1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:07,250 Mhm . Mhm . 3 00:00:08,540 --> 00:00:11,260 Yeah . Okay . 4 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:17,262 Okay . I do have some things at the top 5 00:00:17,262 --> 00:00:19,940 since it's been a while since we had a 6 00:00:19,950 --> 00:00:23,040 briefing , please Bear with me . I 7 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,510 think as you know , the chairman of the 8 00:00:25,510 --> 00:00:27,566 Joint Chiefs , General Milley hosted 9 00:00:27,566 --> 00:00:29,732 today , his counterpart in the Israeli 10 00:00:29,732 --> 00:00:32,410 Defense Forces , the uh Israeli , 11 00:00:32,410 --> 00:00:34,466 general chief of the Israeli General 12 00:00:34,466 --> 00:00:36,521 Staff . Lieutenant General Aviv cova 13 00:00:36,521 --> 00:00:39,300 coca cola Javi . Today at the pentagon , 14 00:00:39,310 --> 00:00:41,199 the two leaders discussed several 15 00:00:41,199 --> 00:00:43,460 issues of mutual concern , including 16 00:00:43,460 --> 00:00:45,293 the current security environment 17 00:00:45,293 --> 00:00:47,349 throughout the Middle East . General 18 00:00:47,349 --> 00:00:49,571 Milley reaffirmed of course the U . S . 19 00:00:49,571 --> 00:00:51,571 Commitment to its relationship with 20 00:00:51,571 --> 00:00:54,330 Israel . Uh Secretary Austin did attend 21 00:00:54,330 --> 00:00:56,820 part of the meeting uh as well , popped 22 00:00:56,820 --> 00:00:59,260 in for for part of it . And as you know , 23 00:00:59,260 --> 00:01:01,640 the U . S . And Israel enjoy a strong 24 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:03,696 military to military relationship as 25 00:01:03,696 --> 00:01:05,696 key partners committed to peace and 26 00:01:05,696 --> 00:01:08,710 security in the region um on the 27 00:01:08,710 --> 00:01:10,980 department , support to the federal 28 00:01:10,980 --> 00:01:14,050 Response Against Covid . I can announce 29 00:01:14,050 --> 00:01:15,939 that the last federally supported 30 00:01:15,939 --> 00:01:17,994 community vaccination center , which 31 00:01:17,994 --> 00:01:20,106 was located in New Jersey , conducted 32 00:01:20,106 --> 00:01:22,328 its final day of operations yesterday . 33 00:01:22,340 --> 00:01:24,980 More than 50 100 active duty service 34 00:01:24,980 --> 00:01:27,520 members supported 48 federal sites 35 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:29,560 across the country , including Guam 36 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:32,080 northern marianas and the Virgin 37 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,660 Islands and provided nearly five 38 00:01:34,660 --> 00:01:37,150 million covid vaccines . The National 39 00:01:37,150 --> 00:01:39,550 Guard continues their support to state 40 00:01:39,550 --> 00:01:41,550 and local communities . And to date 41 00:01:41,550 --> 00:01:43,550 they have helped administer over 12 42 00:01:43,550 --> 00:01:45,883 million vaccines to the american public . 43 00:01:45,883 --> 00:01:47,939 So combined , that's over 17 million 44 00:01:47,939 --> 00:01:51,180 vaccines by service members . As we 45 00:01:51,180 --> 00:01:53,240 often see in times of crisis , our 46 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:56,020 troops are marshaled to care for their 47 00:01:56,020 --> 00:01:58,550 fellow americans and the secretary is 48 00:01:58,550 --> 00:02:00,717 very , very proud of the critical role 49 00:02:00,717 --> 00:02:02,828 that they played uh , throughout this 50 00:02:02,828 --> 00:02:04,772 pandemic and thanks them and their 51 00:02:04,772 --> 00:02:06,772 families for the sacrifices and the 52 00:02:06,772 --> 00:02:06,680 service that they rendered their fellow 53 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,020 citizens . We have three exercises to 54 00:02:10,020 --> 00:02:12,150 highlight today In Southern Command's 55 00:02:12,150 --> 00:02:13,539 area of responsibility . 56 00:02:13,539 --> 00:02:15,706 Representatives from the United States 57 00:02:15,706 --> 00:02:17,206 and 18 partner nations are 58 00:02:17,206 --> 00:02:19,372 participating in the 36th annual trade 59 00:02:19,372 --> 00:02:21,790 winds exercise in Guyana . Trade winds 60 00:02:21,790 --> 00:02:24,680 21 is a Caribbean focused security 61 00:02:24,690 --> 00:02:27,650 exercise that's designed to exchange 62 00:02:27,650 --> 00:02:29,650 knowledge and expertise to maintain 63 00:02:29,650 --> 00:02:31,483 regional security and prosperity 64 00:02:31,483 --> 00:02:33,317 throughout the Caribbean and the 65 00:02:33,317 --> 00:02:35,428 Caribbean basin . The exercise kicked 66 00:02:35,428 --> 00:02:35,420 off actually on the 13th and it will 67 00:02:35,420 --> 00:02:37,476 run through the 25th of this month . 68 00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:39,696 Friday also marked the conclusion of 69 00:02:39,696 --> 00:02:42,540 two exercises exercise African lion 70 00:02:42,540 --> 00:02:44,630 2021 wrapped up . That's Africa 71 00:02:44,630 --> 00:02:46,908 commands largest joint annual exercise . 72 00:02:46,908 --> 00:02:49,019 More than 7000 participants from nine 73 00:02:49,019 --> 00:02:51,890 nations and uh , and from and from NATO , 74 00:02:51,890 --> 00:02:54,001 trained together in Morocco , Tunisia 75 00:02:54,001 --> 00:02:56,112 and Senegal with a focus on enhancing 76 00:02:56,112 --> 00:02:58,223 readiness across air , land , sea and 77 00:02:58,223 --> 00:03:00,334 cyber domains , congratulate them for 78 00:03:00,334 --> 00:03:02,520 the completion of that friday . Also 79 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:04,409 marked the conclusion of the 50th 80 00:03:04,409 --> 00:03:06,298 iteration of the premier maritime 81 00:03:06,298 --> 00:03:08,464 focused defensive exercise called ball 82 00:03:08,464 --> 00:03:10,520 tops . For the first time , our Navy 83 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:12,742 and Marine Corps used unmanned aircraft 84 00:03:12,742 --> 00:03:14,750 systems to detect and map minds 85 00:03:14,980 --> 00:03:17,390 capability that frankly benefits all 86 00:03:17,390 --> 00:03:19,723 Mariners , regardless of the flag flown . 87 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,260 This exercise included more than 40 88 00:03:22,260 --> 00:03:24,980 ships , 60 aircraft and more than 4000 89 00:03:24,980 --> 00:03:26,924 military members from 18 different 90 00:03:26,924 --> 00:03:30,000 nations . Moving on , staying on the 91 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,580 Navy theme there . On Friday 18 June , 92 00:03:32,580 --> 00:03:34,660 the USS Gerald R . Ford successfully 93 00:03:34,660 --> 00:03:37,210 completed the first scheduled explosive 94 00:03:37,210 --> 00:03:39,420 event as part of its full ship shot 95 00:03:39,420 --> 00:03:41,642 trials . I think you probably have seen 96 00:03:41,642 --> 00:03:43,753 some of the video and the imagery out 97 00:03:43,753 --> 00:03:45,864 of that . The first in class aircraft 98 00:03:45,864 --> 00:03:47,864 carrier was designed using advanced 99 00:03:47,864 --> 00:03:50,087 computer modeling methods , testing and 100 00:03:50,087 --> 00:03:52,087 analysis to ensure that the ship is 101 00:03:52,087 --> 00:03:54,309 hardened to withstand battle conditions 102 00:03:54,309 --> 00:03:56,476 and the shock trials provide data that 103 00:03:56,476 --> 00:03:58,531 will be used in validating the shock 104 00:03:58,531 --> 00:04:00,476 hardness of the ship . The Navy is 105 00:04:00,476 --> 00:04:00,300 conducting the shock trial testing in 106 00:04:00,300 --> 00:04:03,270 accordance with uh up knave instruction . 