1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:04,700 right on time . Huh ? Go ahead , 2 00:00:04,700 --> 00:00:06,650 Megan . Let me have it . 3 00:00:10,940 --> 00:00:13,500 I see the derision in your face , Megan . 4 00:00:15,730 --> 00:00:18,160 You did . I'm sorry I disappointed you 5 00:00:19,740 --> 00:00:21,600 buckle up . There's more dorset 6 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:25,040 disappointment coming . Um so hey 7 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:26,984 everybody thanks so much and again 8 00:00:26,984 --> 00:00:29,207 apologize for the for the delay today . 9 00:00:29,207 --> 00:00:31,318 Before we get started . Just one item 10 00:00:31,318 --> 00:00:33,530 dimension in Belize representatives 11 00:00:33,530 --> 00:00:35,474 from the United States and Central 12 00:00:35,474 --> 00:00:37,697 America are participating in the annual 13 00:00:37,697 --> 00:00:39,863 central american security conference , 14 00:00:39,863 --> 00:00:42,530 otherwise known as sent sec along with 15 00:00:42,530 --> 00:00:44,586 other regional international partner 16 00:00:44,586 --> 00:00:46,808 nations . And that will be done through 17 00:00:46,808 --> 00:00:49,030 the , through the second of the month . 18 00:00:49,030 --> 00:00:51,980 Uh South com sponsors Sensex annually 19 00:00:51,980 --> 00:00:53,980 to facilitate dialogue and regional 20 00:00:53,980 --> 00:00:55,758 security leaders as part of its 21 00:00:55,758 --> 00:00:57,369 enduring promise to increase 22 00:00:57,369 --> 00:00:59,369 cooperation and help achieve shared 23 00:00:59,369 --> 00:01:02,070 security goals . Leaders will engage in 24 00:01:02,070 --> 00:01:04,181 round table discussions and bilateral 25 00:01:04,181 --> 00:01:06,126 meetings on topics that range from 26 00:01:06,126 --> 00:01:08,181 transnational criminal organizations 27 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:11,130 and irregular migration to covid 19 28 00:01:11,140 --> 00:01:14,230 climate change and natural disasters ? 29 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:16,573 General Richardson , the commander of U . 30 00:01:16,573 --> 00:01:18,184 S . Southern Command will be 31 00:01:18,184 --> 00:01:20,184 participating in will be delivering 32 00:01:20,184 --> 00:01:22,129 some opening remarks and when that 33 00:01:22,129 --> 00:01:24,184 we'll take questions . Looks like we 34 00:01:24,184 --> 00:01:28,050 got leader on the phone . Hi John two 35 00:01:28,050 --> 00:01:31,550 Things Please . One can you tell us um 36 00:01:31,940 --> 00:01:35,040 whether there haven't been any 37 00:01:35,050 --> 00:01:38,280 decisions made on troops going to any 38 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,260 of the eastern flank countries . Um 39 00:01:41,820 --> 00:01:45,620 And secondly , on on Red 40 00:01:45,620 --> 00:01:48,820 Hill there seems there appears to be a 41 00:01:48,820 --> 00:01:51,700 bit of confusion about um what the 42 00:01:51,710 --> 00:01:54,800 military is doing . Does the pentagon 43 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,110 agree to drain the Red Hill tanks 44 00:02:00,010 --> 00:02:03,830 And if so why is the Defense 45 00:02:03,830 --> 00:02:05,970 Department appealing the court orders 46 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:09,570 and so can you just sort of address um 47 00:02:09,580 --> 00:02:13,370 what is an issue that is clearly 48 00:02:14,340 --> 00:02:17,770 angering people um in hawaii about 49 00:02:17,770 --> 00:02:19,603 whether or not the department is 50 00:02:19,603 --> 00:02:22,840 actively going to um drain the tanks . 51 00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:25,640 Yeah , no announcements to speak to 52 00:02:25,640 --> 00:02:28,090 today with respect to any other um 53 00:02:28,940 --> 00:02:32,900 uh deployment orders or troop 54 00:02:32,910 --> 00:02:35,360 movements with respect to the situation 55 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:39,340 in Ukraine and on Red Hill leader . 56 00:02:39,350 --> 00:02:42,020 Um The first thing I'd like to say is 57 00:02:42,030 --> 00:02:44,870 is how seriously we are in fact taking 58 00:02:44,870 --> 00:02:48,120 this issue . Uh We obviously , number 59 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:50,070 one priority is to make sure we're 60 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,880 looking after uh the military personnel 61 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,670 and their families as well as residents . 62 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,810 Uh civilian residents affected by this 63 00:02:59,810 --> 00:03:02,380 contamination and were Navy is working 64 00:03:02,380 --> 00:03:04,910 on that very very hard . We still have 65 00:03:04,920 --> 00:03:08,370 just under looks like I think 4000 66 00:03:08,380 --> 00:03:10,547 military families that are displaced , 67 00:03:10,547 --> 00:03:12,491 that we're trying to get them into 68 00:03:12,491 --> 00:03:14,713 their back into their quarters as uh as 69 00:03:14,713 --> 00:03:16,936 quickly as possible . Um And number two 70 00:03:16,936 --> 00:03:19,047 um is of course safeguarding national 71 00:03:19,047 --> 00:03:21,102 security and making sure that we can 72 00:03:21,102 --> 00:03:24,600 fuel the forces of the indo pacific uh 73 00:03:24,610 --> 00:03:26,970 region . And of course Red Hill is a 74 00:03:26,980 --> 00:03:29,091 critical component of doing that . We 75 00:03:29,091 --> 00:03:31,258 also thirdly want to make sure that we 76 00:03:31,258 --> 00:03:33,650 are absolutely being good stories of 77 00:03:33,650 --> 00:03:36,600 the environment . Uh And we do that all 78 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:38,267 around the world . We know we 79 00:03:38,267 --> 00:03:40,489 particularly need to do that here uh in 80 00:03:40,489 --> 00:03:43,250 hawaii it's an environment that that uh 81 00:03:43,260 --> 00:03:45,149 that that we enjoy that , that we 82 00:03:45,149 --> 00:03:47,316 appreciate ourselves we were living in 83 00:03:47,316 --> 00:03:49,093 and we know we have significant 84 00:03:49,093 --> 00:03:50,982 responsibilities there . And then 85 00:03:50,982 --> 00:03:54,050 lastly we know we've got to work 86 00:03:54,060 --> 00:03:57,540 closely together with state authorities 87 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:02,190 to re examine the future of the 88 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,120 Redhill bulk storage fuel facility . 