1 00:00:00,340 --> 00:00:01,451 you and everybody , 2 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:12,160 wow . 3 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,990 Okay . Um on monday I got asked 4 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,360 uh about the ways in which duty is 5 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:27,249 participating in the inter agency 6 00:00:27,249 --> 00:00:29,410 process that helps work with veterans 7 00:00:29,410 --> 00:00:31,410 groups and others as we continue to 8 00:00:31,410 --> 00:00:33,466 relocate american citizens and S ivy 9 00:00:33,466 --> 00:00:36,320 applicants from Afghanistan . And so my 10 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:38,542 answer was pretty generic . I thought I 11 00:00:38,542 --> 00:00:40,431 wanted to come back and provide a 12 00:00:40,431 --> 00:00:42,709 little bit more context if that's okay . 13 00:00:42,709 --> 00:00:44,598 The department supports the State 14 00:00:44,598 --> 00:00:46,264 Department led relocation and 15 00:00:46,264 --> 00:00:48,376 resettlement efforts through uh three 16 00:00:48,376 --> 00:00:51,530 basic avenues . One is senior level 17 00:00:51,530 --> 00:00:53,350 touch points between the State 18 00:00:53,350 --> 00:00:55,517 Department , the Joint Staff and OsD . 19 00:00:55,517 --> 00:00:57,406 These are senior leaders that are 20 00:00:57,406 --> 00:00:59,517 constantly in touch . two is embedded 21 00:00:59,517 --> 00:01:01,572 Liaison officers that we have in the 22 00:01:01,572 --> 00:01:03,628 office of the coordinator for Afghan 23 00:01:03,628 --> 00:01:06,620 relocation efforts Over at the State 24 00:01:06,620 --> 00:01:09,160 Department and then three U . S . 25 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:11,160 Government and private organization 26 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:13,810 meetings . These private group . 27 00:01:13,810 --> 00:01:15,977 There's a a U . S . Government private 28 00:01:15,977 --> 00:01:17,770 group conference call which has 29 00:01:17,770 --> 00:01:20,400 occurred twice weekly since the 17th of 30 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,520 september and that provides these 31 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:24,853 groups a broader understanding of U . S . 32 00:01:24,853 --> 00:01:26,798 Government relocation policies and 33 00:01:26,798 --> 00:01:28,964 information sharing . That helps align 34 00:01:28,964 --> 00:01:31,076 with our evacuation priorities . This 35 00:01:31,076 --> 00:01:33,187 arrangement and the coalition of data 36 00:01:33,187 --> 00:01:35,110 that it helps enable gives us the 37 00:01:35,110 --> 00:01:37,730 opportunity to better identify american 38 00:01:37,730 --> 00:01:39,786 citizens , legal permanent residents 39 00:01:39,786 --> 00:01:41,786 and afghans that we've committed to 40 00:01:41,786 --> 00:01:43,841 assist and further facilitates their 41 00:01:43,841 --> 00:01:46,100 evacuation . The joint staff and the 42 00:01:46,100 --> 00:01:48,500 office of the Secretary also conduct a 43 00:01:48,500 --> 00:01:51,590 twice weekly call with care 44 00:01:51,590 --> 00:01:54,250 leadership over at the State Department . 45 00:01:54,250 --> 00:01:57,340 The coordinator's office uh to discuss 46 00:01:57,350 --> 00:02:00,020 the public private relationship and D . 47 00:02:00,020 --> 00:02:02,330 O . D . State issues that are specific 48 00:02:02,340 --> 00:02:04,990 to relocation and resettlement . Our 49 00:02:04,990 --> 00:02:07,300 integration with the coordinator's 50 00:02:07,300 --> 00:02:10,440 office helps us manifest , helps us , 51 00:02:10,450 --> 00:02:12,520 helps enable the manifesting and the 52 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:14,990 evacuation of immediate family members 53 00:02:14,990 --> 00:02:16,768 of U . S . Service members from 54 00:02:16,768 --> 00:02:18,470 Afghanistan and also hopes to 55 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:20,750 facilitate interagency discussions on 56 00:02:20,750 --> 00:02:23,730 the evacuations of afghans from third 57 00:02:23,740 --> 00:02:26,190 country locations . So there's actually 58 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,570 quite a bit of activity . And when I 59 00:02:28,570 --> 00:02:30,570 got that question the other day , I 60 00:02:30,570 --> 00:02:32,570 don't think I knocked it out of the 61 00:02:32,570 --> 00:02:34,626 park . So I just wanted to provide a 62 00:02:34,626 --> 00:02:36,848 little bit extra context . There . Also 63 00:02:36,848 --> 00:02:39,014 on a scheduling note , I think you all 64 00:02:39,014 --> 00:02:41,126 know us army General Laura Richardson 65 00:02:41,126 --> 00:02:40,730 will assume command of U . S . Southern 66 00:02:40,730 --> 00:02:43,230 command from U . S . Navy Admiral Craig 67 00:02:43,230 --> 00:02:47,130 Fowler at one o'clock on friday . Uh 68 00:02:47,140 --> 00:02:49,290 down at the south com headquarters in 69 00:02:49,290 --> 00:02:51,970 florida uh Secretary will be presiding 70 00:02:51,970 --> 00:02:53,970 over that ceremony . General Milley 71 00:02:53,970 --> 00:02:55,748 will also be in attendance . We 72 00:02:55,748 --> 00:02:57,692 certainly wish General Fowler fair 73 00:02:57,692 --> 00:02:59,748 winds and following seas in his next 74 00:02:59,748 --> 00:03:01,692 chapter . And we thank him for his 75 00:03:01,692 --> 00:03:03,581 decades of honorable and faithful 76 00:03:03,581 --> 00:03:05,692 service to our nation . The secretary 77 00:03:05,692 --> 00:03:07,803 will have a lot more to say about his 78 00:03:07,803 --> 00:03:10,026 leadership at south . Come on friday as 79 00:03:10,026 --> 00:03:12,248 well as welcoming General Richardson to 80 00:03:12,248 --> 00:03:15,110 the to a huge and historic task . Um 81 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:17,342 That ceremony is gonna be streamed live 82 00:03:17,342 --> 00:03:19,600 on our website for those of you who 83 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,430 want to watch it . Um and with that 84 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:24,607 we'll start taking questions . I think 85 00:03:24,607 --> 00:03:27,070 we got bob on the phone . Is that right 86 00:03:27,070 --> 00:03:31,060 bob . Yes john thank you . I want 87 00:03:31,060 --> 00:03:33,710 to ask you about china's overall 88 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:37,040 hypersonic weapon test that general 89 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,680 Milley told Bloomberg tv is quote very 90 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,620 concerning and I was wondering if you 91 00:03:42,620 --> 00:03:44,640 could provide some context for that 92 00:03:44,650 --> 00:03:48,060 concern ? Um in other words um 93 00:03:48,070 --> 00:03:51,130 what how does Secretary Austin see this ? 