1 00:00:01,140 --> 00:00:02,862 I saw him a little bit today . 2 00:00:07,140 --> 00:00:09,362 I wish I had a good excuse for it . But 3 00:00:09,362 --> 00:00:11,251 actually I didn't have lunch so I 4 00:00:11,251 --> 00:00:13,362 needed to eat something before coming 5 00:00:13,362 --> 00:00:15,529 up . Um Okay a couple of things at the 6 00:00:15,529 --> 00:00:17,473 top and then uh and then we'll get 7 00:00:17,473 --> 00:00:20,250 right right to it . Yes , 8 00:00:22,340 --> 00:00:25,950 Mike , Mike's friend , 9 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:36,150 yep . This was just working five 10 00:00:36,150 --> 00:00:38,450 minutes ago . Thanks 11 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,960 technology . Okay . I think um I think 12 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:47,080 you're aware that this afternoon 13 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,060 Secretary issued a memo directing the 14 00:00:50,060 --> 00:00:52,116 Department of Defense to provide him 15 00:00:52,340 --> 00:00:54,340 With a civilian harm mitigation and 16 00:00:54,340 --> 00:00:56,562 response action plan within the next 90 17 00:00:56,562 --> 00:01:00,460 days . This action plan outlines the 18 00:01:00,460 --> 00:01:02,627 steps the department will take and the 19 00:01:02,627 --> 00:01:04,571 resources that will be required to 20 00:01:04,571 --> 00:01:06,682 implement appropriate recommendations 21 00:01:06,682 --> 00:01:08,627 from recently completed studies of 22 00:01:08,627 --> 00:01:10,404 civilian harm studies that were 23 00:01:10,404 --> 00:01:12,630 sponsored by D . O . D . The protection 24 00:01:12,630 --> 00:01:15,780 of civilians remains vital to the 25 00:01:15,780 --> 00:01:18,510 ultimate success of our operations . Uh 26 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:20,760 And as the secretary has noted on more 27 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:23,260 than one occasion , it is a strategic 28 00:01:23,260 --> 00:01:26,170 and a moral imperative . Um the memo , 29 00:01:26,170 --> 00:01:28,337 if it's not posted right now , it will 30 00:01:28,337 --> 00:01:30,580 be posted very very soon . I know that 31 00:01:30,580 --> 00:01:32,840 you guys have been able to talk to some 32 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,320 folks about it so I'm happy to engage 33 00:01:35,320 --> 00:01:37,598 questions on it as we go forward today . 34 00:01:37,598 --> 00:01:39,653 But but I do encourage you to take a 35 00:01:39,653 --> 00:01:42,420 look at it . Um Now some of you may 36 00:01:42,420 --> 00:01:44,587 also be aware , but the department has 37 00:01:44,587 --> 00:01:46,860 issued guidance Pausing all activities 38 00:01:46,860 --> 00:01:48,660 related to processing civilian 39 00:01:48,660 --> 00:01:50,827 vaccination exemption requests and any 40 00:01:50,827 --> 00:01:52,827 disciplinary actions for failure to 41 00:01:52,827 --> 00:01:56,450 become vaccinated for federal civilian 42 00:01:56,460 --> 00:01:58,640 workers . This guidance ensures 43 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:00,362 compliance with the nationwide 44 00:02:00,362 --> 00:02:02,529 preliminary injunction order issued on 45 00:02:02,529 --> 00:02:05,380 Friday 21 January by the U . S . 46 00:02:05,380 --> 00:02:07,158 District Court for the southern 47 00:02:07,158 --> 00:02:09,230 district of texas . This injunction 48 00:02:09,230 --> 00:02:11,397 does not extend to military members or 49 00:02:11,397 --> 00:02:13,286 to the department's other force , 50 00:02:13,286 --> 00:02:15,230 health protection measures such as 51 00:02:15,230 --> 00:02:17,286 masking testing , testing , physical 52 00:02:17,286 --> 00:02:19,960 distancing and travel limitations . And 53 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:21,849 then finally yesterday marked the 54 00:02:21,849 --> 00:02:25,190 beginning of exercise keen edge 22 with 55 00:02:25,190 --> 00:02:27,357 members of the Japan Joint staff , U . 56 00:02:27,357 --> 00:02:29,357 S . Forces , Japan and U . S . Indo 57 00:02:29,357 --> 00:02:31,579 pacific command . This annual bilateral 58 00:02:31,579 --> 00:02:33,450 exercise is designed to deepen 59 00:02:33,450 --> 00:02:35,617 relationships between the US and Japan 60 00:02:35,617 --> 00:02:37,950 and to improve interagency coordination , 61 00:02:37,950 --> 00:02:40,680 combat readiness and interoperability 62 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,100 between Our two nations . It's taking 63 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:45,990 place from the 26th of january 64 00:02:46,640 --> 00:02:48,910 Through three February . And the 65 00:02:48,910 --> 00:02:51,130 primary exercise locations are Yokota 66 00:02:51,130 --> 00:02:53,530 Air base headquarters , U . S . Forces , 67 00:02:53,530 --> 00:02:56,110 Japan Ministry of Defense in Tokyo , 68 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:58,311 Japan Self Defense force headquarters 69 00:02:58,311 --> 00:03:00,980 and camp smith Hawaii . Us indo pacific 70 00:03:00,980 --> 00:03:03,020 command Headquarters keen edges a 71 00:03:03,030 --> 00:03:04,919 regularly scheduled exercise that 72 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:07,810 achieves mutual security objectives and 73 00:03:07,810 --> 00:03:10,350 achieves I'm sorry and strengthens us 74 00:03:10,350 --> 00:03:13,350 japan military interoperability and 75 00:03:13,350 --> 00:03:16,200 with that we'll go to questions I think 76 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,980 lita you are on the phone if I have 77 00:03:18,980 --> 00:03:22,340 this right ? Yes . Thanks john 78 00:03:22,650 --> 00:03:25,160 on Ukraine a couple of questions please . 79 00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:28,990 Um are you still going to be able to 80 00:03:28,990 --> 00:03:31,570 release the units uh that will be 81 00:03:31,580 --> 00:03:35,230 heading to uh for the NATO response 82 00:03:35,230 --> 00:03:38,860 force . And to give us an idea 83 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:42,180 of what percentage of those are in the 84 00:03:42,180 --> 00:03:44,510 NATO response force and which and how 85 00:03:44,510 --> 00:03:47,530 many or what percentage perhaps are 86 00:03:47,540 --> 00:03:49,707 going to be sort of unilateral support 87 00:03:49,707 --> 00:03:52,760 to allies . And then secondly , can you 88 00:03:52,770 --> 00:03:54,790 both the secretary and the Chairman 89 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:57,280 yesterday spoke with their polish 90 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:00,450 counterparts . Is Poland a 91 00:04:00,450 --> 00:04:04,320 priority in some of this um 92 00:04:04,330 --> 00:04:08,270 military troop decision making . Will 93 00:04:08,270 --> 00:04:10,520 you be sending additional troops to 94 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:14,440 Poland ? Thank you . Yeah . So um 95 00:04:14,450 --> 00:04:16,450 as you know , we talked about , the 96 00:04:16,450 --> 00:04:18,672 Secretary did place a range of units in 97 00:04:18,672 --> 00:04:20,561 the United States on a heightened 98 00:04:20,561 --> 00:04:23,270 preparedness to deploy . I can say that 99 00:04:23,270 --> 00:04:25,492 today that these units include elements 100 00:04:25,492 --> 00:04:27,659 of the 82nd Airborne Division based at 101 00:04:27,659 --> 00:04:29,714 Fort Bragg , which regularly I think 102 00:04:29,714 --> 00:04:31,937 you all know , maintains high readiness 103 00:04:31,937 --> 00:04:33,714 As well as elements of the 18th 104 00:04:33,714 --> 00:04:36,500 Airborne Corps also based at Fort Bragg 105 00:04:36,510 --> 00:04:38,920 and some elements from at Fort Campbell 106 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,120 Kentucky . Additionally from Fort 107 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:42,953 Campbell , elements of the 101st 108 00:04:42,953 --> 00:04:45,160 Airborne Division and from fort Carson 109 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:47,049 colorado , elements of the Fourth 110 00:04:47,049 --> 00:04:49,380 Infantry Division have also been placed 111 00:04:49,380 --> 00:04:51,760 on increased readiness . We were not 112 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,360 going to and we don't intend to provide 113 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:56,582 an exhaustive list of every unit that's 114 00:04:56,582 --> 00:04:58,471 being placed on prepare to deploy 115 00:04:58,471 --> 00:05:01,090 orders . But I can say that other units 116 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,098 that will now have an increased 117 00:05:03,098 --> 00:05:05,320 readiness posture include elements from 118 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:07,098 Fort Carson . As I said , Davis 119 00:05:07,098 --> 00:05:09,264 Mountain Air Force Base , Arizona ford 120 00:05:09,264 --> 00:05:11,376 Hood texas , Joint Base lewis mcchord 121 00:05:11,376 --> 00:05:13,370 Washington , Fort polk Louisiana . 