89 00:04:05,490 --> 00:04:07,160 And we're doing that um 90 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:12,110 What I would say about the the appeal 91 00:04:12,110 --> 00:04:14,166 and I and I certainly understand the 92 00:04:14,166 --> 00:04:15,950 concerns have been expressed . 93 00:04:17,540 --> 00:04:21,410 We we are going to we do intend 94 00:04:21,410 --> 00:04:23,632 to file an appeal by the deadline which 95 00:04:23,632 --> 00:04:27,500 is tomorrow . Um But in the in the 96 00:04:27,500 --> 00:04:31,120 meantime um and why are 97 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:33,540 we we feel like it's important to do 98 00:04:33,540 --> 00:04:35,707 that so that we have a little bit more 99 00:04:35,707 --> 00:04:38,740 time um to come up with better informed 100 00:04:38,740 --> 00:04:41,590 decisions about um some of the aspects 101 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,270 in the emergency order . Uh Most 102 00:04:44,270 --> 00:04:47,370 particularly the d fueling uh aspect of 103 00:04:47,370 --> 00:04:51,070 that order . We also are going to be um 104 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:53,191 trying to work with local authorities 105 00:04:53,191 --> 00:04:57,030 about other proposals for a way 106 00:04:57,030 --> 00:04:59,080 forward to 107 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,390 uh absent and distinct from from legal 108 00:05:03,390 --> 00:05:06,200 proceedings to uh to try to come up 109 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:08,490 with the the best way forward with 110 00:05:08,490 --> 00:05:11,620 respect to our strategic fuel reserves 111 00:05:11,630 --> 00:05:14,550 and how that is handled going forward . 112 00:05:14,940 --> 00:05:17,920 So um we have already put in place a 113 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:21,280 lot of a lot of immediate actions uh 114 00:05:21,290 --> 00:05:23,234 trying to improve the water supply 115 00:05:23,234 --> 00:05:25,960 there at Redhill . Um Suspending 116 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,110 operations at the at the facility 117 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,900 that's been done Um and and reaching 118 00:05:31,900 --> 00:05:34,110 out and trying to get an independent 119 00:05:34,110 --> 00:05:37,650 3rd party commercial firm to assess and 120 00:05:37,650 --> 00:05:41,460 to review um operations at the Red Hill 121 00:05:41,460 --> 00:05:44,830 facility as well as um system 122 00:05:44,830 --> 00:05:48,020 integrity , all with an eye towards how 123 00:05:48,020 --> 00:05:50,300 that facility can or should be operated 124 00:05:50,300 --> 00:05:52,590 going forward as well as can or should 125 00:05:52,590 --> 00:05:54,980 be de fueled going forward . So we have 126 00:05:54,980 --> 00:05:58,230 an open mind on this little , we uh 127 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:00,462 there's an awful lot of attention being 128 00:06:00,462 --> 00:06:02,629 applied to this . You you probably saw 129 00:06:02,629 --> 00:06:04,796 the Deputy secretary had conversations 130 00:06:04,796 --> 00:06:06,907 last night , not only with members of 131 00:06:06,907 --> 00:06:09,129 Hawaii's congressional delegation , but 132 00:06:09,129 --> 00:06:11,351 with the governor and uh we're going to 133 00:06:11,351 --> 00:06:13,462 continue these uh these discussions . 134 00:06:13,462 --> 00:06:17,210 So uh we are absolutely open to looking 135 00:06:17,220 --> 00:06:20,450 at options and and and and those 136 00:06:20,450 --> 00:06:24,320 options uh can include de fueling of of 137 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:26,570 Redhill . Um uh and we're going to 138 00:06:26,570 --> 00:06:29,150 continue to stay closely lashed up with 139 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:32,540 with leaders um and legislators from 140 00:06:32,540 --> 00:06:34,873 Hawaii . The last thing I'd say on this . 141 00:06:34,873 --> 00:06:37,410 Um I know it's a long tortuous answer 142 00:06:37,410 --> 00:06:39,660 to a very good question , but um 143 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,020 we we know we've got responsibilities 144 00:06:44,020 --> 00:06:47,420 here uh to to get this right to get 145 00:06:47,420 --> 00:06:50,700 this right for the families affected 146 00:06:50,700 --> 00:06:53,850 not just military families , but but 147 00:06:53,860 --> 00:06:56,570 residents of the state of Hawaii um to 148 00:06:56,570 --> 00:07:00,040 get it right for the state itself , uh 149 00:07:00,050 --> 00:07:02,940 to rebuild some of that trust . Um and 150 00:07:02,940 --> 00:07:04,773 that that you referenced in your 151 00:07:04,773 --> 00:07:06,920 question uh and also to to get this 152 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:08,920 right for our own national security 153 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:11,460 purposes . Um Again , I don't we don't 154 00:07:11,470 --> 00:07:13,637 have all the answers figured out right 155 00:07:13,637 --> 00:07:15,692 now and where we're going to go with 156 00:07:15,692 --> 00:07:17,914 with Red Hill long term . But one thing 157 00:07:17,914 --> 00:07:20,150 is for sure that's the are we we are 158 00:07:20,150 --> 00:07:22,261 going to have security commitments in 159 00:07:22,261 --> 00:07:25,060 the indo pacific long term um and those 160 00:07:25,060 --> 00:07:26,949 security commitments are going to 161 00:07:26,949 --> 00:07:29,980 require fuel and sustainment uh And so 162 00:07:29,980 --> 00:07:31,980 we've we've got to think about that 163 00:07:31,980 --> 00:07:33,980 seriously . We gotta make sure that 164 00:07:33,980 --> 00:07:35,813 whatever plan we have in place , 165 00:07:35,813 --> 00:07:37,758 whatever we do here um that we can 166 00:07:37,758 --> 00:07:39,924 continue to defend the nation from the 167 00:07:39,924 --> 00:07:41,869 indo pacific theater . It's a long 168 00:07:41,869 --> 00:07:43,924 answer , apologized but I appreciate 169 00:07:43,924 --> 00:07:46,147 you staying with me . They're lita here 170 00:07:46,147 --> 00:07:48,520 in the room . Thanks . two questions 171 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:50,820 1st . Are you able to name any of these 172 00:07:50,820 --> 00:07:52,830 potential host nations that have 173 00:07:52,830 --> 00:07:56,060 reached out and and requested US troops ? 