1 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:06,340 Yeah . Mhm . I will do you a favor 2 00:00:06,340 --> 00:00:08,330 today and not lead with an opening 3 00:00:08,330 --> 00:00:11,750 statement . So over you bob . No . 4 00:00:12,340 --> 00:00:15,500 Uh when the secretary was in brussels 5 00:00:15,500 --> 00:00:18,800 he was asked about Afghanistan in terms 6 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:20,911 of evacuations ? He said something to 7 00:00:20,911 --> 00:00:23,020 the fact that the U . S . Is not 8 00:00:23,020 --> 00:00:25,280 finished yet . It's gonna continue to 9 00:00:25,290 --> 00:00:27,123 get people out there again . I'm 10 00:00:27,123 --> 00:00:29,234 wondering what is he was he referring 11 00:00:29,234 --> 00:00:31,234 to in terms of the U . S . Military 12 00:00:31,234 --> 00:00:33,568 role ? He was really referring to the U . 13 00:00:33,568 --> 00:00:35,734 S . Government role . The inter agency 14 00:00:35,734 --> 00:00:37,512 effort to continue to work with 15 00:00:37,512 --> 00:00:39,401 veterans groups and other private 16 00:00:39,401 --> 00:00:42,100 organizations to find ways to um to 17 00:00:42,100 --> 00:00:45,030 continue the flow of american citizens 18 00:00:45,030 --> 00:00:47,308 and S . I . V . S . Out of Afghanistan . 19 00:00:47,308 --> 00:00:50,410 But he wasn't speaking to or alluding 20 00:00:50,410 --> 00:00:53,600 to a specific military role other than 21 00:00:53,610 --> 00:00:56,560 our current liaison with these uh with 22 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:58,560 these ad hoc groups . Right so now 23 00:00:58,940 --> 00:01:01,162 directly involved in getting people out 24 00:01:01,162 --> 00:01:03,384 of the country but military assets . No 25 00:01:03,384 --> 00:01:06,220 change to no change there . He wasn't 26 00:01:06,220 --> 00:01:08,053 trying to signal a change to the 27 00:01:08,053 --> 00:01:10,109 current way in which we're trying to 28 00:01:10,109 --> 00:01:12,220 help get americans out of Afghanistan 29 00:01:12,220 --> 00:01:14,164 which is not through us . Military 30 00:01:14,164 --> 00:01:16,331 means related question real quickly on 31 00:01:16,331 --> 00:01:18,498 Pakistan , has there been some sort of 32 00:01:18,498 --> 00:01:20,498 arrangement made with pakistanis on 33 00:01:20,498 --> 00:01:22,664 overflight ? Something related to over 34 00:01:22,664 --> 00:01:24,831 the horizon operations in the future ? 35 00:01:24,831 --> 00:01:26,942 I don't have any arrangement to speak 36 00:01:26,942 --> 00:01:29,053 to bob . As you know , we continue to 37 00:01:29,053 --> 00:01:32,190 have conversations with neighboring 38 00:01:32,190 --> 00:01:35,120 nations and partners in the region uh 39 00:01:35,130 --> 00:01:37,960 to continue explore opportunities for 40 00:01:38,340 --> 00:01:40,780 over the horizon capabilities and and 41 00:01:40,780 --> 00:01:42,669 support but I don't have anything 42 00:01:42,669 --> 00:01:44,891 specific on on any front to read out to 43 00:01:44,891 --> 00:01:48,200 today . Yeah . 44 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:52,790 Questions . Um what is the D . O . D . 45 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,210 Effort and lays on with these veterans 46 00:01:55,210 --> 00:01:57,432 groups in some of the meetings that are 47 00:01:57,432 --> 00:01:59,766 taking place ? Are you providing advice ? 48 00:01:59,766 --> 00:02:01,877 Are you providing logistical ideas or 49 00:02:01,877 --> 00:02:04,440 support ? How are you contributing to 50 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:06,730 that ? These are fairly informal 51 00:02:06,740 --> 00:02:09,660 discussions and as far as I understand 52 00:02:09,660 --> 00:02:12,440 it , they are happening almost on a 53 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:14,662 continuous basis and we aren't the only 54 00:02:14,662 --> 00:02:16,718 participants here . I mean the State 55 00:02:16,718 --> 00:02:18,829 Department is included here but these 56 00:02:18,829 --> 00:02:21,280 are um it's more it's more sort of 57 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:24,050 continuous communication uh about 58 00:02:24,050 --> 00:02:26,161 information on certain individuals or 59 00:02:26,161 --> 00:02:28,800 certain groups of individuals that uh 60 00:02:28,810 --> 00:02:30,866 that they can bring to our attention 61 00:02:30,866 --> 00:02:33,032 and then we can begin to work continue 62 00:02:33,032 --> 00:02:35,032 to work with the taliban to to make 63 00:02:35,032 --> 00:02:37,254 arrangements to get them out . You give 64 00:02:37,254 --> 00:02:39,310 us an update on how many afghans are 65 00:02:39,310 --> 00:02:41,530 now at US military bases and kind of 66 00:02:41,530 --> 00:02:45,360 the throughput of that . Yes actually 67 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:46,760 I can . 68 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:57,590 So in the Central Command area 69 00:02:57,590 --> 00:02:59,960 there are just over 3000 70 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:04,730 uh afghan evacuees in the 71 00:03:04,730 --> 00:03:08,260 european Command area . There is 72 00:03:08,260 --> 00:03:12,260 463 and then here 73 00:03:12,740 --> 00:03:16,000 at Connie's bases under North Coms 74 00:03:16,010 --> 00:03:18,440 authorities , there are 75 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,050 53,100 and 76 00:03:21,640 --> 00:03:24,340 57 at eight locations thus far , 77 00:03:24,340 --> 00:03:27,720 6,689 of them have been 78 00:03:27,730 --> 00:03:31,180 um released for resettlement . Um and 79 00:03:31,180 --> 00:03:33,347 they're on their way to their to their 80 00:03:33,347 --> 00:03:35,513 new lives . We can get you a breakdown 81 00:03:35,513 --> 00:03:38,600 by base if you want it in terms of how 82 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:40,433 many are each at each base , but 83 00:03:40,433 --> 00:03:43,850 there's 53,000 plus here in the states 84 00:03:44,300 --> 00:03:46,467 continuing to feed and shelter Afghans 85 00:03:46,467 --> 00:03:48,633 through the winter . The families that 86 00:03:48,633 --> 00:03:50,744 are there , are you having to ask for 87 00:03:50,744 --> 00:03:53,022 any sort of budget increase to do that ? 88 00:03:53,022 --> 00:03:55,022 And are these private organizations 89 00:03:55,022 --> 00:03:57,078 that are volunteering to feed them ? 90 00:03:57,078 --> 00:03:59,022 How is this working ? I know of no 91 00:03:59,022 --> 00:04:01,620 budget request that that is looming as 92 00:04:01,630 --> 00:04:04,530 you know , uh we are doing this mission 93 00:04:04,530 --> 00:04:07,670 on a reimbursable basis so that that 94 00:04:07,670 --> 00:04:10,660 hasn't been worked out . Um and then 95 00:04:10,660 --> 00:04:12,750 we're working closely with nonprofit 96 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:14,371 organizations , humanitarian 97 00:04:14,371 --> 00:04:16,204 organizations , I should say the 98 00:04:16,204 --> 00:04:18,427 Department of Homeland Security and the 99 00:04:18,427 --> 00:04:20,482 State Department are in terms of how 100 00:04:20,482 --> 00:04:22,538 there are resettled and that's not a 101 00:04:22,538 --> 00:04:24,760 departmental responsibility here at the 102 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:27,940 at the pentagon that said a lot of 103 00:04:27,950 --> 00:04:29,950 local aid organizations and frankly 104 00:04:29,950 --> 00:04:33,710 just citizens that live outside these 105 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,160 facilities . These eight bases are 106 00:04:36,170 --> 00:04:39,150 donating all kinds of things largely 107 00:04:39,150 --> 00:04:42,160 clothing uh and toys for kids . Uh so 108 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:44,271 there's been an outpouring throughout 109 00:04:44,271 --> 00:04:46,271 the country , particularly in these 110 00:04:46,271 --> 00:04:48,327 communities , outside these bases of 111 00:04:48,327 --> 00:04:50,382 support for these for these people . 