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right on time . Huh ? Go ahead , 

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Megan . Let me have it . 

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I see the derision in your face , Megan . 

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You did . I'm sorry I disappointed you 

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buckle up . There's more dorset 

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disappointment coming . Um so hey 

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everybody thanks so much and again 

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apologize for the for the delay today . 

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Before we get started . Just one item 

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dimension in Belize representatives 

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from the United States and Central 

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America are participating in the annual 

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central american security conference , 

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otherwise known as sent sec along with 

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other regional international partner 

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nations . And that will be done through 

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the , through the second of the month . 

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Uh South com sponsors Sensex annually 

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to facilitate dialogue and regional 

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security leaders as part of its 

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enduring promise to increase 

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cooperation and help achieve shared 

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security goals . Leaders will engage in 

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round table discussions and bilateral 

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meetings on topics that range from 

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transnational criminal organizations 

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and irregular migration to covid 19 

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climate change and natural disasters ? 

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General Richardson , the commander of U . 

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S . Southern Command will be 

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participating in will be delivering 

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some opening remarks and when that 

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we'll take questions . Looks like we 

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got leader on the phone . Hi John two 

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Things Please . One can you tell us um 

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whether there haven't been any 

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decisions made on troops going to any 

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of the eastern flank countries . Um 

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And secondly , on on Red 

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Hill there seems there appears to be a 

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bit of confusion about um what the 

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military is doing . Does the pentagon 

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agree to drain the Red Hill tanks 

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And if so why is the Defense 

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Department appealing the court orders 

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and so can you just sort of address um 

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what is an issue that is clearly 

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angering people um in hawaii about 

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whether or not the department is 

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actively going to um drain the tanks . 

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Yeah , no announcements to speak to 

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today with respect to any other um 

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uh deployment orders or troop 

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movements with respect to the situation 

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in Ukraine and on Red Hill leader . 

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Um The first thing I'd like to say is 

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is how seriously we are in fact taking 

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this issue . Uh We obviously , number 

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one priority is to make sure we're 

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looking after uh the military personnel 

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and their families as well as residents . 

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Uh civilian residents affected by this 

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contamination and were Navy is working 

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on that very very hard . We still have 

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just under looks like I think 4000 

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military families that are displaced , 

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that we're trying to get them into 

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their back into their quarters as uh as 

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quickly as possible . Um And number two 

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um is of course safeguarding national 

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security and making sure that we can 

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fuel the forces of the indo pacific uh 

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region . And of course Red Hill is a 

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critical component of doing that . We 

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also thirdly want to make sure that we 

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are absolutely being good stories of 

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the environment . Uh And we do that all 

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around the world . We know we 

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particularly need to do that here uh in 

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hawaii it's an environment that that uh 

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that that we enjoy that , that we 

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appreciate ourselves we were living in 

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and we know we have significant 

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responsibilities there . And then 

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lastly we know we've got to work 

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closely together with state authorities 

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to re examine the future of the 

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Redhill bulk storage fuel facility . 

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And we're doing that um 

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What I would say about the the appeal 

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and I and I certainly understand the 

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concerns have been expressed . 

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We we are going to we do intend 

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to file an appeal by the deadline which 

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is tomorrow . Um But in the in the 

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meantime um and why are 

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we we feel like it's important to do 

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that so that we have a little bit more 

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time um to come up with better informed 

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decisions about um some of the aspects 

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in the emergency order . Uh Most 

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particularly the d fueling uh aspect of 

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that order . We also are going to be um 

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trying to work with local authorities 

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about other proposals for a way 

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forward to 

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uh absent and distinct from from legal 

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proceedings to uh to try to come up 

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with the the best way forward with 

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respect to our strategic fuel reserves 

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and how that is handled going forward . 

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So um we have already put in place a 

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lot of a lot of immediate actions uh 

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trying to improve the water supply 

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there at Redhill . Um Suspending 

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operations at the at the facility 

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that's been done Um and and reaching 

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out and trying to get an independent 

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3rd party commercial firm to assess and 

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to review um operations at the Red Hill 

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facility as well as um system 

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integrity , all with an eye towards how 

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that facility can or should be operated 

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going forward as well as can or should 

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be de fueled going forward . So we have 

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an open mind on this little , we uh 

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there's an awful lot of attention being 

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applied to this . You you probably saw 

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the Deputy secretary had conversations 

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last night , not only with members of 

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Hawaii's congressional delegation , but 

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with the governor and uh we're going to 

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continue these uh these discussions . 

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So uh we are absolutely open to looking 

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at options and and and and those 

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options uh can include de fueling of of 

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Redhill . Um uh and we're going to 

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continue to stay closely lashed up with 

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with leaders um and legislators from 

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Hawaii . The last thing I'd say on this . 

