1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:23,040 Good afternoon and thanks for being 3 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,350 here . Uh it's been a busy time for all 4 00:00:26,350 --> 00:00:29,750 of us in this department . A proud one 5 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,210 And a Solemn 1 . 2 . We have 6 00:00:34,210 --> 00:00:36,910 concluded our historic evacuation 7 00:00:36,910 --> 00:00:40,720 operation can end it . The last 8 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:44,050 mission of the US war in Afghanistan . 9 00:00:46,140 --> 00:00:48,140 America's longest war has come to a 10 00:00:48,140 --> 00:00:52,090 close now . Both the secretary 11 00:00:52,090 --> 00:00:55,810 and as a veteran of our Afghan war , my 12 00:00:55,810 --> 00:00:57,699 thoughts have been with the brave 13 00:00:57,699 --> 00:01:00,910 americans who stood up to serve after 14 00:01:00,910 --> 00:01:04,550 Al Qaeda attacked us on September 11 , 15 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:09,100 2001 . And my heart is 16 00:01:09,100 --> 00:01:11,630 with their families and loved ones 17 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,600 and with our friends and allies and 18 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:18,656 with our fellow citizens whose lives 19 00:01:18,656 --> 00:01:21,960 were lost or changed forever . Over 20 20 00:01:21,960 --> 00:01:25,880 years of war , We remember 21 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:29,800 2461 American service members 22 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:32,760 and personnel who paid the ultimate 23 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,690 price in this war and more than 24 00:01:36,690 --> 00:01:40,490 20,000 wounded Americans , some still 25 00:01:40,490 --> 00:01:42,870 carrying the scars that you can't see 26 00:01:42,870 --> 00:01:46,760 on the outside . We also remember the 27 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:48,871 thousands of american contractors who 28 00:01:48,871 --> 00:01:52,110 lost their lives , hundreds of our 29 00:01:52,110 --> 00:01:54,250 allies and partners from NATO and 30 00:01:54,250 --> 00:01:58,110 beyond In 10s of thousands of 31 00:01:58,110 --> 00:02:00,300 Afghan soldiers and police officers 32 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,670 And 10s of thousands more afghan 33 00:02:05,670 --> 00:02:06,360 civilians . 34 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:11,673 Now , we have just concluded the 35 00:02:11,673 --> 00:02:13,890 largest air evacuation of civilians in 36 00:02:13,890 --> 00:02:17,850 american history . It was heroic . 37 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:23,210 It was historic and I hope 38 00:02:23,210 --> 00:02:25,730 that all americans will unite to thank 39 00:02:25,730 --> 00:02:27,841 our service members for their courage 40 00:02:27,841 --> 00:02:30,970 and their compassion . They were 41 00:02:30,970 --> 00:02:34,440 operating in an immensely dangerous and 42 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:38,110 dynamic environment but our 43 00:02:38,110 --> 00:02:41,680 troops were tireless . Yeah , fearless 44 00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:46,310 and selfless . Our commanders never 45 00:02:46,310 --> 00:02:50,150 flinched and our allies and partners 46 00:02:50,150 --> 00:02:54,070 were extraordinary United States 47 00:02:54,070 --> 00:02:56,850 evacuated some 6000 American citizens 48 00:02:56,850 --> 00:02:58,239 and a total of more than 49 00:02:58,540 --> 00:03:01,860 124,000 civilians . 50 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:05,440 And we did it all in the midst of a 51 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:07,551 pandemic and in the face of grave and 52 00:03:07,551 --> 00:03:11,350 growing threats . I am incredibly 53 00:03:11,350 --> 00:03:14,180 proud of those who made it happen and 54 00:03:14,180 --> 00:03:17,280 they made it happen with grit and skill 55 00:03:17,290 --> 00:03:21,200 in humanity . Our outstanding men and 56 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,650 women showed steady judgment under 57 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,440 crushing pressure , including some very 58 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:29,551 young service members who summoned up 59 00:03:29,551 --> 00:03:32,560 exceptional courage at close quarters , 60 00:03:35,340 --> 00:03:37,340 they ran an international airport , 61 00:03:38,940 --> 00:03:42,330 they sped up visas , they fed the 62 00:03:42,330 --> 00:03:45,750 hungry , they comforted the desperate 63 00:03:47,540 --> 00:03:50,280 and they got playing after playing 64 00:03:50,290 --> 00:03:52,160 after playing into the sky . 65 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,080 Our forces risk their own lives to save 66 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:58,302 the lives of others . 67 00:04:02,450 --> 00:04:06,350 In 13 of our very best 68 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:11,420 paid the ultimate price and many 69 00:04:11,420 --> 00:04:13,476 of them were too young to personally 70 00:04:13,476 --> 00:04:15,460 remember The 9 11 attacks . 71 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,730 United States military will 72 00:04:20,740 --> 00:04:23,860 always honor their heroism . 73 00:04:25,540 --> 00:04:28,800 We mourn with their families and we owe 74 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:32,490 them support through the days and years 75 00:04:32,490 --> 00:04:35,930 ahead . It is 76 00:04:35,930 --> 00:04:38,690 noteworthy that on the day of the 77 00:04:38,690 --> 00:04:42,100 attack at the airport , our troops and 78 00:04:42,100 --> 00:04:44,660 their partners pushed hard and carry on 79 00:04:45,940 --> 00:04:48,410 Putting 89 rescue flights in the air in 80 00:04:48,410 --> 00:04:52,360 the span of 24 hours and lifting 81 00:04:52,740 --> 00:04:55,460 12,500 souls to freedom . 