94 00:03:51,140 --> 00:03:54,350 Is it concerning to him in the sense 95 00:03:54,350 --> 00:03:56,406 that it shows the U . S . Has fallen 96 00:03:56,406 --> 00:03:59,340 behind china and military technology or 97 00:03:59,340 --> 00:04:02,180 that it makes um this this technology 98 00:04:02,180 --> 00:04:05,400 makes us more vulnerable to a potential 99 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:07,890 Chinese nuclear attack . Could you 100 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,060 provide some context ? Speaking to the 101 00:04:11,070 --> 00:04:14,870 specifics of this test which we haven't 102 00:04:14,870 --> 00:04:17,870 done ? I would tell you that . And the 103 00:04:17,870 --> 00:04:20,090 secretary addressed this the other day 104 00:04:20,100 --> 00:04:23,360 while we were on travel , we've been 105 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:25,660 very clear about our concerns over 106 00:04:26,140 --> 00:04:29,470 china's um advancements in in certain 107 00:04:29,470 --> 00:04:31,192 capabilities , a wide range of 108 00:04:31,192 --> 00:04:33,248 capabilities , capabilities that the 109 00:04:33,248 --> 00:04:37,160 secretary noted himself uh do very 110 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:39,920 little to help uh decrease tensions in 111 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:43,190 the region and beyond . Um and uh and 112 00:04:43,190 --> 00:04:45,134 they're paired with these advanced 113 00:04:45,134 --> 00:04:47,301 military capabilities . Are are paired 114 00:04:47,301 --> 00:04:50,060 with a foreign and defense policy 115 00:04:50,060 --> 00:04:52,590 approach that uses intimidation and 116 00:04:52,590 --> 00:04:56,250 coercion of neighboring nations um 117 00:04:56,260 --> 00:04:59,990 uh to yield to china's interests and so 118 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,480 taken in some um it reinforces for us 119 00:05:03,490 --> 00:05:06,350 uh the need to continue to treat the 120 00:05:06,350 --> 00:05:08,830 PRC as our number one pacing challenge 121 00:05:08,830 --> 00:05:11,052 and the secretary is committed to doing 122 00:05:11,052 --> 00:05:14,730 that . Yeah Thanks 123 00:05:14,730 --> 00:05:18,260 John we've counted at least six service 124 00:05:18,260 --> 00:05:20,093 members who were involved in the 125 00:05:20,093 --> 00:05:23,460 January six riot at the Capitol . Um 126 00:05:24,140 --> 00:05:27,640 five of those remain on duty . Are the 127 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:30,210 services moving too slowly to resolve 128 00:05:30,210 --> 00:05:32,810 these cases ? I think the secretary is 129 00:05:32,810 --> 00:05:34,921 comfortable that each of the military 130 00:05:34,921 --> 00:05:38,260 departments have taken seriously his 131 00:05:38,260 --> 00:05:42,120 concerns over extremist 132 00:05:42,130 --> 00:05:44,320 activities throughout the force . And 133 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:46,542 then we talked about this the other day 134 00:05:46,542 --> 00:05:48,542 with respect to the working group's 135 00:05:48,542 --> 00:05:50,709 efforts . Um and he's comfortable that 136 00:05:50,709 --> 00:05:53,200 the civilian and military leadership of 137 00:05:53,210 --> 00:05:56,810 each of the services are working 138 00:05:56,810 --> 00:06:00,600 through appropriately . Um uh 139 00:06:00,610 --> 00:06:02,790 each of these cases and he obviously 140 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,650 cannot get involved um in any of 141 00:06:06,650 --> 00:06:10,230 the adjudication over over these 142 00:06:10,230 --> 00:06:13,410 members , he has to let service 143 00:06:13,410 --> 00:06:15,354 leadership deal with it , but he's 144 00:06:15,354 --> 00:06:17,577 comfortable that they'll do that in the 145 00:06:17,577 --> 00:06:20,300 appropriate way and and any appropriate 146 00:06:20,300 --> 00:06:24,300 time Follow up . So these cases in 147 00:06:24,300 --> 00:06:26,356 general of these service members who 148 00:06:26,356 --> 00:06:28,411 evolved in January six riot . Um you 149 00:06:28,411 --> 00:06:30,633 know , for example , there was a marine 150 00:06:30,633 --> 00:06:32,800 who is on security camera holding a 151 00:06:32,810 --> 00:06:35,270 door open allowing protesters to pour 152 00:06:35,270 --> 00:06:37,920 into the building . Do these cases fit 153 00:06:37,930 --> 00:06:40,840 the pentagons definition of extremism 154 00:06:40,850 --> 00:06:43,010 or is this something that's to be 155 00:06:43,010 --> 00:06:45,066 determined later ? Once we have this 156 00:06:45,066 --> 00:06:48,650 new definition of extremism created the 157 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:52,960 work , the working group's efforts , um 158 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,070 and what we expect will be at the 159 00:06:55,070 --> 00:06:57,181 result of it . One of the things that 160 00:06:57,181 --> 00:06:59,680 will result from it is a new uh 161 00:06:59,690 --> 00:07:01,912 definition of what extremist activities 162 00:07:01,912 --> 00:07:03,968 are . So it's not , I want to stress 163 00:07:03,968 --> 00:07:05,912 again , it's not a a definition of 164 00:07:05,912 --> 00:07:08,840 extremism . It's taking a look at the 165 00:07:08,840 --> 00:07:12,180 activities that were in place , which 166 00:07:12,180 --> 00:07:15,650 we use to define extremist activity and 167 00:07:15,650 --> 00:07:17,706 asking ourselves , is that still the 168 00:07:17,706 --> 00:07:19,872 appropriate list of things ? And do we 169 00:07:19,872 --> 00:07:22,039 need to take things often ? We need to 170 00:07:22,039 --> 00:07:21,770 add things . And so that will be part 171 00:07:21,770 --> 00:07:25,160 of the report . Uh once the 172 00:07:25,170 --> 00:07:27,281 the final coordination of the working 173 00:07:27,281 --> 00:07:30,690 group's efforts are are done and I so I 174 00:07:30,690 --> 00:07:32,746 want to make sure that that's a that 175 00:07:32,746 --> 00:07:35,079 you understand that's a distinct effort . 176 00:07:35,079 --> 00:07:37,640 And I wouldn't , again , without 177 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:39,584 speaking to these individual cases 178 00:07:39,584 --> 00:07:41,780 because we can't do that , I wouldn't 179 00:07:41,780 --> 00:07:43,947 want to leave you with the notion that 180 00:07:44,340 --> 00:07:47,410 adjudication by the services is somehow 181 00:07:47,410 --> 00:07:49,940 dependent upon the timing of the 182 00:07:49,940 --> 00:07:52,150 working group . Again , he's 183 00:07:52,150 --> 00:07:54,540 comfortable that the service leadership 184 00:07:54,550 --> 00:07:56,661 will deal with this inappropriate way 185 00:07:56,661 --> 00:07:59,620 at the appropriate time , but but the 186 00:07:59,630 --> 00:08:01,686 the efforts of the working group are 187 00:08:01,686 --> 00:08:03,686 separate and distinct from that gen 188 00:08:03,686 --> 00:08:05,352 john I want to go back to the 189 00:08:05,352 --> 00:08:08,010 hypersonic weapon test . Is this a 190 00:08:08,010 --> 00:08:10,460 sputnik moment as General Milley said , 191 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:12,951 Is this a capability that the U . S . 192 00:08:12,951 --> 00:08:16,170 Military does not have ? I don't think 193 00:08:16,180 --> 00:08:18,930 it does any good for us to 194 00:08:18,940 --> 00:08:21,720 characterize this and put a label on it . 195 00:08:21,730 --> 00:08:24,720 Uh this advancement of 196 00:08:24,730 --> 00:08:26,674 capabilities . And again , I'm not 197 00:08:26,674 --> 00:08:30,060 going to speak to the specifics of 198 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:32,560 of what's been reported out there , 199 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,218 what I can tell you is that the 200 00:08:36,218 --> 00:08:39,290 department is I mean from almost day 201 00:08:39,290 --> 00:08:42,510 one when the secretary took office uh 202 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:44,576 and talking about the P . R . C . As 203 00:08:44,576 --> 00:08:46,576 the department's pacing challenge . 