1 00:00:00,740 --> 00:00:04,460 Good afternoon . Okay , 2 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,660 just a couple of things at the top . 3 00:00:10,140 --> 00:00:13,760 Yeah . Um 4 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,070 I think you you probably all have heard 5 00:00:18,070 --> 00:00:22,000 today is the 385 , birthday 6 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:24,500 of the US National Guard and I think 7 00:00:24,500 --> 00:00:28,210 there's just no more visible tangible 8 00:00:28,210 --> 00:00:30,650 way to acknowledge the contributions 9 00:00:30,650 --> 00:00:33,940 that the guard has made to our national 10 00:00:33,940 --> 00:00:35,996 security and our national defense is 11 00:00:35,996 --> 00:00:39,280 what you see them doing right now in 12 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:41,391 response to the devastating tornadoes 13 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:43,622 in the Ohio River valley this weekend . 14 00:00:43,622 --> 00:00:45,760 So far the Kentucky National Guard is 15 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:49,260 Called more than 300 personnel to duty 16 00:00:49,430 --> 00:00:52,460 including 81 in law enforcement etienne 17 00:00:52,460 --> 00:00:55,170 Recovery support and 40 foreign debris 18 00:00:55,170 --> 00:00:57,390 clearance . Additionally , the US Army 19 00:00:57,390 --> 00:00:59,660 Corps of Engineers is responding to to 20 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:02,990 fema . Mission assignments . One is for 21 00:01:02,990 --> 00:01:05,101 regional activate regional activation 22 00:01:05,101 --> 00:01:07,950 and temporary emergency power Under the 23 00:01:07,950 --> 00:01:10,360 regional activation mission assignment . 24 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:13,062 They are deploying in support of debris 25 00:01:13,062 --> 00:01:15,240 removal , supporting critical public 26 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:17,407 facilities , infrastructure assessment 27 00:01:17,530 --> 00:01:20,290 and engineering and public works under 28 00:01:20,290 --> 00:01:22,750 the temporary power mission assignment . 29 00:01:23,140 --> 00:01:25,251 They are mobilizing a temporary power 30 00:01:25,251 --> 00:01:27,418 planning and response team , the 249th 31 00:01:27,418 --> 00:01:29,340 Engineer Battalion and additional 32 00:01:29,340 --> 00:01:31,451 subject matter experts to assist with 33 00:01:31,451 --> 00:01:33,396 generators staging assessments and 34 00:01:33,396 --> 00:01:35,750 installation . We do not anticipate 35 00:01:35,990 --> 00:01:37,980 activations from other states with 36 00:01:37,980 --> 00:01:40,330 respect to this particular national 37 00:01:40,330 --> 00:01:42,430 disaster . Uh And of course the 38 00:01:42,430 --> 00:01:44,652 department I think you've seen , we are 39 00:01:44,652 --> 00:01:46,874 making available Fort Campbell Kentucky 40 00:01:46,874 --> 00:01:49,120 as an incident support base . Again . 41 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:51,176 Our thoughts and prayers and deepest 42 00:01:51,176 --> 00:01:53,231 condolences go to all those who were 43 00:01:53,231 --> 00:01:55,860 affected by those devastating tornadoes 44 00:01:55,860 --> 00:01:59,100 and um and who will I have to 45 00:01:59,180 --> 00:02:01,590 deal with rebuilding and clearly the 46 00:02:01,590 --> 00:02:04,040 department uh stands but behind the 47 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:06,320 interagency effort to do whatever we 48 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:09,450 can do to to support them . Um And 49 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,351 as has been typical I think no matter 50 00:02:12,351 --> 00:02:14,407 throughout the whole year , wherever 51 00:02:14,407 --> 00:02:16,629 you look , there's the National Guard , 52 00:02:16,820 --> 00:02:20,460 whether it's helping vaccinate 53 00:02:20,460 --> 00:02:23,300 americans dealing with cleanup after a 54 00:02:23,300 --> 00:02:26,350 natural disaster to helping out uh 55 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,290 customs and border officials down at 56 00:02:29,290 --> 00:02:32,180 the southwest border . Uh They have 57 00:02:32,190 --> 00:02:34,120 wildfires , they they have been 58 00:02:34,540 --> 00:02:37,880 literally woven into the fabric of this 59 00:02:37,890 --> 00:02:40,820 entire year in terms of response and 60 00:02:40,820 --> 00:02:42,931 assistance to their fellow citizens . 61 00:02:42,931 --> 00:02:45,098 Uh So as they celebrate their birthday 62 00:02:45,098 --> 00:02:47,260 today and I know for the guardsmen in 63 00:02:47,260 --> 00:02:49,427 Kentucky there's little to celebrate I 64 00:02:49,427 --> 00:02:51,593 understand that but as they marked the 65 00:02:51,593 --> 00:02:53,649 anniversary , I think they can do so 66 00:02:53,649 --> 00:02:56,050 with terrific pride . Um scheduling 67 00:02:56,070 --> 00:02:58,320 Secretary Austin spoke this morning 68 00:02:58,330 --> 00:03:00,840 with his indian counterpart . Uh 69 00:03:00,850 --> 00:03:03,030 Minister of Defense Sing . He spoke to 70 00:03:03,030 --> 00:03:05,030 him earlier this morning about 7 30 71 00:03:05,030 --> 00:03:07,086 this morning . The secretary offered 72 00:03:07,086 --> 00:03:09,308 his deepest condolences for the loss of 73 00:03:09,308 --> 00:03:11,419 general watt India's Chief of Defense 74 00:03:11,419 --> 00:03:13,530 staff . Mrs Rawat , his his spouse uh 75 00:03:13,530 --> 00:03:15,363 and all the other indian service 76 00:03:15,363 --> 00:03:17,586 members who were involved and killed in 77 00:03:17,586 --> 00:03:19,752 that helicopter accident on the eighth 78 00:03:19,752 --> 00:03:21,530 of december . He also of course 79 00:03:21,530 --> 00:03:23,586 reaffirmed the U . S . Commitment to 80 00:03:23,586 --> 00:03:25,586 strengthening us India ties and the 81 00:03:25,586 --> 00:03:27,474 deepening our defense partnership 82 00:03:27,474 --> 00:03:29,530 additionally today , I think you all 83 00:03:29,530 --> 00:03:31,586 know , he met with his counterpart , 84 00:03:31,586 --> 00:03:34,180 the Lithuanian Minister of Defense uh 85 00:03:34,190 --> 00:03:37,230 dr a new shocks us at the pentagon 86 00:03:37,230 --> 00:03:39,490 today to reaffirm the strong bilateral 87 00:03:39,490 --> 00:03:41,657 relationship between our countries . A 88 00:03:41,657 --> 00:03:43,823 full readout of that will be posted on 89 00:03:43,823 --> 00:03:45,990 defense dot gov later today . And with 90 00:03:45,990 --> 00:03:48,157 that we'll take questions I think lita 91 00:03:48,157 --> 00:03:51,070 you're you're up first . Hi john thanks . 92 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:54,990 Um a couple of things . Um One you said 93 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:57,760 um no other additional states um for 94 00:03:57,760 --> 00:03:59,982 the National Guard will be responding . 95 00:03:59,982 --> 00:04:01,871 Do you see any need for any other 96 00:04:01,871 --> 00:04:04,480 active duty response for the tornadoes , 97 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:06,258 including any rescue efforts or 98 00:04:06,258 --> 00:04:08,424 anything like that in in order to help 99 00:04:08,424 --> 00:04:10,480 the guard ? And then I have I have a 100 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:12,591 second question . We are not aware of 101 00:04:12,591 --> 00:04:14,258 any requests for assistance , 102 00:04:14,258 --> 00:04:16,369 additional active duty other than the 103 00:04:16,369 --> 00:04:18,647 Army Corps of Engineers I talked about . 104 00:04:18,647 --> 00:04:20,813 But as I said at the outset , we stand 105 00:04:20,813 --> 00:04:23,036 by to support the uh the good people of 106 00:04:23,036 --> 00:04:25,202 Kentucky in any way that we can in any 107 00:04:25,202 --> 00:04:27,400 way they deem necessary . So will 108 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:29,511 certainly be standing by should there 109 00:04:29,511 --> 00:04:31,400 be additional requests additional 110 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:33,622 capabilities that they would require of 111 00:04:33,622 --> 00:04:35,733 the Active duty force . But but right 112 00:04:35,733 --> 00:04:37,900 now that's what I just briefed is what 113 00:04:37,900 --> 00:04:40,122 is what we know they have asked for and 114 00:04:40,122 --> 00:04:41,900 what we're providing . And then 115 00:04:41,900 --> 00:04:44,440 secondarily , um do you know if there's 116 00:04:44,450 --> 00:04:47,580 still yet any progress on getting 117 00:04:47,580 --> 00:04:50,350 reparations and or an exit out of 118 00:04:50,350 --> 00:04:52,720 Afghanistan for the family members of 119 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,080 those killed in the august strikes . Um 120 00:04:56,090 --> 00:04:58,146 Yeah , we talked about this a little 121 00:04:58,146 --> 00:05:00,312 bit last week . Uh lida , I don't have 122 00:05:00,312 --> 00:05:02,257 any updates to give you today . We 123 00:05:02,257 --> 00:05:04,479 continue to work closely with any eye . 