107 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:05,900 Uh 9 90 72 108 00:04:05,910 --> 00:04:09,070 9072.2 . And as mandated by the 109 00:04:09,070 --> 00:04:11,181 National Defense Authorization Act of 110 00:04:11,181 --> 00:04:14,360 2016 . Uhh let's see 111 00:04:14,740 --> 00:04:18,310 um onto uh 112 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:20,098 covid uh conditions here at the 113 00:04:20,098 --> 00:04:22,098 pentagon . The pentagon reservation 114 00:04:22,098 --> 00:04:24,780 will reduce its health protection 115 00:04:24,790 --> 00:04:27,630 condition from bravo plus where we have 116 00:04:27,630 --> 00:04:31,080 been since november of 2022 hp con 117 00:04:31,090 --> 00:04:34,310 bravo and that's effective at five a.m. 118 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,860 Now this Wednesday the 23rd of june 119 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:40,660 Under HB Con Bravo , the occupancy goal 120 00:04:40,670 --> 00:04:43,370 will be no more than 50% in workspaces . 121 00:04:43,380 --> 00:04:45,491 It's up threats up from 40% right now 122 00:04:45,491 --> 00:04:47,410 where we are now supervisors will 123 00:04:47,410 --> 00:04:49,466 continue to provide maximum telework 124 00:04:49,466 --> 00:04:51,940 opportunities to eligible employees . 125 00:04:51,940 --> 00:04:54,107 Personnel who are not fully vaccinated 126 00:04:54,107 --> 00:04:56,218 should continue to follow D . O . D . 127 00:04:56,218 --> 00:04:58,440 Mask and social distancing guidelines . 128 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:00,662 You see the signs all over the pentagon 129 00:05:00,662 --> 00:05:02,718 that talk about that Random COVID-19 130 00:05:02,718 --> 00:05:04,718 entrance screening of the workforce 131 00:05:04,718 --> 00:05:06,773 will continue at about 10-20% levels 132 00:05:06,773 --> 00:05:08,830 and COVID-19 screening for visitors 133 00:05:08,830 --> 00:05:11,750 will continue at 100% . The pentagon 134 00:05:11,750 --> 00:05:13,861 reservation remains closed for public 135 00:05:13,861 --> 00:05:16,130 tours and the pentagon 9 11 memorial 136 00:05:16,130 --> 00:05:18,360 remains closed , gatherings on the 137 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:20,360 pentagon reservation are limited to 138 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,527 fewer than 50 people , currently fewer 139 00:05:22,527 --> 00:05:24,740 than 25 . So that will go up a little 140 00:05:24,740 --> 00:05:26,740 bit for here in the briefing room . 141 00:05:26,740 --> 00:05:29,240 That means that uh we won't be totally 142 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,820 back to normal but uh starting 143 00:05:31,820 --> 00:05:33,709 Wednesday there will be some more 144 00:05:33,709 --> 00:05:35,820 seating here for in person attendance 145 00:05:35,820 --> 00:05:37,987 at the press briefings . And with that 146 00:05:37,987 --> 00:05:40,750 I'm done bob . Thank you . Um 147 00:05:42,140 --> 00:05:45,140 Question about Afghanistan . The 148 00:05:45,140 --> 00:05:47,770 taliban apparently have made some 149 00:05:48,010 --> 00:05:50,460 significant gains in recent weeks and 150 00:05:50,470 --> 00:05:53,670 even as recently as past weekend , uh 151 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,730 maybe especially in the north . His 152 00:05:55,730 --> 00:05:58,360 secretary Austin considering 153 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:03,110 recommending either a slowdown in the 154 00:06:03,110 --> 00:06:05,340 withdrawal or some other changes that 155 00:06:05,340 --> 00:06:09,120 would perhaps be designed to minimize 156 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:11,287 the chance of an early collapse of the 157 00:06:11,287 --> 00:06:13,820 afghan forces . I would say , without 158 00:06:13,820 --> 00:06:15,560 speaking specifically to 159 00:06:16,740 --> 00:06:20,060 the taliban advances , you spoke to the 160 00:06:20,540 --> 00:06:23,480 as the secretary has said , the 161 00:06:23,490 --> 00:06:26,680 withdrawal is on pace . It is a 162 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,560 dynamic situation . And we said that 163 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:31,671 from the very beginning , which means 164 00:06:31,671 --> 00:06:35,570 that uh he and the chairman , General 165 00:06:35,570 --> 00:06:39,450 Mackenzie are constantly looking at the 166 00:06:39,460 --> 00:06:41,110 pace we're going at and the 167 00:06:41,110 --> 00:06:42,810 capabilities we have and the 168 00:06:42,810 --> 00:06:44,754 capabilities that we're gonna need 169 00:06:44,754 --> 00:06:46,977 throughout to complete the withdrawal . 170 00:06:46,977 --> 00:06:48,754 And so as we said from the very 171 00:06:48,754 --> 00:06:51,490 beginning , um uh while there is a 172 00:06:51,500 --> 00:06:53,556 schedule , we were mindful that that 173 00:06:53,556 --> 00:06:55,722 schedule could fluctuate and change as 174 00:06:55,722 --> 00:06:58,360 as conditions change too . So um I 175 00:06:58,370 --> 00:06:59,926 can't speak to any specific 176 00:06:59,926 --> 00:07:02,580 recommendations he's making uh about 177 00:07:02,590 --> 00:07:05,280 the taliban advances . But I can tell 178 00:07:05,280 --> 00:07:07,960 you that he's looking at the situation 179 00:07:07,970 --> 00:07:10,150 every day with a fresh set of eyes to 180 00:07:10,150 --> 00:07:12,530 see if you know the pace that we're 181 00:07:12,530 --> 00:07:14,752 setting is the appropriate pace for the 182 00:07:14,752 --> 00:07:16,919 kinds of capabilities that we think we 183 00:07:16,919 --> 00:07:19,190 need to again conduct a safe and 184 00:07:19,190 --> 00:07:21,590 orderly retrograde as he looks as he 185 00:07:21,590 --> 00:07:23,940 looks at it now today , does he see 186 00:07:23,940 --> 00:07:26,050 something different than he saw few 187 00:07:26,050 --> 00:07:28,217 weeks ago ? In other words , that make 188 00:07:28,217 --> 00:07:30,439 him think something different has to be 189 00:07:30,439 --> 00:07:32,606 done every day ? It's , you know , the 190 00:07:32,606 --> 00:07:34,828 situation in Afghanistan changes as the 191 00:07:34,828 --> 00:07:38,670 taliban continued to um , to conduct 192 00:07:38,670 --> 00:07:42,150 these attacks , um , uh , and to to 193 00:07:42,150 --> 00:07:44,206 raid district centers as well as the 194 00:07:44,206 --> 00:07:46,372 violence , which is still too high . I 195 