204 00:08:46,576 --> 00:08:49,340 There's a suite of issues with respect 205 00:08:49,340 --> 00:08:51,660 to china from the security perspective 206 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,320 and that's what our job here is at the 207 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:57,030 department that that deeply concerns us 208 00:08:57,030 --> 00:08:59,086 about the trajectory of where things 209 00:08:59,086 --> 00:09:01,308 are going in the indo pacific and taken 210 00:09:01,308 --> 00:09:04,280 together . All those things are reason 211 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:08,060 for concern and are being used 212 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:11,350 to inform the operational concepts that 213 00:09:11,350 --> 00:09:13,294 we want to be able to employ their 214 00:09:13,294 --> 00:09:15,017 informing the budget , they're 215 00:09:15,017 --> 00:09:16,739 informing the programs and the 216 00:09:16,739 --> 00:09:18,628 priorities of the department . Um 217 00:09:18,628 --> 00:09:21,150 They're going to inform uh in many ways 218 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:23,950 um are are training and exercise 219 00:09:23,950 --> 00:09:27,060 regimen . Uh So there's a lot here 220 00:09:27,340 --> 00:09:30,660 a free and indo pacific remains a key 221 00:09:30,940 --> 00:09:32,996 national security goal of the United 222 00:09:32,996 --> 00:09:35,162 States and we at the department have a 223 00:09:35,162 --> 00:09:37,384 significant role in helping making sure 224 00:09:37,384 --> 00:09:39,650 we can protect that that interest . And 225 00:09:39,650 --> 00:09:42,150 so look , it's going to get china's 226 00:09:42,150 --> 00:09:44,206 activities are going to get factored 227 00:09:44,206 --> 00:09:46,372 into the global posture review as well 228 00:09:46,372 --> 00:09:48,430 and the upcoming national defense 229 00:09:48,430 --> 00:09:51,810 strategy . So there's a , I'm not , I'm 230 00:09:51,810 --> 00:09:53,754 not going to point to one specific 231 00:09:53,754 --> 00:09:57,180 thing jen and say that's it . That's 232 00:09:57,180 --> 00:09:59,402 what makes China the pacing challenge . 233 00:09:59,402 --> 00:10:01,291 There's a lot that goes into that 234 00:10:01,291 --> 00:10:04,430 including gen not just the capabilities 235 00:10:04,430 --> 00:10:07,710 that they're putting a field in a float 236 00:10:07,970 --> 00:10:11,600 but the way in which they're using 237 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:13,810 their foreign policy in the region to 238 00:10:13,810 --> 00:10:16,060 coerce and intimidate . Can you just 239 00:10:16,540 --> 00:10:19,230 technology are these glide vehicles 240 00:10:19,230 --> 00:10:21,397 something that the U . S . Has already 241 00:10:21,397 --> 00:10:23,674 tested . There have been several tests , 242 00:10:23,674 --> 00:10:25,841 some of which failed , Some which were 243 00:10:25,841 --> 00:10:27,952 successful in the last week . Can you 244 00:10:27,952 --> 00:10:30,174 explain to us where things stand on the 245 00:10:30,174 --> 00:10:32,397 technology ? There's a limit to how far 246 00:10:32,397 --> 00:10:34,286 we can go speaking publicly about 247 00:10:34,286 --> 00:10:36,397 certain capabilities but it's in it's 248 00:10:36,397 --> 00:10:38,397 in the budget . You can read it for 249 00:10:38,397 --> 00:10:40,980 yourself . The our own pursuit of 250 00:10:40,990 --> 00:10:44,570 hypersonic capabilities is is 251 00:10:44,570 --> 00:10:47,870 real . Um it's tangible and and and we 252 00:10:47,870 --> 00:10:50,750 are absolutely working towards being 253 00:10:50,750 --> 00:10:52,861 able to develop that capability but I 254 00:10:52,861 --> 00:10:55,400 won't get into the specifics of testing 255 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:58,260 and where we are . So people are gonna 256 00:10:58,260 --> 00:11:00,093 want people who don't follow the 257 00:11:00,093 --> 00:11:02,038 hypersonic issues that closely the 258 00:11:02,038 --> 00:11:04,149 millions of americans , they're gonna 259 00:11:04,149 --> 00:11:06,204 wonder does the United States have a 260 00:11:06,204 --> 00:11:08,371 defense against hypersonic missiles at 261 00:11:08,371 --> 00:11:10,427 this point ? Does the continental US 262 00:11:10,427 --> 00:11:12,260 heavy defense Tony again without 263 00:11:12,260 --> 00:11:14,960 getting into uh specific capabilities 264 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,071 that I don't think it would be useful 265 00:11:17,071 --> 00:11:20,550 to speak to here at the podium . Um 266 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:25,210 This is not this is not a 267 00:11:25,210 --> 00:11:28,400 technology that is is it alien to us 268 00:11:28,410 --> 00:11:30,740 that that we haven't been thinking 269 00:11:30,740 --> 00:11:33,550 about for a while . Uh and 270 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:38,760 I would I would argue 271 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:42,220 that it's not just the it's not just 272 00:11:42,220 --> 00:11:44,380 our own pursuit of this sort of 273 00:11:44,380 --> 00:11:47,530 technology but our our mindfulness that 274 00:11:47,540 --> 00:11:50,600 uh that we have defensive capabilities 275 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:52,850 to that we need to continue to to hone 276 00:11:52,850 --> 00:11:55,017 and to improve . And I think I'd leave 277 00:11:55,017 --> 00:11:58,170 it at that john quick clarification . 278 00:11:58,170 --> 00:12:00,400 And then another question you mentioned 279 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:02,456 the global force posture review . Is 280 00:12:02,456 --> 00:12:04,622 there a date yet for when that will be 281 00:12:04,622 --> 00:12:06,511 released ? I don't have a date to 282 00:12:06,511 --> 00:12:08,456 announce . I wondered if you could 283 00:12:08,456 --> 00:12:10,678 update us on the work of the china task 284 00:12:10,678 --> 00:12:12,956 force ? Have they completed their work ? 285 00:12:12,956 --> 00:12:15,178 Have they briefed Secretary Austin ? Is 286 00:12:15,178 --> 00:12:17,210 he receiving ? How often is he 287 00:12:17,210 --> 00:12:19,550 receiving briefings about china ? Yeah 288 00:12:19,560 --> 00:12:23,370 we uh and I and we can get you the 289 00:12:23,370 --> 00:12:25,520 transcript but when when we when we 290 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:27,742 concluded the work we actually are very 291 00:12:27,742 --> 00:12:29,964 transparent about the conclusion of the 292 00:12:29,964 --> 00:12:32,590 task force uh and uh and their efforts 293 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,810 uh they have stood down . It was never 294 00:12:35,810 --> 00:12:37,754 it was supposed to be as as as you 295 00:12:37,754 --> 00:12:40,210 heard dr ratner say when we stood it up 296 00:12:40,210 --> 00:12:42,377 that it was gonna be a sprint and they 297 00:12:42,377 --> 00:12:44,266 completed that sprint . Um and we 298 00:12:44,266 --> 00:12:48,160 rolled out the basic findings and 299 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:50,327 recommendations and we can get that to 300 00:12:50,327 --> 00:12:53,550 you . As as for uh 301 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:57,100 recent conversations I literally just 302 00:12:57,100 --> 00:13:00,490 came from the secretaries 303 00:13:00,500 --> 00:13:03,960 uh latest china brief . 