1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,690 afternoon , everybody . Just a couple 3 00:00:09,690 --> 00:00:13,330 of scheduling notes , the 4 00:00:13,340 --> 00:00:15,580 secretary is scheduled to host a couple 5 00:00:15,580 --> 00:00:17,747 of his counterparts this week tomorrow 6 00:00:17,747 --> 00:00:19,858 he'll meet with Norwegian Minister of 7 00:00:19,858 --> 00:00:23,530 Defense at roger in Oxen to 8 00:00:23,530 --> 00:00:25,308 reaffirm the United States as a 9 00:00:25,308 --> 00:00:27,363 committed ally partner and friend to 10 00:00:27,363 --> 00:00:29,474 Norway and to congratulate him on his 11 00:00:29,474 --> 00:00:31,363 recent appointment as Minister of 12 00:00:31,363 --> 00:00:33,308 Defense will be discussing ways in 13 00:00:33,308 --> 00:00:35,363 which we can deepen our longstanding 14 00:00:35,363 --> 00:00:37,530 defense cooperation with Norway and of 15 00:00:37,530 --> 00:00:39,419 course to discuss shared security 16 00:00:39,419 --> 00:00:41,363 challenges . And on thursday , the 17 00:00:41,363 --> 00:00:43,586 secretary will welcome the new Minister 18 00:00:43,586 --> 00:00:45,308 of Defense for Ukraine , Alexi 19 00:00:45,308 --> 00:00:47,490 Reznikoff to the pentagon again to 20 00:00:47,490 --> 00:00:49,212 congratulate him on his recent 21 00:00:49,212 --> 00:00:51,434 appointment as minister and to continue 22 00:00:51,434 --> 00:00:53,610 the close cooperation between our two 23 00:00:53,610 --> 00:00:55,499 countries on defense and security 24 00:00:55,499 --> 00:00:57,388 issues . And with that we'll take 25 00:00:57,388 --> 00:00:59,860 questions . I think we've uh bob on the 26 00:00:59,870 --> 00:01:03,160 phone . Yes , thank you , john , 27 00:01:03,940 --> 00:01:06,051 couple of quick questions . The State 28 00:01:06,051 --> 00:01:08,162 Department has confirmed this Russian 29 00:01:08,162 --> 00:01:10,640 anti satellite test . I'm wondering if 30 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,390 you can speak from the pentagon's point 31 00:01:13,390 --> 00:01:15,612 of view ? What are the ramifications of 32 00:01:15,612 --> 00:01:18,160 this capability in this test ? And 33 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:19,938 secondly , if you could comment 34 00:01:19,938 --> 00:01:22,160 regarding the New York Times story over 35 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,620 the weekend about the March 2019 36 00:01:24,620 --> 00:01:27,110 Airstrikes in Syria , the Secretary 37 00:01:27,110 --> 00:01:30,270 Austin um going to order some sort of 38 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,520 uh fresh or broader review of the 39 00:01:33,530 --> 00:01:35,863 incident or of centcom's handling of it . 40 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:38,450 Thanks On the 1st 1 . 41 00:01:38,980 --> 00:01:42,590 obviously we share the concern that our 42 00:01:42,590 --> 00:01:44,646 state department colleagues stressed 43 00:01:44,646 --> 00:01:48,360 earlier today about this test . Um 44 00:01:48,940 --> 00:01:51,280 the most immediate concern is the 45 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,550 debris itself , which is now 46 00:01:54,940 --> 00:01:57,220 uh floating out there and could become 47 00:01:57,220 --> 00:01:58,776 a hazard , including to the 48 00:01:58,776 --> 00:02:00,609 international space station . So 49 00:02:00,609 --> 00:02:02,498 there's concerns about the debris 50 00:02:02,498 --> 00:02:05,470 itself . Um , and obviously , uh , you 51 00:02:05,470 --> 00:02:09,220 know , large , uh we 52 00:02:09,270 --> 00:02:12,810 watch closely the kinds of 53 00:02:12,820 --> 00:02:15,760 capabilities that Russia seems to want 54 00:02:16,140 --> 00:02:19,540 um , uh , to develop , which could pose 55 00:02:19,550 --> 00:02:21,970 a threat not just to our national 56 00:02:21,970 --> 00:02:24,026 security interest , but the security 57 00:02:24,026 --> 00:02:25,914 incidents of of other spacefaring 58 00:02:25,914 --> 00:02:28,560 nations . Uh And again , uh we've been 59 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:30,616 very clear , we we would like to see 60 00:02:30,616 --> 00:02:33,830 norms for space uh , so that it can be 61 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:37,410 used responsibly by all spacefaring 62 00:02:37,410 --> 00:02:40,800 nations . On your second question . Um , 63 00:02:40,810 --> 00:02:44,230 I'm not I'm not the secretary hasn't 64 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:47,240 ordered um , anything specific with 65 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:49,462 respect to the new york Times reporting 66 00:02:49,462 --> 00:02:52,000 bob . He certainly has seen that 67 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,620 reporting . He has asked General 68 00:02:54,620 --> 00:02:57,860 Mackenzie to brief him 69 00:02:58,740 --> 00:03:00,840 more specifically on that particular 70 00:03:00,850 --> 00:03:03,072 airstrike . The one from March 2000 and 71 00:03:03,072 --> 00:03:04,961 19 . I don't have anything on the 72 00:03:04,961 --> 00:03:07,183 schedule to announce today , but he has 73 00:03:07,183 --> 00:03:09,294 asked General Mackenzie to uh to give 74 00:03:09,294 --> 00:03:11,517 him a briefing on that strike . I would 75 00:03:11,517 --> 00:03:13,461 like to add just a couple of other 76 00:03:13,461 --> 00:03:16,650 points though , um that uh number one , 77 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,330 no military in the in the world works 78 00:03:21,330 --> 00:03:23,274 as hard as we do to avoid civilian 79 00:03:23,274 --> 00:03:25,497 casualties . Doesn't mean that we don't 80 00:03:25,497 --> 00:03:27,719 always get it right . We don't , But we 81 00:03:27,719 --> 00:03:30,190 work hard to avoid civilian harm , were 82 00:03:30,190 --> 00:03:31,912 also willing to take a look at 83 00:03:31,912 --> 00:03:34,780 ourselves . And so , uh we've got uh 84 00:03:34,790 --> 00:03:38,490 two studies that the department 85 00:03:38,500 --> 00:03:41,750 commissioned a while ago to look at 86 00:03:41,750 --> 00:03:44,200 civilian harm uh , that are coming to 87 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,470 conclusion , even as we speak , one of 88 00:03:47,470 --> 00:03:49,692 them is done and going through security 89 00:03:49,692 --> 00:03:51,914 of you . The other one is very close to 90 00:03:51,914 --> 00:03:53,914 wrapping up um that uh that one was 91 00:03:53,914 --> 00:03:56,160 required by law , the National Defense 92 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:58,140 authorization Act uh to look at 93 00:03:58,140 --> 00:04:01,050 civilian harm that we contracted that 94 00:04:01,050 --> 00:04:04,800 out . Uh that report uh is nearing 95 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:06,856 completion . And again the other one 96 00:04:06,856 --> 00:04:08,800 was actually asked for in the last 97 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,260 administration out of the A . S . D . 98 00:04:11,270 --> 00:04:13,326 Special Operations low intentionally 99 00:04:13,326 --> 00:04:15,360 conflict directorate to look at 100 00:04:15,740 --> 00:04:19,450 civilian casualties uh in Syria 101 00:04:19,460 --> 00:04:23,380 specifically . So it is something 102 00:04:23,380 --> 00:04:25,890 where we are have remained mindful of 103 00:04:25,890 --> 00:04:27,723 and will remain mindful of going 104 00:04:27,723 --> 00:04:30,770 forward . Um And obviously um if and 105 00:04:30,770 --> 00:04:32,770 when we get to a point where we can 106 00:04:32,770 --> 00:04:34,659 talk about those two reports , we 107 00:04:34,659 --> 00:04:37,250 certainly will . But we are we are 108 00:04:37,250 --> 00:04:39,560 looking at ourselves with respect to 109 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:41,671 civilian harm . We're willing to keep 110 00:04:41,671 --> 00:04:43,727 looking at ourselves with respect to 111 00:04:43,727 --> 00:04:45,940 civilian harm um and to do everything 112 00:04:45,940 --> 00:04:48,051 we can to try to mitigate that in the 113 00:04:48,051 --> 00:04:50,250 conduct of our operations . Yeah jen 114 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:56,270 work emphasize looking internally at 115 00:04:56,270 --> 00:04:59,120 civilian casualties . Why haven't you 116 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,360 paid out money to the family in 117 00:05:02,370 --> 00:05:05,170 Afghanistan who was struck by the drone 118 00:05:05,170 --> 00:05:07,114 and why have those people not been 119 00:05:07,114 --> 00:05:09,210 evacuated from the country yet ? A 120 00:05:09,210 --> 00:05:11,266 couple of points . One , not looking 121 00:05:11,266 --> 00:05:13,599 internally , we actually looked outside . 122 00:05:13,599 --> 00:05:15,980 We had , we hired an outside contractor 123 00:05:15,980 --> 00:05:19,060 to look uh to do these two reviews on 124 00:05:19,140 --> 00:05:21,450 uh civilian harm and they've been long 125 00:05:21,450 --> 00:05:23,960 standing . They've been in the works 126 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,810 for for many , many months . Number two , 127 00:05:27,820 --> 00:05:30,940 um we're still working out the details 128 00:05:30,940 --> 00:05:33,480 of the the ex gratia payments with 129 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:35,702 respect to Mr Ahmadi's family members . 