00:07:46,372 --> 00:07:48,539 mean , every day there's a a fresh set 196 00:07:48,539 --> 00:07:50,483 of data to look at that that helps 197 00:07:50,483 --> 00:07:53,930 inform his discussions with military 198 00:07:53,930 --> 00:07:55,874 commanders and eventually whatever 199 00:07:55,874 --> 00:07:58,900 changes might come of . That . One last 200 00:07:58,900 --> 00:08:00,511 thing that has , he received 201 00:08:00,511 --> 00:08:02,511 recommendations from either General 202 00:08:02,511 --> 00:08:05,750 Mackenzie or General Miller to change 203 00:08:06,140 --> 00:08:08,480 the approach , I'm not going to speak 204 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:10,591 to the specific discussions that he's 205 00:08:10,591 --> 00:08:12,758 having with his operational commanders 206 00:08:12,758 --> 00:08:14,980 about the situation on the ground . But 207 00:08:14,980 --> 00:08:17,036 again bob and I understand where the 208 00:08:17,036 --> 00:08:19,202 questions coming from . I mean it is a 209 00:08:19,202 --> 00:08:21,369 dynamic situation and we said from the 210 00:08:21,369 --> 00:08:23,536 outset that we're going to treat it as 211 00:08:23,536 --> 00:08:25,647 such uh in that uh that if there need 212 00:08:25,647 --> 00:08:29,390 to be changes made to the piece or to 213 00:08:29,390 --> 00:08:32,150 the scope and scale of the retrograde 214 00:08:32,150 --> 00:08:34,290 on any given day or in any given week 215 00:08:34,300 --> 00:08:36,522 and we want to maintain the flexibility 216 00:08:36,522 --> 00:08:38,522 to do that . What's really critical 217 00:08:38,522 --> 00:08:41,350 here is that nothing has changed about 218 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:44,460 two things . One , we will complete 219 00:08:44,940 --> 00:08:47,950 uh the withdrawal of all U . S . Forces 220 00:08:47,950 --> 00:08:50,172 out of Afghanistan , with the exception 221 00:08:50,172 --> 00:08:52,283 of those that will be left to protect 222 00:08:52,283 --> 00:08:54,450 the diplomatic presence and to that it 223 00:08:54,450 --> 00:08:56,617 will be done before early september as 224 00:08:56,617 --> 00:08:58,728 per the commander in chief's orders . 225 00:08:58,728 --> 00:09:00,950 Those two things are constant and won't 226 00:09:00,950 --> 00:09:03,117 change . Yeah . Let me go to the phone 227 00:09:03,117 --> 00:09:04,117 Stephen , Lucey . 228 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,970 Thanks john uh I would like to ask 229 00:09:10,970 --> 00:09:14,170 about the D . O . D . S . Withdrawal of 230 00:09:14,170 --> 00:09:17,960 some assets including uh some anti some 231 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:20,720 air defense anti missile um assets . 232 00:09:20,730 --> 00:09:22,786 Can you talk a little bit more about 233 00:09:22,786 --> 00:09:26,520 what makes the pentagon confident 234 00:09:26,530 --> 00:09:29,630 that now is the right time to safely 235 00:09:29,630 --> 00:09:31,960 withdraw some of these anti missile 236 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:33,627 assets as well as some of the 237 00:09:33,740 --> 00:09:35,462 reportedly some of the fighter 238 00:09:35,462 --> 00:09:38,070 squadrons . Well look I think you're 239 00:09:38,070 --> 00:09:40,070 talking about a Wall Street Journal 240 00:09:40,070 --> 00:09:42,237 report . I'm not going to speak to the 241 00:09:42,237 --> 00:09:44,237 details of that press reporting . I 242 00:09:44,237 --> 00:09:46,330 would just say this uh steven and 243 00:09:46,330 --> 00:09:49,930 that's and you know this uh that uh a 244 00:09:49,930 --> 00:09:53,410 we have a very robust presence in the 245 00:09:53,410 --> 00:09:55,100 Middle East region , a lot of 246 00:09:55,100 --> 00:09:59,050 capabilities there uh tens of thousands 247 00:09:59,050 --> 00:10:02,600 of uh personnel um as well as systems 248 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:04,711 and capabilities across the region at 249 00:10:04,711 --> 00:10:07,470 various facilities and bases . And the 250 00:10:07,470 --> 00:10:09,637 secretary believes that it's important 251 00:10:09,637 --> 00:10:11,248 that that presence and those 252 00:10:11,248 --> 00:10:13,581 capabilities remain robust , number two , 253 00:10:13,581 --> 00:10:16,440 that um and it's not uncommon uh in 254 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:18,350 that or any other area of 255 00:10:18,350 --> 00:10:20,650 responsibility around the world . Uh We 256 00:10:20,650 --> 00:10:22,761 have to constantly take a look at the 257 00:10:22,770 --> 00:10:25,990 at the sustainment capability for those 258 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:27,889 capabilities . I'm sorry . That's 259 00:10:27,889 --> 00:10:30,111 that's not worried . Well , let me take 260 00:10:30,111 --> 00:10:32,111 that again , we have to look at the 261 00:10:32,111 --> 00:10:34,222 ability to sustain those capabilities 262 00:10:34,222 --> 00:10:36,389 and systems in whatever region they're 263 00:10:36,389 --> 00:10:38,611 deployed . Um And it's not uncommon for 264 00:10:38,611 --> 00:10:40,722 us to move resources around sometimes 265 00:10:40,722 --> 00:10:42,944 within a theater , sometimes outside of 266 00:10:42,944 --> 00:10:44,944 theater and then two other theaters 267 00:10:44,944 --> 00:10:46,722 based on whatever the threats , 268 00:10:46,722 --> 00:10:48,944 challenges and risks that we that we're 269 00:10:48,944 --> 00:10:51,056 that we're facing as well as the need 270 00:10:51,056 --> 00:10:53,222 uh to maintain some of these systems . 271 00:10:53,222 --> 00:10:55,389 Uh some some of the places where these 272 00:10:55,389 --> 00:10:57,444 capabilities exist , that's a pretty 273 00:10:57,444 --> 00:10:59,389 harsh environment . Uh And some of 274 00:10:59,389 --> 00:11:01,389 these systems and capabilities have 275 00:11:01,389 --> 00:11:03,500 been in these environments for a long 276 00:11:03,500 --> 00:11:05,667 time , um and we need to be able to to 277 00:11:05,667 --> 00:11:07,722 get them home , get them fixed , get 278 00:11:07,722 --> 00:11:09,722 them maintained so that they can be 279 00:11:09,722 --> 00:11:09,600 redeployed appropriately . So it's 280 00:11:09,610 --> 00:11:11,777 again , it's a dynamic situation where 281 00:11:11,777 --> 00:11:13,610 constantly making these sorts of 282 00:11:13,610 --> 00:11:15,499 decisions and the secretary takes 283 00:11:15,499 --> 00:11:17,554 seriously its responsibility to make 284 00:11:17,554 --> 00:11:20,360 sure that certainly in the area like 285 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:22,527 the Middle East , that we can maintain 286 00:11:22,527 --> 00:11:24,690 and sustain the kinds of capabilities 287 00:11:24,710 --> 00:11:28,050 to back up our force presence and to uh 288 00:11:28,060 --> 00:11:30,060 to properly look after our security 289 00:11:30,060 --> 00:11:32,060 commitments to ourselves and to our 290 00:11:32,060 --> 00:11:34,560 partners . And he's confident um that 291 00:11:34,570 --> 00:11:36,930 we're doing