1 00:00:00,140 --> 00:00:01,540 Yeah . 2 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:09,960 Okay . Well , um , welcome back 3 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,182 everybody . I hope everybody had a good 4 00:00:12,340 --> 00:00:14,880 holiday season and Happy New Year to 5 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:17,610 you . My New Year's gift to you is no 6 00:00:17,610 --> 00:00:19,950 opening statement today . So , uh , 7 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:22,127 we'll get right to the questions and I 8 00:00:22,127 --> 00:00:24,127 think we have bob on , on the phone 9 00:00:24,127 --> 00:00:27,380 bobby there . Yes . Thank you , john I 10 00:00:27,390 --> 00:00:29,530 have a couple of questions . Covid 11 00:00:29,530 --> 00:00:32,460 related questions . Do you have any 12 00:00:32,460 --> 00:00:34,738 update on Secretary Austin's condition ? 13 00:00:35,340 --> 00:00:37,970 Um Is he able to work a full schedule 14 00:00:37,970 --> 00:00:41,120 from home ? Um Have there been any 15 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,340 other senior officials who have tested 16 00:00:43,340 --> 00:00:46,100 positive since , since he did ? And 17 00:00:46,100 --> 00:00:48,267 last week , Do you have any comment on 18 00:00:48,267 --> 00:00:50,267 the preliminary injunction that was 19 00:00:50,267 --> 00:00:53,050 granted by the judge in texas in the 20 00:00:53,060 --> 00:00:56,780 navy special operators case ? Okay , 21 00:00:56,780 --> 00:00:59,740 bob on the secretary . He obviously 22 00:00:59,740 --> 00:01:03,270 remains home uh , in quarantine . He is 23 00:01:03,270 --> 00:01:05,570 still exhibiting exhibiting symptoms . 24 00:01:05,570 --> 00:01:08,900 They are still mild . Um uh , and he 25 00:01:08,900 --> 00:01:12,470 continues to work from home . In 26 00:01:12,470 --> 00:01:15,680 fact , um He has attended two meetings 27 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:17,847 virtually today and I think there will 28 00:01:17,847 --> 00:01:19,958 be another one this afternoon that he 29 00:01:19,958 --> 00:01:22,069 will be participating in as well with 30 00:01:22,069 --> 00:01:24,810 senior staff . Um very much in line 31 00:01:24,810 --> 00:01:27,400 with the same battle rhythm that he has 32 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:29,456 had when he's been in the building . 33 00:01:29,456 --> 00:01:31,622 The meetings , These are in some cases 34 00:01:31,622 --> 00:01:33,840 daily and or weekly meetings . So he 35 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,007 continues to participate remotely from 36 00:01:36,007 --> 00:01:38,062 home . Um , I myself attended one of 37 00:01:38,062 --> 00:01:40,118 those meetings with him this morning 38 00:01:40,118 --> 00:01:43,980 and he was very much engaged in 39 00:01:43,990 --> 00:01:46,490 every bit of the discussion , but he is 40 00:01:46,490 --> 00:01:48,601 still exhibiting mild symptoms and he 41 00:01:48,601 --> 00:01:50,768 is following his doctor's directions , 42 00:01:50,768 --> 00:01:53,910 which is to stay home uh for those five 43 00:01:53,910 --> 00:01:55,810 days in accordance with the CDC 44 00:01:55,810 --> 00:01:58,550 guidelines . Um , I'm not aware of any 45 00:01:58,550 --> 00:02:00,494 other senior officials here at the 46 00:02:00,494 --> 00:02:02,960 pentagon who have uh contracted uh , 47 00:02:02,970 --> 00:02:05,430 Covid , we understand obviously our 48 00:02:05,430 --> 00:02:07,541 obligation to be transparent with you 49 00:02:07,541 --> 00:02:09,541 if and when that happens . Uh , and 50 00:02:09,541 --> 00:02:12,350 then lastly on the injunction , uh , 51 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,250 there's not a lot I can say about it an 52 00:02:15,250 --> 00:02:17,590 issue which is under litigation bob . 53 00:02:17,590 --> 00:02:21,230 But as I said last night , we 54 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,940 are aware of course of the the 55 00:02:23,940 --> 00:02:26,051 injunction and we're reviewing it and 56 00:02:26,051 --> 00:02:28,162 in discussions with the Department of 57 00:02:28,162 --> 00:02:30,162 Justice as to what the what options 58 00:02:30,162 --> 00:02:32,440 might be available to us going forward . 59 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:36,390 Barbecue . Um The coalition in Iraq and 60 00:02:36,390 --> 00:02:38,870 Syria has just issued a statement about 61 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:40,936 the strikes in the vicinity of Green 62 00:02:40,936 --> 00:02:43,700 Village in Syria . Can I ask you some 63 00:02:43,700 --> 00:02:46,850 details , what kind of strikes 64 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:50,090 did the coalition launched against the 65 00:02:50,090 --> 00:02:54,050 suspected sites ? Was it us strikes ? 66 00:02:54,740 --> 00:02:58,120 Um were U . S . Forces at risk ? 67 00:02:58,130 --> 00:03:01,950 And who do you believe the adversaries 68 00:03:01,950 --> 00:03:04,061 were , were they regime forces , were 69 00:03:04,061 --> 00:03:06,172 the Iranian backed militia where they 70 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:08,530 can't tell us any more about this 71 00:03:08,920 --> 00:03:11,031 statement is not , I don't have a lot 72 00:03:11,031 --> 00:03:13,210 of satisfying detail for you . Barb . 