1 00:00:01,340 --> 00:00:05,310 Mhm afternoon , 2 00:00:05,310 --> 00:00:07,920 everybody . Just a couple of things at 3 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:08,760 the top here . 4 00:00:17,340 --> 00:00:19,830 Uh today I think you saw the secretary 5 00:00:19,830 --> 00:00:21,980 issued a statement recognizing the 10 6 00:00:21,980 --> 00:00:24,202 year anniversary of the repeal of don't 7 00:00:24,202 --> 00:00:26,380 ask , don't tell repeal eliminated a 8 00:00:26,390 --> 00:00:28,557 significant barrier to equal treatment 9 00:00:28,557 --> 00:00:30,890 in an effort to pursue a more equitable , 10 00:00:30,890 --> 00:00:32,890 diverse , inclusive , an accessible 11 00:00:32,890 --> 00:00:34,946 Department of Defense . I might also 12 00:00:34,946 --> 00:00:37,112 add a more effective military , as the 13 00:00:37,112 --> 00:00:38,834 secretary said by insisting on 14 00:00:38,834 --> 00:00:40,834 standards of merit and allowing all 15 00:00:40,834 --> 00:00:40,550 those who are qualified to serve in 16 00:00:40,550 --> 00:00:42,606 uniform . We avail ourselves of more 17 00:00:42,606 --> 00:00:44,772 talent , better leaders and innovative 18 00:00:44,772 --> 00:00:46,828 solutions to the security challenges 19 00:00:46,828 --> 00:00:48,994 that we face around the world . Repeal 20 00:00:48,994 --> 00:00:51,161 of don't ask , don't tell improved the 21 00:00:51,161 --> 00:00:53,272 diversity equity and inclusion across 22 00:00:53,272 --> 00:00:54,994 our force and it makes us more 23 00:00:54,994 --> 00:00:57,106 representative not only of the nation 24 00:00:57,106 --> 00:00:59,161 we defend but wiser and stronger and 25 00:00:59,161 --> 00:01:01,050 without question , better able to 26 00:01:01,050 --> 00:01:04,280 defend this nation . Uh On a personal 27 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:06,336 note , excited to welcome our newest 28 00:01:06,336 --> 00:01:08,502 member of the public affairs team here 29 00:01:08,502 --> 00:01:11,190 at OsD Melanie fonder K joins us as the 30 00:01:11,190 --> 00:01:13,301 deputy assistant to the Secretary for 31 00:01:13,301 --> 00:01:15,523 strategic engagements . Your first date 32 00:01:15,523 --> 00:01:17,746 was today . She comes to the team after 33 00:01:17,746 --> 00:01:19,690 founding and leading the strategic 34 00:01:19,690 --> 00:01:21,468 communications firm M . F . K . 35 00:01:21,468 --> 00:01:23,579 Strategies . She previously served as 36 00:01:23,579 --> 00:01:25,634 director of communications to dr joe 37 00:01:25,634 --> 00:01:27,634 biden where she developed that then 38 00:01:27,634 --> 00:01:29,746 second ladies Communications strategy 39 00:01:29,746 --> 00:01:31,523 which included joining forces , 40 00:01:31,523 --> 00:01:33,579 encouraging all americans to support 41 00:01:33,579 --> 00:01:35,690 service members , veterans , military 42 00:01:35,690 --> 00:01:37,634 families and caregivers among many 43 00:01:37,634 --> 00:01:39,857 other initiatives . Melanie will have a 44 00:01:39,857 --> 00:01:42,023 robust schedule of office calls here . 45 00:01:42,023 --> 00:01:44,190 She settled in and we'll circulate her 46 00:01:44,190 --> 00:01:46,412 contact information as soon as she's up 47 00:01:46,412 --> 00:01:48,357 online . As as far as I know , she 48 00:01:48,357 --> 00:01:50,579 doesn't even have a email account yet , 49 00:01:50,579 --> 00:01:52,634 but we'll get that fixed soon . That 50 00:01:52,634 --> 00:01:54,579 will take questions . Hey john , a 51 00:01:54,579 --> 00:01:56,690 couple of quick questions on , do you 52 00:01:56,690 --> 00:01:58,412 have anything on air strike in 53 00:01:58,412 --> 00:02:01,020 Northwest Syria today ? I have seen a 54 00:02:01,030 --> 00:02:03,640 short statement by Central Command . I 55 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,520 think they put that out that and I can 56 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:08,690 just read for you what I've got . I 57 00:02:08,690 --> 00:02:11,023 don't have more detail than this though . 58 00:02:11,140 --> 00:02:14,300 A strike near Idlib Syria on a senior 59 00:02:14,300 --> 00:02:16,760 Al Qaeda leader . Uh Their initial 60 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,540 indications are that they struck the 61 00:02:19,540 --> 00:02:21,762 individual that they were targeting and 62 00:02:21,762 --> 00:02:23,984 that they don't have any indications at 63 00:02:23,984 --> 00:02:26,151 this time of civilian casualties . But 64 00:02:26,151 --> 00:02:28,207 they continue to look into that . Of 65 00:02:28,207 --> 00:02:27,990 course , I don't have more detail in 66 00:02:27,990 --> 00:02:30,212 that . Okay . The other question I have 67 00:02:30,212 --> 00:02:32,379 for you with whether you could discuss 68 00:02:32,379 --> 00:02:33,934 any further the question of 69 00:02:33,934 --> 00:02:36,046 accountability for the Kabul strike , 70 00:02:36,046 --> 00:02:38,046 that General Mackenzie described on 71 00:02:38,046 --> 00:02:40,101 friday and he mentioned very briefly 72 00:02:40,101 --> 00:02:42,046 that there would that there was an 73 00:02:42,046 --> 00:02:43,657 accountability aspect to the 74 00:02:43,657 --> 00:02:45,657 investigation . Is Secretary Austin 75 00:02:45,657 --> 00:02:47,930 involved from like . And you allow the 76 00:02:47,940 --> 00:02:50,210 Secretary has asked the Secretary of 77 00:02:50,210 --> 00:02:53,560 the Air Force to task 78 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:57,650 a senior uh flag or general 79 00:02:57,650 --> 00:03:00,480 officer at the rank of three star or 80 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:04,180 above to conduct a review of the 81 00:03:04,180 --> 00:03:06,180 Central Command investigation . The 82 00:03:06,180 --> 00:03:07,958 same investigation that General 83 00:03:07,958 --> 00:03:09,847 Mackenzie read out to you guys on 84 00:03:09,847 --> 00:03:12,630 friday . Uh part of that review will be 85 00:03:12,640 --> 00:03:15,100 uh to examine uh the investigation 86 00:03:15,100 --> 00:03:16,933 itself , the thoroughness of the 87 00:03:16,933 --> 00:03:20,910 investigation to uh study the degree 88 00:03:20,910 --> 00:03:23,670 to which any policies , procedures or 89 00:03:23,670 --> 00:03:25,670 targeting mechanisms may need to be 90 00:03:25,670 --> 00:03:27,980 altered going forward . If any and of 91 00:03:27,980 --> 00:03:30,880 course to then take a look at uh what 92 00:03:30,890 --> 00:03:32,779 levels