122 00:05:13,550 --> 00:05:15,606 Robins Air Force Base Georgia . Fort 123 00:05:15,606 --> 00:05:18,080 Stewart Georgia , wright patterson Air 124 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,191 Force Base Ohio and select additional 125 00:05:20,191 --> 00:05:23,460 locations in the United States . Um 126 00:05:23,470 --> 00:05:27,200 These units all told include 127 00:05:27,210 --> 00:05:29,920 medical support , aviation support , 128 00:05:29,930 --> 00:05:32,540 logistics , support and of course 129 00:05:32,550 --> 00:05:34,920 combat formations . I want to just 130 00:05:34,930 --> 00:05:37,600 underscore one other note and that is , 131 00:05:37,610 --> 00:05:39,888 as I said many times earlier this week , 132 00:05:39,888 --> 00:05:41,721 these forces are on a heightened 133 00:05:41,721 --> 00:05:43,888 preparedness to deploy . They have not 134 00:05:43,888 --> 00:05:46,054 been activated . Um , as to your other 135 00:05:46,054 --> 00:05:48,110 question on the percentage , I don't 136 00:05:48,110 --> 00:05:49,999 have that . Um , but as I've said 137 00:05:49,999 --> 00:05:51,888 before , the vast majority of the 138 00:05:51,888 --> 00:05:53,721 troops that the secretary put on 139 00:05:53,721 --> 00:05:55,443 prepared to deploy are in fact 140 00:05:55,443 --> 00:05:57,610 dedicated to the NATO response force . 141 00:05:57,610 --> 00:05:59,888 Um , and if and when they're activated , 142 00:05:59,888 --> 00:06:02,054 we'll be able to provide more specific 143 00:06:02,054 --> 00:06:03,943 detail in terms of breakdowns and 144 00:06:03,943 --> 00:06:06,110 numbers going forward on your question 145 00:06:06,110 --> 00:06:07,810 about Poland . He enjoyed his 146 00:06:07,810 --> 00:06:09,830 conversation with his polish 147 00:06:09,830 --> 00:06:12,290 counterpart yesterday lots to talk 148 00:06:12,290 --> 00:06:14,346 about as you might imagine . I don't 149 00:06:14,346 --> 00:06:16,179 have any specific decisions with 150 00:06:16,179 --> 00:06:18,760 respect to US force presence or posture 151 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:21,520 to , to read out here today but rest 152 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,742 assured if there is something like that 153 00:06:23,742 --> 00:06:25,909 to be able to speak to and to announce 154 00:06:25,909 --> 00:06:28,430 we'll obviously do that . Gen john , 155 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:31,020 the president Zelensky has said that 156 00:06:31,020 --> 00:06:33,650 he's grateful for military aid , but 157 00:06:33,650 --> 00:06:36,030 he's not getting what they really asked 158 00:06:36,030 --> 00:06:38,550 for , which is air defense systems , 159 00:06:38,580 --> 00:06:42,410 anti aircraft of missiles . The kind of 160 00:06:42,410 --> 00:06:44,521 things that could take on the Russian 161 00:06:44,521 --> 00:06:46,610 air force , not just tanks and 162 00:06:46,690 --> 00:06:49,790 ammunition on the ground . Why is the 163 00:06:49,790 --> 00:06:52,690 pentagon refusing to send that kind of 164 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:56,120 weaponry to Ukraine when it's such a 165 00:06:56,130 --> 00:06:58,297 crucial time right now as they prepare 166 00:06:58,297 --> 00:07:00,630 to defend themselves ? I would tell you , 167 00:07:00,630 --> 00:07:02,741 I mean jen , we talked about the fact 168 00:07:02,741 --> 00:07:04,908 that we had an air and missile defense 169 00:07:04,908 --> 00:07:07,130 assessment team over there not long ago 170 00:07:07,130 --> 00:07:09,352 in the last month or so . Uh , and they 171 00:07:09,352 --> 00:07:11,519 had extensive conversations with their 172 00:07:11,519 --> 00:07:14,440 Ukrainian counterparts about those very 173 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:16,607 kinds of capability concerns . This is 174 00:07:16,607 --> 00:07:18,718 an iterative process . It's ongoing . 175 00:07:18,718 --> 00:07:21,051 We've already sent over three shipments . 176 00:07:21,051 --> 00:07:23,162 There are more coming . I'm not going 177 00:07:23,162 --> 00:07:25,384 to get ahead of of all that and I'm not 178 00:07:25,384 --> 00:07:27,496 going to speak with great specificity 179 00:07:27,496 --> 00:07:29,718 here in terms of the exact systems that 180 00:07:29,718 --> 00:07:31,884 are being provided to Ukraine . We are 181 00:07:31,884 --> 00:07:33,884 in constant communication with them 182 00:07:33,884 --> 00:07:36,051 about their needs and capabilities and 183 00:07:36,051 --> 00:07:38,273 I suspect that that those conversations 184 00:07:38,273 --> 00:07:41,010 will continue . I'm not promising any 185 00:07:41,010 --> 00:07:43,232 specific weapon here from the podium or 186 00:07:43,232 --> 00:07:45,232 a timeline for it . We have shipped 187 00:07:45,232 --> 00:07:48,230 already three packages in this latest 188 00:07:48,230 --> 00:07:50,452 drawdown package to Ukraine . There are 189 00:07:50,452 --> 00:07:53,200 more coming . Um , I suspect in fairly 190 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,330 short order . Um , and we're 191 00:07:55,340 --> 00:07:58,210 specifically not detailing every item 192 00:07:58,210 --> 00:08:00,321 that are in these shipments . I think 193 00:08:00,321 --> 00:08:02,543 you can understand why we would want to 194 00:08:02,543 --> 00:08:04,766 be careful about advertising publicly . 195 00:08:04,766 --> 00:08:06,821 Uh , the , the kinds of capabilities 196 00:08:06,821 --> 00:08:09,620 that that were given to Ukraine given 197 00:08:09,630 --> 00:08:13,050 um , the , the , the size and the 198 00:08:13,050 --> 00:08:15,150 scale and the capabilities that are 199 00:08:15,150 --> 00:08:17,317 arrayed against them on the other side 200 00:08:17,317 --> 00:08:19,539 of the border . It just seems like this 201 00:08:19,539 --> 00:08:21,706 is the 11th hour . What is taking ? So 202 00:08:21,706 --> 00:08:23,817 there's no 11th hour here , jen we've 203 00:08:23,817 --> 00:08:26,039 been providing in the last year alone , 204 00:08:26,039 --> 00:08:27,928 we have provided many millions of 205 00:08:27,928 --> 00:08:30,039 dollars of worth of , of capabilities 206 00:08:30,039 --> 00:08:32,317 to Ukraine 60 million just in , in the , 207 00:08:32,317 --> 00:08:34,317 over the course of the spring . And 208 00:08:34,317 --> 00:08:36,261 then in december , president biden 209 00:08:36,261 --> 00:08:38,317 authorized another 200 million . And 210 00:08:38,317 --> 00:08:40,550 that's on top of work that two previous 211 00:08:40,550 --> 00:08:42,772 administrations have been doing to help 212 00:08:42,772 --> 00:08:44,883 bolster the self defense capabilities 213 00:08:44,883 --> 00:08:46,828 of the Ukrainian armed forces . So 214 00:08:46,828 --> 00:08:48,772 there's no 11th hour here at all . 215 00:08:48,772 --> 00:08:50,939 We've been watching this build up over 216 00:08:50,939 --> 00:08:52,883 time and that is why we got the 60 217 00:08:52,883 --> 00:08:54,772 million . There . We are . We are 218 00:08:54,772 --> 00:08:56,550 actually looking at ways we can 219 00:08:56,550 --> 00:08:58,661 accelerate some of the shipments that 220 00:08:58,661 --> 00:09:00,494 are to come as part of this $200 221 00:09:00,494 --> 00:09:02,606 million package . Um , because we see 222 00:09:02,606 --> 00:09:04,550 this continued build up by Russian 223 00:09:04,550 --> 00:09:06,439 forces in the western part of the 224 00:09:06,439 --> 00:09:08,661 country and in Belarus . Um , but I I I 225 00:09:08,661 --> 00:09:10,772 take issue with the idea that this is 226 00:09:10,772 --> 00:09:12,606 sort of 11th hour hail mary pass 227 00:09:12,606 --> 00:09:14,830 throwing stuff How you can take issue 228 00:09:14,830 --> 00:09:16,719 with the 11th hour when there are 229 00:09:16,719 --> 00:09:18,830 senior leaders here and the president 230 00:09:18,830 --> 00:09:21,163 have called a Russian invasion imminent . 