73 00:03:13,220 --> 00:03:15,164 And I would certainly point you to 74 00:03:15,164 --> 00:03:16,942 Central Command to provide more 75 00:03:16,942 --> 00:03:19,300 information . My understanding is that 76 00:03:19,300 --> 00:03:21,467 these strikes were not airstrikes . If 77 00:03:21,467 --> 00:03:24,200 that's what you're asking . Um um your 78 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,630 second question about were troops at 79 00:03:26,630 --> 00:03:29,050 risk . Um , I assume what you mean is 80 00:03:29,060 --> 00:03:31,510 were they put at risk in the conduct of 81 00:03:31,510 --> 00:03:34,650 the strikes ? But they clearly are at 82 00:03:34,650 --> 00:03:37,220 risk in the region . I mean , one of 83 00:03:37,220 --> 00:03:39,830 the reasons why these sites were hit 84 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,047 was we had reason to believe that they 85 00:03:42,047 --> 00:03:44,158 were going to be used as launch sites 86 00:03:44,158 --> 00:03:46,190 for attacks on green village . So 87 00:03:46,190 --> 00:03:48,220 clearly our men and women remain in 88 00:03:48,220 --> 00:03:50,550 harm's way and we have to take that 89 00:03:50,550 --> 00:03:52,717 threat very seriously . We always have 90 00:03:52,717 --> 00:03:54,772 the right of self defense . Um , I'm 91 00:03:54,772 --> 00:03:56,939 sorry and you had a third and and then 92 00:03:56,939 --> 00:03:59,106 I do have a different quick question . 93 00:03:59,106 --> 00:04:01,272 Who do you believe the adversary was ? 94 00:04:01,272 --> 00:04:03,460 I'm not at a position now to get into 95 00:04:03,460 --> 00:04:06,540 specific attribution . Uh that said , 96 00:04:06,550 --> 00:04:10,150 we continue to see threats against our 97 00:04:10,150 --> 00:04:12,260 forces in Iraq and Syria by militia 98 00:04:12,260 --> 00:04:14,316 groups that are backed by Iran . But 99 00:04:14,316 --> 00:04:15,982 again , I don't have specific 100 00:04:15,982 --> 00:04:18,890 attribution on on on who was 101 00:04:18,890 --> 00:04:21,057 responsible for these specific sites . 102 00:04:21,057 --> 00:04:23,390 Again , this all just recently happened , 103 00:04:23,390 --> 00:04:25,612 I'm sure more context will be available 104 00:04:25,612 --> 00:04:27,334 as we as we learn more . And I 105 00:04:27,334 --> 00:04:29,557 absolutely referring to Central Command 106 00:04:29,557 --> 00:04:31,723 for any additional detail that I don't 107 00:04:31,723 --> 00:04:33,668 have today different subjects very 108 00:04:33,668 --> 00:04:36,710 quickly . We have all watched the 109 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:40,540 images of this incredible traffic jam , 110 00:04:40,540 --> 00:04:43,810 if that's what it is on 9 95 not that 111 00:04:43,810 --> 00:04:45,643 far from the pentagon where many 112 00:04:45,643 --> 00:04:48,190 military people commute up and down 113 00:04:48,260 --> 00:04:51,900 stranded overnight , some getting out , 114 00:04:51,910 --> 00:04:54,210 but many still stranded . I think a lot 115 00:04:54,210 --> 00:04:57,020 of people might be curious whether the 116 00:04:57,020 --> 00:04:59,510 pentagon , the Defense Department has 117 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:01,940 offered any help has been asked for 118 00:05:01,940 --> 00:05:05,140 help . A lot of you have the Marine 119 00:05:05,140 --> 00:05:07,090 Corps base right there people are 120 00:05:07,090 --> 00:05:09,312 wondering why the military can't lend a 121 00:05:09,312 --> 00:05:12,460 hand . Well , first of all , um 122 00:05:13,340 --> 00:05:16,150 as so many of us here at the pentagon 123 00:05:16,150 --> 00:05:19,250 are commuters um and commute along that 124 00:05:19,250 --> 00:05:23,160 stretch of uh 95 . Um we're 125 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,382 all um , we're all watching it with the 126 00:05:25,382 --> 00:05:27,493 same interests that everybody else is 127 00:05:27,493 --> 00:05:29,604 too . And uh and our thoughts and and 128 00:05:29,604 --> 00:05:31,827 concerns go out to all those who remain 129 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:35,910 stuck on the highway with these weather 130 00:05:35,910 --> 00:05:39,510 conditions . I , I know of 131 00:05:39,510 --> 00:05:41,454 no , well let me put it this way . 132 00:05:41,454 --> 00:05:43,840 There's been no request made of the 133 00:05:43,850 --> 00:05:46,650 pentagon of the active duty military to 134 00:05:46,650 --> 00:05:50,580 respond in any way to this uh to 135 00:05:50,580 --> 00:05:54,080 this jam on I-95 . Um and I know of no 136 00:05:54,090 --> 00:05:56,900 overt efforts here at the pentagon uh 137 00:05:56,910 --> 00:06:00,160 to make a and in an overt offer or to 138 00:06:00,170 --> 00:06:02,680 get involved in any way . Um I think 139 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:04,902 the governor of Virginia addressed this 140 00:06:04,902 --> 00:06:06,458 uh this morning when he was 141 00:06:06,458 --> 00:06:08,680 specifically asked about whether he was 142 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:10,847 going to call the National Guard out , 143 00:06:10,847 --> 00:06:10,670 he said he did not see a need to do 144 00:06:10,670 --> 00:06:13,740 that at this time . Um I what I am 145 00:06:13,740 --> 00:06:15,907 aware of is that