112 00:04:50,840 --> 00:04:53,090 Yeah , Lucas , john there's news of 113 00:04:53,100 --> 00:04:55,370 another hack today . Microsoft says the 114 00:04:55,380 --> 00:04:57,380 Russians continue . I was wondering 115 00:04:57,380 --> 00:04:59,547 what is U . S . Cyber command doing to 116 00:04:59,547 --> 00:05:01,658 sort these attacks . I don't have any 117 00:05:01,658 --> 00:05:03,658 particular knowledge of this latest 118 00:05:03,658 --> 00:05:06,370 report Lucas . So I'd I'd refer you to 119 00:05:06,370 --> 00:05:08,370 the more appropriate authorities on 120 00:05:08,370 --> 00:05:10,314 that . And obviously we don't talk 121 00:05:10,314 --> 00:05:13,050 about what we do in in cyberspace with 122 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:16,540 with much aggressiveness . 123 00:05:16,740 --> 00:05:20,540 But what I can say broadly 124 00:05:20,550 --> 00:05:22,661 is that the secretary is very focused 125 00:05:22,661 --> 00:05:24,717 on making sure that we have in place 126 00:05:24,717 --> 00:05:26,883 the cyber capabilities that we need to 127 00:05:26,883 --> 00:05:29,050 defend uh defend our ability to defend 128 00:05:29,050 --> 00:05:32,220 the nation . Um and to uh to try to 129 00:05:32,220 --> 00:05:34,220 contribute to overall governmental 130 00:05:34,220 --> 00:05:35,890 efforts to protect critical 131 00:05:35,890 --> 00:05:38,112 infrastructure . We take the threats in 132 00:05:38,112 --> 00:05:40,223 cyberspace seriously . The department 133 00:05:40,223 --> 00:05:42,770 large gets attacked thousands and 134 00:05:42,770 --> 00:05:45,200 thousands of times a day . Uh And so 135 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:47,560 we're obviously we work very hard to 136 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:49,338 make sure that we can build our 137 00:05:49,338 --> 00:05:51,227 resilience against those kinds of 138 00:05:51,227 --> 00:05:53,004 attacks uh and that we have the 139 00:05:53,004 --> 00:05:55,060 capabilities that we need to protect 140 00:05:55,060 --> 00:05:56,616 and defend our own critical 141 00:05:56,616 --> 00:05:58,949 infrastructure here inside the military . 142 00:05:58,949 --> 00:06:01,060 And the reason intrusions and some of 143 00:06:01,060 --> 00:06:00,860 those attacks you just mentioned , I 144 00:06:00,860 --> 00:06:03,027 won't get into details , but obviously 145 00:06:03,027 --> 00:06:05,138 you can imagine that our our networks 146 00:06:05,138 --> 00:06:07,360 are under siege every single day . It's 147 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,471 just Cold War spying . Does this held 148 00:06:09,471 --> 00:06:11,304 adversary spy now is through the 149 00:06:11,304 --> 00:06:13,416 internet without pointing to specific 150 00:06:13,416 --> 00:06:15,471 motivations and intent here . I mean 151 00:06:15,471 --> 00:06:18,080 there are lots of reasons why actors 152 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:21,150 malign actors in cyber want to 153 00:06:21,540 --> 00:06:25,260 um I want to launch 154 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:27,930 operations against the Department 155 00:06:27,930 --> 00:06:30,097 against the United States government . 156 00:06:30,097 --> 00:06:32,097 Some of it is for the extraction of 157 00:06:32,097 --> 00:06:34,208 material and information , some of it 158 00:06:34,208 --> 00:06:36,152 is to be disruptive . Um There's a 159 00:06:36,152 --> 00:06:38,263 broad range um and what we're focused 160 00:06:38,263 --> 00:06:40,041 on is making sure that we're as 161 00:06:40,041 --> 00:06:42,152 resilient as we can be ? Yeah , we're 162 00:06:42,152 --> 00:06:44,870 fine on a different topic . What's the 163 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,190 pentagon's assessment of the situation 164 00:06:47,190 --> 00:06:49,340 on the ground in Sudan ? And what are 165 00:06:49,350 --> 00:06:53,290 the consequences uh on 166 00:06:53,290 --> 00:06:55,940 the future military cooperation or 167 00:06:55,940 --> 00:06:58,690 relationship with Sudan ? Well , I 168 00:06:58,690 --> 00:07:00,912 think you've heard the State Department 169 00:07:00,912 --> 00:07:02,912 speak to this , we share their deep 170 00:07:02,912 --> 00:07:04,912 concerns with the Sudanese military 171 00:07:04,912 --> 00:07:07,134 takeover of the transitional government 172 00:07:07,134 --> 00:07:09,380 um and the intent to maintain power 173 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,450 until democratic elections are held . 174 00:07:12,460 --> 00:07:14,830 Um These actions are counter to the 175 00:07:14,830 --> 00:07:16,997 democratic aspirations of the Sudanese 176 00:07:16,997 --> 00:07:18,860 people . They contravene the 177 00:07:18,870 --> 00:07:21,270 constitutional declaration there and 178 00:07:21,270 --> 00:07:23,603 they undermine the juba peace agreement . 179 00:07:23,603 --> 00:07:25,103 We call on the military to 180 00:07:25,103 --> 00:07:27,550 unconditionally release and reinstate 181 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,504 all detained civilians in order to 182 00:07:29,504 --> 00:07:31,560 allow the civilian led transition to 183 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:33,893 continue it's progress toward elections . 184 00:07:33,893 --> 00:07:35,727 And we also call on the Sudanese 185 00:07:35,727 --> 00:07:37,949 security forces to respect the right of 186 00:07:37,949 --> 00:07:39,838 the Sudanese people to peacefully 187 00:07:39,838 --> 00:07:43,680 protest . There is no um U . S . 188 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:45,680 Military footprint on the ground in 189 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:47,847 Sudan . There's no training , it's not 190 00:07:47,847 --> 00:07:49,680 like this disrupted some sort of 191 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:51,736 training partnership or relationship 192 00:07:51,736 --> 00:07:51,590 there . There's no we don't have a U . 193 00:07:51,590 --> 00:07:53,701 S . Military presence on the ground . 