130 00:05:35,710 --> 00:05:37,877 We are working closely with his former 131 00:05:37,877 --> 00:05:41,060 employer employer . Uh Any i to try to 132 00:05:41,060 --> 00:05:43,650 affect that in the most responsible , 133 00:05:43,660 --> 00:05:47,460 safest way . Um And we are also in 134 00:05:47,540 --> 00:05:49,707 frequent contact as a matter of fact , 135 00:05:49,707 --> 00:05:53,280 as recently as last week , uh in 136 00:05:53,280 --> 00:05:56,020 written contact with any eye to try to 137 00:05:56,020 --> 00:05:58,110 get more information so that we can 138 00:05:58,110 --> 00:06:00,221 affect the relocation of those family 139 00:06:00,221 --> 00:06:04,090 members . But it has , under secretary 140 00:06:04,090 --> 00:06:06,312 calls personal attention , he's working 141 00:06:06,312 --> 00:06:08,368 this himself . Um and we're going to 142 00:06:08,368 --> 00:06:10,479 continue to get at it . The secretary 143 00:06:10,479 --> 00:06:12,701 was very clear that he wants to support 144 00:06:12,701 --> 00:06:14,812 their relocation . Yeah , of course . 145 00:06:14,830 --> 00:06:17,350 Just to be clear , those two reviews , 146 00:06:17,350 --> 00:06:19,517 the reports that you mentioned , would 147 00:06:19,517 --> 00:06:21,739 either of them have specifically looked 148 00:06:21,739 --> 00:06:23,906 back at that strike in Syria and there 149 00:06:23,906 --> 00:06:25,739 would have been any potential to 150 00:06:25,739 --> 00:06:27,890 realize that potentially dozens of 151 00:06:27,890 --> 00:06:30,050 women and kids were killed in . That 152 00:06:30,060 --> 00:06:32,171 doesn't look at specific strikes like 153 00:06:32,171 --> 00:06:34,227 that . I don't know if either one of 154 00:06:34,227 --> 00:06:36,393 them looked specifically at that one , 155 00:06:36,393 --> 00:06:38,560 Courtney , they were commissioned some 156 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:40,782 time ago . One , it's just a broad look 157 00:06:40,782 --> 00:06:43,004 at civilian harm large across the whole 158 00:06:43,004 --> 00:06:47,000 department and what we do , right , 159 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,310 What we don't do , right , and what 160 00:06:49,310 --> 00:06:51,366 recommendations might come of that ? 161 00:06:51,366 --> 00:06:53,810 That's that's writ large . I I don't 162 00:06:53,820 --> 00:06:55,820 believe that one looks at the March 163 00:06:55,820 --> 00:06:58,540 29th strike , specifically looking back 164 00:06:58,540 --> 00:07:00,762 at any time . Not like it's not because 165 00:07:00,762 --> 00:07:02,950 it just it brings up the question if 166 00:07:02,950 --> 00:07:04,960 there's these two reviews that are 167 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:07,130 looking at drone strikes and the 168 00:07:07,130 --> 00:07:10,100 potential for killing civilians , but 169 00:07:10,110 --> 00:07:12,277 it's not looking at specific ones . If 170 00:07:12,277 --> 00:07:14,443 the new york Times , once again , like 171 00:07:14,443 --> 00:07:16,554 the Kabul strike , the New york Times 172 00:07:16,554 --> 00:07:18,777 hadn't done this extensive research and 173 00:07:18,777 --> 00:07:20,943 work on this , We would probably never 174 00:07:20,943 --> 00:07:23,166 have even known about the potential for 175 00:07:23,166 --> 00:07:25,221 potentially dozens of people to have 176 00:07:25,221 --> 00:07:27,443 been killed in Syria in March of 2019 . 177 00:07:27,443 --> 00:07:26,830 Right ? Because neither of these strike , 178 00:07:26,830 --> 00:07:28,886 neither of these reviews that you're 179 00:07:28,886 --> 00:07:30,997 mentioning , those will be looking at 180 00:07:30,997 --> 00:07:32,941 that . I don't know the content of 181 00:07:32,941 --> 00:07:35,108 these reviews . They are . Again , one 182 00:07:35,108 --> 00:07:37,274 is complete and going through security 183 00:07:37,274 --> 00:07:39,274 review . The other one is uh pretty 184 00:07:39,274 --> 00:07:41,441 close to wrapping up . Um So , I don't 185 00:07:41,441 --> 00:07:43,386 know what's in them specifically , 186 00:07:43,386 --> 00:07:47,080 Courtney , One of them is aligned on 187 00:07:47,090 --> 00:07:49,750 Syria . It's about civilian harm and 188 00:07:49,750 --> 00:07:51,972 civilian casualties inside Syria . So , 189 00:07:51,972 --> 00:07:53,861 I can't rule out that it wouldn't 190 00:07:53,861 --> 00:07:56,083 consider this one . I just don't know . 191 00:07:56,083 --> 00:07:58,306 So , let's not jump to conclusions here 192 00:07:58,306 --> 00:07:58,230 until they're done , and we can talk 193 00:07:58,230 --> 00:08:01,650 about them . Um and uh and on your 194 00:08:01,650 --> 00:08:04,720 other point . Uh well , we certainly 195 00:08:04,730 --> 00:08:06,730 note , and we did at the time , the 196 00:08:06,730 --> 00:08:08,897 reporting of the new york Times on the 197 00:08:08,897 --> 00:08:10,674 29th august airstrike . General 198 00:08:10,674 --> 00:08:12,880 Mackenzie uh made it clear that that 199 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:14,890 wasn't the precipitating factor for 200 00:08:14,890 --> 00:08:17,001 them To do their own investigation on 201 00:08:17,001 --> 00:08:18,723 civilian casualties . They had 202 00:08:18,723 --> 00:08:20,612 indications of their own and they 203 00:08:20,612 --> 00:08:22,668 conducted a civilian casualty review 204 00:08:22,668 --> 00:08:24,834 report which led to a 156 . And I want 205 00:08:24,834 --> 00:08:26,779 to ask about the Oklahoma National 206 00:08:26,779 --> 00:08:28,834 Guard . So what can you update us on 207 00:08:28,834 --> 00:08:28,580 what's going on with this ? The 208 00:08:28,580 --> 00:08:31,370 Adjutant General's announcement that 209 00:08:31,370 --> 00:08:33,148 he's not going to hold National 210 00:08:33,148 --> 00:08:35,730 Guardsmen , men and women . You mean 211 00:08:35,730 --> 00:08:37,674 what's going on with it ? Well , I 212 00:08:37,674 --> 00:08:39,674 guess where what's the pentagon's ? 213 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,384 What's the latest on that ? Is the 214 00:08:42,384 --> 00:08:44,440 pentagon going to force the National 215 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:46,496 Guard in Oklahoma to get their covid 216 00:08:46,496 --> 00:08:48,440 still what like what where are the 217 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,607 authorities like ? Because it seems as 218 00:08:50,607 --> 00:08:52,718 if the Federal government's authority 219 00:08:52,718 --> 00:08:55,610 and this is funding . Right . So if in 220 00:08:55,610 --> 00:08:58,330 fact men and women of the National 221 00:08:58,330 --> 00:09:00,386 Guard in Oklahoma decided not to get 222 00:09:00,386 --> 00:09:02,552 vaccinated because they're the surgeon 223 00:09:02,552 --> 00:09:04,774 general is telling them they don't have 224 00:09:04,774 --> 00:09:07,108 to , what will the pentagon do about it ? 225 00:09:07,108 --> 00:09:09,274 Will you withhold their funding ? Will 226 00:09:09,274 --> 00:09:11,330 they be repercussions ? What can the 227 00:09:11,330 --> 00:09:13,497 federal government do ? Well , I don't 228 00:09:13,497 --> 00:09:15,497 want to hypothesize about potential 229 00:09:15,497 --> 00:09:17,663 outcomes here . Let me just go back to 230 00:09:17,663 --> 00:09:19,774 your question about authorities . The 231 00:09:19,774 --> 00:09:19,320 Secretary Defense as well as the 232 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:21,620 service secretaries have the 233 00:09:21,620 --> 00:09:23,564 authorities to establish readiness 234 00:09:23,564 --> 00:09:25,564 requirements for all members of the 235 00:09:25,564 --> 00:09:27,787 Department of Defense and that includes 236 00:09:27,787 --> 00:09:30,120 the National Guard in a title 32 status . 237 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:32,287 So the Secretary has the authorities , 238 00:09:32,287 --> 00:09:34,960 he needs to require this vaccine across 239 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:36,904 the force , including the National 240 00:09:36,904 --> 00:09:38,738 Guard . Even when they're not on 241 00:09:38,738 --> 00:09:40,904 Federal , when they're entitled 32 the 242 00:09:40,904 --> 00:09:43,127 secretary still has that still has that 243 00:09:43,127 --> 00:09:43,070 authority . Even when they're in the 244 00:09:43,070 --> 00:09:46,510 title 32 status , The General's memo Is 245 00:09:46,510 --> 00:09:48,770 meaningless . Essentially . I'll let 246 00:09:48,770 --> 00:09:51,103 the adjutant general speak for his memo . 