231 00:09:22,340 --> 00:09:24,507 The fact that it is possible that it's 232 00:09:24,507 --> 00:09:26,729 imminent doesn't mean that we just woke 233 00:09:26,729 --> 00:09:28,618 up to the fact that they had been 234 00:09:28,618 --> 00:09:30,673 building forces . We've been talking 235 00:09:30,673 --> 00:09:32,896 about this now for a couple of months , 236 00:09:32,896 --> 00:09:35,062 what we've been seeing on the ground . 237 00:09:35,062 --> 00:09:36,896 Um , and there have been lots of 238 00:09:36,896 --> 00:09:38,840 conversations with us and our NATO 239 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:40,618 allies as well as our Ukrainian 240 00:09:40,618 --> 00:09:42,951 counterparts . We've read all those out , 241 00:09:42,951 --> 00:09:42,540 you can go back and look at the 242 00:09:42,540 --> 00:09:44,810 readouts . I mean , it's not like any 243 00:09:44,810 --> 00:09:47,480 of this came as some sort of shock , 244 00:09:47,490 --> 00:09:50,790 but we have as we've continued to see 245 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,990 the accumulation of combat power and as 246 00:09:53,990 --> 00:09:57,770 we have now seen uh that so far anyway , 247 00:09:57,770 --> 00:10:00,070 Mr Putin has not elected to to 248 00:10:00,070 --> 00:10:02,640 deescalate . Um and uh you know , look , 249 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:04,473 there's there , we still believe 250 00:10:04,473 --> 00:10:06,640 there's time and space for diplomacy , 251 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:08,696 but thus far it has not achieved the 252 00:10:08,696 --> 00:10:10,862 kind of results that the international 253 00:10:10,862 --> 00:10:13,029 community would like to see . All that 254 00:10:13,029 --> 00:10:15,029 combined has led us to , you know , 255 00:10:15,029 --> 00:10:16,807 again , want to contribute more 256 00:10:16,807 --> 00:10:19,210 capabilities to Ukrainian armed forces 257 00:10:19,220 --> 00:10:21,190 and be ready to contribute more 258 00:10:21,190 --> 00:10:24,460 capabilities to our NATO allies . So 259 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:29,000 um thank you . Um first I wanted 260 00:10:29,010 --> 00:10:31,970 to know if you have noticed any change 261 00:10:31,990 --> 00:10:34,550 in the Russian posture , military 262 00:10:34,550 --> 00:10:37,400 posture around Ukraine in the last few 263 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,500 days . Um and then you said Tuesday 264 00:10:40,500 --> 00:10:44,490 that all the 8500 troops 265 00:10:44,500 --> 00:10:48,150 were coming from us . But 266 00:10:48,150 --> 00:10:50,261 Secretary Blinken said yesterday that 267 00:10:50,261 --> 00:10:53,570 they were coming from us and there were 268 00:10:53,580 --> 00:10:56,280 some were stationed in the Europe . So 269 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:58,400 I wanted to know exactly what is what 270 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,550 is what and what is the proportion of 271 00:11:01,620 --> 00:11:04,950 combat troops in this 8 85 272 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,720 I'm not going to get into a breakdown . 273 00:11:07,730 --> 00:11:09,900 I've gone and given you as much detail 274 00:11:09,900 --> 00:11:12,940 about the forces that the secretary put 275 00:11:12,940 --> 00:11:15,660 on , prepare to deploy orders that I'm 276 00:11:15,670 --> 00:11:18,060 I'm comfortable doing right now . Um 277 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:22,050 As for Russian buildups , we continue 278 00:11:22,050 --> 00:11:24,530 to see uh including in the last 24 279 00:11:24,530 --> 00:11:27,820 hours , uh more accumulation of of 280 00:11:27,820 --> 00:11:31,560 credible combat forces arrayed by the 281 00:11:31,560 --> 00:11:34,640 Russians in again the western part of 282 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:36,973 their country and and uh and in belarus . 283 00:11:36,973 --> 00:11:39,140 So without getting into a Tiktok every 284 00:11:39,140 --> 00:11:41,307 day of how much more we're seeing , we 285 00:11:41,307 --> 00:11:43,084 continue to see him add to that 286 00:11:43,084 --> 00:11:45,196 capability . Not dramatic , as I said 287 00:11:45,196 --> 00:11:48,250 the other day , also not sclerotic . Ah 288 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:51,400 And then on the breakdown of , as I 289 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:55,360 said on Monday , uh these troops 290 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:57,590 that we talked about this 8500 on 291 00:11:57,590 --> 00:12:00,630 Monday . Uh we're coming from stateside 292 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:02,807 uh facilities . And I just read to you 293 00:12:02,807 --> 00:12:05,250 the entire list of where they're coming 294 00:12:05,250 --> 00:12:07,810 from . But I've also said Sylvie and 295 00:12:07,810 --> 00:12:09,754 this gets its secretary Blinken is 296 00:12:09,754 --> 00:12:11,900 comments that we're not taken off the 297 00:12:11,900 --> 00:12:14,122 table . The possibility of using forces 298 00:12:14,122 --> 00:12:16,240 that are already in europe , who many 299 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:18,970 of many of whom are already on uh an 300 00:12:18,970 --> 00:12:20,920 accelerated accelerated readiness 301 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,031 posture . Not all , but some some are 302 00:12:23,031 --> 00:12:25,360 there on rotational deployments . Some 303 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:28,510 are permanently based there . We've not 304 00:12:28,510 --> 00:12:30,454 ruled off the table the idea of of 305 00:12:30,454 --> 00:12:32,288 maybe using some of them to also 306 00:12:32,288 --> 00:12:34,343 bolster our NATO allies if they need 307 00:12:34,343 --> 00:12:36,520 that . So it most likely should there 308 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:39,650 be should there be a movement 309 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:43,330 of american forces on allied territory 310 00:12:43,330 --> 00:12:46,010 acute , you know , a growth in that an 311 00:12:46,010 --> 00:12:49,480 increase . Um it's entirely likely 312 00:12:49,490 --> 00:12:52,560 that some of that will be achieved 313 00:12:52,570 --> 00:12:55,260 through using organic capabilities that 314 00:12:55,260 --> 00:12:57,204 general Walters already has on the 315 00:12:57,204 --> 00:12:59,530 european continent . Thank you , john 316 00:12:59,540 --> 00:13:02,960 us South Korea military exercises . 317 00:13:03,540 --> 00:13:06,660 You said that the U . S . And Japan are 318 00:13:06,670 --> 00:13:08,680 conducted the regular military 319 00:13:08,680 --> 00:13:11,790 exercises when will do us and South 320 00:13:11,790 --> 00:13:14,460 Korea military exercises . 321 00:13:15,500 --> 00:13:17,611 Normally , I don't have an update for 322 00:13:17,611 --> 00:13:19,833 you on the U . S . South Korea exercise 323 00:13:19,833 --> 00:13:22,000 regimen . I would point you to U . S . 