1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:05,929 Okay , good afternoon everybody . 3 00:00:09,540 --> 00:00:12,790 Just a couple of things to start off 4 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:13,690 with here 5 00:00:17,240 --> 00:00:19,351 on behalf of the entire Department of 6 00:00:19,351 --> 00:00:22,320 Defense . The Secretary extends our 7 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,653 deepest condolences to the robot family , 8 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:26,920 the indian military and the people of 9 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,330 India After the tragic death of India's 10 00:00:30,330 --> 00:00:33,330 Chief of Defense Staff General , we're 11 00:00:34,270 --> 00:00:38,080 in a helicopter crash , he left an 12 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:40,550 indelible mark on the course of the US 13 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:42,640 India defense partnership and was at 14 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:45,380 the center of the Indian Armed forces 15 00:00:45,380 --> 00:00:47,324 transformation into a more jointly 16 00:00:47,324 --> 00:00:49,590 integrated warfighting organization . 17 00:00:50,540 --> 00:00:53,130 Secretary had the privilege of meeting 18 00:00:53,130 --> 00:00:55,880 with him earlier this year and I really 19 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:57,936 came to view him as a valued partner 20 00:00:57,936 --> 00:01:00,047 and a friend of the United States and 21 00:01:00,047 --> 00:01:02,158 our thoughts and prayers are with the 22 00:01:02,158 --> 00:01:05,580 entire family as they lost other family 23 00:01:05,580 --> 00:01:07,840 members in this crash . And of course 24 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:10,410 the families of all victims of this 25 00:01:10,420 --> 00:01:12,531 terrible , terrible incident where we 26 00:01:12,531 --> 00:01:15,350 are deeply saddened by the loss . On a 27 00:01:15,350 --> 00:01:19,080 schedule note , the Secretary will meet 28 00:01:19,090 --> 00:01:21,470 tomorrow with Israeli , Defense 29 00:01:21,470 --> 00:01:24,520 Minister Benny Gantz here at the 30 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,600 pentagon . Um as you can imagine , they 31 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,380 plan to discuss uh the United States 32 00:01:30,380 --> 00:01:32,380 commitment to Israel's security and 33 00:01:32,380 --> 00:01:34,213 shared concerns regarding Iran's 34 00:01:34,213 --> 00:01:36,810 nuclear provocations and destabilizing 35 00:01:36,810 --> 00:01:39,120 actions in the region . Well , of 36 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:41,120 course issue a readout of the visit 37 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,398 after the fact and I think as you know , 38 00:01:43,398 --> 00:01:45,287 just as in the past , there'll be 39 00:01:45,287 --> 00:01:47,342 there'll be open press access to the 40 00:01:47,342 --> 00:01:49,570 arrival and to the very top of the of 41 00:01:49,570 --> 00:01:53,240 the meeting . Um also I think as you 42 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:56,570 may have seen or President biden signed 43 00:01:56,570 --> 00:01:59,080 an executive order today entitled 44 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:00,969 catalyzing America's clean energy 45 00:02:00,969 --> 00:02:03,247 economy through federal sustainability . 46 00:02:03,540 --> 00:02:06,450 that demonstrates how the United States 47 00:02:06,450 --> 00:02:08,617 will lead by example , in tackling the 48 00:02:08,617 --> 00:02:10,610 climate crisis and work is already 49 00:02:10,620 --> 00:02:12,509 underway across the Department of 50 00:02:12,509 --> 00:02:14,290 Defense to leverage scale and 51 00:02:14,290 --> 00:02:16,234 procurement power to drive clean , 52 00:02:16,234 --> 00:02:18,530 healthy and resilient operations . This 53 00:02:18,530 --> 00:02:20,920 executive order and its accompanying 54 00:02:20,930 --> 00:02:23,420 federal sustainability plan offer a 55 00:02:23,420 --> 00:02:25,364 clear statement of the President's 56 00:02:25,364 --> 00:02:27,364 priority to address the existential 57 00:02:27,364 --> 00:02:29,364 crisis of climate change . And as I 58 00:02:29,364 --> 00:02:31,198 think you all know , deal is the 59 00:02:31,198 --> 00:02:33,309 largest greenhouse gas emitter in the 60 00:02:33,309 --> 00:02:35,198 federal government . And so we're 61 00:02:35,198 --> 00:02:37,420 committed to be to to do our part , our 62 00:02:37,420 --> 00:02:39,642 climate objectives , which we have laid 63 00:02:39,642 --> 00:02:41,610 down our climate strategy are well 64 00:02:41,610 --> 00:02:43,610 aligned with our mission goals . In 65 00:02:43,610 --> 00:02:46,460 fact , um they are mutually reinforcing , 66 00:02:46,940 --> 00:02:49,740 integrating clean energy , can help 67 00:02:49,750 --> 00:02:51,917 answer our resilience to all threats , 68 00:02:51,917 --> 00:02:54,250 including the effects of climate change . 69 00:02:54,250 --> 00:02:56,250 They can help reduce greenhouse gas 70 00:02:56,250 --> 00:02:58,361 emissions and help us compete for the 71 00:02:58,361 --> 00:03:00,528 energy technologies that are essential 72 00:03:00,528 --> 00:03:02,639 to to our future success . So you can 73 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:04,861 read the federal sustainability plan on 74 00:03:04,861 --> 00:03:07,028 sustainability dot gov . And there's a 75 00:03:07,028 --> 00:03:09,028 fact sheet on White House dot gov , 76 00:03:09,028 --> 00:03:11,083 where you'll find some highlights of 77 00:03:11,083 --> 00:03:13,306 the department's ongoing activities and 78 00:03:13,306 --> 00:03:15,670 with that we'll go to questions bob a 79 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:17,920 couple of quick questions on Ukraine 80 00:03:18,020 --> 00:03:20,210 has Secretary Austin begun consulting 81 00:03:20,210 --> 00:03:23,930 with his NATO counterparts about the 82 00:03:23,940 --> 00:03:26,480 possibility of reinforcing the eastern 83 00:03:26,490 --> 00:03:28,490 flag beyond what was already in the 84 00:03:28,490 --> 00:03:31,950 works . No , there have been no um 85 00:03:32,340 --> 00:03:35,290 additional consultations about that 86 00:03:35,300 --> 00:03:38,510 specific potential outcome bob weapons 87 00:03:38,510 --> 00:03:41,540 sales to Ukraine . Uh you mean security 88 00:03:41,540 --> 00:03:43,980 assistance to Ukraine . Uh there's uh 89 00:03:43,990 --> 00:03:45,790 we have no new announcements or 90 00:03:45,790 --> 00:03:48,340 decisions to make with respect to any 91 00:03:48,340 --> 00:03:50,690 additional security assist with the 92 00:03:50,690 --> 00:03:53,890 Ukraine . I think uh you know we did 93 00:03:53,890 --> 00:03:55,946 approve , President biden approved a 94 00:03:55,946 --> 00:03:58,279 $60 million security assistance package . 95 00:03:58,279 --> 00:04:00,223 The final elements of that will be 96 00:04:00,223 --> 00:04:03,560 arriving in this week . Those are 97 00:04:03,570 --> 00:04:07,090 small arms and ammunition is the latest 98 00:04:07,540 --> 00:04:11,180 um the latest units that will be uh 99 00:04:11,190 --> 00:04:13,860 transferred to Ukraine's Defense Forces . 100 00:04:14,850 --> 00:04:16,850 This week's question , if you don't 101 00:04:16,850 --> 00:04:18,628 mind , is on the sexual assault 102 00:04:18,628 --> 00:04:20,628 prevention and the military justice 103 00:04:20,628 --> 00:04:22,683 reform legislation . Can you say how 104 00:04:22,683 --> 00:04:24,900 far the Defense Department has gotten 105 00:04:24,900 --> 00:04:27,800 this year in implementing the changes 106 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,060 that it has talked about in that regard . 107 00:04:32,090 --> 00:04:34,257 In other words fired the legislation . 108 00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:37,007 Well , I mean you're not talking about 109 00:04:37,007 --> 00:04:39,229 just you see MJ reform . I I tell you , 110 00:04:39,229 --> 00:04:41,780 we we have uh I mean the biggest , the 111 00:04:41,780 --> 00:04:44,530 biggest thing we did this year was you 112 00:04:44,530 --> 00:04:46,960 know , get the independent Review 113 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,100 commission , stood up , get their 114 00:04:49,100 --> 00:04:52,340 findings and recommendations all 115 00:04:52,340 --> 00:04:54,550 tabulated . And then you saw that 116 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:56,393 Deputy secretary hicks issued an 117 00:04:56,393 --> 00:05:00,080 implementation roadmap to to give us a 118 00:05:00,090 --> 00:05:02,480 process by which we could start to 119 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:04,591 implement all those recommendations . 