of accountability might be 93 00:03:32,779 --> 00:03:34,890 appropriate and if so at what at what 94 00:03:34,890 --> 00:03:37,001 level uh so that will be part of this 95 00:03:37,001 --> 00:03:39,480 review . Um and uh the secretary has 96 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:41,424 asked for the Secretary of the Air 97 00:03:41,424 --> 00:03:43,920 Force to To nominate somebody for that 98 00:03:43,930 --> 00:03:46,340 and then to have that review done 99 00:03:46,350 --> 00:03:50,140 within 45 days of the tasking of the 100 00:03:50,140 --> 00:03:53,350 individual reviewer . Does that on the 101 00:03:53,350 --> 00:03:55,517 question of accountability , does that 102 00:03:55,517 --> 00:03:58,090 three star are above officer of the 103 00:03:58,230 --> 00:04:01,800 authority to initiate action or only to 104 00:04:01,810 --> 00:04:03,921 recommend ? It would be , it would be 105 00:04:03,921 --> 00:04:05,977 to review the investigation and make 106 00:04:05,977 --> 00:04:08,143 recommendations based on that review , 107 00:04:08,143 --> 00:04:10,760 not necessarily to take action . This 108 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:13,100 would be a senior Air Force officer . 109 00:04:13,100 --> 00:04:15,570 So um if there's accountability to be 110 00:04:15,570 --> 00:04:18,860 held , um you know , the 111 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:23,090 the decisions about who and and what 112 00:04:23,100 --> 00:04:25,500 would be done , it would be a separate 113 00:04:25,500 --> 00:04:29,500 consideration . Okay , jen John I'm 114 00:04:29,500 --> 00:04:31,611 still trying to understand how the us 115 00:04:31,611 --> 00:04:33,960 military followed a car for eight hours 116 00:04:34,340 --> 00:04:37,890 and took a fired a hellfire missile 117 00:04:37,890 --> 00:04:40,260 when a car was pulling into a driveway , 118 00:04:40,270 --> 00:04:42,492 not even pulling out of the driveway on 119 00:04:42,492 --> 00:04:44,437 route to the airport . Why was the 120 00:04:44,437 --> 00:04:47,090 decision taken as we've now learned 121 00:04:47,100 --> 00:04:49,510 there was another surveillance drones 122 00:04:49,510 --> 00:04:51,288 showing that there were kids or 123 00:04:51,288 --> 00:04:53,510 individuals on the ground , but I'm 124 00:04:53,510 --> 00:04:55,566 still confused with that car pulling 125 00:04:55,566 --> 00:04:57,621 into the driveway . Why was that the 126 00:04:57,621 --> 00:04:59,954 moment that you would strike ? Well jen , 127 00:04:59,954 --> 00:04:59,930 I think you can understand now that 128 00:04:59,930 --> 00:05:01,430 we're going to review this 129 00:05:01,430 --> 00:05:03,486 investigation . I really am not in a 130 00:05:03,486 --> 00:05:05,708 position today to relitigate the Tiktok 131 00:05:05,708 --> 00:05:07,763 of of what happened . Uh and in what 132 00:05:07,763 --> 00:05:09,986 order General Mackenzie , I thought did 133 00:05:09,986 --> 00:05:12,620 a very fair contextual job on friday 134 00:05:12,620 --> 00:05:15,020 walking you through almost minute by 135 00:05:15,020 --> 00:05:18,490 minute , uh what they were seeing and 136 00:05:18,500 --> 00:05:20,500 the decisions that they made in the 137 00:05:20,500 --> 00:05:22,667 moment . And so I think I'm just gonna 138 00:05:22,667 --> 00:05:24,889 leave it the way General Mackenzie left 139 00:05:24,889 --> 00:05:27,380 on friday and then let the reviewer of 140 00:05:27,380 --> 00:05:29,700 this investigation come to their own 141 00:05:29,700 --> 00:05:32,050 conclusions . Can you explain to us how 142 00:05:32,060 --> 00:05:34,004 these drone strikes when they take 143 00:05:34,004 --> 00:05:36,171 place in a place like Afghanistan ? At 144 00:05:36,171 --> 00:05:38,282 what level is the target ? Er was the 145 00:05:38,282 --> 00:05:40,449 targeting team at the airport ? Was it 146 00:05:40,449 --> 00:05:43,460 sitting in at centcom in Tampa ? Was it 147 00:05:43,460 --> 00:05:45,793 at fort Bragg ? Was it out in las Vegas ? 148 00:05:45,793 --> 00:05:48,500 Where at what level was the decision 149 00:05:48,510 --> 00:05:50,621 being made ? The decision was made in 150 00:05:50,621 --> 00:05:53,270 Kabul by the strike sell commander in 151 00:05:53,270 --> 00:05:56,160 Kabul . And lastly , is there any plan 152 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,216 to evacuate the remaining members of 153 00:05:58,216 --> 00:06:00,382 the family ? They are doing interviews 154 00:06:00,382 --> 00:06:02,382 saying that nobody's reached out to 155 00:06:02,382 --> 00:06:04,493 them for payments and they want to be 156 00:06:04,493 --> 00:06:06,660 moved to the U . S . Because they feel 157 00:06:06,660 --> 00:06:06,250 their lives are in danger now that 158 00:06:06,250 --> 00:06:08,472 they've been outed as having had family 159 00:06:08,472 --> 00:06:10,694 members who worked for the U . S . Have 160 00:06:10,694 --> 00:06:12,917 certainly seen those comments ? I don't 161 00:06:12,917 --> 00:06:14,972 have anything to confirm or speak to 162 00:06:14,972 --> 00:06:17,194 today in terms of the physical movement 163 00:06:17,194 --> 00:06:16,970 of the family members . But we know 164 00:06:16,970 --> 00:06:19,380 that Central Command is working through 165 00:06:19,390 --> 00:06:22,000 how best to reach out to them for the 166 00:06:22,010 --> 00:06:25,270 uh for the issue of payments but also 167 00:06:25,280 --> 00:06:28,370 uh to determine the validity of this 168 00:06:28,370 --> 00:06:30,592 interest in uh moving out . And I don't 169 00:06:30,592 --> 00:06:32,814 want to get ahead of . I certainly want 170 00:06:32,814 --> 00:06:34,814 to speak for the family and I don't 171 00:06:34,814 --> 00:06:37,037 want to get ahead of worse income is in 172 00:06:37,037 --> 00:06:36,260 that process . But the defense 173 00:06:36,260 --> 00:06:38,530 secretary would support removing that 174 00:06:38,540 --> 00:06:40,762 family if they want to come . I believe 175 00:06:40,762 --> 00:06:42,484 the Secretary of Defense would 176 00:06:42,484 --> 00:06:44,707 absolutely support if the family wanted 177 00:06:44,707 --> 00:06:46,762 to leave Afghanistan and come to the 178 00:06:46,762 --> 00:06:48,707 United States . I believe he would 179 00:06:48,707 --> 00:06:50,929 support that , assuming that you know , 180 00:06:50,929 --> 00:06:52,984 all the proper legal hoops were work 181 00:06:52,984 --> 00:06:55,040 through . I mean I don't want to get 182 