1 00:00:00,340 --> 00:00:02,650 foundation and institute john high 2 00:00:02,650 --> 00:00:06,060 bush . 3 00:00:06,540 --> 00:00:07,540 Mm hmm . 4 00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:15,060 Mhm . 5 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:19,080 Good afternoon . Thank you once again 6 00:00:19,090 --> 00:00:21,900 to all of our speakers in our panelists 7 00:00:21,900 --> 00:00:23,970 from this morning's session . Can we 8 00:00:23,970 --> 00:00:25,970 have one more round of applause for 9 00:00:25,970 --> 00:00:27,303 these terrific guests . 10 00:00:31,940 --> 00:00:34,320 If you would please rise for a 11 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:36,960 presentation of the colors by the naval 12 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:39,910 base ventura County Color Guard . And 13 00:00:39,910 --> 00:00:41,700 please remain standing for the 14 00:00:41,700 --> 00:00:44,610 performance of our national anthem by 15 00:00:44,610 --> 00:00:46,920 staff Sergeant Mark Lindquist . 16 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:10,440 What word ? Yeah . 17 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:25,250 Color guard . Oh 18 00:01:27,740 --> 00:01:29,260 right , okay , 19 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:34,240 freeze that . 20 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:41,170 Mhm Oh , say 21 00:01:41,180 --> 00:01:44,970 can you see by the 22 00:01:44,970 --> 00:01:48,830 dawn's early light ? What ? 23 00:01:48,830 --> 00:01:52,530 So proud proudly . We hailed 24 00:01:52,540 --> 00:01:55,610 at the twilight's last 25 00:01:55,610 --> 00:01:59,160 gleaming whose broad 26 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:02,500 stripes and bright stars 27 00:02:02,510 --> 00:02:05,930 through the perilous 28 00:02:05,930 --> 00:02:09,820 fight or the red parts . 29 00:02:09,820 --> 00:02:12,670 We watched . We're so 30 00:02:12,670 --> 00:02:14,740 talent lee 31 00:02:14,740 --> 00:02:18,550 streaming and 32 00:02:18,550 --> 00:02:20,400 the rockets 33 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,610 regular . The bombs 34 00:02:23,610 --> 00:02:26,590 bursting in air 35 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,780 gave proof through the 36 00:02:29,780 --> 00:02:33,550 night that our flag was 37 00:02:33,550 --> 00:02:36,970 still there . Oh 38 00:02:36,970 --> 00:02:39,830 say does that star 39 00:02:39,830 --> 00:02:42,860 spangled van a 40 00:02:43,850 --> 00:02:49,650 wave 41 00:02:50,340 --> 00:02:54,160 or the land of 42 00:02:54,170 --> 00:02:58,630 Blefary 43 00:02:58,660 --> 00:03:02,660 and the home of the 44 00:03:02,670 --> 00:03:06,150 brave 45 00:03:25,540 --> 00:03:26,230 shoulder . 46 00:03:30,340 --> 00:03:31,850 Ready ? Yeah . 47 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,160 Board Mark . 48 00:03:55,940 --> 00:03:59,450 Mhm . Thank you . Please be seated . 49 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:11,110 As you can imagine here 50 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:14,880 at the Reagan library . We love any 51 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:18,590 opportunity to quote our 40th 52 00:04:18,590 --> 00:04:22,250 president . But what we 53 00:04:22,250 --> 00:04:25,270 really love is the chance to quote 54 00:04:25,270 --> 00:04:28,880 someone else quoting him . It wasn't a 55 00:04:28,890 --> 00:04:31,950 2016 lecture at Auburn 56 00:04:31,950 --> 00:04:35,120 University that then General Lloyd 57 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,540 Austin told students of a plaque that 58 00:04:38,540 --> 00:04:42,440 President Reagan kept on his desk . one 59 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,350 of the privileges of my job is access 60 00:04:45,740 --> 00:04:48,100 to President Reagan's last working 61 00:04:48,100 --> 00:04:51,160 office . And here is that plaque . 62 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,320 It reads , there is no limit to what a 63 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:59,550 man can do or where he can go If he 64 00:04:59,550 --> 00:05:01,494 doesn't mind who gets the credit . 65 00:05:02,840 --> 00:05:06,360 General Austin making his point to the 66 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:08,820 auburn students encourage them , quote 67 00:05:09,430 --> 00:05:13,060 in all that you do look for ways to 68 00:05:13,060 --> 00:05:15,460 enable the success of others . 69 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:20,290 This is the mantra and this is the 70 00:05:20,290 --> 00:05:23,510 spirit by which Secretary Lloyd Austin 71 00:05:23,770 --> 00:05:25,880 has lived his life and served his 72 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,980 country and it is that 73 00:05:28,990 --> 00:05:32,340 sincere selflessness , that refusal to 74 00:05:32,340 --> 00:05:35,120 seek credit , say those who best know 75 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,970 him that set him apart empowered his 76 00:05:38,970 --> 00:05:42,340 meteoric rise from mobile Alabama to 77 00:05:42,340 --> 00:05:45,270 west point to the commandant , the 78 00:05:45,270 --> 00:05:47,590 Commander of US Central Command , 79 00:05:47,590 --> 00:05:50,800 responsible for all military operations 80 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,130 in the Middle East and Afghanistan And 81 00:05:54,130 --> 00:05:57,970 now out of uniform to become the 28th 82 00:05:57,970 --> 00:06:01,430 United States Secretary of Defense . It 83 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:05,030 is our honor to welcome him today as 84 00:06:05,030 --> 00:06:07,580 the keynote speaker at the Reagan 85 00:06:07,580 --> 00:06:10,460 National Defense Forum Throughout his 86 00:06:10,460 --> 00:06:13,600 career , he's been a Trailblazer for 87 00:06:13,610 --> 00:06:15,990 others , breaking barriers , becoming 88 00:06:16,060 --> 00:06:18,440 the first black american to hold some 89 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:20,720 of the nation's highest defense 90 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:23,740 positions . He's been praised as a 91 00:06:23,740 --> 00:06:26,900 soldier's soldier . Even as a brigadier 92 00:06:26,900 --> 00:06:30,010 general in Iraq , He famously carried 93 00:06:30,010 --> 00:06:32,570 an M4 service rifle fully loaded 94 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,270 instead of a pistol as generals 95 00:06:35,270 --> 00:06:38,590 traditionally do the troops adored him 96 00:06:38,590 --> 00:06:41,920 for it . When President biden announced 97 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,250 his choice for Defense Secretary last 98 00:06:44,250 --> 00:06:47,650 december , he called Secretary Austin 99 00:06:48,140 --> 00:06:51,860 the definition of duty , honor and 100 00:06:51,860 --> 00:06:54,850 country here at the Reagan Foundation . 101 00:06:55,210 --> 00:06:57,321 Those are the very values that matter 102 00:06:57,321 --> 00:07:01,000 most . Mr Secretary , we look forward 103 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,167 to hearing your vision for the choices 104 00:07:03,167 --> 00:07:05,860 our nation must make as we confront new 105 00:07:06,330 --> 00:07:09,060 and enduring challenges . Ladies and 106 00:07:09,060 --> 00:07:11,410 Gentlemen , Please join me in giving a 107 00:07:11,410 --> 00:07:14,220 warm welcome to the 28th United States 108 00:07:14,220 --> 00:07:16,450 Secretary of Defense , Lloyd Austin . 109 00:07:47,940 --> 00:07:51,560 She could you got any zingers for me . 110 00:07:52,940 --> 00:07:55,540 Well , thank you john for that kind 111 00:07:55,550 --> 00:07:59,420 introduction and thanks to thanks 112 00:07:59,420 --> 00:08:01,364 for everything that you do for the 113 00:08:01,364 --> 00:08:03,500 Reagan Presidential Foundation and 114 00:08:03,500 --> 00:08:06,580 Institute and good afternoon everybody . 115 00:08:07,940 --> 00:08:11,060 It is great to be here in person 116 00:08:12,020 --> 00:08:14,076 at the Reagan National Defense Forum 117 00:08:21,340 --> 00:08:23,562 and I'm glad to see so many friends and 118 00:08:23,562 --> 00:08:26,660 valued colleagues , including a truly 119 00:08:26,660 --> 00:08:28,438 outstanding delegation from the 120 00:08:28,438 --> 00:08:30,930 Department of Defense . This is indeed 121 00:08:30,930 --> 00:08:34,220 quite a crowd and I'm honored to be 122 00:08:34,220 --> 00:08:37,440 here at the Reagan library . You know , 123 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:41,400 the old saying is that institutions are 124 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:45,240 shadows of people and this library 125 00:08:45,810 --> 00:08:49,220 is a tremendous extension of the legacy 126 00:08:49,230 --> 00:08:51,790 in optimism of President Ronald Reagan . 127 00:08:53,540 --> 00:08:56,990 He always believed that americans we're 128 00:08:56,990 --> 00:09:00,180 up for a challenge up from eating hard 129 00:09:00,180 --> 00:09:04,160 problems with a can do spirit . He 130 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,290 had bedrock beliefs , the love of 131 00:09:07,290 --> 00:09:10,510 democracy , a zeal for free 132 00:09:10,510 --> 00:09:14,020 enterprise and and an an implacable 133 00:09:14,030 --> 00:09:15,950 opposition to autocracy . 