120 00:05:04,780 --> 00:05:08,680 And you see MJ reform and the 121 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:10,347 legislative proposal that the 122 00:05:10,347 --> 00:05:14,210 department uh was uh 123 00:05:14,220 --> 00:05:17,310 was fostering was one such 124 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:20,470 accomplishment . We um we are working 125 00:05:20,470 --> 00:05:23,010 hard to develop a dedicated workforce 126 00:05:23,020 --> 00:05:26,080 on for uh sexual assault , sexual 127 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:28,900 harassment counselors and advisors 128 00:05:28,950 --> 00:05:31,150 that's gonna take some time but the 129 00:05:31,150 --> 00:05:33,380 initial work of that is ongoing . We 130 00:05:33,380 --> 00:05:36,700 are looking hard at victim support and 131 00:05:36,700 --> 00:05:38,700 prevention techniques and trying to 132 00:05:38,700 --> 00:05:40,867 capture lessons learned throughout the 133 00:05:40,867 --> 00:05:43,310 force . Um , and uh , we are , as I 134 00:05:43,310 --> 00:05:45,890 think we've talked about , we are um 135 00:05:45,900 --> 00:05:48,060 taking a hard look at installation by 136 00:05:48,060 --> 00:05:50,430 installation . We're already doing that 137 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:52,720 to look at what the unique challenges 138 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,380 are in installations , both at home and 139 00:05:55,380 --> 00:05:58,040 abroad . Because some um , are just 140 00:05:58,040 --> 00:05:59,929 better equipped to deal with this 141 00:05:59,929 --> 00:06:02,151 challenge than than others . Some of it 142 00:06:02,151 --> 00:06:04,207 is just based on geography and where 143 00:06:04,207 --> 00:06:06,373 they are and how much support they can 144 00:06:06,373 --> 00:06:08,484 get or how much resources they have . 145 00:06:08,484 --> 00:06:10,540 This . So there's been a lot of work 146 00:06:10,540 --> 00:06:12,596 and it will be ongoing . This is not 147 00:06:12,596 --> 00:06:12,260 something we're gonna take our foot off . 148 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,830 Yeah , Yeah . Thanks . Thanks john . 149 00:06:16,130 --> 00:06:19,130 Following up his question on Ukraine , 150 00:06:19,540 --> 00:06:21,762 there's there's been this phrase thrown 151 00:06:21,762 --> 00:06:23,929 around the administration officials as 152 00:06:23,929 --> 00:06:25,818 well as D O D officials called uh 153 00:06:25,818 --> 00:06:28,710 further invade Ukraine . This idea of 154 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,460 if Putin were to further ingrained 155 00:06:31,470 --> 00:06:34,030 Ukraine that would trigger some some 156 00:06:34,030 --> 00:06:35,950 results . I wonder from a D O D 157 00:06:35,950 --> 00:06:37,910 perspective , does further invade 158 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,120 Ukraine . I mean , putting Russian 159 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:43,460 troops in Donetsk and Luhansk I think 160 00:06:43,460 --> 00:06:47,410 it means additional incursions 161 00:06:47,420 --> 00:06:49,930 into Ukraine violating their 162 00:06:49,930 --> 00:06:51,708 territorial integrity and their 163 00:06:51,708 --> 00:06:54,320 sovereignty with additional units 164 00:06:54,330 --> 00:06:57,580 inside Ukraine inside the borders of 165 00:06:57,580 --> 00:07:00,540 Ukraine . Ukraine from us perspective 166 00:07:00,770 --> 00:07:03,103 and Donetsk and Luhansk part of Ukraine . 167 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:07,210 Thank you . Yeah , thank you . Thank 168 00:07:07,210 --> 00:07:09,266 you , john . So on , on the , on the 169 00:07:09,266 --> 00:07:11,210 meeting tomorrow with the Minister 170 00:07:11,210 --> 00:07:14,580 against Does the Secretary share with 171 00:07:14,590 --> 00:07:17,170 his Israeli counterpart , the same 172 00:07:17,170 --> 00:07:20,650 conviction that there needs to be room 173 00:07:20,650 --> 00:07:23,050 for diplomacy with Iran . And that 174 00:07:23,050 --> 00:07:25,960 diplomacy for now is the best way to 175 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,580 deal with its nuclear program . Does 176 00:07:29,590 --> 00:07:32,820 the Minister Gantz share this ? I 177 00:07:32,830 --> 00:07:35,450 cannot cannot speak for Minister Gantz 178 00:07:35,450 --> 00:07:37,561 body . I think you can understand , I 179 00:07:37,561 --> 00:07:39,617 wouldn't uh I wouldn't do that . I'm 180 00:07:39,617 --> 00:07:41,783 not even always very eloquent speaking 181 00:07:41,783 --> 00:07:44,006 for this defense secretary . So I don't 182 00:07:44,006 --> 00:07:46,228 want to get in the habit of talking for 183 00:07:46,228 --> 00:07:50,060 another leader . But um and there's 184 00:07:50,060 --> 00:07:52,171 always a but on something like that , 185 00:07:52,171 --> 00:07:55,110 uh the way you phrased it perfectly 186 00:07:55,110 --> 00:07:58,350 captures where Secretary Austin is that 187 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:01,320 as he said , no problem in the Middle 188 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:03,487 East is easier to solve with a nuclear 189 00:08:03,487 --> 00:08:05,431 armed Iran . He fully supports the 190 00:08:05,431 --> 00:08:07,653 diplomatic effort and outreach that the 191 00:08:07,653 --> 00:08:09,876 administration is pursuing in Geneva to 192 00:08:09,876 --> 00:08:12,280 try to get back into uh the 193 00:08:12,290 --> 00:08:14,179 comprehensive plan of action . He 194 00:08:14,179 --> 00:08:15,901 believes that diplomacy should 195 00:08:15,901 --> 00:08:18,500 absolutely be in the lead . So , will 196 00:08:18,500 --> 00:08:21,450 the Secretary be making that message 197 00:08:21,450 --> 00:08:23,672 clear again in in the meeting with with 198 00:08:23,672 --> 00:08:26,550 Mr Gantz or only discuss the concerns 199 00:08:26,550 --> 00:08:28,980 that both leaders share about about 200 00:08:28,980 --> 00:08:30,702 Iran ? Well , look , Iran will 201 00:08:30,702 --> 00:08:32,940 absolutely be on the agenda tomorrow . 202 00:08:32,940 --> 00:08:35,210 And uh and as I said , we'll do a read 203 00:08:35,210 --> 00:08:37,154 out of that . So , I don't want to 204 00:08:37,154 --> 00:08:38,710 preview or get ahead of the 205 00:08:38,710 --> 00:08:40,932 conversation that hasn't happened yet . 206 00:08:40,932 --> 00:08:44,040 But whenever Minister Gantz and 207 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:46,373 Secretary Austin have a chance to speak , 208 00:08:46,373 --> 00:08:48,484 Iran is right there at the top of the 209 00:08:48,484 --> 00:08:50,707 list of things that they talk about and 210 00:08:50,707 --> 00:08:52,484 the secretary has been and will 211 00:08:52,484 --> 00:08:54,373 continue to be clear publicly and 212 00:08:54,373 --> 00:08:56,750 privately about how he sees 213 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:01,760 the the most appropriate path to pursue . 214 00:09:02,890 --> 00:09:04,946 And Iran that doesn't have a nuclear 215 00:09:04,946 --> 00:09:08,830 weapon . But as you also know , his 216 00:09:08,830 --> 00:09:10,997 job is to defend this nation . His job 217 00:09:10,997 --> 00:09:13,163 is to look after our national security 218 00:09:13,163 --> 00:09:15,219 interest in that part of the world , 219 00:09:15,219 --> 00:09:17,163 every part of the world . And that 220 00:09:17,163 --> 00:09:19,108 means making sure that we have the 221 00:09:19,108 --> 00:09:21,330 right resources capabilities uh , in in 222 00:09:21,330 --> 00:09:23,663 the region , specifically in the region , 223 00:09:23,663 --> 00:09:25,774 uh to protect those national security 224 00:09:25,774 --> 00:09:27,719 interests . And so he's he's gonna 225 00:09:27,719 --> 00:09:29,941 remain laser focused on that . Um , and 226 00:09:29,941 --> 00:09:32,108 a key piece of that body is also too . 227 00:09:32,108 --> 00:09:35,170 And that's what he's been over there is 228 00:09:35,170 --> 00:09:37,940 to make sure that um , that will help 229 00:09:37,940 --> 00:09:40,051 contribute to the capabilities of our 230 00:09:40,051 --> 00:09:43,330 allies and partners uh and our defense 231 00:09:43,330 --> 00:09:46,200 partnership with Israel is ironclad . 