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:57,151 ahead of a process or a decision that 183 00:06:57,151 --> 00:06:59,262 hasn't been made yet , but I think he 184 00:06:59,262 --> 00:07:01,373 would absolutely consider that . Yeah 185 00:07:01,373 --> 00:07:03,660 jenny , thank you . Uh on the South 186 00:07:03,660 --> 00:07:07,600 Korea issues as you already know that 187 00:07:07,610 --> 00:07:11,580 South Korea successfully test fired 188 00:07:11,590 --> 00:07:15,120 Slbm uh summary 189 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,370 naci first homicide uh as an 190 00:07:18,370 --> 00:07:22,240 ally , the United States . How do you 191 00:07:22,250 --> 00:07:25,860 view South Korea's uh successful 192 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:30,130 test fire of Serbia ? I would simply 193 00:07:30,130 --> 00:07:33,760 say that uh we continue to 194 00:07:34,140 --> 00:07:37,520 work closely with our allies in the 195 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:40,080 Republic of Korea . On making sure that 196 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:41,820 we have complimentary military 197 00:07:41,820 --> 00:07:43,830 capabilities and that we keep those 198 00:07:43,830 --> 00:07:47,820 capabilities ready and prepared 199 00:07:47,830 --> 00:07:51,290 and uh capable , in a way 200 00:07:51,290 --> 00:07:53,512 commensurate with the continued threats 201 00:07:53,512 --> 00:07:55,623 that we see on the peninsula . Do you 202 00:07:55,623 --> 00:07:57,623 think that this will help the North 203 00:07:57,623 --> 00:08:01,580 korean provocation ? I would like 204 00:08:01,580 --> 00:08:04,890 to think that the alliance itself uh 205 00:08:04,900 --> 00:08:07,011 and the strength and the unity of the 206 00:08:07,011 --> 00:08:10,540 alliance itself would be uh an 207 00:08:10,540 --> 00:08:12,484 appropriate deterrent capability . 208 00:08:12,484 --> 00:08:14,707 That's certainly one reason why we work 209 00:08:14,707 --> 00:08:16,707 at this alliance so hard and why it 210 00:08:16,707 --> 00:08:18,762 matters so much to us and and and to 211 00:08:18,762 --> 00:08:20,651 the region . But you've heard the 212 00:08:20,651 --> 00:08:22,762 Secretary talk about something called 213 00:08:22,762 --> 00:08:24,818 Integrated deterrence . He mentioned 214 00:08:24,818 --> 00:08:26,984 that the other day in context of uh of 215 00:08:26,984 --> 00:08:29,207 the meeting with the Australians at the 216 00:08:29,207 --> 00:08:31,040 State Department . Uh Integrated 217 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,151 deterrence is not just something that 218 00:08:33,151 --> 00:08:35,207 he's looking at from a United States 219 00:08:35,207 --> 00:08:37,207 perspective , it certainly does cut 220 00:08:37,207 --> 00:08:39,151 across the Joint force and it does 221 00:08:39,151 --> 00:08:41,320 cross many domains of warfighting from 222 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:43,550 space and cyber maritime and air and of 223 00:08:43,550 --> 00:08:46,170 course ground . But in the Secretary's 224 00:08:46,170 --> 00:08:48,337 mind , integrated deterrence is really 225 00:08:48,337 --> 00:08:50,910 about Netting in and integrating the 226 00:08:50,910 --> 00:08:53,243 capabilities of our allies and partners , 227 00:08:53,243 --> 00:08:55,521 particularly in that part of the world . 228 00:08:55,521 --> 00:08:57,688 And of course , uh there's no stronger 229 00:08:57,688 --> 00:08:59,910 ally than the Republic of Korea . Thank 230 00:08:59,910 --> 00:09:02,188 you very much . You're welcome Theresa . 231 00:09:02,188 --> 00:09:04,466 Yes , I have two questions . First one . 232 00:09:04,466 --> 00:09:06,299 Um did Secretary Austin give the 233 00:09:06,299 --> 00:09:08,410 Secretary of the Air force a deadline 234 00:09:08,410 --> 00:09:10,632 for choosing the person that's going to 235 00:09:10,632 --> 00:09:12,688 do the review of the investigation . 236 00:09:12,688 --> 00:09:14,854 Okay . But I don't think this is going 237 00:09:14,854 --> 00:09:16,910 to be a task that's going to take an 238 00:09:16,910 --> 00:09:18,743 exorbitant amount of time ? Once 239 00:09:18,743 --> 00:09:18,470 they're selected , it will be 40 once 240 00:09:18,470 --> 00:09:20,526 the individual has been named by the 241 00:09:20,526 --> 00:09:22,581 Secretary of the Air Force Secretary 242 00:09:22,581 --> 00:09:25,520 has asked that the review be completed 243 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:27,750 in 45 days . And then my second 244 00:09:27,750 --> 00:09:29,917 question is what is the military doing 245 00:09:29,917 --> 00:09:31,861 to try to amend relationships with 246 00:09:31,861 --> 00:09:34,350 allies in the Middle East following the 247 00:09:34,350 --> 00:09:37,350 drone strike ? I'm not sure 248 00:09:38,140 --> 00:09:40,084 what you're getting at in terms of 249 00:09:40,084 --> 00:09:42,307 mending relationships . So we have very 250 00:09:42,307 --> 00:09:44,418 strong relationships in the region as 251 00:09:44,418 --> 00:09:46,251 it is . And I would point to the 252 00:09:46,251 --> 00:09:48,418 Secretary of Travel just a week before 253 00:09:48,418 --> 00:09:50,720 last uh to visit uh some of our gulf 254 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:54,330 allies , bahrain , kuwait Qatar . Uh 255 00:09:54,340 --> 00:09:58,040 that was very much uh part and 256 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:01,240 parcel of thanking those strong allies 257 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,184 and partners in the region for the 258 00:10:03,184 --> 00:10:05,407 support that they that they continue to 259 00:10:05,407 --> 00:10:07,462 give us with respect to this , these 260 00:10:07,462 --> 00:10:10,460 evacuees . Yeah , Travis , Thanks john , 261 00:10:10,460 --> 00:10:12,571 I wanted to ask you about Afghanistan 262 00:10:12,571 --> 00:10:14,682 as well and I know that the Secretary 263 00:10:14,682 --> 00:10:16,904 has talked a little bit about this . He 264 00:10:16,904 --> 00:10:19,071 had mentioned a possible resurgence of 265 00:10:19,071 --> 00:10:20,960 al Qaeda in Afghanistan , but I'm 266 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:23,016 wondering if He is concerned that we 267 00:10:23,016 --> 00:10:25,182 could have a similar situation to what 268 00:10:25,182 --> 00:10:28,560 we saw in Iraq and Syria in 2011 , 269 00:10:29,680 --> 00:10:31,870 with the Islamic state . Could we see 270 