1 00:00:03,340 --> 00:00:06,320 afternoon everybody a couple of things 2 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:10,240 here at the top and get this thing 3 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:11,240 working . 4 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,350 Mm hmm . Okay , let's see . 5 00:00:19,740 --> 00:00:20,360 Okay , 6 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:31,480 so I I want to big to announce that 7 00:00:31,490 --> 00:00:34,460 over the weekend the Secretary 8 00:00:35,210 --> 00:00:37,432 Secretary Austin ordered the deployment 9 00:00:37,432 --> 00:00:39,654 from the United States of an additional 10 00:00:39,654 --> 00:00:41,620 approximately 500 U.S . military 11 00:00:41,620 --> 00:00:44,320 personnel to locations in Europe to 12 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:47,400 augment US forces that are already in 13 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,290 theater . These additional personnel 14 00:00:50,290 --> 00:00:52,990 are being position to respond obviously 15 00:00:52,990 --> 00:00:54,990 to the current security environment 16 00:00:54,990 --> 00:00:58,070 caused by Russia's unprovoked invasion 17 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,350 of Ukraine and certainly to help 18 00:01:00,740 --> 00:01:03,340 reinforce and bolster deterrence and 19 00:01:03,340 --> 00:01:05,173 defense capabilities of the NATO 20 00:01:05,173 --> 00:01:07,630 alliance . These as all the other ones 21 00:01:07,630 --> 00:01:10,200 we've talked about in recent weeks are 22 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:11,922 not permanent moves . They are 23 00:01:11,922 --> 00:01:14,880 temporary moves . Um and we're going to 24 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,510 adjust our posture continuously as the 25 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:20,540 conditions require . And as President 26 00:01:20,540 --> 00:01:24,320 biden has noted before , uh we are not 27 00:01:24,330 --> 00:01:26,870 and will not send forces into Ukraine . 28 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:30,170 So these additional personnel uh will 29 00:01:30,170 --> 00:01:32,940 be going to to NATO's eastern flank . 30 00:01:32,940 --> 00:01:36,180 Specifically , we'll be sending a 31 00:01:36,190 --> 00:01:39,200 number of KC 1 35 refueling aircraft 32 00:01:39,210 --> 00:01:41,370 out of Fairfield Air Force Base in 33 00:01:41,370 --> 00:01:43,460 Spokane , Well deployed with 34 00:01:43,460 --> 00:01:46,570 approximately 150 personnel . They're 35 00:01:46,570 --> 00:01:49,020 scheduled right now . They're planned 36 00:01:49,020 --> 00:01:51,960 right now to deploy to Souda Bay Greece 37 00:01:51,980 --> 00:01:54,147 to provide additional aerial refueling 38 00:01:54,147 --> 00:01:56,200 support to the commander of U . S . 39 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,240 European command . Uh this 500 will 40 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:02,040 also include an air support operations 41 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,750 center out of fort Stewart Georgia . 42 00:02:04,750 --> 00:02:07,560 They'll comprise basically of 40 43 00:02:07,940 --> 00:02:09,940 personnel right now . Their plan to 44 00:02:09,940 --> 00:02:12,100 deploy to Poland into Romania . And 45 00:02:12,100 --> 00:02:14,044 again , to help provide additional 46 00:02:14,044 --> 00:02:16,790 command and control for us european 47 00:02:16,790 --> 00:02:19,490 command flight operations . And then 48 00:02:19,490 --> 00:02:22,470 lastly about 300 personnel uh will be 49 00:02:22,470 --> 00:02:24,400 making up a modular ammunition 50 00:02:24,410 --> 00:02:26,820 ordinance company out of fort Bragg and 51 00:02:26,820 --> 00:02:29,010 a support maintenance company out of 52 00:02:29,010 --> 00:02:31,610 fort Stewart Georgia . Uh They'll be 53 00:02:31,610 --> 00:02:34,180 going to Germany to provide additional 54 00:02:34,180 --> 00:02:36,347 logistics support to the first armored 55 00:02:36,347 --> 00:02:38,402 Brigade combat team , third Infantry 56 00:02:38,402 --> 00:02:40,513 Division already deployed there . And 57 00:02:40,513 --> 00:02:42,736 what we've already talked about Again , 58 00:02:42,736 --> 00:02:44,920 these are purely defensive forces . 59 00:02:44,930 --> 00:02:47,041 These are specifically the ones we're 60 00:02:47,041 --> 00:02:49,263 talking about today are enablers and we 61 00:02:49,263 --> 00:02:50,986 said before when we deploy the 62 00:02:50,986 --> 00:02:52,986 additional 7000 that there would be 63 00:02:52,986 --> 00:02:55,208 associated enablers with them . This is 64 00:02:55,208 --> 00:02:57,520 part of that support um All these 65 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,742 posture adjustments are being done as I 66 00:02:59,742 --> 00:03:01,742 think you know in full consultation 67 00:03:01,742 --> 00:03:03,798 consultation with the NATO allies in 68 00:03:03,798 --> 00:03:07,240 question . Okay . Um shifting topics if 69 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:09,650 I could to the Red Hill 70 00:03:10,740 --> 00:03:13,350 storage facility in Hawaii 71 00:03:15,140 --> 00:03:19,080 uh Secretary Austin decided today and 72 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,136 you should have the statement if you 73 00:03:21,136 --> 00:03:23,890 don't you'll have it shortly uh that 74 00:03:23,900 --> 00:03:26,000 directs the Secretary of the Navy in 75 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,167 coordination with the Commander of the 76 00:03:28,167 --> 00:03:30,278 United States indo pacific command to 77 00:03:30,278 --> 00:03:32,400 take all steps necessary two D . Fuel 78 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:34,456 and to permanently close the Redhill 79 00:03:34,456 --> 00:03:37,820 bulk fuel storage facility in Hawaii . 80 00:03:37,830 --> 00:03:39,830 I know many of you are tracking the 81 00:03:39,830 --> 00:03:41,774 importance that leaders across the 82 00:03:41,774 --> 00:03:43,830 Department of Defense have placed on 83 00:03:43,830 --> 00:03:45,760 that november leek and the 84 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:47,871 contamination that resulted from it . 85 00:03:47,871 --> 00:03:49,704 Secretary the Deputy Secretary . 86 00:03:49,704 --> 00:03:51,816 Leaders from across the Department of 87 00:03:51,816 --> 00:03:53,927 Defense and Navy as well as in dope a 88 00:03:53,927 --> 00:03:55,982 calmer remained very very focused on 89 00:03:55,982 --> 00:03:58,093 this issue and uh and the impact that 90 00:03:58,093 --> 00:04:00,149 it's had on families and communities 91 00:04:00,149 --> 00:04:02,260 and of course our responsibilities uh 92 00:04:02,260 --> 00:04:04,427 in in both national security and being 93 00:04:04,427 --> 00:04:06,593 good stewards of our resources and the 94 00:04:06,593 --> 00:04:08,816 environment . Throughout this process , 95 00:04:08,910 --> 00:04:10,854 the Department's approach has been 96 00:04:10,854 --> 00:04:12,966 guided by a commitment to protect the 97 00:04:12,966 --> 00:04:12,790 population , the environment and the 98 00:04:12,790 --> 00:04:15,370 security of the country goals that are 99 00:04:15,370 --> 00:04:18,040 mutually supportive . As the Secretary 100 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,262 outlined in his direction to the to the 101 00:04:20,262 --> 00:04:22,484 Department of the Navy , the Department 102 00:04:22,484 --> 00:04:24,780 Defense launched a thorough review of 103 00:04:24,780 --> 00:04:26,836 the facilities long term future work 104 00:04:26,836 --> 00:04:28,724 that was grounded in analysis and 105 00:04:28,724 --> 00:04:30,891 completely aligned with our focus . So 106 00:04:30,891 --> 00:04:32,836 a few points on today's decision . 107 00:04:32,836 --> 00:04:35,670 First , national security , we will dif 108 00:04:35,670 --> 00:04:37,837 you'll Redhill and reposition the fuel 109 00:04:37,837 --> 00:04:40,700 to land and afloat locations . This 110 00:04:40,700 --> 00:04:42,478 will meet our national security 111 00:04:42,478 --> 00:04:44,533 objectives by better positioning the 112 00:04:44,533 --> 00:04:46,756 United States to meet future challenges 113 00:04:46,756 --> 00:04:48,811 in the pacific region while ensuring 114 00:04:48,811 --> 00:04:50,478 environmental stewardship and 115 00:04:50,478 --> 00:04:52,644 protecting the population . Secondly , 116 00:04:52,644 --> 00:04:54,867 as the Secretary noted , we're going to 117 00:04:54,867 --> 00:04:56,978 be able to take care of our people in 118 00:04:56,978 --> 00:04:58,978 the community . We are committed to 119 00:04:58,978 --> 00:05:01,144 mitigating the impacts of the november 120 00:05:01,144 --> 00:05:03,089 incident and we are restoring safe 121 00:05:03,089 --> 00:05:04,811 drinking water to all affected 122 00:05:04,811 --> 00:05:06,922 residents and providing best in class 123 00:05:06,922 --> 00:05:08,867 sampling and testing to ensure the 124 00:05:08,867 --> 00:05:11,144 continued safety of the drinking water . 125 00:05:11,144 --> 00:05:12,978 And finally we're gonna complete 126 00:05:12,978 --> 00:05:15,033 environmental mitigation efforts for 127 00:05:15,033 --> 00:05:14,680 the Red hill drinking water well in any 128 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:16,960 other impacted areas and continue to 129 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:19,560 engage the community on land . Use . 130 00:05:20,540 --> 00:05:23,260 One additional note which I believe 131 00:05:23,260 --> 00:05:25,427 many of you are tracking the commander 132 00:05:25,427 --> 00:05:27,482 U . S . Pacific fleet has directed a 133 00:05:27,482 --> 00:05:29,704 command investigation into the releases 134 00:05:29,704 --> 00:05:31,927 and contamination of the water supply . 135 00:05:31,927 --> 00:05:34,149 When that review is complete , the navy 136 00:05:34,149 --> 00:05:36,204 will publicly release the report and 137 00:05:36,204 --> 00:05:35,740 continue to work closely with the 138 00:05:35,740 --> 00:05:37,960 Department of Health and Hawaii about 139 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,120 pursuing follow on actions that work 140 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,750 continues . I want to end by noting 141 00:05:42,750 --> 00:05:44,806 that the secretary's decision is not 142 00:05:44,806 --> 00:05:47,028 considered by the department to be some 143 00:05:47,028 --> 00:05:49,306 sort of quick fix . We have work to do . 