124 00:05:04,479 --> 00:05:07,420 Mr Ahmadi's former employer . Um dr 125 00:05:07,420 --> 00:05:09,910 Kwan , who is the ceo of any , I we're 126 00:05:09,910 --> 00:05:12,340 working directly with him by 127 00:05:12,350 --> 00:05:14,406 undersecretary of Defense for policy 128 00:05:14,406 --> 00:05:16,430 Colin call has actually been taking 129 00:05:16,430 --> 00:05:20,350 point on this um , to try to get uh 130 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,304 the information that we need , The 131 00:05:22,304 --> 00:05:24,527 identifying information that we need to 132 00:05:24,527 --> 00:05:26,304 help move family members out of 133 00:05:26,304 --> 00:05:27,916 Afghanistan as expeditiously 134 00:05:27,916 --> 00:05:29,916 expeditiously as we can . Uh and of 135 00:05:29,916 --> 00:05:32,450 course to better and safely affect the 136 00:05:32,460 --> 00:05:34,571 the ex gratia payments . I don't have 137 00:05:34,571 --> 00:05:36,627 any updates today , but I can assure 138 00:05:36,627 --> 00:05:38,738 you that we continue to stay in close 139 00:05:38,738 --> 00:05:41,030 touch with dr Kwan and his team . And 140 00:05:41,210 --> 00:05:43,210 um as the secretary made clear , we 141 00:05:43,210 --> 00:05:45,543 want to affect this as soon as possible . 142 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:48,807 Did you have a question just to follow 143 00:05:48,807 --> 00:05:50,590 up ? Can you , do you have any 144 00:05:50,590 --> 00:05:52,257 announcements in terms of any 145 00:05:52,257 --> 00:05:54,423 punishments , judicial punishments for 146 00:05:54,423 --> 00:05:56,368 those who were responsible for the 147 00:05:56,368 --> 00:05:58,201 drone strike to begin with ? And 148 00:05:58,201 --> 00:06:00,810 secondly , what is the status of , what 149 00:06:00,810 --> 00:06:03,540 is the department planning to do again 150 00:06:03,550 --> 00:06:06,370 to help with the hawaii residents who 151 00:06:06,370 --> 00:06:08,426 are suffering from a lack of water ? 152 00:06:08,540 --> 00:06:10,651 And in terms of cleaning it up ? It's 153 00:06:10,651 --> 00:06:12,818 not just about , I mean , this doesn't 154 00:06:12,818 --> 00:06:15,040 seem like it would be a quick process . 155 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:16,984 How are you going to protect those 156 00:06:16,984 --> 00:06:16,980 people on your first question , which 157 00:06:16,980 --> 00:06:19,970 I'm presuming is uh emanating Anderson 158 00:06:19,970 --> 00:06:23,540 press reporting just recently . Uh 159 00:06:23,550 --> 00:06:25,910 there I do have no announcements or 160 00:06:25,910 --> 00:06:27,799 decisions to make with respect to 161 00:06:27,799 --> 00:06:30,770 accountability . But let me , but let 162 00:06:30,770 --> 00:06:34,520 me , but let me , let me level set . I 163 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:37,660 know , let me , let me level set . Um 164 00:06:38,940 --> 00:06:41,162 you remember when general side came and 165 00:06:41,162 --> 00:06:43,329 briefed you on his findings , he found 166 00:06:43,329 --> 00:06:46,000 nobody was criminally negligent or or 167 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,111 that he found would rise to the level 168 00:06:48,111 --> 00:06:50,278 of accountability at that level and he 169 00:06:50,278 --> 00:06:52,410 said to you that um that should there 170 00:06:52,410 --> 00:06:55,170 be any additional lower level 171 00:06:55,170 --> 00:06:57,059 accountability would be up to the 172 00:06:57,059 --> 00:06:58,781 commanders . You know that the 173 00:06:58,781 --> 00:07:00,892 Secretary asked General Mackenzie and 174 00:07:00,892 --> 00:07:02,781 General Clark to come back to him 175 00:07:02,781 --> 00:07:05,003 within about a week's time of that That 176 00:07:05,003 --> 00:07:07,114 review , three star review being done 177 00:07:07,540 --> 00:07:09,262 uh and let him know what their 178 00:07:09,262 --> 00:07:11,770 recommendations were . Um they did that 179 00:07:11,780 --> 00:07:14,900 and they did it on time and None of 180 00:07:14,900 --> 00:07:16,456 their recommendations dealt 181 00:07:16,456 --> 00:07:18,011 specifically with issues of 182 00:07:18,011 --> 00:07:20,011 accountability . Secretary reviewed 183 00:07:20,011 --> 00:07:22,011 their recommendations . I won't get 184 00:07:22,011 --> 00:07:24,011 into all of them . Some of them are 185 00:07:24,011 --> 00:07:25,844 understandably classified but he 186 00:07:25,844 --> 00:07:27,956 approved their recommendations . So I 187 00:07:27,956 --> 00:07:30,178 do not anticipate there being issues of 188 00:07:30,178 --> 00:07:32,344 personal accountability to be had with 189 00:07:32,344 --> 00:07:34,850 respect to the August 29 Airstrike . 190 00:07:35,140 --> 00:07:37,410 Now your second question was on the red 191 00:07:37,410 --> 00:07:41,160 hill bulk fuel facility out in Hawaii . 192 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:43,960 Um Secretary remains in close touch 193 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,182 with Navy leaders . In fact , he got an 194 00:07:46,182 --> 00:07:48,600 update again this morning uh from from 195 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:50,767 the Secretary of the Navy and from the 196 00:07:50,767 --> 00:07:52,656 Chief of Naval Operations . He is 197 00:07:52,656 --> 00:07:54,767 receiving daily updates from the Navy 198 00:07:54,767 --> 00:07:56,711 Department about their efforts and 199 00:07:56,711 --> 00:07:59,230 their efforts are really um along three 200 00:07:59,230 --> 00:08:02,360 lines right now , jen one is obviously 201 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:05,220 taking care of the families , several 202 00:08:05,220 --> 00:08:08,010 1000 have been relocated out of their 203 00:08:08,010 --> 00:08:10,300 homes , their their base housing . Um 204 00:08:10,300 --> 00:08:12,244 and they're in temporary lodging , 205 00:08:12,244 --> 00:08:14,189 mostly hotels . Uh and the Navy is 206 00:08:14,189 --> 00:08:16,300 looking after them , making sure that 207 00:08:16,300 --> 00:08:18,300 they have uh that they're obviously 208 00:08:18,300 --> 00:08:20,522 they're not paying for that lodging and 209 00:08:20,522 --> 00:08:22,689 that they're , they're getting uh food 210 00:08:22,689 --> 00:08:24,689 and fresh water and sustenance . Um 211 00:08:24,689 --> 00:08:26,911 also looking after their medical care . 212 00:08:26,911 --> 00:08:29,260 Uh as I understand it , several 1000 213 00:08:29,260 --> 00:08:31,570 have been evaluated for health care and 214 00:08:31,570 --> 00:08:33,737 they will continue to be evaluated for 215 00:08:33,737 --> 00:08:35,792 whatever health needs they have . So 216 00:08:35,792 --> 00:08:37,959 the Navy's first concern is , is the , 217 00:08:37,959 --> 00:08:39,626 the families and the affected 218 00:08:39,626 --> 00:08:41,792 individuals and uh and they're working 219 00:08:41,792 --> 00:08:44,014 that very hard secondly , it's going to 220 00:08:44,014 --> 00:08:47,100 be restoring the fresh water to housing 221 00:08:47,100 --> 00:08:49,940 and to the base facilities that have 222 00:08:49,940 --> 00:08:52,110 been , that have been affected . And 223 00:08:52,110 --> 00:08:55,080 they're working closely with the hawaii 224 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,850 state officials , the , the uh the 225 00:08:57,850 --> 00:08:59,961 Department of Public Health out there 226 00:08:59,961 --> 00:09:03,040 and water safety to do this in a 227 00:09:03,050 --> 00:09:05,710 collaborative cooperative way to get 228 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:09,540 fresh water back in place and again , 229 00:09:09,540 --> 00:09:12,810 make these homes safe to go back to as 230 00:09:12,810 --> 00:09:16,070 well as the affected affected 231 00:09:16,070 --> 00:09:19,700 facilities on base . So they're very 232 00:09:19,700 --> 00:09:22,110 focused on trying to get that water 233 00:09:22,110 --> 00:09:24,810 system uh clean and safe for use , They 234 00:09:24,810 --> 00:09:26,866 are flowing in additional filtration 235 00:09:26,866 --> 00:09:29,032 equipment um and there again , working 236 00:09:29,032 --> 00:09:31,143 closely with state authorities on how 237 00:09:31,143 --> 00:09:33,199 to best do that . And then thirdly , 238 00:09:33,199 --> 00:09:35,790 it's um it's clean up . It's making 239 00:09:35,790 --> 00:09:38,540 sure that to your question that um that 240 00:09:38,540 --> 00:09:42,280 we know the extent of where the where 241 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:44,580 the leak came from or leaks came from 242 00:09:44,590 --> 00:09:46,850 as it may be . Um And then how to clean 243 00:09:46,850 --> 00:09:49,400 that up . And uh I don't have an update 244 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:51,567 for you on that . The investigation is 245 00:09:51,567 --> 00:09:53,844 still ongoing that the Navy is running . 