304 00:13:03,970 --> 00:13:06,560 So uh he , one of the things he tasked 305 00:13:06,560 --> 00:13:09,070 himself with at the end of the task 306 00:13:09,070 --> 00:13:13,050 force was personal leadership over a 307 00:13:13,060 --> 00:13:16,310 regularly scheduled coordination and 308 00:13:16,310 --> 00:13:19,440 discussion session with the senior 309 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:21,329 leadership here at the department 310 00:13:21,329 --> 00:13:23,384 including the service chiefs and the 311 00:13:23,384 --> 00:13:25,107 service secretaries as well as 312 00:13:25,107 --> 00:13:27,273 appropriate combatant commanders . And 313 00:13:27,273 --> 00:13:30,140 uh he just had the latest iteration of 314 00:13:30,150 --> 00:13:33,490 that regular bi weekly meeting today , 315 00:13:33,500 --> 00:13:37,310 this afternoon bi weekly . Then uh yeah , 316 00:13:37,310 --> 00:13:39,421 I'll check on the exact frequency but 317 00:13:39,421 --> 00:13:41,532 I'm pretty sure they're they're about 318 00:13:41,532 --> 00:13:43,660 bi weekly and he shares them himself 319 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:48,010 Himim . Can you tell us how many of how 320 00:13:48,010 --> 00:13:49,843 much of the active duty force is 321 00:13:49,843 --> 00:13:52,900 vaccinated against ? COVID-19 currently . 322 00:13:53,050 --> 00:13:55,106 And if you can break out how much of 323 00:13:55,106 --> 00:13:56,939 the reserve forces that would be 324 00:13:56,939 --> 00:13:59,840 convenient to . So active duty 325 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:02,160 personnel with at least one dose is 326 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:06,070 96.9 . So 97% . Active duty 327 00:14:06,070 --> 00:14:08,237 personnel that are fully vaccinated as 328 00:14:08,237 --> 00:14:12,120 of today stands at 86.9 of the 329 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:15,940 total force , 82% have at least one 330 00:14:15,940 --> 00:14:19,450 dose . Um and the fully vaccinated 331 00:14:19,460 --> 00:14:22,860 uh percentage of the total force is 332 00:14:22,860 --> 00:14:26,820 just over 68% . I do not have breakouts 333 00:14:26,830 --> 00:14:29,060 Megan for reserve and guard . I just 334 00:14:29,060 --> 00:14:31,150 don't , we're not tabulating that , 335 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:33,049 that data . You could , maybe the 336 00:14:33,049 --> 00:14:35,160 services could be able to provide you 337 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:37,450 that more specifically . Yeah . This 338 00:14:37,450 --> 00:14:40,060 man , Yes , john I have three questions 339 00:14:40,060 --> 00:14:42,282 and actually it's going to kind of back 340 00:14:42,282 --> 00:14:44,393 off of her question . Um , I spoke to 341 00:14:44,393 --> 00:14:46,504 some military attorneys and they said 342 00:14:46,504 --> 00:14:48,560 that they had sailors coming to them 343 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:50,671 frustrated after they had applied for 344 00:14:50,671 --> 00:14:52,838 religious exemptions ? Basically their 345 00:14:52,838 --> 00:14:54,838 leadership said you can apply , but 346 00:14:54,838 --> 00:14:56,838 we're going to deny it . So what is 347 00:14:56,838 --> 00:14:59,004 your response to that ? If leaders are 348 00:14:59,004 --> 00:15:00,504 doing that ? Are there any 349 00:15:00,504 --> 00:15:02,727 repercussions ? If they're discouraging 350 00:15:02,727 --> 00:15:04,893 people from applying for the religious 351 00:15:04,893 --> 00:15:06,727 exemption ? I'm not aware of the 352 00:15:06,727 --> 00:15:08,949 specifics of these reports . Teresa , I 353 00:15:08,949 --> 00:15:11,171 mean , I can't speak to them with great 354 00:15:11,171 --> 00:15:13,171 specificity . I can only go back to 355 00:15:13,171 --> 00:15:15,116 What we've said before a couple of 356 00:15:15,116 --> 00:15:17,060 points . one . The secretary . His 357 00:15:17,060 --> 00:15:19,227 expectation is , and I think it's been 358 00:15:19,227 --> 00:15:21,338 borne out that leaders throughout the 359 00:15:21,338 --> 00:15:23,282 department are going to handle the 360 00:15:23,282 --> 00:15:25,280 mandatory vaccination program with 361 00:15:25,290 --> 00:15:28,340 compassion and with understanding . Um 362 00:15:28,340 --> 00:15:31,620 and that uh with with a full suite of 363 00:15:31,630 --> 00:15:34,230 tools available to them to try to get 364 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:36,390 members who are resistant to do the 365 00:15:36,390 --> 00:15:38,557 right thing . I think you can see from 366 00:15:38,557 --> 00:15:40,779 the numbers I just gave Megan . There's 367 00:15:40,779 --> 00:15:42,501 not a lot of resistance people 368 00:15:42,501 --> 00:15:44,557 understand that this is an important 369 00:15:44,557 --> 00:15:46,890 program and they're participating in it . 370 00:15:46,890 --> 00:15:50,670 Uh secondly , um with respect 371 00:15:50,670 --> 00:15:53,730 to the exemption process , each service 372 00:15:53,730 --> 00:15:55,952 handles this differently and that's why 373 00:15:55,952 --> 00:15:58,670 the secretary has delegated the 374 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:01,550 execution of the mandatory vaccines to 375 00:16:01,550 --> 00:16:03,772 the military departments , each of them 376 00:16:03,772 --> 00:16:05,980 have their own exemption process . Um 377 00:16:05,990 --> 00:16:09,450 and uh and are making it clear two 378 00:16:09,450 --> 00:16:12,550 members what that process is , I know I 379 00:16:12,550 --> 00:16:14,840 don't have any direct knowledge of a 380 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:17,430 situation where a member of the 381 00:16:17,430 --> 00:16:19,208 military was told by his or her 382 00:16:19,208 --> 00:16:21,610 leadership . Hey , go ahead and apply , 383 00:16:21,610 --> 00:16:23,666 but you're gonna get it denied . I I 384 00:16:23,666 --> 00:16:25,777 just , I can't speak to the specifics 385 00:16:25,777 --> 00:16:27,777 of that of that case . Again , I go 386 00:16:27,777 --> 00:16:29,777 back to what Secretary expects that 387 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:31,984 there isn't , there's an exception 388 00:16:31,984 --> 00:16:34,280 policy been in place well before the 389 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:37,160 covid vaccine . Um So it's not new . 390 00:16:37,540 --> 00:16:40,970 And and his expectation is that if 391 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:43,940 members of the military want to apply 392 00:16:43,940 --> 00:16:46,162 for one that they should be able to and 393 00:16:46,162 --> 00:16:48,329 they should be able to make their case 394 00:16:48,329 --> 00:16:50,384 and the leadership should follow the 395 00:16:50,384 --> 00:16:52,162 same process for that exemption 396 00:16:52,162 --> 00:16:54,329 requests as they would for any other . 