1 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:04,450 Good afternoon a couple of things at 2 00:00:04,450 --> 00:00:06,650 the top here . Uh huh . 3 00:00:09,140 --> 00:00:11,330 So look as uh we headed in into the 4 00:00:11,330 --> 00:00:14,650 weekend , I thought it would be helpful 5 00:00:14,660 --> 00:00:17,460 uh to just give you a brief update 6 00:00:17,470 --> 00:00:20,350 about where things are with respect to 7 00:00:20,350 --> 00:00:23,620 the uh the military support to the 8 00:00:23,620 --> 00:00:27,320 State Department uh in Afghanistan . Um 9 00:00:27,330 --> 00:00:29,441 and I want to say at the outset and I 10 00:00:29,441 --> 00:00:31,163 probably should have said this 11 00:00:31,163 --> 00:00:33,330 yesterday , you guys know that this is 12 00:00:33,330 --> 00:00:35,441 a planning organization , that's what 13 00:00:35,441 --> 00:00:38,520 we do here . Um And uh planning for 14 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:40,680 these sorts of contingencies is not 15 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:43,070 unusual . In fact it's quite common . 16 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,830 Um And and and one of the reasons why 17 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,710 we have been able to react um 18 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,320 as quickly as we did in just the last 19 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:55,930 day or so is because we had plenty of 20 00:00:55,930 --> 00:00:58,800 contingency planning uh in the works 21 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,410 and and uh in fact a lot of the 22 00:01:01,410 --> 00:01:04,710 complete because we were as I've said 23 00:01:04,710 --> 00:01:06,710 many times from the podium watching 24 00:01:06,710 --> 00:01:08,877 consistently the security situation on 25 00:01:08,877 --> 00:01:12,370 the ground . Yeah , so 26 00:01:12,380 --> 00:01:15,580 I can give you a brief update a few 27 00:01:15,580 --> 00:01:18,260 additional details uh since yesterday . 28 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,970 Um Now as I do this uh I think you can 29 00:01:22,970 --> 00:01:25,026 understand that . I'm not gonna have 30 00:01:25,026 --> 00:01:26,970 every detail that you might want , 31 00:01:26,970 --> 00:01:28,970 there's operational security that's 32 00:01:28,970 --> 00:01:31,081 still going to be a concern and we're 33 00:01:31,081 --> 00:01:33,192 gonna we're gonna observe that here , 34 00:01:33,192 --> 00:01:33,040 just like as we have throughout the 35 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:36,070 entire drawdown process . But I can 36 00:01:36,070 --> 00:01:38,403 tell you a couple of things first U . S . 37 00:01:38,403 --> 00:01:40,570 Forces Afghanistan forward continue to 38 00:01:40,570 --> 00:01:42,681 provide security at the Kabul airport 39 00:01:42,681 --> 00:01:44,626 and at the embassy . These are the 40 00:01:44,626 --> 00:01:46,681 existing security elements that were 41 00:01:46,681 --> 00:01:49,710 already in Kabul . This uh comprised of 42 00:01:49,710 --> 00:01:51,620 attack and lift aviation assets , 43 00:01:51,620 --> 00:01:54,440 infantry , security personnel and some 44 00:01:54,450 --> 00:01:56,394 uh intelligence , surveillance and 45 00:01:56,394 --> 00:01:58,561 reconnaissance assets that are already 46 00:01:58,561 --> 00:02:00,506 there at the airport and they stay 47 00:02:00,506 --> 00:02:02,561 there and they are still doing their 48 00:02:02,561 --> 00:02:04,783 jobs . Uh In terms of internal security 49 00:02:04,783 --> 00:02:06,894 there , uh Hamid Karzai International 50 00:02:06,894 --> 00:02:09,080 Airport . The troop movements that we 51 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,302 mentioned yesterday are happening as we 52 00:02:11,302 --> 00:02:14,610 speak , three battalions are preparing 53 00:02:14,610 --> 00:02:16,832 to move from their current locations in 54 00:02:16,832 --> 00:02:19,054 the Central Command area responsibility 55 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:22,170 to Kabul . And they consist of a marine 56 00:02:22,170 --> 00:02:24,540 battalion that was already pre staged 57 00:02:24,540 --> 00:02:26,830 in the region and has lift sustainment 58 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,430 and support capabilities , an infantry , 59 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,220 another marine infantry battalion uh 60 00:02:32,230 --> 00:02:35,790 from a marine expeditionary unit and a 61 00:02:35,790 --> 00:02:39,120 U . S . Army infantry battalion . Now 62 00:02:39,430 --> 00:02:43,060 some elements of one 63 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:46,580 of the marine infantry battalions are 64 00:02:46,580 --> 00:02:49,030 already there in Kabul , just the 65 00:02:49,030 --> 00:02:52,290 leading element there there , The rest 66 00:02:52,300 --> 00:02:55,250 of their forces will continue to flow 67 00:02:55,250 --> 00:02:57,194 over the next couple of days and I 68 00:02:57,194 --> 00:02:59,417 expect that by the end of the weekend , 69 00:02:59,417 --> 00:03:02,420 the bulk of the 3000 that we talked 70 00:03:02,420 --> 00:03:04,800 about yesterday will be in place . 71 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:08,570 Probably not all but the bulk . And 72 00:03:08,570 --> 00:03:10,690 from the United States , The brigade 73 00:03:10,690 --> 00:03:12,857 combat team that we mentioned from the 74 00:03:12,857 --> 00:03:15,320 82nd Airborne Division that is prepared 75 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,510 to go to Kuwait as a ready reserve 76 00:03:17,510 --> 00:03:21,160 force . Uh Well they are now preparing 77 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,900 to deploy . I do not have information 78 00:03:23,900 --> 00:03:26,067 that suggests they're on the way right 79 00:03:26,067 --> 00:03:28,830 now . But I suspect that in very short 80 00:03:28,830 --> 00:03:31,720 order uh they will start to deploy and 81 00:03:31,730 --> 00:03:35,450 and uh and to arrive movement of some 82 00:03:35,450 --> 00:03:37,561 of the neighbors that we talked about 83 00:03:37,561 --> 00:03:39,561 yesterday designated to support the 84 00:03:39,561 --> 00:03:41,617 special immigrant visa processing in 85 00:03:41,617 --> 00:03:43,728 the region . That has also begun . Uh 86 00:03:43,730 --> 00:03:45,952 These are primarily medical personnel . 87 00:03:45,952 --> 00:03:47,952 I think I told you yesterday it's a 88 00:03:47,952 --> 00:03:50,174 mixed medical personnel , some military 89 00:03:50,174 --> 00:03:52,397 police , uh some electrical engineers , 90 00:03:52,397 --> 00:03:54,619 that kind of thing . They are preparing 91 00:03:54,619 --> 00:03:56,619 to go . I do not have an indication 92 00:03:56,619 --> 00:03:58,563 today that they have actually left 93 00:03:58,563 --> 00:04:00,341 again . They are not going into 94 00:04:00,341 --> 00:04:02,397 Afghanistan . Uh They are originally 95 00:04:02,397 --> 00:04:04,452 going to be sent into the region for 96 00:04:04,452 --> 00:04:06,730 further use as needed to support the S . 97 00:04:06,730 --> 00:04:08,508 I . V . Process . Now as far as 98 00:04:08,508 --> 00:04:10,619 aircraft are concerned to support the 99 00:04:10,619 --> 00:04:12,750 movement of civilian personnel . 100 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,520 Transcom is as we speak , working on 101 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:18,870 their plants and their sourcing uh 102 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:21,102 solutions with air mobility command and 103 00:04:21,102 --> 00:04:23,269 working it out with Central Command as 104 00:04:23,269 --> 00:04:26,410 well to support this mission . Uh 105 00:04:26,420 --> 00:04:28,420 forces and support requirements are 106 00:04:28,420 --> 00:04:30,531 going to be rapidly assessed by their 107 00:04:30,531 --> 00:04:32,753 planners . They're working on that . Uh 108 00:04:32,753 --> 00:04:34,976 and while uh we're not gonna be able to 109 00:04:34,976 --> 00:04:37,610 give out a lot of detail today , again , 110 00:04:37,620 --> 00:04:39,780 the plans and sourcing for aircraft 111 00:04:39,780 --> 00:04:42,050 support and airlift are being worked 112 00:04:42,050 --> 00:04:44,161 out . Uh we'll have more to say about 113 00:04:44,161 --> 00:04:46,560 that uh when it's appropriate and when 114 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:49,450 we can , but I do want to stress that 115 00:04:49,460 --> 00:04:52,060 airlift will not be a limiting factor 116 00:04:52,410 --> 00:04:55,430 in this mission . Airlift will not be a 117 00:04:55,430 --> 00:04:57,208 limiting factor . And as I said 118 00:04:57,208 --> 00:05:00,230 yesterday , it's not all going to be a 119 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:02,860 