042 00:42:27,370 --> 00:42:30,110 in Afghanistan . Everyone , you know , 1043 00:42:30,110 --> 00:42:34,020 talks about Afghanistan Taliban . But 1044 00:42:34,030 --> 00:42:36,260 if you remember in february , the 1045 00:42:36,260 --> 00:42:38,850 Financial Action Task Force , every t 1046 00:42:38,850 --> 00:42:42,550 uh get Pakistan on its grey 1047 00:42:42,550 --> 00:42:45,820 list and it had the president in his uh 1048 00:42:46,200 --> 00:42:49,290 press conference are answering my 1049 00:42:49,290 --> 00:42:51,990 question . Had said that most of the 1050 00:42:51,990 --> 00:42:54,730 items that Pakistan is yet to address 1051 00:42:54,730 --> 00:42:58,520 is about terrorism financing and 1052 00:42:58,520 --> 00:43:00,910 all . So we all know that without 1053 00:43:00,920 --> 00:43:03,410 Pakistan stopping its support for 1054 00:43:03,410 --> 00:43:06,070 terrorism , there cannot be peace in 1055 00:43:06,070 --> 00:43:10,070 Afghanistan . So what what what are the 1056 00:43:10,070 --> 00:43:13,510 steps the U . S . Is taking to stop 1057 00:43:13,510 --> 00:43:16,550 Pakistan from supporting terrorism 1058 00:43:16,560 --> 00:43:19,550 activities in and around the region ? 1059 00:43:19,560 --> 00:43:21,560 We continue to have a dialogue with 1060 00:43:21,560 --> 00:43:25,480 Pakistan about uh about uh 1061 00:43:25,490 --> 00:43:28,930 terrorist issues uh along that border 1062 00:43:28,940 --> 00:43:32,250 with Afghanistan . I think it's helpful 1063 00:43:32,250 --> 00:43:35,370 to remind that they too have uh 1064 00:43:35,380 --> 00:43:37,547 suffered from terrorist attacks inside 1065 00:43:37,547 --> 00:43:41,020 their country . Um and uh as I 1066 00:43:41,020 --> 00:43:44,570 said , the the president was clear , 1067 00:43:44,580 --> 00:43:48,100 we were removing U . S . Forces from 1068 00:43:48,110 --> 00:43:51,450 Afghanistan and we will maintain the 1069 00:43:51,460 --> 00:43:53,016 sufficient counterterrorism 1070 00:43:53,016 --> 00:43:56,600 capabilities we need uh to prevent 1071 00:43:56,610 --> 00:43:59,270 detect and prevent threats to our 1072 00:43:59,270 --> 00:44:01,103 homeland that could emanate from 1073 00:44:01,103 --> 00:44:04,310 Afghanistan . Uh see 1074 00:44:04,790 --> 00:44:07,800 tom Squitieri talk media . Hey john , 1075 00:44:07,800 --> 00:44:10,320 thanks . Good afternoon . I wanted to 1076 00:44:10,330 --> 00:44:12,497 touch a few bases that Abraham been in 1077 00:44:12,497 --> 00:44:16,330 touch uh first versus the 1078 00:44:16,330 --> 00:44:18,330 Philippines and the United States . 1079 00:44:18,330 --> 00:44:20,163 They're involved in their annual 1080 00:44:20,163 --> 00:44:22,108 military exercise right now . It's 1081 00:44:22,108 --> 00:44:24,274 still a bit larger than last year when 1082 00:44:24,274 --> 00:44:26,386 it was restricted from Covid 19 . I'm 1083 00:44:26,386 --> 00:44:28,497 wondering with the tension with china 1084 00:44:28,497 --> 00:44:30,608 being so close with its quote unquote 1085 00:44:30,608 --> 00:44:32,663 fishing ships near the Philippines . 1086 00:44:32,663 --> 00:44:34,719 What the tenor of the exercises this 1087 00:44:34,719 --> 00:44:36,910 year . I don't have specific details 1088 00:44:36,910 --> 00:44:39,021 about that exercise . Tom I mean , we 1089 00:44:39,021 --> 00:44:40,910 can get back to you with a better 1090 00:44:40,910 --> 00:44:43,132 answer but as you pointed out these are 1091 00:44:43,132 --> 00:44:46,700 routine exercises that we continue to 1092 00:44:46,710 --> 00:44:50,630 conduct um and uh 1093 00:44:50,640 --> 00:44:54,020 and glad to do it with our Philippine 1094 00:44:54,020 --> 00:44:57,560 allies . But I don't have any you know 1095 00:44:57,570 --> 00:45:00,640 specifics about what the scenario is 1096 00:45:01,760 --> 00:45:05,250 and how that scenario may or may not 1097 00:45:05,260 --> 00:45:08,720 apply to uh two 