82 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:00,550 It has been an enormous achievement not 83 00:05:00,550 --> 00:05:04,340 just by the U . S . Military but also 84 00:05:04,340 --> 00:05:06,340 by the militaries of our allies and 85 00:05:06,340 --> 00:05:09,140 partners and of course by our teammates 86 00:05:09,140 --> 00:05:13,110 at the State Department . Now 87 00:05:13,110 --> 00:05:15,790 the war is over And we're entering a 88 00:05:15,790 --> 00:05:18,490 new Chapter one and where our diplomats 89 00:05:18,490 --> 00:05:20,720 and our interagency partners take the 90 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:24,450 lead were part of an urgent team effort 91 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,300 to move afghan evacuees out of 92 00:05:27,300 --> 00:05:30,430 temporary housing in intermediate 93 00:05:30,430 --> 00:05:32,652 staging bases in the gulf and in europe 94 00:05:33,340 --> 00:05:37,280 and on to begin new lives . And I'll be 95 00:05:37,280 --> 00:05:39,860 traveling to the gulf next week to 96 00:05:39,860 --> 00:05:43,100 thank our partners there who have done 97 00:05:43,100 --> 00:05:46,220 so much to help save and shelter afghan 98 00:05:46,220 --> 00:05:49,750 civilians . Now 99 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:52,640 some of those brave afghans will be 100 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:54,640 coming to make new lives with their 101 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,300 families in America . After 102 00:05:58,300 --> 00:06:00,467 careful screening and security vetting 103 00:06:00,467 --> 00:06:03,740 run by our Interagency partners were 104 00:06:03,740 --> 00:06:05,740 temporarily sheltering , sheltering 105 00:06:05,740 --> 00:06:07,720 some of these evacuees at military 106 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:11,050 facilities here at home and I'm proud 107 00:06:11,050 --> 00:06:12,661 of the way that our military 108 00:06:12,661 --> 00:06:14,494 communities have welcomed them . 109 00:06:16,530 --> 00:06:18,752 Some of these courageous afghans fought 110 00:06:18,752 --> 00:06:22,290 alongside us and they and their 111 00:06:22,290 --> 00:06:24,520 families have more than earned their 112 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:27,620 places in the land of the free and the 113 00:06:27,620 --> 00:06:31,230 home of the brave and 114 00:06:31,230 --> 00:06:33,950 welcoming these afghans isn't just 115 00:06:33,950 --> 00:06:37,740 about what they've done , it's 116 00:06:37,740 --> 00:06:39,060 about who we are 117 00:06:42,340 --> 00:06:46,120 now As one mission ends , others 118 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,760 must go on . And even during our afghan 119 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,160 retrograde this department was racing 120 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,480 to help victims of natural disasters at 121 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:57,460 home and abroad and we still are . 122 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:01,460 We've been driving to end the pandemic 123 00:07:03,340 --> 00:07:05,507 and we've continued to tackle security 124 00:07:05,507 --> 00:07:08,460 challenges from china in Russia , 125 00:07:08,840 --> 00:07:10,360 Iran and North Korea . 126 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:14,951 It's our duty to defend this nation . 127 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:18,262 And we're not going to take our eye off 128 00:07:18,262 --> 00:07:21,510 the ball . And that means relentless 129 00:07:21,510 --> 00:07:23,566 counterterrorism efforts against any 130 00:07:23,566 --> 00:07:25,732 threat to the american people from any 131 00:07:25,732 --> 00:07:28,520 place . It means working with our 132 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:30,631 partners to shore up stability in the 133 00:07:30,631 --> 00:07:34,220 region around Afghanistan . And it 134 00:07:34,220 --> 00:07:36,387 means a new focus to our leadership in 135 00:07:36,387 --> 00:07:39,670 this young century . To meet the 136 00:07:39,670 --> 00:07:43,060 security challenges from china , to 137 00:07:43,060 --> 00:07:45,060 seize new opportunities in the indo 138 00:07:45,060 --> 00:07:47,970 pacific and elsewhere . And to deepen 139 00:07:47,970 --> 00:07:50,380 our ties with all allies and new 140 00:07:50,380 --> 00:07:53,470 partners and to defend our 141 00:07:53,470 --> 00:07:56,250 democracy against all enemies . 142 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:02,530 But for today , I want to end with the 143 00:08:02,530 --> 00:08:04,960 word to the force and their families . 144 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:09,551 I know that these have been difficult 145 00:08:09,551 --> 00:08:12,720 days for many of us and as we look back 146 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:16,350 as a nation on the war in Afghanistan , 147 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:19,610 I hope that we will all do so with 148 00:08:19,610 --> 00:08:21,960 thoughtfulness in respect . 149 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:27,060 I will always be proud of the part that 150 00:08:27,060 --> 00:08:30,600 we played in this war . But we 151 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,230 shouldn't expect Afghan war veterans to 152 00:08:33,230 --> 00:08:35,397 agree any more than any other group of 153 00:08:35,397 --> 00:08:38,360 americans . I've heard strong views 154 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:42,040 from many sides in recent days and 155 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:45,350 that's vital . That's democracy . 