232 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,410 We are still committed their 233 00:09:48,420 --> 00:09:50,960 qualitative military edge . So , I mean , 234 00:09:50,970 --> 00:09:53,100 all of that will also be part of 235 00:09:53,100 --> 00:09:55,990 discussion , I'm quite sure . Yeah , in 236 00:09:55,990 --> 00:09:58,210 the back there . Thanks Caitlin versus 237 00:09:58,210 --> 00:10:00,570 CBN news . So with no religious 238 00:10:00,570 --> 00:10:03,100 exemptions granted so far for the covid 239 00:10:03,100 --> 00:10:05,380 vaccine , there's concern that members 240 00:10:05,380 --> 00:10:07,491 of the military have been stripped of 241 00:10:07,491 --> 00:10:09,491 their religious liberties . Can you 242 00:10:09,491 --> 00:10:11,713 just speak to that ? I know you have in 243 00:10:11,713 --> 00:10:13,824 the past and to why that exemption is 244 00:10:13,824 --> 00:10:16,850 so rarely granted . Yeah . Um , 245 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:19,951 you're right . There haven't been any 246 00:10:19,951 --> 00:10:21,951 religious exemptions granted by the 247 00:10:21,951 --> 00:10:24,118 services I would ask you to , to speak 248 00:10:24,118 --> 00:10:26,229 to the services about their exemption 249 00:10:26,229 --> 00:10:25,840 policies . That's not something that's 250 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:28,480 centrally managed at , uh , at the 251 00:10:28,490 --> 00:10:31,850 secretary's level . Um , they are 252 00:10:31,860 --> 00:10:35,620 always rare . Religious exemptions for 253 00:10:35,620 --> 00:10:37,480 medical mil military medical 254 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:39,536 requirements are are just , they are 255 00:10:39,536 --> 00:10:41,591 typically historically very rare . I 256 00:10:41,591 --> 00:10:43,536 can't speak to each and every case 257 00:10:43,536 --> 00:10:46,660 again pointed to the services . Um , 258 00:10:46,670 --> 00:10:49,090 but this has absolutely nothing to do 259 00:10:49,090 --> 00:10:51,580 with , uh , with trampling on the 260 00:10:51,580 --> 00:10:53,590 religious liberties of our men and 261 00:10:53,590 --> 00:10:55,757 women in uniform . I mean , one of the 262 00:10:55,757 --> 00:10:57,868 things that when you sign up to serve 263 00:10:57,868 --> 00:10:59,757 in the military , one of the many 264 00:10:59,757 --> 00:11:01,701 things that you , you signed up to 265 00:11:01,701 --> 00:11:03,646 defend is , is , uh , the right to 266 00:11:03,646 --> 00:11:05,757 worship the to be or not to worship . 267 00:11:05,757 --> 00:11:08,040 Um , and we obviously respect that 268 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:10,024 inside the ranks of the military . 269 00:11:10,024 --> 00:11:11,913 That's why the services each have 270 00:11:11,913 --> 00:11:14,024 Chaplin cores that , you know , cores 271 00:11:14,024 --> 00:11:16,080 of people dedicated to looking after 272 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,080 the spiritual needs of , of men and 273 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:20,358 women in uniform as well with families . 274 00:11:20,358 --> 00:11:22,469 So this is not about , it's not about 275 00:11:22,469 --> 00:11:26,320 liberties . Um , it's about a military 276 00:11:26,330 --> 00:11:29,580 medical requirement to keep them safe , 277 00:11:29,590 --> 00:11:31,590 to keep their family safe , to keep 278 00:11:31,590 --> 00:11:33,368 their units safe . Um , and the 279 00:11:33,368 --> 00:11:35,910 secretary uh , continues to strongly 280 00:11:35,910 --> 00:11:37,910 believe that these vaccines , these 281 00:11:37,910 --> 00:11:40,860 vaccines are the best way to do it with 282 00:11:40,860 --> 00:11:43,890 respect was with respect to covid . And 283 00:11:44,140 --> 00:11:46,196 just because none have been approved 284 00:11:46,196 --> 00:11:48,307 doesn't mean that they can't still be 285 00:11:48,307 --> 00:11:50,730 applied for as we've said in the past . 286 00:11:50,730 --> 00:11:52,952 And not not everybody . Look , there'll 287 00:11:52,952 --> 00:11:55,063 be some medical exemptions and people 288 00:11:55,063 --> 00:11:57,174 that whose doctors won't , you know , 289 00:11:57,174 --> 00:11:56,830 don't want them to get the vaccine . We 290 00:11:56,830 --> 00:11:59,100 understand that . And for those who , 291 00:11:59,110 --> 00:12:03,050 who I strongly feel like like their 292 00:12:03,050 --> 00:12:05,140 case merits a religious exemption . 293 00:12:05,190 --> 00:12:07,412 They are absolutely entitled to ask for 294 00:12:07,412 --> 00:12:10,440 that . Yes , ma'am , Liz frieden with 295 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:13,050 Fox News with the N . D . A . D . A N . 296 00:12:13,050 --> 00:12:15,360 D . A at the House passed last night . 297 00:12:15,740 --> 00:12:18,830 Um , is there anything not included in 298 00:12:18,830 --> 00:12:20,997 that you wish would have been included 299 00:12:20,997 --> 00:12:22,830 in it ? And as far as the Senate 300 00:12:22,830 --> 00:12:25,800 passage goes , are you hopeful that 301 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:29,300 they're gonna pass it in time ? So I'm 302 00:12:29,310 --> 00:12:31,254 because it's still working its way 303 00:12:31,254 --> 00:12:33,366 through legislatively . I'm I'm going 304 00:12:33,366 --> 00:12:36,490 to refrain from providing a detailed 305 00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:38,870 comment on what's in it and what's not . 306 00:12:38,870 --> 00:12:41,092 And as you rightly pointed out , it has 307 00:12:41,092 --> 00:12:42,926 to now go to the Senate and then 308 00:12:42,926 --> 00:12:45,730 ultimately to the White House . Um , um , 309 00:12:45,830 --> 00:12:47,886 I'm sorry . And your second question 310 00:12:47,886 --> 00:12:49,941 was is there anything that this year 311 00:12:49,941 --> 00:12:52,163 makes it different than in years past ? 312 00:12:52,163 --> 00:12:54,330 Well , I mean , the big , I mean , the 313 00:12:54,330 --> 00:12:56,770 big muscle movement is the sexual 314 00:12:56,770 --> 00:12:58,937 assault sexual harassment provisions . 315 00:12:58,937 --> 00:13:01,010 I mean , that's a historic , um , 316 00:13:01,410 --> 00:13:03,530 that's an historic initiative here 317 00:13:03,540 --> 00:13:06,000 removing those crimes and related 318 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:07,833 crimes , the prosecution of them 319 00:13:07,833 --> 00:13:10,000 outside the chain of command . There's 320 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,222 lots of puts and takes again , I really 321 00:13:12,222 --> 00:13:14,444 would rather not deliberate over all of 322 00:13:14,444 --> 00:13:16,500 them while it still has to go to the 323 00:13:16,500 --> 00:13:18,990 Senate . Um , we stand by the budget 324 00:13:18,990 --> 00:13:21,330 that we submitted under President 325 00:13:21,330 --> 00:13:23,860 biden's total budget uh , back in the 326 00:13:23,860 --> 00:13:26,440 spring standby . Every article in there 327 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:28,620 and everything that we that we felt we 328 00:13:28,620 --> 00:13:30,731 needed . So I would point you back to 329 00:13:30,731 --> 00:13:32,898 our budget testimony in terms of where 330 00:13:32,898 --> 00:13:35,231 we are on on all these various programs . 331 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:37,296 I remember now , I think your second 332 00:13:37,296 --> 00:13:39,340 question was about how fast we want 333 00:13:39,340 --> 00:13:43,010 this . Obviously we we'd like an 334 00:13:43,020 --> 00:13:44,909 appropriated budget as quickly as 335 00:13:44,909 --> 00:13:46,742 possible . You saw the Secretary 336 00:13:46,742 --> 00:13:49,060 commented on monday about continuing 337 00:13:49,060 --> 00:13:51,290 resolutions . Now that was about the 338 00:13:51,300 --> 00:13:53,380 prospect of a year long . I mean , 339 00:13:53,380 --> 00:13:55,600 we've got a cr now that gets us into 340 00:13:55,610 --> 00:13:57,777 february , but a Cr is very limiting . 