134 00:09:17,740 --> 00:09:21,310 Yet President Reagan also showed a 135 00:09:21,310 --> 00:09:24,540 willingness to change and to work 136 00:09:24,540 --> 00:09:28,470 together even with an old foe to try to 137 00:09:28,470 --> 00:09:31,530 make all our Children safe from the 138 00:09:31,530 --> 00:09:34,160 specter of nuclear war 139 00:09:36,250 --> 00:09:40,220 that's central to his legacy . Not just 140 00:09:40,220 --> 00:09:42,387 the vigor that he showed in waging the 141 00:09:42,387 --> 00:09:45,790 Cold War , but the vision that he 142 00:09:45,790 --> 00:09:47,460 showed in helping to end it 143 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:53,010 in today's changing world . I hope that 144 00:09:53,010 --> 00:09:55,790 we can again summon . Ronald Reagan's 145 00:09:56,070 --> 00:09:59,480 sunny conviction that this country can 146 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:03,350 be stronger , prouder and 147 00:10:03,350 --> 00:10:06,860 better and his confidence in the power 148 00:10:06,860 --> 00:10:10,830 of liberty , His enthusiasm in the face 149 00:10:10,830 --> 00:10:14,520 of challenge and his openness to 150 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:16,798 seize an opportunity for statesmanship . 151 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,710 Now , if you're looking for some of 152 00:10:21,710 --> 00:10:24,910 that spirit today , if you're looking 153 00:10:24,910 --> 00:10:26,900 for optimism and pragmatism and 154 00:10:26,900 --> 00:10:30,430 patriotism and if you're looking for a 155 00:10:30,430 --> 00:10:34,340 can do attitude in american life , well 156 00:10:34,340 --> 00:10:36,229 look , no further than the United 157 00:10:36,229 --> 00:10:39,560 States military , our outstanding men 158 00:10:39,560 --> 00:10:42,990 and women in uniform volunteer to work 159 00:10:42,990 --> 00:10:45,260 hard and to sacrifice mightily 160 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:49,020 and they don't expect any rewards . 161 00:10:50,140 --> 00:10:52,410 Besides the quiet satisfaction of a 162 00:10:52,410 --> 00:10:56,240 mission achieved and the fellowship of 163 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:59,710 teamwork and the honor of 164 00:10:59,710 --> 00:11:01,410 defending our democracy . 165 00:11:03,340 --> 00:11:05,670 So we're enormously grateful to them 166 00:11:05,670 --> 00:11:09,270 and to their families as well . And in 167 00:11:09,270 --> 00:11:12,610 return , we owe them clear thinking 168 00:11:12,610 --> 00:11:14,666 about the challenges of our changing 169 00:11:14,666 --> 00:11:18,570 world And we owe it to them to make 170 00:11:18,570 --> 00:11:21,230 the world of the 21st century far more 171 00:11:21,230 --> 00:11:24,040 secure and far less bloody Than the 172 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:28,040 World of the 20th . You know , I I've 173 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,262 spent a lot of time thinking about that 174 00:11:30,262 --> 00:11:33,460 over the past few days and my team and 175 00:11:33,460 --> 00:11:36,380 I took the long way to California 176 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:40,260 by way of South Korea , where we held 177 00:11:40,940 --> 00:11:43,560 our important annual security talks 178 00:11:43,560 --> 00:11:47,390 with key allies . This was my 3rd trip 179 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,610 as secretary of defense to the Indo 180 00:11:49,610 --> 00:11:53,200 Pacific and that's yet another sign of 181 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,422 the priority that we give to the region 182 00:11:57,740 --> 00:12:00,220 in our commitment to its security and 183 00:12:00,220 --> 00:12:01,980 prosperity and openness . 184 00:12:04,140 --> 00:12:06,510 In part that's because of something 185 00:12:06,510 --> 00:12:09,790 that everyone who lives in California 186 00:12:10,180 --> 00:12:13,460 understands . America 187 00:12:13,940 --> 00:12:17,470 is a pacific power and we will 188 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:21,420 always be . And the indo pacific is 189 00:12:21,420 --> 00:12:24,310 a region of great opportunity and real 190 00:12:24,310 --> 00:12:27,000 challenges . And one of those 191 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:28,889 challenges is the emergence of an 192 00:12:28,889 --> 00:12:32,140 increasingly assertive , an autocratic 193 00:12:32,150 --> 00:12:35,690 china . And that's what I'd like to 194 00:12:35,690 --> 00:12:39,360 focus on today . Now , 195 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:42,140 President biden has said that we are in 196 00:12:42,140 --> 00:12:44,840 stiff competition with the People's 197 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:48,290 Republic of china . And as he's made 198 00:12:48,290 --> 00:12:51,690 clear , Beijing is the only 199 00:12:51,690 --> 00:12:55,590 competitor capable of combining its 200 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:59,450 economic , diplomatic military 201 00:12:59,450 --> 00:13:02,530 and technological power to mount a 202 00:13:02,530 --> 00:13:05,550 sustained challenge to a stable and 203 00:13:05,560 --> 00:13:07,160 open international system . 204 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:11,984 So we've got to be clear about the 205 00:13:11,984 --> 00:13:15,970 challenge of china and what we 206 00:13:15,970 --> 00:13:19,900 need to do to meet it . I'd like to 207 00:13:19,900 --> 00:13:22,270 focus today on the security dimensions 208 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:26,200 of this competition because we've seen 209 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:29,010 two decades of breakneck modernization 210 00:13:29,010 --> 00:13:32,590 by the People's Liberation Army and 211 00:13:32,590 --> 00:13:34,812 china's military is on pace to become a 212 00:13:34,812 --> 00:13:37,320 peer competitor to the United States In 213 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,660 Asia . And eventually around the world , 214 00:13:42,540 --> 00:13:44,540 china's leaders are expanding their 215 00:13:44,540 --> 00:13:46,430 ability to project force and to 216 00:13:46,430 --> 00:13:48,597 establish a global network of military 217 00:13:48,597 --> 00:13:52,310 bases and meanwhile the P . L . A . Is 218 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:54,100 rapidly improving many of his 219 00:13:54,100 --> 00:13:57,810 capabilities including strike an air 220 00:13:57,810 --> 00:14:00,750 and missile defense in anti submarine 221 00:14:00,750 --> 00:14:04,450 measures . And it's increasingly 222 00:14:04,450 --> 00:14:08,140 focused on integrating its information , 223 00:14:08,150 --> 00:14:10,160 cyber and space operations . 224 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:16,360 So that means new areas of competition 225 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:19,820 in space and cyberspace , where the 226 00:14:19,820 --> 00:14:21,487 norms of behavior aren't well 227 00:14:21,487 --> 00:14:23,653 established and the risk of escalation 228 00:14:24,100 --> 00:14:27,760 and miscalculation are high . 229 00:14:31,140 --> 00:14:33,084 Meanwhile , china is pouring state 230 00:14:33,084 --> 00:14:34,918 funds into key sectors including 231 00:14:34,918 --> 00:14:38,240 Quantum research and Beijing is 232 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:41,370 pursuing what its leaders call 233 00:14:41,380 --> 00:14:44,730 indigenous innovation to cut its 234 00:14:44,730 --> 00:14:46,420 reliance on imports 235 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:51,720 and all that is fueling swift advances 236 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:54,360 in PRC technology with significant 237 00:14:54,370 --> 00:14:57,250 implications for China's military . 238 00:14:59,740 --> 00:15:01,907 China's nuclear posture is changing as 239 00:15:01,907 --> 00:15:04,580 well . The P . L . A . Has been rapidly 240 00:15:04,580 --> 00:15:06,860 advancing its nuclear capabilities and 241 00:15:06,860 --> 00:15:09,300 that includes growing its nuclear 242 00:15:09,300 --> 00:15:11,600 arsenal to at least 1000 warheads by 243 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:14,840 2030 and modernizing it's delivery 244 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:18,250 systems and building a nascent nuclear 245 00:15:18,250 --> 00:15:18,860 triad . 246 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:25,020 Now we always assess not just 247 00:15:25,020 --> 00:15:28,850 capabilities but also intentions and 248 00:15:28,860 --> 00:15:31,510 actions . And the leaders of the 249 00:15:31,510 --> 00:15:33,399 chinese Communist Party have been 250 00:15:33,399 --> 00:15:35,320 increasingly vocal about their 251 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:37,320 dissatisfaction with the prevailing 252 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:40,940 order . In about their aim of 253 00:15:40,950 --> 00:15:43,920 displacing America from its global 254 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:44,976 leadership world . 255 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:51,130 China's President Xi Jinping 256 00:15:51,430 --> 00:15:55,260 regularly talks about quote great 257 00:15:55,260 --> 00:15:58,180 changes unseen in the world in a 258 00:15:58,180 --> 00:16:01,820 century and he recently 259 00:16:01,820 --> 00:16:04,100 assured his fellow party members that 260 00:16:04,110 --> 00:16:07,540 quote time and momentum are on China's 261 00:16:07,540 --> 00:16:08,060 side . 