247 00:09:51,103 --> 00:09:52,937 The Secretary of Defense has the 248 00:09:52,937 --> 00:09:55,159 authority to require these vaccines for 249 00:09:55,159 --> 00:09:57,214 all members of the force , including 250 00:09:57,214 --> 00:09:59,326 the National Guard . As I said , even 251 00:09:59,326 --> 00:10:02,530 in a title 32 status because when 252 00:10:02,530 --> 00:10:04,530 they're called up for their monthly 253 00:10:04,530 --> 00:10:06,474 training , they're still federally 254 00:10:06,474 --> 00:10:08,641 funded . So he has those authorities . 255 00:10:08,641 --> 00:10:10,870 Um , and he believes , and this is a 256 00:10:10,870 --> 00:10:13,100 larger point that a vaccinated forces 257 00:10:13,100 --> 00:10:15,211 are more ready for us and just take a 258 00:10:15,211 --> 00:10:17,211 look at what the National Guard has 259 00:10:17,211 --> 00:10:19,322 done in just the last year alone from 260 00:10:19,322 --> 00:10:21,540 disaster relief , wildfires and um uh 261 00:10:21,550 --> 00:10:25,350 hurricane relief , uh to assisting 262 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:27,800 literally in putting shots in the arms 263 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:29,911 of their fellow americans . They have 264 00:10:29,911 --> 00:10:32,580 been very , very busy and they do meet 265 00:10:32,590 --> 00:10:34,980 key national security needs . So it's 266 00:10:34,980 --> 00:10:36,758 important for them to get these 267 00:10:36,758 --> 00:10:38,702 vaccines reach . The secretary has 268 00:10:38,702 --> 00:10:40,924 those funding though , Right ? I mean , 269 00:10:40,924 --> 00:10:42,924 he doesn't because because actually 270 00:10:42,924 --> 00:10:44,924 getting rid of the terminating them 271 00:10:44,924 --> 00:10:46,924 from there contracts is the state's 272 00:10:46,924 --> 00:10:49,130 role . Right ? That's what I'm trying 273 00:10:49,130 --> 00:10:52,040 to figure out is like what actually 274 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:54,207 what can the pentagon or the Secretary 275 00:10:54,207 --> 00:10:55,929 Defense . What can the Federal 276 00:10:55,929 --> 00:10:58,730 government actually do to enforce this 277 00:10:58,910 --> 00:11:02,020 to force the Oklahoma National Guard to 278 00:11:02,020 --> 00:11:04,187 enforce the man . It is a lawful order 279 00:11:04,270 --> 00:11:07,380 for National Guardsmen to receive the 280 00:11:07,380 --> 00:11:10,160 covid vaccine as a lawful order . And 281 00:11:10,740 --> 00:11:13,190 refusing to do that absent an improved 282 00:11:13,190 --> 00:11:16,260 exemption puts them in the same 283 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:19,930 potential as active duty members who 284 00:11:19,940 --> 00:11:21,884 refuse the vaccine . It's a lawful 285 00:11:21,884 --> 00:11:23,940 order and they they are and they are 286 00:11:23,940 --> 00:11:27,580 subject to that order . The Adjutant 287 00:11:27,590 --> 00:11:29,646 General , does the defense secretary 288 00:11:29,646 --> 00:11:31,923 still have confidence in his abilities ? 289 00:11:31,923 --> 00:11:34,640 Uh That is a question for the governor ? 290 00:11:34,650 --> 00:11:37,790 Uh not not for the secretary . Has the 291 00:11:37,790 --> 00:11:39,734 secretary been in contact with the 292 00:11:39,734 --> 00:11:41,790 governor ? He said on friday that he 293 00:11:41,790 --> 00:11:43,401 was going to so will respond 294 00:11:43,401 --> 00:11:45,568 appropriately . That's still my answer 295 00:11:45,568 --> 00:11:47,623 today . So he hasn't been in contact 296 00:11:47,623 --> 00:11:49,290 with the governor . And so to 297 00:11:49,290 --> 00:11:51,068 Courtney's question not getting 298 00:11:51,068 --> 00:11:53,346 vaccinated is violating a lawful order . 299 00:11:53,346 --> 00:11:55,401 Of course , it doesn't matter if the 300 00:11:55,401 --> 00:11:57,623 chain of command doesn't deal with it . 301 00:11:57,623 --> 00:11:57,460 But not enforcing a vaccine mandate . 302 00:11:57,470 --> 00:11:59,692 Is that also violating a lawful order ? 303 00:11:59,692 --> 00:12:01,859 And can the chain of command above the 304 00:12:01,859 --> 00:12:04,026 Agin in general do anything about that 305 00:12:04,026 --> 00:12:06,026 from here . I'm not gonna I'm not a 306 00:12:06,026 --> 00:12:08,026 legal expert on that Megan . So I'm 307 00:12:08,026 --> 00:12:10,081 going to refer to the National Guard 308 00:12:10,081 --> 00:12:12,192 Bureau for those kinds of questions . 309 00:12:12,192 --> 00:12:14,414 We have the authorities that we need to 310 00:12:14,414 --> 00:12:16,637 enforce this vaccine mandate , and more 311 00:12:16,637 --> 00:12:18,748 critically , it's important that they 312 00:12:18,748 --> 00:12:20,859 get the vaccine so that they can be a 313 00:12:20,859 --> 00:12:23,081 more ready force . I mean , that's what 314 00:12:23,081 --> 00:12:25,081 I think is missing in this uh legal 315 00:12:25,081 --> 00:12:27,248 argument today is that it's really for 316 00:12:27,248 --> 00:12:29,359 their benefit , uh for the benefit of 317 00:12:29,359 --> 00:12:31,581 their communities that they live in and 318 00:12:31,581 --> 00:12:33,803 support , not to mention their families 319 00:12:33,803 --> 00:12:36,026 and their and their colleagues uh in in 320 00:12:36,026 --> 00:12:38,137 the units that they get vaccinated so 321 00:12:38,137 --> 00:12:40,303 that they can be more ready because we 322 00:12:40,303 --> 00:12:42,526 do rely on the National Guard so much . 323 00:12:42,526 --> 00:12:44,526 I think that's well understood that 324 00:12:44,526 --> 00:12:46,581 everyone is looking to this building 325 00:12:46,581 --> 00:12:48,803 and your boss for what he's going to do 326 00:12:48,803 --> 00:12:50,914 about it . And so far that appears to 327 00:12:50,914 --> 00:12:50,770 be nothing . I don't think that's a 328 00:12:50,770 --> 00:12:52,714 fair way of putting it . Megan . I 329 00:12:52,714 --> 00:12:55,030 don't have a decision to announce here 330 00:12:55,030 --> 00:12:57,910 today . He only just got this letter 331 00:12:57,910 --> 00:13:00,290 from the governor of Oklahoma last week . 332 00:13:00,300 --> 00:13:02,356 We will respond appropriately to the 333 00:13:02,356 --> 00:13:04,300 governor . I'm not gonna speculate 334 00:13:04,300 --> 00:13:06,356 today about what actions we might or 335 00:13:06,356 --> 00:13:08,356 might not take . Hopefully it won't 336 00:13:08,356 --> 00:13:10,467 come to that right . We don't want to 337 00:13:10,467 --> 00:13:12,356 have to come to that . That's not 338 00:13:12,356 --> 00:13:14,411 that's not the point right now . The 339 00:13:14,411 --> 00:13:16,578 point is to make the case that a these 340 00:13:16,578 --> 00:13:18,578 vaccines are safe and effective and 341 00:13:18,578 --> 00:13:20,633 national guardsmen B are required to 342 00:13:20,633 --> 00:13:22,689 take them under the authorities that 343 00:13:22,689 --> 00:13:24,856 the secretary has , including women in 344 00:13:24,856 --> 00:13:26,800 title 32 status . That's the point 345 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:28,990 today . Travis . Um so governors had 346 00:13:28,990 --> 00:13:31,220 sent that letter to the Secretary , 347 00:13:31,230 --> 00:13:33,286 have any other states reached out to 348 00:13:33,286 --> 00:13:35,508 him with similar concerns that they may 349 00:13:35,508 --> 00:13:37,619 be doing something . I'm not aware of 350 00:13:37,619 --> 00:13:39,619 any other states or are there other 351 00:13:39,619 --> 00:13:41,897 governors who have done the same thing . 352 00:13:41,897 --> 00:13:43,786 Yeah , tom uh I've talked to some 353 00:13:43,786 --> 00:13:45,619 government officials . There's a 354 00:13:45,619 --> 00:13:45,520 concern that this could quickly 355 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:47,742 snowball that other governors and other 356 00:13:47,742 --> 00:13:50,600 tags will basically say , OK , Oklahoma 357 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:52,544 did it . We don't want the vaccine 358 00:13:52,544 --> 00:13:55,390 either . So does the Secretary plan on 359 00:13:55,390 --> 00:13:57,557 reaching out to why the governors were 360 00:13:57,557 --> 00:13:59,668 the tags kind of get in front of this 361 00:13:59,668 --> 00:14:01,500 this issue . I don't think the 362 00:14:01,500 --> 00:14:03,500 secretary has plans to reach out to 363 00:14:03,500 --> 00:14:05,667 other governors and other tags at this 364 00:14:05,667 --> 00:14:07,833 point . If there's a snowball effect , 365 00:14:07,833 --> 00:14:09,944 we haven't seen it yet . Tom I mean , 366 00:14:09,944 --> 00:14:09,320 if he feels like that , that's a 367 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:11,376 necessary thing to do . He certainly 368 00:14:11,376 --> 00:14:13,420 would . But it's not something that 369 00:14:13,420 --> 00:14:15,690 he's planning on doing right now to the 370 00:14:15,690 --> 00:14:19,530 strike raguz apparently the special 371 00:14:19,530 --> 00:14:22,470 forces had access to some very grainy 372 00:14:22,470 --> 00:14:24,560 drone footage that didn't show 373 00:14:24,940 --> 00:14:27,162 civilians there . There was confusion , 374 00:14:27,162 --> 00:14:29,051 I guess . And they called him the 375 00:14:29,051 --> 00:14:31,250 strikes . There were other drones that 376 00:14:31,250 --> 00:14:33,690 provided high resolution footage