00:10:31,870 --> 00:10:33,481 something similar to that in 271 00:10:33,481 --> 00:10:36,010 Afghanistan . And how are we better 272 00:10:36,010 --> 00:10:37,954 prepared to deal with that kind of 273 00:10:37,954 --> 00:10:40,520 threat today than we were saying eight 274 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:43,340 years ago . The Secretary has , has 275 00:10:43,340 --> 00:10:47,320 said that given the rapid collapse 276 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:49,880 of the Ghana government , um and the 277 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:52,520 rapid ascendancy now to power of the 278 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,290 Taliban , that he believes it would be 279 00:10:55,290 --> 00:10:57,930 prudent to reassess his previous 280 00:10:57,930 --> 00:11:00,290 assessment of a medium risk . In terms 281 00:11:00,290 --> 00:11:03,950 of the return of al 282 00:11:03,950 --> 00:11:05,728 Qaida or Al Qaeda affiliates in 283 00:11:05,728 --> 00:11:07,740 Afghanistan to a level commensurate 284 00:11:07,740 --> 00:11:10,350 with , you know , uh an ability to 285 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:12,527 threaten the homeland the way they did 286 00:11:12,527 --> 00:11:14,527 in 2000 and one . That doesn't mean 287 00:11:14,527 --> 00:11:16,350 that um that we don't already 288 00:11:16,350 --> 00:11:18,517 recognized and we have recognized that 289 00:11:18,517 --> 00:11:20,628 they do exist in Afghanistan and then 290 00:11:20,628 --> 00:11:22,850 they do continue to pose a threat , but 291 00:11:22,850 --> 00:11:25,450 a threat rising to the level of a 292 00:11:25,460 --> 00:11:27,682 possible attack on the homeland . So he 293 00:11:27,682 --> 00:11:29,849 believes uh that given recent events , 294 00:11:29,849 --> 00:11:32,650 we need to reassess what our view is in 295 00:11:32,650 --> 00:11:36,030 terms of how into what degree they 296 00:11:36,030 --> 00:11:39,350 could re emerge at that level . 297 00:11:40,940 --> 00:11:43,880 And then your second question And we've 298 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:46,158 talked about this quite a bit . I mean , 299 00:11:46,158 --> 00:11:48,158 we are not the same country that we 300 00:11:48,158 --> 00:11:50,324 were on 9.11 . In terms of our ability 301 00:11:50,324 --> 00:11:52,547 to defend ourselves from these kinds of 302 00:11:52,547 --> 00:11:54,713 attacks . The intelligence communities 303 00:11:54,713 --> 00:11:56,380 are much more network now and 304 00:11:56,380 --> 00:11:59,930 coordinated and we have far more 305 00:11:59,930 --> 00:12:03,690 capability in space and in cyber uh 306 00:12:03,700 --> 00:12:07,550 and in uh Certainly in the aviation 307 00:12:07,550 --> 00:12:10,990 realm than we did in 2001 , uh to try 308 00:12:10,990 --> 00:12:14,180 to keep eyes on um and to and to be 309 00:12:14,180 --> 00:12:16,513 able to gather and analyze intelligence . 310 00:12:16,513 --> 00:12:20,450 Um uh we also have just better kinetic 311 00:12:20,460 --> 00:12:22,571 capabilities than we have . We didn't 312 00:12:22,571 --> 00:12:24,810 have in 2001 anywhere near the unmanned 313 00:12:24,820 --> 00:12:27,042 aerial capability that we have now . So 314 00:12:27,042 --> 00:12:29,460 we have advanced a lot . It doesn't 315 00:12:29,460 --> 00:12:32,570 make you perfect . It doesn't mean that 316 00:12:32,580 --> 00:12:35,740 you don't still have to work hard uh to 317 00:12:35,740 --> 00:12:38,240 make sure that you get it right , but 318 00:12:38,250 --> 00:12:40,630 we have definitely advanced RCT 319 00:12:40,630 --> 00:12:42,963 capabilities around the world . I guess . 320 00:12:42,963 --> 00:12:45,130 I was asking about the lessons learned 321 00:12:45,130 --> 00:12:47,241 by the growth of the Islamic state in 322 00:12:47,241 --> 00:12:49,650 Iraq and Syria in the in between period . 323 00:12:50,140 --> 00:12:53,630 Um us troops largely left around 2011 . 324 00:12:53,630 --> 00:12:55,797 And there was that period . Yeah , the 325 00:12:55,797 --> 00:12:58,020 Islamic State group metastasized and 326 00:12:58,020 --> 00:13:00,690 they took over huge swaths of territory 327 00:13:00,690 --> 00:13:02,912 including Mosul . So , I'm wondering if 328 00:13:02,912 --> 00:13:05,134 there any lessons learned in that fight 329 00:13:05,134 --> 00:13:07,246 that we can apply to Afghanistan ? So 330 00:13:07,246 --> 00:13:08,968 we don't end up with a similar 331 00:13:08,968 --> 00:13:08,660 situation ? Well , we're certainly 332 00:13:08,660 --> 00:13:11,880 gonna stay vigilant , uh watching the 333 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:13,824 threat in Afghanistan . There's no 334 00:13:13,824 --> 00:13:16,102 question about that . Um and as I said , 335 00:13:16,102 --> 00:13:18,269 the Secretary believes it's prudent to 336 00:13:18,269 --> 00:13:20,491 reassess what we think we know about al 337 00:13:20,491 --> 00:13:22,713 Qaeda and ISIS in Afghanistan and where 338 00:13:22,713 --> 00:13:24,824 they might go . I would tell you that 339 00:13:24,824 --> 00:13:26,824 as we speak today , when you talked 340 00:13:26,824 --> 00:13:29,102 about the metastases ation of a threat . 341 00:13:29,102 --> 00:13:31,920 We have seen it metastasized outside of 342 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:34,190 Afghanistan to other places you 343 00:13:34,190 --> 00:13:36,301 mentioned , Iraq and Syria , but also 344 00:13:36,301 --> 00:13:39,510 Yemen Somalia . The levant there are 345 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:42,540 that we do not hold there to be an 346 00:13:42,550 --> 00:13:45,310 existential threat of terrorism from 347 00:13:45,310 --> 00:13:47,310 Afghanistan right now . But again , 348 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:50,062 we're gonna stay vigilant . We're gonna 349 00:13:50,062 --> 00:13:52,173 watch it and we're certainly gonna be 350 00:13:52,173 --> 00:13:54,284 willing to reassess what we , what we 351 00:13:54,284 --> 00:13:56,451 know today . We do have and we do have 352 00:13:56,451 --> 00:13:59,670 the capability uh to keep eyes on . If 353 00:13:59,670 --> 00:14:01,726 I could just one quick follow up Any 354 00:14:01,726 --> 00:14:03,770 future military action inside 355 00:14:03,770 --> 00:14:05,770 Afghanistan would be done under the 356 00:14:05,770 --> 00:14:07,881 authority of the existing 2001 . Am I 357 00:14:07,881 --> 00:14:10,103 correct ? That's the authority that you 358 00:14:10,103 --> 00:14:12,214 would be , you know , uh the 2000 and 359 00:14:12,214 --> 00:14:14,450 one a.m. F . Exists . We would like to 360 00:14:14,450 --> 00:14:17,920 see a new am F written to address 361 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:20,650 the kinds of threats that we face . Now . 