military aircraft that are used . There 120 00:05:02,860 --> 00:05:05,020 are . How many cars are international 121 00:05:05,020 --> 00:05:06,964 airport is still open . Commercial 122 00:05:06,964 --> 00:05:09,298 flights are still going in and out . Um , 123 00:05:09,298 --> 00:05:11,680 and uh , it doesn't , doesn't , I don't 124 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:13,736 want to convey the sense that , that 125 00:05:13,736 --> 00:05:15,958 every lift of every individual is going 126 00:05:15,958 --> 00:05:18,240 to be done on a gray military aircraft 127 00:05:18,250 --> 00:05:20,410 though they will be made available to 128 00:05:20,410 --> 00:05:22,354 support . And as I said , it's not 129 00:05:22,354 --> 00:05:24,354 going to be a limiting factor . And 130 00:05:24,354 --> 00:05:26,577 then finally , I just want a foot stomp 131 00:05:26,577 --> 00:05:28,743 something I said yesterday . Uh , this 132 00:05:28,743 --> 00:05:30,840 is a specific , narrowly focused 133 00:05:30,840 --> 00:05:33,160 tailored mission to help with a safe , 134 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,620 secure movement of the reduction of 135 00:05:35,620 --> 00:05:38,640 civilian personnel , uh income , you 136 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,751 know , civilian personnel in Kabul as 137 00:05:40,751 --> 00:05:42,470 well as to help support the 138 00:05:42,470 --> 00:05:45,000 acceleration of the special immigrant 139 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:47,167 visa process by the State Department ? 140 00:05:47,167 --> 00:05:49,278 That's what we're focused on . And as 141 00:05:49,278 --> 00:05:51,500 we get more information and I'm able to 142 00:05:51,500 --> 00:05:53,500 provide it to you , I will with the 143 00:05:53,500 --> 00:05:55,667 understanding that there's going to be 144 00:05:55,667 --> 00:05:55,610 operational security concerns and I'm 145 00:05:55,610 --> 00:05:58,030 not gonna be able to provide uh every 146 00:05:58,030 --> 00:06:00,030 level of detail that I I'm sure you 147 00:06:00,030 --> 00:06:02,560 want will be as transparent with you as 148 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,460 we can . Well , thank you , john you're 149 00:06:05,460 --> 00:06:07,571 mentioning that the bulk of the three 150 00:06:07,571 --> 00:06:10,160 battalions will be there probably by 151 00:06:10,540 --> 00:06:12,762 the end of the weekend you said . So at 152 00:06:12,762 --> 00:06:14,762 the end of sunday do you anticipate 153 00:06:14,762 --> 00:06:16,762 then that the operation would begin 154 00:06:16,762 --> 00:06:19,300 that day . The operation has begun bob . 155 00:06:19,300 --> 00:06:22,000 I mean , the movement of forces uh to 156 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,290 Kabul has begun that that's the 157 00:06:24,300 --> 00:06:26,300 military side of that . I I I can't 158 00:06:26,300 --> 00:06:29,040 speak to the the timing of the State 159 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:30,873 Department with respect to their 160 00:06:30,873 --> 00:06:33,870 reduction . We wanted to make sure that 161 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:35,880 we were in full support of them and 162 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:37,936 that they were getting on station as 163 00:06:37,936 --> 00:06:40,047 quickly as possible . And that's what 164 00:06:40,047 --> 00:06:42,269 we're focused on as for when departures 165 00:06:42,269 --> 00:06:44,436 will occur . And how many , on a daily 166 00:06:44,436 --> 00:06:46,602 basis ? That's really my colleagues at 167 00:06:46,602 --> 00:06:48,769 the State Department for them to speak 168 00:06:48,769 --> 00:06:50,991 to . Uh So given the events of the last 169 00:06:50,991 --> 00:06:54,090 24 hours with three or four additional 170 00:06:54,090 --> 00:06:57,670 cities falling to the Taliban and the 171 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:01,170 Taliban apparently moving closer to 172 00:07:01,180 --> 00:07:03,950 Kabul , I'm wondering whether you , how 173 00:07:03,950 --> 00:07:07,060 likely is it that you will be able to 174 00:07:07,840 --> 00:07:09,890 Complete the drawdown of forces by 175 00:07:09,890 --> 00:07:12,650 August 31 as opposed to staying to 176 00:07:12,650 --> 00:07:15,070 ensure the security of the embassy 177 00:07:15,070 --> 00:07:17,240 afterwards ? Well , obviously , we're 178 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:18,962 gonna be watching the security 179 00:07:18,962 --> 00:07:22,770 situation uh day by day bob . Uh and I 180 00:07:22,770 --> 00:07:24,937 can't speak for what that's gonna look 181 00:07:24,937 --> 00:07:27,103 like , you know , in in days to come . 182 00:07:27,103 --> 00:07:29,437 What I can tell you is where we are now , 183 00:07:29,437 --> 00:07:31,659 where we are today and the mission that 184 00:07:31,659 --> 00:07:33,770 we've been assigned is to support the 185 00:07:33,770 --> 00:07:35,548 State Department's reduction in 186 00:07:35,548 --> 00:07:37,770 personnel by the end of the month . And 187 00:07:37,770 --> 00:07:39,659 so that's what we're focused on . 188 00:07:39,659 --> 00:07:39,460 That's the timeline we're focused on . 189 00:07:39,540 --> 00:07:42,250 And if we need to adjust either way 190 00:07:42,260 --> 00:07:44,680 left or right , we'll do that , but 191 00:07:44,690 --> 00:07:46,912 we're going to always be looking at the 192 00:07:46,912 --> 00:07:48,912 security conditions in the ground . 193 00:07:49,140 --> 00:07:51,940 Tara , Thanks John , with the airlift 194 00:07:51,940 --> 00:07:54,000 planning that's going on , are you 195 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,710 planning to get 100 make the airlift 196 00:07:56,710 --> 00:07:58,543 available for hundreds of people 197 00:07:58,543 --> 00:08:00,821 getting out of the country ? Thousands . 198 00:08:00,821 --> 00:08:02,932 As you know , there were thousands of 199 00:08:02,932 --> 00:08:04,821 people basic us embassy Kabul and 200 00:08:04,821 --> 00:08:06,988 there's as many as 18,000 interpreters 201 00:08:06,988 --> 00:08:06,200 that we're looking to get out . So , 202 00:08:06,210 --> 00:08:08,321 can you give us an order of magnitude 203 00:08:08,321 --> 00:08:10,660 of this airlift missions ? What I can't 204 00:08:10,660 --> 00:08:12,827 do is tell you exactly how many on any 205 00:08:12,827 --> 00:08:15,200 given day , what capacity as I said , 206 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:18,190 it's not gonna be a problem . Um and uh 207 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,760 we will be able to move 208 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:25,520 thousands per day . Mhm . But that's 209 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,353 just the airlift capacity , that 210 00:08:27,353 --> 00:08:29,409 doesn't necessarily mean that you're 211 00:08:29,409 --> 00:08:31,631 gonna end up with that every day . It's 212 00:08:31,631 --> 00:08:33,820 going to depend on the processing and 213 00:08:33,820 --> 00:08:36,470 the and how that and how that goes . Uh 214 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:38,740 So we're , what we want to be able to 215 00:08:38,740 --> 00:08:42,680 do is is to get there fast um and 216 00:08:42,680 --> 00:08:45,000 get their capable uh and be able to 217 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,320 provide as much capacity to the State 218 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:50,150 Department as we can . And our 219 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:51,938 intention is to be able to move 220 00:08:51,938 --> 00:08:54,460 thousands per day . Okay , separately . 