246 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:55,936 Um and they're still working our way 247 00:09:55,936 --> 00:09:58,280 through um exactly what happened and 248 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:00,740 that will help guide them as to what 249 00:10:00,740 --> 00:10:02,796 the cleanup ought to look like . But 250 00:10:02,796 --> 00:10:05,018 they are very focused on that and again 251 00:10:05,018 --> 00:10:07,018 will be working in lockstep with um 252 00:10:07,018 --> 00:10:09,129 state and local authorities about how 253 00:10:09,129 --> 00:10:12,040 that how that cleanup is best done . Um 254 00:10:12,050 --> 00:10:14,272 As I said , the secretary is monitoring 255 00:10:14,272 --> 00:10:16,383 this personally and very closely . Um 256 00:10:16,383 --> 00:10:18,620 And and uh and he might have additional 257 00:10:18,620 --> 00:10:20,650 things that we might be putting out 258 00:10:20,650 --> 00:10:22,690 this afternoon . I just don't 259 00:10:22,690 --> 00:10:24,746 understand one thing . You just said 260 00:10:24,746 --> 00:10:26,857 that none of the recommendations from 261 00:10:26,857 --> 00:10:26,670 Mackenzie and Clark dealt with 262 00:10:26,680 --> 00:10:29,260 accountability , do you mean ? No , no , 263 00:10:29,270 --> 00:10:31,437 they didn't recommend . You don't mean 264 00:10:31,437 --> 00:10:33,714 that . Can you explain what that means ? 265 00:10:33,714 --> 00:10:36,630 Because I can I can and maybe I didn't 266 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,610 put it as well as I should have when 267 00:10:39,610 --> 00:10:41,610 they listed their recommendations . 268 00:10:41,610 --> 00:10:43,840 There was no recommendation by either 269 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,062 of them about accountability . So there 270 00:10:46,062 --> 00:10:48,120 was not an overt line in there that 271 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:50,398 said we don't recommend accountability . 272 00:10:50,398 --> 00:10:52,453 There certainly was no line in there 273 00:10:52,453 --> 00:10:54,398 that we recommend accountability . 274 00:10:54,398 --> 00:10:56,509 Their recommendations were more about 275 00:10:56,509 --> 00:10:58,731 procedure and process and the secretary 276 00:10:58,731 --> 00:11:00,787 reviewed them has accepted them . Um 277 00:11:00,787 --> 00:11:02,676 And again , most of them are of a 278 00:11:02,676 --> 00:11:02,600 classified nature , so we won't be 279 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:04,822 talking about the specifics , but there 280 00:11:04,822 --> 00:11:08,230 was no overt recommendation made by 281 00:11:08,230 --> 00:11:10,630 either specific to accountability , 282 00:11:10,660 --> 00:11:12,660 recommend any punishment for anyone 283 00:11:14,700 --> 00:11:17,130 correct . And then the second thing is 284 00:11:17,850 --> 00:11:20,150 there's been some reporting that out of 285 00:11:20,150 --> 00:11:22,206 South Korea , that there's been some 286 00:11:22,206 --> 00:11:24,261 sort of agreement in principle for a 287 00:11:24,261 --> 00:11:26,539 declaration end of the war declaration . 288 00:11:26,539 --> 00:11:28,594 I'm wondering what the what you're , 289 00:11:28,594 --> 00:11:30,817 what you know about that is it is there 290 00:11:30,817 --> 00:11:32,872 actually some sort of an agreement ? 291 00:11:32,872 --> 00:11:35,039 And he tells me , I'm referring to the 292 00:11:35,039 --> 00:11:37,150 our State Department colleagues about 293 00:11:37,150 --> 00:11:39,600 those kinds of discussions court . But 294 00:11:39,610 --> 00:11:42,570 I would just go back to what we said in 295 00:11:42,570 --> 00:11:45,380 the past here . We at the Department 296 00:11:45,390 --> 00:11:48,300 continue to support uh diplomatic 297 00:11:48,310 --> 00:11:50,840 measures and efforts to denuclearize 298 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:52,951 north Korea , we still believe that's 299 00:11:52,951 --> 00:11:54,951 the right course . And for our part 300 00:11:54,951 --> 00:11:57,007 we're going to continue to make sure 301 00:11:57,007 --> 00:11:59,007 that we that we maintain the proper 302 00:11:59,007 --> 00:12:01,118 level of military readiness . But the 303 00:12:01,118 --> 00:12:03,173 issue of um that and I saw the press 304 00:12:03,173 --> 00:12:05,396 reporting you're talking to that really 305 00:12:05,396 --> 00:12:07,284 is better put to the to the State 306 00:12:07,284 --> 00:12:09,562 Department . Yeah , Travis , thank you , 307 00:12:09,562 --> 00:12:11,784 john um the House january 6th committee 308 00:12:11,784 --> 00:12:13,784 has obtained emails that apparently 309 00:12:13,784 --> 00:12:15,896 show that former White House Chief of 310 00:12:15,896 --> 00:12:19,500 Staff . Mark Meadows had said ahead of 311 00:12:19,510 --> 00:12:22,530 january 6th that National Guard would 312 00:12:22,540 --> 00:12:26,320 be there to protect trump supporters . 313 00:12:26,700 --> 00:12:28,922 Does the pentagon have any idea what Mr 314 00:12:28,922 --> 00:12:31,144 Meadows might have been talking about , 315 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:33,360 I've seen the press reporting Travis 316 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:36,120 and I don't have anything um specific 317 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,140 to add to that . Um beyond saying that . 318 00:12:39,150 --> 00:12:41,317 And I think you guys know this the D . 319 00:12:41,317 --> 00:12:43,580 C . National Guard did activate roughly 320 00:12:43,580 --> 00:12:46,700 300 personnel On five January to 321 00:12:46,700 --> 00:12:48,589 provide traffic control and crowd 322 00:12:48,589 --> 00:12:50,089 management during expected 323 00:12:50,089 --> 00:12:52,311 demonstrations . That was the task that 324 00:12:52,311 --> 00:12:54,367 they were assigned . But beyond that 325 00:12:54,367 --> 00:12:56,589 I'm I'm not going to speculate or speak 326 00:12:56,589 --> 00:12:58,478 to the work of the committee just 327 00:12:58,478 --> 00:13:00,930 follow up the is there any concern in 328 00:13:00,930 --> 00:13:03,860 the pentagon that things like this 329 00:13:04,340 --> 00:13:07,900 um Risk politicizing the guard that 330 00:13:07,900 --> 00:13:10,011 there's going to be a perception that 331 00:13:10,011 --> 00:13:12,233 somehow the guard was a political actor 332 00:13:12,233 --> 00:13:14,178 in the January six events . Yeah I 333 00:13:14,178 --> 00:13:16,289 think you know this goes back to what 334 00:13:16,289 --> 00:13:18,567 we were talking about a week or so ago . 335 00:13:18,567 --> 00:13:21,880 Um You know with the recent polls and 336 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:24,760 surveys that talk about trust and 337 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:26,816 confidence by the american people in 338 00:13:26,816 --> 00:13:28,538 the military , we're obviously 339 00:13:28,538 --> 00:13:32,170 concerned about that and and we're not 340 00:13:32,170 --> 00:13:34,281 immune to what's going on . As I said 341 00:13:34,281 --> 00:13:36,870 last week in american society . And um 342 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:40,160 we certainly are concerned about 343 00:13:40,270 --> 00:13:43,570 external comments , 344 00:13:43,580 --> 00:13:46,660 external initiatives , external 345 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,930 um proclamations that make it 346 00:13:50,940 --> 00:13:53,960 seem like the U . S . Military is 347 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:56,890 somehow a political organization . It 348 00:13:56,890 --> 00:14:00,720 is not . We pride ourselves on being 349 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:04,630 a political , we served to 350 00:14:04,630 --> 00:14:08,560 defend the entire american 351 00:14:08,560 --> 00:14:12,250 population regardless of who they are , 352 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:15,190 who they decided to vote for if they 353 00:14:15,190 --> 00:14:18,150 decide to vote . Uh So when there's 354 00:14:18,150 --> 00:14:20,060 comments like that made , um it 355 00:14:20,060 --> 00:14:22,930 certainly does very little um to help 356 00:14:22,940 --> 00:14:25,450 reinforce and for the american people , 357 00:14:25,450 --> 00:14:29,170 how seriously we take our obligations 358 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:32,080 uh and the oath that we take to to uh 359 00:14:32,090 --> 00:14:34,257 to support and defend the constitution 360 00:14:34,257 --> 00:14:38,120 um and the the non spoken commitment 361 00:14:38,130 --> 00:14:40,670 that anybody who has served in uniform 362 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:43,650 uh shares which is to to stay as an 363 00:14:43,650 --> 00:14:47,150 institution to stay a political jenny . 