exactly that . I mean , 292 00:11:36,930 --> 00:11:39,041 it's not just the Wall Street Journal 293 00:11:39,041 --> 00:11:40,819 report . The SDP A this morning 294 00:11:40,819 --> 00:11:43,041 confirmed that there were some assets , 295 00:11:43,041 --> 00:11:45,370 including primarily air defense assets 296 00:11:45,380 --> 00:11:47,930 that were withdrawn . So what I want to 297 00:11:47,940 --> 00:11:51,770 like is , you know , is the pentagon 298 00:11:51,770 --> 00:11:53,881 confident that like these assets will 299 00:11:53,881 --> 00:11:57,170 not be needed to deter or perry 300 00:11:57,170 --> 00:12:00,810 any , um , uh , any , any potential 301 00:12:00,820 --> 00:12:03,810 action from nations such as Iran in the 302 00:12:03,810 --> 00:12:06,300 region . The secretary would , what 303 00:12:06,300 --> 00:12:08,411 does not and would not make decisions 304 00:12:08,411 --> 00:12:09,967 about redeploying assets or 305 00:12:09,967 --> 00:12:12,133 capabilities if he didn't believe that 306 00:12:12,133 --> 00:12:14,410 in , in so doing wherever these are and 307 00:12:14,410 --> 00:12:16,632 wherever they're going , uh , would put 308 00:12:16,632 --> 00:12:19,050 our , our security commitments at , uh , 309 00:12:19,140 --> 00:12:22,510 unnecessary and greater risk . Hey 310 00:12:22,510 --> 00:12:24,677 brian . Yeah , Thank you . Thank you . 311 00:12:24,677 --> 00:12:26,788 John , is the secretary any closer to 312 00:12:26,788 --> 00:12:28,843 understanding the definition of over 313 00:12:28,843 --> 00:12:32,610 the horizon than on april 16th . And 314 00:12:32,610 --> 00:12:34,820 then I have a follow up question . I'm 315 00:12:34,820 --> 00:12:37,480 not sure I understand the question . 316 00:12:37,490 --> 00:12:39,930 There's never been a confusion about 317 00:12:39,930 --> 00:12:42,152 the definition of what over the horizon 318 00:12:42,152 --> 00:12:44,208 means . I'm not sure what you mean . 319 00:12:44,208 --> 00:12:45,930 What I mean is are there based 320 00:12:45,930 --> 00:12:48,980 agreements in negotiation planning ? Is 321 00:12:48,980 --> 00:12:51,210 there anything more that can be said as 322 00:12:51,210 --> 00:12:53,432 to how the United States can be able to 323 00:12:53,432 --> 00:12:55,810 provide over the horizon support then ? 324 00:12:55,810 --> 00:12:57,810 Was known back in april when it was 325 00:12:57,810 --> 00:12:59,810 first brought up as a possibility . 326 00:12:59,810 --> 00:13:02,032 There is still active discussions going 327 00:13:02,032 --> 00:13:04,370 on inside the department and actually 328 00:13:04,370 --> 00:13:07,460 at the State Department to two 329 00:13:08,140 --> 00:13:12,030 to look at how we will actualize 330 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,360 over the horizon counterterrorism 331 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:17,280 capabilities . Um Certainly the 332 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:19,058 secretary supports a diplomatic 333 00:13:19,058 --> 00:13:21,224 diplomatic effort that's ongoing right 334 00:13:21,224 --> 00:13:22,947 now to see if there are basing 335 00:13:22,947 --> 00:13:25,058 solutions that could happen uh in and 336 00:13:25,058 --> 00:13:27,280 around the region . Um I'm not aware of 337 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:30,370 any uh of any assurances that we 338 00:13:30,370 --> 00:13:32,537 received to date , but I know that the 339 00:13:32,537 --> 00:13:34,870 State Department's hard at work on that . 340 00:13:34,870 --> 00:13:36,981 He's also tasked General Mackenzie to 341 00:13:36,981 --> 00:13:39,380 look at uh what sorts of other over the 342 00:13:39,380 --> 00:13:41,750 horizon capabilities we have existing 343 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:43,760 in the region . And how can we best 344 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:46,093 exploit those ? The other thing I'd say , 345 00:13:46,093 --> 00:13:48,149 and I said this last week is that we 346 00:13:48,149 --> 00:13:50,316 tend to forget that we already do have 347 00:13:50,340 --> 00:13:52,340 over the horizon capability when it 348 00:13:52,340 --> 00:13:54,451 comes to the counter terrorism threat 349 00:13:54,451 --> 00:13:56,618 in Afghanistan . Is it robust enough ? 350 00:13:56,618 --> 00:13:58,840 Is it is it sustainable enough over the 351 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:00,896 long term ? Well , that's what we're 352 00:14:00,896 --> 00:14:02,729 looking at . But you know , that 353 00:14:02,729 --> 00:14:04,500 Secretary uh extended the USs 354 00:14:04,500 --> 00:14:06,333 Eisenhower in the region , we've 355 00:14:06,333 --> 00:14:09,330 deployed uh bomber task force uh to the 356 00:14:09,330 --> 00:14:12,360 region , uh and there are other 357 00:14:13,140 --> 00:14:16,980 um facilities bases again in the in the 358 00:14:16,980 --> 00:14:18,980 Middle East , that can be of some 359 00:14:18,980 --> 00:14:21,620 service . So nobody's discounting how 360 00:14:21,620 --> 00:14:23,640 difficult this is . Uh But as the 361 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:25,640 secretary said , difficult does not 362 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:27,807 mean impossible . And that we have the 363 00:14:27,807 --> 00:14:30,029 ability right now to reach any scrap of 364 00:14:30,029 --> 00:14:32,029 earth that we believe we need to uh 365 00:14:32,029 --> 00:14:34,029 should the you know should the risk 366 00:14:34,029 --> 00:14:36,084 warning . So no further progress has 367 00:14:36,084 --> 00:14:38,251 been made . I don't have anything more 368 00:14:38,251 --> 00:14:40,140 to announce . But I do think it's 369 00:14:40,140 --> 00:14:42,251 important to remember . It's not like 370 00:14:42,251 --> 00:14:44,307 we're starting from zero . We have a 371 00:14:44,307 --> 00:14:46,418 capability over the horizon right now 372 00:14:46,418 --> 00:14:48,570 as you and I speak and then the 373 00:14:48,580 --> 00:14:50,691 detailed planning for the support for 374 00:14:50,691 --> 00:14:52,913 the special immigrant visa applicants . 375 00:14:52,913 --> 00:14:54,858 Is there anything more on that ? I 376 00:14:54,858 --> 00:14:56,969 don't have anything additional to add 377 00:14:56,969 --> 00:14:59,910 from what we've said before . Yeah . Uh 378 00:14:59,920 --> 00:15:02,900 Sang Min Lee Radio Free Asia . Oh 379 00:15:02,900 --> 00:15:06,580 yeah so the mr Eli 380 00:15:06,580 --> 00:15:08,740 Latner . No we need to be Assistant 381 00:15:08,740 --> 00:15:10,629 Secretary of in the past , speaks 382 00:15:10,629 --> 00:15:12,740 regularly a witness in Senate hearing 383 00:15:12,740 --> 00:15:14,962 last week in his written statement that 384 00:15:14,962 --> 00:15:16,796 if we confirm he will review the 385 00:15:16,796 --> 00:15:19,390 current status of the U . S . Bilateral 386 00:15:19,390 --> 00:15:21,970 and multilateral exercise to maintain 387 00:15:21,980 --> 00:15:24,830 readiness of forces in and around the 388 00:15:24,830 --> 00:15:28,480 korean peninsula . So is it likely to 389 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,080 consider the rejection of large scale U . 