397 00:16:54,329 --> 00:16:56,107 Okay , my other question on the 398 00:16:56,107 --> 00:16:58,162 undersecretary of Defense for Policy 399 00:16:58,162 --> 00:17:00,107 believes that ISIS K is capable of 400 00:17:00,107 --> 00:17:02,218 carrying out an attack against the US 401 00:17:02,218 --> 00:17:04,329 between six months to a year , and he 402 00:17:04,329 --> 00:17:06,384 also mentioned al Qaeda as well . Um 403 00:17:06,384 --> 00:17:08,551 what is your response to his testimony 404 00:17:08,551 --> 00:17:10,520 and also how do you think this new 405 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:12,780 knowledge will impact over the horizon 406 00:17:12,780 --> 00:17:15,400 operations ? I think what Dr Carl said 407 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,240 was that we could see ISIS K generate 408 00:17:18,250 --> 00:17:20,980 the capability to do external attacks 409 00:17:20,990 --> 00:17:23,770 somewhere between 6 to 12 months 410 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:27,670 and certainly uh we 411 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:30,730 fully support what under Secretary call 412 00:17:30,730 --> 00:17:32,990 said . I mean , he's basing this off an 413 00:17:32,990 --> 00:17:36,560 intelligence community , estimate it 414 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:40,180 Uh it doesn't mean that it will happen 415 00:17:40,190 --> 00:17:43,940 in 6-12 months . Um and it underscores 416 00:17:43,940 --> 00:17:46,051 what we've been saying all along that 417 00:17:46,051 --> 00:17:49,640 we have now uh robust over the horizon 418 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:51,862 counterterrorism capabilities and we're 419 00:17:51,862 --> 00:17:53,862 going to continue to try to improve 420 00:17:53,862 --> 00:17:55,973 them going forward of concern because 421 00:17:55,973 --> 00:17:58,029 just a few months ago there wasn't a 422 00:17:58,029 --> 00:17:59,862 concern that that these possible 423 00:17:59,862 --> 00:18:02,260 attacks could happen . So is there any 424 00:18:02,270 --> 00:18:05,150 concern I beg to differ ? I wouldn't 425 00:18:05,150 --> 00:18:08,650 say that there was no concern . I know , 426 00:18:08,650 --> 00:18:11,700 I mean , we we were very honest in 427 00:18:11,700 --> 00:18:15,670 august in september that in fact 428 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:18,296 we saw it for ourselves , the threat 429 00:18:18,296 --> 00:18:21,050 that ISIS K poses inside Afghanistan 430 00:18:21,060 --> 00:18:23,330 and we've never walked away from the 431 00:18:23,330 --> 00:18:26,790 fact that Al Qaeda was still present in 432 00:18:26,790 --> 00:18:30,060 Afghanistan and that even before we 433 00:18:30,070 --> 00:18:32,237 withdrew that our expectation was that 434 00:18:32,237 --> 00:18:34,237 the Taliban were going to meet what 435 00:18:34,237 --> 00:18:36,348 they said they would do , which is to 436 00:18:36,348 --> 00:18:40,040 not allow Al Qaeda to have safe haven 437 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,040 in Afghanistan and certainly not to 438 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:44,360 cooperate with them . So there was 439 00:18:44,360 --> 00:18:47,920 never any a 440 00:18:47,930 --> 00:18:50,041 statement here from the pentagon that 441 00:18:50,041 --> 00:18:52,263 you know , it wasn't a big deal and now 442 00:18:52,263 --> 00:18:54,700 it is a big deal . The under secretary 443 00:18:54,700 --> 00:18:58,130 call was simply reflecting what now now 444 00:18:58,140 --> 00:18:59,930 post Afghanistan , what the 445 00:18:59,940 --> 00:19:02,273 intelligence community's assessment are . 446 00:19:02,273 --> 00:19:04,560 But it's a reminder to all of us that 447 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:06,616 the threat is real . As we said , it 448 00:19:06,616 --> 00:19:09,620 was even before and a reminder to all 449 00:19:09,620 --> 00:19:11,787 of us that we need to continue to work 450 00:19:11,787 --> 00:19:13,398 on improving over the rising 451 00:19:13,398 --> 00:19:16,290 capabilities . Okay , jenny , thank you 452 00:19:16,300 --> 00:19:20,130 john I have caucasians . First question 453 00:19:20,130 --> 00:19:23,320 is the United States in the south Korea 454 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:26,520 held a high level this armament and 455 00:19:26,530 --> 00:19:30,410 none qualifications meeting yesterday 456 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:34,070 and any bot persons attending this 457 00:19:34,070 --> 00:19:36,126 meeting also , do we have any detail 458 00:19:36,126 --> 00:19:39,170 about this meeting ? Um , 459 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:44,096 I don't think I have any read out of 460 00:19:44,096 --> 00:19:45,984 that meeting . So let me take the 461 00:19:45,984 --> 00:19:48,151 question and get back to you . Come on 462 00:19:48,151 --> 00:19:52,100 and earlier this this week , former U . 463 00:19:52,100 --> 00:19:55,820 S . Special envoy for the north Korea's 464 00:19:55,820 --> 00:19:59,270 except detrani said that 465 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:03,260 if the US and Rok are discussing 466 00:20:03,740 --> 00:20:07,490 and end of the world decorations with 467 00:20:07,490 --> 00:20:10,850 North Korea . They should make it 468 00:20:10,860 --> 00:20:14,120 clear that the Rok US 469 00:20:14,130 --> 00:20:18,110 alliance and USFK issues or 470 00:20:18,110 --> 00:20:22,110 separate . What is your comment . I 471 00:20:22,120 --> 00:20:24,342 didn't understand the last part of your 472 00:20:24,342 --> 00:20:27,660 question that we should make sure to 473 00:20:27,660 --> 00:20:31,230 make it , make it clear that out . Okay . 474 00:20:31,230 --> 00:20:34,240 And United States , our alliance and 475 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:37,260 the USFK issues are separated 476 00:20:37,740 --> 00:20:41,540 because Yes , separate from discussions 477 00:20:41,540 --> 00:20:43,660 about the alliance . Yes , because 478 00:20:43,660 --> 00:20:47,230 North could one or two together 479 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:50,150 for that . Is she going to be a 480 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:53,370 discussing so ? But he just turned one 481 00:20:53,370 --> 00:20:56,690 of us maybe North Korea mona 482 00:20:56,700 --> 00:20:59,550 withdrawing troops from South Korea 483 00:20:59,550 --> 00:21:03,550 those things . So yeah , well again I 484 00:21:03,550 --> 00:21:06,260 don't have direct knowledge of these 485 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,850 comments but US forces Korea 486 00:21:10,340 --> 00:21:13,800 are on the peninsula because of the 487 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:17,630 alliance uh and are fully represented 488 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:20,250 in alliance discussions as our our 489 00:21:20,260 --> 00:21:22,770 South korean allies , 490 00:21:23,540 --> 00:21:27,510 security advisors certainly been uh 491 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:30,740 said yesterday . He also said that 492 00:21:30,750 --> 00:21:34,310 there is difference between South 493 00:21:34,310 --> 00:21:37,530 Korea and the United States regarding 494 00:21:37,530 --> 00:21:39,740 decoration of the world 495 00:21:40,110 --> 00:21:43,450 the end of the day . I don't have 496 00:21:43,450 --> 00:21:45,617 anything other than we've talked about 497 00:21:45,617 --> 00:21:47,728 this from the podium before . I don't 498 00:21:47,728 --> 00:21:47,360 have anything different to say today 499 00:21:47,360 --> 00:21:50,450 about that . The abuse of this because 500 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:52,840 you know , never say they have some 501 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:55,200 difference . Excuse let me take the 502 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:57,380 question because I don't I don't 503 00:21:57,390 --> 00:21:59,770 understand what the dispute is here . 