156 00:08:46,940 --> 00:08:50,690 That's America as we 157 00:08:50,690 --> 00:08:52,930 always do , this department will look 158 00:08:52,930 --> 00:08:56,360 back clearly and professionally and 159 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:59,520 learn every lesson that we can . That's 160 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:03,220 our way . But right now it's time to 161 00:09:03,220 --> 00:09:05,660 thank all those who served in this war 162 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:10,910 because you are the greatest asset that 163 00:09:10,910 --> 00:09:13,560 we have you , 164 00:09:15,140 --> 00:09:17,140 the extraordinary men and women who 165 00:09:17,140 --> 00:09:19,307 volunteer to keep us all safe and your 166 00:09:19,307 --> 00:09:22,760 families . So my prayers are with you 167 00:09:24,330 --> 00:09:26,330 and with the Gold Star families who 168 00:09:26,330 --> 00:09:29,620 lost loved ones in Afghanistan and with 169 00:09:29,620 --> 00:09:31,940 the warriors who mourn their fallen 170 00:09:31,940 --> 00:09:35,550 brothers and sisters and with those who 171 00:09:35,550 --> 00:09:38,500 bear the wounds of war to body and to 172 00:09:38,500 --> 00:09:42,350 Seoul we will never forget what you 173 00:09:42,350 --> 00:09:45,060 did and what you gave 174 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:49,150 our country owes you thinks that won't 175 00:09:49,150 --> 00:09:53,050 fade and support that 176 00:09:53,050 --> 00:09:57,000 won't falter the war has ended 177 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,950 but our gratitude never will . 178 00:10:03,140 --> 00:10:05,362 And finally just worried about the Navy 179 00:10:05,362 --> 00:10:07,362 helicopter mishap overnight off the 180 00:10:07,362 --> 00:10:10,150 coast of California . I know the Navy 181 00:10:10,150 --> 00:10:12,390 is working diligently at search and 182 00:10:12,390 --> 00:10:15,580 rescue operations and on behalf of the 183 00:10:15,580 --> 00:10:18,180 whole department . I want to pass on 184 00:10:18,180 --> 00:10:20,291 our thoughts and prayers for the best 185 00:10:20,291 --> 00:10:23,190 possible outcome is yet another 186 00:10:23,190 --> 00:10:25,720 reminder of the dangers our men and 187 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:28,970 women face every day overseas 188 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,160 at sea and here at home . 189 00:10:33,740 --> 00:10:36,073 Now let me turn it over to the chairman . 190 00:10:36,073 --> 00:10:39,780 Yeah , thanks secretary and 191 00:10:39,790 --> 00:10:42,490 good afternoon everyone . Three weeks 192 00:10:42,490 --> 00:10:45,010 ago , the United States military 193 00:10:45,010 --> 00:10:47,890 received the mission to conduct a 194 00:10:47,900 --> 00:10:50,590 noncombatant evacuation operation from 195 00:10:50,590 --> 00:10:52,620 Afghanistan in support of the 196 00:10:52,620 --> 00:10:54,660 Department of State in order to 197 00:10:54,660 --> 00:10:56,540 evacuate american citizens . The 198 00:10:56,540 --> 00:10:59,240 Department of State designated afghans 199 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:02,210 were they Directed completion date of 200 00:11:02,210 --> 00:11:05,750 31 August . The key military 201 00:11:05,750 --> 00:11:07,900 tasks were to secure and defend 202 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:10,473 international airport in Kabul , 203 00:11:11,340 --> 00:11:13,760 evacuate all embassy personnel , 204 00:11:14,540 --> 00:11:16,540 evacuate all american citizens that 205 00:11:16,540 --> 00:11:19,050 wanted to get out and evacuate other 206 00:11:19,050 --> 00:11:21,390 afghans as designated by the Department 207 00:11:21,390 --> 00:11:24,850 of State and retrograde all of the U . 208 00:11:24,850 --> 00:11:28,480 S . Military . In short , the United 209 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:30,591 States military was tasked to conduct 210 00:11:30,591 --> 00:11:33,660 too highly complex missions 211 00:11:33,660 --> 00:11:36,430 simultaneously retrograde while in 212 00:11:36,430 --> 00:11:39,480 contact with the enemy in a neo in a 213 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:42,780 non permissive environment , we 214 00:11:42,780 --> 00:11:45,190 executed that mission in a highly 215 00:11:45,190 --> 00:11:47,730 dynamic , dangerous operating 216 00:11:47,730 --> 00:11:50,580 environment from a war torn country . 217 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:53,800 It was conducted across nine countries 218 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,770 And 26 an immediate staging bases in 219 00:11:56,770 --> 00:11:59,830 temporary safe havens . We deployed 220 00:11:59,830 --> 00:12:02,720 between five and 6000 military 221 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:04,980 personnel on the ground , some of whom 222 00:12:04,980 --> 00:12:06,924 were forward deployed based on our 223 00:12:06,924 --> 00:12:09,980 contingency planning . These elements 224 00:12:09,980 --> 00:12:12,036 came from the 82nd Airborne Division 225 00:12:12,140 --> 00:12:14,790 Special Forces , the Marine Corps along 226 00:12:14,790 --> 00:12:16,679 with Navy and Air Force personnel 227 00:12:17,340 --> 00:12:19,451 flying in support for combat aircraft 228 00:12:19,451 --> 00:12:21,730 from the Air Force and the Navy as well 229 00:12:21,730 --> 00:12:24,240 as incredible support from the 230 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:26,240 transport aircraft , the pilots and 231 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:27,750 crews , the United States 232 00:12:27,750 --> 00:12:31,050 Transportation Command and a float we 233 00:12:31,050 --> 00:12:33,850 had in our new and carrier strike group . 