the Virginia National 146 00:06:15,907 --> 00:06:17,962 Guard , their leadership has been in 147 00:06:17,962 --> 00:06:20,240 touch with state and local authorities , 148 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:22,780 emergency authorities um to to have 149 00:06:22,780 --> 00:06:24,780 that conversation . But as far as I 150 00:06:24,780 --> 00:06:27,210 know , there's been no demand signal by 151 00:06:27,210 --> 00:06:29,377 the state of Virginia for any military 152 00:06:29,377 --> 00:06:32,820 assistance whatsoever . Yep . Here , I 153 00:06:32,820 --> 00:06:34,931 think we're starting a new chapter in 154 00:06:34,931 --> 00:06:37,153 Iraq and there is a new mission for the 155 00:06:37,153 --> 00:06:39,610 soldiers and their how concerned are 156 00:06:39,610 --> 00:06:43,210 you that those soldiers are under 157 00:06:43,210 --> 00:06:45,180 attack from militias that are pro 158 00:06:45,180 --> 00:06:48,390 Iranians consistently been concerned 159 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,990 about the threats to our forces in Iraq 160 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,050 by militias backed by Iran . That is 161 00:06:55,050 --> 00:06:58,460 not a new concern . Um uh and 162 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:01,262 I think we've seen in just the last few 163 00:07:01,262 --> 00:07:04,550 days that there have been acts 164 00:07:04,550 --> 00:07:06,670 perpetrated by some of these groups 165 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:10,120 that validate the consistent concern 166 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:12,064 that we've had over the safety and 167 00:07:12,064 --> 00:07:14,231 security of our people . Um but you're 168 00:07:14,231 --> 00:07:16,880 right . The mission has now formally uh 169 00:07:16,890 --> 00:07:19,112 changed to one of the advise and assist 170 00:07:19,112 --> 00:07:21,990 as we promised . And as we worked out 171 00:07:21,990 --> 00:07:25,120 with our Iraqi hosts . Uh and uh and we 172 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,287 still believe it's a valid mission and 173 00:07:27,287 --> 00:07:29,287 uh we look forward to continuing to 174 00:07:29,287 --> 00:07:31,310 conduct it . To my question , to my 175 00:07:31,310 --> 00:07:33,532 answer to Barb . I do want to just foot 176 00:07:33,532 --> 00:07:35,643 stomp one notion and that is that our 177 00:07:35,643 --> 00:07:37,754 commanders have the inherent right of 178 00:07:37,754 --> 00:07:39,866 self defense . Um , and we don't stay 179 00:07:39,866 --> 00:07:42,690 at this mission . This new mission uh 180 00:07:42,700 --> 00:07:45,350 with any illusions that our people are 181 00:07:45,350 --> 00:07:48,210 under any less threat by these militia 182 00:07:48,210 --> 00:07:50,830 groups . Uh we're going to stay focused 183 00:07:50,830 --> 00:07:52,960 on that threat as we stay focused on 184 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,370 the mission at hand and make sure that 185 00:07:55,380 --> 00:07:57,213 we're doing everything we can to 186 00:07:57,213 --> 00:07:59,770 protect our people jenny . Thank you . 187 00:07:59,780 --> 00:08:03,360 I think , you know that it is President 188 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,450 biden signed The Defense 189 00:08:06,460 --> 00:08:09,920 Authorization Act on the 27th last 190 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,540 month which includes maintaining the 191 00:08:13,550 --> 00:08:16,560 current studies of USFK 192 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:21,280 that how might this affect the US 193 00:08:21,290 --> 00:08:24,470 defense project ? Four years 194 00:08:25,340 --> 00:08:28,230 2022 . I'm sorry , can you repeat that 195 00:08:29,050 --> 00:08:32,260 affected the US defense budget 196 00:08:32,740 --> 00:08:35,980 For you mean 23 the one that we're 197 00:08:35,980 --> 00:08:38,560 putting together . I um 198 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:43,440 I'm steadfastly not gonna speculate 199 00:08:43,450 --> 00:08:45,800 about budget discussions for the next 200 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:49,710 fiscal year . Um uh those budget 201 00:08:49,710 --> 00:08:51,821 discussions are just beginning as you 202 00:08:51,821 --> 00:08:54,240 would expect this time of year . Um and 203 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,820 uh and when we can talk about it with 204 00:08:56,820 --> 00:08:59,310 more specificity we will . The only 205 00:08:59,310 --> 00:09:01,750 thing I'd add is that uh we're 206 00:09:01,750 --> 00:09:04,670 certainly grateful for the 207 00:09:04,670 --> 00:09:06,930 authorization act and the and the and 208 00:09:06,930 --> 00:09:08,986 the funds that go with it so that we 209 00:09:08,986 --> 00:09:11,208 can continue our critical missions here 210 00:09:11,208 --> 00:09:13,420 in this fiscal year . Uh and some of 211 00:09:13,420 --> 00:09:15,642 that obviously includes our commitments 212 00:09:15,642 --> 00:09:17,587 to the rok and our reliance on the 213 00:09:17,587 --> 00:09:19,920 korean peninsula and the other kitchens . 