194 00:07:53,701 --> 00:07:56,250 To those ends . Please explain the term 195 00:07:56,260 --> 00:07:59,140 military take over why we're not 196 00:07:59,140 --> 00:08:02,920 calling it military . I 197 00:08:02,930 --> 00:08:06,060 don't have a I mean , it wasn't I don't 198 00:08:06,060 --> 00:08:08,060 think we're parsing words here is a 199 00:08:08,060 --> 00:08:10,390 military takeover of the transitional 200 00:08:10,390 --> 00:08:12,500 government . Um and uh it is a 201 00:08:12,500 --> 00:08:14,722 transitional government ? Just leave it 202 00:08:14,722 --> 00:08:17,610 at that one quick broader question . Do 203 00:08:17,610 --> 00:08:19,740 you have concerns over the insta 204 00:08:20,090 --> 00:08:22,280 instability in Sudan and maybe its 205 00:08:22,290 --> 00:08:25,210 impact on the whole region . Obviously , 206 00:08:25,220 --> 00:08:27,520 again , without trying to speculate 207 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:29,576 where this is going to go . I mean , 208 00:08:29,576 --> 00:08:31,687 when you have a situation like this , 209 00:08:31,687 --> 00:08:33,540 uh which can be destabilizing , 210 00:08:33,540 --> 00:08:35,860 certainly inside is destabilizing 211 00:08:35,860 --> 00:08:38,520 inside Sudan . We obviously have 212 00:08:38,530 --> 00:08:40,960 broader regional concerns about the 213 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,560 impact that that could have larger in 214 00:08:43,560 --> 00:08:45,760 the region . And that's again why we 215 00:08:45,940 --> 00:08:47,773 are joining our State Department 216 00:08:47,773 --> 00:08:50,790 colleagues and uh urging that the 217 00:08:50,790 --> 00:08:54,550 Sudanese security forces um uh turnover 218 00:08:54,560 --> 00:08:56,338 authorities to the transitional 219 00:08:56,338 --> 00:08:58,930 government and allow the the will of 220 00:08:58,930 --> 00:09:01,310 the Sudanese people to be to be seen to 221 00:09:01,310 --> 00:09:04,110 be to be achieved peer 222 00:09:05,100 --> 00:09:08,060 relations with the Sudanese . There's 223 00:09:08,070 --> 00:09:10,240 there's , as I said , uh , we don't 224 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:12,400 have any training presence on the 225 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:16,400 ground . There's no uh there's no right 226 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:18,060 now , there's no us military 227 00:09:18,060 --> 00:09:20,004 cooperation with Sudanese security 228 00:09:20,004 --> 00:09:22,220 forces . Let me go over to the side in 229 00:09:22,220 --> 00:09:24,250 the back there . Thank you . The 230 00:09:24,260 --> 00:09:25,982 Defense Department's Chief for 231 00:09:25,982 --> 00:09:28,093 responsible artificial intelligence . 232 00:09:28,093 --> 00:09:30,093 Alka Patel departed at the start of 233 00:09:30,093 --> 00:09:32,680 october , can you provide any update on 234 00:09:32,680 --> 00:09:34,569 who is or will be serving in that 235 00:09:34,569 --> 00:09:37,830 capacity um as well as in her absence , 236 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,062 what efforts are going on with what she 237 00:09:40,062 --> 00:09:42,810 was leading for drafting guidelines on 238 00:09:42,820 --> 00:09:44,900 implementing diodes ethical ai 239 00:09:44,900 --> 00:09:46,830 principles . I I do not have any 240 00:09:46,830 --> 00:09:49,052 personnel announcements to make it this 241 00:09:49,052 --> 00:09:50,774 time . I think you've seen the 242 00:09:50,774 --> 00:09:52,719 secretary talk about uh artificial 243 00:09:52,719 --> 00:09:54,941 intelligence and his strong desire that 244 00:09:54,941 --> 00:09:57,580 um that we advance our capabilities in 245 00:09:57,590 --> 00:09:59,870 Ai but that we do so ethically and 246 00:09:59,870 --> 00:10:02,120 responsibly . And uh those efforts will 247 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:05,370 continue . Um There is a obviously we 248 00:10:05,370 --> 00:10:07,560 have a team of experts here at the 249 00:10:07,560 --> 00:10:09,616 pentagon that are working inside the 250 00:10:09,616 --> 00:10:11,838 inter agency and with partners , allies 251 00:10:11,838 --> 00:10:14,060 and partners around the world . And the 252 00:10:14,060 --> 00:10:16,227 secretary is comfortable that we'll be 253 00:10:16,227 --> 00:10:18,338 able to continue to do that work . Um 254 00:10:18,338 --> 00:10:18,310 and I just again , I don't have any 255 00:10:18,310 --> 00:10:20,199 personnel announcements to make . 256 00:10:20,199 --> 00:10:22,310 There's no one serving in the interim 257 00:10:22,310 --> 00:10:24,310 in that capacity . I don't have any 258 00:10:24,310 --> 00:10:26,532 personnel announcements to make today . 259 00:10:26,532 --> 00:10:28,366 Uh I can take the question on an 260 00:10:28,366 --> 00:10:30,588 interim person . I just don't I don't I 261 00:10:30,588 --> 00:10:30,450 don't have that level of detail . 262 00:10:30,570 --> 00:10:33,140 Travis . Thanks john I had a question 263 00:10:33,140 --> 00:10:36,150 about the budget for afghan refugees 264 00:10:36,150 --> 00:10:39,110 that bases you said it would be paid 265 00:10:39,110 --> 00:10:41,960 back on a reimbursable basis . I'm just 266 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:43,960 wonder if there's any indication at 267 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,840 this point that those expenses could 268 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:49,050 affect other military operations ? Is 269 00:10:49,050 --> 00:10:52,070 there any concern about um one of the 270 00:10:52,070 --> 00:10:54,237 things that you've heard the Secretary 271 00:10:54,237 --> 00:10:56,550 talk about is that we want to make sure 272 00:10:56,550 --> 00:10:58,710 we obviously take this mission very 273 00:10:58,710 --> 00:11:02,570 seriously and we're very proud of the 274 00:11:02,570 --> 00:11:04,520 role that we're playing and of the 275 00:11:04,550 --> 00:11:08,090 terrific job the compassion that our 276 00:11:08,090 --> 00:11:10,201 men and women are showing every day . 277 00:11:10,201 --> 00:11:13,060 Um not just here at home but overseas . 278 00:11:13,060 --> 00:11:14,949 And uh and making sure that these 279 00:11:14,949 --> 00:11:16,870 evacuees have a safe and secure 280 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,830 environment to live and to and to work 281 00:11:19,830 --> 00:11:22,670 on their process of towards citizenship . 282 00:11:22,680 --> 00:11:25,540 But obviously we also have commensurate 283 00:11:25,540 --> 00:11:27,762 responsibility to defend this country . 284 00:11:27,762 --> 00:11:29,540 And one of the things that were 285 00:11:29,540 --> 00:11:31,651 constantly reviewing is the degree to 286 00:11:31,651 --> 00:11:34,720 which our readiness uh to do that is 287 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:38,020 being affected by this fairly sizable 288 00:11:38,030 --> 00:11:41,260 mission set . Um uh 289 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:44,007 we don't believe now that at this time 290 00:11:44,007 --> 00:11:46,229 that our readiness to defend the nation 291 00:11:46,229 --> 00:11:48,660 is being adversely affected . But 292 00:11:48,670 --> 00:11:52,310 clearly um there are assets , 293 00:11:52,310 --> 00:11:55,670 resources time um that um that is 294 00:11:55,680 --> 00:11:57,791 that that are being devoted to this , 295 00:11:57,791 --> 00:11:59,902 that that are in some cases not being 296 00:11:59,902 --> 00:12:02,069 devoted to other things . And so we're 297 00:12:02,069 --> 00:12:04,124 watching that very closely . But the 298 00:12:04,124 --> 00:12:06,236 secretary is not at a point now where 299 00:12:06,236 --> 00:12:08,180 he would say that our readiness to 300 00:12:08,180 --> 00:12:10,180 defend this country being adversely 301 00:12:10,180 --> 00:12:11,958 affected , being worked out the 302 00:12:11,958 --> 00:12:14,180 reimbursable park portion . But is this 303 00:12:14,180 --> 00:12:16,291 something that Congress would need to 304 00:12:16,291 --> 00:12:18,347 be involved in , that you would need 305 00:12:18,347 --> 00:12:20,513 Congress to reimburse this money or it 306 00:12:20,513 --> 00:12:20,040 would be ? I don't think we're I don't 307 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:22,151 think we're at that stage right now . 