390 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:33,330 S . South Korea joint military exercise 391 00:15:33,330 --> 00:15:35,497 in the near future ? Like august based 392 00:15:35,497 --> 00:15:39,430 on his remark ? Um I did not get 393 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:41,551 all of that question . Would you mind 394 00:15:41,940 --> 00:15:45,620 repeating it ? I apologize . Okay . The 395 00:15:45,630 --> 00:15:49,140 mr Lai Latner , the nominee to be 396 00:15:49,140 --> 00:15:50,973 assistant of Secretary of in the 397 00:15:50,973 --> 00:15:53,810 pacific Security . Uh he witnessed in 398 00:15:53,810 --> 00:15:56,780 standard here in last week and he said 399 00:15:56,790 --> 00:15:59,580 in his written statement that if we 400 00:15:59,580 --> 00:16:01,850 confirm he will review the current 401 00:16:01,850 --> 00:16:05,040 status of US bilateral and multilateral 402 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:07,950 exercise to maintain the readiness of 403 00:16:07,950 --> 00:16:10,690 forces in korean opinions deliver . So 404 00:16:10,690 --> 00:16:13,140 based on his remarks , I want to know 405 00:16:13,150 --> 00:16:15,710 is it likely to consider the rejection 406 00:16:15,710 --> 00:16:18,340 of a large scale U . S . South Korea to 407 00:16:18,340 --> 00:16:20,507 it , the military exercise in the near 408 00:16:20,507 --> 00:16:23,070 future like this august well thanks for 409 00:16:23,070 --> 00:16:25,292 repeating it . Um I don't have anything 410 00:16:25,292 --> 00:16:27,181 to announce today with respect to 411 00:16:27,181 --> 00:16:29,270 changes in uh training on the korean 412 00:16:29,270 --> 00:16:31,437 peninsula . As I've said before . This 413 00:16:31,437 --> 00:16:33,680 is something that we constantly review 414 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:37,290 and assess given the uh 415 00:16:37,300 --> 00:16:41,060 strategic environment . Um uh uh huh . 416 00:16:41,540 --> 00:16:45,240 Obviously should Dr ratner get 417 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:47,770 confirmed ? I'm sure he'll um 418 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,920 meat uh meat his promise of of taking a 419 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,400 look at training and exercises there . 420 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,622 But I don't have anything additional to 421 00:16:56,622 --> 00:16:58,789 say today or any changes to the to the 422 00:16:58,789 --> 00:17:01,060 program except to say what we said . Uh 423 00:17:01,070 --> 00:17:03,300 we always say that we know we have to 424 00:17:03,300 --> 00:17:05,244 our forces have got to be ready to 425 00:17:05,244 --> 00:17:07,467 fight tonight and uh we were constantly 426 00:17:07,467 --> 00:17:09,578 looking at the training events are to 427 00:17:09,578 --> 00:17:11,744 make sure that they're appropriate and 428 00:17:11,744 --> 00:17:13,800 they're properly scaled . Um Did the 429 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:15,911 threats and the challenges ? Sylvia . 430 00:17:15,911 --> 00:17:18,740 Can we go back to Afghanistan ? Could 431 00:17:18,740 --> 00:17:20,962 you speak about the contractors ? There 432 00:17:20,962 --> 00:17:24,530 are some reports about the possibility 433 00:17:24,540 --> 00:17:28,250 of keeping some contractors there , but 434 00:17:28,250 --> 00:17:30,090 they would be paid by the Afghan 435 00:17:30,090 --> 00:17:32,150 government instead of the U . S . 436 00:17:32,150 --> 00:17:33,928 Government is something that is 437 00:17:33,928 --> 00:17:36,420 discussed . I think there's a range of 438 00:17:36,420 --> 00:17:38,650 options that we're looking at for how 439 00:17:38,650 --> 00:17:40,594 to continue to provide contractual 440 00:17:40,594 --> 00:17:44,130 support for the Afghan forces , 441 00:17:44,140 --> 00:17:46,430 specifically the Afghan Air Forces . 442 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:48,830 We've come to know final conclusions 443 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:51,007 about what that's going to look like . 444 00:17:51,007 --> 00:17:53,007 We're very actively working our way 445 00:17:53,007 --> 00:17:55,229 through that right now . So you you are 446 00:17:55,229 --> 00:17:57,450 confirming it is , we're looking at a 447 00:17:57,450 --> 00:17:59,610 range of options . I'm not at liberty 448 00:17:59,610 --> 00:18:02,250 to confirm any specific one right now . 449 00:18:02,260 --> 00:18:04,440 But again , our our support for the 450 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:06,607 Afghan forces , once the retrograde is 451 00:18:06,607 --> 00:18:08,773 complete , will be largely financial . 452 00:18:08,773 --> 00:18:11,080 Uh and it will be uh in terms of 453 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:13,136 contractual support designed to help 454 00:18:13,136 --> 00:18:15,350 them logistically and in a maintenance 455 00:18:15,350 --> 00:18:17,461 perspective with respect to their air 456 00:18:17,461 --> 00:18:20,910 forces . But it'll be but it'll be uh 457 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,680 largely over the horizon as well , uh 458 00:18:23,690 --> 00:18:26,020 contractual support . I don't I don't 459 00:18:26,020 --> 00:18:29,480 know of any specific other options that 460 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:31,600 are being considered . But again , I 461 00:18:31,610 --> 00:18:33,840 think we haven't come to any final 462 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:35,784 conclusions and we're looking at a 463 00:18:35,784 --> 00:18:38,360 range of different alternatives . Okay . 464 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:42,860 Yes . Uh I want to ask you about 465 00:18:42,870 --> 00:18:45,080 Taiwan that last week the general 466 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:47,120 meeting said that before the Senate 467 00:18:47,130 --> 00:18:49,540 appropriations Committee that there is 468 00:18:49,540 --> 00:18:53,060 a low probability that China will take 469 00:18:53,070 --> 00:18:56,090 over Taiwan militarily in the near 470 00:18:56,090 --> 00:18:58,680 future . But on the other hand , the 471 00:18:58,690 --> 00:19:00,579 commander of the in the past week 472 00:19:00,579 --> 00:19:02,579 command Admiral agree . No . Set in 473 00:19:02,579 --> 00:19:05,830 March . Yeah , the encouragement could 474 00:19:05,830 --> 00:19:08,730 be much closer than most people think . 475 00:19:08,740 --> 00:19:12,320 So it seems there is uh the statement 476 00:19:12,330 --> 00:19:16,010 uh not consistent . Could you gratify 477 00:19:16,020 --> 00:19:19,340 uh the with the assessment of how 478 00:19:19,350 --> 00:19:22,320 urgent the Taiwan strait contingency 479 00:19:22,330 --> 00:19:25,540 contingency would be ? Thank you . Yeah . 