364 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:51,950 Mhm . Thank you , john the South 365 00:14:51,950 --> 00:14:54,520 korean Ministry of Defense announced 366 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:57,460 the last weekend , The Defense 367 00:14:57,460 --> 00:15:01,340 Secretary Austin has ordered a review 368 00:15:01,340 --> 00:15:04,860 of the 2nd step . The variation of the 369 00:15:05,510 --> 00:15:09,270 con transition in the spring next 370 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:12,810 year . Is it for the transition 371 00:15:12,810 --> 00:15:16,060 of the early transition of all kinds ? 372 00:15:16,540 --> 00:15:18,762 No jenny . We we've talked about this , 373 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:21,650 the the 374 00:15:23,140 --> 00:15:25,140 what and the Secretary talked about 375 00:15:25,140 --> 00:15:27,760 this woman in South Korea , that um 376 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,650 that uh that both sides agreed to 377 00:15:31,660 --> 00:15:35,220 assess the fo c the full operational 378 00:15:35,230 --> 00:15:38,300 capability uh sometime in the summer 379 00:15:38,300 --> 00:15:41,950 and then um um and to keep on track 380 00:15:41,950 --> 00:15:45,390 with um with progress towards a 381 00:15:45,490 --> 00:15:48,070 con uh and to reassess that in the fall . 382 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:50,280 Um So I I don't have anything new or 383 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:52,610 additional to speak to . We've already 384 00:15:52,620 --> 00:15:54,731 talked about this and he talked about 385 00:15:54,731 --> 00:15:56,898 this quite some length when we were in 386 00:15:56,898 --> 00:15:58,970 Seoul the second question , You have 387 00:15:58,970 --> 00:16:02,860 seen this report listening that North 388 00:16:02,860 --> 00:16:06,530 Korea criticized the new strategic 389 00:16:06,530 --> 00:16:10,370 plan guideline recently agreed 390 00:16:10,370 --> 00:16:13,140 upon by the United States and South 391 00:16:13,140 --> 00:16:16,780 Korea calling it aggression 392 00:16:16,790 --> 00:16:20,050 plan , how did you experience this 393 00:16:20,940 --> 00:16:23,810 are ? I mean we've said this 394 00:16:24,740 --> 00:16:26,740 numerous times , we have no hostile 395 00:16:26,740 --> 00:16:29,450 intent towards the DpRK and 396 00:16:29,770 --> 00:16:33,460 we're obviously prepared to meet 397 00:16:33,940 --> 00:16:37,170 uh without preconditions and we 398 00:16:37,170 --> 00:16:39,170 continue to hope that the Dprk will 399 00:16:39,170 --> 00:16:41,281 respond positively to that outreach . 400 00:16:41,281 --> 00:16:43,560 The administration's outreach . Um our 401 00:16:43,570 --> 00:16:46,630 presence on the peninsula is robust but 402 00:16:46,630 --> 00:16:49,420 it is of a defensive nature in keeping 403 00:16:49,420 --> 00:16:51,587 with our alliance commitments to South 404 00:16:51,587 --> 00:16:53,850 Korea . You're welcome . 405 00:16:55,730 --> 00:16:57,841 Sorry about last week when I couldn't 406 00:16:57,841 --> 00:16:59,952 get online paul from a F . P . Yeah , 407 00:16:59,952 --> 00:17:02,174 no I know who you are . I was wondering 408 00:17:02,174 --> 00:17:02,030 if you were apologizing for . Well 409 00:17:02,030 --> 00:17:04,030 anyway , it gave everyone a laugh I 410 00:17:04,030 --> 00:17:07,190 guess . Um Look uh why is it that the U . 411 00:17:07,190 --> 00:17:09,600 S . Can't sell or won't sell anti 412 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:11,544 aircraft and anti ship missiles to 413 00:17:11,544 --> 00:17:14,790 Ukraine ? Why is that ? We can't sell 414 00:17:14,790 --> 00:17:17,200 or won't sell for them ? They keep 415 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:19,311 talking about them . They keep asking 416 00:17:19,311 --> 00:17:21,478 the U . S . Is not doing it . Look , I 417 00:17:21,478 --> 00:17:23,533 think I would point to , I mean just 418 00:17:23,533 --> 00:17:26,010 recently completed a $60 million 419 00:17:26,530 --> 00:17:28,530 security assistance package , we've 420 00:17:28,530 --> 00:17:32,190 provided more than $450 million On top 421 00:17:32,190 --> 00:17:34,570 of the 2.5 billion that's been provided 422 00:17:34,570 --> 00:17:37,220 to them since 2014 . The United States 423 00:17:37,220 --> 00:17:38,998 is committed and this is across 424 00:17:38,998 --> 00:17:41,300 administrations committed to assisting 425 00:17:41,300 --> 00:17:43,680 Ukraine with their self defense needs . 426 00:17:43,690 --> 00:17:47,150 This is also the subject of Uh constant 427 00:17:47,150 --> 00:17:48,706 dialogue with our Ukrainian 428 00:17:48,706 --> 00:17:51,410 counterparts um about what they need 429 00:17:51,410 --> 00:17:54,100 and about uh what what we can provide 430 00:17:54,100 --> 00:17:56,267 to help them with that . I'm not gonna 431 00:17:56,267 --> 00:17:58,322 get into specific articles , we just 432 00:17:58,322 --> 00:18:00,489 completed a $60 million dollar package 433 00:18:00,489 --> 00:18:02,656 that and that was I think we completed 434 00:18:02,656 --> 00:18:04,878 the last delivery , I think it was last 435 00:18:04,878 --> 00:18:07,156 week of some small arms and ammunition , 436 00:18:07,156 --> 00:18:09,156 but they were patrol class . Uh I'm 437 00:18:09,156 --> 00:18:11,390 sorry , um small patrol boats as part 438 00:18:11,390 --> 00:18:13,500 of that , there was Javelin missiles 439 00:18:13,500 --> 00:18:16,300 that were a part of that . Um so we are 440 00:18:16,300 --> 00:18:19,410 willing to consider a spate of 441 00:18:19,410 --> 00:18:21,243 capabilities to help them defend 442 00:18:21,243 --> 00:18:23,410 themselves . But again , I'm not gonna 443 00:18:23,410 --> 00:18:25,410 get ahead of decisions that haven't 444 00:18:25,410 --> 00:18:27,632 been made yet and I'm I'm certainly not 445 00:18:27,632 --> 00:18:29,521 going to get into a an individual 446 00:18:29,521 --> 00:18:31,410 articulation of of all of all the 447 00:18:31,410 --> 00:18:33,188 points they need those kinds of 448 00:18:33,188 --> 00:18:34,966 articles that again , this is a 449 00:18:34,966 --> 00:18:34,660 discussion that we are constantly 450 00:18:34,660 --> 00:18:37,010 having with Ukraine about about how 451 00:18:37,010 --> 00:18:39,232 best to meet their self defense needs . 452 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:43,970 The report that Iran is preparing a 453 00:18:43,970 --> 00:18:46,200 missile launch of some type . Does the 454 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:48,033 pentagon have anything on that ? 455 00:18:48,033 --> 00:18:50,311 Whether that could be an I . C . B . M . 456 00:18:50,311 --> 00:18:52,550 Or it's just a satellite launch missile 457 00:18:53,140 --> 00:18:55,150 seen reports on this . Not going to 458 00:18:55,150 --> 00:18:57,372 talk about intelligence assessments . I 459 00:18:57,372 --> 00:19:00,310 would just say that we were mindful 460 00:19:00,310 --> 00:19:02,530 that Iran's ballistic missile program 461 00:19:02,530 --> 00:19:05,770 has improved over recent years . 