174 00:07:56,230 --> 00:07:59,560 Not not right now matt . No but as I 175 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:00,530 said yesterday 176 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:05,751 we're in close consultation with them 177 00:08:05,940 --> 00:08:09,290 if and when there's decisions to deploy 178 00:08:09,300 --> 00:08:11,890 additional U . S . Forces on allied 179 00:08:11,890 --> 00:08:15,370 territory in lockstep with that . That 180 00:08:15,380 --> 00:08:17,602 or those countries will certainly be as 181 00:08:17,602 --> 00:08:19,824 transparent with you as we can be . And 182 00:08:19,824 --> 00:08:21,713 secondly , can you speak to these 183 00:08:21,713 --> 00:08:23,936 reports that the US is aware of Russian 184 00:08:23,936 --> 00:08:26,269 troops possibly moving medical supplies , 185 00:08:26,269 --> 00:08:28,436 especially blood supplies up closer to 186 00:08:28,436 --> 00:08:30,658 the Ukrainian border . And what kind of 187 00:08:30,658 --> 00:08:32,769 concerns did that does that raise for 188 00:08:32,769 --> 00:08:32,650 the first time ? I've seen the press 189 00:08:32,650 --> 00:08:34,872 reporting on this ? Um Number one , I'm 190 00:08:34,872 --> 00:08:36,761 gonna stay away from intelligence 191 00:08:36,761 --> 00:08:38,928 assessments . I would point you though 192 00:08:38,928 --> 00:08:40,872 to the fact that we have been long 193 00:08:40,872 --> 00:08:44,160 saying that in addition to the uh 194 00:08:44,540 --> 00:08:46,430 combat capability that Mr Putin 195 00:08:46,430 --> 00:08:48,550 continues to add and does continue to 196 00:08:48,550 --> 00:08:51,230 add to the western part of his country 197 00:08:51,230 --> 00:08:54,840 and in Belarus , He has also over these 198 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:58,190 many weeks uh increased his logistics 199 00:08:58,190 --> 00:09:00,357 and sustainment capability and there's 200 00:09:00,357 --> 00:09:02,301 a lot that goes into logistics and 201 00:09:02,301 --> 00:09:04,023 sustainment aviation support , 202 00:09:04,023 --> 00:09:06,190 certainly medical support . So we have 203 00:09:06,190 --> 00:09:08,440 seen him uh provide that kind of 204 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:10,800 sustainment capability uh with respect 205 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,022 to those forces . Um and obviously that 206 00:09:13,022 --> 00:09:15,000 does include , you know , field 207 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:17,250 hospitals and doctors and nurses and 208 00:09:17,250 --> 00:09:19,194 you know , the kinds of things you 209 00:09:19,194 --> 00:09:21,270 would need to do to to be able to 210 00:09:21,270 --> 00:09:23,850 medically care for troops in the field . 211 00:09:23,850 --> 00:09:27,590 Now is uh is that alone all by 212 00:09:27,590 --> 00:09:29,540 itself some sort of trip wire or 213 00:09:29,540 --> 00:09:31,429 indicator or , you know , causing 214 00:09:31,429 --> 00:09:34,600 alarms to go off that uh that an 215 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:37,400 invasion is imminent ? Not necessarily . 216 00:09:37,410 --> 00:09:40,630 Um We we look at a whole uh mosaic of 217 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:43,140 information as we evaluate what we're 218 00:09:43,140 --> 00:09:45,450 seeing on the ground there . Um I would 219 00:09:45,450 --> 00:09:47,561 just go back to what we said and have 220 00:09:47,561 --> 00:09:49,506 said now for more than a couple of 221 00:09:49,506 --> 00:09:51,617 weeks , we believe that he has enough 222 00:09:51,617 --> 00:09:54,770 capability to move now if he wants to . 223 00:09:54,970 --> 00:09:57,380 Um he and he continues to add to that 224 00:09:57,380 --> 00:10:00,040 capability and those options . Um and 225 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,680 he could depending on what his goal is 226 00:10:02,680 --> 00:10:04,736 here and what he wants to do . He he 227 00:10:04,736 --> 00:10:07,660 could move imminently and at any time 228 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,860 that answer your question , Tom 229 00:10:13,550 --> 00:10:15,717 two questions , please . The first one 230 00:10:15,717 --> 00:10:18,980 is , yesterday was two years since the 231 00:10:18,980 --> 00:10:21,770 White House expanded the use of land 232 00:10:21,770 --> 00:10:24,250 mines for the pentagon . I'm wondering 233 00:10:24,250 --> 00:10:26,250 if you could , what's the degree of 234 00:10:26,250 --> 00:10:28,028 accuracy to statements that the 235 00:10:28,028 --> 00:10:29,972 pentagon prefers this wider use of 236 00:10:29,972 --> 00:10:32,240 landmines or and and opposes a return 237 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:35,130 to how it used to be before . I'm gonna 238 00:10:35,130 --> 00:10:38,380 take the question . I don't want to 239 00:10:38,460 --> 00:10:41,630 speculate on landmine use policy . So 240 00:10:41,630 --> 00:10:43,950 let me take your question is also 241 00:10:43,950 --> 00:10:46,006 yesterday when you announced when it 242 00:10:46,006 --> 00:10:48,061 was announced , excuse me , Qatar is 243 00:10:48,061 --> 00:10:50,160 going to be to lock the newest major 244 00:10:50,420 --> 00:10:53,100 non NATO ally . It reminded me that 245 00:10:53,100 --> 00:10:56,150 Afghanistan is also on that list of 246 00:10:56,150 --> 00:10:58,900 countries . How does the pentagon weigh 247 00:10:58,900 --> 00:11:00,844 in on the White House ? You know , 248 00:11:00,844 --> 00:11:03,390 naming country like Qatar or in this 249 00:11:03,390 --> 00:11:05,668 case of Afghanistan ? What role if any ? 250 00:11:05,668 --> 00:11:07,279 Did the pentagon play in the 251 00:11:07,279 --> 00:11:09,850 consideration of amending or removing 252 00:11:09,850 --> 00:11:12,970 that designation for Afghanistan ? Well , 253 00:11:12,970 --> 00:11:15,248 I'll refer you to the State Department , 254 00:11:15,248 --> 00:11:18,800 but what role if any ? 