that 377 00:14:33,700 --> 00:14:37,670 they did not have access to . And 378 00:14:37,670 --> 00:14:39,614 then I think one official told the 379 00:14:39,614 --> 00:14:41,781 Washington post in future airstrikes , 380 00:14:41,781 --> 00:14:44,550 uh Special forces or wherever calls an 381 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:46,560 air strike will have access to that 382 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:49,900 high resolution footage . Can you 383 00:14:49,910 --> 00:14:53,020 explain how it was that the green race 384 00:14:53,020 --> 00:14:55,200 did not have access to the best drone 385 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:57,260 footage ? I'm told it was the CIA's 386 00:14:57,260 --> 00:14:59,482 drone that provided the high resolution 387 00:14:59,770 --> 00:15:02,660 footage . No , Tom I simply can't and 388 00:15:02,660 --> 00:15:04,716 I'm not going to relitigate a strike 389 00:15:04,716 --> 00:15:06,716 that happened back in March of 2019 390 00:15:06,716 --> 00:15:08,938 here from the podium . I'd refer you to 391 00:15:08,938 --> 00:15:10,938 centcom for the specifics . I think 392 00:15:10,938 --> 00:15:13,104 they put out a pretty lengthy detailed 393 00:15:13,104 --> 00:15:15,271 statement on their own . And I pointed 394 00:15:15,271 --> 00:15:17,438 to to that um , what I can tell you is 395 00:15:17,438 --> 00:15:20,030 uh the secretary takes this issue very 396 00:15:20,030 --> 00:15:22,940 seriously and moving forward . He wants 397 00:15:22,940 --> 00:15:24,607 to make sure that we're doing 398 00:15:24,607 --> 00:15:26,718 everything we can to prevent civilian 399 00:15:26,718 --> 00:15:28,940 harm in the conduct of our operations . 400 00:15:28,940 --> 00:15:31,051 That's where his focus is going to be 401 00:15:31,051 --> 00:15:33,230 draft back to the test . Did Russia 402 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,930 give the department of the funds 403 00:15:35,930 --> 00:15:38,980 advanced notice of this anti satellite 404 00:15:38,980 --> 00:15:42,260 launch ? Yeah . All right . And 405 00:15:42,270 --> 00:15:44,510 secondly , in december 2021 there was a 406 00:15:44,510 --> 00:15:47,450 similar a sat test . Space command 407 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:50,496 said this was an example of Russia's 408 00:15:50,496 --> 00:15:52,970 weaponizing space . Does the pentagon 409 00:15:52,970 --> 00:15:54,914 believe that Russia is weaponizing 410 00:15:54,914 --> 00:15:57,540 space ? And what sort of what what 411 00:15:57,540 --> 00:16:00,170 reaction does this building have to 412 00:16:00,170 --> 00:16:02,710 Russia making it more dangerous for the 413 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:04,887 astronauts ? That kind of address that 414 00:16:04,887 --> 00:16:07,053 at the top of the briefing ? Obviously 415 00:16:07,053 --> 00:16:09,164 we're concerned about any nation that 416 00:16:09,164 --> 00:16:11,331 would weaponize space or make space uh 417 00:16:11,331 --> 00:16:13,990 less conducive to a peaceful commercial 418 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:16,310 enterprises and exploration . We want 419 00:16:16,310 --> 00:16:19,470 to see space the space domain 420 00:16:20,140 --> 00:16:22,480 subject to international norms and 421 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:26,220 rules so that it could be uh 422 00:16:26,230 --> 00:16:28,397 explored by all spacefaring nations in 423 00:16:28,397 --> 00:16:30,397 a responsible way . And this was an 424 00:16:30,397 --> 00:16:32,341 irresponsible act . So is that the 425 00:16:32,341 --> 00:16:34,230 Pentagon's believe that Russia is 426 00:16:34,230 --> 00:16:36,063 weaponizing space . I think I've 427 00:16:36,063 --> 00:16:38,230 already seen what our concerns are tar 428 00:16:38,230 --> 00:16:40,286 about this test as we've done in the 429 00:16:40,286 --> 00:16:42,508 past . Thank you Afghanistan and one on 430 00:16:42,508 --> 00:16:44,820 Iran Afghanistan , you have any update 431 00:16:44,820 --> 00:16:47,240 on the memo about the immediate family 432 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:50,850 members of U . S . Service members I 433 00:16:50,860 --> 00:16:54,210 think . Um what I can tell you is since 434 00:16:54,210 --> 00:16:58,070 that memo , About 60 service members 435 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,650 have uh come forward and expressed 436 00:17:01,650 --> 00:17:03,670 concerns about family members in 437 00:17:03,670 --> 00:17:06,590 Afghanistan . And did you , were you 438 00:17:06,590 --> 00:17:09,820 able to verify that the numbers or 439 00:17:09,820 --> 00:17:11,940 evacuate any any immediate family 440 00:17:11,940 --> 00:17:15,470 members ? I'm not thus far 441 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:18,370 of the ones that have been studied and 442 00:17:18,370 --> 00:17:20,426 reviewed . They are not eligible for 443 00:17:20,426 --> 00:17:24,320 parole status . We saw on saturday the 444 00:17:24,330 --> 00:17:26,920 video of the Iranian military 445 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:29,320 helicopter basically flying in close 446 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:32,470 proximity to the U . S . S . Has 447 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:36,350 reportedly this happened on thursday . 448 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:38,896 And from the footage you can you can 449 00:17:38,896 --> 00:17:41,540 see the crew of the helicopter . But 450 00:17:41,550 --> 00:17:43,661 more importantly you can see the deck 451 00:17:43,661 --> 00:17:45,772 of the USs essex with whole equipment 452 00:17:45,772 --> 00:17:48,900 and assets on top of it . Would you 453 00:17:48,900 --> 00:17:51,390 care to comment about this ? What 454 00:17:51,390 --> 00:17:55,100 happened and whether created any risks 455 00:17:55,100 --> 00:17:57,600 for the U . S . S . Essex and what did 456 00:17:57,610 --> 00:18:00,610 the crew of the amphibious do in that 457 00:18:00,610 --> 00:18:03,570 situation ? So yeah , we can confirm 458 00:18:03,570 --> 00:18:06,210 that an Iranian helicopter uh 459 00:18:06,220 --> 00:18:08,670 approached the U . S . S . Xx in the 460 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:11,010 gulf of Oman . It operated in an unsafe 461 00:18:11,010 --> 00:18:14,930 and unprofessional manner uh flying 462 00:18:14,940 --> 00:18:18,200 approximately 25 yards off the portside 463 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:21,320 of the Essex at one point as low as 464 00:18:21,330 --> 00:18:24,830 about 10ft off the surface 465 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:27,790 of the ocean circle the ship three 466 00:18:27,790 --> 00:18:31,380 times uh without getting into specifics 467 00:18:31,390 --> 00:18:33,470 the crew of the essex took the 468 00:18:33,470 --> 00:18:35,581 appropriate force protection measures 469 00:18:35,581 --> 00:18:37,748 that they felt they needed to and they 470 00:18:37,748 --> 00:18:39,803 acted of course , in accordance with 471 00:18:39,803 --> 00:18:42,026 international law , there was no impact 472 00:18:42,026 --> 00:18:44,940 ultimately to the essex transit or 473 00:18:44,940 --> 00:18:47,040 their operations , but that doesn't 474 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:49,040 mean that this wasn't an unsafe and 475 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:51,380 unprofessional act . Again , I'll say 476 00:18:51,380 --> 00:18:53,213 it again . We're going to act in 477 00:18:53,213 --> 00:18:55,213 accordance with international law , 478 00:18:55,213 --> 00:18:57,380 we're gonna fly sail and operate where 479 00:18:57,380 --> 00:18:59,547 international law permits uh and we're 480 00:18:59,547 --> 00:19:01,380 gonna continue to look after our 481 00:19:01,380 --> 00:19:00,900 national security interests in the 482 00:19:00,900 --> 00:19:04,900 region . I'm not 483 00:19:04,900 --> 00:19:07,122 an expert on this . But what is what is 484 00:19:07,122 --> 00:19:09,289 the what are the rules of the protocol 485 00:19:09,289 --> 00:19:12,450 that U . S . Navy has in place when 486 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:16,770 um unfriendly nation or 487 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:19,660 not an ally or part of the US fly 488 00:19:20,140 --> 00:19:23,070 helicopter or other assets disclosed . 489 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:25,390 I don't recall like something like this 490 00:19:25,390 --> 00:19:29,120 happening . It's dangerous . It's 491 00:19:29,120 --> 00:19:31,064 dangerous because it could lead to 492 00:19:31,064 --> 00:19:33,064 miscalculation . There are rules of 493 00:19:33,064 --> 00:19:35,231 engagement that I'm not going to speak 494 00:19:35,231 --> 00:19:37,009 to you from the podium that our 495 00:19:37,009 --> 00:19:39,240 commanders have at their disposal to 496 00:19:39,250 --> 00:19:42,910 deal with with with potential threats . 