214 00:09:21,140 --> 00:09:24,170 You may see this report to general 215 00:09:24,180 --> 00:09:28,050 evidence . Former Commander of the US 216 00:09:28,050 --> 00:09:31,640 and Rok combined Forces in Korea said 217 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:35,330 that the interview last week that 218 00:09:35,340 --> 00:09:39,320 the new strategic plan agreed to U . S . 219 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:42,280 And South Korea should include 220 00:09:42,290 --> 00:09:45,960 countermeasures against china as well 221 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:49,260 as North korean threat and regarding 222 00:09:49,260 --> 00:09:52,280 the general evidences mentions about 223 00:09:52,290 --> 00:09:55,740 china uh South korean 224 00:09:55,750 --> 00:09:58,540 Defense Ministry spokesperson 225 00:09:58,550 --> 00:10:01,950 immediately less pond with this 226 00:10:01,950 --> 00:10:05,640 pressure to this ? Why 227 00:10:05,860 --> 00:10:09,020 is the South korean defense minister 228 00:10:09,020 --> 00:10:11,400 reaction on that . Do you have any idea 229 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,970 why the reaction not chinese , why they 230 00:10:14,980 --> 00:10:18,960 reacted reacted about 231 00:10:19,340 --> 00:10:21,720 you know general everyone's mentioned 232 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:25,190 about chinese china . I would not 233 00:10:25,190 --> 00:10:27,390 venture to speculate or speak for the 234 00:10:27,390 --> 00:10:29,840 South korean Ministry of Defense uh and 235 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:32,860 their reactions um and I would refer to 236 00:10:32,860 --> 00:10:34,916 as simply the general Abrams for his 237 00:10:34,916 --> 00:10:36,971 comments and and to our South korean 238 00:10:36,971 --> 00:10:40,040 allies for theirs . Um what I can tell 239 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:42,160 you from our perspective is that you 240 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:44,382 know , we'd we'd ask you to take a look 241 00:10:44,382 --> 00:10:46,604 at the language on operational planning 242 00:10:46,604 --> 00:10:48,760 in the 53rd . Uh US Rock joint 243 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:50,871 communique as well as the secretary's 244 00:10:50,871 --> 00:10:53,093 comments back in early december when we 245 00:10:53,093 --> 00:10:55,204 did a joint press conference in Seoul 246 00:10:55,204 --> 00:10:57,760 um where we you know , both sides 247 00:10:57,760 --> 00:10:59,704 pledged to continue to develop the 248 00:10:59,704 --> 00:11:01,816 alliance which we continue to believe 249 00:11:01,816 --> 00:11:03,982 is the linchpin of peace and stability 250 00:11:03,982 --> 00:11:06,204 on the peninsula and in the region in a 251 00:11:06,204 --> 00:11:08,371 mutually reinforcing , reinforcing and 252 00:11:08,371 --> 00:11:10,149 future oriented manner . And we 253 00:11:10,149 --> 00:11:12,550 regularly conduct uh combined planning 254 00:11:12,550 --> 00:11:14,328 with our rok ally on a range of 255 00:11:14,328 --> 00:11:16,494 security issues . And of course as you 256 00:11:16,494 --> 00:11:18,606 know , as a general matter , we don't 257 00:11:18,606 --> 00:11:20,717 discuss the specifics of details with 258 00:11:20,717 --> 00:11:22,661 respect to operational planning or 259 00:11:22,661 --> 00:11:24,939 sensitive security matters . Thank you . 260 00:11:24,939 --> 00:11:27,106 You're welcome . Let me go back to the 261 00:11:27,106 --> 00:11:26,740 phone . We got a lot of people on the 262 00:11:26,740 --> 00:11:28,800 phone today because we're all being 263 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:32,280 conscious of of proper covid 264 00:11:32,410 --> 00:11:34,460 protocols here . So I don't want to 265 00:11:34,460 --> 00:11:36,627 forget all the people that dialed in ? 266 00:11:36,627 --> 00:11:40,460 Um Sylvie from a . F . P . Mhm . Hello 267 00:11:40,460 --> 00:11:42,860 john happy new year . And 268 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:47,700 um if the president said that the U . 269 00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:51,160 S . Will deploy more 270 00:11:51,740 --> 00:11:54,350 troops in eastern europe if Putin 271 00:11:54,350 --> 00:11:58,200 invades Ukraine . So does it 272 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,840 mean that us would send 273 00:12:01,850 --> 00:12:05,200 more people from from us 274 00:12:05,210 --> 00:12:08,630 in europe or they would only display 275 00:12:08,630 --> 00:12:11,090 some people who are already deployed in 276 00:12:11,090 --> 00:12:14,260 europe ? And also that would it include 277 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:17,760 missile defense ? So the 278 00:12:18,390 --> 00:12:21,630 answers to the answer to both your 279 00:12:21,630 --> 00:12:24,180 questions , Sylvia is is uh it depends 280 00:12:24,550 --> 00:12:28,200 as we've said before , should there 281 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,450 be another incursion and should some of 282 00:12:31,450 --> 00:12:33,950 our NATO allies request additional 283 00:12:33,950 --> 00:12:37,530 capabilities ? Um uh we would be 284 00:12:37,530 --> 00:12:40,060 positively disposed to consider those 285 00:12:40,060 --> 00:12:43,250 requests . Um Neither of those two 286 00:12:43,740 --> 00:12:46,530 uh contingencies have happened . So 287 00:12:46,530 --> 00:12:49,570 it's it's really not