221 00:08:54,940 --> 00:08:56,718 Uhh as we've seen the different 222 00:08:56,718 --> 00:08:59,970 provincial capitals fall . Um is the 223 00:08:59,970 --> 00:09:02,081 Department Defense , surprised at how 224 00:09:02,081 --> 00:09:03,914 quickly it seems that the afghan 225 00:09:03,914 --> 00:09:05,803 National Army has collapsed under 226 00:09:05,803 --> 00:09:08,220 Taliban pressure , we are certainly 227 00:09:08,220 --> 00:09:11,690 concerned by uh the speed with which 228 00:09:11,690 --> 00:09:15,260 the taliban has been moving . Um And 229 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:18,460 um as we've said from the very 230 00:09:18,460 --> 00:09:22,320 beginning that uh this is a 231 00:09:22,330 --> 00:09:25,800 it still is a moment for 232 00:09:25,810 --> 00:09:27,866 Afghan national Security and Defence 233 00:09:27,866 --> 00:09:29,754 forces as well as their political 234 00:09:29,754 --> 00:09:31,643 leadership . No outcome has to be 235 00:09:31,643 --> 00:09:33,421 inevitable here . I'm not gonna 236 00:09:33,421 --> 00:09:35,254 speculate about surprise . We're 237 00:09:35,254 --> 00:09:37,143 obviously watching this just like 238 00:09:37,143 --> 00:09:39,088 you're watching this and seeing it 239 00:09:39,088 --> 00:09:41,088 happen in real time and it's deeply 240 00:09:41,088 --> 00:09:44,430 concerning . It's in fact , the the 241 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:48,030 deteriorating conditions are a factor , 242 00:09:48,030 --> 00:09:51,450 a big factor in why uh the president 243 00:09:51,450 --> 00:09:53,750 has approved this mission to help 244 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:55,482 support , are the reduction of 245 00:09:55,482 --> 00:09:57,990 personnel uh there in Kabul . So I mean , 246 00:09:57,990 --> 00:10:00,790 we're adjusting as best we can given 247 00:10:00,790 --> 00:10:04,160 those conditions . Um And again this is 248 00:10:04,170 --> 00:10:08,110 uh this is a moment for the Afghans 249 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:10,350 to unite the leadership and in the 250 00:10:10,350 --> 00:10:12,140 military . No outcome has to be 251 00:10:12,140 --> 00:10:15,150 inevitable here . Just one last um if 252 00:10:15,150 --> 00:10:17,880 the Taliban continue across and take 253 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:20,520 Kabul , what happens to the continued 254 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:22,576 support the D . O . D . A . Had been 255 00:10:22,576 --> 00:10:24,520 planning to do for Afghan national 256 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:26,353 Security forces such as like the 257 00:10:26,353 --> 00:10:28,576 contracted air support or the fuel that 258 00:10:28,576 --> 00:10:30,687 jodi was committing to send ? Are you 259 00:10:30,687 --> 00:10:32,631 all starting to have conversations 260 00:10:32,631 --> 00:10:34,742 about at what point does that support 261 00:10:34,742 --> 00:10:36,687 have to be cut off to keep it from 262 00:10:36,687 --> 00:10:36,640 going into the hands of the taliban ? 263 00:10:36,650 --> 00:10:38,483 Were still supporting the Afghan 264 00:10:38,483 --> 00:10:40,594 national Security Defence Forces were 265 00:10:40,594 --> 00:10:42,761 still supporting the Afghan government 266 00:10:42,761 --> 00:10:44,761 the elected government in Kabul and 267 00:10:44,761 --> 00:10:46,872 that's what we're going to be focused 268 00:10:46,872 --> 00:10:49,039 on doing it would be easy to speculate 269 00:10:49,039 --> 00:10:51,730 about what the the future of 270 00:10:51,730 --> 00:10:53,897 Afghanistan looks like right now , but 271 00:10:53,897 --> 00:10:56,119 I think we want to focus on what we are 272 00:10:56,119 --> 00:10:58,230 doing . We are supporting the afghans 273 00:10:58,230 --> 00:11:00,174 in the field where and when we can 274 00:11:00,174 --> 00:11:02,397 we're still working on contract support 275 00:11:02,397 --> 00:11:02,380 for over the horizon . We're still 276 00:11:02,380 --> 00:11:04,380 making sure we have robust over the 277 00:11:04,380 --> 00:11:06,491 horizon counterterrorism capabilities 278 00:11:06,491 --> 00:11:08,713 in the region so that we can't suffer a 279 00:11:08,713 --> 00:11:11,130 threat from Afghanistan again . Um And 280 00:11:11,140 --> 00:11:14,790 so we're we are focused on the 281 00:11:14,790 --> 00:11:16,901 security situation as we see it now . 282 00:11:16,910 --> 00:11:19,021 And what we've got to do the missions 283 00:11:19,021 --> 00:11:21,243 we've been assigned by the Commander in 284 00:11:21,243 --> 00:11:23,220 chief and I'll let the political 285 00:11:23,220 --> 00:11:25,387 situation play out . That's really not 286 00:11:25,387 --> 00:11:27,553 something that we're overly focused on 287 00:11:27,553 --> 00:11:30,380 right now . Yeah . You were speaking 288 00:11:30,380 --> 00:11:34,050 about the over the horizon obviously 289 00:11:34,060 --> 00:11:36,410 the U . S . Has been conducting 290 00:11:36,410 --> 00:11:39,610 airstrikes regularly every day for the 291 00:11:39,610 --> 00:11:43,510 last few days and it didn't stop the 292 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:46,940 advances of the Taliban . So if you 293 00:11:46,940 --> 00:11:50,200 cannot stop the Taliban from over the 294 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:52,360 horizon , what you are trying to do 295 00:11:52,540 --> 00:11:55,200 right now , how are you going to stop 296 00:11:55,210 --> 00:11:59,070 al Qaeda from over the horizon ? Uh So 297 00:11:59,070 --> 00:12:03,030 we the over the rising counterterrorism 298 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:05,600 strikes uh and capabilities 299 00:12:05,610 --> 00:12:09,390 uh still exist and will exist 300 00:12:09,390 --> 00:12:12,850 going forward . Um And uh we have never 301 00:12:12,850 --> 00:12:15,750 said that air strikes are a panacea . 302 00:12:16,340 --> 00:12:18,600 You said , you know we weren't able to 303 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:20,660 stop the taliban . We have said from 304 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:23,920 the moment we started drawing down that 305 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,142 we're going to continue to support them 306 00:12:26,142 --> 00:12:28,087 where and when feasible , with the 307 00:12:28,087 --> 00:12:27,860 understanding that it's not always 308 00:12:27,860 --> 00:12:29,860 gonna be feasible . And we've we've 309 00:12:29,860 --> 00:12:32,027 never argued that our air strikes from 310 00:12:32,027 --> 00:12:34,380 the air , we're going to uh turn the 311 00:12:34,380 --> 00:12:37,650 tide on the ground . What we have said 312 00:12:37,650 --> 00:12:40,030 is that the afghans have the capability 313 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:42,550 to do that . Uh And we still believe 314 00:12:42,560 --> 00:12:44,616 that they could make a difference on 315 00:12:44,616 --> 00:12:46,616 the ground . We will do what we can 316 00:12:46,616 --> 00:12:48,449 from the air , but they have the 317 00:12:48,449 --> 00:12:50,671 advantage , they have greater numbers , 318 00:12:50,671 --> 00:12:52,782 they have an air force , uh they have 319 00:12:52,782 --> 00:12:54,838 modern weaponry . Um it's indigenous 320 00:12:54,838 --> 00:12:57,004 forces that can make the difference on 321 00:12:57,004 --> 00:12:59,116 the ground . Um and that's so our our 322 00:12:59,116 --> 00:13:01,440 our support to the afghans uh was 323 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:03,980 really done in that in that vein . And 324 00:13:03,980 --> 00:13:06,230 again , as for counterterrorism , uh 325 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,518 you've heard the secretary say himself , 326 00:13:08,518 --> 00:13:10,629 there's not a scrap of the earth that 327 00:13:10,629 --> 00:13:12,851 the United States military can't hit uh 328 00:13:12,851 --> 00:13:14,962 if it's needed . Um And when it comes 329 00:13:14,962 --> 00:13:16,851 to disrupting a counter terrorism 330 00:13:16,851 --> 00:13:19,073 threat uh that we know is emanating and 331 00:13:19,073 --> 00:13:21,296 and and it's serious enough air strikes 332 00:13:21,296 --> 00:13:23,720 can be effective in that regard . Are 333 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:25,942 the troops heading into Kabul gonna get 334 00:13:25,942 --> 00:13:28,276 imminent danger pay for this deployment ? 335 00:13:28,276 --> 00:13:30,530 I don't know . Okay , uh I can take the 336 00:13:30,530 --> 00:13:33,150 question , but I don't know , 337 00:13:34,340 --> 00:13:37,540 Jeff seldom delay , john , thanks very 338 00:13:37,540 --> 00:13:40,150 much for doing this . Um you've said 339 00:13:40,150 --> 00:13:42,150 that the US is going to continue to 340 00:13:42,150 --> 00:13:44,206 conduct airstrikes in support of the 341 00:13:44,206 --> 00:13:46,317 afghan security forces when and where 342 00:13:46,317 --> 00:13:48,990 it's feasible , but with the focus now 343 00:13:48,990 --> 00:13:51,212 on the battalions that are heading into 344 00:13:51,212 --> 00:13:53,101 Kabul to secure the embassy , the 345 00:13:53,101 --> 00:13:55,046 airport and facilitate getting the 346 00:13:55,046 --> 00:13:57,101 civilians out . How does how much is 347 00:13:57,101 --> 00:13:59,300 that gonna lessen the availability of 348 00:13:59,300 --> 00:14:01,650 airstrikes for afghan security forces ? 349 00:14:01,940 --> 00:14:04,640 And also following up on Sylvia's , 350 00:14:04,650 --> 00:14:06,706 given that U . S . Airstrikes didn't 351 00:14:06,706 --> 00:14:08,990 seem to deter the taliban in other 352 00:14:08,990 --> 00:14:11,780 areas . How much concern is there that 353 00:14:11,790 --> 00:14:14,123 they won't be scared of potential U . S . 