341 00:13:57,777 --> 00:13:59,610 It doesn't allow us to start new 342 00:13:59,610 --> 00:14:01,721 programs , um , and it ties our hands 343 00:14:01,721 --> 00:14:04,530 in other areas . So , um , so we would 344 00:14:04,530 --> 00:14:07,770 obviously like to see the budget . Nd a 345 00:14:07,770 --> 00:14:09,826 past as soon as possible . Thank you 346 00:14:09,826 --> 00:14:11,992 very much . And I have a question on a 347 00:14:11,992 --> 00:14:14,103 completely different topic . Um , the 348 00:14:14,103 --> 00:14:16,570 fuel leakage , Redhill and Honolulu uh , 349 00:14:16,580 --> 00:14:18,691 I was told the Navy's gonna put out a 350 00:14:18,691 --> 00:14:21,100 statement today on it . Um , but do you 351 00:14:21,100 --> 00:14:23,267 know anything about what their plan is 352 00:14:23,267 --> 00:14:25,211 moving forward and and how does it 353 00:14:25,211 --> 00:14:27,560 affect the fleets in the pacific what's 354 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:31,550 the , what's the impact ? Yeah . So let 355 00:14:31,550 --> 00:14:34,230 me first say that the Secretary is 356 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:37,300 obviously aware of this issue and he's 357 00:14:37,300 --> 00:14:39,710 following it closely and nothing is 358 00:14:39,710 --> 00:14:41,488 more important to him or to the 359 00:14:41,488 --> 00:14:43,654 department . And I know the Navy feels 360 00:14:43,654 --> 00:14:45,710 this way as well than the health and 361 00:14:45,710 --> 00:14:47,488 welfare of our people and their 362 00:14:47,488 --> 00:14:49,600 families . Um and obviously we're all 363 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:52,580 deeply concerned by the prospect that 364 00:14:52,590 --> 00:14:55,190 contaminated water would have found its 365 00:14:55,190 --> 00:14:58,550 way into on based residences um and 366 00:14:58,550 --> 00:15:02,050 into the daily lives and diets of our 367 00:15:02,050 --> 00:15:04,870 people . So it's of significant concern 368 00:15:04,870 --> 00:15:06,981 to the secretary . Now . He's been in 369 00:15:06,981 --> 00:15:09,148 touch with the Secretary of the Navy . 370 00:15:09,148 --> 00:15:11,370 As you know , the Secretary of the Navy 371 00:15:11,370 --> 00:15:11,000 and the Chief of Naval Operations were 372 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:14,470 out in Hawaii just a couple of days ago 373 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:17,220 doing town halls talking to experts 374 00:15:17,230 --> 00:15:19,397 trying to get their arms around this . 375 00:15:19,397 --> 00:15:21,452 I certainly won't get ahead of their 376 00:15:21,452 --> 00:15:23,674 investigative efforts or what decisions 377 00:15:23,674 --> 00:15:26,280 they might make . Um uh , so I'll point 378 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:28,510 you to the Navy for if in fact they're 379 00:15:28,510 --> 00:15:30,732 going to have some sort of announcement 380 00:15:30,732 --> 00:15:32,843 or something to speak to today . Um , 381 00:15:32,843 --> 00:15:35,010 but it is something that the secretary 382 00:15:35,010 --> 00:15:37,240 is very closely monitoring and very 383 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:39,750 much in touch with Navy leaders on Yeah 384 00:15:40,140 --> 00:15:43,830 jenny , thank you . The commander of 385 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:47,430 the US Army in Japan General Bowie 386 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:51,030 said that annual podium 387 00:15:51,030 --> 00:15:52,960 yesterday that he called , 388 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:58,690 I got something so his quote said that 389 00:15:58,700 --> 00:16:02,250 the combined anti aircraft defense must 390 00:16:02,260 --> 00:16:04,660 be strengthening less fun institute 391 00:16:05,140 --> 00:16:08,570 threat from North Korea china Russia . 392 00:16:08,590 --> 00:16:11,080 And he also pointed out that these 393 00:16:11,090 --> 00:16:14,750 countries are collective threat acting 394 00:16:15,540 --> 00:16:17,750 and then my occasion is that China is 395 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:21,010 interfering with the missile defense 396 00:16:21,020 --> 00:16:24,060 system in U . S . And South Korea , 397 00:16:24,850 --> 00:16:28,720 the system of the U . S . 398 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:31,350 And South Korea effectively working 399 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:34,180 against the threatening from those 400 00:16:34,180 --> 00:16:37,050 countries . This is the kind of 401 00:16:37,050 --> 00:16:40,350 capability that we not only believe we 402 00:16:40,350 --> 00:16:42,517 need in the region but that we need to 403 00:16:42,517 --> 00:16:44,130 continually review and 404 00:16:46,450 --> 00:16:48,880 and upgrade as as necessary . And I 405 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:52,180 think the general was speaking to um to 406 00:16:52,180 --> 00:16:54,180 that need to that the importance of 407 00:16:54,180 --> 00:16:56,290 that capability . I I think this all 408 00:16:56,290 --> 00:17:00,200 folds very significantly into 409 00:17:00,210 --> 00:17:02,266 the Secretary's vision of integrated 410 00:17:02,266 --> 00:17:04,266 deterrence . And you heard him talk 411 00:17:04,266 --> 00:17:06,488 about this out of the Reagan forum , uh 412 00:17:06,488 --> 00:17:10,080 this fully netted um effort to 413 00:17:10,090 --> 00:17:12,550 uh to get capabilities and operational 414 00:17:12,550 --> 00:17:14,790 concepts working together with modern 415 00:17:14,790 --> 00:17:18,150 technology uh to help change the 416 00:17:18,150 --> 00:17:21,280 calculus of any wood befo and what you 417 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:23,336 heard the Secretary talk about and I 418 00:17:23,336 --> 00:17:25,391 think it gets to the general's point 419 00:17:25,391 --> 00:17:28,840 that um that it it's not just about us 420 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,160 joint forces and capabilities working 421 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:33,480 together but combined as well with our 422 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:36,250 allies and partners . Um um I won't 423 00:17:36,250 --> 00:17:38,550 talk to the specifics of defense 424 00:17:38,550 --> 00:17:40,910 systems on the peninsula but as you 425 00:17:40,910 --> 00:17:43,077 well know , the secretary was just out 426 00:17:43,077 --> 00:17:45,130 there and he had a lot of good 427 00:17:45,130 --> 00:17:47,310 discussions with Minister Sub and 428 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:50,530 President Moon about the defensive 429 00:17:50,530 --> 00:17:52,641 capabilities that we continue to have 430 00:17:52,641 --> 00:17:55,460 on the peninsula um and uh and how we 431 00:17:55,460 --> 00:17:58,010 can keep those robust and I would just 432 00:17:58,010 --> 00:18:00,900 tell you that um that it's not 433 00:18:00,900 --> 00:18:03,178 something we ever just back on and say , 434 00:18:03,178 --> 00:18:05,780 okay , it's perfect , we got it right , 435 00:18:05,790 --> 00:18:07,790 we're not going to change it . It's 436 00:18:07,790 --> 00:18:09,957 something that air and missile defense 437 00:18:09,957 --> 00:18:11,901 in particular is something that we 438 00:18:11,901 --> 00:18:13,901 always want to review and adjust as 439 00:18:13,901 --> 00:18:16,068 necessary . Thank you . You're welcome 440 00:18:16,068 --> 00:18:19,310 very much . Travis , john thanks . Um I 441 00:18:19,310 --> 00:18:21,643 wanted to follow up on the U . Ap group , 442 00:18:21,643 --> 00:18:24,150 the Deputy Secretary Hicks um recently 443 00:18:24,150 --> 00:18:25,872 created because there was some 444 00:18:25,872 --> 00:18:28,040 significant movement on capitol about 445 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:31,460 it . Um Is that group currently active 446 00:18:31,540 --> 00:18:34,450 and collecting and analyzing data from 447 00:18:34,700 --> 00:18:37,640 the services or if it's not , is there 448 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:40,320 some timeline of when it's expected to 449 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,450 be fully stood up and operational ? You 450 00:18:43,450 --> 00:18:45,506 know , Travis , I can't sit here and 451 00:18:45,506 --> 00:18:47,506 tell you for sure that there's like 452 00:18:47,506 --> 00:18:49,561 been an initial kickoff meeting with 453 00:18:49,561 --> 00:18:51,561 the Deputy secretary did launch and 454 00:18:51,561 --> 00:18:53,506 establish this group and we talked 455 00:18:53,506 --> 00:18:55,617 about it last week I think . Um So it 456 00:18:55,617 --> 00:18:58,180 is active . It is , it's a real thing . 457 00:18:58,190 --> 00:19:00,357 I mean when the Deputy secretary signs 458 00:19:00,357 --> 00:19:02,523 out a memo establishing a group , then 459 00:19:02,523 --> 00:19:04,746 it is established , but I don't have an 460 00:19:04,746 --> 00:19:06,857 update for you today and sort of what 461 00:19:06,857 --> 00:19:08,912 the battle rhythm is and how they're 462 00:19:08,912 --> 00:19:11,023 how they're getting their arms around 463 00:19:11,023 --> 00:19:14,260 this . It's important to remember . 464 00:19:14,270 --> 00:19:17,030 It's not like this is a it's not like 465 00:19:17,030 --> 00:19:19,030 it's a board of directors but it it 466 00:19:19,030 --> 00:19:21,030 it's really about a process through 467 00:19:21,030 --> 00:19:24,210 which we can better collect reports , 468 00:19:24,740 --> 00:19:27,710 assess them , analyze them uh and then 469 00:19:28,790 --> 00:19:31,110 make recommendations to policymakers as 470 00:19:31,110 --> 00:19:33,940 a result of them . So I want you to 471 00:19:33,940 --> 00:19:36,780 think more process and procedure . 