262 00:16:11,140 --> 00:16:13,140 President biden has been very clear 263 00:16:13,140 --> 00:16:15,660 about his concerns over china's human 264 00:16:15,660 --> 00:16:17,840 rights abuses and it's bullying of 265 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:21,730 other countries in Beijing 266 00:16:21,730 --> 00:16:24,360 is misusing technology to advance . 267 00:16:24,940 --> 00:16:27,970 It's repressive agenda at home and 268 00:16:27,970 --> 00:16:31,450 exporting the tools of autocracy abroad . 269 00:16:33,940 --> 00:16:37,560 Now I've repeatedly described china 270 00:16:38,500 --> 00:16:40,278 as the pacing challenge for the 271 00:16:40,278 --> 00:16:43,520 Department of Defense . But I chose the 272 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:47,450 word challenge carefully . We 273 00:16:47,450 --> 00:16:50,770 seek neither confrontation nor conflict . 274 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:54,662 And as President , biden has repeatedly 275 00:16:54,662 --> 00:16:58,230 made clear we're not seeking a new Cold 276 00:16:58,230 --> 00:17:00,600 War or a world divided into rigid 277 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:04,460 blocks . So yes , we're facing a 278 00:17:04,460 --> 00:17:07,280 formidable challenge . But 279 00:17:07,290 --> 00:17:10,550 America isn't a country that fears 280 00:17:10,550 --> 00:17:13,960 competition and we're gonna meet this 281 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:17,830 one with confidence and resolve and not 282 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:19,450 panic and pessimism . 283 00:17:22,140 --> 00:17:24,307 As president , President Reagan put it 284 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:28,500 the future , it doesn't belong to the 285 00:17:28,500 --> 00:17:32,060 fainthearted , it belongs to the brave . 286 00:17:33,940 --> 00:17:35,690 So we are determined to deter 287 00:17:35,690 --> 00:17:38,420 aggression and to prevent conflict and 288 00:17:38,420 --> 00:17:40,550 to establish common sense guardrails 289 00:17:41,740 --> 00:17:43,851 and our new initiatives are part of a 290 00:17:43,851 --> 00:17:46,160 government wide approach that draws on 291 00:17:46,170 --> 00:17:48,392 all tools of national power to meet the 292 00:17:48,392 --> 00:17:49,860 china china challenge . 293 00:17:52,340 --> 00:17:54,451 Now this department has been stepping 294 00:17:54,451 --> 00:17:56,710 up its efforts on china since the very 295 00:17:56,710 --> 00:17:58,877 first days of the biden administration 296 00:18:00,140 --> 00:18:02,084 are china Task force sharpened the 297 00:18:02,084 --> 00:18:04,307 department's priorities and charted the 298 00:18:04,307 --> 00:18:07,670 path to greater focus and coordination . 299 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:11,351 We made the department's largest ever 300 00:18:11,351 --> 00:18:13,018 budget request for research , 301 00:18:13,018 --> 00:18:15,073 development , testing and evaluation 302 00:18:15,940 --> 00:18:18,162 and we're investing in new capabilities 303 00:18:18,162 --> 00:18:20,650 that will make us more lethal from 304 00:18:20,650 --> 00:18:23,820 greater distances and more capable of 305 00:18:23,820 --> 00:18:25,598 operating stealthy and unmanned 306 00:18:25,598 --> 00:18:28,460 platforms and more resilient under the 307 00:18:28,460 --> 00:18:30,404 seas and in space and cyberspace . 308 00:18:33,940 --> 00:18:36,107 We're also pursuing a more distributed 309 00:18:36,107 --> 00:18:37,940 force posture in the in the indo 310 00:18:37,940 --> 00:18:40,830 pacific one that will help us Bolster 311 00:18:40,830 --> 00:18:43,500 Defense Deterrence and counter 312 00:18:43,500 --> 00:18:46,910 incursion and operate forward with our 313 00:18:46,910 --> 00:18:48,577 trusted allies and partners . 314 00:18:50,740 --> 00:18:52,573 We're developing new concepts of 315 00:18:52,573 --> 00:18:55,020 operations That will bring the American 316 00:18:55,020 --> 00:18:57,050 way of war into the 21st century . 317 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:00,730 Working closely with our unparalleled 318 00:19:00,730 --> 00:19:02,952 global network of partners and allies . 319 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:10,410 Ladies and gentlemen , we will always 320 00:19:10,420 --> 00:19:13,560 stand ready to prevail in conflict . 321 00:19:15,140 --> 00:19:17,370 But America's defense will always be 322 00:19:17,370 --> 00:19:20,350 rooted in our resolve to prevent 323 00:19:20,360 --> 00:19:24,040 conflict . Now , what I call 324 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:25,929 integrated deterrence will be the 325 00:19:25,929 --> 00:19:28,160 cornerstone concept of the new national 326 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:30,910 defense strategy that I will release 327 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:34,740 early next year and it means 328 00:19:34,750 --> 00:19:37,130 integrating our efforts across domains 329 00:19:37,130 --> 00:19:39,480 and across the spectrum of conflict to 330 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:42,990 ensure that the U . S . Military in 331 00:19:42,990 --> 00:19:45,157 close cooperation with the rest of the 332 00:19:45,157 --> 00:19:47,268 U . S . Government and our allies and 333 00:19:47,268 --> 00:19:49,323 partners makes the folly and cost of 334 00:19:49,323 --> 00:19:50,960 aggression very clear . 335 00:19:54,420 --> 00:19:57,560 I'd like to focus today on two key 336 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:01,110 elements of integrated deterrence and 337 00:20:01,110 --> 00:20:03,277 those are partnership and innovation . 338 00:20:07,140 --> 00:20:09,029 We're building on a lesson that I 339 00:20:09,029 --> 00:20:12,370 learned over four decades in uniform in 340 00:20:12,370 --> 00:20:14,280 war and in peace . We're always 341 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:16,502 stronger when we work together with our 342 00:20:16,502 --> 00:20:20,080 friends and that defines our approach 343 00:20:20,090 --> 00:20:23,930 to the china challenge . No , 344 00:20:23,930 --> 00:20:26,500 we're not seeking an an asian version 345 00:20:26,500 --> 00:20:29,920 of NATO or trying to build an anti 346 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:33,060 china coalition . And we're not asking 347 00:20:33,060 --> 00:20:35,227 countries to choose between the United 348 00:20:35,227 --> 00:20:38,450 States and china . Instead we're 349 00:20:38,450 --> 00:20:40,820 working to advance an international 350 00:20:40,820 --> 00:20:43,460 system that is free and stable and open 351 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,360 and we're strengthening our peerless 352 00:20:48,360 --> 00:20:51,560 network of allies and partners with a 353 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:54,130 shared commitment to a peaceful and 354 00:20:54,130 --> 00:20:56,060 prosperous indo pacific 355 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:01,100 a region where all countries are free 356 00:21:01,100 --> 00:21:04,580 from coercion and where the rules that 357 00:21:04,580 --> 00:21:06,910 buttress stability and expand liberty 358 00:21:06,910 --> 00:21:10,260 are upheld together . 359 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:17,670 As one Western leader said in 1989 , 360 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,350 we know more clearly than ever before , 361 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:27,560 that we carry common burdens and face 362 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:31,040 common problems and must respond with 363 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:32,040 common action . 364 00:21:35,020 --> 00:21:38,080 No , that wasn't Ronald Reagan , it was 365 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:39,191 Margaret Thatcher . 366 00:21:43,140 --> 00:21:45,307 Now my first trip as secretary took me 367 00:21:45,307 --> 00:21:47,460 to Japan and South Korea and India . 368 00:21:48,620 --> 00:21:50,342 And a few months ago I had the 369 00:21:50,342 --> 00:21:52,398 opportunity to visit with leaders in 370 00:21:52,398 --> 00:21:54,009 Singapore in Vietnam and the 371 00:21:54,009 --> 00:21:57,520 Philippines . Yesterday I was in Seoul 372 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:00,980 and early next year I plan , I'm 373 00:22:00,980 --> 00:22:03,100 planning on heading back to Southeast 374 00:22:03,100 --> 00:22:06,650 Asia and you know , in every 375 00:22:06,650 --> 00:22:10,000 conversation with our partners . I hear 376 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:12,340 the same thing again and again , 377 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:16,218 a call for the United States to 378 00:22:16,218 --> 00:22:18,400 continue playing are stabilizing role 379 00:22:18,670 --> 00:22:21,860 in the indo pacific and make no mistake , 380 00:22:22,340 --> 00:22:25,850 we will . And that means joint 381 00:22:25,850 --> 00:22:28,690 exercises Such as the recent six 382 00:22:28,690 --> 00:22:31,550 country multi carrier operation in Asia . 