324 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,222 Forces Korea for more information about 325 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:27,580 um about their exercise regime . Um , I 326 00:13:27,580 --> 00:13:29,580 think , you know , and we've talked 327 00:13:29,580 --> 00:13:32,330 about this many times , just like we're 328 00:13:32,330 --> 00:13:34,330 doing with Japan . I mean we tailor 329 00:13:34,330 --> 00:13:37,120 exercises for the capabilities that we 330 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,770 want to improve for the threats and 331 00:13:39,770 --> 00:13:41,770 challenges in the region and in the 332 00:13:41,770 --> 00:13:43,820 area . Um , and we don't do these 333 00:13:43,820 --> 00:13:45,931 things in a vacuum . We don't do them 334 00:13:45,931 --> 00:13:47,876 in a vacuum with respect to what's 335 00:13:47,876 --> 00:13:49,987 going on in the region and around the 336 00:13:49,987 --> 00:13:52,153 world . And we don't do it in a vacuum 337 00:13:52,153 --> 00:13:54,042 when it comes to our allies ? The 338 00:13:54,042 --> 00:13:56,264 Japanese are are also our allies . Uh , 339 00:13:56,264 --> 00:13:58,431 and just like with the South Koreans , 340 00:13:58,431 --> 00:14:00,653 we're going to continue to consult with 341 00:14:00,653 --> 00:14:02,598 our allies as we move forward with 342 00:14:02,598 --> 00:14:05,630 training events . There's Koreans and 343 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:09,290 firing missiles almost every 344 00:14:09,300 --> 00:14:13,040 four days this month . As you know 345 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:16,950 that why this Yes , I do think 346 00:14:16,950 --> 00:14:19,006 it's a six . You won't let me forget 347 00:14:19,006 --> 00:14:21,460 too much . You never know how many 348 00:14:21,460 --> 00:14:24,060 there are going to do for work . While 349 00:14:24,070 --> 00:14:28,050 the United States focus on the 350 00:14:28,060 --> 00:14:30,950 Ukraine crisis and 351 00:14:31,410 --> 00:14:33,980 possibility of China's 352 00:14:34,740 --> 00:14:38,540 invasion of Taiwan and north 353 00:14:38,540 --> 00:14:41,630 Korea provocative actions are 354 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:45,410 helping china and Russia . My 355 00:14:45,410 --> 00:14:48,050 question is how is the United States 356 00:14:48,060 --> 00:14:51,820 when we win strategic working 357 00:14:51,830 --> 00:14:55,530 in response to these multiple 358 00:14:55,540 --> 00:14:56,430 operations ? 359 00:14:59,870 --> 00:15:03,330 Win Win strategy us have , I think 360 00:15:03,340 --> 00:15:07,220 when wear people , the former 361 00:15:07,230 --> 00:15:11,080 former Secretary Rumsfeld had this kind 362 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:14,860 of strategic so win win other 363 00:15:15,740 --> 00:15:18,890 areas together have some 364 00:15:18,900 --> 00:15:21,860 conflict can reinforce you mean like 365 00:15:21,870 --> 00:15:25,470 the old construct of being able to win 366 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,870 two major wars and yeah , we have 367 00:15:29,020 --> 00:15:32,360 different names or so . 368 00:15:32,370 --> 00:15:35,570 Um I'm not sure you mean it this way . 369 00:15:35,570 --> 00:15:37,737 I'm obviously not going to preview the 370 00:15:37,737 --> 00:15:39,848 national defense strategy which we're 371 00:15:39,848 --> 00:15:41,848 still working on . So when you talk 372 00:15:41,848 --> 00:15:43,959 about Secretary Rumsfeld , you know , 373 00:15:43,959 --> 00:15:45,848 win two major conflicts , I think 374 00:15:45,848 --> 00:15:45,750 that's the construct . You're talking 375 00:15:45,750 --> 00:15:48,720 about what what used to be in national 376 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:51,340 defense strategies past . We are 377 00:15:51,340 --> 00:15:54,130 working on a new one now . Um we hope 378 00:15:54,130 --> 00:15:56,297 to be able to talk about that with you 379 00:15:56,297 --> 00:15:58,990 all a little bit later . I'm not going 380 00:15:58,990 --> 00:16:01,157 to preview here from the podium what's 381 00:16:01,157 --> 00:16:03,379 in it ? It's still in draft still being 382 00:16:03,379 --> 00:16:06,260 worked . Um but 383 00:16:07,930 --> 00:16:09,986 the gist I think of your question is 384 00:16:09,986 --> 00:16:12,097 why can't we walk and chew gum at the 385 00:16:12,097 --> 00:16:15,240 same time and we can and we are just 386 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:17,462 because we're focused on bolstering our 387 00:16:17,462 --> 00:16:20,340 NATO allies in europe right now , given 388 00:16:22,540 --> 00:16:26,170 the worrisome accumulation of 389 00:16:26,170 --> 00:16:28,281 combat credible power by the Russians 390 00:16:28,281 --> 00:16:31,490 uh in uh in and around Ukraine doesn't 391 00:16:31,490 --> 00:16:34,230 mean that we aren't still focused on 392 00:16:34,230 --> 00:16:36,008 the pacing challenge that china 393 00:16:36,008 --> 00:16:38,119 represents to the department . You've 394 00:16:38,119 --> 00:16:40,230 heard the Secretary talked about that 395 00:16:40,230 --> 00:16:42,341 he continues to have regular drumbeat 396 00:16:42,341 --> 00:16:44,452 meetings which he chairs on the china 397 00:16:44,452 --> 00:16:46,210 pacing challenge and exploring 398 00:16:46,210 --> 00:16:48,590 operational concepts for how we can 399 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,150 better meet that challenge . Um It 400 00:16:51,150 --> 00:16:53,206 doesn't mean we're not talking about 401 00:16:53,206 --> 00:16:55,428 integrated deterrents , not just in the 402 00:16:55,428 --> 00:16:57,594 indo pacific but around the world . It 403 00:16:57,594 --> 00:16:57,150 doesn't mean that . And you've heard me 404 00:16:57,150 --> 00:16:59,261 talk about it , I don't know how many 405 00:16:59,261 --> 00:17:01,094 times over the last few days the 406 00:17:01,094 --> 00:17:03,317 continual threats and challenges in the 407 00:17:03,317 --> 00:17:05,539 Middle East . Um and certainly uh we're 408 00:17:05,539 --> 00:17:08,050 mindful of the the uh uh huh 409 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:12,590 destabilizing behavior by Pyongyang 410 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:15,540 with respect to these recent tests . As 411 00:17:15,540 --> 00:17:19,300 a matter of fact on nearly every single 412 00:17:19,300 --> 00:17:21,700 one of them , we issue a statement and 413 00:17:21,700 --> 00:17:23,867 we make it clear that we're condemning 414 00:17:23,867 --> 00:17:25,978 these attacks and we continue to call 415 00:17:25,978 --> 00:17:29,470 on the north korean regime to to stop 416 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,160 uh these these provocations which in 417 00:17:32,170 --> 00:17:34,880 many cases violate existing U . N . 418 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:37,180 Security Council resolutions that with 419 00:17:37,180 --> 00:17:39,069 the whole international community 420 00:17:39,069 --> 00:17:41,980 should be signing up to . So jenny . I 421 00:17:41,980 --> 00:17:44,147 mean , I appreciate the question . But 422 00:17:44,147 --> 00:17:46,258 what we're there's a lot on our plate 423 00:17:46,260 --> 00:17:48,740 and and uh and we're focused on all of 424 00:17:48,740 --> 00:17:51,860 it . Um Just because right now , one 425 00:17:51,860 --> 00:17:54,380 issue obviously is certainly capturing 426 00:17:54,380 --> 00:17:56,436 the attention of the world community 427 00:17:56,436 --> 00:17:58,491 doesn't mean that , you know , we're 428 00:17:58,491 --> 00:18:00,620 not equally pursuing and focused on 429 00:18:00,620 --> 00:18:02,787 other threats and challenges to to the 430 00:18:02,787 --> 00:18:04,842 country . If you go back and look at 431 00:18:04,842 --> 00:18:06,898 the memo that the Secretary issued . 432 00:18:06,898 --> 00:18:08,842 You know , within just a couple of 433 00:18:08,842 --> 00:18:11,500 weeks of taking office , um , he stated 434 00:18:11,500 --> 00:18:14,250 very clearly , his number one priority 435 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:16,800 is to defend this nation against all 436 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:18,800 threats and challenges . And that's 437 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:20,967 what we're doing . I think maybe go to 438 00:18:20,967 --> 00:18:23,133 the phone here . I because I got a lot 439 00:18:23,133 --> 00:18:25,300 of a lot of people here joe Gould from 440 00:18:25,300 --> 00:18:26,300 Defense News . 441 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,280 Okay . Nothing heard Jared Suba al 442 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:38,880 Monitor . Hi , Mr Kirby just wondered 443 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,047 if you could tell us a little bit more 444 00:18:41,047 --> 00:18:43,047 about this directive from Secretary 445 00:18:43,047 --> 00:18:45,047 Austin on civilian casualties . How 446 00:18:45,047 --> 00:18:46,769 does this build upon does does 447 00:18:46,769 --> 00:18:48,991 incorporate any conclusions or uh , you 448 00:18:48,991 --> 00:18:50,936 know , how does this relate to the 449 00:18:50,936 --> 00:18:53,340 previous inquiries pushed by previous 450 00:18:53,340 --> 00:18:55,710 Secretary Mattis and desperate thanks . 