144 00:05:49,306 --> 00:05:51,528 We know that across the enterprise with 145 00:05:51,528 --> 00:05:53,750 elected officials from Hawaii and local 146 00:05:53,750 --> 00:05:55,806 organizations and of course with our 147 00:05:55,806 --> 00:05:57,917 military families , many of whom have 148 00:05:57,917 --> 00:05:59,972 suffered as a result of that leak in 149 00:05:59,972 --> 00:05:59,770 the contamination . We're gonna stay 150 00:05:59,770 --> 00:06:01,770 transparent as fully transparent on 151 00:06:01,770 --> 00:06:03,659 this work as we can . We're gonna 152 00:06:03,659 --> 00:06:05,603 continue to update you and them as 153 00:06:05,603 --> 00:06:07,714 actions are taken . But we do believe 154 00:06:07,714 --> 00:06:09,714 that this decision by the secretary 155 00:06:09,714 --> 00:06:11,937 today marks a significant first step in 156 00:06:11,937 --> 00:06:13,826 the path forward . That will take 157 00:06:13,826 --> 00:06:16,060 questions bob . Thank you john . Um on 158 00:06:16,060 --> 00:06:19,290 Ukraine um I wonder if you could 159 00:06:19,870 --> 00:06:21,981 discuss sort of the overall direction 160 00:06:21,981 --> 00:06:24,203 of the Russian campaign in in Ukraine ? 161 00:06:24,203 --> 00:06:26,370 I'm thinking in particular for example 162 00:06:26,370 --> 00:06:28,660 of the their increased use of long 163 00:06:28,660 --> 00:06:31,790 range fires , artillery and rockets in 164 00:06:31,790 --> 00:06:34,090 recent days . Is this an adjustment by 165 00:06:34,090 --> 00:06:36,560 them ? Is this a new phase of the war ? 166 00:06:36,940 --> 00:06:40,350 Are they compensating for problems in 167 00:06:40,350 --> 00:06:42,870 other areas or how would you describe 168 00:06:42,870 --> 00:06:45,092 the thrust of what they're , where they 169 00:06:45,092 --> 00:06:47,092 are right now with the caveat bob , 170 00:06:47,092 --> 00:06:49,203 that we don't have perfect visibility 171 00:06:49,203 --> 00:06:51,260 into Russian plans . Um , what we 172 00:06:51,260 --> 00:06:53,200 believe is happening as , as the 173 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,422 Russians continue to get frustrated and 174 00:06:55,422 --> 00:06:57,422 slowed down and they really haven't 175 00:06:57,422 --> 00:06:59,900 made any noteworthy progress in the 176 00:06:59,900 --> 00:07:02,122 last few days . Uh , with the exception 177 00:07:02,122 --> 00:07:04,011 of down south in the south , they 178 00:07:04,011 --> 00:07:06,233 continue to have some , uh , progress , 179 00:07:06,233 --> 00:07:08,511 but up in the north and northeast . Um , 180 00:07:08,511 --> 00:07:10,678 what what we assesses as they continue 181 00:07:10,678 --> 00:07:13,150 to get frustrated . Um , they continue 182 00:07:13,150 --> 00:07:15,428 to rely now more on what we would call , 183 00:07:15,428 --> 00:07:18,650 uh , long range fires . So this is 184 00:07:18,650 --> 00:07:21,060 bombardment missile strikes , long 185 00:07:21,060 --> 00:07:23,910 range artillery into city centers that 186 00:07:23,910 --> 00:07:25,966 they aren't in yet , at least not on 187 00:07:25,966 --> 00:07:28,132 the ground in any significant number . 188 00:07:28,132 --> 00:07:30,188 So we're seeing that . And of course 189 00:07:30,188 --> 00:07:33,470 that has been leading to , and as as 190 00:07:33,470 --> 00:07:35,692 you would expect it would , when you're 191 00:07:35,692 --> 00:07:37,637 relying more on long range fires , 192 00:07:37,637 --> 00:07:37,130 you're gonna , you're gonna cause more 193 00:07:37,130 --> 00:07:39,019 damage and you're gonna kill more 194 00:07:39,019 --> 00:07:41,241 people and injured more people . And so 195 00:07:41,241 --> 00:07:43,352 that's what we , that's what we think 196 00:07:43,352 --> 00:07:45,686 is happening . That's what we're seeing , 197 00:07:45,686 --> 00:07:45,680 uh , seeing them do . And we think it's 198 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:47,902 because again , they have not been able 199 00:07:47,902 --> 00:07:50,069 to make up for the lost time that they 200 00:07:50,069 --> 00:07:52,291 continue to suffer from on the , on the 201 00:07:52,291 --> 00:07:54,402 ground in terms of the advancement of 202 00:07:54,402 --> 00:07:56,402 ground forces and they have not not 203 00:07:56,402 --> 00:07:58,736 taking control of any of the cities yet , 204 00:07:58,736 --> 00:08:00,902 Is that I wouldn't say no . Cities ? I 205 00:08:00,902 --> 00:08:03,124 mean , we do assess that Carson fell to 206 00:08:03,124 --> 00:08:04,958 the Russians around the coast of 207 00:08:04,958 --> 00:08:07,180 Malaysia is of a town called Bodansky . 208 00:08:07,180 --> 00:08:10,090 Uh We believe they have control over . 209 00:08:10,100 --> 00:08:13,860 Um and certainly that we we we 210 00:08:13,940 --> 00:08:16,162 believe that they're in control of that 211 00:08:16,162 --> 00:08:18,329 power plant up near the Den Ebro River 212 00:08:18,329 --> 00:08:20,329 that we talked about last week . So 213 00:08:20,329 --> 00:08:23,010 some smaller towns as they continue 214 00:08:23,010 --> 00:08:25,480 their advance down south in the north , 215 00:08:25,490 --> 00:08:28,830 we do not see them have any control 216 00:08:28,830 --> 00:08:31,110 over Kiev . Kharkiv still a lot of 217 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:33,410 heavy fighting outside Kharkiv . And of 218 00:08:33,410 --> 00:08:35,940 course Kharkiv is is really becoming a 219 00:08:35,950 --> 00:08:37,950 victim to a lot of these long range 220 00:08:37,950 --> 00:08:40,172 fires . Uh And then in that town to the 221 00:08:40,172 --> 00:08:42,339 northeast of Kiev called Tsarnaev . Uh 222 00:08:42,339 --> 00:08:44,450 they still are attempting to encircle 223 00:08:44,450 --> 00:08:46,617 the city , but they do , they have not 224 00:08:46,617 --> 00:08:48,783 taken it yet . So again , I think down 225 00:08:48,783 --> 00:08:50,839 south you see them have a little bit 226 00:08:50,839 --> 00:08:53,061 more success and some control over some 227 00:08:53,061 --> 00:08:55,172 local population centers . But but up 228 00:08:55,172 --> 00:08:57,450 in the north , not so much . The other . 229 00:08:57,450 --> 00:08:57,270 The other one that I would note is 230 00:08:57,270 --> 00:08:59,840 marry a poll on the series of as of uh 231 00:08:59,850 --> 00:09:03,350 just uh just to the south of the Donbas , 232 00:09:03,940 --> 00:09:06,760 we believe that they very much are 233 00:09:06,770 --> 00:09:10,290 aimed on taking Maria Palmeri Pole is a 234 00:09:10,300 --> 00:09:12,522 violent place to be right now , this is 235 00:09:12,522 --> 00:09:14,633 another location for long range fires 236 00:09:14,633 --> 00:09:16,578 and bombardment . You've heard the 237 00:09:16,578 --> 00:09:19,230 mayor himself talk about power outages 238 00:09:19,230 --> 00:09:21,610 and water supply problems . Um We 239 00:09:21,610 --> 00:09:23,388 believe that they are trying to 240 00:09:23,388 --> 00:09:25,554 encircle Mario pole as well , but they 241 00:09:25,554 --> 00:09:28,670 have not done it yet , John have you 242 00:09:28,670 --> 00:09:31,170 seen any evidence that Russian morale 243 00:09:31,170 --> 00:09:33,680 among the troops is low ? We've seen 244 00:09:33,680 --> 00:09:35,736 some reports , but have you seen any 245 00:09:35,736 --> 00:09:37,791 evidence of that ? And how would you 246 00:09:37,791 --> 00:09:40,170 characterize that convoy , the 40 mile 247 00:09:40,170 --> 00:09:42,700 long convoy north of Kiev ? If it 248 00:09:42,700 --> 00:09:45,320 doesn't have tanks in that convoy , 249 00:09:45,330 --> 00:09:47,497 where are those tanks ? Where did they 250 00:09:47,497 --> 00:09:49,274 go ? Yes , I don't have perfect 251 00:09:49,274 --> 00:09:51,390 visibility on the convoy . Were 252 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:53,860 watching it , uh , with much the same 253 00:09:53,860 --> 00:09:56,027 imagery that you are . We believe that 254 00:09:56,027 --> 00:09:58,138 the main purpose of it was resupply . 255 00:09:58,138 --> 00:10:00,450 Um , so it does , when you look at the 256 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:04,462 images from the air , you can see a lot 257 00:10:04,462 --> 00:10:06,684 of it doesn't , they don't , they don't 258 00:10:06,684 --> 00:10:06,600 look like armored vehicles so much as 259 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:08,990 they look like resupply trucks . That's 260 00:10:08,990 --> 00:10:10,990 not to say that there aren't combat 261 00:10:10,990 --> 00:10:12,879 vehicles in there . We don't have 262 00:10:12,879 --> 00:10:14,934 perfect visibility on it . But , but 263 00:10:14,934 --> 00:10:16,934 the , the assessment is that it was 264 00:10:16,934 --> 00:10:19,046 largely meant to help resupply and it 265 00:10:19,046 --> 00:10:21,212 is still stalled . It is still stuck . 266 00:10:21,212 --> 00:10:21,200 We don't , we don't assess over the 267 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:23,367 course of the weekend that it has made 268 00:10:23,367 --> 00:10:25,589 any progress . Um , and I'm sorry , you 269 00:10:25,589 --> 00:10:28,400 had another one morale . Um , uh , we , 270 00:10:28,410 --> 00:10:30,410 uh , we certainly see what's in the 271 00:10:30,410 --> 00:10:33,110 open press that you see about anecdotal 272 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:35,820 evidence that some soldiers uh , are 273 00:10:35,820 --> 00:10:37,931 flagging in the morale ? We have also 274 00:10:37,931 --> 00:10:40,098 picked up other indications as well on 275 00:10:40,098 --> 00:10:42,900 our own that , that morale um , 276 00:10:42,910 --> 00:10:46,910 continues to be um , a problem for 277 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:48,642 for many of the Russian forces 278 00:10:48,642 --> 00:10:50,698 particularly up in the north and the 279 00:10:50,698 --> 00:10:52,864 and the east , um , it is not clear to 280 00:10:52,864 --> 00:10:56,770 us that all of the soldiers that Russia 281 00:10:56,770 --> 00:10:59,980 has put into Ukraine realized that 282 00:10:59,980 --> 00:11:02,202 that's what they were doing , that they 283 00:11:02,202 --> 00:11:04,424 were actually going to invade Ukraine . 