383 00:22:32,700 --> 00:22:34,422 It means deepening our R and D 384 00:22:34,422 --> 00:22:37,000 relationships with our regional allies 385 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:40,430 and partners . It means encouraging the 386 00:22:40,430 --> 00:22:43,870 helpful and growing security role that 387 00:22:43,870 --> 00:22:45,926 our european airlines are playing in 388 00:22:45,926 --> 00:22:49,110 the region . It also means 389 00:22:49,110 --> 00:22:52,110 strengthening the indo pacific security 390 00:22:52,110 --> 00:22:55,980 architecture that of 391 00:22:55,980 --> 00:22:58,940 course centers on our valued alliances 392 00:22:59,470 --> 00:23:03,380 in Asean . But it's reinforced 393 00:23:03,380 --> 00:23:05,750 by a range of mechanisms both old and 394 00:23:05,750 --> 00:23:09,360 new , including the indo pacific quad 395 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:14,170 in august the five eyes 396 00:23:15,030 --> 00:23:17,890 in the triangle of the US , japan and 397 00:23:17,890 --> 00:23:21,820 south Korea . And finally 398 00:23:22,540 --> 00:23:25,910 we remain steadfast to our one china 399 00:23:25,910 --> 00:23:28,900 policy in our commitments under the 400 00:23:28,900 --> 00:23:31,590 Taiwan relations Act to support 401 00:23:31,590 --> 00:23:34,640 Taiwan's ability to defend itself while 402 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:38,410 also maintaining our capacity to resist 403 00:23:38,420 --> 00:23:40,620 any resort to force that would 404 00:23:40,620 --> 00:23:43,790 jeopardize the security of the people 405 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:47,740 of Taiwan . Now 406 00:23:47,740 --> 00:23:50,360 we're working to bolster deterrence 407 00:23:51,740 --> 00:23:53,796 and not seeking to change the status 408 00:23:53,796 --> 00:23:54,180 quo . 409 00:23:57,630 --> 00:23:59,686 As President biden told President XI 410 00:23:59,686 --> 00:24:03,130 last month we share a profound global 411 00:24:03,130 --> 00:24:06,300 responsibility to ensure that the 412 00:24:06,300 --> 00:24:08,910 competition between our countries does 413 00:24:08,910 --> 00:24:11,610 not veer into conflict whether intended 414 00:24:11,620 --> 00:24:15,430 or unintended . And we're gonna 415 00:24:15,430 --> 00:24:17,430 stick to what President biden calls 416 00:24:17,430 --> 00:24:19,597 simple , straightforward competition . 417 00:24:20,940 --> 00:24:23,880 Yes , we have real differences 418 00:24:24,940 --> 00:24:28,810 both over interests and values but the 419 00:24:28,810 --> 00:24:32,190 way that you manage them counts and 420 00:24:32,190 --> 00:24:34,079 we're gonna be open intended with 421 00:24:34,079 --> 00:24:36,830 china's leaders . As President biden 422 00:24:36,830 --> 00:24:38,941 put it , we need to talk honestly and 423 00:24:38,941 --> 00:24:41,390 directly with one another about our 424 00:24:41,390 --> 00:24:45,270 priorities and our intentions and 425 00:24:45,270 --> 00:24:46,992 big powers should be models of 426 00:24:46,992 --> 00:24:48,826 transparency and communication . 427 00:24:52,140 --> 00:24:54,610 So we're actively seeking open lines of 428 00:24:54,610 --> 00:24:56,554 communication , communication with 429 00:24:56,554 --> 00:24:59,740 china's defense leaders , especially in 430 00:24:59,740 --> 00:25:02,990 a crisis and both between our diplomats 431 00:25:02,990 --> 00:25:05,430 and our militaries and we're taking 432 00:25:05,430 --> 00:25:08,770 steps to reduce risk and to prevent 433 00:25:08,780 --> 00:25:12,190 miscalculations . So we're going to 434 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:14,089 we're going to build on President 435 00:25:14,089 --> 00:25:16,200 biden's discussions with President XI 436 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:18,862 and President biden's pushed to develop 437 00:25:18,862 --> 00:25:21,650 ways to manage strategic risk and work 438 00:25:21,650 --> 00:25:24,020 to build strong , sensible guardrails 439 00:25:24,020 --> 00:25:25,464 around this competition . 440 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:32,807 Now I also want to focus on the second 441 00:25:32,807 --> 00:25:36,480 element of integrated deterrence and 442 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:38,536 it's one that I'm especially looking 443 00:25:38,536 --> 00:25:40,600 forward to discussing with this 444 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:44,500 audience , an audience with 445 00:25:44,500 --> 00:25:46,160 so many industry leaders and 446 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:48,320 entrepreneurs and members of Congress 447 00:25:50,140 --> 00:25:52,440 and it centers on America's unique 448 00:25:52,450 --> 00:25:54,617 competitive advantage and innovation . 449 00:25:56,840 --> 00:25:58,896 Now , integrated deterrence requires 450 00:25:58,896 --> 00:26:01,540 requires us to weave together cutting 451 00:26:01,540 --> 00:26:03,318 edge technology and operational 452 00:26:03,318 --> 00:26:04,984 concepts and state of the art 453 00:26:04,984 --> 00:26:07,740 capabilities to seamlessly dissuade 454 00:26:07,740 --> 00:26:10,450 aggression in any form domain or 455 00:26:10,450 --> 00:26:14,190 theater . And so that means 456 00:26:14,190 --> 00:26:17,570 that innovation lies at the heart of 457 00:26:17,570 --> 00:26:21,350 american security . Now , 458 00:26:21,940 --> 00:26:25,020 huge advances in Ai and edge computing 459 00:26:25,020 --> 00:26:28,100 and nanotechnology are already underway 460 00:26:28,110 --> 00:26:30,770 in America and much of that right here 461 00:26:30,770 --> 00:26:31,770 in California , 462 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:36,900 nobody innovates better than the United 463 00:26:36,900 --> 00:26:40,700 States of America , but we can't take 464 00:26:40,700 --> 00:26:44,300 that for granted . And at the 465 00:26:44,300 --> 00:26:46,960 Department of Defense , that means that 466 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:48,960 serious changes to some of the ways 467 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:51,200 that we've done business , it must be 468 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:53,860 done . So let's face it 469 00:26:55,340 --> 00:26:57,396 for far too long . It's been far too 470 00:26:57,396 --> 00:27:00,450 hard for innovators and entrepreneurs 471 00:27:00,450 --> 00:27:03,430 to work with the department and the 472 00:27:03,430 --> 00:27:06,820 barriers for for entry into 473 00:27:06,830 --> 00:27:09,960 into this effort to work with 474 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:13,250 us in national security is often too 475 00:27:13,250 --> 00:27:15,050 steep . Far too steep . 476 00:27:18,120 --> 00:27:21,660 You know , my recent travels , I've 477 00:27:21,660 --> 00:27:24,600 seen some outstanding examples of 478 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:27,940 cutting edge tech , including weeks ago 479 00:27:27,940 --> 00:27:31,880 in bahrain where I saw unmanned solar 480 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:35,550 powered naval vessels that used ai to 481 00:27:35,550 --> 00:27:37,420 build a shared picture of the 482 00:27:37,420 --> 00:27:38,476 surrounding seas . 483 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:44,860 But it often takes too long to get that 484 00:27:44,860 --> 00:27:47,138 kind of innovation to our war fighters . 485 00:27:48,540 --> 00:27:50,762 So let's say that some great California 486 00:27:50,762 --> 00:27:52,840 startup , develops a dazzling way to 487 00:27:52,850 --> 00:27:54,850 better integrate our capabilities . 488 00:27:56,840 --> 00:28:00,610 All too often , that company is going 489 00:28:00,610 --> 00:28:02,510 to struggle to take its idea from 490 00:28:02,510 --> 00:28:06,400 inception to prototype to adoption by 491 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:10,150 the department we call this 492 00:28:10,150 --> 00:28:14,010 syndrome the Valley of Death . And I 493 00:28:14,010 --> 00:28:16,177 know that many of you in this room are 494 00:28:16,177 --> 00:28:19,080 painfully familiar with it . You know , 495 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:21,302 it's bad enough that some companies get 496 00:28:21,302 --> 00:28:24,730 stuck in the valley of death , but some 497 00:28:24,730 --> 00:28:27,150 brilliant entrepreneurs and innovators 498 00:28:27,150 --> 00:28:29,500 don't even want to try to cross it and 499 00:28:29,500 --> 00:28:33,440 work with us . So the department has 500 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:34,440 to do better . 501 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:39,351 Let me tell you about some steps that 502 00:28:39,351 --> 00:28:41,518 we're taking to transform the way that 503 00:28:41,518 --> 00:28:45,190 we do business . 1st . We're paving new 504 00:28:45,190 --> 00:28:48,970 pathways for american innovators and 505 00:28:48,970 --> 00:28:50,748 entrepreneurs to work with us . 506 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:56,500 Consider the defense advanced research 507 00:28:56,500 --> 00:28:59,350 projects agency better known as DARPA . 508 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:03,530 It is legendary for scientific 509 00:29:03,530 --> 00:29:07,220 breakthroughs . But now 510 00:29:07,220 --> 00:29:09,053 DARPA is also connecting his top 511 00:29:09,053 --> 00:29:11,290 research teams with corporate leaders 512 00:29:11,290 --> 00:29:13,500 and and US investors so that those 513 00:29:13,500 --> 00:29:15,730 teams can build successful businesses 514 00:29:15,890 --> 00:29:17,890 with cutting edge technologies that 515 00:29:17,890 --> 00:29:21,560 they develop . Second , 516 00:29:22,540 --> 00:29:24,660 we're doubling down on our small 517 00:29:24,660 --> 00:29:26,827 business innovation research program , 518 00:29:28,540 --> 00:29:31,630 which as it happens , was signed into 519 00:29:31,630 --> 00:29:33,074 law by President Reagan . 520 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:37,810 This program helps fuel american firms 521 00:29:37,810 --> 00:29:40,640 to pursue R and D tailored to the 522 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:43,170 department's unique tech requirements . 