308 00:12:22,151 --> 00:12:24,690 Travis to have all that detail worked 309 00:12:24,690 --> 00:12:26,930 out Christina . Thanks to welcome back 310 00:12:26,930 --> 00:12:29,820 from the trip . Thank you . So , some 311 00:12:29,820 --> 00:12:31,931 Republican lawmakers are warning that 312 00:12:31,931 --> 00:12:34,042 the vaccine mandate will lead uh hurt 313 00:12:34,042 --> 00:12:36,880 morale , lead to separations . Um Is 314 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:38,713 this something the department is 315 00:12:38,713 --> 00:12:41,370 concerned about and do anticipate any 316 00:12:41,380 --> 00:12:43,380 discharges or separations from it ? 317 00:12:44,540 --> 00:12:47,430 Well , I would tell you that the 318 00:12:47,430 --> 00:12:50,590 Secretary's view is that one of the 319 00:12:50,590 --> 00:12:54,390 best ways to make sure that the force 320 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:58,790 is able to do 321 00:12:58,790 --> 00:13:02,130 its job to defend the nation is to make 322 00:13:02,130 --> 00:13:04,130 sure that they're protected against 323 00:13:04,130 --> 00:13:06,352 this virus . We would agree with people 324 00:13:06,352 --> 00:13:08,130 that argue that it's a national 325 00:13:08,130 --> 00:13:10,241 security issue . And our view is that 326 00:13:10,241 --> 00:13:12,186 one of the best ways to be able to 327 00:13:12,186 --> 00:13:14,241 preserve our national security is to 328 00:13:14,241 --> 00:13:16,297 make sure that our men and women are 329 00:13:16,297 --> 00:13:18,352 are protected against this virus and 330 00:13:18,352 --> 00:13:20,408 therefore are healthy and able to do 331 00:13:20,408 --> 00:13:22,574 their jobs to defend this country . Uh 332 00:13:22,574 --> 00:13:26,460 uh we believe that the vast vast 333 00:13:26,460 --> 00:13:28,516 majority and the numbers are bearing 334 00:13:28,516 --> 00:13:30,210 that out of our men and women 335 00:13:30,210 --> 00:13:32,321 understand that to uh and are getting 336 00:13:32,321 --> 00:13:34,377 the shots and are getting themselves 337 00:13:34,377 --> 00:13:36,599 protected so that they can also protect 338 00:13:36,599 --> 00:13:38,821 their families and their units in their 339 00:13:38,821 --> 00:13:40,932 communities . So um could you tell us 340 00:13:40,932 --> 00:13:43,154 more about the afghan evacuees that are 341 00:13:43,154 --> 00:13:45,640 in Kosovo ? What happened to have them 342 00:13:45,650 --> 00:13:47,539 sent there ? How many are there ? 343 00:13:47,539 --> 00:13:50,340 What's going to happen to them ? How 344 00:13:50,340 --> 00:13:52,430 long will they be there ? Yeah . So 345 00:13:52,430 --> 00:13:54,560 what I can tell you is we've surged 346 00:13:54,570 --> 00:13:56,459 resources and we've deployed some 347 00:13:56,459 --> 00:13:58,403 additional personnel from relevant 348 00:13:58,403 --> 00:14:00,459 departments and agencies overseas to 349 00:14:00,459 --> 00:14:02,860 camp on steel to effectively vet 350 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:05,440 individuals who require further 351 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:07,662 processing before onward movement . And 352 00:14:07,662 --> 00:14:09,884 there are a range of afghan evacuees at 353 00:14:09,884 --> 00:14:11,773 bond steel to include many afghan 354 00:14:11,773 --> 00:14:15,210 families , women and Children who we've 355 00:14:15,220 --> 00:14:17,370 definitely prioritized being able to 356 00:14:17,370 --> 00:14:20,460 keep them together . I think it's also 357 00:14:20,460 --> 00:14:22,590 important to remember that all 358 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:24,711 individuals have to pass our security 359 00:14:24,711 --> 00:14:26,600 screening and vetting process and 360 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:28,544 receive the necessary vaccinations 361 00:14:28,544 --> 00:14:30,544 before proceeding with their onward 362 00:14:30,544 --> 00:14:32,870 travel to the United States . So per 363 00:14:32,870 --> 00:14:34,926 our agreement with the government of 364 00:14:34,926 --> 00:14:37,200 Kosovo , we will relocate afghans that 365 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,367 are housed at Bond steel to the United 366 00:14:39,367 --> 00:14:42,170 States or a third country within 365 367 00:14:42,180 --> 00:14:44,870 days . Uh And again for more questions 368 00:14:44,870 --> 00:14:47,092 on that . I I point you to the National 369 00:14:47,092 --> 00:14:49,500 Security Council . Let me get to some 370 00:14:49,500 --> 00:14:51,556 of the phones because I haven't done 371 00:14:51,556 --> 00:14:55,260 that Jeff showgirl . Thank you . Can 372 00:14:55,260 --> 00:14:58,030 you say whether china tested a 373 00:14:58,030 --> 00:15:00,850 fractional orbital bombardment system 374 00:15:00,860 --> 00:15:03,330 in august and if so , does the United 375 00:15:03,330 --> 00:15:05,600 States have its own fractional orbital 376 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,310 bombardment system ? I don't have 377 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:11,060 anything to confirm on that 378 00:15:11,740 --> 00:15:13,907 Jeff , I'm certainly not going to talk 379 00:15:13,907 --> 00:15:16,129 about intelligence as you hear from the 380 00:15:16,129 --> 00:15:18,850 podium and and I think it would be 381 00:15:19,340 --> 00:15:22,230 important for the PRC to speak to the 382 00:15:22,230 --> 00:15:24,230 capabilities that they're trying to 383 00:15:24,230 --> 00:15:26,870 advance the bottom line is we know that 384 00:15:26,870 --> 00:15:29,320 they're trying to advance uh military 385 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:31,320 capabilities capabilities that we 386 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:33,376 believe we're only going to increase 387 00:15:33,376 --> 00:15:35,598 tensions in the region and beyond . And 388 00:15:35,598 --> 00:15:37,820 that's the reason why the secretary has 389 00:15:37,820 --> 00:15:39,876 uh called the P . R . C . R . Number 390 00:15:39,876 --> 00:15:41,876 one pacing challenge and that's why 391 00:15:41,876 --> 00:15:43,987 we're going to stay focused on that . 392 00:15:43,987 --> 00:15:46,153 Well , if I could follow up the PRC is 393 00:15:46,153 --> 00:15:48,098 press shy unlike the pentagon , is 394 00:15:48,098 --> 00:15:50,098 there any way to describe , what is 395 00:15:50,098 --> 00:15:52,153 this thing that the chinese launched 396 00:15:52,153 --> 00:15:54,320 and do we have one of our own things . 397 00:15:54,340 --> 00:15:56,650 Yeah , it's a nice a nice way of asking 398 00:15:56,650 --> 00:15:58,872 the question again Jeff ? I'm not gonna 399 00:15:58,872 --> 00:16:01,094 I'm not gonna speak to chinese specific 400 00:16:01,094 --> 00:16:03,270 capabilities uh press shy or not . I 401 00:16:03,270 --> 00:16:05,850 think uh it's important for them to be 402 00:16:05,850 --> 00:16:07,794 transparent with the international 403 00:16:07,794 --> 00:16:09,850 community but what they're doing and 404 00:16:09,850 --> 00:16:09,830 what they intend to do . And so I still 405 00:16:09,830 --> 00:16:13,240 would like to see you get your question 406 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:15,462 answered from them and I'm not going to 407 00:16:15,462 --> 00:16:17,684 talk about our capabilities in return . 