472 00:19:36,790 --> 00:19:39,460 Unless about it being some sort of 473 00:19:40,740 --> 00:19:44,390 stationary stationary , you know 474 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:47,860 group that that sits in an office 475 00:19:47,860 --> 00:19:50,000 somewhere and and and has daily 476 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:51,889 meetings . It's it's really about 477 00:19:51,889 --> 00:19:53,944 making sure that we are doing better 478 00:19:53,944 --> 00:19:56,167 job at collating the information as you 479 00:19:56,167 --> 00:19:58,360 know it was um prior to this kind of 480 00:19:58,360 --> 00:20:01,250 coming in sporadically uh from uh 481 00:20:01,260 --> 00:20:03,640 mostly from from pilots in the Navy and 482 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:05,910 the Air Force . And um and there wasn't 483 00:20:05,910 --> 00:20:07,966 a common set of rules and procedures 484 00:20:07,966 --> 00:20:09,910 for how that information was being 485 00:20:09,910 --> 00:20:11,966 taken in and and analyzed if I could 486 00:20:11,966 --> 00:20:14,077 just follow up on it because there is 487 00:20:14,077 --> 00:20:16,299 legislation on the hill that deals with 488 00:20:16,299 --> 00:20:18,521 how it would be collected and who would 489 00:20:18,521 --> 00:20:20,577 do the collecting . So I'm wondering 490 00:20:20,577 --> 00:20:22,799 about , you know the department is very 491 00:20:22,799 --> 00:20:24,966 is vast . What are the mechanisms that 492 00:20:24,966 --> 00:20:27,021 D . O . D . Is using to collect this 493 00:20:27,021 --> 00:20:28,743 information ? Are there actual 494 00:20:28,743 --> 00:20:30,966 individuals that go out and get it ? Or 495 00:20:30,966 --> 00:20:33,021 are individual units ? All the units 496 00:20:33,021 --> 00:20:35,243 within the department being educated on 497 00:20:35,243 --> 00:20:37,354 how it should be collected and how it 498 00:20:37,354 --> 00:20:39,466 should be filed ? Can you talk at all 499 00:20:39,466 --> 00:20:41,466 about how that work is being done ? 500 00:20:41,466 --> 00:20:45,020 Yeah I mean I think um I 501 00:20:45,020 --> 00:20:47,320 think as we talked about when we rolled 502 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:51,100 out this group um they they will be 503 00:20:51,100 --> 00:20:54,420 focusing on proactively 504 00:20:54,420 --> 00:20:57,640 identifying objects so how that's going 505 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,100 to be done . I don't know and they've 506 00:21:00,100 --> 00:21:02,530 just recently been established but it's 507 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:08,360 it's it's about trying to again 508 00:21:08,940 --> 00:21:11,140 actively identify objects rather than 509 00:21:11,140 --> 00:21:13,084 just focusing on objects that were 510 00:21:13,084 --> 00:21:15,196 already observed but not identified . 511 00:21:15,196 --> 00:21:17,473 So again , what that's gonna look like , 512 00:21:17,473 --> 00:21:19,696 I don't know . Um Clearly there's still 513 00:21:19,696 --> 00:21:23,420 going to be interested in reports that 514 00:21:23,420 --> 00:21:26,950 are organic and are coming in uh 515 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:29,950 just intrinsically from pilots that see 516 00:21:29,950 --> 00:21:32,180 things that they can't identify . So I 517 00:21:32,180 --> 00:21:32,670 mean , 518 00:21:35,940 --> 00:21:38,162 my supposition would be that would be a 519 00:21:38,162 --> 00:21:40,329 little bit of both , you know , trying 520 00:21:40,329 --> 00:21:42,273 to find ways to , as I said , more 521 00:21:42,273 --> 00:21:44,490 proactively identify objects . Also 522 00:21:44,570 --> 00:21:47,670 taking in reactive reports that we get 523 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:50,580 from aviators . Okay , let me go to the 524 00:21:50,580 --> 00:21:53,680 phones here , louis . 525 00:21:54,540 --> 00:21:58,440 Mhm . Hey john um you mentioned 526 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:00,420 with regard to the Hawaii fuel 527 00:22:00,430 --> 00:22:02,410 incidents that the secretary is 528 00:22:02,420 --> 00:22:05,260 monitoring it closely , given that 529 00:22:05,270 --> 00:22:08,520 Hawaii has a large joint presence 530 00:22:08,940 --> 00:22:11,760 um of the services their consideration 531 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:14,940 maybe to expanding um whatever looks 532 00:22:14,950 --> 00:22:17,172 are ongoing right there at Pearl Harbor 533 00:22:17,172 --> 00:22:19,394 beyond their to some of the other bases 534 00:22:19,394 --> 00:22:21,561 of belonging to the other services . I 535 00:22:21,561 --> 00:22:23,672 don't think we're at that point right 536 00:22:23,672 --> 00:22:25,728 now , that's not to say we might not 537 00:22:25,728 --> 00:22:27,950 need to get to that point , but I think 538 00:22:27,950 --> 00:22:30,440 well whatever , I think we need to be 539 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:32,496 informed by what the Navy's learning 540 00:22:32,496 --> 00:22:34,496 here and they have just launched an 541 00:22:34,496 --> 00:22:36,496 investigation into this and uh um I 542 00:22:36,496 --> 00:22:39,510 think uh that will greatly inform what 543 00:22:39,510 --> 00:22:41,900 whether there needs to be uh something 544 00:22:41,900 --> 00:22:44,440 additional done um to look at other 545 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:47,460 bases across the force that said , I 546 00:22:47,460 --> 00:22:49,900 don't want that to be interpreted as uh 547 00:22:49,910 --> 00:22:53,120 you know , we were uh we don't take 548 00:22:53,130 --> 00:22:55,297 issues of contaminating seriously . We 549 00:22:55,297 --> 00:22:57,810 obviously do . And so there's an 550 00:22:57,810 --> 00:22:59,980 expectation that service leaders and 551 00:22:59,980 --> 00:23:01,702 base commanders , installation 552 00:23:01,702 --> 00:23:05,240 commanders um are constantly 553 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:07,550 reviewing and looking at their own 554 00:23:07,550 --> 00:23:09,661 environmental standards and how those 555 00:23:09,661 --> 00:23:12,160 standards are being met so that our our 556 00:23:12,170 --> 00:23:14,337 our families are our men and women and 557 00:23:14,337 --> 00:23:16,720 their families can can reliably 558 00:23:16,730 --> 00:23:19,480 reliably live on base and safely on 559 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:21,647 base . That's something that we expect 560 00:23:21,647 --> 00:23:24,450 leaders to do all the time . So I think 561 00:23:24,460 --> 00:23:26,404 we'll we'll see what what the Navy 562 00:23:26,404 --> 00:23:28,404 learns here again . He's monitoring 563 00:23:28,404 --> 00:23:30,560 this closely and uh and if there are 564 00:23:30,570 --> 00:23:32,737 other decisions that need to stem from 565 00:23:32,737 --> 00:23:35,300 what they learn , um I'm sure he will , 566 00:23:35,310 --> 00:23:37,800 he will listen closely to that kind of 567 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,022 advice and counsel and and and we'll do 568 00:23:40,022 --> 00:23:42,133 the right things , will do the things 569 00:23:42,133 --> 00:23:44,022 that we need to do to to keep our 570 00:23:44,022 --> 00:23:46,189 people safe this and we take this very 571 00:23:46,189 --> 00:23:48,133 seriously . The reports are deeply 572 00:23:48,133 --> 00:23:50,022 concerning of of people having to 573 00:23:50,022 --> 00:23:53,380 ingest or um or be exposed to 574 00:23:53,380 --> 00:23:56,150 contaminated water and military housing . 575 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:58,680 I mean that is no small matter . So uh 576 00:23:58,690 --> 00:24:00,746 he's going to stay closely looped in 577 00:24:00,746 --> 00:24:02,968 with the Navy throughout this process . 578 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:06,870 Yeah . Get up Hello , john . Um I would 579 00:24:06,870 --> 00:24:10,030 like to go back to uh bob speaking 580 00:24:10,030 --> 00:24:13,540 about reinforcing the defense of the 581 00:24:13,550 --> 00:24:16,510 eastern flank of NATO ? I understand 582 00:24:16,510 --> 00:24:19,870 there are no no more consultations 583 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:23,780 but is the pentagon actively preparing 584 00:24:23,790 --> 00:24:26,630 sending supplemental 585 00:24:27,340 --> 00:24:30,120 forces troops or ? 