284 00:11:04,424 --> 00:11:06,647 It's not clear to us that they had full 285 00:11:06,647 --> 00:11:08,702 visibility on the mission that which 286 00:11:08,702 --> 00:11:10,869 they were being assigned . And again , 287 00:11:10,869 --> 00:11:12,924 if that convoy was a resupply convoy 288 00:11:12,924 --> 00:11:14,980 and um not really armored vehicles , 289 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:17,407 where were those columns of tanks that 290 00:11:17,407 --> 00:11:19,573 were supposed to encircle keith ? Were 291 00:11:19,573 --> 00:11:21,629 they sent elsewhere ? Yeah , I don't 292 00:11:21,629 --> 00:11:23,684 know if that's a better question for 293 00:11:23,684 --> 00:11:25,740 the Russian Ministry of Defense . We 294 00:11:25,740 --> 00:11:27,907 don't have perfect visibility in terms 295 00:11:27,907 --> 00:11:30,018 of what they're , what they're moving 296 00:11:30,018 --> 00:11:32,184 and what alternative routes they might 297 00:11:32,184 --> 00:11:34,184 have taken . And I don't want to uh 298 00:11:34,184 --> 00:11:36,240 leave you with the idea that we know 299 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:38,351 perfectly what each and every vehicle 300 00:11:38,351 --> 00:11:40,462 is in there . It looks to be like our 301 00:11:40,462 --> 00:11:42,573 assessment is that it's largely meant 302 00:11:42,573 --> 00:11:44,573 for resupply . But I can't rule out 303 00:11:44,573 --> 00:11:46,573 that there aren't combat vehicles . 304 00:11:46,573 --> 00:11:46,220 It's a very , very long convoy . We 305 00:11:46,220 --> 00:11:48,387 don't even know if it's all , we can't 306 00:11:48,387 --> 00:11:50,553 even say that that it's all one convoy 307 00:11:50,553 --> 00:11:52,776 and not several . But it does remain as 308 00:11:52,776 --> 00:11:54,664 our best assessment is it remains 309 00:11:54,664 --> 00:11:57,070 stalled . Thank you john . So when the 310 00:11:57,080 --> 00:11:59,310 reports about efforts by the Russians 311 00:11:59,310 --> 00:12:02,010 to recruit Syrian fighters to fight in 312 00:12:02,020 --> 00:12:04,242 in Ukraine , first of all , what do you 313 00:12:04,242 --> 00:12:06,242 have to say about these reports and 314 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:08,329 based on your knowledge that this 315 00:12:08,329 --> 00:12:10,273 effort started before the war , or 316 00:12:10,273 --> 00:12:12,780 after the war . And who are these 317 00:12:12,780 --> 00:12:15,002 fighters there seeking to recruit ? Are 318 00:12:15,002 --> 00:12:18,200 they from the Syrian military or what 319 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:20,144 is your understanding of ? I can't 320 00:12:20,144 --> 00:12:22,200 speak for Russian recruiting efforts 321 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,720 body ? We we do well , 322 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:28,810 we do believe that the the accounts of 323 00:12:28,810 --> 00:12:32,670 them , the Russians seeking uh Syrian 324 00:12:32,670 --> 00:12:34,670 fighters to augment their forces in 325 00:12:34,670 --> 00:12:36,614 Ukraine . We uh we believe there's 326 00:12:36,614 --> 00:12:39,600 truth to that . Um so it's interesting 327 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:41,820 that uh that Mr Putin would have to 328 00:12:41,820 --> 00:12:43,598 find himself relying on foreign 329 00:12:43,598 --> 00:12:45,709 fighters here , Who they are going to 330 00:12:45,709 --> 00:12:47,764 be , how many they're getting , what 331 00:12:47,764 --> 00:12:49,987 they're going to pay them all of that . 332 00:12:49,987 --> 00:12:52,098 We don't have perfect visibility on , 333 00:12:52,098 --> 00:12:54,320 but we're in no position to refute uh , 334 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:56,487 the accounts that that that they might 335 00:12:56,487 --> 00:12:58,709 be seeking to recruit Syrian fighters . 336 00:12:58,710 --> 00:13:00,710 And since you mentioned that , it's 337 00:13:00,710 --> 00:13:02,932 kind of interesting that he is that the 338 00:13:02,932 --> 00:13:05,099 Russian president is trying to rely on 339 00:13:05,099 --> 00:13:06,821 foreign fighters . You have an 340 00:13:06,821 --> 00:13:08,988 assessment , despite all the troops he 341 00:13:08,988 --> 00:13:11,980 has inside of Ukraine now , why he has 342 00:13:11,980 --> 00:13:14,980 to go and tap into foreign fighters , 343 00:13:14,980 --> 00:13:16,869 especially in Syria , I can't get 344 00:13:16,869 --> 00:13:20,260 inside Mr Putin's head . He has um , 345 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:23,960 pretty much all the combat power that 346 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:25,849 he assessed . I'm sorry , that he 347 00:13:25,849 --> 00:13:28,590 assembled um , our assessment is he is 348 00:13:28,590 --> 00:13:30,646 pretty much all of it inside Ukraine 349 00:13:30,646 --> 00:13:32,868 now , the ground forces in particular . 350 00:13:32,868 --> 00:13:35,470 Um So he has an awful lot of combat 351 00:13:35,470 --> 00:13:37,650 power available to him . Uh We still 352 00:13:37,650 --> 00:13:39,872 assess that he has the vast majority of 353 00:13:39,872 --> 00:13:42,039 that combat power available to him ? I 354 00:13:42,039 --> 00:13:44,290 can't begin to speculate why he would 355 00:13:44,300 --> 00:13:47,410 find it necessary to to seek help from , 356 00:13:47,420 --> 00:13:51,420 from foreign fighters . Um We do 357 00:13:51,430 --> 00:13:53,486 believe , as I said to jen that they 358 00:13:53,486 --> 00:13:55,541 are having morale problems , they're 359 00:13:55,541 --> 00:13:57,970 having supply problems , they're having 360 00:13:57,970 --> 00:13:59,970 fuel problems , they're having food 361 00:13:59,970 --> 00:14:01,970 problems . They are they are having 362 00:14:01,970 --> 00:14:03,692 their meeting a very stiff and 363 00:14:03,692 --> 00:14:05,750 determined Ukrainian resistance . Um 364 00:14:05,750 --> 00:14:08,020 And we still maintain that they are 365 00:14:08,020 --> 00:14:10,187 several days behind what they probably 366 00:14:10,187 --> 00:14:12,353 thought they were going to be in terms 367 00:14:12,353 --> 00:14:14,131 of their progress . But I can't 368 00:14:14,131 --> 00:14:16,187 honestly , I cannot get inside , you 369 00:14:16,187 --> 00:14:18,242 know , Mr Putin's brain as to why he 370 00:14:18,242 --> 00:14:20,464 would find it necessary to seek support 371 00:14:20,464 --> 00:14:22,780 from foreign fighters . David on this 372 00:14:22,780 --> 00:14:26,300 issue of Polish make 29s to 373 00:14:26,490 --> 00:14:29,250 Ukraine . A number of 374 00:14:30,220 --> 00:14:32,387 US officials have said , this is under 375 00:14:32,387 --> 00:14:34,331 active discussion about how the US 376 00:14:34,331 --> 00:14:37,250 might backfill . We just want back and 377 00:14:37,250 --> 00:14:39,460 looked at some previous statements by 378 00:14:39,460 --> 00:14:42,890 polish officials On sunday , the 379 00:14:42,900 --> 00:14:44,956 chancellory of the Prime Minister of 380 00:14:44,956 --> 00:14:47,350 Poland tweeted Poland won't send its 381 00:14:47,350 --> 00:14:51,260 fighter jets to Ukraine on March 1st , 382 00:14:51,750 --> 00:14:55,500 the president of Poland said , we are 383 00:14:55,500 --> 00:14:57,660 not sending any jets to Ukraine . 384 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:01,607 Um So what are we talking about here ? 385 00:15:01,607 --> 00:15:04,590 I mean if it sounds like this is 386 00:15:05,740 --> 00:15:08,110 flogging a dead horse . Is this really 387 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:11,400 a proposition on the table ? I can't 388 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:13,511 speak for polish leadership , David . 389 00:15:13,540 --> 00:15:15,760 What we've said is that 390 00:15:17,500 --> 00:15:19,722 that this would be a sovereign decision 391 00:15:19,722 --> 00:15:21,944 for a nation state to make whether it's 392 00:15:21,944 --> 00:15:24,167 Poland or anybody else should they want 393 00:15:24,167 --> 00:15:26,790 to provide aircraft to the Ukrainian 394 00:15:26,790 --> 00:15:29,012 Air force ? That's a sovereign decision 395 00:15:29,012 --> 00:15:31,179 that they can make . The United States 396 00:15:31,179 --> 00:15:30,570 is not going to stand in the way of 397 00:15:30,570 --> 00:15:34,290 that . There is , there was discussion 398 00:15:34,290 --> 00:15:36,650 about if a nation such as Poland were 399 00:15:36,650 --> 00:15:40,260 to do this , would there be a capacity 400 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:43,000 for the United States to backfill those 401 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,260 aircraft with american made aircraft ? 402 00:15:45,270 --> 00:15:47,550 And what I can tell you is because I 403 00:15:47,550 --> 00:15:49,606 can only speak for the Department of 404 00:15:49,606 --> 00:15:51,494 Defense is that we are part of an 405 00:15:51,494 --> 00:15:53,661 interagency discussion to examine that 406 00:15:53,661 --> 00:15:55,717 possibility . No decisions have been 407 00:15:55,717 --> 00:15:57,883 made . Certainly none that we're aware 408 00:15:57,883 --> 00:16:00,130 of by Poland even as you pointed out in 409 00:16:00,130 --> 00:16:02,352 your , in your , in your quotes there . 