354 00:14:14,123 --> 00:14:16,179 Airstrikes if they decide to move on 355 00:14:16,179 --> 00:14:18,346 Kabul and U . S . Assets and personnel 356 00:14:18,346 --> 00:14:20,290 there . I'm not going to speculate 357 00:14:20,290 --> 00:14:23,070 about uh moving on Kabul and I've never 358 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:25,136 talked about future operations . I'm 359 00:14:25,136 --> 00:14:27,760 not going to start doing that uh today 360 00:14:27,770 --> 00:14:31,710 uh Jeff . But um to your other 361 00:14:31,710 --> 00:14:34,540 question , the kinds of support that we 362 00:14:34,540 --> 00:14:37,160 are providing and able to provide 363 00:14:37,170 --> 00:14:39,550 afghan uh National Security Defence 364 00:14:39,550 --> 00:14:41,772 forces in the field , those authorities 365 00:14:41,772 --> 00:14:43,939 still exist . Those capabilities still 366 00:14:43,939 --> 00:14:47,810 exist . Uh And uh General Mackenzie can 367 00:14:47,810 --> 00:14:50,200 use those capabilities to a degree that 368 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:53,770 he sees most fit . That is a separate 369 00:14:53,770 --> 00:14:56,750 and distinct set of missions . Then 370 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:59,760 what we have now been ordered to do in 371 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:01,538 terms of helping with our State 372 00:15:01,538 --> 00:15:03,760 Department colleagues reducing the size 373 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:05,927 of their footprint in Kabul . So those 374 00:15:05,927 --> 00:15:07,982 are two separate sets of authorities 375 00:15:07,982 --> 00:15:09,871 and capabilities . Um And I think 376 00:15:09,871 --> 00:15:12,260 that's about where I'll leave it . Yeah , 377 00:15:12,270 --> 00:15:14,790 court uh huh . You said a couple of 378 00:15:14,790 --> 00:15:16,846 times that you're concerned with the 379 00:15:16,846 --> 00:15:19,123 speed with which the taliban has moved . 380 00:15:19,123 --> 00:15:21,123 But I think the big question is not 381 00:15:21,123 --> 00:15:22,957 that concern about the speed but 382 00:15:22,957 --> 00:15:25,950 surprised . Again I have to ask is the 383 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,580 is the military , the pentagon or the 384 00:15:28,580 --> 00:15:31,590 administration ? Everyone surprised by 385 00:15:31,590 --> 00:15:33,790 how fast the taliban has been able to 386 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:35,800 move through parts of the country . 387 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:37,856 Courtney . We saw the taliban making 388 00:15:37,856 --> 00:15:39,578 advances even before the biden 389 00:15:39,578 --> 00:15:41,633 administration came into office . We 390 00:15:41,633 --> 00:15:43,800 saw the taliban making advances at the 391 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:45,800 district level before the president 392 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:47,856 made his decision . We're seeing now 393 00:15:47,856 --> 00:15:49,911 this is a different ball game in the 394 00:15:49,911 --> 00:15:51,911 last week or so . So these specific 395 00:15:51,911 --> 00:15:53,967 gains taking these major cities like 396 00:15:53,967 --> 00:15:56,189 Kandahar for Rod Lashkar Gah looks like 397 00:15:56,189 --> 00:15:58,450 it's fallen . Has that caught the 398 00:15:58,460 --> 00:16:00,920 military off guard ? The speed of which 399 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:03,087 they were able to do it ? We have been 400 00:16:03,087 --> 00:16:05,960 watching this from a very early period 401 00:16:05,970 --> 00:16:08,240 right after the president gave us the 402 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:10,407 order to draw down , We certainly have 403 00:16:10,407 --> 00:16:12,740 been watching what the taliban is doing . 404 00:16:12,740 --> 00:16:14,796 We have noted and we have noted with 405 00:16:14,796 --> 00:16:17,018 great concern the speed with which they 406 00:16:17,018 --> 00:16:19,760 have been moving . Um and the 407 00:16:19,770 --> 00:16:22,300 the lack of resistance that they have 408 00:16:22,300 --> 00:16:24,244 faced and we have been nothing but 409 00:16:24,244 --> 00:16:26,189 honest about that and I think I'll 410 00:16:26,189 --> 00:16:28,411 leave it there . What about the lack of 411 00:16:28,411 --> 00:16:28,260 resistance that they may face in Kabul , 412 00:16:28,270 --> 00:16:30,214 Is there a concern that the Afghan 413 00:16:30,214 --> 00:16:32,214 military will not fight for Kabul ? 414 00:16:32,214 --> 00:16:34,437 That's a question for afghan leadership 415 00:16:34,437 --> 00:16:36,659 to determine for themselves . Obviously 416 00:16:36,659 --> 00:16:40,010 uh we , as I've said from the beginning , 417 00:16:40,010 --> 00:16:42,220 we want to see the will and the 418 00:16:42,220 --> 00:16:44,220 political leadership , the military 419 00:16:44,220 --> 00:16:46,553 leadership that's required in the field . 420 00:16:46,553 --> 00:16:48,664 We still want to see that uh , and we 421 00:16:48,664 --> 00:16:50,553 hope to see that . But whether it 422 00:16:50,553 --> 00:16:52,776 happens or not , whether it pans out or 423 00:16:52,776 --> 00:16:52,470 not , that's really for the afghans to 424 00:16:52,470 --> 00:16:55,100 decide or you've said here many times 425 00:16:55,100 --> 00:16:57,322 that Afghanistan cannot will not become 426 00:16:57,322 --> 00:16:59,322 a base from which to launch attacks 427 00:16:59,322 --> 00:17:01,544 against the US homeland or its allies . 428 00:17:01,544 --> 00:17:03,656 Does the speed of the Taliban advance 429 00:17:03,656 --> 00:17:05,989 shake your confidence in that statement , 430 00:17:05,989 --> 00:17:09,230 steve from military dot com . Hi , 431 00:17:09,230 --> 00:17:11,286 thanks for doing this . Um , are any 432 00:17:11,286 --> 00:17:13,174 additional air force squadrons or 433 00:17:13,174 --> 00:17:16,620 aircraft heading to the Middle East for 434 00:17:16,620 --> 00:17:18,787 this . And then , could you also speak 435 00:17:18,787 --> 00:17:20,787 to any of the rules of engagement ? 436 00:17:20,787 --> 00:17:23,009 Troops on the ground will have , I have 437 00:17:23,009 --> 00:17:25,690 no uh nothing to announce or speak to 438 00:17:25,690 --> 00:17:27,746 with respect to additional Air Force 439 00:17:27,746 --> 00:17:30,280 assets . I've told you , I've given you 440 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:32,447 pretty much delay down of exactly what 441 00:17:32,447 --> 00:17:35,350 we're sending uh to uh to support this 442 00:17:35,350 --> 00:17:37,572 movement . That said , I also said , in 443 00:17:37,572 --> 00:17:39,794 fact , I've met in my opening statement 444 00:17:39,794 --> 00:17:41,906 that there will be airlift provided , 445 00:17:41,906 --> 00:17:43,850 clearly there's going to be an air 446 00:17:43,850 --> 00:17:46,183 force role here with respect to airlift . 447 00:17:46,183 --> 00:17:48,183 But in terms of combat aircraft , I 448 00:17:48,183 --> 00:17:50,350 know of no such moves to do that . And 449 00:17:50,350 --> 00:17:52,517 as I said , I've I've laid out for you 450 00:17:52,517 --> 00:17:54,628 now twice what the what the movements 451 00:17:54,628 --> 00:17:54,580 would be . And I'm not going to speak 452 00:17:54,580 --> 00:17:56,802 about rules of engagement . We never do 453 00:17:56,802 --> 00:17:59,024 that from the podium , David , you said 454 00:17:59,024 --> 00:18:00,913 more speculate about movements on 455 00:18:00,913 --> 00:18:03,580 copper . But how would you describe the 456 00:18:03,580 --> 00:18:06,170 situation now ? Is Kabul under threat ? 457 00:18:07,340 --> 00:18:10,450 Uh Is Kabul isolated ? What is it 458 00:18:12,140 --> 00:18:13,973 right now without getting into a 459 00:18:13,973 --> 00:18:16,029 battlefield assessment every day ? I 460 00:18:16,029 --> 00:18:19,450 don't want to do that . Uh but uh mm 461 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:23,840 there uh Kabul is not right 462 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:27,680 now um uh in an 463 00:18:27,790 --> 00:18:31,050 imminent threat environment . But 464 00:18:31,050 --> 00:18:33,730 clearly David , uh if you just look at 465 00:18:33,730 --> 00:18:36,060 what the taliban has been doing , uh 466 00:18:36,740 --> 00:18:39,080 you can see that they are trying to 467 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:41,860 isolate Kabul now . What they want to 468 00:18:41,860 --> 00:18:43,971 do if they achieve that isolation , I 469 00:18:43,971 --> 00:18:46,290 think only they can speak to , but you 470 00:18:46,290 --> 00:18:49,480 can see a certain effort to isolate 471 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:51,313 Kabul . It is not unlike the way 472 00:18:51,313 --> 00:18:53,536 they've operated in other places of the 473 00:18:53,536 --> 00:18:56,160 country , isolating provincial capitals 474 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:58,940 and sometimes being able to force 475 00:18:59,730 --> 00:19:02,860 surrender without necessarily much 476 00:19:02,860 --> 00:19:05,880 bloodshed . Again , I can't speak for 477 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:09,000 what their intentions are . What I can 478 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,670 tell you is that we're taking the 479 00:19:11,670 --> 00:19:13,781 situation seriously and that's one of 480 00:19:13,781 --> 00:19:16,003 the reasons why we move these forces or 481 00:19:16,003 --> 00:19:18,226 we're moving these forces into Kabul to 482 00:19:18,226 --> 00:19:20,337 assist with this particular mission . 