1098 00:45:08,720 --> 00:45:12,200 recent activities . Again , most of 1099 00:45:12,200 --> 00:45:14,422 these exercises are designed to improve 1100 00:45:14,890 --> 00:45:16,850 our training and readiness and to 1101 00:45:16,850 --> 00:45:18,930 improve alliance readiness and 1102 00:45:18,930 --> 00:45:22,420 capability . And they're not times or 1103 00:45:23,190 --> 00:45:26,240 necessarily plan to address a specific 1104 00:45:26,240 --> 00:45:29,720 issue or specific nation or specific 1105 00:45:30,090 --> 00:45:33,110 threat by a specific nation . But well 1106 00:45:33,490 --> 00:45:35,601 I just don't have more detail on it . 1107 00:45:35,601 --> 00:45:37,712 Um Tom So let me take that question . 1108 00:45:37,712 --> 00:45:39,601 We'll get your second . My second 1109 00:45:39,601 --> 00:45:41,712 question is uh is what's the level of 1110 00:45:41,712 --> 00:45:43,934 unease within the pentagon upon hearing 1111 00:45:43,934 --> 00:45:46,101 the news that Beijing is considering a 1112 00:45:46,101 --> 00:45:48,400 peacekeeping force to Afghanistan ? If 1113 00:45:48,400 --> 00:45:50,690 the U . S . Troops pull out basically 1114 00:45:50,690 --> 00:45:52,968 because of its border with Afghanistan ? 1115 00:45:53,490 --> 00:45:55,823 I'm sorry , I lost you . Say that again . 1116 00:45:55,823 --> 00:45:57,640 Uh Beijing is considering a 1117 00:45:57,640 --> 00:45:59,640 peacekeeping force to Afghanistan . 1118 00:45:59,640 --> 00:46:02,000 Once the US pulls out to send into the 1119 00:46:02,000 --> 00:46:03,889 neighbouring province it has with 1120 00:46:03,889 --> 00:46:06,167 Afghanistan across that 44 mile border . 1121 00:46:06,167 --> 00:46:08,370 What's the level of unease in the 1122 00:46:08,370 --> 00:46:10,426 pentagon ? Thinking that the chinese 1123 00:46:10,426 --> 00:46:12,370 would be sending in a peacekeeping 1124 00:46:12,370 --> 00:46:14,426 force ? Well , we certainly wouldn't 1125 00:46:14,426 --> 00:46:16,037 speak for another nation and 1126 00:46:16,037 --> 00:46:18,600 obviously 1127 00:46:20,080 --> 00:46:23,790 we would call on all of Afghans , 1128 00:46:23,800 --> 00:46:26,670 Afghanistan's neighbors to respect its 1129 00:46:26,670 --> 00:46:29,090 sovereignty um and respect its 1130 00:46:29,090 --> 00:46:32,180 territorial integrity as well . Um And 1131 00:46:32,180 --> 00:46:35,740 that , you know , if there if there's a 1132 00:46:35,740 --> 00:46:39,500 a legitimate a terrorism threat 1133 00:46:39,510 --> 00:46:42,390 that's that's emanating from 1134 00:46:42,400 --> 00:46:46,100 Afghanistan to work in accordance with 1135 00:46:46,100 --> 00:46:48,800 international law and and with the 1136 00:46:48,800 --> 00:46:51,360 Afghan government to address that . But 1137 00:46:51,360 --> 00:46:54,490 we want Afghan Afghanistan sovereignty 1138 00:46:54,500 --> 00:46:58,360 to be respected . Thanks . Um , 1139 00:46:58,370 --> 00:47:00,610 Okay . I think that's about it for 1140 00:47:00,610 --> 00:47:03,570 today . I think the Senate tomorrow on 1141 00:47:03,580 --> 00:47:05,580 Afghanistan . I have nothing on the 1142 00:47:05,580 --> 00:47:07,524 secretary of scheduled to speak to 1143 00:47:07,524 --> 00:47:09,524 today . What about the chairman ? I 1144 00:47:09,524 --> 00:47:11,636 can't speak for the Chairman . I only 1145 00:47:11,636 --> 00:47:13,691 speak for the Secretary of Defense , 1146 00:47:13,691 --> 00:47:15,691 but I can't speak training with the 1147 00:47:15,691 --> 00:47:17,913 secretary Schedule . Let me put it into 1148 00:47:17,913 --> 00:47:20,080 the way . I don't have anything . No . 1149 00:47:20,080 --> 00:47:22,302 Now to speak to you about the secretary 1150 00:47:22,302 --> 00:47:24,247 schedule tomorrow . I got a little 1151 00:47:24,247 --> 00:47:26,524 tongue tied on that . All right . Okay . 1152 00:47:26,524 --> 00:47:30,080 Thanks . Thanks guys . Thank you . Yeah .