410 00:16:02,352 --> 00:16:04,730 Um , but we are having a discussion 411 00:16:04,740 --> 00:16:07,980 about um , should a nation like Poland 412 00:16:07,980 --> 00:16:10,091 want to do this and should there be a 413 00:16:10,091 --> 00:16:12,010 desire or a need for some sort of 414 00:16:12,010 --> 00:16:14,066 backfill of assets , you know , what 415 00:16:14,066 --> 00:16:16,232 would that look like ? How would we do 416 00:16:16,232 --> 00:16:19,200 that ? How many from where those are 417 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,422 the kinds of things we're talking about 418 00:16:21,422 --> 00:16:23,311 right now . One other question on 419 00:16:23,311 --> 00:16:25,310 aircraft transfers . Former NATO 420 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:28,940 Commander General Breedlove as 421 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:32,680 he said that The Ukrainians , some 422 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,500 Ukrainians have been trained to fly the 423 00:16:35,510 --> 00:16:38,890 a 10 And that there are , I think he 424 00:16:38,890 --> 00:16:42,700 said 6810s in storage available for 425 00:16:42,710 --> 00:16:46,130 transfer to Ukraine is that under 426 00:16:46,130 --> 00:16:47,963 consideration ? I have not heard 427 00:16:47,963 --> 00:16:49,940 anything about a tens and I can't 428 00:16:49,940 --> 00:16:53,240 verify the , the number that are quote 429 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:56,540 unquote in storage . Yeah . Thanks john 430 00:16:56,550 --> 00:16:58,880 um , wanted to ask about Redhill , um , 431 00:16:59,030 --> 00:17:01,197 what other relief for assistance might 432 00:17:01,197 --> 00:17:03,780 still be available to affected military 433 00:17:03,780 --> 00:17:06,230 families ? And you should also mention 434 00:17:06,230 --> 00:17:08,452 environmental mitigation . Can you give 435 00:17:08,452 --> 00:17:10,563 us a sense of the scope of what needs 436 00:17:10,563 --> 00:17:12,786 to be done on that site and how long it 437 00:17:12,786 --> 00:17:15,008 might take or even a dollar figure that 438 00:17:15,008 --> 00:17:17,174 we're talking about ? I can't give you 439 00:17:17,174 --> 00:17:19,508 much of a dollar for your timeline . Um , 440 00:17:19,508 --> 00:17:21,740 uh , we're , so what , here's what let 441 00:17:21,740 --> 00:17:23,851 me just talk process for you before I 442 00:17:23,851 --> 00:17:26,720 do that . The , the impact of families 443 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:28,776 obviously is foremost on everybody's 444 00:17:28,776 --> 00:17:30,831 mind . And I don't want to speak for 445 00:17:30,831 --> 00:17:32,887 the Navy . They're , they're working 446 00:17:32,887 --> 00:17:35,109 very , very hard to , uh , to get these 447 00:17:35,109 --> 00:17:37,331 families back safely to their homes and 448 00:17:37,331 --> 00:17:39,442 to take care of them where they are . 449 00:17:39,442 --> 00:17:41,609 Um , so I would refer to the Navy to , 450 00:17:41,609 --> 00:17:43,831 to speak to the specifics of that . But 451 00:17:43,831 --> 00:17:45,998 as I said , and you , you'll see it in 452 00:17:45,998 --> 00:17:48,164 the secretary's memo . I mean , taking 453 00:17:48,164 --> 00:17:50,109 care of these folks is a paramount 454 00:17:50,109 --> 00:17:52,109 concern to him . So what's going to 455 00:17:52,109 --> 00:17:54,220 happen here and this will , this is a 456 00:17:54,220 --> 00:17:56,442 long way of getting to your , to your , 457 00:17:56,442 --> 00:17:58,609 to your question , which is to say , I 458 00:17:58,609 --> 00:18:00,831 can't answer it specifically . But just 459 00:18:00,831 --> 00:18:00,760 so you understand process , there was 460 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:02,927 already an assessment team that was in 461 00:18:02,927 --> 00:18:06,350 place to determine what it would take . 462 00:18:06,740 --> 00:18:09,970 Two to get Red Hill 463 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:12,551 operational again because as you know 464 00:18:12,551 --> 00:18:14,329 we suspended operations back in 465 00:18:14,329 --> 00:18:16,800 december so it hasn't been in use since 466 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,050 december . That assessment team will 467 00:18:19,050 --> 00:18:21,790 now shift their focus to help us figure 468 00:18:21,790 --> 00:18:25,430 out what it takes to defuse it . In 469 00:18:25,430 --> 00:18:27,180 other words to get operational 470 00:18:27,190 --> 00:18:29,357 operational capacity back up again for 471 00:18:29,357 --> 00:18:31,246 the purpose of de fueling not for 472 00:18:31,246 --> 00:18:34,460 continuing operations for fueling we'll 473 00:18:34,460 --> 00:18:36,349 get that homework assignment back 474 00:18:36,349 --> 00:18:38,571 probably at the end of april . Um We'll 475 00:18:38,571 --> 00:18:40,682 do the forensics on that , figure out 476 00:18:40,682 --> 00:18:42,793 what we need to do . And then once we 477 00:18:42,793 --> 00:18:46,390 have once we have prepared the site for 478 00:18:46,390 --> 00:18:48,501 de fueling and we know we can do that 479 00:18:48,501 --> 00:18:50,279 safely we estimate that it will 480 00:18:50,279 --> 00:18:52,168 probably take somewhere within 12 481 00:18:52,168 --> 00:18:55,500 months or so to fully de fuel and close 482 00:18:55,500 --> 00:18:59,350 it then once it's closed um we'll begin 483 00:18:59,350 --> 00:19:02,460 to to work uh on what 484 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:05,551 the land used for it looks like going 485 00:19:05,551 --> 00:19:07,551 forward and obviously a key part of 486 00:19:07,551 --> 00:19:09,607 that is going to be making sure that 487 00:19:09,607 --> 00:19:11,990 whatever we do in terms of closing down 488 00:19:12,150 --> 00:19:14,206 that it's done in an environmentally 489 00:19:14,206 --> 00:19:16,428 safe way . All of that is to say that I 490 00:19:16,428 --> 00:19:19,260 I can't give you beyond the year so 491 00:19:19,260 --> 00:19:21,482 that we know it's going to take two dif 492 00:19:21,482 --> 00:19:23,940 you'll once we can start de fueling the 493 00:19:23,950 --> 00:19:25,783 all the environmental mitigation 494 00:19:25,783 --> 00:19:27,617 impacts . After that we're still 495 00:19:27,617 --> 00:19:29,617 working we're going to work our way 496 00:19:29,617 --> 00:19:29,360 through that and I couldn't possibly 497 00:19:29,360 --> 00:19:31,527 give you an estimate on on what that's 498 00:19:31,527 --> 00:19:34,850 going to cost environmental mitigation . 499 00:19:34,850 --> 00:19:37,128 That's financial responsibility of D O . 500 00:19:37,128 --> 00:19:39,350 D . Eventually Yes , that would be that 501 00:19:39,350 --> 00:19:41,461 would fall on DVD in terms of because 502 00:19:41,461 --> 00:19:43,239 we're gonna be , we're gonna be 503 00:19:43,239 --> 00:19:45,461 obviously closing down the site . But I 504 00:19:45,461 --> 00:19:47,572 couldn't begin to tell you what the , 505 00:19:47,572 --> 00:19:49,739 what the estimate is going to be right 506 00:19:49,739 --> 00:19:49,230 now . All I can tell you is the 507 00:19:49,230 --> 00:19:51,397 secretary is committed to doing this . 508 00:19:51,397 --> 00:19:53,452 This . He believes this is the right 509 00:19:53,452 --> 00:19:55,508 decision , not just for our national 510 00:19:55,508 --> 00:19:55,450 security , for a more distributed and 511 00:19:55,450 --> 00:19:57,506 dispersed fueling capability through 512 00:19:57,506 --> 00:19:59,394 the indo pacific but also for the 513 00:19:59,394 --> 00:20:02,170 environment . For uh , for our gracious 514 00:20:02,170 --> 00:20:04,226 hosts and neighbors in Hawaii and of 515 00:20:04,226 --> 00:20:06,503 course for our military families jenny . 516 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:09,250 Thank you , john , I have two occasions 517 00:20:09,260 --> 00:20:13,030 Ukraine and South Korea . There are 518 00:20:13,030 --> 00:20:15,870 hundreds of South korean volunteers 519 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:18,390 requested support to fight the 520 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:23,150 Russian invasion . Do you have anything 521 00:20:23,150 --> 00:20:26,860 on the number of US volunteers to 522 00:20:26,940 --> 00:20:30,280 fight ? I don't have an estimate 523 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:32,440 of americans who might want to be 524 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:34,650 volunteering to go there . I would uh 525 00:20:34,660 --> 00:20:36,771 say what I said last week . If you're 526 00:20:36,771 --> 00:20:38,993 an american and you want to do right by 527 00:20:38,993 --> 00:20:41,160 Ukraine . The best thing you can do is 528 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:43,250 find a way to donate to so many 529 00:20:43,260 --> 00:20:45,410 agencies that are trying to deal with 530 00:20:45,420 --> 00:20:48,270 what is now clearly a humanitarian 531 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:51,320 crisis in the region . Certainly there 532 00:20:51,330 --> 00:20:54,860 in Ukraine , we still do not believe 533 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:58,230 that Ukraine is a safe place for 534 00:20:58,230 --> 00:21:00,350 americans to go . We urge them not to 535 00:21:00,350 --> 00:21:02,406 go . And if any are still there . We 536 00:21:02,406 --> 00:21:05,160 urge them to leave another one in North 537 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:08,140 Korea . I think you know that already 538 00:21:08,140 --> 00:21:10,690 last weekend , North Korea Ranch it on 539 00:21:10,690 --> 00:21:13,830 other missiles . How does the United 540 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:16,530 States evaluate north Korea 541 00:21:16,530 --> 00:21:19,950 successive missile launch . These 542 00:21:19,950 --> 00:21:22,180 continue to be provocations , needless 543 00:21:22,180 --> 00:21:25,860 provocations at that . We uh , urged 544 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:28,710 Pyongyang to cease these uh , these 545 00:21:28,710 --> 00:21:31,043 missile launches and these provocations . 546 00:21:31,043 --> 00:21:32,932 Um , and uh , signal that they're 547 00:21:32,932 --> 00:21:35,043 willing to sit down as we are without 548 00:21:35,043 --> 00:21:37,210 preconditions to find a negotiated way 549 00:21:37,210 --> 00:21:39,377 forward here in a path to a diplomatic 550 00:21:39,377 --> 00:21:41,321 path to reduce the tensions on the 551 00:21:41,321 --> 00:21:44,850 peninsula . Yeah , tom which don't 552 00:21:45,540 --> 00:21:47,540 whichever time . Once I was , I was 553 00:21:47,540 --> 00:21:49,651 looking at you secretary . But if you 554 00:21:49,651 --> 00:21:51,984 guys want to trade off , it's up to you . 