480 00:19:25,540 --> 00:19:28,280 I don't think uh put it this way . I 481 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:32,060 think everybody is uh mindful of 482 00:19:32,740 --> 00:19:35,620 uh of tensions in that part of the 483 00:19:35,620 --> 00:19:37,790 world . And just as importantly 484 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:39,800 everybody here in the department is 485 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:41,744 mindful of our obligations to help 486 00:19:41,744 --> 00:19:43,689 Taiwan be able to defend itself in 487 00:19:43,689 --> 00:19:45,744 accordance with the Taiwan relations 488 00:19:45,744 --> 00:19:47,522 Act three communiques , the six 489 00:19:47,522 --> 00:19:49,744 assurances , nothing's changed about US 490 00:19:49,744 --> 00:19:52,020 policy with respect to to Taiwan . And 491 00:19:52,020 --> 00:19:55,400 I think everybody's properly focused on 492 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:57,344 making sure that we're meeting our 493 00:19:57,344 --> 00:19:59,511 obligations . And I certainly wouldn't 494 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,790 From the podium speak to intelligence 495 00:20:02,790 --> 00:20:05,420 assessments one way or the other about 496 00:20:05,430 --> 00:20:09,260 Chinese intentions . Nobody wants to 497 00:20:09,260 --> 00:20:13,120 see the status quo changed 498 00:20:13,130 --> 00:20:15,350 unilaterally . And certainly no one 499 00:20:15,350 --> 00:20:18,120 wants to see it changed by force . Uh 500 00:20:18,130 --> 00:20:20,310 that's in no one's interest . Um And 501 00:20:20,310 --> 00:20:21,977 again U . S . Policy has been 502 00:20:21,977 --> 00:20:24,088 consistent and I think it will remain 503 00:20:24,088 --> 00:20:26,330 so just a quick program . So is it fair 504 00:20:26,330 --> 00:20:28,900 to say that there are still a wide 505 00:20:28,900 --> 00:20:31,960 variety of assessment on the urgency of 506 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:34,016 the Taiwan strait contingency . What 507 00:20:34,016 --> 00:20:37,960 what uh wide variety of assessment . 508 00:20:37,970 --> 00:20:40,130 There are so many assessments . 509 00:20:40,140 --> 00:20:42,820 Different assessments . Oh no actually 510 00:20:42,820 --> 00:20:44,987 I don't think that's fair to say . And 511 00:20:44,987 --> 00:20:47,098 I'm certainly not going to talk about 512 00:20:47,098 --> 00:20:49,264 intelligence assessments here from the 513 00:20:49,264 --> 00:20:51,320 podium . I think what you're hearing 514 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:53,042 from leadership throughout the 515 00:20:53,042 --> 00:20:55,264 department including from the secretary 516 00:20:55,264 --> 00:20:57,320 is that we're all mindful of growing 517 00:20:57,320 --> 00:21:00,540 tensions and we're certainly , as I 518 00:21:00,540 --> 00:21:02,930 said before , very mindful of our 519 00:21:02,930 --> 00:21:05,152 obligations and everybody is focused on 520 00:21:05,152 --> 00:21:07,097 that , on how we can best meet our 521 00:21:07,097 --> 00:21:09,263 obligations . Nobody wants to see this 522 00:21:09,263 --> 00:21:11,780 uh evolve into a conflict . Nobody 523 00:21:11,780 --> 00:21:14,002 wants to see a unilateral change in the 524 00:21:14,002 --> 00:21:17,550 status quo . Yeah , you bet . Okay . 525 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:21,510 Uh Mallory from us and I thanks 526 00:21:21,510 --> 00:21:24,340 john um the carl vinson Strike Group , 527 00:21:24,350 --> 00:21:26,461 Carrier Strike Group is training near 528 00:21:26,461 --> 00:21:28,683 Hawaii ahead of its upcoming deployment 529 00:21:28,683 --> 00:21:30,850 instead of California is the intent to 530 00:21:30,850 --> 00:21:33,360 signal us presence in the indo pacific . 531 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:38,360 Uh , We were constantly uh altering 532 00:21:38,740 --> 00:21:40,962 the locations of where we train and and 533 00:21:40,962 --> 00:21:44,100 how we train um to uh to best meet 534 00:21:44,110 --> 00:21:46,860 again our security commitments . I uh , 535 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,407 I would caution you from thinking that 536 00:21:49,407 --> 00:21:51,518 there's some sort of specific message 537 00:21:51,518 --> 00:21:54,110 here other than , I mean , obviously we 538 00:21:54,110 --> 00:21:56,940 are focused on the indo pacific um and 539 00:21:56,950 --> 00:21:59,020 uh , and you've heard the secretary 540 00:21:59,030 --> 00:22:01,620 talked about this quite a bit . Um so 541 00:22:01,630 --> 00:22:03,574 it shouldn't come as a surprise to 542 00:22:03,574 --> 00:22:05,710 anybody that we would be uh training 543 00:22:05,710 --> 00:22:09,080 and taking advantage of um of training 544 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:11,191 opportunities throughout the region . 545 00:22:12,140 --> 00:22:14,362 Is there any reason why it's off hawaii 546 00:22:14,362 --> 00:22:16,473 as opposed to where it would normally 547 00:22:16,473 --> 00:22:18,529 be off of California ? I would refer 548 00:22:18,529 --> 00:22:21,030 you to the pacific fleet for specifics 549 00:22:21,030 --> 00:22:23,240 about how they choose locations , but 550 00:22:23,250 --> 00:22:26,410 but again , uh whether it's off 551 00:22:26,410 --> 00:22:28,466 California or it's off hawaii , it's 552 00:22:28,466 --> 00:22:30,410 still in the end of pacific , it's 553 00:22:30,410 --> 00:22:32,410 still in the pacific ocean and it's 554 00:22:32,410 --> 00:22:34,577 still representative of our commitment 555 00:22:34,577 --> 00:22:36,632 to broader regional security there . 556 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:40,650 Yeah . Over the weekend , Secretary 557 00:22:40,650 --> 00:22:42,872 Austin and Defense Minister a car had a 558 00:22:42,872 --> 00:22:44,940 phone call . Is there a deal on 559 00:22:44,950 --> 00:22:47,720 protecting the Kabul Airbase ? Well I 560 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:49,831 think you heard the national security 561 00:22:49,831 --> 00:22:52,490 adviser on sunday speak to the meeting 562 00:22:52,490 --> 00:22:54,870 between uh President biden and 563 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:58,820 President Erdogan where Turkey agreed 564 00:22:58,820 --> 00:23:00,709 to take the lead role in terms of 565 00:23:00,709 --> 00:23:02,709 security at the airport , there are 566 00:23:02,709 --> 00:23:05,560 still details to be worked out . Um uh 567 00:23:05,570 --> 00:23:07,681 There's uh there's a lot more work to 568 00:23:07,681 --> 00:23:10,040 be done . Uh , they have indicated that 569 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:13,170 they uh , will need some support from 570 00:23:13,170 --> 00:23:15,170 the United States and international 571 00:23:15,170 --> 00:23:17,170 community and we're working our way 572 00:23:17,170 --> 00:23:16,860 through that . And that phone call over 573 00:23:16,860 --> 00:23:18,804 the weekend was in line with those 574 00:23:18,804 --> 00:23:21,010 discussions . Is the United States 575 00:23:21,010 --> 00:23:23,100 ready to provide financial logistic 576 00:23:23,100 --> 00:23:25,100 support to this Again ? We're still 577 00:23:25,100 --> 00:23:27,156 working our way through exactly what 578 00:23:27,156 --> 00:23:29,500 the support would look like . We don't 579 00:23:29,500 --> 00:23:31,667 have final answers on that right now . 