497 00:19:44,340 --> 00:19:46,770 And when you have 498 00:19:47,740 --> 00:19:50,150 another armed force in this case , the 499 00:19:50,150 --> 00:19:53,820 Iranian Navy that flies like this , 500 00:19:53,890 --> 00:19:57,510 um you definitely run the 501 00:19:57,510 --> 00:20:00,190 risk of some sort of escalation and a 502 00:20:00,190 --> 00:20:03,700 miscalculation or on either side here 503 00:20:03,710 --> 00:20:06,160 and that's not helpful . Now this one 504 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:08,807 ended peacefully , but it doesn't mean 505 00:20:08,807 --> 00:20:10,696 it was safe and professional . It 506 00:20:10,696 --> 00:20:14,080 absolutely wasn't . Um And again , our 507 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:15,969 commanders have the right of self 508 00:20:15,969 --> 00:20:18,191 defense . They have to make those calls 509 00:20:18,191 --> 00:20:20,136 in the moment . There are rules of 510 00:20:20,136 --> 00:20:22,302 engagement that helped guide them . Um 511 00:20:22,302 --> 00:20:24,469 and you know , we're going to continue 512 00:20:24,469 --> 00:20:26,691 to stay vigilant . Okay . Yeah , real , 513 00:20:26,691 --> 00:20:29,024 thank you . I have two questions for us . 514 00:20:29,340 --> 00:20:32,130 The president will meet President xi 515 00:20:32,140 --> 00:20:35,030 later today , battery . Do you expect ? 516 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:37,650 This budget meeting will facilitate the 517 00:20:37,650 --> 00:20:40,470 Secretary Austin future engagement with 518 00:20:40,470 --> 00:20:44,200 his chinese counterpart ? Uh RIO . I 519 00:20:44,210 --> 00:20:47,520 don't anticipate uh again , I won't 520 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:49,742 speak for the White House , but there's 521 00:20:49,742 --> 00:20:51,742 no expectation on our part that the 522 00:20:51,742 --> 00:20:53,960 summit tonight is gonna lead to some 523 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,127 specific engagement by the Secretary . 524 00:20:56,127 --> 00:20:58,404 You've heard me talk about this before . 525 00:20:58,404 --> 00:21:01,790 We obviously uh want to make sure 526 00:21:01,790 --> 00:21:05,440 that there's communications between the 527 00:21:05,450 --> 00:21:07,339 Defense Department and and senior 528 00:21:07,339 --> 00:21:09,283 leaders of the P . R . C . We just 529 00:21:09,283 --> 00:21:09,170 haven't worked that out yet . The 530 00:21:09,170 --> 00:21:12,510 modalities of that uh throw up on 531 00:21:12,510 --> 00:21:14,840 Taiwan . The Australian Defense 532 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:17,190 Minister said last week to local media 533 00:21:17,190 --> 00:21:20,780 that it is inconceivable for Australia 534 00:21:20,790 --> 00:21:23,650 not to join the United States to the 535 00:21:23,650 --> 00:21:25,990 United States take actions to defend 536 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,470 Taiwan . Have you began discussing the 537 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:31,860 concrete planning with concrete steps ? 538 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:35,650 Oh , to defend Taiwan with 539 00:21:35,660 --> 00:21:39,070 Australia ? Uh if in case of the 540 00:21:39,070 --> 00:21:41,670 conflict over Taiwan . No , and there's 541 00:21:41,670 --> 00:21:43,892 no change to our one china policy rio . 542 00:21:43,892 --> 00:21:45,950 And as you heard the Secretary say a 543 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:47,960 few weeks ago , nobody wants to see 544 00:21:48,340 --> 00:21:50,770 cross strait tensions come to blows . 545 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:53,462 Um and uh and there's no reason that it 546 00:21:53,462 --> 00:21:55,407 should , there's no reason that it 547 00:21:55,407 --> 00:21:57,629 should , Can we go to the phones here a 548 00:21:57,629 --> 00:22:00,760 little bit um Mike Kaplan cbs , 549 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:13,430 mhm . We could we were connected , 550 00:22:13,430 --> 00:22:16,350 aren't we ? Yeah , I'll try one more 551 00:22:16,350 --> 00:22:18,406 and then we'll come back here to the 552 00:22:18,406 --> 00:22:20,461 room while we just figure this out , 553 00:22:20,461 --> 00:22:23,180 paul , Hanley . Hi john , can you hear 554 00:22:23,180 --> 00:22:27,130 me ? Hey john , can you hear me ? I got 555 00:22:27,130 --> 00:22:31,050 you , paul . Hey , um uh after the 556 00:22:31,050 --> 00:22:34,390 warnings that the US is uh delivered 557 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:36,344 and friendship delivered to Russia 558 00:22:36,344 --> 00:22:38,678 about the troop build up around Ukraine . 559 00:22:38,678 --> 00:22:40,733 Have you seen any movement ? Do they 560 00:22:40,733 --> 00:22:43,110 continue to increase presence uh 561 00:22:43,120 --> 00:22:45,770 decrease ? And what's your reaction to 562 00:22:46,140 --> 00:22:49,790 uh President Putin's comments that they 563 00:22:49,790 --> 00:22:52,440 are reacting to us stepped up exercises 564 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:55,600 in the Black sea . Uh We do continue to 565 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:59,530 see um unusual military activity uh and 566 00:22:59,530 --> 00:23:02,260 the concentration of forces uh in 567 00:23:02,260 --> 00:23:05,820 Russia , but near Ukrainian 568 00:23:05,830 --> 00:23:08,560 borders and that remains concerning to 569 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,770 us . Um I have not seen 570 00:23:12,540 --> 00:23:16,160 President Putin's comments , so 571 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:18,640 um without speaking specifically to 572 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:21,580 that , uh whatever justification he 573 00:23:21,590 --> 00:23:24,490 might have said , it's uh if you look 574 00:23:24,490 --> 00:23:28,210 at our exercise regimen , all our 575 00:23:28,210 --> 00:23:31,070 exercises are defensive in nature and 576 00:23:31,070 --> 00:23:33,200 they are in keeping with our alliance 577 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:35,422 and partner commitments in the region . 578 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:38,490 And here's the other thing paul , we 579 00:23:38,490 --> 00:23:40,601 put press releases out of bottom , we 580 00:23:40,601 --> 00:23:42,780 show photos and video of them . I talk 581 00:23:42,780 --> 00:23:44,669 about him every day here from the 582 00:23:44,669 --> 00:23:47,580 podium . Uh even we'll tell you what 583 00:23:47,580 --> 00:23:49,691 units are involved and what exercises 584 00:23:49,691 --> 00:23:51,413 are going to be doing and what 585 00:23:51,413 --> 00:23:53,580 capabilities are going to be testing , 586 00:23:53,580 --> 00:23:55,691 There's been no transparency from the 587 00:23:55,691 --> 00:23:57,802 Russian side about this concentration 588 00:23:57,802 --> 00:23:59,969 of forces uh in in the western part of 589 00:23:59,969 --> 00:24:02,080 their country . Um and we continue to 590 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:04,080 urge them to be so transparent just 591 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:06,136 just to be clear , have you seen any 592 00:24:06,136 --> 00:24:08,247 emotion one way or the other in terms 593 00:24:08,247 --> 00:24:10,790 of increasing or decreasing presence ? 594 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:12,642 Going to get into intelligence 595 00:24:12,642 --> 00:24:14,753 assessments here , paul , we continue 596 00:24:14,753 --> 00:24:16,864 to see this unusual military activity 597 00:24:16,864 --> 00:24:19,087 in this concentration of force and I'll 598 00:24:19,087 --> 00:24:21,031 leave it at that jenny done on the 599 00:24:21,031 --> 00:24:24,210 issue of deployment . I was suddenly 600 00:24:24,210 --> 00:24:28,140 saying South Korea , the deployment of 601 00:24:28,350 --> 00:24:32,060 thaad in South Korea is necessarily 602 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:36,010 national security , but china is 603 00:24:36,020 --> 00:24:39,840 opposed this . Start the deployment in 604 00:24:39,850 --> 00:24:43,580 South Korea and you know that are there 605 00:24:43,580 --> 00:24:46,980 any plans to deploy a 606 00:24:47,100 --> 00:24:50,520 positional in South Korea ? I have no 607 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:52,464 such plans to speak to you today , 608 00:24:53,470 --> 00:24:56,700 Secretary Austin discussing this 609 00:24:56,710 --> 00:25:00,170 issue at the S E C . M next month . 