408 00:16:17,684 --> 00:16:19,518 What I can say again is that the 409 00:16:19,518 --> 00:16:21,629 secretary takes very very importantly 410 00:16:21,629 --> 00:16:23,851 his responsibility , our responsibility 411 00:16:23,851 --> 00:16:26,018 to defend the nation . And that is why 412 00:16:26,018 --> 00:16:28,220 uh in many respects , uh he has called 413 00:16:28,220 --> 00:16:30,331 the P . R . C . R . Number one pacing 414 00:16:30,331 --> 00:16:32,498 challenge . And that's why we're going 415 00:16:32,498 --> 00:16:34,664 to stay focused on making sure that we 416 00:16:34,664 --> 00:16:36,720 can do uh that we can work towards a 417 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:38,776 free and open indo pacific and we're 418 00:16:38,776 --> 00:16:40,998 going to continue to stay focused on uh 419 00:16:40,998 --> 00:16:43,220 on the challenges that that china poses 420 00:16:43,220 --> 00:16:46,830 to us . Yeah . Go ahead Carla , thank 421 00:16:46,830 --> 00:16:49,480 you john on the top garrison attack 422 00:16:49,490 --> 00:16:52,030 who's responsible for that last week . 423 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:53,929 I'm not in a position to get into 424 00:16:53,929 --> 00:16:56,680 attribution at this point . We have 425 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:59,320 seen these kinds of attacks in the past 426 00:16:59,330 --> 00:17:03,260 from uh from Shia militia groups 427 00:17:03,270 --> 00:17:06,960 which we know are backed and supported 428 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:09,030 by Iran but I'm not gonna talk to 429 00:17:09,030 --> 00:17:11,590 specifics on this particular attack . 430 00:17:11,590 --> 00:17:13,312 It was it was complex , it was 431 00:17:13,312 --> 00:17:16,790 deliberate . Um and uh and thankfully 432 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:18,967 no U . S . Service . We don't have any 433 00:17:18,967 --> 00:17:21,133 indications right now that you any U . 434 00:17:21,133 --> 00:17:24,960 S . Service members were or hurt . Can 435 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:27,071 we assume it was a Shia militia group 436 00:17:27,250 --> 00:17:29,361 that I've said we've seen those kinds 437 00:17:29,361 --> 00:17:31,250 we've seen these kinds of attacks 438 00:17:31,250 --> 00:17:33,194 before . I'm not going to get into 439 00:17:33,194 --> 00:17:35,361 specific attribution on this one . The 440 00:17:35,361 --> 00:17:37,583 number of rockets . Do we have any more 441 00:17:37,583 --> 00:17:37,430 specifics on that ? We were told to 442 00:17:37,430 --> 00:17:39,440 drones and a number of rockets or I 443 00:17:39,450 --> 00:17:42,560 don't have an update for you on 444 00:17:42,740 --> 00:17:45,890 uh and ammunitions that were that were 445 00:17:45,890 --> 00:17:48,630 used . We believe it was a complex 446 00:17:48,630 --> 00:17:50,660 coordinated and deliberate attack . 447 00:17:51,130 --> 00:17:53,297 Last question is it possible that this 448 00:17:53,297 --> 00:17:55,463 was a state sponsored attack ? Again , 449 00:17:55,463 --> 00:17:57,463 I'm not gonna go any further on the 450 00:17:57,463 --> 00:17:59,686 attribution at this point . We're still 451 00:17:59,686 --> 00:18:01,970 working our way through . Yeah . Okay . 452 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:04,360 Okay . Thank you . I want to ask you 453 00:18:04,360 --> 00:18:06,527 about the military cooperation between 454 00:18:06,527 --> 00:18:09,470 china and Russia that last week the 455 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,140 chinese and Russian warships conducting 456 00:18:12,140 --> 00:18:14,820 the first ever joint patrol in the 457 00:18:14,820 --> 00:18:17,820 western pacific How much is a duty 458 00:18:17,820 --> 00:18:20,960 concerned about this joint activity in 459 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:22,960 terms of peace and stability in the 460 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:25,330 region . We'll look for one thing . I'd 461 00:18:25,330 --> 00:18:27,620 refer you to Russia and china to talk 462 00:18:27,620 --> 00:18:30,220 about their exercises . Um Generally 463 00:18:30,220 --> 00:18:32,610 speaking , um we don't have an issue 464 00:18:32,610 --> 00:18:35,280 with military exercises . We do it all 465 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:38,660 the time and there 466 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,140 there obviously had decided they need 467 00:18:42,140 --> 00:18:43,918 to operate together to exercise 468 00:18:43,918 --> 00:18:46,029 together and I think they should have 469 00:18:46,029 --> 00:18:48,251 to speak for that . What I can tell you 470 00:18:48,251 --> 00:18:50,196 is that we're going to continue to 471 00:18:50,196 --> 00:18:52,251 improve our own capabilities . We're 472 00:18:52,251 --> 00:18:54,196 going to continue to work with our 473 00:18:54,196 --> 00:18:56,362 allies and partners uh , in the region 474 00:18:56,362 --> 00:18:58,196 and we have a lot of them and we 475 00:18:58,196 --> 00:18:58,020 believe those alliances and 476 00:18:58,020 --> 00:19:00,230 partnerships are a real unique 477 00:19:00,230 --> 00:19:02,452 strengths that the United States has in 478 00:19:02,452 --> 00:19:04,590 the end of pacific Yeah , Thanks . 479 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:07,870 Going back to south Asia China , many 480 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,160 nations in the region are concerned 481 00:19:10,170 --> 00:19:12,530 extension and expansion of chinese 482 00:19:12,530 --> 00:19:14,480 military in the region , including 483 00:19:14,490 --> 00:19:18,120 India , Japan Korea and of course 484 00:19:18,130 --> 00:19:22,000 Taiwan , what do you think ? What 485 00:19:22,010 --> 00:19:24,340 the duty or a pentagon is doing as far 486 00:19:24,340 --> 00:19:27,870 as stopping chinese threat to these 487 00:19:27,870 --> 00:19:30,037 nations and many more ? Well , I think 488 00:19:30,037 --> 00:19:32,148 in some ways my answer to rio kind of 489 00:19:32,148 --> 00:19:34,148 gets at this . I mean secretaries . 490 00:19:34,148 --> 00:19:36,620 First trip was to the region with 491 00:19:36,620 --> 00:19:38,787 Secretary Blinken . We have put a real 492 00:19:38,787 --> 00:19:41,100 premium on uh , bolstering and 493 00:19:41,100 --> 00:19:42,767 reinforcing our alliances and 494 00:19:42,767 --> 00:19:46,490 partnerships in that area . Um , and 495 00:19:46,500 --> 00:19:48,500 making sure that we have the proper 496 00:19:48,500 --> 00:19:51,620 defensive capabilities in place uh , to 497 00:19:51,620 --> 00:19:53,842 deal with the challenges , the security 498 00:19:53,842 --> 00:19:55,731 challenges that exist out there . 499 00:19:55,731 --> 00:19:57,453 There's no question that China 500 00:19:57,453 --> 00:19:59,676 continues to bully its neighbors to try 501 00:19:59,676 --> 00:20:01,731 to coerce them into behavior that is 502 00:20:01,731 --> 00:20:03,842 more in keeping with china's national 503 00:20:03,842 --> 00:20:06,390 security or an economic interests . Uh , 504 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:08,760 we don't believe that that is conducive 505 00:20:08,770 --> 00:20:10,881 to again a free and open indo pacific 506 00:20:10,881 --> 00:20:12,937 so we're going to continue to work . 507 00:20:12,937 --> 00:20:15,048 This is very , as hard as we can john 508 00:20:15,048 --> 00:20:17,710 Finally , uh border issues are going on 509 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:19,720 and off every day between china and 510 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:21,950 India threats are going on every day ? 