255 00:11:20,140 --> 00:11:24,010 Let me let me get out of here . Um The 256 00:11:24,020 --> 00:11:27,270 decision , the decision to make 257 00:11:28,370 --> 00:11:31,730 Afghanistan a major non NATO ally was , 258 00:11:31,740 --> 00:11:34,810 you know , back in I think 2012 . Um , 259 00:11:34,820 --> 00:11:36,931 and that was an arrangement made with 260 00:11:36,931 --> 00:11:38,653 the the democratically elected 261 00:11:38,653 --> 00:11:40,764 government of the Islamic Republic of 262 00:11:40,764 --> 00:11:44,480 Afghanistan ? Um uh , there is no 263 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:47,610 such commitment and no such agreement 264 00:11:47,620 --> 00:11:51,380 in place . Uh now that that 265 00:11:51,380 --> 00:11:54,460 government is no longer in Kabul and 266 00:11:54,630 --> 00:11:56,686 and I would for more detail on where 267 00:11:56,686 --> 00:11:59,220 that's going . Um , I would point you 268 00:11:59,220 --> 00:12:02,380 to um to the State Department , but 269 00:12:02,380 --> 00:12:04,491 your question , you didn't ask this , 270 00:12:04,491 --> 00:12:06,602 but it does give me an opportunity to 271 00:12:06,602 --> 00:12:08,769 clear the air a little bit . I , my my 272 00:12:08,769 --> 00:12:10,936 answer to this yesterday was in artful 273 00:12:10,936 --> 00:12:12,991 at best and inaccurate at worst . Uh 274 00:12:12,991 --> 00:12:15,270 the president did declare that his 275 00:12:15,270 --> 00:12:17,590 intention is to designate cutter as a 276 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:21,510 major non NATO ally . Um He he have 277 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:23,980 obviously has the authority to do that . 278 00:12:23,980 --> 00:12:26,202 I think yesterday I said it has to be a 279 00:12:26,202 --> 00:12:28,091 NATO decision . The president can 280 00:12:28,091 --> 00:12:29,924 designate that and uh and he has 281 00:12:29,924 --> 00:12:32,147 obviously made clear that he intends to 282 00:12:32,147 --> 00:12:34,330 do that . Um It's designed for 283 00:12:34,330 --> 00:12:37,480 countries that are not treaty allies of 284 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:39,536 NATO but that have strategic working 285 00:12:39,536 --> 00:12:41,758 relationships with the U . S . Forces . 286 00:12:41,758 --> 00:12:43,869 And certainly cutter does some of the 287 00:12:43,869 --> 00:12:45,647 benefits could include priority 288 00:12:45,647 --> 00:12:47,369 delivery of military surplus , 289 00:12:47,369 --> 00:12:49,313 consideration for participation in 290 00:12:49,313 --> 00:12:51,647 military and counterterrorism exercises . 291 00:12:51,647 --> 00:12:53,869 And while it does provide some military 292 00:12:53,869 --> 00:12:56,440 and economic privileges , uh that non 293 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:58,860 NATO ally status does not entail any 294 00:12:58,860 --> 00:13:01,000 specific security commitments to the 295 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,980 designated country . So , uh realizing 296 00:13:03,980 --> 00:13:05,980 of course that as you said , is the 297 00:13:05,980 --> 00:13:07,980 State Department's decision and not 298 00:13:07,980 --> 00:13:09,924 pending a decision . But your your 299 00:13:09,924 --> 00:13:12,147 comments , obviously the president gets 300 00:13:12,147 --> 00:13:14,202 to make the designation . I'm saying 301 00:13:14,202 --> 00:13:16,258 the State Department is the one that 302 00:13:16,258 --> 00:13:18,313 that is better placed to speak to um 303 00:13:18,313 --> 00:13:20,369 Afghanistan in particular , but that 304 00:13:20,369 --> 00:13:23,510 the agreement in 2012 did not apply to 305 00:13:23,510 --> 00:13:25,630 the government in Afghanistan at the 306 00:13:25,630 --> 00:13:27,963 time . It does not apply to the Taliban . 307 00:13:28,630 --> 00:13:31,780 Does that help ? But also ? Well , 308 00:13:31,780 --> 00:13:33,724 actually , you helped me because I 309 00:13:33,724 --> 00:13:36,420 wanted to clear up my my less than 310 00:13:36,420 --> 00:13:38,476 stellar performance on this question 311 00:13:38,476 --> 00:13:40,476 yesterday . So we actually can work 312 00:13:40,476 --> 00:13:42,476 together . Yes . Yes , I appreciate 313 00:13:42,476 --> 00:13:44,642 that . Actually did give me give me an 314 00:13:44,642 --> 00:13:46,531 opportunity here in the area . 60 315 00:13:46,531 --> 00:13:49,420 nations are working within the fifth 316 00:13:49,430 --> 00:13:53,360 fleet and doing operations together . 317 00:13:53,730 --> 00:13:57,350 Is it something that you look at as an 318 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:00,540 increasing working together or is it 319 00:14:00,540 --> 00:14:04,410 more a sense of urgency and threat that 320 00:14:04,410 --> 00:14:08,410 has been ? Um , we are seeing in the 321 00:14:08,410 --> 00:14:11,110 area . I mean , it's probably more the 322 00:14:11,110 --> 00:14:14,250 former than it is the latter pier . Uh , 323 00:14:15,740 --> 00:14:17,629 we routinely try to improve these 324 00:14:17,629 --> 00:14:19,518 bilateral relationships and these 325 00:14:19,518 --> 00:14:21,407 multilateral relationships in the 326 00:14:21,407 --> 00:14:23,184 region with respect to military 327 00:14:23,184 --> 00:14:25,407 capabilities . But obviously when we do 328 00:14:25,407 --> 00:14:27,462 it now , we certainly do it with the 329 00:14:27,462 --> 00:14:29,518 knowledge and the understanding that 330 00:14:29,518 --> 00:14:31,573 there are increased threats posed by 331 00:14:31,573 --> 00:14:33,930 Iran . And so it's not like we're doing 332 00:14:33,930 --> 00:14:36,152 this in a vacuum or just doing it to do 333 00:14:36,152 --> 00:14:39,050 it . There are , there are clear uh , 334 00:14:39,060 --> 00:14:41,190 threats posed by Iran to the region . 335 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:43,367 Uh , and we have to make sure that not 336 00:14:43,367 --> 00:14:45,367 only were ready for it , but from a 337 00:14:45,367 --> 00:14:47,589 multilateral perspective , our partners 338 00:14:47,589 --> 00:14:51,120 are too , let me get to the phones here , 339 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,710 dan , the Washington post . Hey john , 340 00:14:54,710 --> 00:14:56,821 thanks for your time today . I wanted 341 00:14:56,821 --> 00:14:59,043 to ask you a question about some of the 342 00:14:59,043 --> 00:15:01,570 reports we've seen on Russian naval 343 00:15:01,570 --> 00:15:04,400 vessels returning from exercises and 344 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,000 and some number of troops in belarus uh , 345 00:15:07,010 --> 00:15:10,110 potentially also returning , uh is 346 00:15:10,110 --> 00:15:12,166 there any indication at all that the 347 00:15:12,166 --> 00:15:13,943 pentagon sees of any kind of de 348 00:15:13,943 --> 00:15:16,300 escalation or no , in in light of 349 00:15:16,300 --> 00:15:18,022 everything else you've already 350 00:15:18,022 --> 00:15:20,356 mentioned , the blood supplies etcetera . 351 00:15:20,356 --> 00:15:22,633 Thank you . Yeah , dan . No , we don't . 