234 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:39,180 We flew 387 U . S . Military 235 00:12:39,180 --> 00:12:42,760 C 17 and C 1 30 sorties And we 236 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:46,380 enabled 391 non U . S . Military 237 00:12:46,380 --> 00:12:50,350 sorties . A total of 778 sorties 238 00:12:50,940 --> 00:12:53,190 evacuated a total of 239 00:12:53,190 --> 00:12:56,810 124,300 and 34 240 00:12:56,810 --> 00:13:00,390 people which included Almost 241 00:13:00,390 --> 00:13:04,080 6000 American citizens . Third country 242 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:06,302 nationals and afghans designated by the 243 00:13:06,302 --> 00:13:08,380 Department of State and we will 244 00:13:08,380 --> 00:13:11,260 continue to evacuate american citizens 245 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:14,607 under the leadership of the Department 246 00:13:14,607 --> 00:13:16,496 of State . As this mission is now 247 00:13:16,496 --> 00:13:19,150 transitioned from a military mission to 248 00:13:19,150 --> 00:13:22,790 a diplomatic mission evacuees flowed 249 00:13:22,790 --> 00:13:25,040 through the intermediate staging base , 250 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:27,310 safe havens in Central Command and 251 00:13:27,310 --> 00:13:29,940 european command for onward movement to 252 00:13:29,940 --> 00:13:32,720 the United States , a third country or 253 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:34,831 the home of origin for repatriation , 254 00:13:35,540 --> 00:13:37,380 evacuees , complete medical and 255 00:13:37,380 --> 00:13:40,140 security screening vetting in 256 00:13:40,140 --> 00:13:41,973 accordance with the lead federal 257 00:13:41,973 --> 00:13:43,973 agencies guidance the Department of 258 00:13:43,973 --> 00:13:46,630 Homeland Security . Currently , there's 259 00:13:46,630 --> 00:13:50,630 approximately 20,000 evacuees in 260 00:13:50,630 --> 00:13:53,050 seven staging bases in five countries 261 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:55,007 in Central Command , 262 00:13:55,740 --> 00:13:59,700 Another 23007 staging bases 263 00:14:00,450 --> 00:14:04,010 in four countries in europe And as of 264 00:14:04,010 --> 00:14:06,177 this morning , there are approximately 265 00:14:06,177 --> 00:14:09,370 20,000 Afghans Who arrived at eight 266 00:14:09,380 --> 00:14:11,820 different military bases in the 267 00:14:11,820 --> 00:14:14,970 continental United States . This 268 00:14:14,970 --> 00:14:18,160 mission cost 11 marines , 269 00:14:18,940 --> 00:14:21,880 one soldier and one Navy Corman their 270 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:25,410 lives And 22 others were wounded in 271 00:14:25,410 --> 00:14:28,910 action . In addition to over 100 272 00:14:28,910 --> 00:14:31,400 Afghans killed and wounded In a 273 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:33,710 horrific terrorist attack on 26 August 274 00:14:33,990 --> 00:14:36,280 at Abbey gate and the southeast 275 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:39,930 perimeter of the airport . Those 276 00:14:39,930 --> 00:14:43,400 soldiers , sailors and marines gave 277 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,440 their lives so that others may live 278 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:49,750 free . They literally gave their 279 00:14:49,750 --> 00:14:52,670 tomorrows for the tomorrows of people 280 00:14:52,670 --> 00:14:56,560 they never knew The 124,000 , 281 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:00,460 They never knew the 13 who died And we 282 00:15:00,460 --> 00:15:02,682 will never know the 22 who were wounded 283 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:05,260 with the thousands of dead and 284 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:07,696 thousands of wounded who came before 285 00:15:07,696 --> 00:15:09,750 them , but they will now live in 286 00:15:09,750 --> 00:15:13,170 freedom because the american bloodshed 287 00:15:13,170 --> 00:15:16,880 on their behalf . Nearly two decades 288 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:19,460 have passed since that horrible dark 289 00:15:19,460 --> 00:15:21,571 september day in our nation's history 290 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:24,960 When 2977 innocent lies 291 00:15:26,340 --> 00:15:29,760 were murdered . Since then , 292 00:15:30,740 --> 00:15:32,907 the men and women of the United States 293 00:15:32,907 --> 00:15:35,018 military and our Interagency partners 294 00:15:35,018 --> 00:15:37,150 have fought tirelessly to defeat 295 00:15:37,150 --> 00:15:39,206 terrorists in Afghanistan around the 296 00:15:39,206 --> 00:15:43,160 world , both at home and abroad . Their 297 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:46,210 talent , their efforts have carried 298 00:15:46,210 --> 00:15:49,940 this fight day and night in 299 00:15:49,940 --> 00:15:51,810 Afghanistan . Our mission , our 300 00:15:51,810 --> 00:15:55,700 military mission has now come to an 301 00:15:55,700 --> 00:15:58,080 end . We're gonna learn from this 302 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,960 experience as a military , how we got 303 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:03,071 to this moment in Afghanistan will be 304 00:16:03,071 --> 00:16:05,238 analyzed and studied for years to come 305 00:16:06,340 --> 00:16:08,680 and we in the military will approach 306 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:10,791 this with humility , transparency and 307 00:16:10,791 --> 00:16:13,560 candor . There are many tactical 308 00:16:13,570 --> 00:16:15,792 operational and strategic lessons to be 309 00:16:15,792 --> 00:16:19,760 learned . 800,000 of us in uniform 310 00:16:20,530 --> 00:16:22,697 served in Afghanistan over the last 20 311 00:16:22,697 --> 00:16:25,080 years , our nation spent over a 312 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:28,390 trillion dollars And most importantly , 313 00:16:28,390 --> 00:16:31,810 2,461 soldiers , 314 00:16:31,820 --> 00:16:35,160 sailors , airmen and marines 315 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:38,550 gave the last full measure of devotion . 