523 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:46,420 And so far this year we've awarded 524 00:29:46,420 --> 00:29:49,120 funds to more than 2500 small 525 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:51,231 businesses working on ground breaking 526 00:29:51,231 --> 00:29:55,190 tech . We're also doing more 527 00:29:55,190 --> 00:29:56,857 to integrate the department's 528 00:29:56,857 --> 00:29:59,290 innovators into tech hubs around the 529 00:29:59,290 --> 00:30:02,020 country . We're academics and business 530 00:30:02,020 --> 00:30:05,490 leaders and innovators thrive . So we 531 00:30:05,490 --> 00:30:07,712 recently opened defense innovation hubs 532 00:30:07,712 --> 00:30:10,860 in Seattle and Chicago adding to other 533 00:30:10,860 --> 00:30:12,960 sites from Austin to boston . 534 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:19,770 So the goal here is simple to connect 535 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:23,140 with new talent who will help us 536 00:30:23,140 --> 00:30:26,240 compete and win on challenges , 537 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:28,407 countering from countering U . A . V . 538 00:30:28,407 --> 00:30:30,370 S to responsibly leading the Ai 539 00:30:30,370 --> 00:30:33,680 revolution revolution . And finally 540 00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:35,902 we're making it easier for companies to 541 00:30:35,902 --> 00:30:38,960 safely cross that valley of death . 542 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:42,820 And I would like to commend the 543 00:30:42,820 --> 00:30:45,470 congressional leaders who have tackled 544 00:30:45,470 --> 00:30:49,180 this issue and many of you are here 545 00:30:49,180 --> 00:30:53,130 today . But we need all of 546 00:30:53,130 --> 00:30:56,990 your help and this is urgent . We 547 00:30:56,990 --> 00:31:00,740 can't just keep funding programs and 548 00:31:00,740 --> 00:31:02,980 platforms that will be irrelevant 549 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:06,862 and we must streamline the acquisitions 550 00:31:06,862 --> 00:31:09,430 process Or we'll tie one arm behind our 551 00:31:09,430 --> 00:31:13,390 backs . So the Department of Defense 552 00:31:13,390 --> 00:31:15,330 has established the rapid defense 553 00:31:15,340 --> 00:31:18,090 experimentation reserve to let us 554 00:31:18,090 --> 00:31:19,979 quickly see if promising tech and 555 00:31:19,979 --> 00:31:22,146 prototypes can help our war fighters . 556 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:26,070 It helps identify our most pressing 557 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:28,730 capability gaps . It makes funds 558 00:31:28,730 --> 00:31:31,330 available to test new technologies that 559 00:31:31,330 --> 00:31:34,810 could be game changers and it lets the 560 00:31:34,810 --> 00:31:37,240 army , the Navy , the Air Force , the 561 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:39,380 Space Force and the Marine Corps try 562 00:31:39,380 --> 00:31:42,200 out innovative tech together at scale 563 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:46,120 for the first time because when 564 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:48,450 we maintain our technological edge , 565 00:31:49,940 --> 00:31:52,270 we maintain our military edge 566 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:58,380 and let me be clear the United States 567 00:31:58,380 --> 00:32:00,530 of America has an advantage that no 568 00:32:00,530 --> 00:32:04,040 autocracy can match our 569 00:32:04,040 --> 00:32:07,070 combination of free enterprise , free 570 00:32:07,070 --> 00:32:09,460 minds and free people 571 00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:13,562 even in times of challenge our 572 00:32:13,562 --> 00:32:15,830 democracy is a powerful engine for its 573 00:32:15,830 --> 00:32:18,840 own renewal . So I will put the 574 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:21,160 american system up against any other 575 00:32:22,140 --> 00:32:24,140 and I'll do so with great pride and 576 00:32:24,140 --> 00:32:26,660 total confidence . Okay , no other 577 00:32:26,660 --> 00:32:29,280 country has the creativity to put such 578 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:31,280 phenomenal computing power into our 579 00:32:31,280 --> 00:32:35,230 pockets . And no other country has . 580 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:38,280 Our astonishing universities are 581 00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:40,650 grounding rule of law and a restless 582 00:32:40,650 --> 00:32:41,270 spirit . 583 00:32:43,940 --> 00:32:47,560 So let me offer a call to action 584 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:50,500 two American American businesses large 585 00:32:50,500 --> 00:32:54,130 and small and to everyone in this room , 586 00:32:54,130 --> 00:32:58,050 including industry leaders , join 587 00:32:58,050 --> 00:33:01,110 with us , work with us 588 00:33:02,540 --> 00:33:04,484 and help keep our country strong . 589 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:07,990 Let's meet this moment with all the 590 00:33:07,990 --> 00:33:10,101 innovation and ingenuity that America 591 00:33:10,101 --> 00:33:12,500 can muster because America's strength 592 00:33:12,510 --> 00:33:14,621 in the world rests on its strength at 593 00:33:14,621 --> 00:33:16,770 home and innovation in America is 594 00:33:16,770 --> 00:33:19,010 rooted in the creativity of an open 595 00:33:19,010 --> 00:33:21,480 society and the ingenuity of an open 596 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:25,480 mind . As President 597 00:33:25,490 --> 00:33:29,180 Reagan put it in 1988 , mm hmm . 598 00:33:30,430 --> 00:33:33,060 Progress is not for ordain . 599 00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:38,860 The key is freedom , freedom of thought , 600 00:33:40,340 --> 00:33:44,160 freedom of information , and freedom 601 00:33:44,170 --> 00:33:45,226 of communication . 602 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:51,060 Ladies and gentlemen , in America , we 603 00:33:51,060 --> 00:33:54,690 don't fear competition as president 604 00:33:54,690 --> 00:33:56,801 biden says in the competition against 605 00:33:56,801 --> 00:33:59,810 china And other nations of the 21st 606 00:33:59,810 --> 00:34:02,290 century , let's show that american 607 00:34:02,290 --> 00:34:04,430 democracy and the american people can 608 00:34:04,430 --> 00:34:08,110 truly out compete anyone . This is 609 00:34:08,110 --> 00:34:11,500 America . We're still a country that 610 00:34:11,500 --> 00:34:13,980 can do great things from vaccinating 611 00:34:13,980 --> 00:34:16,036 people against a terrible virus , to 612 00:34:16,036 --> 00:34:19,050 saving lives of civilians in peril to 613 00:34:19,050 --> 00:34:21,217 building a new architecture for global 614 00:34:21,217 --> 00:34:25,170 security . Great powers today 615 00:34:26,100 --> 00:34:28,280 must shoulder great responsibilities 616 00:34:29,340 --> 00:34:32,110 for the safety of our citizens , for 617 00:34:32,110 --> 00:34:34,440 the defense of our democracy and for 618 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:36,670 the security of our world . 619 00:34:38,940 --> 00:34:42,040 So we're going to do our part . We'll 620 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:44,207 meet the challenges of the of the 21st 621 00:34:44,207 --> 00:34:47,080 century , but we will face them with 622 00:34:47,090 --> 00:34:51,040 fortitude and not fear democracy has 623 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:53,207 always been our roadmap to success and 624 00:34:53,207 --> 00:34:56,330 security and I wouldn't trade it for 625 00:34:56,330 --> 00:34:59,060 anyone else's . Thank you very much . 626 00:35:24,840 --> 00:35:26,930 Thank you sir . Thank you Secretary 627 00:35:26,930 --> 00:35:28,730 Austin as expected , you have 628 00:35:28,740 --> 00:35:31,420 challenged us and giving us a great 629 00:35:31,420 --> 00:35:35,280 deal to discuss . So to continue the 630 00:35:35,280 --> 00:35:37,930 conversation , please welcome Fox news 631 00:35:37,930 --> 00:35:40,120 anchor bret bear to the stage for a 632 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:42,260 discussion with Secretary Austin 633 00:35:47,240 --> 00:35:51,010 MS Sector . Thank you very much . It is 634 00:35:51,010 --> 00:35:53,830 great to be here back in person at the 635 00:35:53,830 --> 00:35:56,052 Reagan National Defense Forum . I think 636 00:35:56,052 --> 00:35:58,163 I've done this keynote interview four 637 00:35:58,163 --> 00:36:00,740 times and uh mr Secretary , I haven't 638 00:36:00,740 --> 00:36:03,310 talked to you in person . We talked 639 00:36:03,320 --> 00:36:05,431 when you were a general in the Middle 640 00:36:05,431 --> 00:36:07,653 East , the last I interviewed you , you 641 00:36:07,653 --> 00:36:09,987 have a bit of a different portfolio now . 