362 00:14:20,660 --> 00:14:22,716 I'm not going to talk about specific 363 00:14:22,716 --> 00:14:24,827 authorities for any specific military 364 00:14:24,827 --> 00:14:26,882 action that might or might not occur 365 00:14:26,882 --> 00:14:28,938 there or anywhere else . But again , 366 00:14:28,938 --> 00:14:31,049 the Secretary of supportive of of the 367 00:14:31,049 --> 00:14:33,271 administration's approach to seek a new 368 00:14:33,271 --> 00:14:35,104 and more accurate , more clearly 369 00:14:35,104 --> 00:14:38,830 defined A . M . F . Dave . Is this 370 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,610 reassessment of the threat from 371 00:14:41,610 --> 00:14:43,332 Afghanistan ? Is this a formal 372 00:14:43,940 --> 00:14:46,900 reassessment or just people rethink ? 373 00:14:46,900 --> 00:14:50,160 He has not tasked a formal assessment . 374 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:52,740 He believes it's warranted . So does 375 00:14:52,740 --> 00:14:55,073 that mean there's going to be one . Yes . 376 00:14:55,340 --> 00:14:57,960 Tom thanks George afternoon , you've 377 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:00,127 often set up there that you want to be 378 00:15:00,127 --> 00:15:02,182 as transparent as possible . Bearing 379 00:15:02,182 --> 00:15:04,016 that mantra in mind yesterday at 380 00:15:04,016 --> 00:15:06,182 lackland Air Force Base . The reporter 381 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:08,073 on the public roadway was taking 382 00:15:08,073 --> 00:15:10,520 photographs of the entrance sign to 383 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:12,740 lackland . The reporter was covering 384 00:15:12,750 --> 00:15:16,040 the larger Haitian deported issue base 385 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:17,873 security came out , escorted the 386 00:15:17,873 --> 00:15:20,096 reporter onto base , took the reporters 387 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:22,751 driver's license and called the local 388 00:15:22,751 --> 00:15:24,918 sheriff would not release the reporter 389 00:15:24,918 --> 00:15:27,029 until she turned over her photographs 390 00:15:27,029 --> 00:15:29,140 and tape recording . I'm wondering if 391 00:15:29,140 --> 00:15:31,251 you know about this incident . If not 392 00:15:31,251 --> 00:15:33,307 how you feel about it ? I don't know 393 00:15:33,307 --> 00:15:35,529 about it . I'm gonna have my staff look 394 00:15:35,529 --> 00:15:37,862 into it as soon as the briefing is over . 395 00:15:37,862 --> 00:15:40,029 I think that's the best I can do right 396 00:15:40,029 --> 00:15:39,990 now . And you find out what , what 397 00:15:39,990 --> 00:15:42,101 actually happened . Thank you . And I 398 00:15:42,101 --> 00:15:43,934 appreciate you bringing it to my 399 00:15:43,934 --> 00:15:45,823 attention . Let me go back to the 400 00:15:45,823 --> 00:15:48,046 phones here are actually haven't gotten 401 00:15:48,046 --> 00:15:50,323 to the phones at all yet , Sylvie , no , 402 00:15:50,323 --> 00:15:53,730 john , I would like to go back to bob's 403 00:15:53,730 --> 00:15:57,010 question about the strike in Syria , 404 00:15:57,050 --> 00:16:00,040 you don't have any more details . Where , 405 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:03,530 where was it exactly and who was the Al 406 00:16:03,530 --> 00:16:07,150 Qaeda operative that was 407 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,240 targeted ? Sophie right now , I can 408 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:11,184 just tell you it was near Idlib in 409 00:16:11,184 --> 00:16:13,410 Syria and as Central Command said in 410 00:16:13,410 --> 00:16:15,632 their brief statement , it was a senior 411 00:16:15,632 --> 00:16:17,632 Al Qaeda leader . I don't have more 412 00:16:17,632 --> 00:16:19,632 detail than that right now . Okay , 413 00:16:19,632 --> 00:16:23,340 thank you . You're welcome Phil Hey 414 00:16:23,340 --> 00:16:25,640 john , uh , too quick follow ups one . 415 00:16:25,650 --> 00:16:27,980 Um , and then I guess I'll fall back 416 00:16:27,980 --> 00:16:30,120 for that one . Um , when you said it 417 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:33,340 was a three star or who's going to be 418 00:16:33,350 --> 00:16:35,800 potentially reviewing uh , this whole 419 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:37,967 review . Um , what does that say about 420 00:16:37,967 --> 00:16:40,189 accountability ? Does that say that the 421 00:16:40,189 --> 00:16:42,356 accountability here , if there were to 422 00:16:42,356 --> 00:16:44,356 be any would be for people at three 423 00:16:44,356 --> 00:16:46,356 star or below , but not higher . Um 424 00:16:46,356 --> 00:16:48,411 what does that say to you ? And then 425 00:16:48,411 --> 00:16:50,522 and then I guess the the other follow 426 00:16:50,522 --> 00:16:52,578 up I had was um on on the the strike 427 00:16:52,578 --> 00:16:54,800 itself . I realized that you don't want 428 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:57,078 to relitigate uh details of the strike , 429 00:16:57,078 --> 00:16:59,022 but I mean , aren't aren't certain 430 00:16:59,022 --> 00:17:01,840 elements of of what happened uh still 431 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:04,007 within , you know , the public's right 432 00:17:04,007 --> 00:17:06,062 to know . I mean , I realized that , 433 00:17:06,062 --> 00:17:07,951 you know , that the review of the 434 00:17:07,951 --> 00:17:10,062 review has to conclude , but it could 435 00:17:10,062 --> 00:17:12,396 be , we have no timeline on that . Well , 436 00:17:12,396 --> 00:17:14,618 Phil as I said , the only thing Holding 437 00:17:14,618 --> 00:17:16,729 up the review , it's not even holding 438 00:17:16,729 --> 00:17:18,896 it up is just a selection of reviewing 439 00:17:18,896 --> 00:17:20,951 officer . And then once that officer 440 00:17:20,951 --> 00:17:23,173 has been chosen , the Secretary expects 441 00:17:23,173 --> 00:17:25,229 the review to be done in 45 days . I 442 00:17:25,229 --> 00:17:27,451 don't think that's an exorbitant