483 00:19:20,337 --> 00:19:22,559 Because we know that time is a precious 484 00:19:22,559 --> 00:19:25,400 commodity here . Is it isolated . Now I 485 00:19:25,410 --> 00:19:27,299 don't want to get into a specific 486 00:19:27,299 --> 00:19:29,590 intelligence assessment on the 487 00:19:29,590 --> 00:19:31,701 battlefield . I just don't want to do 488 00:19:31,701 --> 00:19:34,290 that . But clearly from their actions , 489 00:19:34,500 --> 00:19:37,700 it appears as if they are trying to get 490 00:19:37,700 --> 00:19:40,950 Kabul isolated . Let me try it this way 491 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:44,840 the main arteries going into 492 00:19:44,850 --> 00:19:46,961 come again . I'm not gonna get into a 493 00:19:46,961 --> 00:19:48,961 conditions on the ground assessment 494 00:19:48,961 --> 00:19:51,017 every day about avenues and lines of 495 00:19:51,017 --> 00:19:53,080 communication . Uh except to say it 496 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:55,191 certainly appears that the taliban is 497 00:19:55,191 --> 00:19:57,191 trying to isolate the city . Uh and 498 00:19:57,191 --> 00:20:00,700 they have throughout this uh last few 499 00:20:00,700 --> 00:20:02,700 weeks you've seen it for yourself , 500 00:20:02,700 --> 00:20:04,980 taken over border crossings , um taken 501 00:20:04,980 --> 00:20:07,870 over highways and major intersections 502 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:11,310 uh to control lines of what we say , 503 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:13,542 what we call communication and lines of 504 00:20:13,542 --> 00:20:15,709 revenue and uh those kinds of things . 505 00:20:15,709 --> 00:20:17,990 I mean I can't speak and I won't speak 506 00:20:17,990 --> 00:20:20,350 specifically . Um to what the situation 507 00:20:20,360 --> 00:20:22,960 is in Kabul right now john many times 508 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:25,182 this week he said the Afghan forces had 509 00:20:25,182 --> 00:20:27,127 the advantage . What proof can you 510 00:20:27,127 --> 00:20:29,182 offer as the taliban have taken over 511 00:20:29,182 --> 00:20:31,349 now vast majorities of the country and 512 00:20:31,349 --> 00:20:33,420 they've now surrounded Kabul . That 513 00:20:33,430 --> 00:20:36,210 that the taliban have moved with the 514 00:20:36,210 --> 00:20:38,720 speed with which they have and that the 515 00:20:38,730 --> 00:20:42,150 resistance uh that they have faced has 516 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:44,240 been insufficient to stop those . To 517 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:46,184 check those advances does not mean 518 00:20:46,184 --> 00:20:48,351 Lucas that the advantages aren't still 519 00:20:48,351 --> 00:20:50,990 there . You have to use it . You have 520 00:20:50,990 --> 00:20:53,157 to be willing to apply it . Since john 521 00:20:53,157 --> 00:20:55,212 you're saying that they have all the 522 00:20:55,212 --> 00:20:57,323 advantages as they're getting crushed 523 00:20:57,323 --> 00:20:59,490 on the battlefield . It makes no sense 524 00:20:59,490 --> 00:20:59,300 to say they have the advantage . The 525 00:20:59,370 --> 00:21:01,092 taliban appear to have all the 526 00:21:01,092 --> 00:21:03,900 advantages right now Lucas , I 527 00:21:03,910 --> 00:21:06,540 appreciate the effort again , they have 528 00:21:06,620 --> 00:21:08,850 greater numbers . they have an Air 529 00:21:08,850 --> 00:21:10,970 force a capable air force which oh by 530 00:21:10,970 --> 00:21:13,137 the way is flying more airstrikes than 531 00:21:13,137 --> 00:21:15,137 we are every day . They have modern 532 00:21:15,137 --> 00:21:17,192 equipment , they have organizational 533 00:21:17,192 --> 00:21:19,640 structure , They have the benefit of 534 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:21,862 the training that we have provided them 535 00:21:21,862 --> 00:21:24,580 over 20 years . They have the material , 536 00:21:24,590 --> 00:21:27,060 the physical , the tangible advantages . 537 00:21:27,710 --> 00:21:29,950 It's time now to use those advantages 538 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:32,640 is the U . S . Military prepared to 539 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:34,751 evacuate all americans from kabul and 540 00:21:34,751 --> 00:21:37,050 help close the U . S . Embassy in Kabul 541 00:21:37,050 --> 00:21:39,161 at the State Department requested our 542 00:21:39,161 --> 00:21:41,328 mission right now is to help the State 543 00:21:41,328 --> 00:21:43,328 Department reduce their personnel , 544 00:21:43,328 --> 00:21:45,272 civilian personnel in Kabul and to 545 00:21:45,272 --> 00:21:47,606 assist with their acceleration of the S . 546 00:21:47,606 --> 00:21:49,606 I . Ve immigrant visa process , the 547 00:21:49,606 --> 00:21:51,717 special immigrant visa process . That 548 00:21:51,717 --> 00:21:53,939 is what our focus is on right now . How 549 00:21:53,939 --> 00:21:55,883 close is the U . S . Government to 550 00:21:55,883 --> 00:21:57,994 closing its embassy in Kabul You have 551 00:21:57,994 --> 00:21:57,600 to talk to my colleagues at the State 552 00:21:57,600 --> 00:21:59,800 Department , they get to decide that 553 00:21:59,810 --> 00:22:03,300 they have made it clear that as of 554 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:06,580 today They are reducing not eliminating 555 00:22:06,590 --> 00:22:09,240 their diplomatic presence in Kabul . We 556 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:11,296 are simply helping them support that 557 00:22:11,296 --> 00:22:13,690 reduction of sleeping on it . Are these 558 00:22:13,690 --> 00:22:16,250 3000 us troops going to Kabul ? Is this 559 00:22:16,250 --> 00:22:19,220 a combat deployment ? I didn't sleep on 560 00:22:19,220 --> 00:22:21,109 that question Lucas . I thought I 561 00:22:21,109 --> 00:22:23,340 answered it pretty well yesterday you 562 00:22:23,340 --> 00:22:25,800 answered john john these soldiers and 563 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:27,689 marines that are fully kitted out 564 00:22:28,140 --> 00:22:30,029 putting on night vision goggles , 565 00:22:30,029 --> 00:22:32,084 landing in Kabul taking positions at 566 00:22:32,084 --> 00:22:34,307 the airport , they're going to a combat 567 00:22:34,307 --> 00:22:36,529 zone , are they not ? They're certainly 568 00:22:36,529 --> 00:22:38,584 going into harm's way Lucas and they 569 00:22:38,584 --> 00:22:40,696 will have some Lucas . They will have 570 00:22:40,696 --> 00:22:42,807 the right of self defense . They will 571 00:22:42,807 --> 00:22:44,973 be armed . And as I said yesterday , I 572 00:22:44,973 --> 00:22:47,029 don't think I could have made it any 573 00:22:47,029 --> 00:22:49,140 more clear that if there is an attack 574 00:22:49,140 --> 00:22:51,370 upon our forces , our commanders have 575 00:22:51,380 --> 00:22:54,580 now and always have had the right and 576 00:22:54,580 --> 00:22:56,580 responsibility to defend themselves 577 00:22:56,580 --> 00:22:58,413 than any attack on our forces in 578 00:22:58,413 --> 00:23:01,360 Afghanistan will be met swiftly with a 579 00:23:01,360 --> 00:23:03,527 forceful and an appropriate response . 580 00:23:03,527 --> 00:23:05,638 And I know , listen , I know you want 581 00:23:05,638 --> 00:23:07,638 to get into the nomenclature here . 