642 00:36:10,130 --> 00:36:12,352 So we have a few other questions to get 643 00:36:12,352 --> 00:36:15,800 to . I want to follow up with your 644 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:18,460 speech about China but I want to start 645 00:36:18,470 --> 00:36:20,526 with something that's pressing right 646 00:36:20,526 --> 00:36:22,770 now on the international stage and that 647 00:36:22,770 --> 00:36:24,992 is that senior officials are confirming 648 00:36:24,992 --> 00:36:27,730 to us that Russian plans call for a 649 00:36:27,730 --> 00:36:29,841 military offensive against Ukraine as 650 00:36:29,841 --> 00:36:33,090 soon as 2022 and Intel possibly 651 00:36:33,090 --> 00:36:36,320 involving 100 Battalion tactical groups , 652 00:36:36,330 --> 00:36:39,710 175,000 Russian troops , armor , 653 00:36:39,710 --> 00:36:42,810 artillery equipment . There are already 654 00:36:42,810 --> 00:36:45,880 almost 100,000 Russian troops along 655 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:47,750 that border with Ukraine . So my 656 00:36:47,750 --> 00:36:50,070 question is this , how concerned are 657 00:36:50,070 --> 00:36:52,290 you that Russia this time is not 658 00:36:52,290 --> 00:36:54,740 bluffing that in fact they will invade 659 00:36:54,750 --> 00:36:58,570 Ukraine ? Well , we remain focused on 660 00:36:58,570 --> 00:36:59,690 this bread 661 00:37:02,550 --> 00:37:06,350 they've invaded before . And so um , 662 00:37:06,730 --> 00:37:10,420 as we look at the numbers of 663 00:37:10,420 --> 00:37:12,587 forces that are in the border region , 664 00:37:13,430 --> 00:37:16,740 as we look at some of the um , 665 00:37:17,530 --> 00:37:19,363 things that are occurring in the 666 00:37:19,363 --> 00:37:21,252 information space , as we look at 667 00:37:21,252 --> 00:37:23,363 what's going on in the , in the cyber 668 00:37:23,363 --> 00:37:26,730 domain . Uh , it really 669 00:37:26,740 --> 00:37:28,880 raises our concern . We we remain 670 00:37:28,880 --> 00:37:32,110 focused on this . We're certainly 671 00:37:32,120 --> 00:37:35,840 committed to helping Ukraine defend its 672 00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:38,120 sovereign territory . You heard 673 00:37:38,130 --> 00:37:40,460 President biden speak about this I 674 00:37:40,470 --> 00:37:43,750 think yesterday . Uh , and it's in 675 00:37:43,750 --> 00:37:45,472 terms of our concern were very 676 00:37:45,472 --> 00:37:47,694 concerned and it's something that we're 677 00:37:47,694 --> 00:37:49,528 going to remain focused on going 678 00:37:49,528 --> 00:37:51,528 forward . Crane is not obviously in 679 00:37:51,528 --> 00:37:53,528 NATO now doesn't fall under Article 680 00:37:53,528 --> 00:37:55,750 five protection , but if there there is 681 00:37:55,750 --> 00:37:57,861 an Article five , obviously for those 682 00:37:57,861 --> 00:37:59,750 at home is an attack on one is an 683 00:37:59,750 --> 00:38:01,861 attack on all . But what what happens 684 00:38:01,861 --> 00:38:03,940 if Putin does invade Ukraine ? What 685 00:38:03,940 --> 00:38:06,720 does the U . S do ? Well , I certainly 686 00:38:06,720 --> 00:38:09,350 won't won't won't get in uh , I won't 687 00:38:09,350 --> 00:38:12,450 speculate on on different scenarios . 688 00:38:12,450 --> 00:38:15,150 But again , I would I would point back 689 00:38:15,150 --> 00:38:17,230 to the to what the President said in 690 00:38:17,230 --> 00:38:20,120 that we're certainly committed to 691 00:38:20,210 --> 00:38:22,940 ensuring that Ukraine has what it needs 692 00:38:22,940 --> 00:38:26,290 to uh protect its sovereign territory . 693 00:38:26,300 --> 00:38:29,280 So does that include advisors ? Does it 694 00:38:29,300 --> 00:38:33,150 include equipment as you know , Brett ? 695 00:38:33,160 --> 00:38:36,840 We have provided them with um 696 00:38:37,620 --> 00:38:39,940 a number of different things over the 697 00:38:39,950 --> 00:38:43,260 over the years and most recently uh 698 00:38:43,270 --> 00:38:45,990 things including like including 699 00:38:46,420 --> 00:38:50,300 lethal capability , a lot of non 700 00:38:50,300 --> 00:38:52,760 lethal capability . And again , we'll 701 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:54,982 continue to look for for different ways 702 00:38:54,982 --> 00:38:57,093 to help them be able to support their 703 00:38:57,093 --> 00:38:59,316 sovereign territory . And you heard the 704 00:38:59,316 --> 00:39:01,538 President say yesterday that you know , 705 00:39:01,538 --> 00:39:03,871 he's looking at a number of initiatives . 706 00:39:03,871 --> 00:39:06,038 So I don't I won't get out in front of 707 00:39:06,038 --> 00:39:05,530 my boss . I understand that I'm going 708 00:39:05,530 --> 00:39:07,641 to try one more thing . The President 709 00:39:07,641 --> 00:39:09,919 is talking Tuesday with Vladimir Putin . 710 00:39:09,920 --> 00:39:12,610 Can he say something even the threat of 711 00:39:12,610 --> 00:39:15,600 pushing for an invite into NATO that 712 00:39:15,610 --> 00:39:18,130 gets Putin in your mind to back down 713 00:39:18,130 --> 00:39:20,186 from that border ? Yeah . You know , 714 00:39:20,186 --> 00:39:22,352 I'm sure that there there are a number 715 00:39:22,352 --> 00:39:24,241 of things that that he'll want to 716 00:39:24,241 --> 00:39:26,880 explore with with President Putin . I 717 00:39:26,880 --> 00:39:30,520 think he knows uh President Putin very 718 00:39:30,520 --> 00:39:34,180 well . Um Again I think there's a lot 719 00:39:34,180 --> 00:39:37,390 of space here for her for 720 00:39:37,400 --> 00:39:40,100 diplomacy and leadership to work . Uh 721 00:39:40,110 --> 00:39:42,277 and uh and again we're going to remain 722 00:39:42,277 --> 00:39:44,443 engaged with our our our allies in the 723 00:39:44,443 --> 00:39:46,554 region and our partners in the region 724 00:39:46,554 --> 00:39:48,666 and uh and we're going to continue to 725 00:39:48,666 --> 00:39:51,400 do everything we can to help ah provide 726 00:39:51,410 --> 00:39:53,521 Ukraine the capability to protect the 727 00:39:53,521 --> 00:39:55,743 sovereign territory ? Okay , let's talk 728 00:39:55,743 --> 00:39:57,966 china your remarks today seem to have a 729 00:39:57,966 --> 00:40:00,840 different tone , um , has something 730 00:40:00,840 --> 00:40:03,170 changed in your mind ? Well , nothing's 731 00:40:03,170 --> 00:40:05,880 changed , Brett . Um , as you heard me 732 00:40:05,880 --> 00:40:09,250 say earlier , we're clear eyed about 733 00:40:09,250 --> 00:40:11,530 the challenge that china presents . 734 00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:17,240 But China is not 10 ft tall . This is 735 00:40:17,240 --> 00:40:20,310 America . You know , we have the we 736 00:40:20,310 --> 00:40:22,330 have the greatest industry , the 737 00:40:22,330 --> 00:40:24,610 greatest innovators in the world . And 738 00:40:24,610 --> 00:40:27,230 we're going to do what's necessary uh 739 00:40:27,240 --> 00:40:29,351 to create the capabilities that helps 740 00:40:29,351 --> 00:40:31,690 us help us maintain the competitive 741 00:40:31,690 --> 00:40:33,940 edge going forward . Uh , you know , 742 00:40:33,940 --> 00:40:36,890 it's it's it's it's that combination of 743 00:40:36,900 --> 00:40:40,750 ingenuity , leadership , uh , 744 00:40:40,760 --> 00:40:42,860 support from our Congress that has 745 00:40:42,860 --> 00:40:45,170 enabled us to be where we are today and 746 00:40:45,180 --> 00:40:47,470 and and enabled us to be successful 747 00:40:47,470 --> 00:40:50,010 over the years . We clearly recognize 748 00:40:50,010 --> 00:40:52,066 that , as you heard me say earlier , 749 00:40:52,066 --> 00:40:54,510 that china presents a challenge . It's 750 00:40:54,520 --> 00:40:57,020 it's our pacing challenge , But they're 751 00:40:57,020 --> 00:40:59,160 not 10 ft tall . You know , you 752 00:40:59,160 --> 00:41:01,327 reference President Reagan a number of 753 00:41:01,327 --> 00:41:04,460 times in your remarks , Um , in 1983 , 754 00:41:04,460 --> 00:41:07,300 President Reagan called the Soviet 755 00:41:07,300 --> 00:41:09,760 Union the Evil Empire because of its 756 00:41:09,760 --> 00:41:12,220 communist goals . Do you think it's 757 00:41:12,220 --> 00:41:14,920 time to speak more boldly or clearly 758 00:41:14,920 --> 00:41:17,220 when referring to china , the Communist 759 00:41:17,220 --> 00:41:20,320 Party and its Communist ambitions ? 760 00:41:21,210 --> 00:41:23,670 Well , I I think we're doing a lot of 761 00:41:23,670 --> 00:41:27,350 that . And again , uh , the 762 00:41:27,350 --> 00:41:30,510 activity that we see uh in the region 763 00:41:30,510 --> 00:41:32,580 and in other parts of the globe is 764 00:41:32,580 --> 00:41:35,660 disturbing . Uh , it's racing to 765 00:41:35,660 --> 00:41:37,950 develop , uh , you know , military 766 00:41:37,950 --> 00:41:41,010 capability as as fast as it can . But , 767 00:41:41,020 --> 00:41:42,853 you know , some of the course of 768 00:41:42,853 --> 00:41:45,076 activity we see in the region has us in 769 00:41:45,076 --> 00:41:47,076 our our partners in the region very 770 00:41:47,076 --> 00:41:50,090 very concerned . So um yeah I think you 771 00:41:50,090 --> 00:41:52,000 know we'll continue to speak very 772 00:41:52,000 --> 00:41:54,730 clearly about our concerns , but again 773 00:41:55,410 --> 00:41:58,080 we're in a competition with china uh 774 00:41:58,080 --> 00:42:01,310 and but and we don't have to be in a 775 00:42:01,310 --> 00:42:03,670 conflict and I think it's very 776 00:42:03,670 --> 00:42:06,250 important to continue to communicate uh 777 00:42:06,250 --> 00:42:10,130 and uh and ask for uh china and Russia 778 00:42:10,140 --> 00:42:13,290 to to be as transparent as possible . I 779 00:42:13,290 --> 00:42:15,401 know we're not gonna do hypotheticals 780 00:42:15,401 --> 00:42:17,568 but just looking at what's happening . 