amount 443 00:17:27,451 --> 00:17:29,570 of time to to treat with seriousness 444 00:17:29,570 --> 00:17:31,600 and with some sense of gravity this 445 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:33,970 particular investigation . As for the 446 00:17:33,980 --> 00:17:35,980 tick tock of the events . I thought 447 00:17:35,980 --> 00:17:38,147 General Mackenzie did an excellent job 448 00:17:38,147 --> 00:17:40,313 friday walking you through the thought 449 00:17:40,313 --> 00:17:42,091 process . Uh and as much of the 450 00:17:42,091 --> 00:17:44,202 targeting process as he could , he is 451 00:17:44,202 --> 00:17:46,202 far , he and his staff are far more 452 00:17:46,202 --> 00:17:45,920 able to do that than I am from the 453 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:47,587 podium . And so if there's an 454 00:17:47,587 --> 00:17:49,531 additional set of details That you 455 00:17:49,531 --> 00:17:51,698 think you need , I would encourage you 456 00:17:51,698 --> 00:17:53,753 to reach out to central command . As 457 00:17:53,753 --> 00:17:53,540 for your other question about the 458 00:17:53,550 --> 00:17:56,520 accountability and the whether a three 459 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:58,460 star sends some sort of negative 460 00:17:58,460 --> 00:18:00,460 message , I would remind you of two 461 00:18:00,460 --> 00:18:02,627 things . One the tasking memory to the 462 00:18:02,627 --> 00:18:04,738 Air Force says it just needs to be an 463 00:18:04,738 --> 00:18:06,682 officer at 09 or above . So that's 464 00:18:06,682 --> 00:18:08,627 either a three or four star and we 465 00:18:08,627 --> 00:18:10,738 don't know who the air force is going 466 00:18:10,738 --> 00:18:12,738 to choose . And it also says in the 467 00:18:12,738 --> 00:18:14,627 memo and I failed to mention this 468 00:18:14,627 --> 00:18:17,240 earlier that if the uh invest in the 469 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:20,560 reviewing officer believes that there 470 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:22,727 should be a level of accountability at 471 00:18:22,727 --> 00:18:25,190 someone at a higher rank than he or she . 472 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:28,640 Um the reviewing officer needs to make 473 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:30,696 note of that to the Secretary of the 474 00:18:30,696 --> 00:18:32,973 Air force and the Secretary of Defense . 475 00:18:32,973 --> 00:18:35,084 Uh So that that's made so that that's 476 00:18:35,084 --> 00:18:38,520 made clear . Yes , Christina . Uh Well 477 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:40,576 I have a big picture , kind of a big 478 00:18:40,576 --> 00:18:42,687 picture policy question about freedom 479 00:18:42,687 --> 00:18:44,970 of navigation in the asia pacific and 480 00:18:44,980 --> 00:18:47,620 the impact of focus on that short term 481 00:18:47,620 --> 00:18:49,731 and then over the longer term how bot 482 00:18:49,731 --> 00:18:52,310 is may be thinking about that as an 483 00:18:52,310 --> 00:18:55,170 impact as it might impact things like a 484 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:59,440 budding democratic ambitions 485 00:18:59,450 --> 00:19:01,970 in Taiwan as as they look to move 486 00:19:01,970 --> 00:19:03,859 closer to the global community of 487 00:19:03,859 --> 00:19:06,670 democracies mm . So what's the question , 488 00:19:07,340 --> 00:19:09,396 how's the D . O . D . Thinking about 489 00:19:09,396 --> 00:19:12,390 that house . So I asked , I said it was 490 00:19:12,390 --> 00:19:14,800 a big policy question . Yeah . I mean 491 00:19:14,810 --> 00:19:16,921 there's an awful lot there , first of 492 00:19:16,921 --> 00:19:19,088 all there's no change to our one china 493 00:19:19,088 --> 00:19:21,310 policy . Uh So we'll just lay that flat 494 00:19:21,310 --> 00:19:24,850 right now . Um um 495 00:19:24,860 --> 00:19:28,800 we continue uh 496 00:19:28,810 --> 00:19:31,500 to maintain a strong belief and 497 00:19:31,510 --> 00:19:35,430 international norms uh that exist 498 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:37,551 in that region and around the world . 499 00:19:37,551 --> 00:19:40,790 Um and uh and uh and obedience 500 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:44,210 to those norms and orders to include uh 501 00:19:44,220 --> 00:19:45,850 the right of navigation in 502 00:19:45,850 --> 00:19:48,017 international waters and international 503 00:19:48,017 --> 00:19:50,240 airspace . Um freedom of the seas 504 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:52,073 doesn't just apply to whales and 505 00:19:52,073 --> 00:19:54,910 icebergs . It applies to navies and 506 00:19:54,910 --> 00:19:57,077 ships of all nations . And we're going 507 00:19:57,077 --> 00:19:59,960 to continue to exercise that that right 508 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:03,360 lawfully and appropriately as we can . 509 00:20:03,940 --> 00:20:05,829 And do you think that caucus will 510 00:20:05,829 --> 00:20:08,051 assist in that over the longer term ? I 511 00:20:08,051 --> 00:20:10,162 think it's important to remember that 512 00:20:10,162 --> 00:20:12,496 august is not some sort of new alliance . 513 00:20:12,496 --> 00:20:14,107 It is a new defense security 514 00:20:14,107 --> 00:20:16,740 partnership that has been put in place . 515 00:20:16,750 --> 00:20:19,640 And the first element of it , the first 516 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:21,860 initiative of it is to help Australia 517 00:20:21,870 --> 00:20:24,480 acquire nuclear powered submarines 518 00:20:24,490 --> 00:20:26,712 which as the secretary said last week , 519 00:20:26,712 --> 00:20:28,980 we believe will be an additive 520 00:20:28,980 --> 00:20:31,870 component to something akin to 521 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:33,880 integrated deterrence in the end of 522 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:35,991 pacific region . It will , you know , 523 00:20:35,991 --> 00:20:37,880 you know , improve the Australian 524 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:39,880 Navy's reach and their war fighting 525 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:42,213 capability , their defensive capability . 