555 00:21:51,984 --> 00:21:54,530 If you get one , I got one , I'd like 556 00:21:54,530 --> 00:21:56,530 to follow up on his question . If I 557 00:21:56,530 --> 00:21:58,530 comment about extra forces . Well , 558 00:21:58,530 --> 00:22:00,752 what would the pentagon's assessment be 559 00:22:00,752 --> 00:22:03,270 if Putin's begins drawing troops from 560 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:05,391 the remainder of Russia that were not 561 00:22:05,391 --> 00:22:07,391 pre positioned to go into Ukraine , 562 00:22:07,391 --> 00:22:09,447 What would our position b what would 563 00:22:09,447 --> 00:22:13,240 your observation and analysis was 564 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:15,351 made by him ? I mean tom I don't want 565 00:22:15,351 --> 00:22:17,800 to speculate about future decisions 566 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:19,856 that that that what I would look , I 567 00:22:19,856 --> 00:22:22,570 would just tell you tom we've we've 568 00:22:22,570 --> 00:22:24,792 assessed that . He's got nearly all the 569 00:22:24,792 --> 00:22:26,626 amassed combat power that he had 570 00:22:26,626 --> 00:22:30,250 assembled inside Ukraine , I haven't 571 00:22:30,260 --> 00:22:32,490 seen anything or any indication that 572 00:22:32,490 --> 00:22:34,434 he's pulling from elsewhere in the 573 00:22:34,434 --> 00:22:37,840 country . Um , and I don't want to get 574 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:39,896 ahead of where we actually are right 575 00:22:39,896 --> 00:22:42,140 now . This is not , this is this is a 576 00:22:42,140 --> 00:22:45,900 Russian , uh , military invasion 577 00:22:45,900 --> 00:22:48,011 here . And it's it's difficult for us 578 00:22:48,011 --> 00:22:50,410 to know with great specificity on any 579 00:22:50,410 --> 00:22:53,040 given day what Mr Putin is going to do 580 00:22:53,050 --> 00:22:55,161 tomorrow or the next day after that . 581 00:22:55,161 --> 00:22:57,272 And I just don't want to get ahead of 582 00:22:57,272 --> 00:22:59,328 where we are . My second question is 583 00:22:59,328 --> 00:23:01,520 regarding Moldova . It's two part have 584 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:04,000 preparations begun yet to withdraw the 585 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,222 National Guards in their training , the 586 00:23:06,222 --> 00:23:09,770 moldovan forces , and if not , what 587 00:23:09,770 --> 00:23:11,603 changes in the training have the 588 00:23:11,603 --> 00:23:13,720 National Guard been doing with the 589 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:15,887 moldovan forces in terms of training ? 590 00:23:15,887 --> 00:23:18,109 I'd refer you to the National Guard , I 591 00:23:18,109 --> 00:23:19,998 don't have a menu of the kinds of 592 00:23:19,998 --> 00:23:22,164 training that they do in Moldova and I 593 00:23:22,164 --> 00:23:24,442 don't have any change to their posture . 594 00:23:24,442 --> 00:23:26,220 Still staying at the best of my 595 00:23:26,220 --> 00:23:28,553 knowledge , I don't know of any changes . 596 00:23:29,220 --> 00:23:31,460 There's a continual uptick in civilian 597 00:23:31,460 --> 00:23:34,610 casualties in Ukraine . Uh , do you get 598 00:23:34,610 --> 00:23:36,554 a sense that Russians are actually 599 00:23:36,554 --> 00:23:38,388 targeting civilians as President 600 00:23:38,388 --> 00:23:40,610 Zelensky says ? Or is it miscalculation 601 00:23:40,610 --> 00:23:42,832 or a little bit of both ? And we talked 602 00:23:42,832 --> 00:23:44,777 earlier about long term long range 603 00:23:44,777 --> 00:23:46,999 fires . How much of that has to do ? Do 604 00:23:46,999 --> 00:23:48,777 you have a sense with increased 605 00:23:48,777 --> 00:23:51,080 civilian casualties ? I think we 606 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:53,670 absolutely assessed that the reliance 607 00:23:53,670 --> 00:23:55,892 on long range fires and I know that's a 608 00:23:55,892 --> 00:23:58,114 very wonky term , but artillery missile 609 00:23:58,114 --> 00:23:59,948 strikes , you know , uh , rocket 610 00:23:59,948 --> 00:24:02,560 attacks are having an increased effect 611 00:24:02,570 --> 00:24:04,820 on civilian casualties and the damage 612 00:24:04,820 --> 00:24:06,376 and destruction of civilian 613 00:24:06,376 --> 00:24:08,709 infrastructure , be it homes , churches , 614 00:24:08,709 --> 00:24:11,480 hospitals , schools , we see that 615 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:13,702 increasing for sure , and we do believe 616 00:24:13,702 --> 00:24:15,647 that it's a direct result of their 617 00:24:15,647 --> 00:24:19,160 increasing reliance on these uh long 618 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:22,930 range fires now . Uh Mhm . The degree 619 00:24:22,930 --> 00:24:25,770 to which uh we can prove that that 620 00:24:25,780 --> 00:24:28,113 these are incidental versus intentional , 621 00:24:28,113 --> 00:24:30,800 I don't think we've got that sense with 622 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:33,270 any great fidelity tom . So it would be 623 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:35,391 imprudent for me to speculate that we 624 00:24:35,391 --> 00:24:37,870 know for sure that a given target was 625 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:40,670 was was intentional or not . Um 626 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:44,240 And I understand the context of the 627 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:46,184 question , the bottom line is more 628 00:24:46,184 --> 00:24:48,462 civilians are being killed and wounded . 629 00:24:48,462 --> 00:24:50,573 More civilian infrastructure is being 630 00:24:50,573 --> 00:24:52,740 damaged or destroyed . Uh and Mr Putin 631 00:24:52,740 --> 00:24:55,460 still has a choice here not to escalate 632 00:24:55,900 --> 00:24:59,000 and not to be not to be more aggressive 633 00:24:59,010 --> 00:25:01,066 in the use of these long range fires 634 00:25:01,066 --> 00:25:03,066 and uh in his capabilities , but to 635 00:25:03,066 --> 00:25:05,232 find a diplomatic path forward and the 636 00:25:05,232 --> 00:25:07,232 and the and the and the invasion or 637 00:25:07,232 --> 00:25:09,399 military targets they're going after . 638 00:25:09,399 --> 00:25:11,010 Now , I happen to be in more 639 00:25:11,010 --> 00:25:13,177 residential civilian areas or you just 640 00:25:13,177 --> 00:25:15,240 don't know , I don't have perfect 641 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,573 visibility into their targeting process . 642 00:25:17,573 --> 00:25:21,310 But look clearly , if you're if you're 643 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:23,431 having to rely on long range fires to 644 00:25:23,431 --> 00:25:25,598 go after cities because you can't move 645 00:25:25,598 --> 00:25:27,760 into city centers right now , and 646 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:30,490 you're even if even if pure as the 647 00:25:30,490 --> 00:25:32,657 driven snow , you're going to go after 648 00:25:32,657 --> 00:25:34,879 just military and government targets in 649 00:25:34,879 --> 00:25:37,101 a big city like Kiev or Kharkiv you are 650 00:25:37,101 --> 00:25:39,280 increasing the chances that that even 651 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:41,360 in the best of your best of your 652 00:25:41,360 --> 00:25:43,582 targeting that you're that you're gonna 653 00:25:43,582 --> 00:25:45,638 miss and you and you're going to hit 654 00:25:45,638 --> 00:25:47,860 targets that you didn't intend to hit . 655 00:25:47,860 --> 00:25:49,749 I'm not not making excuses for Mr 656 00:25:49,749 --> 00:25:51,971 Putin's targeting here . We can't prove 657 00:25:51,971 --> 00:25:53,582 on any given day how much is 658 00:25:53,582 --> 00:25:55,304 indiscriminate and how much is 659 00:25:55,304 --> 00:25:59,200 intentional ? Bottom line is more 660 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:01,311 people are getting hurt , more damage 661 00:26:01,311 --> 00:26:03,920 is being done . Uh More people are 662 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:05,976 having to now flee their country and 663 00:26:05,976 --> 00:26:08,540 all of it , all of it tom intentional 664 00:26:08,540 --> 00:26:10,651 or not ? Was completely unavoidable , 665 00:26:10,651 --> 00:26:12,818 completely unavoidable and and frankly 666 00:26:12,818 --> 00:26:15,096 can still be unavoidable going forward ? 667 00:26:15,096 --> 00:26:17,262 Mr Putin does the right thing take his 668 00:26:17,262 --> 00:26:19,318 troops out stop the invasion and sit 669 00:26:19,318 --> 00:26:21,429 down and try to find a negotiated way 670 00:26:21,429 --> 00:26:24,670 forward . Is jen Psaki said on friday . 671 00:26:24,670 --> 00:26:26,614 I think it was that the U . S . Is 672 00:26:26,614 --> 00:26:29,240 looking into whether they're Russia is 673 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:31,240 intentionally targeting civilians . 674 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:33,296 Talking about the potential for some 675 00:26:33,296 --> 00:26:35,670 sort of an I . C . C . Action here is D . 676 00:26:35,670 --> 00:26:37,910 O . D . Providing information to this 677 00:26:37,910 --> 00:26:41,520 review that's ongoing . Are you looking 678 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:43,631 for actual evidence that the Russians 679 00:26:43,631 --> 00:26:45,742 are targeting civilians for potential 680 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:48,280 criminal court . And then second thing 681 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:50,860 back to the jets . Um 682 00:26:53,100 --> 00:26:57,100 This is can D . O . D . Say whether 683 00:26:57,100 --> 00:26:59,850 there are F sixteen's in an inventory 684 00:26:59,850 --> 00:27:03,560 right now that are not yet dedicated or 685 00:27:04,140 --> 00:27:05,973 I'm supposed to go to some other 686 00:27:05,973 --> 00:27:08,084 country or go to the United States or 687 00:27:08,084 --> 00:27:10,251 something that could be sent to Poland 688 00:27:10,251 --> 00:27:12,251 in a quick way , jen Psaki was also 689 00:27:12,251 --> 00:27:14,418 asked about that to this today and she 690 00:27:14,418 --> 00:27:13,680 was talking about the logistical 691 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:15,736 hurdles and how it can take years to 692 00:27:15,736 --> 00:27:17,910 transfer weapons systems and aircraft 693 00:27:17,950 --> 00:27:20,320 to another country . So I'm sure at 694 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:22,542 this point now that this was in several 695 00:27:22,542 --> 00:27:25,270 days there's got to be some Knowledge 696 00:27:25,270 --> 00:27:28,190 right now if there even are F16 to 697 00:27:28,190 --> 00:27:30,301 provide the polling quickly , I think 698 00:27:30,301 --> 00:27:32,523 we're still working our way through all 699 00:27:32,523 --> 00:27:34,523 that court . We don't have , it's , 700 00:27:34,523 --> 00:27:36,523 it's too soon to to know with great 701 00:27:36,523 --> 00:27:39,290 specificity what a potential backfill 702 00:27:39,290 --> 00:27:41,346 would look like , but we're just not 