451 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:58,570 It's informed by the work that has gone 452 00:18:58,570 --> 00:19:01,900 before clearly , um by both Secretary 453 00:19:01,900 --> 00:19:04,830 Mattis and Secretary esper . But but 454 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:06,729 but I would say , you know , just 455 00:19:06,729 --> 00:19:08,896 philosophically , even before that , I 456 00:19:08,896 --> 00:19:10,784 mean , you have to remember , the 457 00:19:10,784 --> 00:19:12,784 Secretary was a ground commander in 458 00:19:12,784 --> 00:19:14,896 Iraq and Afghanistan . Um This is not 459 00:19:14,896 --> 00:19:16,729 an issue that uh , that he's not 460 00:19:16,729 --> 00:19:18,840 familiar with . Um , so it's informed 461 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:20,840 by a lot specifically the memo that 462 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:24,220 you'll see today , uh and the decisions 463 00:19:24,220 --> 00:19:27,250 that he has made in terms of standing 464 00:19:27,250 --> 00:19:30,450 up civilian harm mitigation uh , team 465 00:19:30,460 --> 00:19:33,110 as well as ordering the establishment 466 00:19:33,120 --> 00:19:35,520 of a of a center of Excellence and some 467 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:37,742 additional immediate steps which you'll 468 00:19:37,742 --> 00:19:39,576 see in the memo , those are more 469 00:19:39,576 --> 00:19:41,909 specifically informed by recent studies , 470 00:19:41,909 --> 00:19:43,800 independent uh , and as well as 471 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:46,700 departmental reviews writ large such as 472 00:19:46,700 --> 00:19:49,360 the rand assessment that that was 473 00:19:49,360 --> 00:19:51,416 legislated by Congress . And I think 474 00:19:51,416 --> 00:19:53,638 that I think you all have also gotten a 475 00:19:53,638 --> 00:19:55,804 briefing on that today as well as more 476 00:19:55,804 --> 00:19:57,749 specific strike investigations and 477 00:19:57,749 --> 00:20:00,830 strike review . So I would point you to 478 00:20:00,830 --> 00:20:02,941 and and and there's a mention of that 479 00:20:02,941 --> 00:20:05,274 in the memo that of what's informing it . 480 00:20:05,274 --> 00:20:07,386 But but there's a lot there . In fact 481 00:20:07,386 --> 00:20:10,390 I'd be remiss if I didn't say that uh 482 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:12,567 that some of the thinking that's going 483 00:20:12,567 --> 00:20:14,678 into the the ways the secretary wants 484 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:16,880 to have a more structural 485 00:20:16,890 --> 00:20:20,100 implementation of changes is also quite 486 00:20:20,100 --> 00:20:22,270 frankly informed by by some recent 487 00:20:22,270 --> 00:20:24,900 press reporting and it would be wrong 488 00:20:24,900 --> 00:20:27,067 for us not to not to also mention that 489 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:31,590 Jeff , thank you . I think you 490 00:20:31,590 --> 00:20:33,812 mentioned that Elements at Davis martin 491 00:20:33,812 --> 00:20:36,190 had been put on heightened alert . Does 492 00:20:36,190 --> 00:20:38,190 that mean that eight tens have been 493 00:20:38,190 --> 00:20:40,357 told they may have to go to europe ? I 494 00:20:40,357 --> 00:20:43,040 am not going into any more detail than 495 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,870 what I gave you Jeff , I described the 496 00:20:45,870 --> 00:20:48,120 units to the level of detail that we're 497 00:20:48,120 --> 00:20:51,780 comfortable doing . She already got 498 00:20:51,790 --> 00:20:52,860 lead a fatty . 499 00:20:57,140 --> 00:20:59,380 Thank you john um I have a question 500 00:20:59,380 --> 00:21:02,270 about monday's attack on Sarah 501 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:06,090 Airbase . So since that attack the 502 00:21:06,100 --> 00:21:08,360 department or US forces in the region , 503 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:11,062 take any additional measures to enhance 504 00:21:11,062 --> 00:21:14,470 force protection . And is the pentagon 505 00:21:14,470 --> 00:21:17,630 considering or considered any new 506 00:21:17,630 --> 00:21:19,610 measures to detect and prevent any 507 00:21:19,610 --> 00:21:22,270 future threats from the houthis . Thank 508 00:21:22,270 --> 00:21:25,360 you . Yeah , I would tell you um as you 509 00:21:25,360 --> 00:21:27,360 know , friday , we don't talk about 510 00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:29,527 specific force protection , but I will 511 00:21:29,527 --> 00:21:31,582 go so far as to let you know that us 512 00:21:31,582 --> 00:21:35,480 forces there uh in and around al 513 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:38,020 Dhafra remain at a heightened state of 514 00:21:38,020 --> 00:21:40,242 alert . I think that's as far as I will 515 00:21:40,242 --> 00:21:43,570 go um as for any changes going forward . 516 00:21:43,580 --> 00:21:45,636 I mean obviously we will rely on the 517 00:21:45,636 --> 00:21:47,610 good judgment of uh of General 518 00:21:47,610 --> 00:21:49,830 Mackenzie and in his chain of command 519 00:21:49,830 --> 00:21:53,250 and in terms of what specific changes 520 00:21:53,250 --> 00:21:55,361 they think they might need to make in 521 00:21:55,361 --> 00:21:57,472 terms of defenses . Um But again , we 522 00:21:57,472 --> 00:21:59,528 wouldn't detail detail that from the 523 00:21:59,528 --> 00:22:01,880 podium , Louis Martinez . 524 00:22:04,940 --> 00:22:08,760 Hi John earlier this week there was a 525 00:22:08,770 --> 00:22:11,800 crash of an F- 35C on the aircraft 526 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:14,200 carrier . Carl Vincent Navy says that 527 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:16,610 they're beginning any um uh 528 00:22:16,620 --> 00:22:19,520 arrangements to try to recover it . Um 529 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:21,742 Is there anything new on that ? And can 530 00:22:21,742 --> 00:22:23,860 you address any concerns about maybe 531 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:27,610 trying to protect um the 532 00:22:27,610 --> 00:22:30,570 waters where this plane may have fallen 533 00:22:30,570 --> 00:22:33,310 into so that other nations um namely 534 00:22:33,310 --> 00:22:35,310 china don't get their hands on it . 535 00:22:35,310 --> 00:22:37,480 Yeah , you probably have seen the 536 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:40,610 Navy's statement . They do intend to 537 00:22:40,610 --> 00:22:43,330 attempt a recovery of the aircraft , I 538 00:22:43,330 --> 00:22:46,350 want to say right off the top that 539 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:50,410 uh that we have received word that 540 00:22:50,410 --> 00:22:53,620 those who were injured are doing better 541 00:22:53,630 --> 00:22:55,797 and we're absolutely delighted to hear 542 00:22:55,797 --> 00:22:59,550 that um and continue to hope for uh a 543 00:22:59,550 --> 00:23:01,800 speedy and safe recovery for them . Uh 544 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:03,967 and our hearts are with them and their 545 00:23:03,967 --> 00:23:07,370 families right now . Um I won't speak 546 00:23:07,370 --> 00:23:09,580 to specific recovery efforts by the 547 00:23:09,580 --> 00:23:11,524 navy . I think they're they're far 548 00:23:11,524 --> 00:23:13,780 better to do that than uh than I am . 549 00:23:13,930 --> 00:23:17,090 But um it was certainly mindful 550 00:23:17,090 --> 00:23:20,980 of of the value of an 551 00:23:20,980 --> 00:23:24,910 f . in every respect of what value 552 00:23:24,910 --> 00:23:27,720 means . Um and as 553 00:23:28,610 --> 00:23:32,330 we continue to attempt recovery 554 00:23:32,340 --> 00:23:34,340 of the aircraft , we're gonna do it 555 00:23:34,340 --> 00:23:36,618 obviously with safety foremost in mind . 556 00:23:36,618 --> 00:23:38,510 But but clearly our own national 557 00:23:38,510 --> 00:23:40,621 security interests and I think I just 558 00:23:40,621 --> 00:23:42,670 leave it at that paul , Shenkman 559 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:47,062 Hi John Russia announced yesterday that 560 00:23:47,062 --> 00:23:49,229 it had deployed 20 or so warships into 561 00:23:49,229 --> 00:23:52,510 the Black Sea for supposed exercises as 562 00:23:52,510 --> 00:23:54,732 part of broader maritime exercises this 563 00:23:54,732 --> 00:23:56,843 month and next . Do you consider this 564 00:23:56,843 --> 00:23:59,066 to be a part of the troop build up that 565 00:23:59,066 --> 00:24:01,066 you've criticized in recent days in 566 00:24:01,066 --> 00:24:03,343 recent weeks ? And regardless of the U . 