possible for me to 288 00:12:49,570 --> 00:12:51,403 answer your questions with great 289 00:12:51,403 --> 00:12:53,600 specificity . I would , the only thing 290 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:57,000 I'd say is to remind that we 291 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:00,450 have a very large and robust footprint 292 00:13:00,460 --> 00:13:03,870 in europe as it stands under general 293 00:13:03,870 --> 00:13:06,770 Walters command . Um as well as 294 00:13:06,780 --> 00:13:10,380 NATO countries who have um 295 00:13:10,390 --> 00:13:13,150 sizable capabilities of their own um 296 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:15,220 throughout the continent . So there 297 00:13:15,220 --> 00:13:17,053 already exists a lot of a lot of 298 00:13:17,053 --> 00:13:18,776 capabilities and some of those 299 00:13:18,776 --> 00:13:20,887 capabilities could be moved around um 300 00:13:20,887 --> 00:13:23,590 if that was in fact uh the request and 301 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,770 and was and was decided that would be 302 00:13:26,770 --> 00:13:28,992 the most prudent thing to do . So there 303 00:13:28,992 --> 00:13:32,120 are lots of options um that that we 304 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:34,342 have available to us that the president 305 00:13:34,342 --> 00:13:36,120 has available to him and to his 306 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:38,342 decision making . I certainly won't get 307 00:13:38,342 --> 00:13:40,564 ahead of that . And what what about the 308 00:13:40,564 --> 00:13:42,787 missile missile defense ? Again I'm not 309 00:13:42,787 --> 00:13:44,509 gonna speculate about specific 310 00:13:44,509 --> 00:13:46,509 capabilities so far there's been no 311 00:13:46,509 --> 00:13:49,880 request for changes to posture or 312 00:13:49,890 --> 00:13:52,057 request for additional capabilities by 313 00:13:52,057 --> 00:13:54,940 our NATO allies . Again , as you heard , 314 00:13:54,940 --> 00:13:57,162 jake Sullivan say , you know , if there 315 00:13:57,162 --> 00:13:59,329 was another incursion and if there was 316 00:13:59,329 --> 00:14:01,440 a request for additional capabilities 317 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:03,162 we would positively uh we'd be 318 00:14:03,162 --> 00:14:05,273 positively disposed to consider those 319 00:14:05,273 --> 00:14:07,551 requests were just not there right now , 320 00:14:07,551 --> 00:14:09,496 Sylvie . So I really don't want to 321 00:14:09,496 --> 00:14:11,607 speculate about specific capabilities 322 00:14:11,607 --> 00:14:13,829 when we haven't really been asked to to 323 00:14:13,829 --> 00:14:15,940 augment any of the existing ones that 324 00:14:15,940 --> 00:14:14,960 are already there on the continent . 325 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:17,360 Terra cotta . 326 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:23,030 Hi john happy new year . Um I wanted to 327 00:14:23,030 --> 00:14:26,430 follow up on the announcement that you 328 00:14:26,430 --> 00:14:28,920 made shortly before the end of the year 329 00:14:28,930 --> 00:14:31,390 about the shift of the command 330 00:14:31,390 --> 00:14:33,612 structure for the National Guard in D . 331 00:14:33,612 --> 00:14:35,334 C . And I was hoping you could 332 00:14:35,334 --> 00:14:37,910 elaborate a little bit for us . Um what 333 00:14:37,910 --> 00:14:39,966 was the significance of moving it to 334 00:14:39,966 --> 00:14:41,720 the Secretary of Defense ? Um 335 00:14:41,730 --> 00:14:43,730 particularly since the Secretary of 336 00:14:43,730 --> 00:14:45,952 Defense is also a politically appointed 337 00:14:45,952 --> 00:14:48,063 position . Was there any concern that 338 00:14:48,063 --> 00:14:51,180 this would keep from optics reasons if 339 00:14:51,180 --> 00:14:53,402 the Commander in chief doesn't want the 340 00:14:53,402 --> 00:14:55,513 guard deployed in Washington with the 341 00:14:55,513 --> 00:14:57,624 Secretary of Defense necessarily then 342 00:14:57,624 --> 00:14:59,347 deploy them . Thank you . Well 343 00:14:59,347 --> 00:15:01,569 obviously we all work for the Commander 344 00:15:01,569 --> 00:15:03,680 in chief and uh and no decision about 345 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:06,320 deploying uh the National Guard inside 346 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:08,431 the the capitol would be made without 347 00:15:08,431 --> 00:15:10,653 consultations and coordination with the 348 00:15:10,653 --> 00:15:13,590 Commander in chief of course . But just 349 00:15:13,590 --> 00:15:15,534 to answer your question , this was 350 00:15:15,534 --> 00:15:17,701 really about streamlining the decision 351 00:15:17,701 --> 00:15:21,200 making process . And um so yes 352 00:15:21,210 --> 00:15:23,310 it got brought to the Secretary of 353 00:15:23,310 --> 00:15:26,660 Defense is um uh into his 354 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:30,790 authorities uh to grant or to refuse 355 00:15:30,790 --> 00:15:33,550 requests by uh local authorities for 356 00:15:33,550 --> 00:15:35,494 National Guard presence inside the 357 00:15:35,494 --> 00:15:37,930 capitol region . Um He is in the chain 358 00:15:37,930 --> 00:15:39,652 of command and I think this is 359 00:15:39,652 --> 00:15:41,819 something that sometimes gets lost . I 360 00:15:41,819 --> 00:15:44,910 mean he is he is as as we speak in the 361 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:47,550 physical chain chain of command already 362 00:15:47,790 --> 00:15:50,530 in terms of ordering both active and 363 00:15:50,530 --> 00:15:53,030 reserve troops around the world and 364 00:15:53,030 --> 00:15:55,480 around the country . Um so that there's 365 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:57,536 a certain logic there , number two . 