511 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:25,320 And you think anybody or secretary is 512 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:27,670 in touch with indian authorities or 513 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,410 military to military as far as china 514 00:20:30,410 --> 00:20:32,580 and India disputes are going on every 515 00:20:32,580 --> 00:20:34,636 day and threats from the chinese , I 516 00:20:34,636 --> 00:20:36,691 don't have any conversations to read 517 00:20:36,691 --> 00:20:38,913 out today . Goyl were certainly mindful 518 00:20:38,913 --> 00:20:41,140 of the tensions there along , along 519 00:20:41,140 --> 00:20:44,850 that border . And I think it obviously 520 00:20:45,940 --> 00:20:49,380 nobody wants to see the situation 521 00:20:49,380 --> 00:20:53,030 become more tense or certainly uhh more 522 00:20:53,030 --> 00:20:56,470 violent than it has in the past . But I 523 00:20:56,470 --> 00:20:58,637 think I'd let indian authorities speak 524 00:20:58,637 --> 00:21:00,692 to the conversations and how they're 525 00:21:00,692 --> 00:21:02,637 dealing with the tensions . That's 526 00:21:02,637 --> 00:21:04,859 probably a better , better thing for us 527 00:21:04,859 --> 00:21:07,026 to do . Let me go back to the actual , 528 00:21:07,026 --> 00:21:06,570 you know what Megan , I'm sorry , I'll 529 00:21:06,570 --> 00:21:09,140 go to you first , countering extremism , 530 00:21:09,140 --> 00:21:11,196 working group , how to report due in 531 00:21:11,196 --> 00:21:13,473 july , what's the status of the report ? 532 00:21:13,540 --> 00:21:16,570 The report is nearing completion . Um , 533 00:21:16,570 --> 00:21:19,910 and it is largely now in the 534 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:22,850 coordination phase staffing phase and I 535 00:21:22,850 --> 00:21:25,017 suspect we'll be able to talk about it 536 00:21:25,017 --> 00:21:27,239 pretty soon . So , do you have any idea 537 00:21:27,239 --> 00:21:29,461 when the secretary will get to see it ? 538 00:21:29,461 --> 00:21:31,406 I don't have a date certain on the 539 00:21:31,406 --> 00:21:33,406 calendar as I understand it again , 540 00:21:33,406 --> 00:21:35,572 largely the work is complete . There's 541 00:21:35,572 --> 00:21:37,628 some coordination that is being done 542 00:21:37,628 --> 00:21:39,850 right now and I do expect that he'll be 543 00:21:39,850 --> 00:21:43,280 able to see it soon in 544 00:21:44,140 --> 00:21:47,250 in the coming days and weeks is a delay 545 00:21:47,250 --> 00:21:49,361 like this in a few months . Does that 546 00:21:49,361 --> 00:21:51,528 push back any sort of timeline for the 547 00:21:51,528 --> 00:21:53,472 rest of their activities for their 548 00:21:53,472 --> 00:21:55,694 other goals that they're supposed to be 549 00:21:55,694 --> 00:21:57,917 meeting . You know , as you know , they 550 00:21:57,917 --> 00:21:59,861 set up processes , interagency and 551 00:21:59,861 --> 00:22:01,639 interdepartmental process is to 552 00:22:01,639 --> 00:22:04,220 continue to work on this . And one of 553 00:22:04,220 --> 00:22:06,950 the things that um , that they already 554 00:22:06,950 --> 00:22:08,894 said they were gonna try to do was 555 00:22:08,894 --> 00:22:11,200 another study on extremism . So the 556 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,770 work continues , but the working groups 557 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:16,720 read out of their their initial tasker , 558 00:22:17,580 --> 00:22:19,580 that's that's what we're waiting on 559 00:22:19,580 --> 00:22:21,636 right now . And I think it'll be out 560 00:22:21,636 --> 00:22:23,720 fairly soon and it will , um , as we 561 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:27,120 talked about , it will include a new 562 00:22:27,120 --> 00:22:29,050 definition set of what extremist 563 00:22:29,050 --> 00:22:32,840 activity comprises . Yeah , back 564 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:35,870 there with the vaccine deadlines fast 565 00:22:35,870 --> 00:22:38,037 approaching , I just want to ask you , 566 00:22:38,037 --> 00:22:39,870 why is it important that service 567 00:22:39,870 --> 00:22:41,703 members are allowed to apply for 568 00:22:41,703 --> 00:22:43,481 religious exemptions if it's so 569 00:22:43,481 --> 00:22:46,460 important to military readiness to 570 00:22:46,460 --> 00:22:49,460 receive those vaccines ? Well , because 571 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:53,096 and it's not just it's not just with 572 00:22:53,096 --> 00:22:54,873 covid . I mean , there's been a 573 00:22:54,873 --> 00:22:56,873 longstanding policy in the military 574 00:22:56,873 --> 00:22:59,910 where , um , if you have a significant 575 00:23:00,020 --> 00:23:03,830 religious based concern over a medicine 576 00:23:03,830 --> 00:23:07,320 or another vaccine that you have the 577 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:10,890 ability to to state your concern and 578 00:23:10,900 --> 00:23:13,300 and and to ask for a waiver to get 579 00:23:13,300 --> 00:23:15,770 exempt because we want to respect 580 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:18,329 people's religious beliefs in the 581 00:23:18,329 --> 00:23:21,110 military . One of the things that that 582 00:23:21,120 --> 00:23:23,460 one of the one of the freedoms that we 583 00:23:23,460 --> 00:23:26,890 fight for here in the military is is 584 00:23:26,890 --> 00:23:29,112 religious freedom . And so it's keeping 585 00:23:29,112 --> 00:23:31,168 with our values as an institution to 586 00:23:31,168 --> 00:23:33,440 allow people who are concerned from a 587 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,010 religious perspective to be able to 588 00:23:36,010 --> 00:23:38,232 state that perspective and to have that 589 00:23:38,232 --> 00:23:40,630 worked out . Um , the numbers are very , 590 00:23:40,630 --> 00:23:44,560 very small uh large . I don't have the 591 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:46,850 numbers for Covid . Uh , I would point 592 00:23:46,850 --> 00:23:48,739 you to the services that that's , 593 00:23:48,739 --> 00:23:50,961 that's really they're barely wick . But 594 00:23:50,961 --> 00:23:54,010 in in general numbers of religious 595 00:23:54,010 --> 00:23:56,121 exemption requests for any vaccine or 596 00:23:56,121 --> 00:23:58,454 medicine are , are typically very small . 597 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:01,740 Uh , we believe that and you've heard 598 00:24:01,740 --> 00:24:03,650 the secretary say this , uh , the 599 00:24:03,660 --> 00:24:06,850 vaccines are safe . They're effective . 600 00:24:06,860 --> 00:24:09,250 Uh , and they are really the , one of 601 00:24:09,250 --> 00:24:11,950 the best ways we can preserve the 602 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:14,290 readiness of the force to make to make 603 00:24:14,290 --> 00:24:17,080 sure that our men and women are healthy 604 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:19,302 and vibrant and able to do their jobs . 