567 00:24:03,343 --> 00:24:04,843 S . Have any concern about 568 00:24:04,843 --> 00:24:06,732 destabilizing action at the curse 569 00:24:06,732 --> 00:24:08,843 straight or elsewhere in the region . 570 00:24:08,843 --> 00:24:10,621 Thank you . Yeah , I don't have 571 00:24:10,621 --> 00:24:12,954 anything specific on the curse straight . 572 00:24:12,954 --> 00:24:14,843 Uh cursed . Great Kirk straight . 573 00:24:14,843 --> 00:24:16,621 Starry . I'll try that , cursed 574 00:24:16,621 --> 00:24:20,510 straight . But um we continue to see an 575 00:24:20,510 --> 00:24:23,650 accumulation of Russian military power 576 00:24:23,660 --> 00:24:27,430 again uh , around and alongside 577 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:29,890 the borders with Ukraine and Belarus . 578 00:24:29,900 --> 00:24:32,067 And and I mentioned this the other day 579 00:24:32,067 --> 00:24:34,770 and naval power in the mediterranean 580 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:38,770 and in the atlantic uh and clearly the 581 00:24:38,780 --> 00:24:41,490 Black Sea , so I can't speak to their 582 00:24:41,500 --> 00:24:43,667 exercise . They should be able to talk 583 00:24:43,667 --> 00:24:45,778 to their exercises the way I just did 584 00:24:45,778 --> 00:24:48,620 at the top of this briefing . But we 585 00:24:48,620 --> 00:24:51,350 have noted and continue to watch 586 00:24:51,360 --> 00:24:53,880 increasing naval developments on the 587 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:56,460 Russian side as well . All of this , 588 00:24:56,740 --> 00:25:00,180 all of this activity um uh is 589 00:25:00,180 --> 00:25:04,170 what uh leads to our concern over 590 00:25:04,180 --> 00:25:06,910 Russian intentions here , which again , 591 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:10,670 uh as always remain Orpik , 592 00:25:12,540 --> 00:25:13,860 David , martin Cbs 593 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:20,440 um john you said uh entirely likely 594 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:22,850 that if there is a plus up in europe , 595 00:25:23,350 --> 00:25:26,350 some of that plus up could come from 596 00:25:26,350 --> 00:25:28,239 troops that are already there , I 597 00:25:28,239 --> 00:25:30,239 should say , Plus up on the eastern 598 00:25:30,239 --> 00:25:32,294 flank of europe , some of those that 599 00:25:32,294 --> 00:25:34,517 possibly could come from troops already 600 00:25:34,517 --> 00:25:37,610 in europe . Have any uh units in europe 601 00:25:37,620 --> 00:25:41,140 been given prepare to deploy 602 00:25:41,140 --> 00:25:44,770 orders ? The many of the rotational 603 00:25:44,770 --> 00:25:46,714 troops are already on a heightened 604 00:25:46,714 --> 00:25:49,270 posture , David , um um 605 00:25:50,740 --> 00:25:53,810 I believe that general Walters is 606 00:25:53,820 --> 00:25:57,340 uh taking prudent steps to make sure 607 00:25:57,340 --> 00:26:01,080 that if we need to move forces from 608 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:03,660 inside europe to other places in europe 609 00:26:03,670 --> 00:26:05,670 and an allied territory , that he's 610 00:26:05,670 --> 00:26:07,800 ready to do that . The prepare to 611 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:09,856 deploy orders that I spoke about the 612 00:26:09,856 --> 00:26:13,260 other day again , were confined to us 613 00:26:13,260 --> 00:26:16,500 domestic units . Um but as I said to 614 00:26:16,500 --> 00:26:18,667 Sylvia , you are absolutely not ruling 615 00:26:18,667 --> 00:26:20,778 out the possibility that uh forces in 616 00:26:20,778 --> 00:26:23,490 europe could also be moved in to help 617 00:26:23,490 --> 00:26:25,712 bolster the capabilities of NATO allies 618 00:26:25,712 --> 00:26:27,712 and again , some of these units are 619 00:26:27,712 --> 00:26:31,460 already on a heightened uh 620 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:34,110 state of readiness . Um I don't know of 621 00:26:34,110 --> 00:26:36,166 specific orders that general Walters 622 00:26:36,166 --> 00:26:39,910 has given to increase the readiness 623 00:26:39,910 --> 00:26:43,030 posture of of other units in europe . 624 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:45,262 But again , I just want to go back to a 625 00:26:45,262 --> 00:26:47,750 core principle here . Well , we take 626 00:26:47,750 --> 00:26:51,260 our NATO commitments seriously and 627 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:54,490 we're going to be consulting with with 628 00:26:54,490 --> 00:26:57,450 allies uh as we have been certainly in 629 00:26:57,450 --> 00:26:59,760 coming days . Um and if there's a if 630 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:01,649 there's ways in which we can help 631 00:27:01,649 --> 00:27:03,593 bolster their capabilities to help 632 00:27:03,593 --> 00:27:05,760 their defensive postures , we're going 633 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:07,927 to take a serious look at that and not 634 00:27:07,927 --> 00:27:10,860 all of that has to come or or 635 00:27:10,860 --> 00:27:12,916 necessarily will come just from just 636 00:27:12,916 --> 00:27:16,550 from stateside . Yeah , I have 637 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:18,740 three quick follow ups to questions 638 00:27:18,740 --> 00:27:20,830 asked earlier . One on just what you 639 00:27:20,830 --> 00:27:22,886 said about general Walters . Does he 640 00:27:22,886 --> 00:27:24,774 have the ability to put troops on 641 00:27:24,774 --> 00:27:26,941 heightened alert without the Secretary 642 00:27:26,941 --> 00:27:29,052 doing it ? In other words , Secretary 643 00:27:29,052 --> 00:27:30,886 Austin did the orders for here . 644 00:27:30,886 --> 00:27:32,997 General Walters can do that as the as 645 00:27:32,997 --> 00:27:35,219 the combatant commander in the european 646 00:27:35,219 --> 00:27:37,219 command , he can move forces around 647 00:27:37,219 --> 00:27:39,330 intra theater at his own discretion . 648 00:27:39,330 --> 00:27:41,720 Yes , I think though you can understand 649 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:44,430 that when we're talking about an issue 650 00:27:44,430 --> 00:27:47,720 of this importance , that there is a 651 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:49,609 constant dialogue between general 652 00:27:49,609 --> 00:27:51,720 Walters and the Chairman of the Joint 653 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:53,887 Chiefs as well as the Secretary . So I 654 00:27:53,887 --> 00:27:55,664 wouldn't expect there to be any 655 00:27:55,664 --> 00:27:57,609 surprises . The Secretary can also 656 00:27:57,609 --> 00:27:59,831 order posture changes in europe because 657 00:27:59,831 --> 00:28:01,664 he is at the top of the chain of 658 00:28:01,664 --> 00:28:03,890 command . So it's , I know we like to 659 00:28:03,900 --> 00:28:06,570 not you , but Some people like to just , 660 00:28:06,570 --> 00:28:08,681 you know , go to what exactly can the 661 00:28:08,681 --> 00:28:11,250 commander do without permission . There 662 00:28:11,250 --> 00:28:13,472 are things he can do . But again , with 663 00:28:13,472 --> 00:28:15,472 a situation like what we're talking 664 00:28:15,472 --> 00:28:17,528 about today , there's a lot of cross 665 00:28:17,528 --> 00:28:19,583 pollination and talking . I know you 666 00:28:19,583 --> 00:28:21,694 weren't , you weren't . I just wanted 667 00:28:21,694 --> 00:28:23,970 to make that point on the F35 that 668 00:28:23,980 --> 00:28:27,000 Louis brought up chinfo was a little 669 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:30,230 bit opaque in responding as to 670 00:28:30,230 --> 00:28:33,150 whether That any other nation can 671 00:28:33,150 --> 00:28:35,317 actually get the F- 35 . It's under my 672 00:28:35,317 --> 00:28:37,428 impression that that's us territory , 673 00:28:37,428 --> 00:28:39,650 us property and no one else can sort of 674 00:28:39,650 --> 00:28:41,150 salvage that . What's your 675 00:28:41,150 --> 00:28:43,140 understanding of that ? I'm not