316 00:16:39,340 --> 00:16:42,970 Well , 20691 were 317 00:16:43,340 --> 00:16:46,120 wounded and untold . Thousands of 318 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,720 others suffer with the invisible wounds 319 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:52,390 of war as we close this chapter 320 00:16:52,940 --> 00:16:55,560 in our nation's history and all of 321 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:57,680 those casualties are alongside our 322 00:16:57,680 --> 00:16:59,902 allies and partners and we should never 323 00:16:59,902 --> 00:17:03,460 forget . That's 60,000 Afghan National 324 00:17:03,460 --> 00:17:05,682 security forces gave their lives in the 325 00:17:05,682 --> 00:17:09,570 conduct of this war . Our 326 00:17:09,570 --> 00:17:11,903 counterterrorism efforts in Afghanistan , 327 00:17:11,903 --> 00:17:15,260 the region over 20 years has protected 328 00:17:15,260 --> 00:17:17,204 the american people from terrorist 329 00:17:17,204 --> 00:17:19,350 attack and the men and women and 330 00:17:19,350 --> 00:17:22,070 Children who were just evacuated will 331 00:17:22,070 --> 00:17:24,230 ultimately be the legacy to prove the 332 00:17:24,230 --> 00:17:27,360 value of our sacrifice . For the past 333 00:17:27,360 --> 00:17:29,630 20 years . There's not been a major 334 00:17:29,630 --> 00:17:32,590 attack on the homeland and it is now 335 00:17:32,590 --> 00:17:34,757 our mission to ensure that we continue 336 00:17:34,757 --> 00:17:37,250 our intelligence efforts continue our 337 00:17:37,260 --> 00:17:39,620 counterterrorism efforts continue our 338 00:17:39,620 --> 00:17:41,870 military efforts To protect the 339 00:17:41,870 --> 00:17:43,981 American people for the next 20 years 340 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:46,496 and we and the american military are 341 00:17:46,496 --> 00:17:48,560 committed to do just that 342 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,810 for those of us in uniform who served 343 00:17:53,810 --> 00:17:56,960 in Afghanistan , For our families 344 00:17:58,540 --> 00:18:00,707 who have suffered and sacrificed along 345 00:18:00,707 --> 00:18:03,490 our side for those who have supported 346 00:18:03,490 --> 00:18:06,170 us . These have been incredibly 347 00:18:06,170 --> 00:18:09,060 emotional and trying days and indeed 348 00:18:09,060 --> 00:18:12,990 years . We are all conflicted with 349 00:18:12,990 --> 00:18:16,680 feelings of pain and anger , sorrow and 350 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:20,490 sadness combined with pride and 351 00:18:20,490 --> 00:18:23,850 resilience . There are no words that 352 00:18:24,340 --> 00:18:26,670 yeah I or the secretary or the 353 00:18:26,670 --> 00:18:29,330 president or anyone else we'll ever do 354 00:18:29,330 --> 00:18:32,920 to bring the dead back but we can 355 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:36,140 always honor them . and one thing I am 356 00:18:36,140 --> 00:18:39,310 certain of for any soldier , sailor , 357 00:18:39,310 --> 00:18:41,560 Airman Marine and their family . 358 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:46,220 Your service mattered and it was not in 359 00:18:46,220 --> 00:18:50,100 vain . Thank you . Okay , I 360 00:18:50,100 --> 00:18:52,100 think we have enough time for a few 361 00:18:52,100 --> 00:18:54,378 questions and we'll start with you bob . 362 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,610 Thank you Mr Secretary , looking ahead 363 00:18:57,620 --> 00:19:00,340 in Afghanistan question for both of you . 364 00:19:00,340 --> 00:19:03,570 Please given the experience of the past 365 00:19:03,580 --> 00:19:06,060 couple of weeks at the Kabul airport 366 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:08,520 where U . S commanders were 367 00:19:09,310 --> 00:19:11,830 coordinating or these communicating 368 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:15,060 daily with taliban commanders 369 00:19:15,740 --> 00:19:17,907 to in effect that General Mackenzie um 370 00:19:17,907 --> 00:19:20,680 Soul said was at times very helpful and 371 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:23,013 also I know General Milley in your case , 372 00:19:23,013 --> 00:19:25,236 you last year had face to face meetings 373 00:19:25,236 --> 00:19:27,180 with taliban leaders at least on a 374 00:19:27,180 --> 00:19:29,180 couple of occasions . I'm wondering 375 00:19:29,180 --> 00:19:31,069 what you can do . You think these 376 00:19:31,069 --> 00:19:33,540 experiences say about the prospect for 377 00:19:33,550 --> 00:19:35,772 the United States relationship with the 378 00:19:35,772 --> 00:19:38,290 Taliban to include the possibility of 379 00:19:38,300 --> 00:19:41,710 any kind of coordination in counter 380 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,170 terrorism operations against IsIS K . 381 00:19:44,170 --> 00:19:47,280 In Afghanistan . About first of all , 382 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:49,350 let me applaud the initiative of our 383 00:19:49,360 --> 00:19:53,320 commanders on the ground who 384 00:19:53,330 --> 00:19:56,160 would stop at nothing to accomplish the 385 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,510 mission that they were they were 386 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:01,210 provided of evacuating as many american 387 00:20:01,210 --> 00:20:03,377 citizens , third country nationals and 388 00:20:03,377 --> 00:20:06,390 s ivy applicants as possible . We were 389 00:20:06,390 --> 00:20:08,890 focused on , we were working with the 390 00:20:08,900 --> 00:20:11,960 taliban on a very narrow set of issues 391 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:14,440 and it was just that to get as many 392 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:17,070 people out as we possibly could . And 393 00:20:17,070 --> 00:20:19,240 so I would not lead to , I would not 394 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:22,150 make any leaps of logic to , you know , 395 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:25,630 a broader uh broader issues . I would 396 00:20:25,630 --> 00:20:28,040 just say that again , I'm immensely 397 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:31,020 proud of of what what our troops have 398 00:20:31,020 --> 00:20:33,220 done to this point and it's hard to 399 00:20:33,220 --> 00:20:35,280 predict where this will go in the 400 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:37,502 future of with respect to the taliban . 