504 00:21:59,780 --> 00:22:02,880 We've already talked about this . No , 505 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:06,040 I get it . But if there's been a nuance 506 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:08,151 change , I'm not aware of it . So let 507 00:22:08,151 --> 00:22:10,429 me take your question , your other one . 508 00:22:10,429 --> 00:22:12,484 I know that's not satisfactory . But 509 00:22:12,484 --> 00:22:14,540 let me do let me do that before I go 510 00:22:14,540 --> 00:22:16,707 making policy pronouncements here then 511 00:22:16,707 --> 00:22:18,929 that are misinformed . Okay , let me go 512 00:22:18,929 --> 00:22:21,290 to the phones here . Tom Squitieri Hey 513 00:22:21,290 --> 00:22:23,500 john thanks a lot . I have two quick 514 00:22:23,500 --> 00:22:25,970 follow up questions . One is as you 515 00:22:25,970 --> 00:22:28,550 mentioned today and monday regarding 516 00:22:28,550 --> 00:22:30,217 the vaccine , the vaccination 517 00:22:30,217 --> 00:22:32,383 exemptions . Each service will come up 518 00:22:32,383 --> 00:22:34,550 there different way of doing it . Does 519 00:22:34,550 --> 00:22:37,110 this mean that an individual in one 520 00:22:37,110 --> 00:22:39,332 branch could find an exemption where he 521 00:22:39,332 --> 00:22:42,750 or she could not in another branch ? Um 522 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:45,150 It's difficult for me to address that 523 00:22:45,150 --> 00:22:47,039 question in a broad brush way tom 524 00:22:47,039 --> 00:22:48,928 without knowing you know what the 525 00:22:48,928 --> 00:22:50,983 exemptions are . Some people will be 526 00:22:50,983 --> 00:22:53,240 exempt medically . Some will certainly 527 00:22:53,370 --> 00:22:56,670 apply for religious exemption and 528 00:22:57,540 --> 00:22:59,900 each , each exemption asked for 529 00:22:59,900 --> 00:23:01,900 particularly those of religion will 530 00:23:01,900 --> 00:23:03,622 most likely be case specific . 531 00:23:03,622 --> 00:23:05,789 Individual specific . So that's a very 532 00:23:05,789 --> 00:23:08,740 difficult question to answer . What I 533 00:23:08,740 --> 00:23:11,100 can tell you is that each military 534 00:23:11,100 --> 00:23:13,960 department has their own 535 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:17,650 exemption process . Um so 536 00:23:17,660 --> 00:23:20,010 uh they will , they will handle that 537 00:23:20,020 --> 00:23:22,370 according to the existing process And 538 00:23:22,370 --> 00:23:24,203 as I mentioned it to raise . The 539 00:23:24,203 --> 00:23:26,203 secretary expects that they will do 540 00:23:26,203 --> 00:23:28,426 that and do it in a compassionate way . 541 00:23:28,426 --> 00:23:30,092 But that's a that's almost an 542 00:23:30,092 --> 00:23:32,314 impossible question for me to answer or 543 00:23:32,314 --> 00:23:34,370 not because each case is going to be 544 00:23:34,370 --> 00:23:36,650 treated specifically and individually . 545 00:23:36,660 --> 00:23:39,820 Um as it as it ought to be as 546 00:23:39,820 --> 00:23:42,830 appropriate . Trace already got you . 547 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:46,800 Yeah . Louie john going back to 548 00:23:47,120 --> 00:23:50,480 these comments , it's been interpreted 549 00:23:50,490 --> 00:23:54,000 that he is confirming that there was a 550 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:56,170 test of a hypersonic weapons system . 551 00:23:57,040 --> 00:24:00,690 Is that accurate ? I would refer you to 552 00:24:00,700 --> 00:24:03,200 General Millie's staff to answer that 553 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:04,978 question . I'm not I don't have 554 00:24:04,978 --> 00:24:08,660 anything to add uh to to the 555 00:24:08,660 --> 00:24:10,660 comments and the press reporting of 556 00:24:10,660 --> 00:24:14,400 them . Except to say we remain 557 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:17,240 concerned about China's advancement of 558 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:19,462 certain capabilities and we're going to 559 00:24:19,462 --> 00:24:21,518 stay focused on that . So you as the 560 00:24:21,518 --> 00:24:23,740 viewer , the spokesman are not going to 561 00:24:23,740 --> 00:24:25,796 confirm what he said on the record . 562 00:24:25,940 --> 00:24:29,660 I'm going to let him and his staff uh 563 00:24:29,670 --> 00:24:32,080 deal with his comments in the interview . 564 00:24:32,090 --> 00:24:36,060 Um who and I'm not going to speak to 565 00:24:36,540 --> 00:24:39,010 the press reporting of this particular 566 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:42,460 test . Okay . Yeah . 567 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:45,262 Can you even update on the search for a 568 00:24:45,262 --> 00:24:47,429 vice chair of , Can you give an update 569 00:24:47,429 --> 00:24:49,262 for a search for the vice trader 570 00:24:49,262 --> 00:24:51,207 replaced general heightened as the 571 00:24:51,207 --> 00:24:53,318 Secretary has been named to the White 572 00:24:53,318 --> 00:24:53,170 House . Where is that processed ? And I 573 00:24:53,180 --> 00:24:55,236 don't have an update for you on this 574 00:24:55,236 --> 00:24:56,958 And I don't have any personnel 575 00:24:56,958 --> 00:24:58,847 announcements to make . We're all 576 00:24:58,847 --> 00:25:01,670 mindful of the looming um 577 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:05,040 retirement of General heighten 578 00:25:05,050 --> 00:25:08,030 Secretary remains very grateful for his 579 00:25:08,030 --> 00:25:10,490 leadership and his service . Um and 580 00:25:10,490 --> 00:25:12,434 when there's something to say with 581 00:25:12,434 --> 00:25:15,390 respect to uh an announcement or 582 00:25:15,390 --> 00:25:17,334 nomination that will come from the 583 00:25:17,334 --> 00:25:19,334 White House as appropriate . Yeah . 584 00:25:19,334 --> 00:25:22,510 Here any update on Yemen . Any help for 585 00:25:22,510 --> 00:25:26,360 the Yemen government to help them 586 00:25:26,370 --> 00:25:29,630 protect Marabh or is it only helping 587 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:31,862 the coalition and the Saudis to protect 588 00:25:31,862 --> 00:25:34,084 Saudi Arabia , I don't have any updates 589 00:25:34,084 --> 00:25:36,196 or changes here . We continue to work 590 00:25:36,196 --> 00:25:38,140 with partner nations in the United 591 00:25:38,140 --> 00:25:40,251 Nations toward an end to the conflict 592 00:25:40,251 --> 00:25:42,196 by working to secure a ceasefire , 593 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:44,551 ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid 594 00:25:44,551 --> 00:25:47,700 um and to help restore long dormant 595 00:25:47,710 --> 00:25:50,200 peace talks . I think , you know , the 596 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:52,580 State Department is in the lead uh for 597 00:25:52,580 --> 00:25:54,636 the United States through one of our 598 00:25:54,636 --> 00:25:56,802 most capable diplomats , special envoy 599 00:25:56,802 --> 00:25:59,020 tim lender king . Um and I know that 600 00:25:59,020 --> 00:26:01,187 he's working very closely with the U . 