610 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:04,670 Uh We we expected to discuss a full 611 00:25:04,670 --> 00:25:07,690 range of issues uh with our South 612 00:25:07,690 --> 00:25:09,634 korean allies and I don't have any 613 00:25:09,634 --> 00:25:11,690 specific agenda items to to speak to 614 00:25:11,690 --> 00:25:14,660 you today here 23 weeks out . Abraham 615 00:25:15,140 --> 00:25:17,300 Thanks Jon two quick questions as you 616 00:25:17,300 --> 00:25:19,467 know , the Department Veterans Affairs 617 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:23,230 released a press release on thursday 618 00:25:23,470 --> 00:25:26,440 of creating a model for those who are 619 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:29,300 exposed to burn pits and those of K two , 620 00:25:29,310 --> 00:25:31,610 I wonder if how the D O . D . Is 621 00:25:31,610 --> 00:25:34,450 helping to advance that and get 622 00:25:34,450 --> 00:25:37,170 assistance to lower the burden of proof 623 00:25:37,180 --> 00:25:39,347 for service members exposed And then I 624 00:25:39,347 --> 00:25:41,569 have another question for you . I don't 625 00:25:41,569 --> 00:25:43,513 know the specifics for you today . 626 00:25:43,513 --> 00:25:45,513 Abraham , this is an issue that the 627 00:25:45,513 --> 00:25:47,680 secretary takes very seriously and has 628 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:49,902 had multiple discussions with Secretary 629 00:25:49,902 --> 00:25:52,124 McDonough about about this um and fully 630 00:25:52,124 --> 00:25:55,980 supports uh via secretaries desire to 631 00:25:55,990 --> 00:25:59,780 uh to make care for these 632 00:25:59,780 --> 00:26:02,470 maladies more available and to reduce 633 00:26:02,470 --> 00:26:05,960 the burden on our on veterans of proof . 634 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:08,127 So we're in full support . But I don't 635 00:26:08,127 --> 00:26:10,310 have any specific to talk about today 636 00:26:10,310 --> 00:26:12,477 on that if but I'll tell you what I'll 637 00:26:12,477 --> 00:26:14,699 do . I'll take the question just to see 638 00:26:14,699 --> 00:26:16,699 if if our health affairs folks have 639 00:26:16,699 --> 00:26:18,699 worked on anything specific that uh 640 00:26:18,699 --> 00:26:20,921 that we can pass an idea . I just don't 641 00:26:20,921 --> 00:26:23,088 I don't have it handy today . And then 642 00:26:23,088 --> 00:26:25,310 just uh I'm sure you're also aware that 643 00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:27,951 there was an arrangement with some of 644 00:26:27,951 --> 00:26:29,840 the Central Asian countries where 645 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:31,840 afghan pilots had fled to to safely 646 00:26:32,170 --> 00:26:34,337 them out of the country . Can you talk 647 00:26:34,337 --> 00:26:36,640 to the D . O . D . Involved in that at 648 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:39,160 all ? Coming to the United States , are 649 00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:41,770 there talks about the remaining uh 650 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:44,910 assets that are there ? The aircraft , 651 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:47,142 it was a State Department led effort to 652 00:26:47,142 --> 00:26:49,364 get those pilots out of Tajikistan . So 653 00:26:49,364 --> 00:26:51,476 I'll refer you to my State Department 654 00:26:51,476 --> 00:26:53,642 colleagues to speak about how they did 655 00:26:53,642 --> 00:26:53,600 that . The D . O . D . Was not involved 656 00:26:53,600 --> 00:26:55,489 in the physical movement of those 657 00:26:55,489 --> 00:26:58,120 pilots out of Tajikistan . There has 658 00:26:58,120 --> 00:27:02,040 been no uh policy decisions with 659 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:04,096 respect to the aircraft themselves . 660 00:27:04,096 --> 00:27:06,860 There's uh multiple options being 661 00:27:06,860 --> 00:27:10,170 explored but no final decision about 662 00:27:10,940 --> 00:27:13,162 uh what's going to happen to them going 663 00:27:13,162 --> 00:27:16,580 forward . Yeah . two Things 1st . All 664 00:27:16,590 --> 00:27:18,534 India India has received the first 665 00:27:18,534 --> 00:27:20,540 special fast 400 . Are you ? What 666 00:27:20,540 --> 00:27:22,484 extent are you concerned about ? I 667 00:27:22,484 --> 00:27:25,160 think uh we've been very clear 668 00:27:25,170 --> 00:27:28,430 uh with our indian partners about our 669 00:27:28,430 --> 00:27:30,652 concern over this system . I don't have 670 00:27:30,652 --> 00:27:34,570 any updates uh to say . I mean 671 00:27:34,580 --> 00:27:37,980 when the secretary visited New Delhi 672 00:27:37,990 --> 00:27:39,990 again we talked about this then . I 673 00:27:39,990 --> 00:27:42,480 mean these we certainly have concerns 674 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:45,090 over that system but I don't have any 675 00:27:45,090 --> 00:27:47,201 updates for you on the New York Times 676 00:27:47,201 --> 00:27:50,150 story also part of the story talks 677 00:27:50,150 --> 00:27:52,880 about why Pc providing certain 678 00:27:52,890 --> 00:27:55,140 intelligence to the U . S . Military to 679 00:27:55,140 --> 00:27:57,390 what extent the U . S . Military relies 680 00:27:57,390 --> 00:28:00,130 on the intelligence provided by the PPG 681 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:02,980 in conducting airstrikes in Syria . We 682 00:28:02,990 --> 00:28:04,879 work with our sdf partners on the 683 00:28:04,879 --> 00:28:08,560 ground to go after ISIS . Um and uh 684 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:12,850 and they are uh 685 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:16,920 they are strong fighters in that regard . 686 00:28:16,930 --> 00:28:20,140 Um and they certainly because they know 687 00:28:20,140 --> 00:28:22,530 the terrain , they know the ground uh 688 00:28:22,540 --> 00:28:25,890 they know the area . Uh they certainly 689 00:28:25,890 --> 00:28:29,240 do support the counter ISIS effort . 690 00:28:29,250 --> 00:28:31,990 From an intelligence perspective it's 691 00:28:31,990 --> 00:28:35,220 obvious that V . P . G . Thanks to its 692 00:28:35,220 --> 00:28:38,220 link to PKK a certain level has certain 693 00:28:38,220 --> 00:28:40,276 ideological goals in that area . And 694 00:28:40,276 --> 00:28:42,280 several international organizations 695 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:44,790 have a real that the group mistreated 696 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:47,560 local people particularly Arabs in that 697 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:50,500 area . This department ever had a 698 00:28:50,510 --> 00:28:52,830 concern that this group might have 699 00:28:52,830 --> 00:28:54,886 exploited the U . S . Military power 700 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:57,830 and cause some violations reaching up 701 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:00,130 to massacres as it's revealed in the 702 00:29:00,130 --> 00:29:03,450 New york times story . Look we uh 703 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:07,862 we're always mindful of our obligations 704 00:29:07,862 --> 00:29:09,751 when we're dealing with a partner 705 00:29:09,751 --> 00:29:13,050 forces about the rule of law 706 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:16,660 and about responsible use of 707 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:20,730 of of military power and going after a 708 00:29:20,730 --> 00:29:23,840 common threat like ISIS . Um And 709 00:29:23,850 --> 00:29:27,150 uh that's that's an ongoing concern . 710 00:29:27,150 --> 00:29:29,080 It's an iterative process . It's 711 00:29:29,090 --> 00:29:32,540 something that we uh uh that we that we 712 00:29:32,540 --> 00:29:35,490 stress the partners throughout the 713 00:29:35,500 --> 00:29:37,500 conduct of any military operation . 714 00:29:37,670 --> 00:29:40,070 We're obligated by law . But more 715 00:29:40,070 --> 00:29:42,230 importantly we're We're obligated to 716 00:29:42,230 --> 00:29:44,520 the high standards that we hold and I 717 00:29:44,530 --> 00:29:46,641 don't have anything specific to speak 718 00:29:46,641 --> 00:29:48,808 to with respect to that New York Times 719 00:29:48,808 --> 00:29:51,030 report on this . Just just follow up on 720 00:29:51,030 --> 00:29:53,086 Iran , you said that this helicopter 721 00:29:53,086 --> 00:29:56,680 come closer to 10 ft Now , I said at 722 00:29:56,680 --> 00:29:59,090 one point was flying about 10 ft off 723 00:29:59,090 --> 00:30:02,150 the surface of the ocean , 25 yards 724 00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:04,160 approximately as close to the ports 725 00:30:04,260 --> 00:30:06,980 side of the essex , extremely close . 726 00:30:06,980 --> 00:30:10,330 Why why wouldn't the U . S . Ship lunch ? 727 00:30:10,340 --> 00:30:12,520 Again ? You're asking me to talk about 728 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:14,687 rules of engagement and decisions that 729 00:30:14,687 --> 00:30:16,798 commanders are making in the moment . 730 00:30:16,798 --> 00:30:18,909 I'm not gonna do that . They have the 731 00:30:18,909 --> 00:30:20,964 necessary means at their disposal to 732 00:30:20,964 --> 00:30:22,909 protect themselves , protect their 733 00:30:22,909 --> 00:30:24,909 ships And we're confident that they 734 00:30:24,909 --> 00:30:27,020 understand those responsibilities and 735 00:30:27,020 --> 00:30:29,076 those authorities uh what . Uh huh . 