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Um I know it's a long tortuous answer 

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to a very good question , but um 

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we we know we've got responsibilities 

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here uh to to get this right to get 

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this right for the families affected 

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not just military families , but but 

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residents of the state of Hawaii um to 

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get it right for the state itself , uh 

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to rebuild some of that trust . Um and 

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that that you referenced in your 

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question uh and also to to get this 

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right for our own national security 

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purposes . Um Again , I don't we don't 

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have all the answers figured out right 

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now and where we're going to go with 

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with Red Hill long term . But one thing 

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is for sure that's the are we we are 

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going to have security commitments in 

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the indo pacific long term um and those 

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security commitments are going to 

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require fuel and sustainment uh And so 

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we've we've got to think about that 

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seriously . We gotta make sure that 

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whatever plan we have in place , 

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whatever we do here um that we can 

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continue to defend the nation from the 

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indo pacific theater . It's a long 

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answer , apologized but I appreciate 

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you staying with me . They're lita here 

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in the room . Thanks . two questions 

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1st . Are you able to name any of these 

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potential host nations that have 

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reached out and and requested US troops ? 

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Not not right now matt . No but as I 

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said yesterday 

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we're in close consultation with them 

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if and when there's decisions to deploy 

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additional U . S . Forces on allied 

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territory in lockstep with that . That 

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or those countries will certainly be as 

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transparent with you as we can be . And 

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secondly , can you speak to these 

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reports that the US is aware of Russian 

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troops possibly moving medical supplies , 

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especially blood supplies up closer to 

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the Ukrainian border . And what kind of 

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concerns did that does that raise for 

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the first time ? I've seen the press 

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reporting on this ? Um Number one , I'm 

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gonna stay away from intelligence 

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assessments . I would point you though 

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to the fact that we have been long 

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saying that in addition to the uh 

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combat capability that Mr Putin 

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continues to add and does continue to 

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add to the western part of his country 

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and in Belarus , He has also over these 

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many weeks uh increased his logistics 

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and sustainment capability and there's 

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a lot that goes into logistics and 

201
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sustainment aviation support , 

202
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certainly medical support . So we have 

203
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seen him uh provide that kind of 

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sustainment capability uh with respect 

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to those forces . Um and obviously that 

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does include , you know , field 

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hospitals and doctors and nurses and 

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you know , the kinds of things you 

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would need to do to to be able to 

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medically care for troops in the field . 

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Now is uh is that alone all by 

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itself some sort of trip wire or 

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indicator or , you know , causing 

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alarms to go off that uh that an 

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invasion is imminent ? Not necessarily . 

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Um We we look at a whole uh mosaic of 

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information as we evaluate what we're 

218
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seeing on the ground there . Um I would 

219
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just go back to what we said and have 

220
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said now for more than a couple of 

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weeks , we believe that he has enough 

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capability to move now if he wants to . 

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Um he and he continues to add to that 

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capability and those options . Um and 

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he could depending on what his goal is 

226
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here and what he wants to do . He he 

227
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could move imminently and at any time 

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that answer your question , Tom 

229
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two questions , please . The first one 

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is , yesterday was two years since the 

231
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White House expanded the use of land 

232
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mines for the pentagon . I'm wondering 

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if you could , what's the degree of 

234
00:10:26,250 --> 00:10:28,028
accuracy to statements that the 

235
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pentagon prefers this wider use of 

236
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landmines or and and opposes a return 

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to how it used to be before . I'm gonna 

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take the question . I don't want to 

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speculate on landmine use policy . So 

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let me take your question is also 

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yesterday when you announced when it 

242
00:10:46,006 --> 00:10:48,061
was announced , excuse me , Qatar is 

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going to be to lock the newest major 

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non NATO ally . It reminded me that 

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Afghanistan is also on that list of 

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countries . How does the pentagon weigh 

247
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in on the White House ? You know , 

248
00:11:00,844 --> 00:11:03,390
naming country like Qatar or in this 

249
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case of Afghanistan ? What role if any ? 

250
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Did the pentagon play in the 

251
00:11:07,279 --> 00:11:09,850
consideration of amending or removing 

252
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that designation for Afghanistan ? Well , 

253
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I'll refer you to the State Department , 

254
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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
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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
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the the democratically elected 

261
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government of the Islamic Republic of 

262
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Afghanistan ? Um uh , there is no 

263
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such commitment and no such agreement 

264
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in place . Uh now that that 

265
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government is no longer in Kabul and 

266
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and I would for more detail on where 

267
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that's going . Um , I would point you 

268
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to um to the State Department , but 

269
00:12:02,380 --> 00:12:04,491
your question , you didn't ask this , 

270
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but it does give me an opportunity to 

271
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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
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at best and inaccurate at worst . Uh 

274
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the president did declare that his 

275
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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
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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 

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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
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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 .