a 676 00:28:43,140 --> 00:28:46,250 lawyer , but it is US property and the 677 00:28:46,250 --> 00:28:48,250 navy is going to make an attempt to 678 00:28:48,250 --> 00:28:51,430 recover it gents one of jen's questions 679 00:28:51,940 --> 00:28:55,230 regarding anti aircraft weapons and you 680 00:28:55,230 --> 00:28:57,119 know , you don't want to disclose 681 00:28:57,119 --> 00:28:59,341 everything . You know , in the briefing 682 00:28:59,341 --> 00:28:58,740 earlier this week , you said one of the , 683 00:28:58,750 --> 00:29:01,230 one of the key reasons troops may go to 684 00:29:01,230 --> 00:29:03,286 eastern europe to bolster our allies 685 00:29:03,286 --> 00:29:05,510 there is to show the Russians that 686 00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:07,631 determination and to sort of dissuade 687 00:29:07,631 --> 00:29:10,410 and perhaps of adventurism I would not 688 00:29:10,420 --> 00:29:12,309 have , but we're not the Russians 689 00:29:12,309 --> 00:29:14,531 knowing that there's some anti aircraft 690 00:29:14,531 --> 00:29:16,420 weapons aiming at their potential 691 00:29:16,420 --> 00:29:18,253 planes helped dissuade them from 692 00:29:18,253 --> 00:29:20,476 attacking . Look , there's there's lots 693 00:29:20,476 --> 00:29:22,253 of things that we would like to 694 00:29:22,253 --> 00:29:24,309 dissuade them from , from from doing 695 00:29:24,309 --> 00:29:26,420 what they clearly have the capability 696 00:29:26,420 --> 00:29:28,364 to do . And I'm not going to speak 697 00:29:28,364 --> 00:29:30,476 about specific systems . I just won't 698 00:29:30,476 --> 00:29:32,698 do that tom . But the United States has 699 00:29:32,698 --> 00:29:36,430 been nothing but clear about the 700 00:29:36,430 --> 00:29:38,510 importance of Russia not conducting 701 00:29:38,510 --> 00:29:40,800 another incursion into Ukraine . And 702 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:42,911 the consequences that would come from 703 00:29:42,911 --> 00:29:46,860 that at the same time , we have 704 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:49,820 two other responsibilities that we take 705 00:29:49,820 --> 00:29:52,050 seriously . One is of course to NATO 706 00:29:52,060 --> 00:29:54,060 and to our article five commitments 707 00:29:54,060 --> 00:29:56,282 inside the alliance . And number two is 708 00:29:56,282 --> 00:29:58,560 to helping through security assistance , 709 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:01,430 helping the Ukrainian armed forces 710 00:30:01,430 --> 00:30:03,640 better defend themselves . We are just 711 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:06,700 at the beginning of a whole new package 712 00:30:06,710 --> 00:30:09,270 of assistance material . Uh , as I said , 713 00:30:09,270 --> 00:30:11,326 there's been three shipments there . 714 00:30:11,326 --> 00:30:13,381 There are more that will be coming . 715 00:30:13,381 --> 00:30:13,310 We're trying to see if we can 716 00:30:13,310 --> 00:30:15,366 accelerate them . We're not going to 717 00:30:15,366 --> 00:30:17,199 detail what is in each and every 718 00:30:17,199 --> 00:30:20,370 shipment , but uh , there will be both , 719 00:30:20,380 --> 00:30:23,360 uh , defensive and 720 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:25,840 offensive capabilities inside those 721 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:29,790 shipments . Mike jOHn about 722 00:30:29,790 --> 00:30:31,623 the NATO response force . So I'm 723 00:30:31,623 --> 00:30:33,846 interested in it as an organization who 724 00:30:33,846 --> 00:30:36,068 will command it . I know it's under the 725 00:30:36,068 --> 00:30:38,234 control is accurate , but who actually 726 00:30:38,234 --> 00:30:40,300 will command it . I want to go back 727 00:30:40,310 --> 00:30:42,477 when I said defensive offense . What I 728 00:30:42,477 --> 00:30:44,760 meant was lethal and nonlethal but poor 729 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:47,620 choice awards on my part in the , in 730 00:30:47,620 --> 00:30:49,620 the shipments , both lethal and non 731 00:30:49,620 --> 00:30:51,850 lethal assistance . Both offensive and 732 00:30:51,850 --> 00:30:54,160 defensive , all designed to help 733 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:57,250 Ukraine defend itself . Yeah , that is 734 00:30:57,250 --> 00:30:59,417 what I meant to say ? I'm glad I had a 735 00:30:59,417 --> 00:31:01,430 chance to correct that . So who who 736 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:03,329 command who will command the NATO 737 00:31:03,329 --> 00:31:05,630 response force ? Is it an ad hoc unit ? 738 00:31:05,630 --> 00:31:07,550 Is like a permanent unit with a 739 00:31:07,550 --> 00:31:11,330 structure in the location or is it that 740 00:31:11,340 --> 00:31:14,800 that gets sort of formed as it's as 741 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:17,022 it's needed ? Ultimately it's under the 742 00:31:17,022 --> 00:31:19,189 command of secure in this case general 743 00:31:19,189 --> 00:31:21,300 Walters , it has not been activated . 744 00:31:21,300 --> 00:31:23,680 Um And so the exact C . Two 745 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:25,740 relationships I think have yet to be 746 00:31:25,740 --> 00:31:28,570 worked out and and in the case that we 747 00:31:28,570 --> 00:31:30,681 get there mike that's really a better 748 00:31:30,681 --> 00:31:32,792 question put to our colleagues at the 749 00:31:32,792 --> 00:31:34,626 alliance . It's it's an alliance 750 00:31:34,626 --> 00:31:36,848 structure is gonna be . I don't I don't 751 00:31:36,848 --> 00:31:38,903 even I don't think they even I don't 752 00:31:38,903 --> 00:31:41,126 think they've gotten that far yet since 753 00:31:41,126 --> 00:31:43,181 it hasn't been activated in terms of 754 00:31:43,181 --> 00:31:45,292 what the chain of command is going to 755 00:31:45,292 --> 00:31:47,960 be this year . And again , mike you're 756 00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:50,127 asking the wrong guy . I don't I'm not 757 00:31:50,127 --> 00:31:52,071 an expert on how the NATO response 758 00:31:52,071 --> 00:31:54,293 force is activated and what the C . Two 759 00:31:54,293 --> 00:31:56,349 looks like command and control looks 760 00:31:56,349 --> 00:31:58,516 like . Um I point you to my colleagues 761 00:31:58,516 --> 00:32:00,571 in brussels for the 8500 americans . 762 00:32:00,571 --> 00:32:03,210 Will there be an overall like american 763 00:32:03,220 --> 00:32:05,360 officer in charge as soon as most 764 00:32:05,360 --> 00:32:07,582 mostly army and air force from from the 765 00:32:07,582 --> 00:32:09,804 basis that you've that you've said , is 766 00:32:09,804 --> 00:32:11,916 there going to be like Like the whole 767 00:32:11,916 --> 00:32:14,200 visit all 85 Gonna possibly go over 768 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:17,000 there . Will they be doled out the 8500 769 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:20,280 comprise our contribution to the NATO 770 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:22,470 response force . And there are , as I 771 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:25,490 said at the opening uh there's a myriad 772 00:32:25,490 --> 00:32:27,601 of capabilities in there , everything 773 00:32:27,601 --> 00:32:29,823 from medical support to ground forces , 774 00:32:30,040 --> 00:32:33,980 um how they're 775 00:32:33,990 --> 00:32:35,934 if they're activated , how they're 776 00:32:35,934 --> 00:32:38,046 activated and whether it's all in one 777 00:32:38,046 --> 00:32:40,800 chunk or or piecemeal based on what the 778 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:42,856 alliance feels , it needs the Nrf to 779 00:32:42,856 --> 00:32:45,022 actually look like . I think it's just 780 00:32:45,022 --> 00:32:48,390 yet to be determined On civilian 781 00:32:48,390 --> 00:32:50,612 casualties other than the review of the 782 00:32:50,612 --> 00:32:52,779 March 2019 strike in Syria . Are there 783 00:32:52,779 --> 00:32:55,050 other open reviews or investigations of 784 00:32:55,440 --> 00:32:57,218 potential incidents of civilian 785 00:32:57,218 --> 00:32:59,440 casualties ? And was there any review 786 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:01,607 opened up after the recent U . S . And 787 00:33:01,607 --> 00:33:03,829 coalition strikes related to supporting 788 00:33:03,829 --> 00:33:05,884 the Sdf near Hasaka Prison . I'm not 789 00:33:05,884 --> 00:33:08,500 aware of any other open investigations 790 00:33:08,500 --> 00:33:11,490 or reviews of allegations of civilian 791 00:33:11,490 --> 00:33:13,850 harm and that would include the ongoing 792 00:33:13,850 --> 00:33:16,330 operation right now in Syria around the 793 00:33:16,330 --> 00:33:19,600 Hasakah prison . Yeah . Really , john 794 00:33:19,600 --> 00:33:21,600 the president said he's not putting 795 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:23,489 troops in Ukraine . But there are 796 00:33:23,489 --> 00:33:23,360 members , as you mentioned , of the 797 00:33:23,460 --> 00:33:25,571 International Guard there right now , 798 00:33:25,571 --> 00:33:27,750 is there any update to bringing them 799 00:33:27,750 --> 00:33:29,972 home ? And if Russia invades , would it 800 00:33:29,972 --> 00:33:32,440 be too late to get them out ? There's 801 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:35,230 been no decision at this point to 802 00:33:35,230 --> 00:33:37,397 change their mission or their status ? 