703 00:27:41,346 --> 00:27:43,401 there in the discussions even within 704 00:27:43,401 --> 00:27:46,350 our own interagency , much less with a 705 00:27:46,360 --> 00:27:48,720 nation like Poland . So you know , it 706 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:50,720 would depend on how many they would 707 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:52,942 need , it would depend on how long they 708 00:27:52,942 --> 00:27:55,053 would need them . Um , and , and then 709 00:27:55,053 --> 00:27:56,998 you'd have to look at where in the 710 00:27:56,998 --> 00:27:59,053 inventory could you possibly provide 711 00:27:59,053 --> 00:28:00,998 that ? And jen's right . I mean if 712 00:28:00,998 --> 00:28:03,053 we're talking about a permanent sale 713 00:28:03,053 --> 00:28:05,220 that , that can take some time , we're 714 00:28:05,220 --> 00:28:06,998 just not there yet . I mean , I 715 00:28:06,998 --> 00:28:08,998 appreciate the question , but we're 716 00:28:08,998 --> 00:28:08,820 just not prepared to answer it right 717 00:28:08,820 --> 00:28:11,120 now is the process for speeding up a 718 00:28:11,120 --> 00:28:13,064 sale like that . I mean , I'm sure 719 00:28:13,064 --> 00:28:15,287 there's gotta be some sort of a process 720 00:28:15,287 --> 00:28:17,398 right that exists in the body that as 721 00:28:17,398 --> 00:28:19,509 you know , foreign military sales are 722 00:28:19,509 --> 00:28:19,370 done by the State Department , not by 723 00:28:19,370 --> 00:28:23,330 the Department of Defense follow 724 00:28:23,340 --> 00:28:25,370 on this . Has there been any 725 00:28:25,380 --> 00:28:28,280 discussions with holes with respect to 726 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:30,680 this , with the polish government or 727 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:32,847 polish different Defense Ministry with 728 00:28:32,847 --> 00:28:34,980 respect to these types of like 729 00:28:34,990 --> 00:28:37,101 transferring jets to Ukraine and then 730 00:28:37,101 --> 00:28:38,934 backfilling again , we're at the 731 00:28:38,934 --> 00:28:41,690 beginning of a process here to uh to 732 00:28:41,690 --> 00:28:43,857 determine what what might be the right 733 00:28:43,857 --> 00:28:45,857 way forward . I just don't have any 734 00:28:45,857 --> 00:28:48,079 more detail for you . And also like the 735 00:28:48,079 --> 00:28:50,450 polish government is categorically 736 00:28:50,450 --> 00:28:53,430 denying this type . These reports what 737 00:28:53,430 --> 00:28:56,200 triggered the interagency assessment in 738 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:58,311 the United States ? If the polls have 739 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:00,440 actually no interest in doing it in 740 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:04,350 something like I said , I think um 741 00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:09,840 you all saw President Zelensky uh held 742 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:12,360 a call with lawmakers and uh , one of 743 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:14,910 the things that he talked about was his , 744 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:18,610 his desire for for for more material 745 00:29:18,610 --> 00:29:21,210 and to include aircraft . And so we're 746 00:29:21,210 --> 00:29:24,670 having a prudent discussion about um , 747 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:28,590 if there would be a request to backfill 748 00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:31,010 for a nation , what that might look 749 00:29:31,010 --> 00:29:33,510 like . So you're responding to what he 750 00:29:33,510 --> 00:29:35,232 said , not anything the polish 751 00:29:35,232 --> 00:29:37,288 government might have said . I'm not 752 00:29:37,288 --> 00:29:39,066 going to get into international 753 00:29:39,066 --> 00:29:41,010 discussions . I'm telling you that 754 00:29:41,010 --> 00:29:42,788 we're looking at this . No , no 755 00:29:42,788 --> 00:29:45,970 decisions have been made . The 500 756 00:29:45,970 --> 00:29:47,970 troops . You said , these are being 757 00:29:47,970 --> 00:29:49,859 positioned to respond the current 758 00:29:49,859 --> 00:29:51,803 security environment , environment 759 00:29:51,803 --> 00:29:54,026 caused by a Russian invasion of Ukraine 760 00:29:54,026 --> 00:29:57,240 sought to be is actually way in south 761 00:29:57,250 --> 00:30:00,330 flank of the NATO . Why not like you 762 00:30:00,340 --> 00:30:04,270 position those tankers close to 763 00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:06,447 the theater where the tension is going 764 00:30:06,447 --> 00:30:08,502 on but weighs out . Wasn't there any 765 00:30:08,502 --> 00:30:12,360 other positions or locations ? Yeah , 766 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:16,110 Well , these are decisions made by the 767 00:30:16,110 --> 00:30:18,166 european command Commander , General 768 00:30:18,166 --> 00:30:21,340 Walters and as forces 769 00:30:21,340 --> 00:30:23,860 get added 770 00:30:24,340 --> 00:30:27,960 to the theater , general Walters 771 00:30:27,970 --> 00:30:30,250 is best able to determine where he 772 00:30:30,250 --> 00:30:32,361 wants to put them and how he wants to 773 00:30:32,361 --> 00:30:34,528 employ them . I think I'll leave it at 774 00:30:34,528 --> 00:30:36,528 that . Yeah . So if I can follow on 775 00:30:36,528 --> 00:30:38,639 parties question on Syrian recruits , 776 00:30:38,639 --> 00:30:40,861 what is it that led you to believe that 777 00:30:40,861 --> 00:30:42,806 Russia is trying to recruit Syrian 778 00:30:42,806 --> 00:30:45,028 fighters ? And is it based on some sort 779 00:30:45,028 --> 00:30:47,083 of evidence that you've seen or just 780 00:30:47,083 --> 00:30:49,500 the Russian ? We have indications , we 781 00:30:49,500 --> 00:30:51,500 have indications . I'll leave it at 782 00:30:51,500 --> 00:30:53,556 that . Does it does it indicate what 783 00:30:53,556 --> 00:30:55,850 general areas , Northwest or the 784 00:30:55,850 --> 00:30:57,906 kurdish controlled area or under the 785 00:30:57,906 --> 00:31:00,017 Syrian regime ? I'm not going to have 786 00:31:00,017 --> 00:31:02,239 any more detail for you on that today , 787 00:31:02,239 --> 00:31:06,170 Jeff , thank you . Can you say what 788 00:31:06,170 --> 00:31:08,760 steps the Defense Department is going 789 00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:11,300 to take to help Navy families and other 790 00:31:11,300 --> 00:31:13,550 families on Hawaii who are worried 791 00:31:13,550 --> 00:31:16,470 about the long term health issues that 792 00:31:16,470 --> 00:31:19,720 they may face from the contaminated 793 00:31:19,730 --> 00:31:22,160 drinking water . And also the state of 794 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:24,560 Hawaii has asked that Redhill B . D 795 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:27,560 fueled in 30 days . If I heard you 796 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:29,910 right ? It sounds as if once the 797 00:31:29,910 --> 00:31:32,021 Defense Department determines when it 798 00:31:32,021 --> 00:31:34,440 can begin to fueling the process is 799 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:36,930 expected to take a year , is it 800 00:31:36,930 --> 00:31:39,590 accurate to say that it is impossible 801 00:31:39,590 --> 00:31:42,330 to dif you'll the facility in 30 days . 802 00:31:42,340 --> 00:31:44,562 Thank you . By the end of april Jeff we 803 00:31:44,562 --> 00:31:46,673 will get an assessment of what's safe 804 00:31:46,673 --> 00:31:49,590 operation of the facility will look 805 00:31:49,590 --> 00:31:51,760 like and what needs to be done to get 806 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:53,816 it back into safe operations . It is 807 00:31:53,816 --> 00:31:56,580 shut down right now and in order to de 808 00:31:56,580 --> 00:31:58,970 fuel it , you gotta be able to operate 809 00:31:58,970 --> 00:32:01,450 it . Uh and so we have to know what's 810 00:32:01,450 --> 00:32:03,506 safe operation looks like . We won't 811 00:32:03,506 --> 00:32:05,561 get that assessment until the end of 812 00:32:05,561 --> 00:32:07,672 april . Once we get that assessment , 813 00:32:07,672 --> 00:32:09,672 we'll review it . Uh We will comply 814 00:32:09,672 --> 00:32:11,420 with the requirements that the 815 00:32:11,420 --> 00:32:13,364 assessment team comes back with in 816 00:32:13,364 --> 00:32:15,364 terms of how to get the plant , the 817 00:32:15,364 --> 00:32:17,531 facility back operational again , Once 818 00:32:17,531 --> 00:32:19,698 it's operational again we will de fuel 819 00:32:19,698 --> 00:32:21,920 it and we will close it and we estimate 820 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:24,031 that that will take uh we can do that 821 00:32:24,031 --> 00:32:26,309 within 12 months . As for the families , 822 00:32:26,309 --> 00:32:28,198 I think you you've seen it in the 823 00:32:28,198 --> 00:32:30,476 secretary's memo himself . I mean , we , 824 00:32:30,476 --> 00:32:32,698 we uh Uh , we we owe these families are 825 00:32:32,698 --> 00:32:34,809 very best attention to make sure that 826 00:32:34,809 --> 00:32:37,350 they get the medical care they need uh 827 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:40,290 for uh the way in which this 828 00:32:40,290 --> 00:32:42,623 contamination has affected their health . 829 00:32:42,623 --> 00:32:46,260 We are 100% committed to that um 830 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:49,740 Tony to paseo . Hi john , a couple 831 00:32:49,740 --> 00:32:51,710 questions , is there a regular , 832 00:32:51,720 --> 00:32:54,340 ongoing over land resupply effort going 833 00:32:54,340 --> 00:32:55,896 on right now into Ukraine . 