352 00:15:22,633 --> 00:15:24,689 We would not characterize what we're 353 00:15:24,689 --> 00:15:26,022 seeing as de escalatory 354 00:15:28,740 --> 00:15:30,060 uh Phil Stewart . 355 00:15:33,940 --> 00:15:37,450 Thanks real quick . You know , Russian 356 00:15:37,450 --> 00:15:39,506 president Putin made a comment today 357 00:15:39,590 --> 00:15:42,890 that that basically suggested that 358 00:15:42,890 --> 00:15:46,700 now was the time to uh to act on 359 00:15:46,700 --> 00:15:48,867 Ukraine . Because what if Ukraine were 360 00:15:48,867 --> 00:15:50,978 to join NATO ? And I'm just wondering 361 00:15:50,978 --> 00:15:53,144 if you could respond to that assertion 362 00:15:53,144 --> 00:15:55,256 that , you know , Ukraine left on its 363 00:15:55,256 --> 00:15:57,478 own is on a trajectory to join NATO and 364 00:15:57,478 --> 00:15:59,256 therefore , you know , Russia's 365 00:15:59,256 --> 00:16:02,600 security interests are are , you know , 366 00:16:02,610 --> 00:16:05,050 best address now ? Thank you . 367 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:10,240 Yeah . Again , I um I would just go 368 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:13,120 back to what we said in the past 369 00:16:13,810 --> 00:16:16,990 that it should be up to Ukraine , who 370 00:16:16,990 --> 00:16:20,460 they associate with and any 371 00:16:21,740 --> 00:16:25,050 membership in NATO is going to be a 372 00:16:25,060 --> 00:16:27,116 decision between the sovereign state 373 00:16:27,116 --> 00:16:29,620 and question and and NATO . And it's 374 00:16:29,620 --> 00:16:32,860 not something that uh that Mr Putin 375 00:16:32,870 --> 00:16:35,790 gets to have a veto on . It doesn't 376 00:16:35,790 --> 00:16:38,560 work like that . Um uh 377 00:16:39,940 --> 00:16:40,980 there has been 378 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,360 obviously work done 379 00:16:47,140 --> 00:16:50,490 internationally to help Ukraine address 380 00:16:50,500 --> 00:16:53,190 their reform needs particularly with 381 00:16:53,190 --> 00:16:55,301 respect to defense reforms the United 382 00:16:55,301 --> 00:16:57,301 States has been a part of that , um 383 00:16:57,301 --> 00:16:59,468 that process and that work continues . 384 00:16:59,468 --> 00:17:01,412 I'm not gonna speculate one way or 385 00:17:01,412 --> 00:17:04,490 another about uh the the future 386 00:17:04,500 --> 00:17:08,120 of of NATO expansion or 387 00:17:08,130 --> 00:17:10,560 Ukraine's part in that again , that is 388 00:17:10,570 --> 00:17:12,570 that is a decision that can only be 389 00:17:12,570 --> 00:17:15,270 made between the alliance and Ukraine . 390 00:17:15,540 --> 00:17:18,110 Uh and it's not for it's not for 391 00:17:18,110 --> 00:17:20,110 another nation to to try to dictate 392 00:17:20,110 --> 00:17:23,740 terms to um separate and distinct from 393 00:17:23,740 --> 00:17:27,680 that Phil I mean , this is 394 00:17:27,690 --> 00:17:29,870 this is of a piece of the of the 395 00:17:29,870 --> 00:17:33,090 Russian playbook of of putting stuff 396 00:17:33,090 --> 00:17:34,701 out there in the information 397 00:17:34,701 --> 00:17:37,810 environment , um deliberately designed 398 00:17:37,820 --> 00:17:41,690 to deceive or to or to 399 00:17:41,690 --> 00:17:45,530 try to uh create uh excuses or 400 00:17:45,530 --> 00:17:49,330 pretexts uh to justify what 401 00:17:49,330 --> 00:17:51,274 really would be should should they 402 00:17:51,274 --> 00:17:54,610 incur again , an unjustifiable act joe 403 00:17:54,610 --> 00:17:57,640 Gould ? Defense news . Hey john thanks 404 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:01,480 for doing this today . Um My question 405 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,130 is that the selective is set to testify 406 00:18:04,130 --> 00:18:08,050 tomorrow on Afghanistan in a closed or 407 00:18:08,060 --> 00:18:09,949 or deliver a briefing in a closed 408 00:18:09,949 --> 00:18:12,630 session of the Senate Foreign Relations 409 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:14,920 and armed services committees . Um we 410 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:16,980 saw that 18 Senate Republicans are 411 00:18:16,980 --> 00:18:18,980 calling for a portion of that to be 412 00:18:18,980 --> 00:18:22,340 open and several house republicans 413 00:18:22,350 --> 00:18:24,406 called for a public hearing there on 414 00:18:24,406 --> 00:18:28,020 Afghanistan as well . The Defense 415 00:18:28,020 --> 00:18:29,964 secretary did testify in public on 416 00:18:29,964 --> 00:18:33,070 Afghanistan in september but um would 417 00:18:33,070 --> 00:18:35,650 you respond to this most recent call , 418 00:18:35,650 --> 00:18:37,706 would Secretary Austin be willing to 419 00:18:37,706 --> 00:18:39,960 testify in public on Afghanistan . 420 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:43,510 Thank you . As you as you noted , joe 421 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:46,850 he he has and of course , if he's asked 422 00:18:46,850 --> 00:18:49,660 to testify again in public in a public 423 00:18:49,660 --> 00:18:51,660 setting on Afghanistan or any other 424 00:18:51,660 --> 00:18:53,460 matter . He takes the oversight 425 00:18:53,460 --> 00:18:55,349 responsibilities of Congress very 426 00:18:55,349 --> 00:18:57,349 seriously and will certainly comply 427 00:18:57,349 --> 00:18:59,460 with that . But tomorrow's briefing . 428 00:18:59,460 --> 00:19:02,050 Uh the parameters of that were set by 429 00:19:02,050 --> 00:19:04,217 the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 430 00:19:04,217 --> 00:19:06,550 and the Senate Armed Services Committee . 431 00:19:06,550 --> 00:19:08,772 Uh and we're abiding by the dictates of 432 00:19:08,772 --> 00:19:10,994 the procedures that they put in place . 433 00:19:11,340 --> 00:19:13,396 Uh Sylvie from A . F . P . I'll come 434 00:19:13,396 --> 00:19:17,300 right back to you . Hello John 435 00:19:17,310 --> 00:19:20,570 um I have two questions . 1st . I asked 436 00:19:20,570 --> 00:19:24,120 you yesterday how many US troops are 437 00:19:24,130 --> 00:19:26,530 stationed right now in Poland and 438 00:19:26,530 --> 00:19:28,700 Lithuania ? And you took the question 439 00:19:28,710 --> 00:19:31,600 and I didn't receive the answer . And 440 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:35,140 second um totally different question 441 00:19:35,150 --> 00:19:39,020 um in about in 442 00:19:39,030 --> 00:19:42,680 mali France is reconsidering 443 00:19:42,820 --> 00:19:46,560 its military deployment . And I wanted 444 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:50,450 to know if it will change the 445 00:19:50,460 --> 00:19:53,370 position , you know , the military 446 00:19:53,370 --> 00:19:55,592 assistance that us is giving to funds . 