803 00:33:37,397 --> 00:33:39,520 Their posture inside Ukraine , the 804 00:33:39,530 --> 00:33:41,641 members of the florida National Guard 805 00:33:41,641 --> 00:33:43,586 are still there in an advisory and 806 00:33:43,586 --> 00:33:45,697 training capacity , as I've said many 807 00:33:45,697 --> 00:33:47,586 times , their safety and security 808 00:33:47,586 --> 00:33:49,530 remains a paramount concern to the 809 00:33:49,530 --> 00:33:51,586 Secretary and if and when we believe 810 00:33:51,586 --> 00:33:53,697 that for that safety and security , a 811 00:33:53,697 --> 00:33:55,863 decision needs to be made about moving 812 00:33:55,863 --> 00:33:57,808 them . The secretary will will not 813 00:33:57,808 --> 00:33:59,974 hesitate to do so . We are in constant 814 00:33:59,974 --> 00:34:01,863 communication with their chain of 815 00:34:01,863 --> 00:34:03,697 command , certainly with general 816 00:34:03,697 --> 00:34:06,290 Walters about his assessment of what's 817 00:34:06,290 --> 00:34:08,457 going on on the ground . Um I wouldn't 818 00:34:08,457 --> 00:34:10,457 get ahead of decisions that haven't 819 00:34:10,457 --> 00:34:12,346 been made yet . But again , their 820 00:34:12,346 --> 00:34:14,401 safety and security is going to be a 821 00:34:14,401 --> 00:34:16,401 chief concern for the secretary and 822 00:34:16,401 --> 00:34:18,457 we're going to take their protection 823 00:34:18,457 --> 00:34:20,679 and their safety very seriously . It is 824 00:34:20,679 --> 00:34:22,734 not a very big number . I think it's 825 00:34:22,734 --> 00:34:25,040 around less than 200 . So in the event 826 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:28,040 that they had to be moved , we believe 827 00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:30,040 that that could be done in a fairly 828 00:34:30,040 --> 00:34:31,929 expeditious manner because I know 829 00:34:31,929 --> 00:34:34,096 they're asking some Americans to leave 830 00:34:34,096 --> 00:34:36,262 Ukraine . So I don't know why wouldn't 831 00:34:36,262 --> 00:34:38,262 they be included ? Well , the State 832 00:34:38,262 --> 00:34:40,040 Department has made it clear to 833 00:34:40,040 --> 00:34:42,151 american citizens civilians that this 834 00:34:42,151 --> 00:34:42,110 is not the time to be going to Ukraine . 835 00:34:42,110 --> 00:34:44,166 And if they're in Ukraine , they are 836 00:34:44,166 --> 00:34:46,388 encouraging them to leave . I think you 837 00:34:46,388 --> 00:34:48,554 saw that they also have authorized the 838 00:34:48,554 --> 00:34:50,666 departure of ordered the departure of 839 00:34:50,666 --> 00:34:52,832 some eligible family members , but our 840 00:34:52,832 --> 00:34:55,054 diplomats are still at work in Kiev and 841 00:34:55,054 --> 00:34:56,943 our trainers are still at work in 842 00:34:56,943 --> 00:34:59,110 Ukraine . We're gonna watch this every 843 00:34:59,110 --> 00:35:01,166 single day . Um I can't speak for my 844 00:35:01,166 --> 00:35:03,332 State department colleagues . But here 845 00:35:03,332 --> 00:35:05,499 at D O . D . If and when the secretary 846 00:35:05,499 --> 00:35:07,832 decides that it's time to move them out , 847 00:35:07,832 --> 00:35:09,943 we'll do that . And again the numbers 848 00:35:09,943 --> 00:35:12,110 are not that big . This would not be a 849 00:35:12,110 --> 00:35:14,221 huge undertaking to do one more . The 850 00:35:14,221 --> 00:35:16,166 number two at the State Department 851 00:35:16,166 --> 00:35:18,388 projected yesterday that there could be 852 00:35:18,388 --> 00:35:20,499 an invasion by mid february . Are you 853 00:35:20,499 --> 00:35:22,721 seeing that same intelligence and if so 854 00:35:22,721 --> 00:35:22,290 how are you making preparations around 855 00:35:22,290 --> 00:35:24,346 that ? I'm not going to speculate on 856 00:35:24,346 --> 00:35:26,568 timing , we've always said and said for 857 00:35:26,568 --> 00:35:28,840 quite some time that another incursion 858 00:35:28,840 --> 00:35:32,060 by Russia could be imminent and 859 00:35:32,070 --> 00:35:34,050 imminent means imminent . So we're 860 00:35:34,050 --> 00:35:36,106 watching this every single day and I 861 00:35:36,106 --> 00:35:39,270 think I'm just gonna um I'm going to 862 00:35:39,270 --> 00:35:41,480 avoid the temptation to guess as to 863 00:35:41,490 --> 00:35:43,610 what the timing would be . The only 864 00:35:43,610 --> 00:35:46,090 thing I'd add is . Um but we still 865 00:35:46,090 --> 00:35:48,312 don't believe that there's been a final 866 00:35:48,312 --> 00:35:51,130 decision by Mr . Putin to launch 867 00:35:51,130 --> 00:35:53,360 another invasion . We still believe 868 00:35:53,360 --> 00:35:55,530 here at the department that there is 869 00:35:55,530 --> 00:35:58,160 time and space for diplomacy . I think 870 00:35:58,160 --> 00:36:01,870 you saw Secretary Blinken . Uh they 871 00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:03,936 talked about this just the other day 872 00:36:03,936 --> 00:36:05,991 and the State Department has in fact 873 00:36:05,991 --> 00:36:08,102 responded with some written responses 874 00:36:08,102 --> 00:36:10,158 to to the Russians . And so we're uh 875 00:36:10,158 --> 00:36:12,380 we're waiting to hear their feedback on 876 00:36:12,380 --> 00:36:14,491 that . So we still think there's time 877 00:36:14,491 --> 00:36:14,160 and space for diplomacy . I think 878 00:36:14,530 --> 00:36:16,641 obviously that's that's the preferred 879 00:36:16,641 --> 00:36:19,290 path here to de escalate in a peaceful 880 00:36:19,290 --> 00:36:22,040 calm way and destabilize uh without any 881 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:25,220 shots being fired but we're watching it 882 00:36:25,220 --> 00:36:27,620 every single day . Hey john sorry to 883 00:36:27,620 --> 00:36:29,676 interrupt . But you said the L . A . 884 00:36:29,676 --> 00:36:32,000 That it's imminent and you said to jen 885 00:36:32,010 --> 00:36:34,540 it's possibly imminent . Which is it ? 886 00:36:35,430 --> 00:36:39,430 We've imminent . Thank you . But 887 00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:43,300 by imminent , I don't mean I'm telling 888 00:36:43,300 --> 00:36:45,300 you it's going to happen tomorrow . 889 00:36:45,300 --> 00:36:48,360 We've long said that uh an incursion 890 00:36:48,360 --> 00:36:50,471 could be imminent . That's why I like 891 00:36:50,471 --> 00:36:52,749 to make sure we were speaking the same . 892 00:36:52,749 --> 00:36:54,860 I think that's always a good idea tom 893 00:36:54,910 --> 00:36:58,850 But again , we're not we're not gonna 894 00:36:58,850 --> 00:37:02,010 be predicting here from the podium . Uh 895 00:37:02,020 --> 00:37:04,242 We still believe there's time and space 896 00:37:04,242 --> 00:37:06,353 for diplomacy . We'd like to see a de 897 00:37:06,353 --> 00:37:08,353 escalation . We'd like to see those 898 00:37:08,353 --> 00:37:10,520 troops go back home . Uh And we'd like 899 00:37:10,520 --> 00:37:12,840 Mr Putin to take the right steps to um 900 00:37:13,530 --> 00:37:17,190 to de escalate the tensions . Okay ? I 901 00:37:17,190 --> 00:37:19,190 think I got everybody . Thanks very 902 00:37:19,190 --> 00:37:20,050 much . Okay .