462 00:19:06,140 --> 00:19:08,251 There's no question about that and it 463 00:19:08,251 --> 00:19:10,990 remains that capability remains a 464 00:19:10,990 --> 00:19:13,460 threat to our interests and the 465 00:19:13,460 --> 00:19:15,571 interests , the security interests of 466 00:19:15,571 --> 00:19:17,516 our partners in the region . We're 467 00:19:17,516 --> 00:19:19,890 gonna watch us closely And paul more 468 00:19:19,890 --> 00:19:22,112 critically , we're gonna make sure just 469 00:19:22,112 --> 00:19:24,168 when the Secretary was out there not 470 00:19:24,168 --> 00:19:26,334 long ago , I want to make sure that we 471 00:19:26,334 --> 00:19:28,446 have the capabilities that we need to 472 00:19:28,446 --> 00:19:30,557 defend our interests in the region uh 473 00:19:30,557 --> 00:19:29,970 and to assist our allies and partners 474 00:19:29,970 --> 00:19:33,920 doing the same . Thanks , john , good 475 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:36,031 afternoon . Over the weekend , one of 476 00:19:36,031 --> 00:19:38,500 your Kremlin counterparts , Dmitry 477 00:19:38,510 --> 00:19:41,450 Peskov uh said there were quote very 478 00:19:41,450 --> 00:19:43,730 serious conceptual differences , 479 00:19:43,740 --> 00:19:46,020 conceptual differences john between 480 00:19:46,020 --> 00:19:48,187 Russia and the United States regarding 481 00:19:48,187 --> 00:19:50,409 Moscow's red lines and NATO's red lines 482 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:52,790 in the Ukraine . Now , I'm not asking 483 00:19:52,790 --> 00:19:56,050 you to get into the head Mr Peskov , 484 00:19:56,060 --> 00:19:59,650 but I'm asking you do you think the 485 00:19:59,650 --> 00:20:01,817 United States and the Pentagon and our 486 00:20:01,817 --> 00:20:04,039 allies have been clear to Russia as the 487 00:20:04,039 --> 00:20:05,928 regard of red lines or where they 488 00:20:05,928 --> 00:20:09,000 should not be going in Ukraine , couple 489 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,167 of thoughts there . Tom First of all , 490 00:20:11,167 --> 00:20:13,333 I wouldn't speak for our allies . They 491 00:20:13,333 --> 00:20:15,444 can speak for themselves and whatever 492 00:20:15,444 --> 00:20:17,722 messages they've delivered to Mr Putin , 493 00:20:17,722 --> 00:20:20,320 um I would point you back to President 494 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:23,000 biden's conversation last week and the 495 00:20:23,010 --> 00:20:25,790 readout of that by my colleagues at the 496 00:20:25,790 --> 00:20:29,460 White House uh in which it was made 497 00:20:29,460 --> 00:20:32,020 clear , National Security adviser , 498 00:20:32,020 --> 00:20:33,853 Jake Sullivan said this that the 499 00:20:33,853 --> 00:20:35,798 President was very direct and very 500 00:20:35,798 --> 00:20:37,853 candid about our concerns about what 501 00:20:37,853 --> 00:20:41,570 we're seeing there and and and 502 00:20:41,580 --> 00:20:44,090 the lack of clarity by Russia , in 503 00:20:44,090 --> 00:20:46,034 terms of what they're what they're 504 00:20:46,034 --> 00:20:47,812 intending to do and the kind of 505 00:20:47,812 --> 00:20:49,701 consequences that would come as a 506 00:20:49,701 --> 00:20:52,260 result of any another incursion by by 507 00:20:52,260 --> 00:20:54,810 Mr Putin saying there's a lack of 508 00:20:54,820 --> 00:20:57,140 clarity by Moscow on this , you said 509 00:20:57,140 --> 00:20:59,362 that several times , would that perhaps 510 00:20:59,362 --> 00:21:01,251 be the source of these conceptual 511 00:21:01,251 --> 00:21:03,584 differences ? You have to ask Mr Peskov , 512 00:21:03,584 --> 00:21:05,696 that I think the President was very , 513 00:21:05,696 --> 00:21:08,350 very clear with Mr Putin about what our 514 00:21:08,350 --> 00:21:10,620 concerns were and about the kinds of 515 00:21:10,620 --> 00:21:12,620 consequences that would result from 516 00:21:12,620 --> 00:21:14,620 another incursion carla . It's just 517 00:21:14,620 --> 00:21:17,030 real quick clarification on Afghanistan . 518 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:19,400 So , following these questions to the 519 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:21,511 Secretary , General Mackenzie did not 520 00:21:21,511 --> 00:21:23,780 recommend punishment after the errant 521 00:21:23,780 --> 00:21:25,800 strike , and Secretary Austin has 522 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:27,856 concurred with that . So it would be 523 00:21:27,856 --> 00:21:29,911 accurate for us to go and report now 524 00:21:29,911 --> 00:21:32,022 that Secretary Austin is not going to 525 00:21:32,022 --> 00:21:33,911 issue any punishment for military 526 00:21:33,911 --> 00:21:35,800 service members involved would be 527 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:38,210 accurate for you to report that uh that 528 00:21:38,220 --> 00:21:41,490 the Secretary approved the 529 00:21:41,500 --> 00:21:43,556 recommendations made by both General 530 00:21:43,556 --> 00:21:45,820 clark and General Mackenzie as to how 531 00:21:45,820 --> 00:21:48,070 they were going to implement procedural 532 00:21:48,070 --> 00:21:50,200 changes . The kinds of changes that 533 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:53,250 were recommended by general side in the 534 00:21:53,250 --> 00:21:55,530 recommendations proffered by General 535 00:21:55,530 --> 00:21:57,474 Mackenzie and General clark to the 536 00:21:57,474 --> 00:21:59,474 Secretary . There were none dealing 537 00:21:59,474 --> 00:22:01,474 with accountability . The Secretary 538 00:22:01,474 --> 00:22:03,641 accepted the recommendations that they 539 00:22:03,641 --> 00:22:05,752 did make . So you'd be okay to report 540 00:22:05,752 --> 00:22:09,040 that the secretaries , uh 541 00:22:09,050 --> 00:22:12,620 not approving or calling for additional 542 00:22:12,620 --> 00:22:14,980 accountability measures that does that 543 00:22:14,980 --> 00:22:18,620 help ? Okay . And then lastly , um just 544 00:22:18,620 --> 00:22:20,850 really quickly on this cyber concern 545 00:22:20,850 --> 00:22:22,850 that came out with a sizable issued 546 00:22:22,850 --> 00:22:25,017 over the weekend . What's d o d trying 547 00:22:25,017 --> 00:22:27,370 to do to counter this this um concerned 548 00:22:27,370 --> 00:22:29,592 with software usage that can be used to 549 00:22:29,592 --> 00:22:31,870 get into computers . Has has D . O . D . 550 00:22:31,870 --> 00:22:33,814 Already started working on this in 551 00:22:33,814 --> 00:22:35,926 coordination with Siza . I don't know 552 00:22:35,926 --> 00:22:38,037 anything specific on that . Obviously 553 00:22:38,037 --> 00:22:40,650 we are always mindful of the cyber 554 00:22:40,650 --> 00:22:44,270 threat . Um and our networks are are 555 00:22:44,270 --> 00:22:46,770 constantly assaulted by any means of 556 00:22:46,770 --> 00:22:49,290 cyber actors out there . So we work 557 00:22:49,290 --> 00:22:51,346 very very hard at our own resilience 558 00:22:51,346 --> 00:22:53,179 and making sure that we have the 559 00:22:53,179 --> 00:22:55,179 capabilities that we need to defend 560 00:22:55,179 --> 00:22:57,234 ourselves in the cyber realm . But I 561 00:22:57,234 --> 00:22:59,080 won't speak to specifics or on 562 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:01,247 Afghanistan . It was about a month ago 563 00:23:01,247 --> 00:23:03,302 that Austin had said leaders in this 564 00:23:03,302 --> 00:23:05,358 department should be held to account 565 00:23:05,358 --> 00:23:04,800 for high standards of conduct and 566 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:06,967 leadership that he has every intent to 567 00:23:06,967 --> 00:23:09,240 uphold that standard . Why not then 568 00:23:09,250 --> 00:23:11,028 push harder for some measure of 569 00:23:11,028 --> 00:23:13,194 accountability here ? And what message 570 00:23:13,194 --> 00:23:15,194 does it send to the family of those 571 00:23:15,194 --> 00:23:18,690 killed in the strike ? If the secretary 572 00:23:18,690 --> 00:23:22,530 believed that in the case of the 29 573 00:23:22,530 --> 00:23:25,510 August Airstrike , that accountability 574 00:23:25,510 --> 00:23:29,220 was was warranted and needed . Um He 575 00:23:29,230 --> 00:23:31,800 would certainly support those kinds of 576 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:35,730 efforts . Um As general side briefed 577 00:23:35,730 --> 00:23:39,510 you and um and as we 578 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:41,730 discovered when when again the two 579 00:23:41,740 --> 00:23:43,740 combatant commanders took a look at 580 00:23:43,740 --> 00:23:46,300 general sales report , what we saw here 581 00:23:46,300 --> 00:23:49,270 was a breakdown in process 582 00:23:49,940 --> 00:23:52,500 um and execution and procedural 583 00:23:52,510 --> 00:23:56,010 uh procedural 584 00:23:56,010 --> 00:23:58,960 events , not um 585 00:23:59,940 --> 00:24:02,850 not the result of negligence , not the 586 00:24:02,850 --> 00:24:05,070 result of misconduct , not the result 587 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:08,560 of of of poor 588 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:12,330 leadership . Um So I mean 589 00:24:12,330 --> 00:24:14,780 I I understand . Um and I believe dr 590 00:24:14,780 --> 00:24:17,850 Kwan has been quoted about this outcome 591 00:24:17,860 --> 00:24:20,310 in at least one press report and you 592 00:24:20,310 --> 00:24:23,170 know , we certainly understand the 593 00:24:23,180 --> 00:24:26,790 concerns that he expressed and and we 594 00:24:26,790 --> 00:24:29,630 know that there will be some who who 595 00:24:29,740 --> 00:24:32,110 don't like this particular decision , 596 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:36,560 but it wasn't an outcome that we came 597 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:38,500 to without careful thought and 598 00:24:38,500 --> 00:24:41,830 consideration . Um That's why 599 00:24:42,340 --> 00:24:44,340 the Secretary wanted an independent 600 00:24:44,340 --> 00:24:46,451 review of the air strike in the first 601 00:24:46,451 --> 00:24:49,140 place . Um And Secretary Kendall tasked 602 00:24:49,140 --> 00:24:51,580 it to his Inspector General because 603 00:24:51,590 --> 00:24:53,534 specifically because the Air Force 604 00:24:53,534 --> 00:24:55,868 Inspector General has such independence . 