580 00:23:31,940 --> 00:23:35,640 Yeah , jay , thank you . I like to 581 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:38,280 ask about the North Korea using an E . 582 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:40,760 M . P . You know , electromagnetic 583 00:23:40,770 --> 00:23:43,290 weapons . The US congregational 584 00:23:43,290 --> 00:23:46,770 advisory group and the military expert 585 00:23:46,780 --> 00:23:50,340 recently reported that North Korea has 586 00:23:50,350 --> 00:23:54,290 completed on E . M . P . Weapons 587 00:23:54,300 --> 00:23:58,050 and they want of North Korea using 588 00:23:58,050 --> 00:24:01,550 on E . M . P . Weapons to attack 589 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:05,290 United States military facilities . 590 00:24:05,740 --> 00:24:09,580 What counter metal do you have against 591 00:24:09,590 --> 00:24:13,240 these ? I'm not gonna get into this 592 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:17,060 topic here from the podium , jenny . Uh , 593 00:24:17,070 --> 00:24:20,380 we're certainly mindful of this 594 00:24:20,380 --> 00:24:23,900 technology , um , and the capability , 595 00:24:24,010 --> 00:24:26,080 but I am not going to get into the 596 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:28,670 habit of speaking to the specifics of 597 00:24:28,670 --> 00:24:31,980 it here from this podium or what 598 00:24:31,990 --> 00:24:34,157 countermeasures we may or may not have 599 00:24:34,157 --> 00:24:37,120 in place or be pursuing . We take 600 00:24:37,120 --> 00:24:39,100 seriously our responsibility is to 601 00:24:39,100 --> 00:24:41,211 defend our interests and our national 602 00:24:41,211 --> 00:24:43,322 security in that or any other part of 603 00:24:43,322 --> 00:24:45,433 the world . And I can assure you that 604 00:24:45,433 --> 00:24:47,433 the departments focused on that . I 605 00:24:47,433 --> 00:24:50,190 will commend responsibilities . I'm not 606 00:24:50,190 --> 00:24:52,190 going to go further on this issue . 607 00:24:52,190 --> 00:24:55,980 This is very serious happened . Thank 608 00:24:55,980 --> 00:24:58,990 you . You're welcome . David . Any 609 00:24:58,990 --> 00:25:01,930 update on Sexual assault task force 610 00:25:01,940 --> 00:25:05,190 isn't their 90 day period ? That's 611 00:25:05,190 --> 00:25:07,810 correct . Their 90 day period is up . 612 00:25:07,820 --> 00:25:11,550 Uh , they will be providing um the rest 613 00:25:11,550 --> 00:25:13,328 of their recommendations to the 614 00:25:13,328 --> 00:25:15,580 secretary this afternoon . He'll take 615 00:25:15,580 --> 00:25:17,300 some time to review those 616 00:25:17,310 --> 00:25:20,040 recommendations and uh he'll want to 617 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:22,262 make sure that he gets as he had before 618 00:25:22,262 --> 00:25:24,620 on line of uh line of effort , one on 619 00:25:24,620 --> 00:25:27,300 accountability uh that he has given the 620 00:25:27,300 --> 00:25:29,411 military departments and the chairman 621 00:25:29,411 --> 00:25:31,689 time to provide their feedback as well . 622 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:36,550 Yes ma'am , I have two questions . 1st 623 00:25:36,550 --> 00:25:39,290 1 . Can you please give us more details 624 00:25:39,300 --> 00:25:43,050 if you can of course on general uh 625 00:25:43,050 --> 00:25:46,140 hobbies meetings here at the pentagon 626 00:25:46,150 --> 00:25:49,790 and also the issues that were discussed . 627 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:52,550 And the other question , if there's 628 00:25:52,550 --> 00:25:54,960 like plan to um 629 00:25:56,150 --> 00:25:59,480 I mean secretary asked them to be part 630 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:03,070 of the discussions or the meetings 631 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:05,700 between the Afghani President and 632 00:26:05,710 --> 00:26:07,980 president biden . So on your first 633 00:26:07,980 --> 00:26:10,147 question , as I stepped out here , the 634 00:26:10,147 --> 00:26:12,890 meeting was still ongoing and I'm given 635 00:26:12,890 --> 00:26:14,940 to understand that the Joint Staff 636 00:26:14,950 --> 00:26:17,172 Public Affairs Office will be issuing a 637 00:26:17,172 --> 00:26:19,283 readout since it was a meeting hosted 638 00:26:19,283 --> 00:26:21,230 by General Milley , that's more 639 00:26:21,230 --> 00:26:23,341 appropriate for them to speak to that 640 00:26:23,341 --> 00:26:25,508 and I'll let them do that and I'm sure 641 00:26:25,508 --> 00:26:27,619 that they'll do that this afternoon . 642 00:26:27,619 --> 00:26:30,670 Um I don't have any um scheduling 643 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:33,590 announcements to make with respect to 644 00:26:33,590 --> 00:26:36,120 the Secretary and President Ghani's 645 00:26:36,120 --> 00:26:38,330 visit on on friday . And you know , if 646 00:26:38,330 --> 00:26:40,386 and when I do will certainly let you 647 00:26:40,386 --> 00:26:43,980 know . Yeah , Yeah . Um I like 648 00:26:43,980 --> 00:26:46,900 protected bob's initial question about 649 00:26:46,910 --> 00:26:49,870 the Secretary was recommending um we're 650 00:26:49,870 --> 00:26:52,092 discussing the pace of the withdrawal . 651 00:26:52,210 --> 00:26:54,770 Um does the mission to advise and 652 00:26:54,770 --> 00:26:56,810 assist Afghan forces in their fight 653 00:26:56,810 --> 00:27:00,020 against the Taliban still exist ? And 654 00:27:00,030 --> 00:27:02,440 is that something that the secretary 655 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:04,790 has to consider as he follows through 656 00:27:04,790 --> 00:27:06,568 with the other mission that the 657 00:27:06,568 --> 00:27:09,210 President has given , as we said before . 658 00:27:09,210 --> 00:27:12,120 Louis . So long as we have the 659 00:27:12,130 --> 00:27:15,120 capability in Afghanistan will continue 660 00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:18,940 to provide assistance to 661 00:27:18,950 --> 00:27:21,850 Afghan forces . But as the retrograde 662 00:27:21,850 --> 00:27:23,870 gets closer to completion , those 663 00:27:23,870 --> 00:27:27,400 capabilities will will wane and will no 664 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:30,120 longer be available um to be used in 665 00:27:30,120 --> 00:27:32,320 that way . As you and I speak , we are 666 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:35,230 still providing a measure of of support 667 00:27:35,230 --> 00:27:37,286 in that regard . But again that will 668 00:27:37,286 --> 00:27:40,100 change over time and um uh as a 669 00:27:40,100 --> 00:27:41,767 withdrawal as we complete the 670 00:27:41,767 --> 00:27:43,970 withdrawal , the mission will be the 671 00:27:43,970 --> 00:27:46,390 mission assigned by the commander in 672 00:27:46,390 --> 00:27:48,700 chief , which is to provide an over the 673 00:27:48,700 --> 00:27:50,867 horizon counterterrorism capability to 674 00:27:50,867 --> 00:27:53,033 prevent attacks on the homeland and to 675 00:27:53,033 --> 00:27:55,256 continue to support the Afghan forces . 