526 00:20:42,213 --> 00:20:44,436 Um and uh and that's all to be welcomed 527 00:20:44,436 --> 00:20:46,547 and that particular part of the world 528 00:20:46,547 --> 00:20:48,602 given the dynamic , intense security 529 00:20:48,602 --> 00:20:50,491 environment that exists about the 530 00:20:50,491 --> 00:20:52,436 Ramstein and when they're going to 531 00:20:52,436 --> 00:20:54,436 resume , it's my understanding that 532 00:20:54,436 --> 00:20:57,520 there have been about 9000 mmr vaccines 533 00:20:57,530 --> 00:21:00,720 that have been Uh administered . And so 534 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:02,942 the reason for stopping those flights , 535 00:21:02,942 --> 00:21:05,390 you still have about 10,000 people at 536 00:21:05,390 --> 00:21:07,890 Ramstein . When are they going to start 537 00:21:07,890 --> 00:21:10,001 up again ? And why is the c . d . c . 538 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,340 Um still halting them ? I guess I don't 539 00:21:12,340 --> 00:21:14,618 have an update . They are still halted . 540 00:21:14,618 --> 00:21:16,840 And your question is much better put to 541 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:19,890 C . D . C . About when they can be 542 00:21:19,890 --> 00:21:22,001 resumed . We are just like we do here 543 00:21:22,001 --> 00:21:25,310 at home with respect to Covid we comply 544 00:21:25,310 --> 00:21:27,460 with CDC guidelines and I would refer 545 00:21:27,460 --> 00:21:29,571 you to C . D . C . For more detail on 546 00:21:29,571 --> 00:21:31,790 that . Okay I got a couple more and 547 00:21:31,790 --> 00:21:35,360 then I'll let you all go Jared . 548 00:21:38,940 --> 00:21:40,996 Hi mr Company . My question has been 549 00:21:40,996 --> 00:21:44,270 asked . Okay kim . Do sir . 550 00:21:49,140 --> 00:21:52,380 Hey there . Thanks . Um two questions . 551 00:21:52,380 --> 00:21:55,150 Can you give us an update on the afghan 552 00:21:55,150 --> 00:21:57,150 casualties who were taken to launch 553 00:21:57,150 --> 00:21:58,817 tool or other U . S . Medical 554 00:21:58,817 --> 00:22:00,983 facilities from the Abbey Gate bombing 555 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:03,620 And also um what guidance are you 556 00:22:03,620 --> 00:22:05,750 giving us military personnel who are 557 00:22:05,750 --> 00:22:08,200 trying to shepherd along their afghan 558 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:10,367 interpreter or other threatened afghan 559 00:22:10,367 --> 00:22:12,800 cases ? Mainly in the P . Two category 560 00:22:12,810 --> 00:22:14,977 because I've heard from people who are 561 00:22:14,977 --> 00:22:17,032 worried that they hear state talking 562 00:22:17,032 --> 00:22:18,921 about american citizens and legal 563 00:22:18,921 --> 00:22:21,032 permanent residents and it feels like 564 00:22:21,032 --> 00:22:23,143 The P . two category has just dropped 565 00:22:23,143 --> 00:22:25,440 off the map and they want to know if um 566 00:22:25,450 --> 00:22:27,561 the administration is still trying to 567 00:22:27,561 --> 00:22:29,617 get threatened afghans out . I can't 568 00:22:29,617 --> 00:22:31,839 help you on your first question kim but 569 00:22:31,839 --> 00:22:34,870 I will take it and we'll see . I can't 570 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:36,936 promise . I don't know how much were 571 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:39,860 going to be allowed to speak to a 572 00:22:40,340 --> 00:22:43,650 the wounded of another nation . But I 573 00:22:43,650 --> 00:22:45,950 will we will certainly look into this 574 00:22:45,950 --> 00:22:48,006 and and see if we have something for 575 00:22:48,006 --> 00:22:50,117 you . I just wasn't prepared today to 576 00:22:50,117 --> 00:22:52,006 have any detail on that . On your 577 00:22:52,006 --> 00:22:54,228 second question again , questions about 578 00:22:54,228 --> 00:22:56,320 visas uh and how they're being 579 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,520 processed is better put to my State 580 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:00,742 Department colleagues . What I can tell 581 00:23:00,742 --> 00:23:03,590 you is that we have uh been already 582 00:23:03,590 --> 00:23:06,490 talking to veterans groups uh quite 583 00:23:06,490 --> 00:23:09,320 frequently about their concerns over 584 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:11,376 specific individuals and or specific 585 00:23:11,376 --> 00:23:13,431 families . Uh Many of us here in the 586 00:23:13,431 --> 00:23:17,000 building also have uh you know friends 587 00:23:17,010 --> 00:23:19,670 uh and co workers and teammates that 588 00:23:19,950 --> 00:23:23,390 that we know of . And so we uh you 589 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:26,720 might have seen General Milley uh tried 590 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:29,490 to help put together a process by which 591 00:23:29,490 --> 00:23:31,490 these veterans groups whether their 592 00:23:31,490 --> 00:23:34,910 formal or informal e um developed a 593 00:23:34,910 --> 00:23:37,132 process by which they could communicate 594 00:23:37,132 --> 00:23:39,077 directly with the department about 595 00:23:39,077 --> 00:23:41,250 individuals and family members that 596 00:23:41,260 --> 00:23:43,640 that they want to make sure our on our 597 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:45,696 radar screen . And so we're going to 598 00:23:45,696 --> 00:23:47,918 continue to try to improve that process 599 00:23:47,918 --> 00:23:49,973 and improve that communication Uh so 600 00:23:49,973 --> 00:23:52,140 that we can we can continue to help as 601 00:23:52,140 --> 00:23:54,029 many people as possible . Another 602 00:23:54,029 --> 00:23:56,029 flight left yesterday where I think 603 00:23:56,029 --> 00:23:58,196 more than 20 American citizens on it . 604 00:23:58,196 --> 00:24:00,140 So as we said earlier though , the 605 00:24:00,140 --> 00:24:03,170 military component of this effort um 606 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:06,720 has ended . It doesn't mean that that D . 607 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:08,664 O . D . Or the inter agency or the 608 00:24:08,664 --> 00:24:10,887 administration is going to turn a blind 609 00:24:10,887 --> 00:24:13,109 eye to the effort to continue to try to 610 00:24:13,109 --> 00:24:14,720 get american citizens out of 611 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:16,887 Afghanistan and continue to help those 612 00:24:16,887 --> 00:24:18,887 afghan allies who helped us so much 613 00:24:18,887 --> 00:24:20,860 over the last 20 years or john two 614 00:24:20,860 --> 00:24:22,971 questions . Is there a detail you can 615 00:24:22,971 --> 00:24:25,138 offer about D . O . D . And transplant 616 00:24:25,138 --> 00:24:27,710 assistance to DHS and CBP at the border 617 00:24:27,710 --> 00:24:31,310 at Del Rio . And a different subject 618 00:24:31,310 --> 00:24:33,860 entirely . A clarification question . 