447 00:19:55,592 --> 00:19:58,190 In the second question , Sylvie , I 448 00:19:58,190 --> 00:20:00,301 don't have any announcements to speak 449 00:20:00,301 --> 00:20:02,412 to . We've talked about this before . 450 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:05,690 The secretary routine the communicates 451 00:20:05,690 --> 00:20:09,170 with minister parlay about the 452 00:20:09,180 --> 00:20:11,069 situation in the Sahel and french 453 00:20:11,069 --> 00:20:13,236 operations And he has on more than one 454 00:20:13,236 --> 00:20:15,830 occasion um made sure she understood 455 00:20:15,830 --> 00:20:17,920 our commitment to supporting them as 456 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:21,280 best we can and and in keeping with uh 457 00:20:21,290 --> 00:20:23,290 their requirements and that support 458 00:20:23,290 --> 00:20:25,401 will continue . But I have no changes 459 00:20:25,401 --> 00:20:27,457 to talk to today or announcements to 460 00:20:27,457 --> 00:20:29,400 make on your second question . I 461 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:31,420 clearly still owe you an answer . I 462 00:20:31,430 --> 00:20:34,560 didn't I did not come today with the 463 00:20:34,570 --> 00:20:36,760 number . This is a good lesson for me 464 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:38,593 and briefing two days in a row . 465 00:20:38,593 --> 00:20:40,538 Perhaps I just need to not do that 466 00:20:40,538 --> 00:20:42,649 anymore . But Well we will absolutely 467 00:20:42,649 --> 00:20:44,704 get you the answer . It's a gettable 468 00:20:44,704 --> 00:20:46,927 number . And uh and I apologize for the 469 00:20:46,927 --> 00:20:50,280 delay , Jeff seldom , 470 00:20:51,690 --> 00:20:53,468 Jeff , Jeff , wait a minute . I 471 00:20:53,468 --> 00:20:55,634 promised Megan I'm sorry . I got I got 472 00:20:55,634 --> 00:20:57,690 fixated on my call list . Go ahead , 473 00:20:57,690 --> 00:20:59,412 Megan , it's fine . Um So when 474 00:20:59,412 --> 00:21:01,579 Secretary Austin's letters back to the 475 00:21:01,579 --> 00:21:03,801 governors who are asking not to have to 476 00:21:03,801 --> 00:21:05,857 enforce the code vaccine mandate for 477 00:21:05,857 --> 00:21:08,170 national guardsmen , um He says that 478 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:10,407 Not getting vaccinated will jeopardize 479 00:21:10,407 --> 00:21:12,518 their ability to participate in title 480 00:21:12,518 --> 00:21:15,490 32 drills or trainings and so on . How 481 00:21:15,500 --> 00:21:17,900 can that be enforced from up here . 482 00:21:17,910 --> 00:21:20,400 Yeah . I mean we've talked about this 483 00:21:20,410 --> 00:21:23,580 the most likely we have . We have the 484 00:21:23,580 --> 00:21:26,960 most . It's not like it's not like 485 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:30,860 there's gonna be some uh universal 486 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:33,800 enforcement mechanism by by D . O . D . 487 00:21:33,810 --> 00:21:37,790 It will uh it will occur naturally as 488 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,400 for instance the hypothetical guardsmen 489 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:44,200 who doesn't get vaccinated . Um um 490 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,007 That shows up for drill or shows up to 491 00:21:47,007 --> 00:21:49,310 go to training or school uh and won't 492 00:21:49,310 --> 00:21:51,720 be able to participate because they're 493 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:53,831 not gonna be able to provide proof of 494 00:21:53,831 --> 00:21:56,890 vaccination and uh that will that will 495 00:21:56,890 --> 00:21:59,790 kick in administrative processes that 496 00:21:59,790 --> 00:22:02,150 the guard has in place when a guardsman 497 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:05,680 can't isn't medically qualified to 498 00:22:05,690 --> 00:22:08,350 fulfill his or her duties . Um And that 499 00:22:08,350 --> 00:22:09,794 will just start a natural 500 00:22:09,794 --> 00:22:12,017 administrative process . It's not about 501 00:22:12,017 --> 00:22:14,260 a universal overarching enforcement 502 00:22:14,260 --> 00:22:16,810 mechanism . Governor has ordered those 503 00:22:16,810 --> 00:22:19,720 units not to enforce it then . How can 504 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:21,720 you guarantee that leaders in those 505 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:23,831 units will ask for a vaccination card 506 00:22:23,831 --> 00:22:26,053 in Oklahoma ? The tag has said , please 507 00:22:26,053 --> 00:22:27,887 just don't show up if you're not 508 00:22:27,887 --> 00:22:30,053 vaccinated because your risk not being 509 00:22:30,053 --> 00:22:32,276 paid . But if every other state doesn't 510 00:22:32,276 --> 00:22:34,276 say , please don't come , what's to 511 00:22:34,276 --> 00:22:36,553 stop them from showing up a drill with , 512 00:22:36,553 --> 00:22:38,720 you know , first sergeants and company 513 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:40,664 commanders who were saying I'm not 514 00:22:40,664 --> 00:22:40,570 going to check your vaccine . It is 515 00:22:41,070 --> 00:22:43,181 because the governor said don't do it 516 00:22:43,181 --> 00:22:44,848 without getting into too much 517 00:22:44,848 --> 00:22:47,014 hypothetical and specifics at the , at 518 00:22:47,014 --> 00:22:49,360 the , at the unit level . I know and I , 519 00:22:49,360 --> 00:22:51,693 you know how I feel about hypotheticals , 520 00:22:51,693 --> 00:22:53,749 particularly at the unit level , but 521 00:22:53,749 --> 00:22:55,916 just broadly speaking , Megan . I mean 522 00:22:55,916 --> 00:22:58,082 it's a lawful order to get the vaccine 523 00:22:58,130 --> 00:23:01,480 and therefore it is , It is 524 00:23:02,460 --> 00:23:04,340 the secretary's expectation that 525 00:23:04,340 --> 00:23:08,080 leaders will enforce that lawful order . 