834 00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:01,320 There are uh there , there continue to 835 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:04,640 be Tony um , efforts by the United 836 00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:07,690 States and other nations to continue to 837 00:33:07,690 --> 00:33:11,260 provide security assistance material 838 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:13,862 to the Ukrainian armed forces . I'm not 839 00:33:13,862 --> 00:33:16,084 going to talk about the manner in which 840 00:33:16,084 --> 00:33:18,251 that material is getting to them , but 841 00:33:18,251 --> 00:33:20,362 we know it's getting to them and that 842 00:33:20,362 --> 00:33:22,251 they are able to use it . Are the 843 00:33:22,251 --> 00:33:24,473 Russians at all trying to interrupt and 844 00:33:24,473 --> 00:33:26,640 interdict or interrupt those that over 845 00:33:26,640 --> 00:33:28,960 land traffic , that traffic and that 846 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:32,630 material continues to flow ? Another 847 00:33:32,630 --> 00:33:34,797 quick question , do you have any sense 848 00:33:34,797 --> 00:33:36,741 of how much Russian armor has been 849 00:33:36,741 --> 00:33:39,420 destroyed in the , since the invasion ? 850 00:33:39,420 --> 00:33:42,830 Is that destruction been a contributing 851 00:33:42,830 --> 00:33:45,760 factor to the offense blogging down ? I 852 00:33:45,760 --> 00:33:48,430 don't have a count of how many vehicles 853 00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:50,860 or armored vehicles or combat vehicles 854 00:33:50,860 --> 00:33:52,916 or supply vehicles the Russians have 855 00:33:52,916 --> 00:33:54,971 lost . What I can tell you is , uh , 856 00:33:54,971 --> 00:33:57,460 that , that on the ground in the north , 857 00:33:57,470 --> 00:34:00,710 they continue to experience delays . 858 00:34:01,320 --> 00:34:03,520 They continue to experience a stiff 859 00:34:03,520 --> 00:34:06,000 resistance uh , and they continue to 860 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:08,220 experience logistics and sustainment 861 00:34:08,220 --> 00:34:10,750 challenges of their own that have 862 00:34:10,760 --> 00:34:12,927 slowed them down . But I couldn't give 863 00:34:12,927 --> 00:34:15,093 you a vehicle count . Look , the other 864 00:34:15,093 --> 00:34:17,280 thing is , even if I could , uh , it 865 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:19,280 wouldn't be smart for me to do that 866 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:22,730 because every day , um , the Ukrainians 867 00:34:22,740 --> 00:34:24,740 are fighting every day . They're in 868 00:34:24,740 --> 00:34:26,907 combat for their own country and every 869 00:34:26,907 --> 00:34:29,650 day they do what they can to continue 870 00:34:29,650 --> 00:34:32,420 to slow down the Russian advances . So 871 00:34:32,430 --> 00:34:34,430 whatever , even if I had a number , 872 00:34:34,430 --> 00:34:36,652 whatever I would give you today , would 873 00:34:36,652 --> 00:34:38,763 would probably not be good tomorrow . 874 00:34:38,763 --> 00:34:40,708 All right . But they're destroying 875 00:34:40,708 --> 00:34:43,041 armor . Is that right ? Can we say that ? 876 00:34:43,041 --> 00:34:45,208 Can you say that ? I think you can see 877 00:34:45,208 --> 00:34:47,374 for yourself when you just look at the 878 00:34:47,374 --> 00:34:46,360 imagery coming out of there ? The 879 00:34:46,360 --> 00:34:48,582 damage that they have been able to do . 880 00:34:48,582 --> 00:34:50,560 Uh , to to some Russian vehicles , 881 00:34:51,640 --> 00:34:55,430 Dimitri . Hi , John You said that 882 00:34:55,430 --> 00:34:57,760 nearly 100% of the Russian combat power 883 00:34:57,760 --> 00:34:59,982 is now in Ukraine . So I'm curious what 884 00:34:59,982 --> 00:35:01,982 route did the new forces come in in 885 00:35:01,982 --> 00:35:03,982 recent days ? Do you expect a fresh 886 00:35:03,982 --> 00:35:06,038 Russian effort to take Kiev now that 887 00:35:06,038 --> 00:35:08,149 all their forces are in the country ? 888 00:35:08,149 --> 00:35:10,204 And then secondly , you talked about 889 00:35:10,204 --> 00:35:12,427 increased use of long range fires . Are 890 00:35:12,427 --> 00:35:14,260 you also seeing increased use of 891 00:35:14,260 --> 00:35:16,427 Russian combat aircraft or other kinds 892 00:35:16,427 --> 00:35:18,538 of warplanes in Ukraine ? Or has that 893 00:35:18,538 --> 00:35:20,649 remained kind of static on the routes 894 00:35:20,649 --> 00:35:23,920 Dimitri ? Um uh , most of what we've 895 00:35:23,920 --> 00:35:25,920 seen introduced in the last several 896 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:28,570 days were introduced from the north , 897 00:35:28,580 --> 00:35:31,670 uh , you know , north of Ukraine . 898 00:35:32,140 --> 00:35:35,950 Um , I think that's about the 899 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:38,450 best way I can characterize that . Uh , 900 00:35:38,450 --> 00:35:42,310 and on Russian aircraft , I would 901 00:35:42,310 --> 00:35:44,760 say the airspace over Ukraine remains 902 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:46,649 contested . The Russians have not 903 00:35:46,649 --> 00:35:48,871 achieved air superiority over the whole 904 00:35:48,871 --> 00:35:51,480 country . It is dynamic . It changes 905 00:35:51,490 --> 00:35:54,430 day to day , but Ukrainian aircraft are 906 00:35:54,430 --> 00:35:56,430 flying Russian aircraft are flying 907 00:35:56,610 --> 00:36:00,130 missiles from both are also in the 908 00:36:00,130 --> 00:36:02,710 airspace very contested . I don't have 909 00:36:02,710 --> 00:36:04,877 the Russian air operations plan . So I 910 00:36:04,877 --> 00:36:07,043 can't tell you with any specificity on 911 00:36:07,043 --> 00:36:08,932 any given day , how many of their 912 00:36:08,932 --> 00:36:10,932 aircraft are up and flying and what 913 00:36:10,932 --> 00:36:13,154 missions are conducting , but clearly , 914 00:36:13,154 --> 00:36:13,040 and you can again you guys can see this 915 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:15,990 for yourself . And uh in the image , 916 00:36:15,990 --> 00:36:18,046 we're coming out of Ukraine . I mean 917 00:36:18,046 --> 00:36:20,212 the Russians continue to be able to to 918 00:36:20,212 --> 00:36:21,934 fly their aircraft , but it is 919 00:36:21,934 --> 00:36:23,990 contested and it is contested by the 920 00:36:23,990 --> 00:36:27,890 Ukrainians . Let's see uh , Oscar 921 00:36:27,890 --> 00:36:30,050 from the polish press agency . 922 00:36:33,930 --> 00:36:37,840 Thanks . Thanks . Um , um , 923 00:36:37,850 --> 00:36:41,410 so I wanted to ask um Dr Carlin 924 00:36:41,420 --> 00:36:44,920 recently said in Congress that you are 925 00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:48,920 going to have to review the redo the 926 00:36:48,920 --> 00:36:51,170 global posture , review in light of the 927 00:36:51,170 --> 00:36:54,940 new realities . Um , and 928 00:36:54,940 --> 00:36:57,200 some law lawmakers and governments 929 00:36:57,210 --> 00:37:00,770 today Latvia have been pushing for 930 00:37:00,780 --> 00:37:03,750 permanent US presence on the eastern 931 00:37:03,750 --> 00:37:05,917 flank . Is that something that's being 932 00:37:05,917 --> 00:37:08,370 considered and if and when could we see 933 00:37:08,370 --> 00:37:12,170 the results of this overhaul ? Thank 934 00:37:12,170 --> 00:37:14,180 you . I think you might be 935 00:37:14,190 --> 00:37:16,301 misunderstanding a little bit of what 936 00:37:16,301 --> 00:37:18,468 Dr Carlin said . She don't think . She 937 00:37:18,468 --> 00:37:20,690 said we have to redo the global posture 938 00:37:20,690 --> 00:37:22,912 review . She said that certainly in the 939 00:37:22,912 --> 00:37:24,912 wake of this invasion , it would be 940 00:37:24,912 --> 00:37:26,920 wise for us to take a look at our 941 00:37:26,920 --> 00:37:29,110 european posture . That makes a lot of 942 00:37:29,110 --> 00:37:31,221 sense , given what we're seeing right 943 00:37:31,221 --> 00:37:33,443 now and at the appropriate time , we'll 944 00:37:33,443 --> 00:37:35,554 do that . It's not the time now to be 945 00:37:35,554 --> 00:37:39,430 looking at um redrawing the posture map 946 00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:41,607 of Europe right now , we're focused on 947 00:37:41,607 --> 00:37:44,270 making sure that we can uh better 948 00:37:44,270 --> 00:37:46,492 bolster the capabilities , the alliance 949 00:37:46,492 --> 00:37:48,603 and that's what we're doing including 950 00:37:48,603 --> 00:37:50,603 with those 500 troops I just talked 951 00:37:50,603 --> 00:37:53,310 about today but certainly uh uh we 952 00:37:53,310 --> 00:37:55,740 would be taken into consideration over 953 00:37:55,740 --> 00:37:58,200 the long term whether or not european 954 00:37:58,200 --> 00:38:00,880 posture does need any any adjustments . 955 00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:04,430 No decisions have been made about about 956 00:38:04,430 --> 00:38:06,420 changing any permanent presence in 957 00:38:06,420 --> 00:38:08,364 europe , whether it's in Latvia or 958 00:38:08,364 --> 00:38:11,290 anywhere else . So uh we're we're 959 00:38:11,290 --> 00:38:13,810 focused on making sure that uh we can 960 00:38:13,810 --> 00:38:16,240 continue to help Ukraine defend itself 961 00:38:16,250 --> 00:38:18,472 and you continue to make sure that NATO 962 00:38:18,472 --> 00:38:20,472 can defend itself . That's what our 963 00:38:20,472 --> 00:38:23,570 focus is on right now Jared from Al 964 00:38:23,570 --> 00:38:24,570 Monitor . 965 00:38:31,820 --> 00:38:33,820 Hi john just wondering if you could 966 00:38:33,820 --> 00:38:35,931 give us an assessment , how effective 967 00:38:35,931 --> 00:38:37,876 has U . S . And Western support to 968 00:38:37,876 --> 00:38:39,931 Ukrainian resistance been in slowing 969 00:38:39,931 --> 00:38:42,830 down the Russians ? Thanks . All I can 970 00:38:42,830 --> 00:38:45,340 tell you Jared is that we know that the 971 00:38:46,180 --> 00:38:48,580 the material that that we have been 972 00:38:48,590 --> 00:38:51,240 sending into Ukraine And it's not just 973 00:38:51,240 --> 00:38:53,550 us , it's 14 other countries but we 974 00:38:53,550 --> 00:38:55,772 know that that material is getting into 975 00:38:55,772 --> 00:38:57,994 the hands of the Ukrainian armed forces 976 00:38:57,994 --> 00:39:00,106 and we do know that they that they're 977 00:39:00,106 --> 00:39:02,106 using it and they're using it quite 978 00:39:02,106 --> 00:39:01,660 effectively . The results you can see 979 00:39:01,660 --> 00:39:03,604 for yourself . I think . I'll just 980 00:39:03,604 --> 00:39:06,340 leave it at that Megan military times . 