676 00:27:55,256 --> 00:27:57,200 But from again a largely financial 677 00:27:57,200 --> 00:27:59,090 perspective . So in this building 678 00:27:59,090 --> 00:28:01,312 there's this term that we hear a lot an 679 00:28:01,312 --> 00:28:04,160 inflection point . Does that mean that 680 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:06,382 there will be an inflection point where 681 00:28:06,382 --> 00:28:08,640 the U . S . Can no longer provide that 682 00:28:08,650 --> 00:28:11,690 mission and when are we at that point 683 00:28:11,690 --> 00:28:13,912 right now or we close to it ? Which may 684 00:28:13,912 --> 00:28:15,968 be a reason why the secretary may be 685 00:28:15,968 --> 00:28:18,190 considering . Certainly there will come 686 00:28:18,190 --> 00:28:22,100 a point where um uh those types 687 00:28:22,100 --> 00:28:25,270 of capabilities are simply no longer um 688 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:29,170 uh available two 689 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:31,473 General Miller should be able to 690 00:28:31,473 --> 00:28:34,300 provide . I would defer to him uh in 691 00:28:34,300 --> 00:28:36,467 terms of what that timing looks like . 692 00:28:36,467 --> 00:28:38,870 I'm so I'm in no position uh to 693 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:41,740 guesstimate right now when that's gonna 694 00:28:41,740 --> 00:28:43,962 happen . But certainly there's going to 695 00:28:43,962 --> 00:28:45,907 be a time where we've reached that 696 00:28:45,907 --> 00:28:48,630 point . Again , it's really for him to 697 00:28:48,630 --> 00:28:50,820 decide in consultation of course with 698 00:28:50,820 --> 00:28:53,153 General Mackenzie and and the Secretary . 699 00:28:53,510 --> 00:28:56,700 And as I tried to explain it , maybe I 700 00:28:56,700 --> 00:28:59,530 didn't do it well enough with bob's 701 00:28:59,530 --> 00:29:01,697 question . But I mean we're constantly 702 00:29:01,697 --> 00:29:03,974 taking a look at this every single day . 703 00:29:03,974 --> 00:29:06,197 Uh What's the situation on the ground ? 704 00:29:06,197 --> 00:29:08,197 What capabilities do we have ? What 705 00:29:08,197 --> 00:29:10,419 additional resources do we need to move 706 00:29:10,419 --> 00:29:12,474 out of Afghanistan ? and what pays ? 707 00:29:12,474 --> 00:29:14,197 And all of these decisions are 708 00:29:14,197 --> 00:29:16,500 literally being made in real time , the 709 00:29:16,510 --> 00:29:18,740 last one on this . So does that mean 710 00:29:18,750 --> 00:29:21,090 that um General Miller and then 711 00:29:21,090 --> 00:29:23,312 therefore Secretary Austin have to look 712 00:29:23,312 --> 00:29:25,630 at the whole approach in Afghanistan in 713 00:29:25,630 --> 00:29:28,340 terms of you're looking at a daily 714 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:30,670 looking at the situation , Does that 715 00:29:30,670 --> 00:29:32,781 mean that we have to look at this and 716 00:29:32,781 --> 00:29:35,000 determine how will this affect the 717 00:29:35,010 --> 00:29:36,899 pacing and how will it affect the 718 00:29:36,899 --> 00:29:40,030 stability of the government of inside 719 00:29:40,030 --> 00:29:42,530 Afghanistan after the US Department ? I 720 00:29:42,530 --> 00:29:44,530 think the best way I can answer the 721 00:29:44,530 --> 00:29:46,641 question unsatisfying though , it may 722 00:29:46,641 --> 00:29:48,863 be is that we take into account a whole 723 00:29:48,863 --> 00:29:51,086 range of factors as we continue to move 724 00:29:51,086 --> 00:29:53,141 through the retrograde . But again , 725 00:29:53,141 --> 00:29:55,780 Louis two things are not changing . We 726 00:29:55,780 --> 00:29:57,391 will get , we will be out of 727 00:29:57,391 --> 00:29:59,530 Afghanistan with the exception of 728 00:29:59,530 --> 00:30:01,510 whatever presence is required to 729 00:30:01,510 --> 00:30:03,700 protect our diplomatic mission there 730 00:30:03,700 --> 00:30:05,756 and that's still being worked and we 731 00:30:05,756 --> 00:30:08,970 will be out of Afghanistan by early 732 00:30:08,970 --> 00:30:11,026 september . Those two things are not 733 00:30:11,026 --> 00:30:14,170 changing . Okay . Um 734 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:19,030 Hansen hi thank 735 00:30:19,030 --> 00:30:22,530 you . Um I had one quick question on 736 00:30:22,530 --> 00:30:24,363 what was brought up last week by 737 00:30:24,363 --> 00:30:26,474 General military . Um and hearing you 738 00:30:26,474 --> 00:30:28,474 talk about improving the mil to mil 739 00:30:28,474 --> 00:30:30,050 relationship with China and 740 00:30:30,050 --> 00:30:31,883 specifically citing the need for 741 00:30:31,883 --> 00:30:34,930 clearer communication with car parks um 742 00:30:34,940 --> 00:30:38,690 in china , uh what is the what has 743 00:30:38,690 --> 00:30:40,857 there been any developments to enhance 744 00:30:40,857 --> 00:30:42,523 these relations are improving 745 00:30:42,523 --> 00:30:44,690 communication between U . S . Military 746 00:30:44,690 --> 00:30:46,912 and the P . L . A . I don't know of any 747 00:30:46,912 --> 00:30:48,968 changes necessarily to the middle to 748 00:30:48,968 --> 00:30:51,079 middle communications and relations . 749 00:30:51,079 --> 00:30:53,246 Um I think it goes without saying that 750 00:30:53,246 --> 00:30:56,640 uh that the relationship with china is 751 00:30:56,650 --> 00:31:00,410 uh is tense right now . Um um and 752 00:31:00,420 --> 00:31:04,140 uh and I think General Milley what he 753 00:31:04,140 --> 00:31:06,307 was trying to express and I think he's 754 00:31:06,307 --> 00:31:08,418 right is that you know , the more the 755 00:31:08,418 --> 00:31:10,307 more that there can be a sense of 756 00:31:10,307 --> 00:31:13,660 dialogue that is trustworthy , the less 757 00:31:13,660 --> 00:31:15,882 chances they're they're going to be for 758 00:31:15,882 --> 00:31:17,993 miscalculations that could that could 759 00:31:17,993 --> 00:31:20,104 lead to towards outcomes . So clearly 760 00:31:20,104 --> 00:31:22,271 we obviously uh don't want to see that 761 00:31:22,271 --> 00:31:24,271 miscalculation , but I mean I don't 762 00:31:24,271 --> 00:31:26,360 know there's no uh I don't have any 763 00:31:26,740 --> 00:31:29,620 changes to speak to with respect to the 764 00:31:29,630 --> 00:31:31,852 bilateral relationship with the L . A . 765 00:31:31,852 --> 00:31:34,670 Right now . Okay , looks like that's it . 766 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:36,770 Thank you , please .