601 00:26:01,187 --> 00:26:03,020 N . Special envoy for Yemen Hans 602 00:26:03,020 --> 00:26:05,800 Greenberg , but there's no changes , no 603 00:26:05,810 --> 00:26:07,800 policy initiatives that are new or 604 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:10,550 different today . Yeah . Okay . 605 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,850 Year mandating , covid booster shots . 606 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:17,573 I don't have any update for you on that . 607 00:26:17,573 --> 00:26:19,462 Um We haven't there hasn't been a 608 00:26:19,462 --> 00:26:22,050 policy decision in that regard . Jim 609 00:26:22,050 --> 00:26:24,161 did you have a question ? You're just 610 00:26:24,161 --> 00:26:26,161 going back to General Hayden . That 611 00:26:26,161 --> 00:26:28,272 position has gapped in the past , but 612 00:26:28,272 --> 00:26:32,130 it's it's they don't like to do that . 613 00:26:32,140 --> 00:26:34,210 The Vice chairman position is is the 614 00:26:34,210 --> 00:26:36,410 secretary concern that there will be a 615 00:26:36,410 --> 00:26:38,510 gap because it's going to take some 616 00:26:38,510 --> 00:26:41,580 time for that process to unfold . 617 00:26:41,590 --> 00:26:43,646 You're right , it's not optimal that 618 00:26:43,646 --> 00:26:45,868 there's a gap in that position . It's a 619 00:26:45,868 --> 00:26:47,646 key national security role . No 620 00:26:47,646 --> 00:26:49,868 question about that , but it has in the 621 00:26:49,868 --> 00:26:51,923 past in the recent past , twice been 622 00:26:51,923 --> 00:26:53,923 gap for short short period of short 623 00:26:53,923 --> 00:26:56,560 periods of time . Um And uh 624 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:00,550 while nobody can by law be named 625 00:27:00,910 --> 00:27:04,080 acting vice chairman ? Uh some of the 626 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:06,570 duties can be delegated in an in an 627 00:27:06,570 --> 00:27:08,792 acting capacity to other members of the 628 00:27:08,792 --> 00:27:10,459 joint staff . I would let the 629 00:27:10,459 --> 00:27:12,970 chairman's office speak to how they 630 00:27:12,970 --> 00:27:15,026 might handle the delegation of those 631 00:27:15,026 --> 00:27:17,026 duties . But it has happened in the 632 00:27:17,026 --> 00:27:19,860 past . Again , not optimal uh but uh 633 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:23,890 uh but it can be done and 634 00:27:23,890 --> 00:27:27,080 uh and we'll make sure that it's done 635 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:30,830 in a way that uh doesn't in pune or 636 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:33,260 diminish our ability to meet our 637 00:27:33,260 --> 00:27:34,704 national security goals . 638 00:27:36,940 --> 00:27:39,650 I don't have a a 639 00:27:39,660 --> 00:27:43,260 specific personnel process here to 640 00:27:43,270 --> 00:27:47,270 speak to , jen uh mm 641 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:50,610 This is a big job with immense 642 00:27:50,610 --> 00:27:53,940 responsibilities . Um and uh rest 643 00:27:53,940 --> 00:27:57,150 assured that the secretary will make 644 00:27:57,160 --> 00:27:59,340 appropriate recommendations to the 645 00:27:59,340 --> 00:28:01,451 president and the president will make 646 00:28:01,451 --> 00:28:03,920 his nomination clear at the at the 647 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:06,390 right time . Um and uh and we'll move 648 00:28:06,390 --> 00:28:08,279 forward . There will be will be a 649 00:28:08,279 --> 00:28:09,834 nominee and and the and the 650 00:28:09,834 --> 00:28:12,057 confirmation process will will pursue . 651 00:28:12,057 --> 00:28:15,670 But I I uh don't have any specifics to 652 00:28:15,670 --> 00:28:17,710 speak to you today about how the 653 00:28:17,710 --> 00:28:21,540 process has gone to date . Okay . Wait 654 00:28:21,540 --> 00:28:23,596 a minute . I haven't gone to anybody 655 00:28:23,596 --> 00:28:25,596 else on the phone a couple more and 656 00:28:25,596 --> 00:28:27,651 then yeah , I'll get in trouble if I 657 00:28:27,651 --> 00:28:29,707 don't do this . Uh Jeff Seldin . Mhm 658 00:28:29,707 --> 00:28:32,040 john thanks very much have one on china , 659 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:34,262 one on Afghanistan on china for years . 660 00:28:34,262 --> 00:28:36,151 Military officials would say that 661 00:28:36,151 --> 00:28:37,818 Russia was the more immediate 662 00:28:37,818 --> 00:28:40,420 existential threat . Does the chinese 663 00:28:40,430 --> 00:28:42,520 hypersonic test change that type of 664 00:28:42,520 --> 00:28:44,520 thinking at all is is Beijing now a 665 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:47,230 more immediate military threat in 666 00:28:47,230 --> 00:28:50,870 Moscow on Afghanistan with 667 00:28:50,870 --> 00:28:52,926 the possibility the assessments that 668 00:28:52,926 --> 00:28:55,880 IsIS K al Qaeda could both now have the 669 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:57,880 capability of mounting attacks with 670 00:28:57,880 --> 00:29:00,520 within two years at most . Um how does 671 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:02,631 that compare to threats from IsIS and 672 00:29:02,631 --> 00:29:04,742 Al Qaeda affiliates elsewhere , Syria 673 00:29:04,742 --> 00:29:06,810 and Africa . And how are these 674 00:29:06,810 --> 00:29:08,754 assessments influencing the global 675 00:29:08,754 --> 00:29:12,050 posture review ? There's a lot there 676 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:16,270 uh on china . Um 677 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:19,780 Again , right from the get go , the 678 00:29:19,780 --> 00:29:21,770 secretary referred to china as our 679 00:29:21,770 --> 00:29:23,992 number one pacing challenge and nothing 680 00:29:23,992 --> 00:29:25,992 has changed about his concerns with 681 00:29:25,992 --> 00:29:28,750 that . Uh we are laser focused on 682 00:29:28,750 --> 00:29:30,361 making sure that we have the 683 00:29:30,361 --> 00:29:32,583 operational concepts and capabilities , 684 00:29:32,583 --> 00:29:34,917 the resources that we need to deal with . 685 00:29:34,917 --> 00:29:37,028 This pacing challenge specifically in 686 00:29:37,028 --> 00:29:39,250 the indo pacific but they but they have 687 00:29:39,250 --> 00:29:39,220 a global reach that we have to be 688 00:29:39,220 --> 00:29:42,480 careful about two and mindful of on 689 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:44,540 Afghanistan . I don't have intel 690 00:29:44,540 --> 00:29:48,280 assessments on every other region of 691 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:51,340 the world where there are uh Al Qaeda 692 00:29:51,340 --> 00:29:54,510 or Al Qaeda affiliates to include uh 693 00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:57,230 groups like ISIS . Um I just don't have 694 00:29:57,230 --> 00:30:00,920 that . Um and I I can't speak to it . 