401 00:20:37,502 --> 00:20:40,660 I would just say bob um 402 00:20:41,340 --> 00:20:43,830 Secretary I both served in Afghanistan 403 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:46,007 and many of us did . You all did too . 404 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:48,360 Uh We don't know what the future of the 405 00:20:48,360 --> 00:20:52,040 Taliban is . But I can tell you from 406 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:55,080 personal experience . Uh This is a 407 00:20:55,090 --> 00:20:57,870 ruthless group from the past . And 408 00:20:57,870 --> 00:20:59,981 whether or not they change remains to 409 00:20:59,981 --> 00:21:02,860 be seen . Uh And as far as our dealings 410 00:21:02,860 --> 00:21:04,970 with them at that airfield or in the 411 00:21:04,970 --> 00:21:08,150 past year or so in war , you do what 412 00:21:08,150 --> 00:21:10,730 you must in order to reduce risk to 413 00:21:10,730 --> 00:21:12,452 mission and force not what you 414 00:21:12,452 --> 00:21:14,063 necessarily want to do . Any 415 00:21:14,063 --> 00:21:16,063 possibility of coordination against 416 00:21:16,063 --> 00:21:19,850 ISIS K with him impossible 417 00:21:20,940 --> 00:21:23,980 going going forward by by again . I 418 00:21:23,980 --> 00:21:27,100 would not want to make any predictions . 419 00:21:27,110 --> 00:21:29,166 I would tell you that we're gonna do 420 00:21:29,166 --> 00:21:31,690 everything that we can to make sure we 421 00:21:31,690 --> 00:21:34,590 remain focused on ISIS K . Understand 422 00:21:34,590 --> 00:21:37,370 that network and and at the time of our 423 00:21:37,370 --> 00:21:39,750 choosing in the future hold them 424 00:21:39,750 --> 00:21:41,750 accountable for what they've done . 425 00:21:42,940 --> 00:21:45,800 Let's go to Helene cooper , thank you 426 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:47,689 so much for doing this . I have a 427 00:21:47,689 --> 00:21:49,800 question for you and then another one 428 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:52,750 for General Milley . Um Mr Secretary 429 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:55,100 perhaps it's possible that there's no 430 00:21:55,100 --> 00:21:57,890 exit from Afghanistan that would not 431 00:21:57,900 --> 00:22:01,320 have been chaotic given what we now 432 00:22:01,330 --> 00:22:04,380 know . Uh And for all the reasons that 433 00:22:04,380 --> 00:22:07,670 the administration has mentioned . Uh 434 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:09,650 but I would like to know now in 435 00:22:09,660 --> 00:22:12,540 hindsight , is there one thing that you 436 00:22:12,540 --> 00:22:14,950 wish that you or the pentagon had done ? 437 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:16,627 Could have done differently . 438 00:22:18,540 --> 00:22:22,300 Thanks a lien . Um I would just tell 439 00:22:22,300 --> 00:22:24,480 you that there hasn't been a single 440 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:26,647 operation that I've ever been involved 441 00:22:26,647 --> 00:22:29,670 in , where we didn't discover that 442 00:22:29,670 --> 00:22:31,726 there's something that we could have 443 00:22:31,726 --> 00:22:33,948 done better or more efficiently or more 444 00:22:33,948 --> 00:22:36,830 effectively . And I'd also say that no 445 00:22:36,830 --> 00:22:40,380 operation is ever perfect . I will tell 446 00:22:40,380 --> 00:22:42,491 you that we will do what we always do 447 00:22:42,491 --> 00:22:45,020 and that is to to look at ourselves and 448 00:22:45,030 --> 00:22:49,010 uh do after action reviews and we 449 00:22:49,010 --> 00:22:52,090 want to make sure that uh we learned 450 00:22:52,090 --> 00:22:54,201 every lesson that can be learned from 451 00:22:54,201 --> 00:22:56,520 this experience but I want to take the 452 00:22:56,520 --> 00:23:00,410 time to do it the right way . Uh And uh 453 00:23:00,410 --> 00:23:03,370 and so we'll do that in the days uh in 454 00:23:03,370 --> 00:23:04,370 the days ahead . 455 00:23:06,950 --> 00:23:10,920 Oh sorry I was just gonna say I I 456 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,250 would just say again Helen that I'm 457 00:23:13,250 --> 00:23:15,590 enormously proud of her of our men and 458 00:23:15,590 --> 00:23:18,160 women who worked hard to accomplish 459 00:23:18,540 --> 00:23:20,651 what they just accomplished . Which I 460 00:23:20,651 --> 00:23:23,010 think as I said earlier is historic and 461 00:23:23,010 --> 00:23:25,780 heroic . Go ahead . Maybe thrown out a 462 00:23:25,780 --> 00:23:27,836 book on the whole S . I . V . I mean 463 00:23:27,836 --> 00:23:30,120 the previous administration did leave . 464 00:23:30,130 --> 00:23:32,480 I understand that but I did put a lot 465 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:34,758 of hurdles in the way of the S . I . V . 