619 00:24:33,870 --> 00:24:35,880 Service members who were discharged 620 00:24:35,890 --> 00:24:37,790 dishonorably discharged under for 621 00:24:37,790 --> 00:24:40,012 sexual orientation or gender identity . 622 00:24:40,012 --> 00:24:42,123 Have they always had access to Fulvia 623 00:24:42,123 --> 00:24:44,346 benefits or is there a change in policy 624 00:24:44,346 --> 00:24:46,990 or process that now makes it easier for 625 00:24:46,990 --> 00:24:49,101 them to get full access and referring 626 00:24:49,101 --> 00:24:51,323 to via on that one ? I don't I'm not an 627 00:24:51,323 --> 00:24:53,546 expert on their uh on their processes . 628 00:24:53,546 --> 00:24:55,657 But I did . You saw I hope you saw on 629 00:24:55,657 --> 00:24:57,434 the secretary statement that he 630 00:24:57,434 --> 00:25:00,270 encourages those uh individuals who 631 00:25:00,540 --> 00:25:02,470 were discharged under other than 632 00:25:02,470 --> 00:25:05,350 honorable circumstances because of this 633 00:25:05,350 --> 00:25:07,350 because of the don't ask don't tell 634 00:25:07,350 --> 00:25:09,517 policy uh to reach out to their boards 635 00:25:09,517 --> 00:25:11,517 of corrections for their individual 636 00:25:11,517 --> 00:25:13,350 services and to try to get their 637 00:25:13,350 --> 00:25:15,572 services amended appropriately . But as 638 00:25:15,572 --> 00:25:17,794 for the V . A . Benefits . I'm just not 639 00:25:17,794 --> 00:25:19,572 an expert on that on your other 640 00:25:19,572 --> 00:25:21,461 question . I can confirm that the 641 00:25:21,461 --> 00:25:23,572 department has received a request for 642 00:25:23,572 --> 00:25:25,350 transportation support from the 643 00:25:25,350 --> 00:25:25,340 Department of Homeland Security and the 644 00:25:25,340 --> 00:25:27,451 U . S . Customs and Border Protection 645 00:25:27,451 --> 00:25:29,730 Service . Under this request , the 646 00:25:29,730 --> 00:25:32,400 department would provide contracted air 647 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:34,800 transportation for customs and border 648 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:37,460 patrol on a reimbursable basis to 649 00:25:37,460 --> 00:25:40,470 temporarily supplement CBP efforts to 650 00:25:40,470 --> 00:25:42,870 move non US citizen migrants from del 651 00:25:42,870 --> 00:25:46,320 rio texas to other Domestic 652 00:25:46,330 --> 00:25:49,070 CBP processing facilities . And this 653 00:25:49,070 --> 00:25:51,320 support will conclude on or before 654 00:25:51,330 --> 00:25:54,780 October 20 of this year and it can be 655 00:25:54,780 --> 00:25:57,690 provided with minimal risk to current 656 00:25:57,690 --> 00:25:59,746 diode emissions . I would just again 657 00:25:59,746 --> 00:26:03,220 highlights contracted air uh We're not 658 00:26:03,220 --> 00:26:05,660 talking about military aircraft right 659 00:26:05,660 --> 00:26:08,080 now uh and on a reimbursable basis and 660 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:11,380 then uh uh to be provided at minimal 661 00:26:11,380 --> 00:26:13,269 risk to uh to current D . O . D . 662 00:26:13,269 --> 00:26:15,269 Missions . I don't have more detail 663 00:26:15,269 --> 00:26:17,491 than that . The request really has just 664 00:26:17,491 --> 00:26:19,713 come in . So we're doing the same thing 665 00:26:19,713 --> 00:26:19,390 we would do with any R . F . A . 666 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:21,122 Request for assistance . We're 667 00:26:21,122 --> 00:26:22,789 examining it , reviewing it , 668 00:26:22,789 --> 00:26:25,067 determining the best way forward . Yes . 669 00:26:25,067 --> 00:26:28,610 Really . Uh Cristina's 670 00:26:28,610 --> 00:26:31,550 question , I'm wondering how important 671 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:33,990 Australia is from the deal this 672 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:36,580 perspective to maintaining peace and 673 00:26:36,580 --> 00:26:39,080 stability in the Taiwan strait . Are 674 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:41,080 you going through this car concrete 675 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:44,540 operation planning for contingency in 676 00:26:44,540 --> 00:26:47,090 the Taiwan strait with Australia in the 677 00:26:47,090 --> 00:26:50,580 future . I'm not I wouldn't get so 678 00:26:50,580 --> 00:26:53,420 specifically to talk about uh Taiwan 679 00:26:53,420 --> 00:26:55,510 here . Again , nothing has changed 680 00:26:55,510 --> 00:26:58,940 about our one china policy . Um What I 681 00:26:58,940 --> 00:27:01,162 would tell you though is that Australia 682 00:27:01,162 --> 00:27:03,620 is a key ally , been an ally for 70 683 00:27:03,620 --> 00:27:07,490 years , uh and a 684 00:27:07,500 --> 00:27:10,890 country that that is all by itself 685 00:27:10,900 --> 00:27:13,960 vital to indo pacific prosperity and 686 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:16,690 security uh and and obviously a good 687 00:27:16,690 --> 00:27:18,579 friend and a partner . So we were 688 00:27:18,579 --> 00:27:20,850 delighted to be able to enter this new 689 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:23,840 defense relationship with them and with 690 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:26,007 the United Kingdom and we look forward 691 00:27:26,007 --> 00:27:28,173 to , as the secretary said last week , 692 00:27:28,173 --> 00:27:30,173 looking at ways we can broaden that 693 00:27:30,173 --> 00:27:32,062 with additional capabilities with 694 00:27:32,062 --> 00:27:35,770 additional uh rotational uh deployment 695 00:27:35,770 --> 00:27:37,990 opportunities and and with additional 696 00:27:37,990 --> 00:27:40,900 potential access to Australia and to 697 00:27:40,900 --> 00:27:43,350 Australia's training ranges as well . 698 00:27:43,350 --> 00:27:45,239 So there's a lot here to grow and 699 00:27:45,239 --> 00:27:47,461 Secretary looks forward to doing that . 700 00:27:47,461 --> 00:27:48,450 Okay . Thanks everybody .