695 00:30:00,930 --> 00:30:04,740 Um but what we 696 00:30:04,740 --> 00:30:07,730 have said in the past remains true 697 00:30:07,730 --> 00:30:11,060 today that we continue to see and have 698 00:30:11,060 --> 00:30:13,282 seen and continue to see the metastases 699 00:30:13,282 --> 00:30:16,930 ation of uh the Al Qaeda threat . Uh 700 00:30:16,940 --> 00:30:18,996 the Al Qaeda affiliate threat out of 701 00:30:18,996 --> 00:30:21,218 Afghanistan into other places . Some of 702 00:30:21,218 --> 00:30:23,273 the places you mentioned um in North 703 00:30:23,273 --> 00:30:26,560 Africa and the Sahel and uh um and uh 704 00:30:26,570 --> 00:30:28,600 and the Horn of Africa uh in other 705 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:30,660 places in the Middle East . Uh No 706 00:30:30,660 --> 00:30:33,000 question about that and that's why 707 00:30:33,010 --> 00:30:35,080 we're going to remain so focused on 708 00:30:35,090 --> 00:30:37,312 making sure we can improve our over the 709 00:30:37,312 --> 00:30:39,534 horizon counterterrorism capabilities . 710 00:30:39,534 --> 00:30:41,757 That's why we're also going to continue 711 00:30:41,757 --> 00:30:43,979 to invest in . Um And you saw this in a 712 00:30:43,979 --> 00:30:46,090 recent trip to the gulf states invest 713 00:30:46,090 --> 00:30:48,201 in our alliances and our partnerships 714 00:30:48,201 --> 00:30:50,368 in those parts of the world , where we 715 00:30:50,368 --> 00:30:52,590 continue to see this and strengthen our 716 00:30:52,590 --> 00:30:52,530 bonds inside the interagency , 717 00:30:52,540 --> 00:30:54,707 particularly with the State Department 718 00:30:54,707 --> 00:30:57,860 as we try to deal uh with the continued 719 00:30:57,860 --> 00:31:00,310 threat of terrorism across the range of 720 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:02,431 elements of power of the government . 721 00:31:02,431 --> 00:31:04,209 It's not all about the military 722 00:31:04,209 --> 00:31:07,960 component . Um Tony Burton 723 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:11,700 aka Thank you john . 724 00:31:11,710 --> 00:31:13,710 Um My question goes to the defense 725 00:31:13,710 --> 00:31:15,821 industrial base impact of the vaccine 726 00:31:15,821 --> 00:31:18,310 mandates science shows vaccines are 727 00:31:18,310 --> 00:31:20,032 effective at protecting people 728 00:31:20,032 --> 00:31:21,977 protecting those around them . But 729 00:31:21,977 --> 00:31:24,032 there's pockets of resistance to the 730 00:31:24,032 --> 00:31:26,143 mandates some of it is in the defense 731 00:31:26,143 --> 00:31:28,254 industrial base the Raytheon Ceo said 732 00:31:28,254 --> 00:31:30,254 yesterday . He expects supply chain 733 00:31:30,254 --> 00:31:32,477 disruptions , workforce problems is D . 734 00:31:32,477 --> 00:31:34,532 O . D . Planning for these potential 735 00:31:34,532 --> 00:31:36,477 disruptions and does D . O . D . I 736 00:31:36,477 --> 00:31:38,588 think it's going to increase the cost 737 00:31:38,588 --> 00:31:40,866 of programs and make schedules overrun . 738 00:31:40,866 --> 00:31:43,032 I certainly hope that's not the case . 739 00:31:43,032 --> 00:31:46,560 Uh Tony we haven't uh today seen 740 00:31:47,140 --> 00:31:49,460 um any of that , any of those tangible 741 00:31:49,460 --> 00:31:51,780 outcomes as a result of this but we are 742 00:31:51,790 --> 00:31:53,568 in close touch with our defense 743 00:31:53,568 --> 00:31:55,810 industry colleagues about this . Uh We 744 00:31:55,810 --> 00:31:58,360 fully support the president's mandate 745 00:31:58,370 --> 00:32:01,230 that the defense contractors are 746 00:32:01,230 --> 00:32:03,452 vaccinated so that they can continue to 747 00:32:03,452 --> 00:32:05,619 do the work they need to do so that we 748 00:32:05,619 --> 00:32:07,841 can do the work we need to do to defend 749 00:32:07,841 --> 00:32:10,063 the country . So we're fully in support 750 00:32:10,063 --> 00:32:12,174 there and are in close touch with our 751 00:32:12,174 --> 00:32:14,341 Defense Industry College . But I don't 752 00:32:14,341 --> 00:32:16,508 I don't think we've seen any practical 753 00:32:16,508 --> 00:32:18,619 outcomes to uh in that regard at this 754 00:32:18,619 --> 00:32:20,786 time . We're going to stay vigilant on 755 00:32:20,786 --> 00:32:22,674 that and stay in close touch with 756 00:32:22,674 --> 00:32:25,008 defense industry partners going forward . 757 00:32:25,008 --> 00:32:27,063 Yeah , we um it's gonna sound like a 758 00:32:27,063 --> 00:32:29,286 weird question , but there's a national 759 00:32:29,286 --> 00:32:31,341 supply chain issue going on with the 760 00:32:31,341 --> 00:32:33,508 civilian economy , um lack of products 761 00:32:33,508 --> 00:32:37,060 um that are sold not only in civilian 762 00:32:37,540 --> 00:32:39,520 marketplace , but also on base 763 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:41,860 exchanges . Post exchanges . Are you 764 00:32:41,860 --> 00:32:45,180 seeing an impact from the supply chain 765 00:32:45,190 --> 00:32:48,810 of products and merchandise on 766 00:32:48,820 --> 00:32:51,100 military commissaries and exchanges ? 767 00:32:51,110 --> 00:32:53,221 Let me take the question louis . I do 768 00:32:53,221 --> 00:32:55,840 not know , and I don't want to guess so 769 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:58,062 we'll take that question to get back to 770 00:32:58,062 --> 00:33:00,680 you last one . And the ISIS K . The 771 00:33:00,690 --> 00:33:02,746 fact that they can regenerate within 772 00:33:02,746 --> 00:33:04,801 two years for external actions . Can 773 00:33:04,801 --> 00:33:06,690 you clarify that , Does that mean 774 00:33:06,690 --> 00:33:08,801 potentially attack in the continental 775 00:33:08,801 --> 00:33:10,746 United States or U . S . Interests 776 00:33:10,746 --> 00:33:12,912 around in europe and Asia and africa , 777 00:33:12,912 --> 00:33:16,100 whose conflated yesterday to attack the 778 00:33:16,100 --> 00:33:18,980 United the U . S . Any sense of . I 779 00:33:18,990 --> 00:33:20,879 don't know that there's much more 780 00:33:20,879 --> 00:33:23,350 granularity than what uh Secretary call 781 00:33:23,350 --> 00:33:27,280 mentioned yesterday . Um That the the 782 00:33:27,280 --> 00:33:31,020 intent is there and 783 00:33:31,030 --> 00:33:34,720 that certain capabilities could also 784 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:37,120 be there along that timeline . Um But I 785 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:39,250 don't know that the and I pointed to 786 00:33:39,250 --> 00:33:41,417 the intel community , but I don't know 787 00:33:41,417 --> 00:33:43,583 that there's a lot more granularity in 788 00:33:43,583 --> 00:33:43,060 terms of what that would mean . I mean 789 00:33:43,060 --> 00:33:45,860 that's still a long way away . But we 790 00:33:45,860 --> 00:33:47,860 have to be mindful that the threats 791 00:33:47,860 --> 00:33:49,860 there and that's why we're going to 792 00:33:49,860 --> 00:33:51,804 stay focused on . Okay . Thank you 793 00:33:51,804 --> 00:33:53,971 everybody sorry for being a little bit 794 00:33:53,971 --> 00:33:53,670 late today .