582 00:23:07,638 --> 00:23:09,638 Nobody's walking away from the fact 583 00:23:09,638 --> 00:23:11,860 that this is potentially dangerous . In 584 00:23:11,860 --> 00:23:14,082 fact , I think one of the things I said 585 00:23:14,082 --> 00:23:13,300 at the opening of the press conference 586 00:23:13,300 --> 00:23:15,411 was I'm not going to provide a lot of 587 00:23:15,411 --> 00:23:17,633 operational detail because we know it's 588 00:23:17,633 --> 00:23:19,689 dangerous . We're all mindful of the 589 00:23:19,689 --> 00:23:22,430 perilous situation uh in Afghanistan 590 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:24,162 and the deteriorating security 591 00:23:24,162 --> 00:23:26,329 situation Lucas and I find it a little 592 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:29,060 um uh 593 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:32,170 I find it frustrating that you're 594 00:23:32,170 --> 00:23:34,392 trying to pin me down on a nomenclature 595 00:23:34,392 --> 00:23:36,392 here . Like we're afraid to say the 596 00:23:36,392 --> 00:23:39,480 word combat after 20 years of being in 597 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:41,647 Afghanistan , we understand what we're 598 00:23:41,647 --> 00:23:43,647 facing right now . We're taking the 599 00:23:43,647 --> 00:23:45,758 risks very , very seriously . And our 600 00:23:45,758 --> 00:23:47,869 troops and their leaders , we'll have 601 00:23:47,869 --> 00:23:49,869 all the rights and responsibilities 602 00:23:49,869 --> 00:23:51,924 that they need to protect themselves 603 00:23:51,924 --> 00:23:51,120 and their comrades . The Defense 604 00:23:51,120 --> 00:23:53,287 Secretary recommend this withdrawal of 605 00:23:53,287 --> 00:23:55,610 american troops from Kabul . I'm sorry 606 00:23:55,700 --> 00:23:57,790 the Defense Secretary recommend the 607 00:23:57,790 --> 00:24:00,130 full withdrawal of US troops from Kabul 608 00:24:00,140 --> 00:24:02,300 before this week . Of course I'm not 609 00:24:02,300 --> 00:24:04,300 going to talk about the secretary's 610 00:24:04,300 --> 00:24:06,300 recommendations to the Commander in 611 00:24:06,300 --> 00:24:08,244 chief . I think it's important for 612 00:24:08,244 --> 00:24:10,189 history for the transcript for the 613 00:24:10,189 --> 00:24:09,710 people watching this briefing right now . 614 00:24:09,710 --> 00:24:11,970 Did the Defense secretary support the 615 00:24:11,970 --> 00:24:14,550 full US military withdrawal from kabul 616 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:18,800 Lucas ? Uh Lucas ? I'm not now uh and I 617 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:21,470 haven't never will talk about the 618 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:23,591 secretary's advice and counsel to the 619 00:24:23,591 --> 00:24:25,591 commander in chief . That's totally 620 00:24:25,591 --> 00:24:27,758 inappropriate . The president has made 621 00:24:27,758 --> 00:24:29,924 his decision and we are executing that 622 00:24:29,924 --> 00:24:32,091 decision . He has also made additional 623 00:24:32,091 --> 00:24:34,091 decisions such as helping the State 624 00:24:34,091 --> 00:24:33,680 Department reduce their personnel and 625 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:35,680 we're going to support that to some 626 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:37,569 veterans think that the americans 627 00:24:37,569 --> 00:24:39,902 should just pull everybody out of Kabul . 628 00:24:39,902 --> 00:24:42,069 The U . S . Government should pull all 629 00:24:42,069 --> 00:24:44,124 americans out of kabul and then just 630 00:24:44,124 --> 00:24:46,236 level the embassy . What do you think 631 00:24:46,236 --> 00:24:48,291 about that ? I think that one of the 632 00:24:48,291 --> 00:24:50,513 great things about this country is that 633 00:24:50,513 --> 00:24:52,347 people are free to express their 634 00:24:52,347 --> 00:24:54,624 opinions about anything that they want . 635 00:24:54,624 --> 00:24:56,736 What I what I'm here to do Lucas . My 636 00:24:56,736 --> 00:24:59,930 job is to articulate the policies that 637 00:24:59,930 --> 00:25:01,930 were executing and the way in which 638 00:25:01,930 --> 00:25:04,152 we're executing them and that's what my 639 00:25:04,152 --> 00:25:06,263 focus is today to tell you what we've 640 00:25:06,263 --> 00:25:05,960 been ordered to do and how we're going 641 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:08,071 to execute those orders at the time . 642 00:25:08,071 --> 00:25:10,127 Just to pull all americans out right 643 00:25:10,127 --> 00:25:12,293 now and destroy lukas . We are focused 644 00:25:12,293 --> 00:25:14,460 on helping the State Department reduce 645 00:25:14,460 --> 00:25:14,390 their footprint in Kabul . That's what 646 00:25:14,390 --> 00:25:16,557 we're focused on and that's what we're 647 00:25:16,557 --> 00:25:18,501 gonna be doing louis . I'd like to 648 00:25:18,501 --> 00:25:21,300 follow up on Lucas . 4th question as 649 00:25:21,300 --> 00:25:24,550 opposed to the 14th . Yeah . 650 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:27,870 You talked about how the troops there 651 00:25:27,870 --> 00:25:30,203 have the inherent right of self defense . 652 00:25:30,203 --> 00:25:32,314 I was actually gonna be my question . 653 00:25:32,314 --> 00:25:34,780 Um there is a tactical purpose for 654 00:25:34,780 --> 00:25:37,430 sending these troops there which you've 655 00:25:37,430 --> 00:25:39,430 described in very general terms . I 656 00:25:39,430 --> 00:25:41,208 know you don't want to get into 657 00:25:41,208 --> 00:25:43,710 specifics but is there a secondary um a 658 00:25:43,710 --> 00:25:45,877 secondary effect that you're having by 659 00:25:45,877 --> 00:25:47,988 sending these troops there into Kabul 660 00:25:47,988 --> 00:25:49,877 which is sending a message to the 661 00:25:49,877 --> 00:25:52,800 taliban . These troops are here don't 662 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,022 attack us . We're here to carry out our 663 00:25:55,022 --> 00:25:57,420 mission . And at the same time saying 664 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:00,151 we are here to support the government 665 00:26:00,151 --> 00:26:03,370 of Kabul don't attack Kabul . You're 666 00:26:03,380 --> 00:26:05,990 are you suggesting that there's a but 667 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,690 that there's a contradiction there ? No , 668 00:26:08,690 --> 00:26:10,746 no , I'm trying to say I'm trying to 669 00:26:10,746 --> 00:26:14,020 ask is there a messaging intention as 670 00:26:14,020 --> 00:26:16,131 well by sending these troops there as 671 00:26:16,131 --> 00:26:18,353 well ? I understand the primary mission 672 00:26:18,353 --> 00:26:20,690 there is to do this to protect the 673 00:26:20,700 --> 00:26:23,150 forces protecting americans and the 674 00:26:23,150 --> 00:26:25,317 afghan interpreters and their families 675 00:26:25,317 --> 00:26:27,539 as they leave . But at the same time is 676 00:26:27,539 --> 00:26:29,594 there a secondary effect that you're 677 00:26:29,594 --> 00:26:31,706 gaining by sending these troops there 678 00:26:31,706 --> 00:26:33,817 which is to message the taliban don't 679 00:26:33,817 --> 00:26:36,560 attack us while we're doing this . The 680 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:39,940 main purpose for these troops is to 681 00:26:39,940 --> 00:26:42,200 conduct this particular mission . And 682 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:44,270 as I said yesterday , the secretary 683 00:26:44,270 --> 00:26:48,080 made his decisions based on uh 684 00:26:48,090 --> 00:26:51,640 the based on prudence to make sure that 685 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:53,900 you have what you need and that you 686 00:26:53,900 --> 00:26:56,260 have reserved if you need reserves 687 00:26:56,260 --> 00:26:58,371 because we don't know exactly how the 688 00:26:58,371 --> 00:27:00,950 situation is going to unfold . Um And 689 00:27:01,020 --> 00:27:04,460 it's not , he didn't choose these units 690 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:07,950 or this approach to send a message . He 691 00:27:07,950 --> 00:27:10,230 chose these units and this approach to 692 00:27:10,230 --> 00:27:12,341 accomplish a mission and to make sure 693 00:27:12,341 --> 00:27:14,530 that he had uh enough capability and 694 00:27:14,530 --> 00:27:17,490 capacity to do it safely and in an 695 00:27:17,490 --> 00:27:20,650 orderly fashion . Uh that said , and 696 00:27:20,650 --> 00:27:23,690 I've said this now 33 or four times uh 697 00:27:23,700 --> 00:27:26,080 if these forces are attacked and 698 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:29,420 threatened ? We have the ability to the 699 00:27:29,430 --> 00:27:31,319 right of self defense and we will 700 00:27:31,319 --> 00:27:33,430 respond in a forceful and appropriate 701 00:27:33,430 --> 00:27:35,486 way . And just one quick follow up , 702 00:27:35,740 --> 00:27:38,000 We've talked about the troops from the 703 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,056 82nd airborne going into Kuwait that 704 00:27:40,056 --> 00:27:42,100 could be on standby if needed . Is 705 00:27:42,100 --> 00:27:44,322 there a mission going to be if they are 706 00:27:44,322 --> 00:27:46,378 needed ? Exactly like the lines from 707 00:27:46,378 --> 00:27:48,489 the 3000 that will be arriving by the 708 00:27:48,489 --> 00:27:50,600 end of this weekend or or there would 709 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:52,656 be something different ? I'm sorry , 710 00:27:52,656 --> 00:27:54,822 say it again . Sure , no problem . The 711 00:27:54,822 --> 00:27:58,350 brigade for the bct headed to kuwait um 712 00:27:58,740 --> 00:28:00,684 Is there mission if should they be 713 00:28:00,684 --> 00:28:02,629 called upon ? Are they going to be 714 00:28:02,629 --> 00:28:04,851 doing exactly what the 3000 , the three 715 00:28:04,851 --> 00:28:07,290 battalions arriving in Kabul by the end 716 00:28:07,290 --> 00:28:09,330 of the weekend ? Or is there some 717 00:28:09,330 --> 00:28:11,219 thinking that maybe they might do 718 00:28:11,219 --> 00:28:13,052 something else , they're already 719 00:28:13,052 --> 00:28:15,790 reserve force that we would uh have 720 00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:18,022 available to us . Should they be needed 721 00:28:18,022 --> 00:28:20,790 for any number of security missions ? 