736 00:30:29,076 --> 00:30:31,620 Mhm . You know what needs to be pressed 737 00:30:31,620 --> 00:30:34,640 as Tehran needs to be pressed on why 738 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:37,460 they felt like this was a prudent use 739 00:30:37,470 --> 00:30:40,330 of their pilots and their aircraft to 740 00:30:40,330 --> 00:30:42,441 fly so dangerously close to a U . S . 741 00:30:42,441 --> 00:30:46,100 Warship and behave in that way . They 742 00:30:46,100 --> 00:30:49,050 want to , they want to , you know , 743 00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:52,062 bother the United States , they want to 744 00:30:52,062 --> 00:30:54,229 cause the United States get out of the 745 00:30:54,229 --> 00:30:56,396 entire area . How's that working for ? 746 00:30:57,440 --> 00:30:59,662 Yeah , but at the end of the day , they 747 00:30:59,662 --> 00:31:01,940 come closer to the US ship to 25 years . 748 00:31:01,940 --> 00:31:04,450 Is it allowed ? Actually ? That's a 749 00:31:04,460 --> 00:31:07,310 very close range really like helicopter 750 00:31:07,310 --> 00:31:10,770 flying 25 years and and then us it 751 00:31:10,770 --> 00:31:14,310 didn't do anything to to harm that 752 00:31:14,310 --> 00:31:16,366 stalemate . Like they come that much 753 00:31:16,366 --> 00:31:19,070 closer . I'm not going to talk about 754 00:31:19,070 --> 00:31:21,237 rules of engagement . I'm not going to 755 00:31:21,237 --> 00:31:23,950 go into any more detail about uh 756 00:31:25,540 --> 00:31:29,030 what force protection measures the 757 00:31:29,030 --> 00:31:31,030 commanding officer of the USs essex 758 00:31:31,030 --> 00:31:33,860 used but he did what he believed was in 759 00:31:33,860 --> 00:31:35,971 the best interest of his ship and his 760 00:31:35,971 --> 00:31:38,820 crew . Um And the questions really 761 00:31:38,820 --> 00:31:41,250 should be asked of Tehran and the 762 00:31:41,250 --> 00:31:43,770 Iranian Navy as to why they felt this 763 00:31:43,770 --> 00:31:45,881 was a prudent use of their pilots and 764 00:31:45,881 --> 00:31:48,620 their aircraft . Tehran needs to be 765 00:31:48,620 --> 00:31:50,676 pressed . Do you think that this was 766 00:31:50,676 --> 00:31:52,731 something that was sanctioned and or 767 00:31:52,731 --> 00:31:54,953 directed by Tehran ? And you think that 768 00:31:54,953 --> 00:31:57,064 this was not just some rogue , Irgc n 769 00:31:57,064 --> 00:31:58,953 it wasn't in our GCN helicopter . 770 00:31:58,953 --> 00:32:01,009 Courtney , It was Iranian State Navy 771 00:32:01,009 --> 00:32:03,120 helicopter . So you believe that this 772 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:05,287 is actually directed by , I don't know 773 00:32:05,287 --> 00:32:07,398 who ordered it , Courtney , I have no 774 00:32:07,398 --> 00:32:07,320 idea . But it was the Iranian Navy . It 775 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:09,376 wasn't the IrgC and I want to follow 776 00:32:09,376 --> 00:32:11,431 one of the following . You said that 777 00:32:11,431 --> 00:32:13,653 there were 60 service members have come 778 00:32:13,653 --> 00:32:13,390 forward with family members , but just 779 00:32:13,390 --> 00:32:15,501 to be clear , you said none of them , 780 00:32:15,501 --> 00:32:17,334 none of those family members are 781 00:32:17,334 --> 00:32:19,390 eligible for parole status . That is 782 00:32:19,390 --> 00:32:19,130 correct . That means that they're all 783 00:32:19,140 --> 00:32:22,490 not immediate family members . They 784 00:32:22,710 --> 00:32:24,821 refer you to state for the details of 785 00:32:24,821 --> 00:32:26,988 what I can tell you is . They were all 786 00:32:26,988 --> 00:32:28,654 evaluated and thus far in the 787 00:32:28,654 --> 00:32:30,821 evaluation , none have been determined 788 00:32:30,821 --> 00:32:32,988 to be eligible for parole status . I'd 789 00:32:32,988 --> 00:32:34,821 refer you to my State Department 790 00:32:34,821 --> 00:32:36,932 colleagues , 60 service members . How 791 00:32:36,932 --> 00:32:39,099 many family members ? I don't know how 792 00:32:39,099 --> 00:32:41,154 many family members . Yeah . David , 793 00:32:41,590 --> 00:32:43,534 civilian casualty reports that you 794 00:32:43,534 --> 00:32:45,646 mentioned by the outside contractor . 795 00:32:45,646 --> 00:32:47,757 You said one of them is completed and 796 00:32:47,757 --> 00:32:49,868 going through security review because 797 00:32:49,868 --> 00:32:51,923 that means it's going to be publicly 798 00:32:51,923 --> 00:32:53,812 released . I don't know . I'm not 799 00:32:53,812 --> 00:32:55,812 seeing it , David . So I don't know 800 00:32:55,812 --> 00:32:57,979 what level of classification it's at . 801 00:32:57,979 --> 00:32:57,670 I don't know what the security of you . 802 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:00,720 It's going to say , but I can promise 803 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:02,498 you that two degree . We can be 804 00:33:02,498 --> 00:33:04,609 forthcoming about the results will do 805 00:33:04,609 --> 00:33:07,700 that . And which of the two studies is 806 00:33:07,700 --> 00:33:10,230 that one is specific . One was , one 807 00:33:10,230 --> 00:33:14,060 was ordered by SD Solich specifically 808 00:33:14,060 --> 00:33:17,600 to look at Syria . Um , and that's the 809 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:19,840 one that's undergoing a security review 810 00:33:19,840 --> 00:33:22,180 right now . Uh The other one was 811 00:33:22,180 --> 00:33:25,090 required of us by the law , by by the N . 812 00:33:25,090 --> 00:33:28,460 D . A . Um I think don't quote me on 813 00:33:28,460 --> 00:33:32,210 this but I I I think it was The NBA 814 00:33:32,210 --> 00:33:34,410 from 18 from fiscal year 18 but I'd 815 00:33:34,410 --> 00:33:37,480 have to check on that . So um in any 816 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:40,180 event it's required of us by law . That 817 00:33:40,180 --> 00:33:43,680 one too is wrapping up . Okay ? Yes I 818 00:33:43,680 --> 00:33:46,860 contact you directly for so look this 819 00:33:46,860 --> 00:33:49,560 is not going through the I . G . 820 00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:52,640 No these were these were contracted 821 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:54,640 studies their studies , they're not 822 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:56,862 investigations , their studies and it's 823 00:33:56,862 --> 00:34:00,220 not uncommon for us to to reach out to 824 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:05,360 contracted groups who are 825 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:07,304 experts in conducting analysis and 826 00:34:07,304 --> 00:34:09,527 studies to do these . These are studies 827 00:34:09,527 --> 00:34:11,749 not investigations . There'd be no need 828 00:34:11,749 --> 00:34:14,100 for the I . G . Uh to uh to be involved 829 00:34:14,100 --> 00:34:15,989 at at that level . That's not the 830 00:34:15,989 --> 00:34:18,267 intent of these . Of these two studies . 831 00:34:18,267 --> 00:34:20,700 Yeah sure Could follow up on the Afghan . 832 00:34:20,710 --> 00:34:22,932 Family members , you said there were 60 833 00:34:22,932 --> 00:34:24,932 service members . Is that the total 834 00:34:24,932 --> 00:34:27,770 universe of service members and family 835 00:34:27,770 --> 00:34:29,326 members from the pentagon's 836 00:34:29,326 --> 00:34:31,630 perspectives . Not we had we had we 837 00:34:31,630 --> 00:34:33,686 were able to get some family members 838 00:34:33,686 --> 00:34:35,574 out of service members during the 839 00:34:35,574 --> 00:34:37,686 evacuation And since the evacuation , 840 00:34:37,686 --> 00:34:39,908 some have gotten out . The question put 841 00:34:39,908 --> 00:34:42,074 to me was since the memo was put out , 842 00:34:42,074 --> 00:34:44,297 how many 60 have come forward since the 843 00:34:44,297 --> 00:34:46,463 memo . Do we have any of those numbers 844 00:34:46,463 --> 00:34:48,630 that have we have been able to get out 845 00:34:48,630 --> 00:34:50,963 numbers trips for comparison . I've got . 846 00:34:50,963 --> 00:34:53,970 I'm here . Let me uh 847 00:34:55,340 --> 00:34:57,173 we find them here . Here we go . 848 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:03,560 So during the 849 00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:08,500 evacuation 62 service members sought 850 00:35:08,500 --> 00:35:10,722 assistance to evacuate family members , 851 00:35:10,722 --> 00:35:12,778 50 family members of six D . O . D . 852 00:35:12,778 --> 00:35:14,722 Civilians and service members were 853 00:35:14,722 --> 00:35:17,056 evacuated on U . S . Government flights . 854 00:35:17,056 --> 00:35:21,030 More were uh probably uh gotten out on 855 00:35:21,030 --> 00:35:23,086 privately funded NGO flights . But I 856 00:35:23,086 --> 00:35:25,141 don't have the numbers for that . Uh 857 00:35:25,141 --> 00:35:27,197 They weren't us government flights . 