981 00:39:08,820 --> 00:39:11,080 The last figure you had for us about 982 00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:13,191 the number of us troops have been put 983 00:39:13,191 --> 00:39:15,302 on heightened alert to possibly go to 984 00:39:15,302 --> 00:39:17,760 europe was between 10 and 12,000 . Is 985 00:39:17,760 --> 00:39:19,816 that the same now or have there been 986 00:39:19,816 --> 00:39:21,982 more troops put on that alert . I know 987 00:39:21,982 --> 00:39:24,750 of no other units that were put on 988 00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:27,030 additional P . T . D . Oh , Megan 989 00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:32,390 Caitlyn stars and stripes . Hi john 990 00:39:32,390 --> 00:39:34,900 thank you . Yeah , I wanted to talk a 991 00:39:34,900 --> 00:39:37,230 little bit more about the jet and 992 00:39:37,240 --> 00:39:40,990 Poland situation . Um , can you talk a 993 00:39:40,990 --> 00:39:43,157 little bit about the logistics and the 994 00:39:43,157 --> 00:39:45,157 problems and challenges that the US 995 00:39:45,157 --> 00:39:48,590 would would face um , to do that 996 00:39:48,590 --> 00:39:50,590 backfill , jen Psaki today talked a 997 00:39:50,590 --> 00:39:52,720 little bit about , you know , talking 998 00:39:52,720 --> 00:39:54,776 about where the between apart from , 999 00:39:54,776 --> 00:39:57,180 could they fly through NATO airspace . 1000 00:39:57,190 --> 00:39:59,301 Can you talk a little bit about those 1001 00:39:59,301 --> 00:40:01,740 problems ? I would just say again , 1002 00:40:01,750 --> 00:40:04,640 we're very early on in the discussion 1003 00:40:04,640 --> 00:40:07,930 here about um , about a possibility . 1004 00:40:08,310 --> 00:40:11,060 Uh , it's not even a done deal at this 1005 00:40:11,060 --> 00:40:14,150 point but it's just a discussion about 1006 00:40:14,150 --> 00:40:17,560 the possibility of should there be a 1007 00:40:17,560 --> 00:40:20,870 nation that would want to give aircraft 1008 00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:23,102 to the Ukrainians and and would ask for 1009 00:40:23,102 --> 00:40:25,102 a backfill from the United States . 1010 00:40:25,102 --> 00:40:27,158 Should that happen ? What would that 1011 00:40:27,158 --> 00:40:29,324 look like ? How would we do that ? And 1012 00:40:29,324 --> 00:40:31,658 we don't have all the answers right now . 1013 00:40:31,658 --> 00:40:33,880 I understand the great interest in it , 1014 00:40:33,880 --> 00:40:36,047 but the truth is , we're very early on 1015 00:40:36,047 --> 00:40:38,213 in a , in a discussion right now about 1016 00:40:38,213 --> 00:40:40,547 what the possibilities of that could be . 1017 00:40:40,547 --> 00:40:43,260 We just don't have enough granularity 1018 00:40:43,270 --> 00:40:46,040 to to be able to make tough , easy 1019 00:40:46,040 --> 00:40:48,040 decisions right now about how many 1020 00:40:48,040 --> 00:40:50,262 aircraft , where they would come from , 1021 00:40:50,262 --> 00:40:52,262 how they would get to where they're 1022 00:40:52,262 --> 00:40:54,429 going . Um , uh , we're just not there 1023 00:40:54,429 --> 00:40:57,100 yet . Um , look , I think it's , I 1024 00:40:57,110 --> 00:40:59,221 think we should all just kind of step 1025 00:40:59,221 --> 00:41:01,499 back just a little bit here . Um , and , 1026 00:41:01,499 --> 00:41:03,610 and rather than get dragged down into 1027 00:41:03,610 --> 00:41:05,666 the idea of a backfill of aircraft , 1028 00:41:05,666 --> 00:41:07,832 just take a look at large about what's 1029 00:41:07,832 --> 00:41:09,730 going on here . Ukraine is in a 1030 00:41:09,730 --> 00:41:12,900 significant fight for its country and 1031 00:41:12,900 --> 00:41:15,830 its citizens , the , the United States 1032 00:41:16,090 --> 00:41:18,380 and many other nations are doing a lot 1033 00:41:18,530 --> 00:41:21,900 to try to help them in that fight . And 1034 00:41:23,330 --> 00:41:25,700 President Zelensky has , has , has , 1035 00:41:25,710 --> 00:41:29,550 has shown great courage and poise and 1036 00:41:29,550 --> 00:41:33,180 leadership by staying in Kiev and and 1037 00:41:33,190 --> 00:41:35,301 and truly leading his country through 1038 00:41:35,301 --> 00:41:39,080 this . Hi . And what I can tell you is 1039 00:41:39,080 --> 00:41:41,413 that from the United States perspective , 1040 00:41:41,413 --> 00:41:43,247 certainly from the Department of 1041 00:41:43,247 --> 00:41:45,136 Defense , but I would say written 1042 00:41:45,136 --> 00:41:47,990 across the administration , we're gonna 1043 00:41:47,990 --> 00:41:50,010 continue to look for ways to help 1044 00:41:50,010 --> 00:41:53,170 Ukraine defend itself . Um , we're not 1045 00:41:53,180 --> 00:41:55,402 always going to have all the answers in 1046 00:41:55,402 --> 00:41:57,569 the moment that they become news , but 1047 00:41:57,569 --> 00:41:59,791 it doesn't mean that we're not going to 1048 00:41:59,791 --> 00:41:59,630 take them seriously and consider them 1049 00:41:59,630 --> 00:42:01,741 and look at them and and see what can 1050 00:42:01,741 --> 00:42:03,741 be done . Um , the other thing that 1051 00:42:03,741 --> 00:42:05,963 we're gonna do it and , and I hope it's 1052 00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:09,000 clear and the brief announcement they 1053 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:11,222 had today is we're going to continue to 1054 00:42:11,222 --> 00:42:13,333 look for ways to bolster NATO To look 1055 00:42:13,333 --> 00:42:15,333 for ways innovative ways , creative 1056 00:42:15,333 --> 00:42:17,333 ways to make sure that the Mr Putin 1057 00:42:17,333 --> 00:42:19,222 understands how seriously we take 1058 00:42:19,222 --> 00:42:21,389 Article five and how seriously we take 1059 00:42:21,389 --> 00:42:23,444 our collective security requirements 1060 00:42:23,444 --> 00:42:25,667 inside that alliance . How seriously we 1061 00:42:25,667 --> 00:42:25,610 consider the importance of alliances 1062 00:42:25,610 --> 00:42:27,920 and partnerships . We've invested a lot 1063 00:42:27,920 --> 00:42:29,810 of time in the last year in 1064 00:42:30,070 --> 00:42:32,450 revitalizing alliances and partnerships 1065 00:42:32,700 --> 00:42:34,867 in europe but around the world . And I 1066 00:42:34,867 --> 00:42:37,033 think you're you're really seeing that 1067 00:42:37,033 --> 00:42:38,978 that bear fruit right now . I just 1068 00:42:38,978 --> 00:42:41,089 think it's important to keep a little 1069 00:42:41,089 --> 00:42:43,256 bit bigger perspective on this and not 1070 00:42:43,256 --> 00:42:42,690 just get dragged down into the 1071 00:42:42,690 --> 00:42:44,912 particular headline of the day . Yeah , 1072 00:42:44,912 --> 00:42:47,430 the last question . Thanks john , um , 1073 00:42:48,900 --> 00:42:51,290 we know that bombardment has been 1074 00:42:51,290 --> 00:42:54,060 increasing in Ukraine . Uh , senior 1075 00:42:54,060 --> 00:42:56,171 defense officials said that earlier . 1076 00:42:56,171 --> 00:42:58,171 We also know that the Russians used 1077 00:42:58,171 --> 00:43:00,227 bombers and other aircraft to attack 1078 00:43:00,227 --> 00:43:00,160 ground targets at least earlier on in 1079 00:43:00,160 --> 00:43:02,104 the invasion . Can you say at this 1080 00:43:02,104 --> 00:43:04,327 point what role Russian aircraft seemed 1081 00:43:04,327 --> 00:43:06,327 to be playing in the bombardment of 1082 00:43:06,327 --> 00:43:08,930 these ? Again , it's difficult for me 1083 00:43:08,930 --> 00:43:11,041 to get into a tactical level briefing 1084 00:43:11,041 --> 00:43:13,208 of what Russian operations look like . 1085 00:43:13,208 --> 00:43:16,200 We don't have perfect visibility . What 1086 00:43:16,200 --> 00:43:19,430 I can tell you , matt , is that um , 1087 00:43:20,100 --> 00:43:24,010 we continue to see Russian air forces 1088 00:43:24,010 --> 00:43:27,430 participate in this invasion . 1089 00:43:27,800 --> 00:43:31,020 Um , they continue to 1090 00:43:32,500 --> 00:43:34,640 launch weapons , they continue to 1091 00:43:34,650 --> 00:43:38,450 conduct attacks in support of Russian 1092 00:43:38,460 --> 00:43:42,110 objectives inside Ukraine , I can't 1093 00:43:42,110 --> 00:43:44,110 tell you on any given day what that 1094 00:43:44,110 --> 00:43:46,166 looks like , how many aircraft , how 1095 00:43:46,166 --> 00:43:46,080 many sorties , how many munitions 1096 00:43:46,080 --> 00:43:48,247 dropped . We don't have that . We just 1097 00:43:48,247 --> 00:43:50,413 don't have that information . But they 1098 00:43:50,413 --> 00:43:52,524 clearly are and continue to be a part 1099 00:43:52,524 --> 00:43:54,524 of the Russian arsenal that's being 1100 00:43:54,524 --> 00:43:56,747 applied against the people of Ukraine . 1101 00:43:56,747 --> 00:43:59,680 Uh , no doubt about that . What I would 1102 00:43:59,680 --> 00:44:02,460 tell you is , and I think I said this 1103 00:44:02,470 --> 00:44:04,670 last week , I think it remains true 1104 00:44:04,670 --> 00:44:07,010 today . We aren't seeing the level of 1105 00:44:07,010 --> 00:44:08,954 integration between air and ground 1106 00:44:08,954 --> 00:44:11,410 operations that uh , that you would 1107 00:44:11,410 --> 00:44:13,243 expect to see . In other words , 1108 00:44:13,243 --> 00:44:15,530 they're they're not , everything 1109 00:44:15,530 --> 00:44:17,641 they're doing on the ground is , um , 1110 00:44:17,641 --> 00:44:19,474 is fully being supported by what 1111 00:44:19,474 --> 00:44:21,586 they're doing in the air . There does 1112 00:44:21,586 --> 00:44:23,808 seem to be some disconnect there . So , 1113 00:44:23,808 --> 00:44:27,610 um , it's not clear to us how 1114 00:44:28,760 --> 00:44:31,560 significant their air operations are 1115 00:44:31,560 --> 00:44:35,110 being in , helping alleviate the lack 1116 00:44:35,110 --> 00:44:37,277 of progress that they're having on the 1117 00:44:37,277 --> 00:44:39,332 ground because they don't seem to be 1118 00:44:39,332 --> 00:44:41,221 fully coordinated between air and 1119 00:44:41,221 --> 00:44:43,332 ground elements . But beyond that , I 1120 00:44:43,332 --> 00:44:45,499 really , I couldn't give you much more 1121 00:44:45,499 --> 00:44:47,860 specifics . Okay , forces are coming in 1122 00:44:47,860 --> 00:44:50,082 from the north , did you just mean from 1123 00:44:50,082 --> 00:44:52,980 Russia or also from Belarus ? I think 1124 00:44:52,990 --> 00:44:55,157 we , over the last few days we've seen 1125 00:44:55,157 --> 00:44:57,212 them come in from both . Thank you . 1126 00:44:57,212 --> 00:44:57,550 Yeah . Okay . Thanks everybody