466 00:23:34,758 --> 00:23:37,090 Program that this administration had to 467 00:23:37,090 --> 00:23:40,350 then deal with upon arrival . Do you 468 00:23:40,350 --> 00:23:42,517 think at all that because the Pentagon 469 00:23:42,517 --> 00:23:44,739 worked so hard with these people for 20 470 00:23:44,739 --> 00:23:46,406 years . These translators and 471 00:23:46,406 --> 00:23:48,628 interpreters that we should have thrown 472 00:23:48,628 --> 00:23:51,230 that whole book out when I would say 473 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:54,250 Helen is that the S . I . V . Program 474 00:23:54,250 --> 00:23:56,580 is obviously not not designed to 475 00:23:56,580 --> 00:23:59,620 accommodate Uh what we just did in 476 00:23:59,620 --> 00:24:02,660 evacuating you know over 100,000 people . 477 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:06,240 Uh And so uh perhaps uh this this 478 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:08,129 program should be looked at going 479 00:24:08,129 --> 00:24:11,780 forward . Uh It is a it is a designed 480 00:24:11,780 --> 00:24:15,210 to be a slow process . Uh Secretary 481 00:24:15,210 --> 00:24:17,270 Blinken and in uh in the State 482 00:24:17,270 --> 00:24:20,350 Department worked hard early on uh two 483 00:24:20,540 --> 00:24:22,484 uh to shorten the timeline that it 484 00:24:22,484 --> 00:24:24,651 takes to to work your way through that 485 00:24:24,651 --> 00:24:27,110 process . But again for the type of 486 00:24:27,110 --> 00:24:29,480 operation that we just conducted . Uh I 487 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:31,800 think I think we need a different type 488 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:34,630 of capability . And for General Milley , 489 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:37,384 I wanted to ask you about sunday's 490 00:24:37,384 --> 00:24:40,110 drone strike . Can you take us back to 491 00:24:40,110 --> 00:24:42,570 that morning ? You have intel that ISIS 492 00:24:42,570 --> 00:24:45,200 K . Is plotting another attack . The 493 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:48,230 military spots a vehicle that you 494 00:24:48,230 --> 00:24:50,780 believe is uh full of carrying 495 00:24:50,780 --> 00:24:53,930 explosives explosives . Uh And we take 496 00:24:53,930 --> 00:24:56,170 the car out with a drone strike and 497 00:24:56,170 --> 00:24:58,960 reports now say that we may have that 498 00:24:59,140 --> 00:25:01,307 10 civilians . As many as 10 civilians 499 00:25:01,307 --> 00:25:03,290 may have been may have been killed 500 00:25:03,300 --> 00:25:05,300 because of the urgent threat 501 00:25:05,310 --> 00:25:06,921 environment at the time . Do 502 00:25:06,921 --> 00:25:09,700 preliminary assessments indicate that 503 00:25:09,710 --> 00:25:12,750 we may have rushed relax or waived 504 00:25:12,750 --> 00:25:14,920 altogether . Some of the normal checks 505 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:17,142 and balances that we do before a strike 506 00:25:17,142 --> 00:25:19,860 like that A couple of things . one is 507 00:25:20,610 --> 00:25:22,888 as we always do on all of these things . 508 00:25:22,888 --> 00:25:24,943 We initiate an investigation . We're 509 00:25:24,943 --> 00:25:27,110 reviewing all the video and all that . 510 00:25:27,110 --> 00:25:29,221 But having said that you know what do 511 00:25:29,221 --> 00:25:31,388 we know what we don't know what do you 512 00:25:31,388 --> 00:25:33,666 think sort of thing at the at the time . 513 00:25:33,666 --> 00:25:35,721 And I think this is still valid . We 514 00:25:35,721 --> 00:25:38,070 had very good intelligence that ISIS K . 515 00:25:38,070 --> 00:25:41,050 Was preparing a specific type vehicle 516 00:25:41,220 --> 00:25:44,330 at a specific type location . We 517 00:25:44,330 --> 00:25:46,497 monitored that through various means . 518 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:49,770 Um and um all of the engagement 519 00:25:49,770 --> 00:25:51,659 criteria were being met . We went 520 00:25:51,659 --> 00:25:53,714 through the same level of rigor that 521 00:25:53,714 --> 00:25:55,659 we've done for years and we took a 522 00:25:55,659 --> 00:25:58,660 strike so that we did secondly is we 523 00:25:58,660 --> 00:26:00,382 know that there were secondary 524 00:26:00,382 --> 00:26:02,604 explosions because there were secondary 525 00:26:02,604 --> 00:26:04,493 explosions . There's a reasonable 526 00:26:04,493 --> 00:26:06,549 conclusion to be made that there was 527 00:26:06,549 --> 00:26:08,716 explosives in that vehicle . The third 528 00:26:08,716 --> 00:26:10,660 thing is we know from a variety of 529 00:26:10,660 --> 00:26:12,827 other means that at least one of those 530 00:26:12,827 --> 00:26:14,771 people that were killed was a ISIS 531 00:26:14,771 --> 00:26:16,882 facilitator . Uh So were there others 532 00:26:16,882 --> 00:26:19,160 killed ? Yes , there are others killed , 533 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:21,216 who they are . We don't know . We'll 534 00:26:21,216 --> 00:26:23,327 try to sort through all that , but we 535 00:26:23,327 --> 00:26:25,327 believe that the procedures at this 536 00:26:25,327 --> 00:26:27,438 point , I don't want to influence the 537 00:26:27,438 --> 00:26:29,660 outcome of an investigation . Um but at 538 00:26:29,660 --> 00:26:31,882 this point we think that the procedures 539 00:26:31,882 --> 00:26:31,340 were correctly followed . I know it's a 540 00:26:31,340 --> 00:26:33,500 righteous strike . So we've got time 541 00:26:33,500 --> 00:26:35,611 for one more question and we'll go to 542 00:26:35,611 --> 00:26:37,778 bar last question . Thank you . Sure . 