366 00:15:57,536 --> 00:15:59,647 And I think some of this got missed a 367 00:15:59,647 --> 00:16:02,460 little bit . Um is that we have 368 00:16:02,460 --> 00:16:04,516 designated in this new arrangement , 369 00:16:04,516 --> 00:16:06,730 his Executive Secretary as the single 370 00:16:06,730 --> 00:16:09,030 point of contact now for those kinds of 371 00:16:09,030 --> 00:16:11,030 requests . And that wasn't the case 372 00:16:11,030 --> 00:16:13,141 before . So now again we're trying to 373 00:16:13,141 --> 00:16:15,363 streamline the way requests are made of 374 00:16:15,363 --> 00:16:17,197 the department uh to to make the 375 00:16:17,197 --> 00:16:19,141 decision making more efficient and 376 00:16:19,141 --> 00:16:21,086 hopefully more more effective . So 377 00:16:21,086 --> 00:16:23,030 there was also a bit of administer 378 00:16:23,030 --> 00:16:25,270 administration movement in here to try 379 00:16:25,270 --> 00:16:27,480 to to try to get the request funneled 380 00:16:27,490 --> 00:16:30,250 in a in a more and a more direct manner 381 00:16:30,250 --> 00:16:32,560 to the secretaries for for his decision 382 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:36,450 making process , thought to 383 00:16:36,460 --> 00:16:38,571 shifting that over to the Chairman of 384 00:16:38,571 --> 00:16:41,440 the Joint Chiefs , that authority . No 385 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:43,384 Tara , as I think , you know , the 386 00:16:43,384 --> 00:16:45,551 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is not in 387 00:16:45,551 --> 00:16:47,662 the chain of command and has not been 388 00:16:47,662 --> 00:16:49,829 and it's not as it's laid out in law , 389 00:16:49,829 --> 00:16:52,051 his position is not to be in the in the 390 00:16:52,051 --> 00:16:54,780 chain of command to to order forces . 391 00:16:55,030 --> 00:16:56,974 That is not part of the Chairman's 392 00:16:56,974 --> 00:16:59,890 mandate . And again , that's um that's 393 00:16:59,890 --> 00:17:01,890 laid down in in uh in law , the 394 00:17:01,890 --> 00:17:03,890 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is the 395 00:17:03,890 --> 00:17:06,057 principal military advisor to both the 396 00:17:06,057 --> 00:17:08,168 Secretary and to the President of the 397 00:17:08,168 --> 00:17:10,223 United States . Uh and that's uh and 398 00:17:10,223 --> 00:17:12,001 that's his responsibility now , 399 00:17:12,001 --> 00:17:15,810 obviously , um just as in any set of 400 00:17:15,810 --> 00:17:18,750 orders that Secretary Austin issues to 401 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:22,040 uh to troops and units around the world . 402 00:17:22,050 --> 00:17:25,990 He consults with Chairman Milley uh 403 00:17:25,990 --> 00:17:28,450 and absolutely make sure that the 404 00:17:28,450 --> 00:17:30,980 chairman has a vote , has a voice , has 405 00:17:30,980 --> 00:17:33,360 a chance to affect the decision making 406 00:17:33,360 --> 00:17:35,471 process . And that will always be the 407 00:17:35,471 --> 00:17:37,693 case . Whether it's we're talking about 408 00:17:37,693 --> 00:17:39,804 the National Guard inside the capitol 409 00:17:39,804 --> 00:17:43,660 region or a navy aircraft 410 00:17:43,660 --> 00:17:45,716 carrier strike group anywhere around 411 00:17:45,716 --> 00:17:47,827 the world . The Chairman's advice and 412 00:17:47,827 --> 00:17:49,716 counsel is very important to that 413 00:17:49,716 --> 00:17:51,860 process and will remain so , most 414 00:17:52,340 --> 00:17:54,790 Thanks just ahead of January six . I 415 00:17:54,790 --> 00:17:56,679 was wondering have there been any 416 00:17:56,679 --> 00:18:00,150 requests for the National Guard on to 417 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:03,960 be at the capitol uh carla bob . 418 00:18:04,540 --> 00:18:07,920 Yeah , thanks john , happy New Year . I 419 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:10,142 have a couple of questions . I know you 420 00:18:10,142 --> 00:18:11,864 weren't able to talk about the 421 00:18:11,864 --> 00:18:14,240 responsibility for that um that rocket 422 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:17,280 strike or that rocket launch site that 423 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:19,280 we struck in Syria today . But what 424 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:22,060 about the two drone attacks out of Iraq ? 425 00:18:22,060 --> 00:18:24,171 You kind of hinted into it in another 426 00:18:24,171 --> 00:18:26,338 question . But can the US confirm that 427 00:18:26,338 --> 00:18:28,449 those drone attacks that were stopped 428 00:18:28,449 --> 00:18:30,393 today and yesterday were indeed by 429 00:18:30,393 --> 00:18:33,520 Iranian backed forces or Iranian forces ? 