526 00:23:08,090 --> 00:23:11,080 And so if there is evidence that a 527 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:14,950 leader is not going 528 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:19,140 two , make sure that a unit is properly 529 00:23:19,140 --> 00:23:21,400 medically protected before they drill 530 00:23:21,410 --> 00:23:24,020 or or train , then that leader can be 531 00:23:24,020 --> 00:23:27,320 held accountable for that act by that 532 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:29,380 leaders chain of command very quick 533 00:23:29,380 --> 00:23:31,602 follow up . Is there an update you have 534 00:23:31,602 --> 00:23:33,713 said that dog was conferring with doj 535 00:23:33,713 --> 00:23:35,713 on the lawsuits related to National 536 00:23:35,713 --> 00:23:37,880 Guard mandates ? Is there an update to 537 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:39,880 that ? We're still conferring , I'm 538 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:43,770 still still referring . Uh I see , 539 00:23:44,700 --> 00:23:46,830 I'm sorry , Jeff , I think I cut you 540 00:23:46,830 --> 00:23:49,660 off . No worries . Thanks sean for 541 00:23:49,660 --> 00:23:51,870 doing this . I appreciate it . The US 542 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:54,047 has praised the response by the Syrian 543 00:23:54,047 --> 00:23:56,158 Democratic forces in putting down the 544 00:23:56,158 --> 00:23:58,269 attempted ISIS jailbreak in Hasakah . 545 00:23:58,269 --> 00:24:00,436 That started last week . But there are 546 00:24:00,436 --> 00:24:02,658 still a lot of questions about the fate 547 00:24:02,658 --> 00:24:04,769 of hundreds of boys and teenagers who 548 00:24:04,769 --> 00:24:06,880 are being held in a nearby facility . 549 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:09,102 The Sdf had said some of them have been 550 00:24:09,102 --> 00:24:10,991 used as human shields , wondering 551 00:24:10,991 --> 00:24:13,102 because of the U . S . Was was giving 552 00:24:13,102 --> 00:24:14,824 help to the Sdf along with the 553 00:24:14,824 --> 00:24:17,047 coalition . Do you have any information 554 00:24:17,047 --> 00:24:18,991 on what happened to these boys and 555 00:24:18,991 --> 00:24:20,991 teenagers ? And was the SdF able to 556 00:24:20,991 --> 00:24:23,213 share any of the information about them 557 00:24:23,213 --> 00:24:25,158 during the fighting ? And did that 558 00:24:25,158 --> 00:24:27,102 shape the way that U . S . Fighter 559 00:24:27,102 --> 00:24:29,400 planes and and helicopters and normal 560 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:33,180 vehicles assisted the Sdf As as 561 00:24:33,190 --> 00:24:37,050 we've said before . I mean we uh we try 562 00:24:37,050 --> 00:24:39,270 to take every precaution possible to 563 00:24:41,140 --> 00:24:44,960 but to ensure we are mindful 564 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:48,800 of of of any civilian harm 565 00:24:48,810 --> 00:24:52,160 I think and and certainly you know , 566 00:24:52,540 --> 00:24:55,320 we we do that routinely . I don't have 567 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:57,840 specific information for you in terms 568 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:01,830 of uh how the fight unfolded 569 00:25:01,830 --> 00:25:03,980 on the ground between the Sdf and and 570 00:25:03,980 --> 00:25:07,060 that and the limited um oh Ir support 571 00:25:07,060 --> 00:25:09,116 that was provided . I'd refer you to 572 00:25:09,116 --> 00:25:11,116 centcom and an o Ir for more detail 573 00:25:11,116 --> 00:25:13,282 about that . I um I want to be careful 574 00:25:13,282 --> 00:25:15,590 not to get into operational tactical 575 00:25:15,590 --> 00:25:19,570 level details here . Uh but 576 00:25:19,570 --> 00:25:22,870 it is true that uh that ISIS 577 00:25:22,870 --> 00:25:26,240 was uh did have a population 578 00:25:26,250 --> 00:25:29,730 of of Children there ? Uh 579 00:25:29,740 --> 00:25:33,080 many of them teenage boys which 580 00:25:33,090 --> 00:25:36,780 uh they were either and and or 581 00:25:36,790 --> 00:25:39,720 using as human shields or in fact 582 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:42,150 grooming um to become fighters 583 00:25:42,150 --> 00:25:44,290 themselves . Which is something , you 584 00:25:44,290 --> 00:25:46,346 know , it's a barbarous tactic we've 585 00:25:46,346 --> 00:25:49,400 seen them employed before . But beyond 586 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:51,511 that I'm really going to refer you to 587 00:25:51,511 --> 00:25:53,810 send comin oh Ir to speak to Jeff 588 00:25:53,810 --> 00:25:56,032 because I just don't have that level of 589 00:25:56,032 --> 00:25:58,340 tactical detail . We provided some 590 00:25:58,340 --> 00:26:01,790 limited air strikes in support of this 591 00:26:01,790 --> 00:26:03,846 operation . We provided some limited 592 00:26:03,846 --> 00:26:05,880 ground support largely in terms of 593 00:26:05,890 --> 00:26:09,500 access control . But but beyond that 594 00:26:09,510 --> 00:26:13,430 I'm afraid to go ir uh Caitlin from 595 00:26:13,430 --> 00:26:16,630 stars and stripes . Hey john thanks . 596 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:18,918 Um the Russian ambassador to the U . N . 597 00:26:18,918 --> 00:26:21,029 Yesterday denied Western reports that 598 00:26:21,029 --> 00:26:23,240 there were 100,000 troops at flanking 599 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:25,407 new Brain . I'd like to get a response 600 00:26:25,407 --> 00:26:27,184 to that statement and asked how 601 00:26:27,184 --> 00:26:29,240 confident the D . O . D . Is in that 602 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:31,351 100,000 troop assessment number . And 603 00:26:31,351 --> 00:26:33,518 whether that number has grown at all , 604 00:26:33,518 --> 00:26:35,518 We have said more than 100,000 . We 605 00:26:35,518 --> 00:26:39,450 stand by that by that number . And 606 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:42,887 as I said earlier we have continued to 607 00:26:42,887 --> 00:26:46,310 see Additional forces flow in . I mean 608 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:48,542 secretary and the chairman talked about 609 00:26:48,542 --> 00:26:51,030 this Friday . They characterized as 610 00:26:51,030 --> 00:26:53,410 more than 100,000 . Um and they have 611 00:26:53,410 --> 00:26:55,632 added to that number over the course of 612 00:26:55,632 --> 00:26:58,270 just the last few days Tony Capasso . 