605 00:24:55,868 --> 00:24:58,034 And you heard General say if if at any 606 00:24:58,034 --> 00:25:00,201 time in his review and investigation , 607 00:25:00,201 --> 00:25:02,460 he would have found that there was a 608 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,000 deliberate poor leadership . That there 609 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:07,130 was negligence , that there was a 610 00:25:07,140 --> 00:25:08,973 criminal conduct , he would have 611 00:25:08,973 --> 00:25:11,084 started yet another investigation . I 612 00:25:11,084 --> 00:25:13,196 mean , that was one of the advantages 613 00:25:13,196 --> 00:25:15,307 of having the Air Force I . G look at 614 00:25:15,307 --> 00:25:17,251 this . And then when the Secretary 615 00:25:17,251 --> 00:25:19,362 transmitted that investigation to the 616 00:25:19,362 --> 00:25:21,196 to four stars uh relevant here . 617 00:25:21,196 --> 00:25:23,307 General Clark and General Mackenzie , 618 00:25:23,307 --> 00:25:25,362 they too looked at the full spate of 619 00:25:25,362 --> 00:25:27,362 general sides work . And uh and the 620 00:25:27,362 --> 00:25:29,584 Secretary invited them to to look at it 621 00:25:29,584 --> 00:25:31,696 uh in in the broadest sense that they 622 00:25:31,696 --> 00:25:33,696 could to include if if they believe 623 00:25:33,696 --> 00:25:35,696 there were issues of accountability 624 00:25:35,696 --> 00:25:37,751 that needed to be needed to be had . 625 00:25:37,751 --> 00:25:39,918 And both of them came back without any 626 00:25:39,918 --> 00:25:42,084 such recommendation . So it's it's not 627 00:25:42,084 --> 00:25:44,130 that this wasn't That the issue of 628 00:25:44,130 --> 00:25:46,650 accountability was was not looked at 629 00:25:46,650 --> 00:25:48,960 seriously and considered seriously . It 630 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:51,740 absolutely was . But in this case and 631 00:25:51,740 --> 00:25:53,629 in the context of this particular 632 00:25:53,629 --> 00:25:55,796 strike , just a few days after we lost 633 00:25:55,796 --> 00:25:57,980 13 service members at Abbey gate and 634 00:25:57,980 --> 00:26:00,202 just a few days before we were going to 635 00:26:00,202 --> 00:26:01,813 complete our withdrawal from 636 00:26:01,813 --> 00:26:03,924 Afghanistan . The context of the very 637 00:26:03,924 --> 00:26:06,300 real threats that we faced . In fact 638 00:26:06,310 --> 00:26:09,480 quite tangible threats by ISIS uh in 639 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:12,010 Afghanistan . Um all of that factored 640 00:26:12,010 --> 00:26:14,700 into to the decision that that yes 641 00:26:14,700 --> 00:26:16,922 there were procedural changes that need 642 00:26:16,922 --> 00:26:18,811 to occur and will occur . Process 643 00:26:18,811 --> 00:26:20,867 improvements absolutely will occur . 644 00:26:20,867 --> 00:26:23,310 But in this particular case uh that 645 00:26:23,310 --> 00:26:26,040 there was not a strong enough case to 646 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:28,840 be made for personal accountability . 647 00:26:29,170 --> 00:26:31,392 But that doesn't mean that , you know , 648 00:26:31,392 --> 00:26:34,300 and that uh that the department is 649 00:26:34,300 --> 00:26:36,890 turning a blind eye to a high standard 650 00:26:36,890 --> 00:26:38,668 of conduct and leadership . The 651 00:26:38,668 --> 00:26:41,001 secretary was earnest when he said that . 652 00:26:41,001 --> 00:26:43,168 And it's just that you have to look at 653 00:26:43,168 --> 00:26:45,334 it in time and space . And you have to 654 00:26:45,334 --> 00:26:47,501 look at this particular strike and not 655 00:26:47,501 --> 00:26:49,780 draw broader wider conclusions about 656 00:26:49,790 --> 00:26:51,846 accountability and high standards of 657 00:26:51,846 --> 00:26:54,730 conduct Based on this one outcome . It 658 00:26:54,730 --> 00:26:57,063 was thought through very very carefully . 659 00:26:58,620 --> 00:27:00,676 Could you please give us some update 660 00:27:00,676 --> 00:27:02,676 about afghan refugees . How many of 661 00:27:02,676 --> 00:27:04,898 them still in the military camps at the 662 00:27:04,898 --> 00:27:07,550 United States and how many of them has 663 00:27:07,550 --> 00:27:08,883 been resettled ? Yeah . 664 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:12,760 Um let's see . 665 00:27:17,540 --> 00:27:21,130 So We're currently hosting nearly 666 00:27:21,130 --> 00:27:24,960 31,000 Individuals at our seven 667 00:27:25,770 --> 00:27:29,620 domestic U . S . Bases . More than 30 . 668 00:27:29,630 --> 00:27:31,850 I'm gonna get my glasses here . It's 669 00:27:31,850 --> 00:27:35,460 not big enough guys . More than 38,000 670 00:27:35,460 --> 00:27:39,350 Afghans , american citizens and lawful 671 00:27:39,350 --> 00:27:41,572 permanent residents have been relocated 672 00:27:41,572 --> 00:27:43,406 from these military bases to new 673 00:27:43,406 --> 00:27:45,406 communities across the country . So 674 00:27:45,406 --> 00:27:48,910 more have been relocated than we now 675 00:27:48,910 --> 00:27:52,810 have at at our seven basis and we 676 00:27:52,810 --> 00:27:55,860 continue to work with with nonprofits 677 00:27:55,860 --> 00:27:57,916 and aid organizations as well as the 678 00:27:57,916 --> 00:27:59,971 State Department and DHS to continue 679 00:27:59,971 --> 00:28:02,130 the relocation of of the remaining 680 00:28:02,140 --> 00:28:04,560 afghans . You're welcome . Let me 681 00:28:05,930 --> 00:28:08,170 seven safe haven locations here in the 682 00:28:08,170 --> 00:28:10,226 United States . I should know this . 683 00:28:10,226 --> 00:28:12,337 But there's not an overseas anymore . 684 00:28:12,337 --> 00:28:16,020 Not anymore . Okay , 685 00:28:16,030 --> 00:28:18,086 thank you , pardon my interruption . 686 00:28:18,086 --> 00:28:19,697 And this is not gonna strike 687 00:28:19,697 --> 00:28:22,030 specifically . But you said in response , 688 00:28:22,030 --> 00:28:23,641 you know , there was a , I'm 689 00:28:23,641 --> 00:28:25,419 paraphrasing you slightly and I 690 00:28:25,419 --> 00:28:27,586 apologize for that , that there was an 691 00:28:27,586 --> 00:28:29,752 imminent threat . And that was part of 692 00:28:29,752 --> 00:28:31,697 the reason why the drug strike was 693 00:28:31,697 --> 00:28:33,863 launched ? We've heard that many times 694 00:28:33,863 --> 00:28:37,090 of since the drone strike took out the 695 00:28:37,090 --> 00:28:41,080 wrong individuals . That threat 696 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:43,191 should have still been existing . Did 697 00:28:43,191 --> 00:28:45,413 that threat never materialized ? And if 698 00:28:45,413 --> 00:28:47,358 so was it , what did I realize you 699 00:28:47,358 --> 00:28:49,413 can't talk about intelligence or did 700 00:28:49,413 --> 00:28:51,469 that threat never then materialize . 701 00:28:51,469 --> 00:28:53,524 That's a question that you all asked 702 00:28:53,524 --> 00:28:55,747 General Mackenzie and and I I'd have to 703 00:28:55,747 --> 00:28:57,969 go back and look at the transcript . So 704 00:28:57,969 --> 00:29:00,024 but my understanding was he told you 705 00:29:00,024 --> 00:29:01,858 there's no way they would know , 706 00:29:01,858 --> 00:29:03,913 there's no way to know the answer to 707 00:29:03,913 --> 00:29:06,260 that question because there was now 708 00:29:06,260 --> 00:29:09,840 that later that night or the day after 709 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:12,062 there were rocket attacks on the on the 710 00:29:12,062 --> 00:29:14,173 airfield . But they weren't just that 711 00:29:14,173 --> 00:29:16,340 wasn't the same kind of threat That we 712 00:29:16,340 --> 00:29:18,507 were dealing with on the 29th . Um and 713 00:29:18,507 --> 00:29:20,396 I you know , you can't disprove a 714 00:29:20,396 --> 00:29:22,562 negative here so I just don't know the 715 00:29:22,562 --> 00:29:25,570 answer to your question . Hey john 716 00:29:25,580 --> 00:29:27,802 thanks . You talked about regarding the 717 00:29:27,802 --> 00:29:29,913 drone strike , how we have to look at 718 00:29:29,913 --> 00:29:31,969 this one specific drone strike . But 719 00:29:31,969 --> 00:29:34,080 earlier this month there was a strike 720 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:36,191 in Syria where centcom reported there 721 00:29:36,191 --> 00:29:38,191 were possible civilian casualties . 