722 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:23,150 Uh And again , I couldn't begin to 723 00:28:23,150 --> 00:28:25,150 speculate right now what what those 724 00:28:25,150 --> 00:28:27,206 missions would would look like . But 725 00:28:27,206 --> 00:28:31,120 they are , they will have capabilities 726 00:28:31,120 --> 00:28:33,690 that are commensurate with the infantry 727 00:28:33,690 --> 00:28:35,690 battalions that are going to Hamid 728 00:28:35,690 --> 00:28:37,801 Karzai International Airport over the 729 00:28:37,801 --> 00:28:40,134 course of the next few days . Thank you . 730 00:28:40,134 --> 00:28:44,050 Thank you . Question is that 731 00:28:44,060 --> 00:28:47,120 Pakistan is blaming now again , us for 732 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:49,450 the crisis in Afghanistan and also 733 00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:53,820 Prime Minister Pakistan . He 734 00:28:53,820 --> 00:28:56,110 said he already endorsed the Taliban 735 00:28:56,110 --> 00:28:59,810 government and cover . And 736 00:28:59,820 --> 00:29:02,840 finally , if any country in the region 737 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:05,710 including India , ask us help in this 738 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:07,670 mission of evacuation . 739 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:12,950 I don't know of any other uh but 740 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:15,880 nations involved in this , I mean , 741 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:17,824 these are sovereign decisions that 742 00:29:17,824 --> 00:29:19,991 nation states have to make . As I said 743 00:29:19,991 --> 00:29:21,880 yesterday , should we be asked to 744 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:24,900 support um any uh movement by our 745 00:29:24,900 --> 00:29:26,956 allies and partners ? We can do that 746 00:29:26,956 --> 00:29:29,067 and we will do that . I don't know of 747 00:29:29,067 --> 00:29:31,011 any , but I don't know of any such 748 00:29:31,011 --> 00:29:34,240 requests or or such requirements . Um 749 00:29:34,250 --> 00:29:37,070 and look as just broadly speaking , 750 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:39,890 what we said before any of 751 00:29:39,900 --> 00:29:42,250 Afghanistan's neighboring nations and 752 00:29:42,250 --> 00:29:44,083 the nations in the international 753 00:29:44,083 --> 00:29:48,050 community that uh that believe they 754 00:29:48,050 --> 00:29:50,050 have or want to have a stake in the 755 00:29:50,050 --> 00:29:52,272 future of Afghanistan ? We simply would 756 00:29:52,272 --> 00:29:55,700 uh would urge them uh to act in ways um , 757 00:29:55,710 --> 00:29:57,877 that that helps lead to those kinds of 758 00:29:57,877 --> 00:29:59,988 better outcomes for the afghan people 759 00:29:59,988 --> 00:30:03,230 uh , and to help help us continue to 760 00:30:03,230 --> 00:30:04,897 pursue a negotiated political 761 00:30:04,897 --> 00:30:07,560 settlement . them off . 762 00:30:09,140 --> 00:30:11,550 Thank you john uh , you said yesterday 763 00:30:11,550 --> 00:30:13,550 that you thought this was the right 764 00:30:13,550 --> 00:30:16,380 time for this mission . Um , lawmakers 765 00:30:16,380 --> 00:30:19,020 from both parties , lots of nonprofits , 766 00:30:19,020 --> 00:30:20,964 lots of afghans would say that the 767 00:30:20,964 --> 00:30:23,242 right time for this mission with S . I . 768 00:30:23,242 --> 00:30:25,520 D . S was actually back in May or june . 769 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:27,751 Can you square those two things ? Why 770 00:30:27,751 --> 00:30:30,500 did it take so long ? Thank you . We 771 00:30:30,500 --> 00:30:32,500 were we were we said for quite some 772 00:30:32,500 --> 00:30:34,722 time dan , that we know we have a moral 773 00:30:34,722 --> 00:30:37,000 obligation to help those who helped us . 774 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:39,460 Um , and that we were ready willing and 775 00:30:39,460 --> 00:30:42,790 able uh , to support efforts 776 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:46,300 uh , to uh move special 777 00:30:46,300 --> 00:30:48,220 immigrants , people applying for 778 00:30:48,220 --> 00:30:50,109 special immigrant visa out of the 779 00:30:50,109 --> 00:30:52,276 country and two locations . And we and 780 00:30:52,276 --> 00:30:54,940 we have met that obligation . Uh , it 781 00:30:54,940 --> 00:30:57,190 is uh , it is a process that as you 782 00:30:57,190 --> 00:31:00,910 know , um , uh , does not reside here 783 00:31:00,910 --> 00:31:03,680 at the Defense Department . Uh , and uh , 784 00:31:03,690 --> 00:31:06,640 in a process that has requirements . So 785 00:31:06,650 --> 00:31:08,983 what I can tell you is from a D . O . D . 786 00:31:08,983 --> 00:31:11,094 Perspective , uh , it's not something 787 00:31:11,094 --> 00:31:13,150 we ever lost sight of . It wasn't an 788 00:31:13,150 --> 00:31:15,094 obligation we just all of a sudden 789 00:31:15,094 --> 00:31:17,760 forgot and then came around to , uh , 790 00:31:17,770 --> 00:31:19,992 as I said at the outset , we've planned 791 00:31:19,992 --> 00:31:22,103 for a lot of contingencies . Uh , and 792 00:31:22,103 --> 00:31:24,800 this was certainly one of them Tony 793 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:28,000 Cappuccio . Hi , john , I had a couple 794 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:29,944 questions . Uh you said deity is a 795 00:31:29,944 --> 00:31:32,210 planning organization has centcom 796 00:31:32,210 --> 00:31:34,432 presented to the Secretary or the Joint 797 00:31:34,432 --> 00:31:37,670 Staff a contingency plan to reintroduce 798 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:40,207 Us kind of bad troops , all , all what 799 00:31:40,207 --> 00:31:43,800 we did in 2014 in Iraq . If the White 800 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:46,100 House requests , has that such a plan 801 00:31:46,100 --> 00:31:48,490 been crafted ? That that that we are 802 00:31:48,490 --> 00:31:50,546 planning organization is true Tony . 803 00:31:50,546 --> 00:31:52,768 What's also true is we don't talk about 804 00:31:52,768 --> 00:31:55,090 every single plan on the books . Our 805 00:31:55,100 --> 00:31:57,440 focus right now , Tony and the plans 806 00:31:57,440 --> 00:32:00,630 that we are executing are to meet the 807 00:32:00,630 --> 00:32:03,260 President's draw down requirement by 808 00:32:03,260 --> 00:32:06,440 the end of this month , not and to 809 00:32:06,450 --> 00:32:09,660 assist uh in the drawdown of State 810 00:32:09,660 --> 00:32:12,030 Department personnel also by the end of 811 00:32:12,030 --> 00:32:13,863 the month , and I'm not going to 812 00:32:13,863 --> 00:32:15,974 speculate about what things look like 813 00:32:15,974 --> 00:32:17,974 going forward . And again , I would 814 00:32:17,974 --> 00:32:20,980 remind Tony that this mission is uh 815 00:32:20,990 --> 00:32:23,370 narrowly narrowly focused , very 816 00:32:23,370 --> 00:32:25,580 specific tailored mission to support 817 00:32:25,580 --> 00:32:27,802 the State Department at this particular 818 00:32:27,802 --> 00:32:30,460 time . I have a question , Go ahead . 819 00:32:30,470 --> 00:32:32,810 OK . 2nd question . You've heard the 820 00:32:32,810 --> 00:32:34,643 narrative and the questions from 821 00:32:34,643 --> 00:32:36,866 reporters and everybody else about , is 822 00:32:36,866 --> 00:32:38,977 this a repeat of the fall of Saigon ? 823 00:32:39,340 --> 00:32:41,340 You're not a historian , but I know 824 00:32:41,340 --> 00:32:43,396 that the secretary , a number of you 825 00:32:43,396 --> 00:32:45,507 guys are thinking , how do you answer 826 00:32:45,507 --> 00:32:47,729 that question , can you give a sense of 827 00:32:47,729 --> 00:32:49,951 where the analogy is apt and where it's 828 00:32:49,951 --> 00:32:51,896 a very bogus fallacious analogy to 829 00:32:51,896 --> 00:32:53,896 equate what's going on now with the 830 00:32:53,896 --> 00:32:56,230 potential fall in Saigon ? Yeah , Tony . 