586 00:24:30,700 --> 00:24:33,850 Well , I don't mean to leave you with 587 00:24:33,850 --> 00:24:35,906 the impression that I don't I hope I 588 00:24:35,906 --> 00:24:37,961 didn't do that with my answer to bob 589 00:24:37,961 --> 00:24:40,072 that there's not going to be any more 590 00:24:40,072 --> 00:24:42,239 consultations . We continue to consult 591 00:24:42,239 --> 00:24:41,530 with allies and partners about what 592 00:24:41,530 --> 00:24:45,440 we're seeing . Um But uh 593 00:24:45,450 --> 00:24:47,339 to your question about additional 594 00:24:47,339 --> 00:24:49,561 capabilities that the National Security 595 00:24:49,561 --> 00:24:51,672 Advisor said um you know , there were 596 00:24:51,672 --> 00:24:53,728 not at that point right now , I mean 597 00:24:53,728 --> 00:24:56,300 what Mr Sullivan said was if there is a 598 00:24:56,300 --> 00:24:58,430 further incursion and invasion into 599 00:24:58,430 --> 00:25:01,850 Ukraine and if sure the NATO 600 00:25:01,850 --> 00:25:05,840 allies request additional capabilities 601 00:25:05,850 --> 00:25:08,580 to assist them um with their own 602 00:25:08,580 --> 00:25:10,710 defensive needs and requirements that 603 00:25:10,710 --> 00:25:12,650 we would positively look at those 604 00:25:12,650 --> 00:25:14,928 requests . So we're just not there yet . 605 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:18,580 And uh still still saying , you know , 606 00:25:18,580 --> 00:25:22,050 staying in the if how long would it 607 00:25:22,060 --> 00:25:25,240 take between the request 608 00:25:25,260 --> 00:25:29,230 and the effective sending of troops 609 00:25:29,230 --> 00:25:31,452 or weapons ? You won't like my answer , 610 00:25:31,452 --> 00:25:33,452 but it is it depends right . I mean 611 00:25:33,452 --> 00:25:35,563 it's gonna depend on what the request 612 00:25:35,563 --> 00:25:39,350 is . Um and uh and how close 613 00:25:39,500 --> 00:25:41,720 those capabilities and resources are . 614 00:25:41,770 --> 00:25:45,720 I mean we have a as you know , from 615 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:47,831 when we rolled out the global posture 616 00:25:47,831 --> 00:25:49,887 review , we have a significant force 617 00:25:49,887 --> 00:25:51,887 presence in europe already . Um and 618 00:25:51,887 --> 00:25:55,160 many of those units are on rotational 619 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:58,780 deployment , they can be moved about uh 620 00:25:58,790 --> 00:26:01,360 fairly efficiently . Um So there's a 621 00:26:01,360 --> 00:26:03,471 lot of capability in house already on 622 00:26:03,471 --> 00:26:05,527 the continent . General that general 623 00:26:05,527 --> 00:26:07,582 Walters has . It is again , it would 624 00:26:07,582 --> 00:26:09,749 all come down to what the request is . 625 00:26:09,749 --> 00:26:12,610 Not unlike the way we handle request 626 00:26:12,610 --> 00:26:14,777 for forces here domestically . Right . 627 00:26:14,777 --> 00:26:16,832 When another agency wants assistance 628 00:26:16,832 --> 00:26:18,888 from whether it's the National Guard 629 00:26:18,888 --> 00:26:21,054 and vaccines or whether it's troops on 630 00:26:21,054 --> 00:26:23,054 the southwest border , um there's a 631 00:26:23,054 --> 00:26:24,832 process to look at a request to 632 00:26:24,832 --> 00:26:26,888 validate it and then source it out . 633 00:26:26,888 --> 00:26:28,999 We're very good at that . Um and some 634 00:26:28,999 --> 00:26:31,166 of those can move faster than others . 635 00:26:31,166 --> 00:26:33,332 Again , depending on the scope and the 636 00:26:33,332 --> 00:26:35,443 scale and the geography . Yeah . ErIC 637 00:26:35,490 --> 00:26:37,780 still on Ukraine has the US government 638 00:26:37,780 --> 00:26:39,990 placed any conditions or restrictions 639 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:43,640 on where how and when the Ukrainian 640 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:45,807 military can use the javelin anti tank 641 00:26:45,807 --> 00:26:47,862 missiles that have been delivered so 642 00:26:47,862 --> 00:26:49,918 far . Our expectation for use of the 643 00:26:49,918 --> 00:26:52,270 javelins erIC are that they're to be 644 00:26:52,270 --> 00:26:55,980 used in a self defensive mode um for 645 00:26:55,980 --> 00:26:58,560 self defense purposes . Um But there is 646 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:02,500 no geographical restriction on on where 647 00:27:02,500 --> 00:27:04,556 they can be used inside Ukraine . We 648 00:27:04,556 --> 00:27:06,810 expect them to use them responsibly . 649 00:27:06,810 --> 00:27:08,670 And for purposes of self defense 650 00:27:09,420 --> 00:27:11,420 they're deployed on the front lines 651 00:27:11,420 --> 00:27:13,260 today to be used in any way the 652 00:27:13,260 --> 00:27:15,260 Ukrainian commanders see fit . They 653 00:27:15,260 --> 00:27:17,427 belong to the Ukrainian armed forces . 654 00:27:17,427 --> 00:27:19,538 ErIC . And our expectation when we've 655 00:27:19,538 --> 00:27:21,704 delivered them is again that they will 656 00:27:21,704 --> 00:27:23,871 be used responsibly for self defense , 657 00:27:23,871 --> 00:27:26,520 but we have not tied them to a 658 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:30,290 geographic region inside Ukraine . And 659 00:27:30,290 --> 00:27:32,346 and we would expect . I mean you can 660 00:27:32,346 --> 00:27:34,512 ask this , but I mean all the articles 661 00:27:34,512 --> 00:27:36,401 that we have provided in security 662 00:27:36,401 --> 00:27:38,568 assistance packages , just like I told 663 00:27:38,568 --> 00:27:40,623 bob there's another package arriving 664 00:27:40,623 --> 00:27:42,570 this week with small arms and 665 00:27:42,570 --> 00:27:44,514 ammunition , everything that we're 666 00:27:44,514 --> 00:27:46,403 providing . We expect them to use 667 00:27:46,403 --> 00:27:48,348 responsibly and for their own self 668 00:27:48,348 --> 00:27:50,459 defense . Yes sir . Thank you sir . I 669 00:27:50,459 --> 00:27:52,681 have a question . We're going to report 670 00:27:52,681 --> 00:27:54,570 that china's to establish a naval 671 00:27:54,570 --> 00:27:56,514 military base in equatorial guinea 672 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:58,807 atlantic coast of africa . You touched 673 00:27:58,807 --> 00:28:01,140 on this monday in your press conference , 674 00:28:01,140 --> 00:28:03,362 you said that this would raise national 675 00:28:03,362 --> 00:28:05,760 security concerns for the U . S . But 676 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:07,927 it's kind of vague what these national 677 00:28:07,927 --> 00:28:09,760 security concerns regarding this 678 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:12,390 incident and what would the U . S . To 679 00:28:12,390 --> 00:28:14,960 do the USd you'll be prepared to do to 680 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:17,127 counter such a move on china . I think 681 00:28:17,127 --> 00:28:19,349 I'm going to leave my answer the way it 682 00:28:19,349 --> 00:28:21,516 was on monday . I think I'm just gonna 683 00:28:21,516 --> 00:28:23,627 leave it there if you don't mind . Uh 684 00:28:23,627 --> 00:28:25,682 let me get back to the phones corona 685 00:28:25,682 --> 00:28:27,849 margin Washington post . Thanks john . 686 00:28:27,849 --> 00:28:30,290 Um so two questions first , just going 687 00:28:30,290 --> 00:28:34,120 back to the Iran issue . Um there seems 688 00:28:34,120 --> 00:28:36,064 to be growing impatience among the 689 00:28:36,064 --> 00:28:38,231 Israeli leadership with the diplomatic 690 00:28:38,231 --> 00:28:40,342 process and you know , more agitation 691 00:28:40,342 --> 00:28:42,564 towards doing something militarily . So 692 00:28:42,564 --> 00:28:44,787 I know you said Secretary Austin thinks 693 00:28:44,787 --> 00:28:47,150 that diplomatic uh the diplomatic 694 00:28:47,150 --> 00:28:49,317 approach should lead . But what on the 695 00:28:49,317 --> 00:28:51,317 military side is he willing to talk 696 00:28:51,317 --> 00:28:53,483 about if anything in this meeting with 697 00:28:53,483 --> 00:28:55,594 against tomorrow . And then my second 698 00:28:55,594 --> 00:28:57,928 question is going back to Ukraine issue . 