722 00:29:38,191 --> 00:29:40,191 Secretary Austin spoke agreed to an 723 00:29:40,191 --> 00:29:42,080 investigation into the March 2019 724 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:43,969 strike in Syria . Can you speak a 725 00:29:43,969 --> 00:29:47,360 little bit about sort of these ongoing 726 00:29:47,370 --> 00:29:49,460 occurrences of investigations into 727 00:29:49,470 --> 00:29:51,670 strike mishaps and talk about the 728 00:29:51,670 --> 00:29:55,370 broader conception ? Yeah . And I'll 729 00:29:55,370 --> 00:29:58,450 try if I don't get it to you , you let 730 00:29:58,450 --> 00:30:01,030 me know um I won't speak to what he's 731 00:30:01,030 --> 00:30:03,030 already ordered in terms of reviews 732 00:30:03,030 --> 00:30:05,197 investigations on March 2019 19 that's 733 00:30:05,197 --> 00:30:08,450 ongoing . So I can't speak to that . Um 734 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:11,960 uh Mhm . There there 735 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:15,460 was potential for the one that was just 736 00:30:15,470 --> 00:30:17,920 just occurred I think december 3rd and 737 00:30:17,930 --> 00:30:20,152 uh saying com is still reviewing that . 738 00:30:20,152 --> 00:30:22,350 So I won't get ahead of that . But 739 00:30:23,340 --> 00:30:25,530 broadly speaking and you heard the 740 00:30:25,530 --> 00:30:27,641 secretary when he was up here talking 741 00:30:27,641 --> 00:30:29,870 about this not long ago , um we take 742 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:32,050 issues of civilian harm very seriously 743 00:30:32,060 --> 00:30:35,050 and as the secretary said himself , um 744 00:30:35,060 --> 00:30:38,800 we're not gonna be above or afraid to 745 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:42,460 make changes to the way we analyze 746 00:30:42,460 --> 00:30:44,540 information and intelligence act on 747 00:30:44,540 --> 00:30:47,840 that intelligence target and actually 748 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:50,640 the actual execution procedures of a 749 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:52,751 strike . We're not gonna be afraid to 750 00:30:52,751 --> 00:30:54,751 make changes Now . I don't have any 751 00:30:54,751 --> 00:30:56,807 changes to speak to today . Um but I 752 00:30:56,807 --> 00:30:58,862 can assure you that the secretary is 753 00:30:58,862 --> 00:31:01,910 taking this very seriously and uh he 754 00:31:01,910 --> 00:31:05,840 will be informed um whatever whatever 755 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:07,784 outcomes come of this , whether he 756 00:31:07,784 --> 00:31:09,396 makes changes or not or what 757 00:31:09,396 --> 00:31:11,618 improvements might be made , he will be 758 00:31:11,618 --> 00:31:13,840 informed by what happened on the 29th . 759 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:15,618 He will be informed by whatever 760 00:31:15,618 --> 00:31:17,562 centcom's finds as a result of the 761 00:31:17,562 --> 00:31:19,784 strike that just occurred And certainly 762 00:31:19,784 --> 00:31:22,450 informed by the review that he's asked 763 00:31:22,450 --> 00:31:24,670 for into the March 2019 . I think he 764 00:31:24,670 --> 00:31:28,530 will also be informed by uh 765 00:31:28,540 --> 00:31:30,910 the work that ran did on behalf of the 766 00:31:30,910 --> 00:31:34,440 department as a result of uh national 767 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:36,760 defense legislation that required a 768 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:38,770 study and an assessment of the 769 00:31:38,770 --> 00:31:40,937 department's efforts to avoid civilian 770 00:31:40,937 --> 00:31:42,937 harm . He's working his way through 771 00:31:42,937 --> 00:31:45,159 that right now . I think that will also 772 00:31:45,159 --> 00:31:47,390 inform a lot . So um I think you'll 773 00:31:47,390 --> 00:31:49,557 continue to hear from the secretary on 774 00:31:49,557 --> 00:31:51,668 this issue . Again , I don't have any 775 00:31:51,668 --> 00:31:53,723 specifics to say today , but this is 776 00:31:53,723 --> 00:31:55,723 something he's very mindful of . We 777 00:31:55,723 --> 00:31:57,890 know , we have to as he said himself , 778 00:31:57,890 --> 00:31:59,946 you know , we we worked very hard to 779 00:31:59,946 --> 00:32:02,710 avoid civilian harm . Obviously there's 780 00:32:02,710 --> 00:32:04,766 gonna be ways we have to work harder 781 00:32:04,766 --> 00:32:06,932 and and he's willing to admit that and 782 00:32:06,932 --> 00:32:09,040 um and as we can talk about those 783 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:11,096 things and not everything will we be 784 00:32:11,096 --> 00:32:13,318 able to speak to ? We certainly will be 785 00:32:13,318 --> 00:32:15,900 as transparent about it as we can . The 786 00:32:15,910 --> 00:32:17,810 head of any I the nutrition and 787 00:32:17,810 --> 00:32:20,800 educational international Dr steven 788 00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:24,580 Kwan is quoted as saying that the US 789 00:32:24,580 --> 00:32:27,630 military is not fulfilling his promise 790 00:32:27,630 --> 00:32:29,741 with regards to express your payments 791 00:32:29,741 --> 00:32:31,950 and removing this family . He says 792 00:32:31,950 --> 00:32:34,228 quote , I've been beseeching the U . S . 793 00:32:34,228 --> 00:32:36,006 Government to evacuate directly 794 00:32:36,006 --> 00:32:37,894 impacted family members and any I 795 00:32:37,894 --> 00:32:39,839 employees for months because their 796 00:32:39,839 --> 00:32:42,390 security situation is so dire . Why are 797 00:32:42,390 --> 00:32:45,100 those family members members of any I 798 00:32:45,110 --> 00:32:47,166 why have they not been evacuated and 799 00:32:47,166 --> 00:32:49,277 why have the payments not been made ? 800 00:32:49,277 --> 00:32:51,388 We are working very hard with him and 801 00:32:51,388 --> 00:32:53,110 his organization to affect the 802 00:32:53,110 --> 00:32:56,070 relocation of the family members . 803 00:32:56,590 --> 00:33:00,050 And I think as you I can understand 804 00:33:00,830 --> 00:33:03,440 with respect to an ex gratia payment 805 00:33:03,500 --> 00:33:05,778 which we're absolutely willing to make . 806 00:33:05,890 --> 00:33:08,020 We want to make sure that we do it in 807 00:33:08,020 --> 00:33:10,890 the most safe and responsible way so 808 00:33:10,890 --> 00:33:14,600 that we know it's getting to the right 809 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:16,711 people and only to the right people . 810 00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:20,210 So as I said at the outset uh doctor 811 00:33:20,210 --> 00:33:22,700 call uh the undersecretary of Defense 812 00:33:22,700 --> 00:33:24,860 for policy is personally working this 813 00:33:24,860 --> 00:33:27,270 with dr Kwan and his team . Um and he 814 00:33:27,270 --> 00:33:29,603 continues to stay at it very diligently . 815 00:33:29,610 --> 00:33:32,270 Uh Believe me , we 816 00:33:33,640 --> 00:33:36,210 we share the concern very much 817 00:33:36,370 --> 00:33:39,790 that that these family 818 00:33:39,790 --> 00:33:42,160 members can leave Afghanistan as 819 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:44,327 quickly as possible , but we also want 820 00:33:44,327 --> 00:33:46,549 to make sure it's as safe as possible . 821 00:33:47,140 --> 00:33:49,140 Uh Paul already got you . I haven't 822 00:33:49,140 --> 00:33:51,362 gotten hardly anybody on the phone . So 823 00:33:51,362 --> 00:33:53,362 let me just take a few on the phone 824 00:33:53,362 --> 00:33:57,200 here , joe Talbot Sky News . Yeah . Hi 825 00:33:57,210 --> 00:33:59,377 john , thanks for taking my question . 826 00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:01,690 So I would like to get an update from 827 00:34:01,690 --> 00:34:05,530 you about ap story that thousands of 828 00:34:05,540 --> 00:34:08,630 military explosives From the US 829 00:34:08,630 --> 00:34:11,080 military has been stolen over the last 830 00:34:11,090 --> 00:34:13,257 10 years . I don't know if you have an 831 00:34:13,257 --> 00:34:16,750 update on that for that . We 832 00:34:16,750 --> 00:34:19,080 commented for that story , joe I mean 833 00:34:19,090 --> 00:34:22,610 uh obviously we don't want to see any 834 00:34:23,330 --> 00:34:27,150 stolen explosives end up outside of our 835 00:34:27,150 --> 00:34:30,750 control . We're not um disputing 836 00:34:31,140 --> 00:34:34,690 uh that uh that there have been losses 837 00:34:34,690 --> 00:34:36,912 of that kind . They are very very small 838 00:34:36,912 --> 00:34:38,857 in number . That doesn't mean that 839 00:34:38,857 --> 00:34:41,023 we're minimizing it don't I don't want 840 00:34:41,023 --> 00:34:43,301 anybody taking anything away from that , 841 00:34:43,301 --> 00:34:45,523 but they're small in number . Um and uh 842 00:34:45,523 --> 00:34:48,100 and again we recognize that uh um uh 843 00:34:48,110 --> 00:34:52,020 that that any any loss is an issue . 