605 00:24:19,302 --> 00:24:21,413 And we believe that that the vaccines 606 00:24:21,413 --> 00:24:24,420 allow that . And so we're absolutely 607 00:24:24,430 --> 00:24:26,652 committed to the , to the notion that , 608 00:24:26,652 --> 00:24:28,730 that everybody , everybody who can , 609 00:24:28,740 --> 00:24:30,684 you know , unless and there's also 610 00:24:30,684 --> 00:24:32,851 medical exemptions , but everybody who 611 00:24:32,851 --> 00:24:35,073 can should be vaccinated . So they have 612 00:24:35,073 --> 00:24:37,129 religious convictions that keep them 613 00:24:37,129 --> 00:24:39,184 from that , that that then make them 614 00:24:39,184 --> 00:24:41,129 unfit for service then . Well , so 615 00:24:41,129 --> 00:24:43,240 there's a process , you have to , you 616 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:45,129 have to ask for the waiver . Each 617 00:24:45,129 --> 00:24:47,407 service handles those differently . Uh , 618 00:24:47,407 --> 00:24:49,573 some , some waivers are granted , some 619 00:24:49,573 --> 00:24:51,740 are not . Um , and that's really up to 620 00:24:51,740 --> 00:24:53,907 each individual service to decide what 621 00:24:53,907 --> 00:24:56,129 they're going to do now an unvaccinated 622 00:24:56,129 --> 00:24:58,390 member . Um , uh , could there be 623 00:24:58,390 --> 00:25:00,970 ramifications for their deploy ability ? 624 00:25:00,980 --> 00:25:03,313 Absolutely . There could be , but again , 625 00:25:03,313 --> 00:25:05,369 I would refer you to the services to 626 00:25:05,369 --> 00:25:07,536 speak to that because each service and 627 00:25:07,536 --> 00:25:09,647 this is why the secretary wanted each 628 00:25:09,647 --> 00:25:11,647 service too to handle the mandatory 629 00:25:11,647 --> 00:25:13,869 vaccine program in their own way . They 630 00:25:13,869 --> 00:25:12,680 all have different operational 631 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:14,736 deployment requirements . They're in 632 00:25:14,736 --> 00:25:16,569 different communities around the 633 00:25:16,569 --> 00:25:18,791 country . There's a lot of uh , service 634 00:25:18,791 --> 00:25:20,902 specific concerns that the , that the 635 00:25:20,902 --> 00:25:23,180 military departments have to deal with . 636 00:25:23,180 --> 00:25:25,291 But yes , could there be an effect on 637 00:25:25,291 --> 00:25:27,291 somebody's ability to deploy and to 638 00:25:27,291 --> 00:25:29,124 participate in an exercise or an 639 00:25:29,124 --> 00:25:28,720 operation because they're not 640 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:30,942 vaccinated . Absolutely . That could be 641 00:25:30,942 --> 00:25:32,831 the case , but it would be really 642 00:25:32,831 --> 00:25:35,109 decided by the unit and by the service . 643 00:25:35,109 --> 00:25:38,930 Okay , jenny , thank you . On the north 644 00:25:38,930 --> 00:25:42,290 Korea . Serbian launches South Korea 645 00:25:42,290 --> 00:25:45,020 and Japan are making different crimes 646 00:25:45,020 --> 00:25:48,810 about Serbian ranch . It by north 647 00:25:48,810 --> 00:25:51,910 Korea last week . South Korea claims 648 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:54,960 that north Korea fired one missile . 649 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:59,440 But the Japan CREC two missiles . What 650 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:03,110 is the United States a clear position 651 00:26:03,110 --> 00:26:05,940 on this ? Well , we've already made it 652 00:26:05,950 --> 00:26:09,100 clear that , uh , we've , we've noted , 653 00:26:09,110 --> 00:26:13,060 uh , with , with deep concern the 654 00:26:13,070 --> 00:26:15,750 recent ballistic missile launch , we've 655 00:26:15,750 --> 00:26:18,200 referred to it as a singular launch . 656 00:26:18,710 --> 00:26:21,160 North Korea , China and north Korea are 657 00:26:21,170 --> 00:26:24,780 cooperating with each other to 658 00:26:24,780 --> 00:26:28,000 increase arms . How do you comment , 659 00:26:28,010 --> 00:26:31,210 China and North Korea increase the 660 00:26:31,210 --> 00:26:33,970 military powers . I don't have any 661 00:26:33,970 --> 00:26:36,070 specifics about what the chinese and 662 00:26:36,070 --> 00:26:38,292 north Koreans are doing with respect to 663 00:26:38,292 --> 00:26:40,348 increasing military capabilities . I 664 00:26:40,348 --> 00:26:42,570 think again to Jeff's question , that's 665 00:26:42,570 --> 00:26:44,737 an excellent question . That should be 666 00:26:44,737 --> 00:26:46,681 opposed to the leaders of those of 667 00:26:46,681 --> 00:26:48,848 those nations . What I can tell you is 668 00:26:48,848 --> 00:26:51,100 that we know china has influence in 669 00:26:51,100 --> 00:26:54,690 Pyongyang and uh that that 670 00:26:54,690 --> 00:26:56,912 influence could be important to helping 671 00:26:56,912 --> 00:26:59,079 us all achieve the denuclearization of 672 00:26:59,079 --> 00:27:01,690 the peninsula . And uh um and we 673 00:27:01,690 --> 00:27:03,746 certainly would like to see china be 674 00:27:03,746 --> 00:27:05,968 more cooperative and more helpful . And 675 00:27:05,968 --> 00:27:08,850 what would one would imagine would be a 676 00:27:08,860 --> 00:27:11,840 mutually shared interest uh that that 677 00:27:11,850 --> 00:27:15,470 uh uh that the peninsula be 678 00:27:15,470 --> 00:27:17,920 denuclearized for security throughout 679 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:20,710 the region . What maybe you're china 680 00:27:20,710 --> 00:27:23,610 will help North Korea denuclearized 681 00:27:24,540 --> 00:27:26,670 china can help by enforcing the 682 00:27:26,670 --> 00:27:28,670 sanctions that have been in place . 683 00:27:28,670 --> 00:27:30,892 China can help by using their influence 684 00:27:30,892 --> 00:27:33,560 in Pyongyang to uh to help the regime 685 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:35,850 make the right decisions with respect 686 00:27:35,850 --> 00:27:38,017 to security on the peninsula . There's 687 00:27:38,017 --> 00:27:39,850 a lot china has influence uh and 688 00:27:39,850 --> 00:27:41,906 there's no question about that china 689 00:27:41,906 --> 00:27:44,090 and North Korea , they cooperated 690 00:27:44,090 --> 00:27:47,410 increased arms and also they lost 691 00:27:47,420 --> 00:27:50,840 august china in a hypersonic missile 692 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:53,960 launches . And uh similarly North Korea 693 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:57,390 also hypersonic missile launch in Srb 694 00:27:57,390 --> 00:28:00,630 and they cooperate . Why do you think 695 00:28:00,630 --> 00:28:03,230 the chinese can help denuclearizing , I 696 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:05,650 can't speak to , I can't speak to this 697 00:28:05,650 --> 00:28:08,060 cooperation . I can't , I mean 698 00:28:08,540 --> 00:28:12,380 obviously um what we want to 699 00:28:12,380 --> 00:28:14,890 see is security and stability on the 700 00:28:14,890 --> 00:28:18,580 korean peninsula and we believe that a 701 00:28:18,590 --> 00:28:20,312 big way to achieve that is the 702 00:28:20,312 --> 00:28:24,250 denuclearization of the north . Um and 703 00:28:24,260 --> 00:28:26,470 china can play a positive role in that 704 00:28:26,470 --> 00:28:28,637 if it chooses to do so because they do 705 00:28:28,637 --> 00:28:31,430 have uh influence in in in Pyongyang . 706 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:33,662 Now if they're cooperating in ways that 707 00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:37,620 militarily are decreasing security and 708 00:28:37,620 --> 00:28:39,842 stability then that's a concern . But I 709 00:28:39,842 --> 00:28:41,953 don't have the details of what you're 710 00:28:41,953 --> 00:28:44,176 telling me they're doing . Um And again 711 00:28:44,176 --> 00:28:46,342 I would simply say that what we'd like 712 00:28:46,342 --> 00:28:48,509 to see is china use their influence in 713 00:28:48,509 --> 00:28:50,453 a positive way for security on the 714 00:28:50,453 --> 00:28:52,950 peninsula is the tiniest baby . Okay , 715 00:28:53,740 --> 00:28:56,770 so I don't think he can have this . I'm 716 00:28:56,770 --> 00:28:58,937 going to go to Jared from Al Monitor . 