699 00:28:57,928 --> 00:29:00,039 Um the NBA that just passed the House 700 00:29:00,039 --> 00:29:02,150 last night and is looking to pass the 701 00:29:02,150 --> 00:29:04,261 Senate this week Would put another 50 702 00:29:04,261 --> 00:29:06,428 million on the table for assistance in 703 00:29:06,428 --> 00:29:08,428 the next fiscal year ? What type of 704 00:29:08,428 --> 00:29:10,594 assistance is that would that actually 705 00:29:10,594 --> 00:29:12,706 be paying for ? Is it more small arms 706 00:29:12,706 --> 00:29:14,928 and ammunition or would it be something 707 00:29:14,928 --> 00:29:17,340 um that would be more have more power 708 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,520 against Russia . Okay , so on your 709 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:22,860 first question , obviously I'm I'm 710 00:29:23,940 --> 00:29:26,780 wouldn't speak again to specifics of 711 00:29:26,780 --> 00:29:28,947 the conversation , hasn't happened yet 712 00:29:28,947 --> 00:29:31,113 with Minister Gantz . As I said , they 713 00:29:31,113 --> 00:29:33,336 always talk about the threats that Iran 714 00:29:33,336 --> 00:29:35,760 poses . And as I also said , uh Tiffany , 715 00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:38,520 I mean he takes seriously our 716 00:29:38,530 --> 00:29:40,390 responsibility to defend against 717 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:42,580 threats in the region and we have the 718 00:29:42,590 --> 00:29:45,360 capabilities they're in the region . He 719 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:47,582 got the chance to see some of them on a 720 00:29:47,582 --> 00:29:50,210 recent trip out there to uh to bahrain 721 00:29:50,210 --> 00:29:52,600 I I um I think you can understand why 722 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:54,656 it wouldn't be prudent here from the 723 00:29:54,656 --> 00:29:57,610 podium to speak to um ifs and then uh 724 00:29:57,620 --> 00:30:01,360 in terms of uh what what might be 725 00:30:01,370 --> 00:30:03,570 available . Our job is as always to 726 00:30:03,570 --> 00:30:05,820 provide the president options and this 727 00:30:05,820 --> 00:30:08,950 job . This institution 728 00:30:10,140 --> 00:30:12,240 is charged with providing primarily 729 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:14,240 military president . But ultimately 730 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:16,129 those are decisions that only the 731 00:30:16,129 --> 00:30:18,240 Commander in chief can make . Again , 732 00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:20,184 the secretary supports the work of 733 00:30:20,184 --> 00:30:22,370 diplomats and a diplomatic solution to 734 00:30:22,370 --> 00:30:24,610 this . He supports a return to the Iran 735 00:30:24,610 --> 00:30:27,090 deal . But obviously negotiating that 736 00:30:27,100 --> 00:30:30,790 return is is uh is in the hands of our 737 00:30:30,790 --> 00:30:32,957 diplomats at the State Department . Um 738 00:30:32,957 --> 00:30:35,160 and in the meantime he has large 739 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:37,271 responsibilities to make sure that we 740 00:30:37,271 --> 00:30:39,950 can protect our national security 741 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:43,370 interest there in the region on Ukraine . 742 00:30:43,380 --> 00:30:47,050 Um Yeah I have we we are aware of 743 00:30:47,050 --> 00:30:50,270 that of that article in the 744 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:53,040 pending legislation that passed the 745 00:30:53,040 --> 00:30:55,151 house last night . Again I don't want 746 00:30:55,151 --> 00:30:57,490 to get ahead of legislators . Lawmakers 747 00:30:57,490 --> 00:30:59,712 have to decide this and before they can 748 00:30:59,712 --> 00:31:01,879 send it to uh to the president . So um 749 00:31:01,879 --> 00:31:05,780 I below two to 750 00:31:05,780 --> 00:31:08,830 get into specifics there . And to your 751 00:31:08,840 --> 00:31:11,062 other question about sort of what would 752 00:31:11,062 --> 00:31:13,173 it look like ? I mean uh some of that 753 00:31:13,173 --> 00:31:15,507 could be decided the legislation itself . 754 00:31:15,507 --> 00:31:17,451 I mean how specific the uh do they 755 00:31:17,451 --> 00:31:20,020 write in whether this proposal passes 756 00:31:20,020 --> 00:31:22,187 the Senate and gets to the President's 757 00:31:22,187 --> 00:31:24,242 desk ? I mean it's gonna be a lot of 758 00:31:24,242 --> 00:31:26,464 it's gonna depend on how it's written . 759 00:31:26,464 --> 00:31:29,230 Um All I can tell you is that the $60 760 00:31:29,230 --> 00:31:31,780 million dollar package that president 761 00:31:31,780 --> 00:31:35,350 biden already approved And we are now 762 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:38,170 finishing up this week . There is both 763 00:31:38,180 --> 00:31:40,610 legal and non lethal . There is both 764 00:31:40,620 --> 00:31:42,900 you know articles in their assistance . 765 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:46,180 Um everything from javelin antitank 766 00:31:46,180 --> 00:31:48,236 missiles that we talked about just a 767 00:31:48,236 --> 00:31:50,347 few minutes ago . Two patrol boats to 768 00:31:50,347 --> 00:31:52,513 two small arms and ammunition which we 769 00:31:52,513 --> 00:31:54,569 talked about a little bit earlier of 770 00:31:54,569 --> 00:31:56,736 course centers you know um more benign 771 00:31:56,736 --> 00:31:59,013 articles , you know medical assistance , 772 00:31:59,013 --> 00:32:01,124 that kind of thing . Medical articles 773 00:32:01,124 --> 00:32:03,180 and that kind of thing . So , um , I 774 00:32:03,180 --> 00:32:05,291 can't , I can't speak for legislation 775 00:32:05,291 --> 00:32:07,513 that hasn't passed yet . All I can tell 776 00:32:07,513 --> 00:32:09,513 you is that this administration has 777 00:32:09,513 --> 00:32:11,380 been willing to provide security 778 00:32:11,380 --> 00:32:13,790 assistance items to Ukraine that 779 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:15,911 actually really does help them defend 780 00:32:15,911 --> 00:32:19,120 themselves . Megan . It's the first 781 00:32:19,130 --> 00:32:22,330 released its covid 19 guidance today 782 00:32:22,330 --> 00:32:24,497 for airmen who don't comply with their 783 00:32:24,497 --> 00:32:26,608 vaccine mandate and includes specific 784 00:32:26,608 --> 00:32:28,663 language for the National Guard . It 785 00:32:28,663 --> 00:32:30,774 does not address what will be done in 786 00:32:30,774 --> 00:32:32,774 the case of somewhere like Oklahoma 787 00:32:32,774 --> 00:32:35,410 where you have a command that has said , 788 00:32:35,410 --> 00:32:37,521 we don't , we're not going to enforce 789 00:32:37,521 --> 00:32:40,140 this this mandate . And so you may have 790 00:32:40,140 --> 00:32:42,251 commanders who don't report that they 791 00:32:42,251 --> 00:32:44,420 have airmen or soldiers eventually , 792 00:32:44,420 --> 00:32:46,890 particularly possibly in the army who 793 00:32:46,890 --> 00:32:49,810 aren't vaccinated . What powers do the 794 00:32:49,810 --> 00:32:51,810 military departments have from this 795 00:32:51,810 --> 00:32:54,050 level to reach down into those records 796 00:32:54,050 --> 00:32:56,050 and do their own auditing . If they 797 00:32:56,050 --> 00:32:58,217 have to worry about commanders who are 798 00:32:58,217 --> 00:33:00,106 not going to report on vaccinated 799 00:33:00,106 --> 00:33:02,161 troops . Is that something that they 800 00:33:02,161 --> 00:33:04,272 can do from up here to initiate their 801 00:33:04,272 --> 00:33:06,439 consequences ? That is a very specific 802 00:33:06,439 --> 00:33:08,550 question for which I have no specific 803 00:33:08,550 --> 00:33:10,606 answer . I'm gonna have to take that 804 00:33:10,606 --> 00:33:12,494 one Megan that that one gets more 805 00:33:12,494 --> 00:33:14,328 detailed than , than I think I'm 806 00:33:14,328 --> 00:33:16,700 prepared . Go into right now . Um , you 807 00:33:16,700 --> 00:33:18,867 did . You're right . The air force did 808 00:33:18,867 --> 00:33:21,280 submit their memo where uh , the army 809 00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:24,330 will be submitting , there's relatively , 810 00:33:24,940 --> 00:33:27,720 we think , um , and again , the only 811 00:33:27,730 --> 00:33:30,250 large point I'd make is this is a valid 812 00:33:30,250 --> 00:33:32,620 military requirement . Um , and a 813 00:33:32,620 --> 00:33:35,140 member's participation , their ability 814 00:33:35,140 --> 00:33:37,470 to participate as a national guardsman 815 00:33:37,470 --> 00:33:39,470 or as a reservist , quite frankly , 816 00:33:39,470 --> 00:33:41,803 could be put in jeopardy if they refuse , 817 00:33:41,803 --> 00:33:43,970 if they refuse the vaccine and they're 818 00:33:43,970 --> 00:33:47,420 not otherwise exempted . So mike 819 00:33:47,420 --> 00:33:49,570 already wrote it down . Um , I don't 820 00:33:49,580 --> 00:33:53,080 know how much we're gonna be able to 821 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:55,302 answer that , but we'll see what we can 822 00:33:55,302 --> 00:33:57,413 do . It may be that we pointed to the 823 00:33:57,413 --> 00:33:59,580 guard Bureaus , but let me let me take 824 00:33:59,580 --> 00:34:01,691 it . See what I can do . The question 825 00:34:01,691 --> 00:34:03,691 has become , if you have a chain of 826 00:34:03,691 --> 00:34:05,747 command that is not considers itself 827 00:34:05,747 --> 00:34:07,747 not accountable to the secretary at 828 00:34:07,747 --> 00:34:09,858 this point . How can you enforce this 829 00:34:09,858 --> 00:34:11,691 mandate when it is up to them to 830 00:34:11,691 --> 00:34:13,802 enforce it ? No , I I get it . It's a 831 00:34:13,802 --> 00:34:16,024 it's a fair question . I just I'm not a 832 00:34:16,024 --> 00:34:18,247 legal expert on this and I really don't 833 00:34:18,247 --> 00:34:18,190 want to venture into speculation here 834 00:34:18,200 --> 00:34:21,520 until we can a thoughtful job of trying 835 00:34:21,520 --> 00:34:24,950 to answer it . All right . Uh , 836 00:34:24,950 --> 00:34:27,700 okay . Sam Lagrone from us and I , yeah . 