858 00:35:27,240 --> 00:35:29,462 After the Retrograde was complete since 859 00:35:29,462 --> 00:35:32,630 31 August uh we have helped facilitate 860 00:35:32,640 --> 00:35:35,500 the impending relocation of about 10 861 00:35:35,510 --> 00:35:38,350 other family members . And then I gave 862 00:35:38,350 --> 00:35:42,150 you the numbers uh after the memo Yeah 863 00:35:43,840 --> 00:35:45,580 on Afghanistan john what's the 864 00:35:45,580 --> 00:35:48,820 department's reaction to the videos of 865 00:35:48,830 --> 00:35:51,770 the military parade that Taliban 866 00:35:51,770 --> 00:35:55,160 conducted using us made weapons and 867 00:35:55,160 --> 00:35:57,271 equipment ? I thought we were nothing 868 00:35:57,271 --> 00:35:59,438 but clear from the very beginning that 869 00:35:59,438 --> 00:36:02,370 we fully expected that property and 870 00:36:02,370 --> 00:36:04,426 equipment that we had turned over to 871 00:36:04,426 --> 00:36:07,050 the Afghans . It was Afghan National 872 00:36:07,050 --> 00:36:09,680 Security Force equipment and vehicles , 873 00:36:09,690 --> 00:36:11,801 their equipment in vehicles . We were 874 00:36:11,801 --> 00:36:13,912 completely transparent about the idea 875 00:36:13,912 --> 00:36:16,079 that some of those would probably find 876 00:36:16,079 --> 00:36:18,301 their way into Taliban hands . And they 877 00:36:18,301 --> 00:36:20,450 have and they are largely low tech 878 00:36:20,460 --> 00:36:23,010 vehicular uh kind of equipment 879 00:36:23,020 --> 00:36:26,640 uh that are going to pose a 880 00:36:26,650 --> 00:36:29,040 threat to us national security interest . 881 00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:31,096 But we've been nothing but clear and 882 00:36:31,096 --> 00:36:33,151 transparent about the fact that that 883 00:36:33,151 --> 00:36:35,207 was gonna happen and it did . So the 884 00:36:35,230 --> 00:36:38,150 equipment used yesterday were part or 885 00:36:38,150 --> 00:36:41,870 seized from the afghan forces not left 886 00:36:41,880 --> 00:36:45,620 behind but you as a after that . 887 00:36:45,790 --> 00:36:49,590 Okay . Well I can't say for 888 00:36:49,590 --> 00:36:53,230 sure that none of it was left behind by 889 00:36:53,240 --> 00:36:56,340 the afghans when we retrograde it and 890 00:36:56,340 --> 00:36:58,730 completed . And we talked about this in 891 00:36:58,730 --> 00:37:01,340 great detail at the time . Uh the only 892 00:37:01,340 --> 00:37:05,140 thing that we left On 31 August for the 893 00:37:05,140 --> 00:37:07,760 Taliban to use with some airport 894 00:37:07,770 --> 00:37:10,550 vehicles like a fire truck , I think a 895 00:37:10,550 --> 00:37:13,660 forklift one of those stair trucks um 896 00:37:13,660 --> 00:37:15,549 and some firefighting equipment . 897 00:37:15,549 --> 00:37:17,604 That's all we left . Everything else 898 00:37:17,604 --> 00:37:19,716 that was left there . I'm sorry . The 899 00:37:19,716 --> 00:37:21,660 only thing that we left operable , 900 00:37:21,660 --> 00:37:23,549 everything else that was left was 901 00:37:23,549 --> 00:37:25,660 rendered inoperable by them . Great . 902 00:37:25,660 --> 00:37:29,020 Take one more here Caitlin from stars 903 00:37:29,020 --> 00:37:32,970 and stripes , john um yeah , 904 00:37:32,980 --> 00:37:34,990 we've got a week until the civilian 905 00:37:34,990 --> 00:37:37,310 deadline for the vaccine . Have the 906 00:37:37,310 --> 00:37:39,830 pentagon given any guidance on how to 907 00:37:39,840 --> 00:37:42,620 out process employees who are not fully 908 00:37:42,620 --> 00:37:45,090 vaccinated by that date . I don't know 909 00:37:45,090 --> 00:37:46,868 of any specific guidance on out 910 00:37:46,868 --> 00:37:48,757 processing , do you you mean like 911 00:37:48,757 --> 00:37:52,320 ending their employment Caitlin ? Yes , 912 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:54,320 that's what I mean . No , I'll take 913 00:37:54,320 --> 00:37:56,542 that question . I'm not sure that we've 914 00:37:56,542 --> 00:37:58,653 issued that kind of specific guidance 915 00:37:58,653 --> 00:38:02,170 about about employment 916 00:38:02,170 --> 00:38:03,948 termination . But I'll take the 917 00:38:03,948 --> 00:38:07,920 question . Uh going 918 00:38:07,920 --> 00:38:10,530 back to Oklahoma issue , doesn't this 919 00:38:10,530 --> 00:38:13,050 show the difficulty of operating a 920 00:38:13,050 --> 00:38:14,994 military force under the sometimes 921 00:38:14,994 --> 00:38:17,870 conflicting title 10 title , 32 922 00:38:17,880 --> 00:38:20,530 measures . Secretary is a secretary , 923 00:38:20,530 --> 00:38:22,640 but until they're mobilized the 924 00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:24,860 governor is the commander in chief of 925 00:38:24,860 --> 00:38:27,220 these troops . And can theoretically I 926 00:38:27,220 --> 00:38:29,840 guess counteract or counter man what 927 00:38:29,840 --> 00:38:31,660 the secretary says that she'll 928 00:38:31,670 --> 00:38:34,790 difficulty of no activity had to 929 00:38:34,790 --> 00:38:37,110 mobilize the Alabama National Guard to 930 00:38:37,110 --> 00:38:39,660 integrate the university of Alabama . I 931 00:38:39,660 --> 00:38:41,827 mean is the secretary going to ask the 932 00:38:41,827 --> 00:38:43,771 president to mobilize the Oklahoma 933 00:38:43,771 --> 00:38:45,938 guard so that they can get their covid 934 00:38:45,938 --> 00:38:48,780 shots ? As I said in the beginning mike . 935 00:38:48,790 --> 00:38:52,490 Um He has the authority to order the 936 00:38:52,490 --> 00:38:56,480 vaccine for guardsmen In a title 937 00:38:56,480 --> 00:38:58,536 32 status . He has the authorities . 938 00:38:58,536 --> 00:39:01,210 There's no uh no there's no conflict to 939 00:39:01,210 --> 00:39:03,543 answer your question quickly . You know , 940 00:39:03,543 --> 00:39:06,520 there's there's no conflict . Yes thank 941 00:39:06,520 --> 00:39:08,353 you for taking my question . I'm 942 00:39:08,353 --> 00:39:11,070 wondering about the how how the 943 00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:14,210 progress is going to relocate afghanis 944 00:39:14,210 --> 00:39:16,321 who have arrived in the United States 945 00:39:16,321 --> 00:39:18,543 from our house temporarily housed on US 946 00:39:18,543 --> 00:39:20,599 bases . Do you have an update on how 947 00:39:20,599 --> 00:39:22,410 that's going other moving into 948 00:39:22,410 --> 00:39:25,650 communities ? Um So 949 00:39:26,320 --> 00:39:29,850 I can give you an update of 950 00:39:29,860 --> 00:39:33,540 where we are in numbers . The but 951 00:39:33,550 --> 00:39:36,320 I think it's just to level set our 952 00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:38,730 responsibility and operation allies . 953 00:39:38,730 --> 00:39:40,841 Welcome is to provide them a safe and 954 00:39:40,841 --> 00:39:43,063 secure environment for them to complete 955 00:39:43,063 --> 00:39:45,174 the processing that they need to move 956 00:39:45,174 --> 00:39:48,630 on . The process of moving on . That's 957 00:39:48,630 --> 00:39:50,519 being handled by the department , 958 00:39:50,519 --> 00:39:52,741 homeland Security and the Department of 959 00:39:52,741 --> 00:39:54,963 State with respect to their immigration 960 00:39:54,963 --> 00:39:57,120 status . Um And they are working in 961 00:39:57,120 --> 00:39:59,580 lockstep with non governmental 962 00:39:59,580 --> 00:40:01,580 organizations around the country to 963 00:40:01,580 --> 00:40:03,747 help these people relocate the D . O . 964 00:40:03,747 --> 00:40:06,380 D . Is not involved in the active 965 00:40:06,380 --> 00:40:08,840 relocation of them to a certain 966 00:40:08,840 --> 00:40:11,690 community or a certain state or that's 967 00:40:11,700 --> 00:40:15,700 beyond our mandate . But I can give 968 00:40:15,700 --> 00:40:19,290 you some updated uh Numbers 969 00:40:19,290 --> 00:40:21,820 here we have at the eight sites that we 970 00:40:21,820 --> 00:40:23,987 still have operating . There are about 971 00:40:23,987 --> 00:40:27,030 46 1000 afghans . 972 00:40:27,710 --> 00:40:31,450 Um 25,000 have been relocated to new 973 00:40:31,450 --> 00:40:34,240 communities . So that's where we are . 974 00:40:35,010 --> 00:40:38,650 Yeah . One more please . Thank you . 975 00:40:38,770 --> 00:40:42,300 On the china china has demanded 976 00:40:42,310 --> 00:40:46,110 south Korea to keep up its besides 977 00:40:46,120 --> 00:40:50,110 the defensive system with yes in 978 00:40:50,110 --> 00:40:54,080 south south Korea . So china seems to 979 00:40:54,090 --> 00:40:57,950 want South Korea to end it . Alliance 980 00:40:57,950 --> 00:41:00,400 with the United States and they get 981 00:41:00,410 --> 00:41:04,330 closer to china . What is your comment ? 982 00:41:05,010 --> 00:41:08,560 Okay . Our alliance with the Republic 983 00:41:08,560 --> 00:41:11,340 of Korea remains strong and vibrant as 984 00:41:11,340 --> 00:41:13,910 the linchpin of security in the end of 985 00:41:13,910 --> 00:41:17,090 pacific and we don't see anything 986 00:41:17,100 --> 00:41:19,100 changing about that going forward . 987 00:41:19,210 --> 00:41:21,240 Okay . Thanks everybody . Yeah , 988 00:41:21,910 --> 00:41:23,020 appreciate it .