430 00:18:33,530 --> 00:18:35,586 Um there have been some in Iran that 431 00:18:35,586 --> 00:18:37,790 have been tying the the anniversary of 432 00:18:37,790 --> 00:18:40,140 the Soleimani killing to revenge on the 433 00:18:40,140 --> 00:18:42,307 United States . What more can you give 434 00:18:42,307 --> 00:18:44,362 us on those two attacks ? Yeah , I'm 435 00:18:44,362 --> 00:18:46,307 afraid I don't have more detail in 436 00:18:46,307 --> 00:18:48,473 terms of attribution for those . Um as 437 00:18:48,473 --> 00:18:48,300 you rightly pointed out , Carla , 438 00:18:48,300 --> 00:18:50,460 they're pretty recent just occurred . 439 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:54,020 Um so I'm not in a position to um to 440 00:18:54,020 --> 00:18:56,800 provide specific attribution of a group 441 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:00,150 or an organization , but and I said , 442 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,870 as I said to barb , I mean , these 443 00:19:03,870 --> 00:19:05,759 kinds of attacks are very much in 444 00:19:05,759 --> 00:19:07,981 keeping with the kinds of attacks we've 445 00:19:07,981 --> 00:19:11,460 seen from Iran backed militias in Iraq 446 00:19:11,470 --> 00:19:14,370 and in Syria . And so obviously 447 00:19:14,410 --> 00:19:17,750 are working level assumption is that 448 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:19,960 that that such groups , uh we're 449 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:21,960 responsible for these , but I don't 450 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,071 want to speculate beyond that it's in 451 00:19:24,071 --> 00:19:26,071 keeping with the kinds of tactics , 452 00:19:26,071 --> 00:19:28,127 techniques and procedures we've seen 453 00:19:28,127 --> 00:19:31,440 from these groups in the past ? Uh 454 00:19:31,950 --> 00:19:34,450 Eleanor Watson from cbs Hey , john , 455 00:19:34,450 --> 00:19:37,600 can you still hear me , yep . Oh sorry , 456 00:19:37,610 --> 00:19:39,777 I have one more follow on the new york 457 00:19:39,777 --> 00:19:42,090 Times report about airstrikes done 458 00:19:42,100 --> 00:19:45,230 conducted by the US military . Um They 459 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:47,184 had some accusations and they were 460 00:19:47,184 --> 00:19:49,184 saying that the civilian casualties 461 00:19:49,184 --> 00:19:51,407 cell that was responsible for following 462 00:19:51,407 --> 00:19:54,550 up on civilian casualty um civilian 463 00:19:54,550 --> 00:19:56,661 casualties wasn't always prepared for 464 00:19:56,661 --> 00:19:59,010 the job and didn't always find things 465 00:19:59,010 --> 00:20:01,232 that the New york Times reporters found 466 00:20:01,232 --> 00:20:03,399 really easily . So my question on this 467 00:20:03,399 --> 00:20:05,566 is and you may have to take this . But 468 00:20:05,566 --> 00:20:07,899 my question is , what changes has the U . 469 00:20:07,899 --> 00:20:11,110 S . Military made in order to better um 470 00:20:11,120 --> 00:20:13,930 seek out civilian casualty reports and 471 00:20:13,930 --> 00:20:17,300 and assess those those um allegations ? 472 00:20:17,310 --> 00:20:19,460 I think the Central Command spokesman 473 00:20:19,540 --> 00:20:22,110 was quoted in that story and I think he 474 00:20:22,110 --> 00:20:24,530 provided some context about uh about 475 00:20:24,530 --> 00:20:26,760 the process itself . Um So I would 476 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:30,130 refer you to uh to Captain Urban to to 477 00:20:30,140 --> 00:20:32,196 to address this more specifically in 478 00:20:32,196 --> 00:20:34,418 terms of what they're doing right now . 479 00:20:34,418 --> 00:20:36,320 Um I think you saw in that in his 480 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:39,460 response that he made clear that they 481 00:20:39,470 --> 00:20:42,550 choose assessment team members from a 482 00:20:42,550 --> 00:20:44,800 broad range of skill sets and they try 483 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:47,370 to do the best they can to make sure 484 00:20:47,370 --> 00:20:49,970 that the skills that are most needed 485 00:20:49,980 --> 00:20:51,980 are represented in those assessment 486 00:20:51,980 --> 00:20:54,190 teams that said . And you heard the 487 00:20:54,190 --> 00:20:56,246 Secretary talked about this not long 488 00:20:56,246 --> 00:21:00,090 ago . Uh we are absolutely 489 00:21:00,090 --> 00:21:02,257 interested in constantly improving our 490 00:21:02,257 --> 00:21:04,470 processes and our procedures . Um and 491 00:21:04,470 --> 00:21:06,748 without getting ahead of the Secretary , 492 00:21:06,748 --> 00:21:08,581 I know he's taking all this news 493 00:21:08,581 --> 00:21:11,550 coverage seriously as well as uh his 494 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:15,100 his own curiosity in in terms of how we 495 00:21:15,100 --> 00:21:18,430 are , how we are looking at the issue 496 00:21:18,430 --> 00:21:20,208 of civilian harm and how we are 497 00:21:20,208 --> 00:21:22,430 assessing ourselves , how we are trying 498 00:21:22,430 --> 00:21:25,040 to improve our our capabilities in that 499 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,880 regard . Uh And he's he's working his 500 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:30,102 