543 00:26:37,778 --> 00:26:40,000 Um Well , your messages today from both 544 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,056 of you , your messages of compassion 545 00:26:42,140 --> 00:26:44,307 and gratitude are certainly understood 546 00:26:44,940 --> 00:26:47,790 in the last several days . Both of you 547 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:50,190 at multiple times have issued these 548 00:26:50,190 --> 00:26:54,070 kinds of messages and statements . And 549 00:26:54,070 --> 00:26:57,080 what I'm curious about is what do you 550 00:26:57,080 --> 00:27:00,760 see in the country with troops 551 00:27:00,770 --> 00:27:03,450 with veterans that 552 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:07,800 makes you feel ? It's a 553 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:11,060 rare thing that makes you feel these 554 00:27:11,060 --> 00:27:14,800 messages must continue . And you have 555 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:17,580 put out so many in the last few days 556 00:27:17,590 --> 00:27:20,200 and General Milley , I was very struck 557 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:23,400 you used the words pain and anger and 558 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:25,678 that you understood that was out there . 559 00:27:25,678 --> 00:27:27,910 So as a combat veteran yourself of 560 00:27:27,910 --> 00:27:30,460 Afghanistan , can you help people 561 00:27:30,460 --> 00:27:34,380 understand that ? Where does your pain 562 00:27:34,380 --> 00:27:36,620 and anger come from ? If you could both 563 00:27:36,630 --> 00:27:39,100 answer your views on this ? And I would 564 00:27:39,100 --> 00:27:41,211 start by saying Barb that this is the 565 00:27:41,211 --> 00:27:44,500 longest war in , in our history . And 566 00:27:44,500 --> 00:27:48,200 so there have been a couple of 567 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:50,450 generations that have participated in 568 00:27:50,460 --> 00:27:53,670 uh , in this war . And 569 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:58,910 as we've gone about , I've gotten input 570 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:01,750 and reactions that are from all sides 571 00:28:01,750 --> 00:28:04,350 of this uh , of this issue . And as I 572 00:28:04,350 --> 00:28:06,461 said in my opening statement , that's 573 00:28:06,461 --> 00:28:09,600 to be expected . Uh and uh , and of 574 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:12,200 course I respect that and I think we 575 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:15,140 have to provide ourselves the time and 576 00:28:15,140 --> 00:28:18,410 space to adequately deal was with 577 00:28:18,420 --> 00:28:20,587 everything that our veterans have been 578 00:28:20,587 --> 00:28:22,753 through and we will work through those 579 00:28:22,753 --> 00:28:25,130 issues and and the system will be there 580 00:28:25,130 --> 00:28:27,074 to support our veterans as we work 581 00:28:27,074 --> 00:28:29,550 through those issues . I just think 582 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:32,262 again , we need to respect each other's 583 00:28:32,262 --> 00:28:34,770 views and be supportive of each other . 584 00:28:35,340 --> 00:28:37,370 And one thing I would say , Barb is 585 00:28:37,370 --> 00:28:39,840 that people will process this 586 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:42,020 differently and for those who think 587 00:28:42,020 --> 00:28:44,590 they need help , please seek help . Uh 588 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:46,822 you know , we're there for you . And as 589 00:28:46,822 --> 00:28:48,933 I said , you heard me say a number of 590 00:28:48,933 --> 00:28:51,430 times before , you know , mental health 591 00:28:51,540 --> 00:28:54,970 is health period . Uh , and and so this 592 00:28:54,970 --> 00:28:57,192 will take time to work for people to to 593 00:28:57,192 --> 00:28:59,430 to work their way through their varying 594 00:28:59,430 --> 00:29:02,650 opinions on on each side of the aisle . 595 00:29:02,660 --> 00:29:05,000 And that's to be expected and respected . 596 00:29:05,010 --> 00:29:08,970 So assured . There 597 00:29:08,970 --> 00:29:12,070 is a question of so Barbara , you asked 598 00:29:12,070 --> 00:29:14,292 me where my pain and anger comes from . 599 00:29:14,292 --> 00:29:16,459 I have all those same emotions and I'm 600 00:29:16,459 --> 00:29:18,792 sure the secretary does anyone to serve . 601 00:29:18,792 --> 00:29:21,800 Uh , and I commanded troops . Um , and 602 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:24,250 I wasn't born a four star general . Uh , 603 00:29:24,260 --> 00:29:26,204 I have walked the patrols and been 604 00:29:26,204 --> 00:29:27,982 blown up and shot at an RPG and 605 00:29:27,982 --> 00:29:29,982 everything else . My pain and anger 606 00:29:29,982 --> 00:29:31,871 comes from uh , the same as those 607 00:29:31,871 --> 00:29:33,982 grieving families . The same as those 608 00:29:33,982 --> 00:29:36,149 soldiers that are on the ground . Last 609 00:29:36,149 --> 00:29:35,620 night . I visited the wounded up in 610 00:29:35,620 --> 00:29:38,610 walter reed . Um This is tough stuff . 611 00:29:38,620 --> 00:29:40,980 War is hard . Uh it's vicious . It's 612 00:29:40,980 --> 00:29:43,370 brutal . It's unforgiving . And yes , 613 00:29:43,380 --> 00:29:45,491 we all have pain and anger . And when 614 00:29:45,491 --> 00:29:47,870 we see what has unfolded over the last 615 00:29:47,870 --> 00:29:50,260 20 years and over the last 20 days , 616 00:29:50,270 --> 00:29:52,326 that creates pain and anger . Uh and 617 00:29:52,326 --> 00:29:54,690 mind comes from 242 of my soldiers 618 00:29:54,690 --> 00:29:56,890 killed in action over 20 years in Iraq 619 00:29:56,890 --> 00:29:59,223 and Afghanistan . So yeah , I have that . 620 00:29:59,223 --> 00:30:01,279 But I'm a professional soldier . I'm 621 00:30:01,279 --> 00:30:03,446 going to contain my pain and anger and 622 00:30:03,446 --> 00:30:05,279 continue to execute my mission . 623 00:30:05,279 --> 00:30:09,230 Thanks . Thanks 624 00:30:09,230 --> 00:30:11,286 for you . Have to go . We have to go 625 00:30:11,286 --> 00:30:13,397 guys , Trade is going to be sent back 626 00:30:13,397 --> 00:30:16,690 to Afghanistan military . 627 00:30:17,740 --> 00:30:17,950 Yes .