844 00:34:52,020 --> 00:34:54,242 And and we take it seriously and we are 845 00:34:54,242 --> 00:34:56,464 constantly reviewing and continue to do 846 00:34:56,464 --> 00:34:58,540 so uh constantly reviewing our 847 00:34:58,540 --> 00:35:00,596 procedures and our protocols to make 848 00:35:00,596 --> 00:35:02,762 sure that we can minimize those losses 849 00:35:02,762 --> 00:35:05,470 as much as possible . Kaunda martian 850 00:35:05,780 --> 00:35:09,500 martian post . Hi john . Um So could 851 00:35:09,500 --> 00:35:11,667 you go into any more detail about what 852 00:35:11,667 --> 00:35:13,840 the recommendations from Mackenzie and 853 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:15,990 and they actually were , I mean if if 854 00:35:15,990 --> 00:35:17,934 there's no recommendation , it was 855 00:35:17,934 --> 00:35:19,934 silent on accountability . What did 856 00:35:19,934 --> 00:35:22,046 Mackenzie and Clark actually say that 857 00:35:22,046 --> 00:35:24,101 they did recommend either in lieu of 858 00:35:24,101 --> 00:35:25,879 that or instead of that ? Their 859 00:35:25,879 --> 00:35:27,823 recommendations were largely along 860 00:35:27,823 --> 00:35:31,570 improving um uh processes that get 861 00:35:31,570 --> 00:35:35,510 to uh the analysis of intelligence that 862 00:35:35,510 --> 00:35:37,510 goes into conducting these kinds of 863 00:35:37,510 --> 00:35:39,510 strikes . And again , this wasn't a 864 00:35:39,510 --> 00:35:41,732 what we call a classic over the horizon 865 00:35:41,732 --> 00:35:44,960 strike on 29 August where you have time 866 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:47,127 to soak a target with intelligence and 867 00:35:47,127 --> 00:35:49,349 time to determine pattern of life of an 868 00:35:49,349 --> 00:35:52,200 individual or individuals uh and 869 00:35:52,200 --> 00:35:55,420 threats . Um This was a dynamic 870 00:35:55,420 --> 00:35:57,730 situation in which we were uh we 871 00:35:57,730 --> 00:35:59,786 believed we were dealing with a very 872 00:35:59,786 --> 00:36:03,440 active uh tangible threat on that day 873 00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:05,440 to our people and to afghans at the 874 00:36:05,440 --> 00:36:07,180 airport . So they recommended 875 00:36:07,180 --> 00:36:09,380 procedural changes for how the 876 00:36:09,380 --> 00:36:11,630 intelligence is gathered , analyzed , 877 00:36:11,630 --> 00:36:14,440 shared , assessed and and developed 878 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:18,300 into uh targeting solutions and 879 00:36:18,300 --> 00:36:20,280 how the process of communication 880 00:36:20,280 --> 00:36:22,840 between all the nodes is done . I I 881 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:25,110 really can't go into more detail than 882 00:36:25,110 --> 00:36:26,999 that Karun because as I mentioned 883 00:36:26,999 --> 00:36:29,240 earlier , uh their recommendations were 884 00:36:29,240 --> 00:36:31,296 of a classified nature as you as you 885 00:36:31,296 --> 00:36:33,920 can imagine , we don't exactly want to 886 00:36:33,920 --> 00:36:36,800 be telegraphing all the changes that 887 00:36:36,800 --> 00:36:39,022 we're going to try to put in place here 888 00:36:39,022 --> 00:36:41,189 to avoid civilian harm in the future , 889 00:36:42,130 --> 00:36:43,241 jennifer steinhauer 890 00:36:50,630 --> 00:36:53,900 going once . Okay , we'll move on , 891 00:36:53,900 --> 00:36:56,110 jennifer if we get you back , jump on 892 00:36:56,110 --> 00:37:00,110 in Caitlin from stars and stripes . Hi 893 00:37:00,110 --> 00:37:02,850 john um , the on back to the 894 00:37:02,850 --> 00:37:04,990 Afghanistan thing um , it said that 895 00:37:04,990 --> 00:37:07,157 commanders would be the ones to decide 896 00:37:07,157 --> 00:37:09,950 whether or not um , people will be held 897 00:37:09,950 --> 00:37:12,330 accountable . Now that Mackenzie and 898 00:37:12,330 --> 00:37:14,490 Clark has , has essentially not said 899 00:37:14,490 --> 00:37:16,601 anything whether or not people can be 900 00:37:16,601 --> 00:37:18,823 held accountable . Can commanders lower 901 00:37:18,823 --> 00:37:20,879 than them hold troops accountable in 902 00:37:20,879 --> 00:37:23,040 that strike . That's a question that 903 00:37:23,040 --> 00:37:24,984 you probably should put to General 904 00:37:24,984 --> 00:37:28,010 Mackenzie and General Clark Caitlin . 905 00:37:28,020 --> 00:37:31,280 Um , it was , it was up to them to make 906 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:33,447 recommendations based on general sides 907 00:37:33,447 --> 00:37:35,850 investigation . Um , and they did that 908 00:37:35,860 --> 00:37:38,027 they did not make recommendations with 909 00:37:38,027 --> 00:37:40,082 respect to accountability . And as I 910 00:37:40,082 --> 00:37:41,971 said , the secretary accepted the 911 00:37:41,971 --> 00:37:44,193 recommendations that they did make . Um 912 00:37:44,193 --> 00:37:46,360 whether or not there could be anything 913 00:37:46,360 --> 00:37:48,471 additional below General Mackenzie or 914 00:37:48,471 --> 00:37:50,638 General Clark is really a question for 915 00:37:50,638 --> 00:37:52,804 General Mackenzie and General Clark to 916 00:37:52,804 --> 00:37:54,971 speak to . Yeah , paul , Hi , you said 917 00:37:54,971 --> 00:37:57,290 the pentagon takes civilian casualty 918 00:37:57,300 --> 00:37:59,370 risks seriously . But the new york 919 00:37:59,370 --> 00:38:03,000 Times is depicted a secret unit uh , 920 00:38:03,010 --> 00:38:05,260 launching drone strikes in Syria . That 921 00:38:05,260 --> 00:38:08,420 was absolutely callous toward civilian 922 00:38:08,430 --> 00:38:11,840 casualties and those things don't seem 923 00:38:11,840 --> 00:38:14,007 to jive . And then when you have these 924 00:38:14,007 --> 00:38:17,940 multiple cases of where civilians 925 00:38:17,940 --> 00:38:19,884 have been killed , Where there are 926 00:38:19,884 --> 00:38:22,840 questions , what do you say ? The new 927 00:38:22,840 --> 00:38:25,010 york Times report that the pentagon 928 00:38:25,010 --> 00:38:27,370 actually had a unit that didn't really 929 00:38:27,370 --> 00:38:29,703 care about civilian casualties in Syria , 930 00:38:29,703 --> 00:38:31,926 I'm not going to speak to that specific 931 00:38:31,926 --> 00:38:35,870 report , paul , I'm not going to speak 932 00:38:35,870 --> 00:38:38,770 to that specific report . But I will 933 00:38:38,770 --> 00:38:40,880 tell you that when we say we take it 934 00:38:40,880 --> 00:38:43,800 seriously , we mean it um , it doesn't 935 00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:45,856 mean we're perfect , it doesn't mean 936 00:38:45,856 --> 00:38:48,890 that we always get it right . Um , and 937 00:38:48,890 --> 00:38:51,250 when we don't get it right , we want 938 00:38:51,250 --> 00:38:53,990 those mistakes investigated . We want 939 00:38:53,990 --> 00:38:56,212 to learn more about how it happened and 940 00:38:56,212 --> 00:38:58,434 how we can prevent it from happening in 941 00:38:58,434 --> 00:39:01,010 the future . We try very hard to avoid 942 00:39:01,010 --> 00:39:03,121 civilian harm . But clearly , and the 943 00:39:03,121 --> 00:39:05,232 secretary said this himself , we have 944 00:39:05,232 --> 00:39:07,566 to do a better job . We understand that . 945 00:39:07,566 --> 00:39:09,732 Which is why he's going to be informed 946 00:39:09,732 --> 00:39:11,788 by uh , the investigations that have 947 00:39:11,788 --> 00:39:13,899 been conducted , the ones that he has 948 00:39:13,899 --> 00:39:15,954 asked to be conducted and about this 949 00:39:15,954 --> 00:39:18,177 rand study coming out . So , um , we're 950 00:39:18,177 --> 00:39:20,177 gonna keep at this to try to do the 951 00:39:20,177 --> 00:39:22,400 best we can to avoid civilian harm . I 952 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:25,240 mean , nobody wants to see that happen . 953 00:39:25,250 --> 00:39:27,930 Nobody wants to be responsible for 954 00:39:27,930 --> 00:39:31,450 taking innocent lives and to the degree 955 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:34,140 we can do better . We will try to do 956 00:39:34,140 --> 00:39:36,307 better . But I'm not going to speak to 957 00:39:36,307 --> 00:39:39,070 that specific report . Okay . Thanks 958 00:39:39,070 --> 00:39:40,950 everybody , appreciate it