837 00:34:28,240 --> 00:34:31,220 Hey john um , earlier you all put out a 838 00:34:31,230 --> 00:34:33,970 statement , um , warning about the 839 00:34:33,980 --> 00:34:37,070 effects of a yearlong cr on the Defense 840 00:34:37,070 --> 00:34:40,970 Department budget . Um , what do you 841 00:34:40,970 --> 00:34:43,137 all know that we don't haven't haven't 842 00:34:43,137 --> 00:34:45,137 really gotten a good sense of , you 843 00:34:45,137 --> 00:34:47,303 know , that that's a possibility right 844 00:34:47,303 --> 00:34:49,359 now , Is that something that you all 845 00:34:49,359 --> 00:34:51,081 are trying to preempt with the 846 00:34:51,081 --> 00:34:53,248 statement or just trying to understand 847 00:34:53,248 --> 00:34:55,470 how to put that into context . Things . 848 00:34:55,470 --> 00:34:57,526 Yeah , no SAm it's not about knowing 849 00:34:57,526 --> 00:34:59,414 something you don't . In fact , I 850 00:34:59,414 --> 00:35:01,637 rarely have found that I know something 851 00:35:01,637 --> 00:35:04,970 you don't um but we have 852 00:35:05,540 --> 00:35:07,930 sort of seen this play out before or 853 00:35:07,940 --> 00:35:11,500 crs of short duration get extended and 854 00:35:11,500 --> 00:35:15,170 extended and um and I think this is 855 00:35:15,170 --> 00:35:17,550 really a chance for the secretary 856 00:35:18,820 --> 00:35:22,680 two make clear his concerns about 857 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:24,860 continuing resolutions in general , 858 00:35:25,240 --> 00:35:27,920 also the prospect of this going longer . 859 00:35:27,930 --> 00:35:30,460 And he just wanted to be on the record 860 00:35:30,470 --> 00:35:33,560 um to make sure that our troops and our 861 00:35:33,560 --> 00:35:35,782 families and american people understood 862 00:35:35,782 --> 00:35:37,970 the damage that a long term in this 863 00:35:37,970 --> 00:35:40,930 case , potentially a yearlong cr could 864 00:35:40,930 --> 00:35:43,210 have , but it wasn't about um you know , 865 00:35:43,210 --> 00:35:45,850 it wasn't about having some specific 866 00:35:45,850 --> 00:35:47,794 sense of that , that that that you 867 00:35:47,794 --> 00:35:50,170 don't have . Sam it's really about just 868 00:35:50,640 --> 00:35:54,010 making sure that um that we make clear 869 00:35:54,290 --> 00:35:56,070 the damage that a Cr can have 870 00:35:56,070 --> 00:35:59,340 particularly over the long term . Um 871 00:35:59,350 --> 00:36:03,170 Well far I hope 872 00:36:04,730 --> 00:36:07,220 tomorrow , final meeting of the 873 00:36:07,220 --> 00:36:09,500 Military Technical Committee in Iraq is 874 00:36:09,510 --> 00:36:12,060 taking place . Can you give us an 875 00:36:12,070 --> 00:36:14,830 insight on whether there will be uh 876 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:17,007 made an announcement regarding the end 877 00:36:17,007 --> 00:36:20,900 of the transition uh to a non Collector 878 00:36:20,920 --> 00:36:24,840 combat role . Um Should we expect 879 00:36:24,840 --> 00:36:27,210 that tomorrow there will be a joint 880 00:36:27,210 --> 00:36:29,660 statement will be issued at the at the 881 00:36:29,660 --> 00:36:32,560 end of the of the meeting . So um so I 882 00:36:32,560 --> 00:36:34,727 would stay tuned for that . What I can 883 00:36:34,727 --> 00:36:36,949 tell you is that the United States will 884 00:36:36,949 --> 00:36:38,560 uphold our commitments , the 885 00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:42,140 commitments we made back in july uh , 886 00:36:42,150 --> 00:36:44,290 including that there will be no US 887 00:36:44,290 --> 00:36:46,512 forces with a combat role by the end of 888 00:36:46,512 --> 00:36:48,623 the year , U . S . Forces will remain 889 00:36:48,623 --> 00:36:50,734 in Iraq of course , at the invitation 890 00:36:50,734 --> 00:36:53,080 of the government of Iraq uh , in an 891 00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:54,920 advising assisting , enabling an 892 00:36:54,920 --> 00:36:57,510 intelligence sharing role to support 893 00:36:57,520 --> 00:36:59,464 the Iraqi security forces in their 894 00:36:59,464 --> 00:37:01,720 fight a continuing fight against ISIS . 895 00:37:01,730 --> 00:37:04,150 So again , I'd stay tuned . Uh , we 896 00:37:04,150 --> 00:37:06,317 expect there will be a joint statement 897 00:37:06,317 --> 00:37:09,740 at the end of the talks tomorrow . Okay . 898 00:37:09,750 --> 00:37:11,806 Um , I think I'll take one more here 899 00:37:11,806 --> 00:37:13,972 from the phones and it looks like that 900 00:37:13,972 --> 00:37:15,750 might be doing it for us . Tony 901 00:37:15,750 --> 00:37:17,861 Carpaccio . Hi there , john , I had a 902 00:37:17,861 --> 00:37:20,083 couple of questions on Ukraine . I want 903 00:37:20,083 --> 00:37:22,306 you to round it out a little bit In the 904 00:37:22,306 --> 00:37:21,400 $60 billion billion 905 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:28,590 360 906 00:37:28,600 --> 00:37:30,767 that we've delivered over the last few 907 00:37:30,767 --> 00:37:32,990 years . Have an exact number for you on 908 00:37:32,990 --> 00:37:36,790 that Tony . You do or do not do 909 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:38,800 not have an exact number for you on 910 00:37:38,800 --> 00:37:41,022 that . All right . Can you take it as a 911 00:37:41,022 --> 00:37:42,022 question then ? 912 00:37:45,130 --> 00:37:48,120 You said you had another one . Has God 913 00:37:48,120 --> 00:37:50,320 made an additional recommendation to 914 00:37:50,320 --> 00:37:52,431 the White House that anything else be 915 00:37:52,431 --> 00:37:54,542 sent since November one when tensions 916 00:37:54,542 --> 00:37:57,300 started roiling again over there . Look , 917 00:37:57,300 --> 00:37:59,190 I think as you know , Tony we're 918 00:37:59,190 --> 00:38:01,410 planning organization and we try to 919 00:38:01,410 --> 00:38:05,240 think through all manner of , of 920 00:38:05,240 --> 00:38:09,130 contingencies here , um detail 921 00:38:09,140 --> 00:38:11,362 uh interagency conversations one way or 922 00:38:11,362 --> 00:38:13,584 the other with respect to an additional 923 00:38:13,584 --> 00:38:15,807 security assistance package . You heard 924 00:38:15,807 --> 00:38:18,510 the National Security Advisor yesterday 925 00:38:18,510 --> 00:38:20,621 talked about this in broad terms that 926 00:38:20,621 --> 00:38:22,343 that's certainly an option . A 927 00:38:22,343 --> 00:38:25,580 possibility . Should there be a further 928 00:38:25,580 --> 00:38:28,040 incursion in your crane ? But there's 929 00:38:28,040 --> 00:38:30,040 been no decisions made about that , 930 00:38:30,040 --> 00:38:32,410 Tony . Not only a decision to do it or 931 00:38:32,410 --> 00:38:34,521 not to do it , but if to do it , what 932 00:38:34,521 --> 00:38:37,040 would that look like ? Um , I think , 933 00:38:37,050 --> 00:38:39,161 you know , those kinds of discussions 934 00:38:39,161 --> 00:38:41,328 are ongoing and we're just not at that 935 00:38:41,328 --> 00:38:43,210 point right now . Okay , thanks 936 00:38:43,210 --> 00:38:45,432 everybody . I'm giving you the more aid 937 00:38:45,432 --> 00:38:48,150 if Russia invades . I mean , why not 938 00:38:48,150 --> 00:38:50,500 give it before Russia invades ? I mean , 939 00:38:50,510 --> 00:38:54,160 somebody might ask you that . Somebody 940 00:38:54,160 --> 00:38:56,271 might ask that . Yes , you're right , 941 00:38:56,271 --> 00:38:58,271 Tony . Somebody might ask , but you 942 00:38:58,271 --> 00:39:00,438 didn't ask that . So I think I'm gonna 943 00:39:00,438 --> 00:39:02,327 leave it where I left it . Thanks 944 00:39:02,327 --> 00:39:04,549 everybody , appreciate it . Have a good 945 00:39:04,549 --> 00:39:02,940 day .