717 00:29:01,140 --> 00:29:03,600 All right . Mr Kirby . Um Thank you for 718 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:05,322 taking the question . I'm just 719 00:29:05,322 --> 00:29:07,544 wondering if you can confirm uh whether 720 00:29:07,544 --> 00:29:09,489 D . O . D . Received prior warning 721 00:29:09,489 --> 00:29:11,670 ahead of the attack on the Al TANF 722 00:29:11,670 --> 00:29:13,837 Garrison in Syria last week . And will 723 00:29:13,837 --> 00:29:16,030 there be a U . S . Response ? I'm not 724 00:29:16,030 --> 00:29:17,863 going to talk about intelligence 725 00:29:17,863 --> 00:29:21,410 matters Jared uh on that or any other 726 00:29:21,410 --> 00:29:25,090 operation . And I think you've heard 727 00:29:25,090 --> 00:29:28,870 us say before that the right of 728 00:29:28,870 --> 00:29:30,870 self defense and the protection and 729 00:29:30,870 --> 00:29:33,092 security of our troops overseas remains 730 00:29:33,092 --> 00:29:35,203 a paramount concern for the secretary 731 00:29:35,340 --> 00:29:38,770 and that if 732 00:29:39,340 --> 00:29:43,160 uh there's to be a response 733 00:29:43,340 --> 00:29:45,720 it will be at a time and a place in a 734 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:47,498 manner of our choosing . And we 735 00:29:47,498 --> 00:29:49,442 certainly won't get ahead of those 736 00:29:49,442 --> 00:29:51,609 kinds of decisions in the back there . 737 00:29:51,940 --> 00:29:54,051 So we're hearing reports of relatives 738 00:29:54,051 --> 00:29:56,273 of service members in Afghanistan being 739 00:29:56,273 --> 00:29:58,496 targeted by the taliban Is the pentagon 740 00:29:58,496 --> 00:30:01,350 working to protect them to bob's 741 00:30:01,350 --> 00:30:03,280 question . There's not an active 742 00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:06,380 military role in Afghanistan uh in 743 00:30:06,380 --> 00:30:08,547 present in the country and I don't see 744 00:30:08,547 --> 00:30:10,491 that changing . But as I said , we 745 00:30:10,491 --> 00:30:12,713 continue to work closely with the State 746 00:30:12,713 --> 00:30:14,824 Department and with veterans groups , 747 00:30:14,824 --> 00:30:16,991 some of them are more formal . Some of 748 00:30:16,991 --> 00:30:18,824 them are informal to help try to 749 00:30:18,824 --> 00:30:21,270 identify and to uh secure their safe 750 00:30:21,270 --> 00:30:23,630 passage out of Afghanistan . Well , 751 00:30:23,630 --> 00:30:25,519 obviously take our obligations to 752 00:30:25,540 --> 00:30:29,410 american citizens and s ivy applicants 753 00:30:29,410 --> 00:30:31,521 very seriously . Are you aware of any 754 00:30:31,521 --> 00:30:33,743 relatives of current service members in 755 00:30:33,743 --> 00:30:35,966 danger ? I don't have any specific case 756 00:30:35,966 --> 00:30:38,132 information here . I've certainly seen 757 00:30:38,132 --> 00:30:40,310 these kinds of reports , but all all 758 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:43,410 americans and s ivy applicants . We 759 00:30:43,410 --> 00:30:45,410 take that very seriously and I just 760 00:30:45,410 --> 00:30:47,660 don't have anything with specific to 761 00:30:47,660 --> 00:30:50,340 talk to you about about family members . 762 00:30:50,350 --> 00:30:52,400 Just lastly , would the plan be 763 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:54,511 changing it all from here ? Just with 764 00:30:54,511 --> 00:30:56,678 the concerns from Foreign Ministers of 765 00:30:56,678 --> 00:30:58,844 Afghanistan nearing a collapse . So is 766 00:30:58,844 --> 00:31:01,067 there any change to any planning or are 767 00:31:01,067 --> 00:31:03,122 you preparing for like Sure , follow 768 00:31:03,122 --> 00:31:05,344 your question . I'm working to get both 769 00:31:05,344 --> 00:31:07,456 the relatives and the other americans 770 00:31:07,456 --> 00:31:09,622 that still remain out if there is this 771 00:31:09,622 --> 00:31:11,289 concern about the collapse of 772 00:31:11,289 --> 00:31:13,456 Afghanistan . We are aware of concerns 773 00:31:13,456 --> 00:31:15,640 that uh some of our members have about 774 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:18,710 their family members . Absolutely . And 775 00:31:18,710 --> 00:31:20,821 we are certainly aware that there are 776 00:31:20,821 --> 00:31:23,170 still american citizens in Afghanistan , 777 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:25,456 some of whom , not all , but some of 778 00:31:25,456 --> 00:31:28,680 them want to leave . So we are still 779 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:31,870 very committed to working inside the U . 780 00:31:31,870 --> 00:31:35,770 S . Government inter agency effort to 781 00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:39,140 find safe passage for these individuals 782 00:31:39,150 --> 00:31:42,280 to the best of our ability . But but I 783 00:31:42,290 --> 00:31:44,060 don't there's not at this time 784 00:31:44,060 --> 00:31:46,116 envisioned any U . S . Military role 785 00:31:46,116 --> 00:31:48,400 specifically in bringing that about 786 00:31:48,410 --> 00:31:50,632 from a tangible practical perspective . 787 00:31:51,140 --> 00:31:54,670 Okay . Uh Ellen 788 00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:56,170 from synopsis . 789 00:31:58,940 --> 00:32:00,996 Uh Sir , thank you so much for doing 790 00:32:00,996 --> 00:32:03,110 this back to the vaccine issues . Um 791 00:32:03,110 --> 00:32:05,800 Has the secretary's office been guiding 792 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:08,290 any pushback from contractors who are 793 00:32:08,290 --> 00:32:10,623 also required to have a vaccine mandate ? 794 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:13,730 And what is the situation with civilian 795 00:32:13,730 --> 00:32:16,220 employees getting vaccinated ? I'm not 796 00:32:16,220 --> 00:32:18,490 aware of any pushback by defense 797 00:32:18,490 --> 00:32:22,160 contractors with respect to the mandate . 798 00:32:22,170 --> 00:32:24,310 Um I don't believe we pulled every 799 00:32:24,320 --> 00:32:26,320 contractor and have a sense of what 800 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:28,376 they're hearing from their employees 801 00:32:28,376 --> 00:32:29,987 but we obviously support the 802 00:32:29,987 --> 00:32:32,098 president's decision um and his order 803 00:32:32,098 --> 00:32:35,000 that uh that those who are working uh 804 00:32:35,010 --> 00:32:38,770 on our programs contractually are 805 00:32:38,770 --> 00:32:40,437 safe and secure and have been 806 00:32:40,437 --> 00:32:44,390 vaccinated . I don't have 807 00:32:44,670 --> 00:32:47,760 an update with respect to um 808 00:32:48,540 --> 00:32:52,060 the uh civilian I'm saying I think I've 809 00:32:52,060 --> 00:32:54,338 got something in here . Hold on . Yeah . 810 00:32:55,140 --> 00:32:59,060 Um I know we've recently issued 811 00:33:00,220 --> 00:33:03,640 implementation guidance that governs uh 812 00:33:03,650 --> 00:33:06,710 civilian vaccinations and how that's uh 813 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:08,887 how that's going to transpire . We owe 814 00:33:08,887 --> 00:33:12,780 the workforce additional context about 815 00:33:12,790 --> 00:33:15,210 about actual implementation on their 816 00:33:15,210 --> 00:33:17,300 part . And were we having that out 817 00:33:17,310 --> 00:33:20,670 pretty soon . Okay thank you