831 00:32:56,230 --> 00:32:58,063 What I can tell you is we're not 832 00:32:58,063 --> 00:33:00,174 focused on the history of the Vietnam 833 00:33:00,174 --> 00:33:03,940 war . We're just not and we're focused 834 00:33:03,940 --> 00:33:07,050 on meeting the requirements that we 835 00:33:07,050 --> 00:33:09,470 have today . Uh that's where our head 836 00:33:09,470 --> 00:33:11,880 space is . Uh certainly we've seen the 837 00:33:11,880 --> 00:33:14,060 punditry and commentary . I think it's 838 00:33:14,060 --> 00:33:16,410 best to leave that to historians . Uh , 839 00:33:16,420 --> 00:33:18,476 what we're focused on is making sure 840 00:33:18,476 --> 00:33:20,642 that we uh meet our commitments to our 841 00:33:20,642 --> 00:33:22,990 State Department colleagues , um and 842 00:33:22,990 --> 00:33:25,380 that we continue to meet our 843 00:33:25,380 --> 00:33:27,290 commitments while we have the 844 00:33:27,290 --> 00:33:29,512 authorities and the capabilities to our 845 00:33:29,512 --> 00:33:31,568 Afghan partners on the ground is the 846 00:33:31,568 --> 00:33:33,623 best historical reference of Iraq 10 847 00:33:33,623 --> 00:33:36,130 years ago . What they're gonna say for 848 00:33:36,130 --> 00:33:38,790 our 20 year war in Afghanistan , If it 849 00:33:38,790 --> 00:33:40,734 ends with the Taliban rolling into 850 00:33:40,734 --> 00:33:43,460 Kabul and us made m wraps and Humvees 851 00:33:43,630 --> 00:33:45,686 and carrying weapons that our allies 852 00:33:45,686 --> 00:33:48,490 turned over to them . Look mike 853 00:33:48,900 --> 00:33:51,610 again , not able to I don't have a 854 00:33:51,610 --> 00:33:53,777 crystal ball . I can't I can't see the 855 00:33:53,777 --> 00:33:56,760 future . And what I can tell you is 856 00:33:58,240 --> 00:34:01,150 our troops who deployed to Afghanistan 857 00:34:01,150 --> 00:34:04,740 after 911 did what they were sent there 858 00:34:04,740 --> 00:34:07,520 to do , which was to prevent 859 00:34:07,530 --> 00:34:09,810 Afghanistan from being a safe haven for 860 00:34:09,810 --> 00:34:12,032 terrorist attacks upon the homeland and 861 00:34:12,032 --> 00:34:15,020 to uh severely degrade the capabilities 862 00:34:15,020 --> 00:34:17,730 of groups like Al Qaeda uh in the 863 00:34:17,730 --> 00:34:19,950 process of that effort . A lot of 864 00:34:19,950 --> 00:34:21,783 progress was made in Afghanistan 865 00:34:21,783 --> 00:34:23,783 progress , which we obviously don't 866 00:34:23,783 --> 00:34:26,260 want to see , put at greater risk going 867 00:34:26,260 --> 00:34:28,316 forward ? We're gonna do a couple of 868 00:34:28,316 --> 00:34:30,482 things ? We're going to make sure that 869 00:34:30,482 --> 00:34:32,482 a terrorist threat can emanate from 870 00:34:32,482 --> 00:34:34,427 Afghanistan again , by maintaining 871 00:34:34,427 --> 00:34:35,760 robust over the horizon 872 00:34:35,760 --> 00:34:37,816 counterterrorism capabilities in the 873 00:34:37,816 --> 00:34:40,038 region . Um and we're going to continue 874 00:34:40,038 --> 00:34:41,760 to support our Afghan partners 875 00:34:41,760 --> 00:34:44,460 bilaterally through maintenance support 876 00:34:44,460 --> 00:34:46,700 through financial support , uh and 877 00:34:46,710 --> 00:34:48,821 we're going to continue to to want to 878 00:34:48,821 --> 00:34:51,043 see a stable , secure Afghanistan . The 879 00:34:51,043 --> 00:34:53,266 other thing I would say is that we want 880 00:34:53,266 --> 00:34:55,510 to continue to see that there's a 881 00:34:55,520 --> 00:34:57,742 negotiated political settlement here uh 882 00:34:57,742 --> 00:34:59,631 for governance going forward . So 883 00:34:59,631 --> 00:35:01,576 that's that's what our focus is on 884 00:35:01,576 --> 00:35:03,409 right now . You really think the 885 00:35:03,409 --> 00:35:05,576 taliban is interested in negotiating ? 886 00:35:05,576 --> 00:35:07,798 They haven't they seemed not interested 887 00:35:07,798 --> 00:35:09,964 in that . I mean , do you really think 888 00:35:09,964 --> 00:35:09,450 that that they're legitimate 889 00:35:09,450 --> 00:35:11,672 negotiating partners ? I think that's a 890 00:35:11,672 --> 00:35:13,783 question for Taliban leaders to speak 891 00:35:13,783 --> 00:35:16,040 to ? Uh they have uh team in Doha , 892 00:35:16,050 --> 00:35:18,960 they have uh participated in the past 893 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:20,793 and negotiations . Now , whether 894 00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:23,133 they're still interested in that or not , 895 00:35:23,133 --> 00:35:25,189 I think is for them to speak to . We 896 00:35:25,189 --> 00:35:27,189 are still interested in seeing that 897 00:35:27,189 --> 00:35:29,411 outcome . And so should the rest of the 898 00:35:29,411 --> 00:35:31,522 international community anyone follow 899 00:35:31,522 --> 00:35:33,744 up on mike's questions on the weapons , 900 00:35:33,744 --> 00:35:36,550 will the US allow if it looks like the 901 00:35:36,550 --> 00:35:38,494 super to Cotto's or other advanced 902 00:35:38,494 --> 00:35:40,494 aircraft that we've provided afghan 903 00:35:40,494 --> 00:35:42,494 forces over the years . Will the US 904 00:35:42,494 --> 00:35:44,383 allow those aircraft to fall into 905 00:35:44,383 --> 00:35:46,217 Taliban hands or are there plans 906 00:35:46,217 --> 00:35:48,161 underway to make sure that doesn't 907 00:35:48,161 --> 00:35:49,994 happen . I think I think you can 908 00:35:49,994 --> 00:35:51,772 understand why I'm not going to 909 00:35:51,772 --> 00:35:53,717 speculate about that . We've got , 910 00:35:53,717 --> 00:35:55,970 there is an afghan air force in place . 911 00:35:55,970 --> 00:35:58,192 They are flying missions every day . We 912 00:35:58,192 --> 00:36:00,303 have made commitments to help improve 913 00:36:00,303 --> 00:36:02,470 their capabilities . Those commitments 914 00:36:02,470 --> 00:36:04,637 remain in place including refurbishing 915 00:36:04,637 --> 00:36:06,581 Blackhawk helicopters helping them 916 00:36:06,581 --> 00:36:08,637 finance the refurbishment of some of 917 00:36:08,637 --> 00:36:11,730 their my 17 in terms of financial 918 00:36:11,740 --> 00:36:14,470 contractual support . Um and then the 919 00:36:14,470 --> 00:36:16,900 provision of super tucano . So I'm not 920 00:36:16,900 --> 00:36:18,511 going to speculate about the 921 00:36:18,511 --> 00:36:20,567 destruction of personnel . I'm sorry 922 00:36:20,567 --> 00:36:22,456 the destruction of property going 923 00:36:22,456 --> 00:36:24,567 forward . We are going to continue to 924 00:36:24,567 --> 00:36:26,678 stay focused on making sure they have 925 00:36:26,678 --> 00:36:28,844 the capabilities to use in the field . 926 00:36:28,844 --> 00:36:31,067 But would you say that the US would not 927 00:36:31,067 --> 00:36:33,344 allow those aircraft to fall into town ? 928 00:36:33,344 --> 00:36:35,344 We are always worried about U . S . 929 00:36:35,344 --> 00:36:37,233 Equipment that could fall into an 930 00:36:37,233 --> 00:36:39,400 adversary's hands and that's something 931 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:42,900 we never lose focus on and 932 00:36:42,950 --> 00:36:45,830 what actions we might take to prevent 933 00:36:45,830 --> 00:36:48,560 that or forestall it . I just simply 934 00:36:48,560 --> 00:36:52,210 won't speculate about today , paul 935 00:36:53,730 --> 00:36:54,750 from politico . 936 00:37:00,230 --> 00:37:03,340 Okay . I guess paul is not there Jeff 937 00:37:03,340 --> 00:37:06,130 show , thank you . I just wanted to 938 00:37:06,130 --> 00:37:08,470 clarify something you had said earlier , 939 00:37:08,480 --> 00:37:11,010 You said with the airlift the military 940 00:37:11,010 --> 00:37:12,899 will be able to move thousands of 941 00:37:12,899 --> 00:37:14,900 people per day . Were you speaking 942 00:37:14,900 --> 00:37:17,810 specifically about afghans ? So should 943 00:37:17,810 --> 00:37:20,470 I say john Kirby said the military will 944 00:37:20,470 --> 00:37:22,581 have the ability to move thousands of 945 00:37:22,581 --> 00:37:25,340 afghans and their families per day , 946 00:37:26,430 --> 00:37:30,050 Jeff ? I think you can uh surmise that 947 00:37:30,060 --> 00:37:32,240 uh when I say thousands of people that 948 00:37:32,240 --> 00:37:36,000 would include uh a population of of of 949 00:37:36,010 --> 00:37:38,250 of afghans , of course , that are uh 950 00:37:38,260 --> 00:37:40,260 being processed through the Special 951 00:37:40,260 --> 00:37:42,204 Immigrant Visa program , including 952 00:37:42,204 --> 00:37:45,260 their families . Okay , that's about it 953 00:37:45,260 --> 00:37:47,427 for today . Thank you . Thank you very 954 00:37:47,427 --> 00:37:50,350 much . We're all set . We're all set .