781 00:42:17,568 --> 00:42:19,679 China has been launching multiple air 782 00:42:19,679 --> 00:42:21,846 operations near Taiwan . They've moved 783 00:42:21,846 --> 00:42:24,068 air refuelers into that area . Tactical 784 00:42:24,068 --> 00:42:26,650 aviation , wing size elements , do you 785 00:42:26,650 --> 00:42:29,350 think that these are training flights 786 00:42:29,350 --> 00:42:32,750 for future operations ? Well again to 787 00:42:32,750 --> 00:42:34,806 your point I don't want to speculate 788 00:42:34,806 --> 00:42:38,340 but certainly you know it looks like a 789 00:42:38,340 --> 00:42:41,620 lot like them um 790 00:42:42,700 --> 00:42:45,830 um exploring what their true 791 00:42:45,830 --> 00:42:48,700 capabilities and and and sure it looks 792 00:42:48,700 --> 00:42:51,430 a lot like rehearsals . So what would 793 00:42:51,430 --> 00:42:54,930 the U . S . Do if china invades Taiwan ? 794 00:42:55,700 --> 00:42:58,500 Again , you know , our policy remains 795 00:42:58,510 --> 00:43:00,840 the same . Our one china policy remains 796 00:43:00,840 --> 00:43:03,940 the same . We're committed to helping 797 00:43:03,940 --> 00:43:06,880 Taiwan uh develop and maintain the 798 00:43:06,880 --> 00:43:08,991 capability to defend itself and again 799 00:43:09,000 --> 00:43:11,490 that's another hypothetical . But and 800 00:43:11,490 --> 00:43:14,850 nobody wants to see this conflict uh 801 00:43:14,860 --> 00:43:18,380 nobody wants to see this are things 802 00:43:18,380 --> 00:43:20,658 develop into a conflict in this region . 803 00:43:20,900 --> 00:43:22,900 So we're gonna do everything in our 804 00:43:22,900 --> 00:43:25,660 power to help prevent conflict uh and 805 00:43:25,660 --> 00:43:28,210 uh and dial down uh the temperature 806 00:43:28,210 --> 00:43:30,488 whenever possible . So what do you say ? 807 00:43:30,488 --> 00:43:32,710 The experts who say that we should send 808 00:43:32,710 --> 00:43:34,543 our advisors into Taiwan wearing 809 00:43:34,543 --> 00:43:36,766 uniforms and admit that they're they're 810 00:43:36,766 --> 00:43:38,877 the Taiwanese leadership has come out 811 00:43:38,877 --> 00:43:40,766 publicly saying there are U . S . 812 00:43:40,766 --> 00:43:43,910 Advisors there . Well , you know , 813 00:43:43,920 --> 00:43:46,480 again Brett , I think we're doing a lot 814 00:43:46,490 --> 00:43:48,490 to support Taiwan right now , we're 815 00:43:48,490 --> 00:43:51,080 going to look for ways to do more . Uh 816 00:43:51,090 --> 00:43:54,550 and you know , my my my leadership , 817 00:43:54,560 --> 00:43:58,240 my uh service chiefs combatant 818 00:43:58,240 --> 00:44:00,850 commanders will all stay engaged and 819 00:44:00,860 --> 00:44:02,916 and make recommendations on the best 820 00:44:02,916 --> 00:44:05,710 way to to to to move forward on this . 821 00:44:05,720 --> 00:44:08,250 Us , one of your space com commanders 822 00:44:08,250 --> 00:44:10,417 said this week that china is attacking 823 00:44:10,417 --> 00:44:12,550 us satellites on a daily basis , 824 00:44:12,550 --> 00:44:14,772 actions that could be considered an act 825 00:44:14,772 --> 00:44:18,320 of war . So in your mind , is there an 826 00:44:18,330 --> 00:44:21,410 active military conflict happening now 827 00:44:21,410 --> 00:44:24,080 in space with our adversaries , China 828 00:44:24,090 --> 00:44:26,450 Russia , maybe even others ? Well , 829 00:44:26,450 --> 00:44:29,100 Brent , you know , space is no longer a 830 00:44:29,100 --> 00:44:32,110 benign environment and uh and I think 831 00:44:32,120 --> 00:44:35,800 we have to realize that and I think um 832 00:44:36,390 --> 00:44:39,010 you know , that's why it's real 833 00:44:39,010 --> 00:44:41,343 important that as we look at , you know , 834 00:44:41,343 --> 00:44:43,288 you heard me talk about integrated 835 00:44:43,288 --> 00:44:45,510 deterrents and making sure that that we 836 00:44:45,510 --> 00:44:48,120 we account for all of our capability in 837 00:44:48,130 --> 00:44:51,900 each domain . Clearly spaces is a thing 838 00:44:51,900 --> 00:44:54,920 that we need to stay focused on , but 839 00:44:55,390 --> 00:44:57,279 we want to make sure that we have 840 00:44:57,540 --> 00:45:00,310 resilient capability in the space 841 00:45:00,310 --> 00:45:02,421 domain , that that we're able to link 842 00:45:02,421 --> 00:45:05,020 that capability with other things like 843 00:45:05,020 --> 00:45:07,880 cyber and that we integrate all of 844 00:45:07,890 --> 00:45:10,330 everything that we have from from space 845 00:45:10,330 --> 00:45:13,220 to uh to the face of the earth in a 846 00:45:13,220 --> 00:45:16,300 very coherent an agile way . So 847 00:45:16,490 --> 00:45:19,480 um that's a key element of integrated 848 00:45:19,480 --> 00:45:22,910 deterrence plus . Using every uh every 849 00:45:22,910 --> 00:45:24,743 tool available to us in terms of 850 00:45:24,743 --> 00:45:27,230 national power and using the capability 851 00:45:27,450 --> 00:45:30,820 that's resident with our allies and 852 00:45:30,820 --> 00:45:32,987 partners , which I think we need to do 853 00:45:32,987 --> 00:45:35,153 a much better job for you and you have 854 00:45:35,153 --> 00:45:38,790 some red lines in space . Do I have red 855 00:45:38,790 --> 00:45:40,890 lines in space as far as what's 856 00:45:40,890 --> 00:45:43,112 happening with these attacks ? But I've 857 00:45:43,112 --> 00:45:45,112 always found that it's it's never a 858 00:45:45,112 --> 00:45:48,960 good idea to uh to uh publish red lines . 859 00:45:49,490 --> 00:45:51,379 I would say that it's it's really 860 00:45:51,379 --> 00:45:53,268 important to the United States of 861 00:45:53,268 --> 00:45:56,640 America to ensure that we protect our 862 00:45:56,640 --> 00:45:59,800 capabilities and and I think , 863 00:46:00,480 --> 00:46:02,591 you know , I think we'll stay focused 864 00:46:02,591 --> 00:46:04,647 on it . Okay , I'm just gonna bounce 865 00:46:04,647 --> 00:46:06,758 around the world really quickly and I 866 00:46:06,758 --> 00:46:08,980 know we don't have that much time . But 867 00:46:08,980 --> 00:46:10,869 do you have any regrets about the 868 00:46:10,869 --> 00:46:10,630 afghan withdrawal 869 00:46:15,980 --> 00:46:19,600 Brett ? I regret the fact that 870 00:46:20,380 --> 00:46:23,200 We lost 13 of our finest at Abbey Gate . 871 00:46:25,840 --> 00:46:29,670 I regret that we Lost 872 00:46:29,670 --> 00:46:31,614 10 civilians in an errant strike . 873 00:46:35,580 --> 00:46:38,660 Having said that Brett , I want to make 874 00:46:38,660 --> 00:46:40,870 sure that we don't we don't lose sight 875 00:46:40,870 --> 00:46:44,410 of the fact that Our 876 00:46:44,420 --> 00:46:47,370 American forces in 17 days 877 00:46:48,700 --> 00:46:52,380 evacuated 124,000 people 878 00:46:54,080 --> 00:46:56,790 from Afghanistan 879 00:46:57,180 --> 00:47:01,180 124,000 and I 880 00:47:01,180 --> 00:47:03,440 think that we need to continue to 881 00:47:03,440 --> 00:47:05,662 remind the United States of America and 882 00:47:05,662 --> 00:47:07,884 we need to continue to remind the world 883 00:47:07,884 --> 00:47:09,884 about the great work that that they 884 00:47:09,884 --> 00:47:12,051 have done and that they continue to do 885 00:47:12,051 --> 00:47:14,230 on a daily basis . Have there been any 886 00:47:14,230 --> 00:47:16,280 over the horizon operations in 887 00:47:16,280 --> 00:47:18,447 Afghanistan since the U . S . Military 888 00:47:18,447 --> 00:47:18,420 left ? 889 00:47:22,080 --> 00:47:23,490 Okay . I tried 890 00:47:26,480 --> 00:47:28,750 all right quickly . Uh The global 891 00:47:28,750 --> 00:47:30,861 posture review just came out monday . 892 00:47:30,900 --> 00:47:34,390 It says did not suggest any troops 893 00:47:34,390 --> 00:47:36,668 would be coming home just repositioned . 894 00:47:36,780 --> 00:47:39,320 So no plans to pull us troops out of 895 00:47:39,320 --> 00:47:42,580 Iraq and Syria in coming months . Uh 896 00:47:42,590 --> 00:47:44,479 You know , I think you know again 897 00:47:44,479 --> 00:47:47,970 what's in the Gpr is where we are . You 898 00:47:47,970 --> 00:47:49,914 know , as you would expect any new 899 00:47:49,914 --> 00:47:51,692 administration will come in and 900 00:47:51,692 --> 00:47:53,692 baseline , take a look at where his 901 00:47:53,692 --> 00:47:55,803 forces are and baseline his footprint 902 00:47:55,803 --> 00:47:59,100 so that we can ensure that you know , 903 00:47:59,480 --> 00:48:02,170 we were able to support our our main 904 00:48:02,170 --> 00:48:04,226 effort which is as I've said so many 905 00:48:04,226 --> 00:48:07,430 times the indo pacific and that and 906 00:48:07,430 --> 00:48:10,300 that we maintain uh the ability to be 907 00:48:10,300 --> 00:48:13,230 agile . And I would remind remind you 908 00:48:13,230 --> 00:48:16,160 bread that we need to account for the 909 00:48:16,160 --> 00:48:18,160 capability that's not only on air , 910 00:48:18,160 --> 00:48:21,160 land and sea but also space and 911 00:48:21,160 --> 00:48:24,290 cyberspace . You know , those are I 912 00:48:24,290 --> 00:48:26,234 mean there's capability in each of 913 00:48:26,234 --> 00:48:28,640 those domains . Uh And our goal is to 914 00:48:28,640 --> 00:48:30,807 make sure that we're using all of that 915 00:48:30,807 --> 00:48:32,807 as we as we conduct operations . Is 916 00:48:32,807 --> 00:48:34,973 there a role for let's say the U . S . 917 00:48:34,973 --> 00:48:37,196 Army in ASia to counter china . Are you 918 00:48:37,196 --> 00:48:39,418 going to expand in Poland where there's 919 00:48:39,418 --> 00:48:41,529 been training going on ? There's some 920 00:48:41,529 --> 00:48:43,807 things that just didn't seem to pop up ? 921 00:48:43,807 --> 00:48:43,520 Yeah . Well , you know , we this is the 922 00:48:43,520 --> 00:48:46,370 thing that we again continue , continue 923 00:48:46,370 --> 00:48:49,300 to evaluate as as we go forward and if 924 00:48:49,300 --> 00:48:51,530 conditions changed and then we adjust . 