way through recommendations that he has 501 00:21:30,102 --> 00:21:32,720 received from both the Central Command 502 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,040 Commander as well as Special Operations 503 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:38,220 Command Commander . Um And uh if and 504 00:21:38,220 --> 00:21:40,710 when we've got uh some new policies and 505 00:21:40,710 --> 00:21:42,821 procedures to speak to will certainly 506 00:21:42,821 --> 00:21:44,599 will certainly do that . But it 507 00:21:44,599 --> 00:21:47,180 civilian harm is something that uh we 508 00:21:47,180 --> 00:21:49,500 do take seriously and as the Secretary 509 00:21:49,500 --> 00:21:51,770 said himself , we do recognize that 510 00:21:51,770 --> 00:21:53,714 we've got to do better . Uh And so 511 00:21:53,714 --> 00:21:55,659 we're going to continue to to stay 512 00:21:55,659 --> 00:21:57,870 focused on this . And and as we make 513 00:21:57,870 --> 00:22:00,037 improvements as we make changes , will 514 00:22:00,037 --> 00:22:02,148 certainly be transparent about that . 515 00:22:02,148 --> 00:22:05,140 Eleanor Watson cbs . My question was 516 00:22:05,140 --> 00:22:07,170 answered . Thank you . Thank you . 517 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:11,550 Uh Mike , 518 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:13,660 mike from Washington Times . 519 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:22,207 Okay . Mike , I'll come back to you at 520 00:22:22,207 --> 00:22:23,651 the end , Megan . Myers , 521 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:28,096 you said that there haven't been any 522 00:22:28,096 --> 00:22:30,720 formal requests for um guard assistance 523 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:32,776 in D . C . On the sixth . Have there 524 00:22:32,776 --> 00:22:35,530 been any phone calls , meetings , 525 00:22:35,530 --> 00:22:38,090 correspondence either with the D . C . 526 00:22:38,090 --> 00:22:40,880 Mayor or the capitol police . Um you 527 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:43,047 know , opening the groundwork for that 528 00:22:43,047 --> 00:22:45,158 sort of thing . I wasn't trying to be 529 00:22:45,158 --> 00:22:47,269 cute there , Megan . I'm not aware of 530 00:22:47,269 --> 00:22:51,050 any um uh formal informal efforts to uh 531 00:22:51,060 --> 00:22:54,320 to look at a guard presence on in the 532 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:56,910 capital region on the six that said , I 533 00:22:56,910 --> 00:22:59,021 would refer you to the National Guard 534 00:22:59,021 --> 00:23:01,990 Bureau here um , to see if there's , if 535 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:04,056 I missed something or if they've had 536 00:23:04,056 --> 00:23:05,944 some kind of informal , low level 537 00:23:05,944 --> 00:23:08,056 conversation . I'm not aware of any . 538 00:23:08,056 --> 00:23:11,240 And I , and I wasn't , I can understand 539 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:13,184 what it came across when I said no 540 00:23:13,184 --> 00:23:15,407 formal requests that I was trying to be 541 00:23:15,407 --> 00:23:17,573 maybe parsing it too closely . That is 542 00:23:17,573 --> 00:23:19,518 not , that was not my intent . I'm 543 00:23:19,518 --> 00:23:22,260 simply not aware of any um any active 544 00:23:22,260 --> 00:23:24,316 discussions between the Department , 545 00:23:24,316 --> 00:23:27,350 the National Guard and uh Dc local 546 00:23:27,350 --> 00:23:29,461 authorities . But again , I point you 547 00:23:29,461 --> 00:23:31,628 to the National Guard Bureau . Perhaps 548 00:23:31,628 --> 00:23:33,628 they are aware of uh something at a 549 00:23:33,628 --> 00:23:35,961 lower level that that they can speak to . 550 00:23:35,961 --> 00:23:38,870 Thanks . Okay . I think we're good . 551 00:23:38,930 --> 00:23:40,986 Alright . Happy New Year . Everybody 552 00:23:40,986 --> 00:23:44,230 welcome back and Mhm . Um you've seen , 553 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:46,351 you've seen , we've instituted some , 554 00:23:46,351 --> 00:23:48,470 uh , some new policies here and we're 555 00:23:48,470 --> 00:23:50,740 going to continue to uh to monitor how 556 00:23:50,740 --> 00:23:52,796 we're doing with respect to covid in 557 00:23:52,796 --> 00:23:55,018 the building . I appreciate everybody's 558 00:23:55,018 --> 00:23:57,240 flexibility . Uh actually , good to see 559 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:59,462 that we had more questions on zoom than 560 00:23:59,462 --> 00:24:01,573 than folks in the room . I think that 561 00:24:01,573 --> 00:24:03,796 shows how seriously you guys are taking 562 00:24:03,796 --> 00:24:03,450 it too . And hopefully we'll be able to 563 00:24:03,450 --> 00:24:07,190 get back to normal sometime soon , but 564 00:24:07,190 --> 00:24:09,246 I do appreciate your forbearance and 565 00:24:09,246 --> 00:24:11,301 your understanding . We want to make 566 00:24:11,301 --> 00:24:13,579 sure that we can continue to brief you , 567 00:24:13,579 --> 00:24:13,350 but also make sure that everybody is 568 00:24:13,350 --> 00:24:15,517 safe , safe . So with that , we'll see 569 00:24:15,517 --> 00:24:17,683 you a little bit later this week . Bye 570 00:24:17,683 --> 00:24:17,060 bye .