613 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:05,607 Hey john sorry I hit the mute button , 614 00:27:05,607 --> 00:27:07,740 two quick questions . Can you bound 615 00:27:07,740 --> 00:27:09,684 expectations about this hypersonic 616 00:27:09,684 --> 00:27:11,796 meeting that the secretary is kicking 617 00:27:11,796 --> 00:27:13,796 off on thursday ? There are stories 618 00:27:13,796 --> 00:27:15,851 saying he summoned industry and then 619 00:27:15,851 --> 00:27:17,851 others saying he's going to light a 620 00:27:17,851 --> 00:27:19,740 fire under industries but on this 621 00:27:19,740 --> 00:27:23,120 subject . So this is a virtual 622 00:27:23,120 --> 00:27:25,650 roundtable session with hypersonic 623 00:27:25,650 --> 00:27:28,970 industry ceo s it will take place on 624 00:27:28,970 --> 00:27:32,340 the third as you said thursday , it's 625 00:27:32,340 --> 00:27:35,590 part of the deputies regular drumbeat 626 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:38,460 engagements with industry uh in areas 627 00:27:38,460 --> 00:27:40,920 of innovation and modernization uh to 628 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:42,976 help strengthen relationships uh and 629 00:27:42,976 --> 00:27:44,698 discuss ways to accelerate the 630 00:27:44,698 --> 00:27:46,698 development of capabilities and new 631 00:27:46,698 --> 00:27:48,864 operational concepts with our partners 632 00:27:48,864 --> 00:27:51,810 in industry . Um This meeting is going 633 00:27:51,810 --> 00:27:54,120 to be uh focused on hypersonic 634 00:27:54,120 --> 00:27:56,009 development , but there are other 635 00:27:56,009 --> 00:27:57,787 topics have ranged from systems 636 00:27:57,787 --> 00:27:59,860 engineering , manufacturing . Um And 637 00:27:59,860 --> 00:28:02,082 again this is something that the Deputy 638 00:28:02,082 --> 00:28:05,170 Secretary routinely does . Um the 639 00:28:05,180 --> 00:28:07,560 Secretary will , Secretary Austin will 640 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:09,671 deliver some brief framing remarks at 641 00:28:09,671 --> 00:28:12,130 the top of the meeting . Um So it is 642 00:28:12,130 --> 00:28:14,570 part of a regular drumbeat . Um I will 643 00:28:14,570 --> 00:28:17,260 add that . And you've heard the 644 00:28:17,270 --> 00:28:21,080 Secretary say this before , hypersonic 645 00:28:21,090 --> 00:28:23,850 is not an area that we're ignoring . Um 646 00:28:23,850 --> 00:28:26,040 and uh and and there's been a lot of 647 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:29,590 work done to advance our capabilities 648 00:28:29,590 --> 00:28:31,701 with with hypersonic technology , but 649 00:28:31,701 --> 00:28:33,868 you've also heard the Secretary say it 650 00:28:33,868 --> 00:28:36,034 is an important capability , it is not 651 00:28:36,034 --> 00:28:38,570 the only capability , there are a range 652 00:28:38,580 --> 00:28:40,940 of military capabilities and and 653 00:28:40,950 --> 00:28:43,500 avenues for innovation that he wants to 654 00:28:43,500 --> 00:28:45,920 explore to better get at this idea of 655 00:28:45,930 --> 00:28:48,980 integrated deterrence . So uh while you 656 00:28:48,980 --> 00:28:51,091 know , we understand the attention on 657 00:28:51,091 --> 00:28:53,480 hypersonic and that there needs to be a 658 00:28:53,490 --> 00:28:55,350 continued strong emphasis by the 659 00:28:55,350 --> 00:28:57,400 department on that we have other 660 00:28:57,400 --> 00:28:59,289 capabilities we need to pursue in 661 00:28:59,289 --> 00:29:01,122 advance as well . And that quite 662 00:29:01,122 --> 00:29:03,289 frankly , coming back to my part , the 663 00:29:03,289 --> 00:29:05,289 first part of the answer is why the 664 00:29:05,289 --> 00:29:07,289 deputy holds these regular drumbeat 665 00:29:07,289 --> 00:29:09,940 meetings with defense industry uh 666 00:29:09,950 --> 00:29:13,060 experts and leaders . Okay , 667 00:29:13,940 --> 00:29:17,730 yeah , yeah . One more my station host . 668 00:29:18,710 --> 00:29:21,140 Let me just get it correctly please as 669 00:29:21,140 --> 00:29:24,320 a former Admiral and Navy 670 00:29:24,330 --> 00:29:28,040 strategic deacon . What grade do you 671 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:30,150 give to the irish fishermen for 672 00:29:30,150 --> 00:29:32,250 successfully thwarting the Russians 673 00:29:32,250 --> 00:29:34,250 from invading their territory . I'm 674 00:29:34,250 --> 00:29:36,306 afraid I can't give a biased view of 675 00:29:36,306 --> 00:29:38,194 that because I also grew up irish 676 00:29:38,194 --> 00:29:40,320 catholic . Um nobody has ever accused 677 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:42,376 me of being a strategic anything let 678 00:29:42,376 --> 00:29:44,640 alone a beacon for reasons I have 679 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:46,751 declined to explore the host of these 680 00:29:46,751 --> 00:29:49,900 stations see you as a font of well 681 00:29:49,900 --> 00:29:51,910 reasoned , articulate and seasoned 682 00:29:51,910 --> 00:29:55,060 opinions . I would ask them to please 683 00:29:55,070 --> 00:29:57,850 call my Children and say the same . 684 00:29:57,940 --> 00:30:01,510 I uh look I 685 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:05,450 uh um ah 686 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:09,950 I think yeah it is a tough one um 687 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:13,984 because I also spent a lot of time 688 00:30:13,984 --> 00:30:17,560 fishing as a kid too . I think it's 689 00:30:17,570 --> 00:30:20,520 uh question 690 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:24,350 it's yeah , I'm just gonna take the 691 00:30:24,350 --> 00:30:28,210 question there is there's a 692 00:30:28,220 --> 00:30:30,220 yeah , I'm just gonna I'm gonna I'm 693 00:30:30,220 --> 00:30:32,570 gonna punt on that one . Um Alright 694 00:30:32,620 --> 00:30:34,842 listen , thanks everybody appreciate it 695 00:30:34,842 --> 00:30:37,064 and I apologize for the I apologize for 696 00:30:37,064 --> 00:30:39,176 the late start today . I do try to be 697 00:30:39,176 --> 00:30:41,287 on time . I know I'm not always Megan 698 00:30:41,287 --> 00:30:43,630 always gives me the stink eye , but , 699 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:45,710 but we had some unforeseen technical 700 00:30:45,710 --> 00:30:48,000 issues today to deal with . So , um , I 701 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:49,944 think we're going to try to be out 702 00:30:49,944 --> 00:30:52,890 tomorrow as well , so stay tuned for 703 00:30:52,890 --> 00:30:56,340 that and , and I'll , yeah , I'll let 704 00:30:56,350 --> 00:30:58,461 I'll let you know . I appreciate it . 705 00:30:58,461 --> 00:30:58,460 Thanks everybody .