925 00:48:51,680 --> 00:48:53,736 Okay . President Reagan talked about 926 00:48:53,736 --> 00:48:55,791 peace through strength . Is Congress 927 00:48:55,791 --> 00:48:57,736 and understanding there's a lot of 928 00:48:57,736 --> 00:48:59,791 lawmakers in this room . Is Congress 929 00:48:59,791 --> 00:49:02,240 funding the pentagon sufficiently to 930 00:49:02,240 --> 00:49:04,407 meet modern challenges ? I know you're 931 00:49:04,407 --> 00:49:07,500 not a fan of continuing resolutions . 932 00:49:09,440 --> 00:49:11,384 Well , I'm absolutely not a fan of 933 00:49:11,384 --> 00:49:14,590 continuing resolutions . And um the 934 00:49:14,590 --> 00:49:17,870 reason is Brett is it this allows us 935 00:49:17,880 --> 00:49:21,720 uh the ability to uh conduct new 936 00:49:21,720 --> 00:49:23,750 starts or to get some of the things 937 00:49:23,750 --> 00:49:25,639 going that you heard me mentioned 938 00:49:25,639 --> 00:49:28,690 earlier , you know , we we were in we 939 00:49:28,690 --> 00:49:30,912 want to invest in new technologies . We 940 00:49:30,912 --> 00:49:33,134 want to get get capabilities to our war 941 00:49:33,134 --> 00:49:35,960 fighters uh and and we want to do that 942 00:49:35,970 --> 00:49:38,600 as soon as we can . So in terms of , 943 00:49:38,610 --> 00:49:41,160 you know , building ships and and uh 944 00:49:41,170 --> 00:49:43,820 and creating capabilities , you really 945 00:49:43,820 --> 00:49:45,880 your hands are tied under under a 946 00:49:45,880 --> 00:49:49,030 continuing resolution . You know , new 947 00:49:49,030 --> 00:49:52,490 stuff . Also as you remember , 948 00:49:52,490 --> 00:49:56,220 we our troops are 949 00:49:56,230 --> 00:49:59,620 due a well deserved pay raise and 950 00:49:59,620 --> 00:50:03,070 without that without that new 951 00:50:03,070 --> 00:50:05,570 budget then that pay raise will have to 952 00:50:05,570 --> 00:50:07,459 account for that pay raise in our 953 00:50:07,459 --> 00:50:09,681 current budget that puts pressure on on 954 00:50:09,681 --> 00:50:12,840 other things and so you know it's my 955 00:50:12,850 --> 00:50:15,220 hope that we'll get uh you know we'll 956 00:50:15,220 --> 00:50:17,640 get an N . D . A . Past as soon as 957 00:50:17,640 --> 00:50:19,862 possible . So far , several courts have 958 00:50:19,862 --> 00:50:21,751 struck down the President's Covid 959 00:50:21,751 --> 00:50:24,250 vaccine mandate . You are now in a 960 00:50:24,250 --> 00:50:26,361 legal challenge and showdown with the 961 00:50:26,361 --> 00:50:28,306 Oklahoma governor and its National 962 00:50:28,306 --> 00:50:31,270 Guard about vaccine mandates only about 963 00:50:31,270 --> 00:50:33,214 40% of Oklahoma National Guard are 964 00:50:33,214 --> 00:50:35,326 vaccinated right now . So what do you 965 00:50:35,326 --> 00:50:37,659 plan to do if they don't get vaccinated ? 966 00:50:37,659 --> 00:50:39,720 Are you going to dock their pay Well 967 00:50:39,720 --> 00:50:41,664 bret let's uh let's start from the 968 00:50:41,664 --> 00:50:43,776 premise that and I truly believe this 969 00:50:43,776 --> 00:50:45,998 that the vast majority of them will get 970 00:50:45,998 --> 00:50:48,680 vaccinated . Um if you take a look at 971 00:50:48,680 --> 00:50:51,370 our active duty forces , you know over 972 00:50:51,370 --> 00:50:54,180 96% of them are currently vaccinated . 973 00:50:54,560 --> 00:50:56,671 Uh There was huge speculation that we 974 00:50:56,671 --> 00:50:58,893 would we could ever get to that level . 975 00:50:58,893 --> 00:51:01,570 But but uh we're you know we we've made 976 00:51:01,570 --> 00:51:03,792 tremendous progress . So the people who 977 00:51:03,792 --> 00:51:06,380 say why doesn't natural immunity count , 978 00:51:08,150 --> 00:51:10,610 we'll invite the scientists and doctors 979 00:51:10,610 --> 00:51:12,777 in the room to speak to that . But but 980 00:51:12,777 --> 00:51:14,721 again the facts are as far as your 981 00:51:14,721 --> 00:51:16,777 policy goes , you're gonna stay with 982 00:51:16,777 --> 00:51:18,888 what you have and this is a readiness 983 00:51:18,888 --> 00:51:20,810 issue uh for us Brett you know a 984 00:51:20,810 --> 00:51:23,210 vaccinated force is a more ready force 985 00:51:23,670 --> 00:51:25,690 uh and you know our troops have to 986 00:51:25,690 --> 00:51:28,380 deploy all over the world and place 987 00:51:28,380 --> 00:51:30,491 themselves in all kinds of conditions 988 00:51:30,491 --> 00:51:32,660 at a moment's notice . So in order to 989 00:51:32,660 --> 00:51:34,827 keep this force healthy , I think it's 990 00:51:34,827 --> 00:51:36,882 important that we get vaccinated and 991 00:51:36,882 --> 00:51:38,938 any comment about florida wanting to 992 00:51:38,938 --> 00:51:41,216 develop their own civil national guard . 993 00:51:41,216 --> 00:51:43,440 Absolutely no comment . Okay . Uh last 994 00:51:43,440 --> 00:51:45,607 thing the survey from the Reagan Forum 995 00:51:45,607 --> 00:51:47,830 found less than half the country has 996 00:51:47,830 --> 00:51:49,980 high confidence in the military right 997 00:51:49,980 --> 00:51:53,570 now down from 70% just a few years ago . 998 00:51:53,620 --> 00:51:57,540 Why do you think that is ? Well , 999 00:51:57,550 --> 00:52:00,590 certainly bret the trends in this 1000 00:52:00,590 --> 00:52:02,780 survey are not trends that we would 1001 00:52:02,780 --> 00:52:06,220 want to see . I would say that and I 1002 00:52:06,220 --> 00:52:09,640 know I speak for all of all of my D . O . 1003 00:52:09,640 --> 00:52:11,950 D . Colleagues in this room today and 1004 00:52:11,950 --> 00:52:14,650 all over the military . That this is 1005 00:52:14,650 --> 00:52:17,580 very important to us , especially since 1006 00:52:17,580 --> 00:52:19,970 we have an all volunteer force . It's 1007 00:52:19,970 --> 00:52:22,660 important for us to to maintain the 1008 00:52:22,660 --> 00:52:24,716 trust and confidence of the american 1009 00:52:24,716 --> 00:52:28,560 people . I'll take a hard look 1010 00:52:28,560 --> 00:52:31,370 at at , you know , the 1011 00:52:31,850 --> 00:52:35,110 potential causes behind these numbers 1012 00:52:35,110 --> 00:52:37,277 are we know what the numbers reflect . 1013 00:52:37,550 --> 00:52:39,383 Uh and we'll take a hard look at 1014 00:52:39,383 --> 00:52:42,530 ourselves uh to see what we should 1015 00:52:42,530 --> 00:52:44,840 continue to do to build trust and 1016 00:52:44,840 --> 00:52:47,060 confidence with the american people . 1017 00:52:48,350 --> 00:52:50,461 But you know Brett , if you could see 1018 00:52:50,461 --> 00:52:52,628 what I see and I know you have because 1019 00:52:52,628 --> 00:52:55,820 you spent a lot of time downrange uh if 1020 00:52:55,830 --> 00:52:58,240 if the american average american could 1021 00:52:58,240 --> 00:53:00,462 see what I see on a daily basis as I go 1022 00:53:00,462 --> 00:53:04,150 out and visit our troops and and listen 1023 00:53:04,150 --> 00:53:06,261 to them talk about what they're doing 1024 00:53:06,261 --> 00:53:09,290 and watch them and at work . There's no 1025 00:53:09,290 --> 00:53:12,770 question that that you know our 1026 00:53:12,770 --> 00:53:14,881 american people would have confidence 1027 00:53:14,881 --> 00:53:18,280 in our military . Um I think we need to 1028 00:53:18,280 --> 00:53:20,391 do about a better job of telling that 1029 00:53:20,391 --> 00:53:22,320 story telling the story of these 1030 00:53:22,320 --> 00:53:24,320 wonderful troops and their families 1031 00:53:24,320 --> 00:53:26,320 that have sacrificed so much in the 1032 00:53:26,320 --> 00:53:28,320 past and contained a sacrifice on a 1033 00:53:28,320 --> 00:53:30,550 daily basis . We need to remind you 1034 00:53:30,550 --> 00:53:33,760 know America about what they're doing 1035 00:53:33,760 --> 00:53:35,816 and the sacrifices they are making . 1036 00:53:35,816 --> 00:53:39,000 And I think you know that's something 1037 00:53:39,000 --> 00:53:41,167 we're gonna work on . I ended each one 1038 00:53:41,167 --> 00:53:43,056 of these interviews with the same 1039 00:53:43,056 --> 00:53:45,278 question . What keeps you up at night ? 1040 00:53:46,650 --> 00:53:49,960 Well you know I we're 1041 00:53:49,960 --> 00:53:52,990 developing additional capabilities and 1042 00:53:52,990 --> 00:53:56,170 places like space and cyberspace . 1043 00:53:57,250 --> 00:54:01,110 Um Sometimes the 1044 00:54:01,110 --> 00:54:05,060 next serious challenge can come from 1045 00:54:05,290 --> 00:54:07,500 a place that you didn't expect . And 1046 00:54:07,500 --> 00:54:10,410 you've heard uh some people speculate 1047 00:54:10,410 --> 00:54:12,632 that the next conflict will actually be 1048 00:54:12,632 --> 00:54:16,450 started by a cyber activity and so 1049 00:54:16,950 --> 00:54:19,720 I want to make sure that we have uh 1050 00:54:19,730 --> 00:54:21,920 sufficient capabilities and cyber and 1051 00:54:21,920 --> 00:54:25,690 space uh to complement the rest of the 1052 00:54:25,700 --> 00:54:27,867 rest of the inventory and to be and to 1053 00:54:27,867 --> 00:54:29,830 make sure that we can react to any 1054 00:54:29,830 --> 00:54:31,830 challenge and and prevent conflicts 1055 00:54:31,830 --> 00:54:33,941 from occurring . Mr . Secretary thank 1056 00:54:33,941 --> 00:54:35,941 you for your time and thank you for 1057 00:54:35,941 --> 00:54:37,997 your service to the country . Thanks 1058 00:54:37,997 --> 00:54:40,640 Brett I appreciate it . Thanks . 1059 00:54:42,040 --> 00:54:43,260 Please enjoy your lunch