1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,056 gentlemen , thank you for being here 2 00:00:02,056 --> 00:00:04,389 today . I'm Brigadier General Pat Ryder . 3 00:00:04,389 --> 00:00:06,500 The D . O . D . Press Secretary is my 4 00:00:06,500 --> 00:00:08,722 pleasure to introduce undersecretary of 5 00:00:08,722 --> 00:00:10,611 Defense uh dr Colin call who will 6 00:00:10,611 --> 00:00:12,730 provide an update on U . S . Security 7 00:00:12,730 --> 00:00:14,841 assistance to Ukraine . He'll provide 8 00:00:14,841 --> 00:00:17,063 an opening statement and then take your 9 00:00:17,063 --> 00:00:19,230 questions doctor call . Great , well , 10 00:00:19,230 --> 00:00:21,341 good afternoon . It's good to be back 11 00:00:21,341 --> 00:00:23,397 with all of you again . Um Sorry for 12 00:00:23,397 --> 00:00:25,563 the bit of the delay . Let me start by 13 00:00:25,563 --> 00:00:27,397 acknowledging that last night at 14 00:00:27,397 --> 00:00:29,508 President Biden's direction , U . S . 15 00:00:29,508 --> 00:00:31,508 Military forces conducted precision 16 00:00:31,508 --> 00:00:33,730 airstrikes in der Zor Syria which is in 17 00:00:33,730 --> 00:00:35,952 Eastern Syria . Our forces accomplished 18 00:00:35,952 --> 00:00:37,952 their mission of destroying several 19 00:00:37,952 --> 00:00:39,841 infrastructure facilities used by 20 00:00:39,841 --> 00:00:41,952 militia groups affiliated with Iran's 21 00:00:41,952 --> 00:00:44,008 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or 22 00:00:44,008 --> 00:00:46,119 Irgc . Uh the strike was necessary to 23 00:00:46,119 --> 00:00:48,063 protect and defend US personnel in 24 00:00:48,063 --> 00:00:50,119 Syria Which have been the targets of 25 00:00:50,119 --> 00:00:52,230 several recent attacks by Iran-backed 26 00:00:52,230 --> 00:00:54,230 militia groups , including the most 27 00:00:54,230 --> 00:00:56,560 recent ones on August 15 . Our response 28 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:58,671 was proportionate and precise . Uh it 29 00:00:58,671 --> 00:01:00,730 was designed to minimize the risk of 30 00:01:00,730 --> 00:01:04,140 casualties and it responded to to the 31 00:01:04,140 --> 00:01:06,620 nature of the attacks by Iran backed 32 00:01:06,620 --> 00:01:08,890 militia groups . That being said , we 33 00:01:08,890 --> 00:01:11,040 cannot accept further attacks on our 34 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,690 personnel . Uh this operation is a 35 00:01:13,690 --> 00:01:15,746 demonstration that the United States 36 00:01:15,746 --> 00:01:17,690 will not hesitate to defend itself 37 00:01:17,690 --> 00:01:19,468 against Iranian and Iran backed 38 00:01:19,468 --> 00:01:21,579 aggression when it occurs . Now , let 39 00:01:21,579 --> 00:01:23,357 me turn to the focus of today's 40 00:01:23,357 --> 00:01:25,357 briefing . Um let me join President 41 00:01:25,357 --> 00:01:27,079 Biden and Secretary Austin and 42 00:01:27,079 --> 00:01:29,246 underscoring our continued support for 43 00:01:29,246 --> 00:01:31,190 the people of Ukraine as we marked 44 00:01:31,190 --> 00:01:33,790 their 34 , year of independence . Uh we 45 00:01:33,790 --> 00:01:36,012 are now six months into Russia's brutal 46 00:01:36,012 --> 00:01:38,270 premeditated invasion of Ukraine an 47 00:01:38,270 --> 00:01:40,326 active aggression meant to undermine 48 00:01:40,326 --> 00:01:42,159 that independence independence . 49 00:01:42,159 --> 00:01:44,381 Russia's efforts have not succeeded and 50 00:01:44,381 --> 00:01:46,580 will not succeed . And as we have made 51 00:01:46,590 --> 00:01:48,310 clear at every level of this 52 00:01:48,310 --> 00:01:50,366 administration , we are committed to 53 00:01:50,366 --> 00:01:52,199 sustained security assistance as 54 00:01:52,199 --> 00:01:54,143 Ukraine defend its sovereignty and 55 00:01:54,143 --> 00:01:56,143 territorial integrity . We are with 56 00:01:56,143 --> 00:01:58,310 Ukraine today and alongside our allies 57 00:01:58,310 --> 00:02:00,199 and partners , we will stick with 58 00:02:00,199 --> 00:02:02,310 Ukraine over the long haul . In light 59 00:02:02,310 --> 00:02:04,199 of this enduring commitment , the 60 00:02:04,199 --> 00:02:06,254 Department of Defense has decided to 61 00:02:06,254 --> 00:02:08,630 provide an additional $2.98 billion in 62 00:02:08,630 --> 00:02:10,760 security assistance to Ukraine under 63 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:12,538 the Ukraine Security assistance 64 00:02:12,538 --> 00:02:16,080 Initiative or U . S . A . I . As you 65 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,080 all are aware , this is the largest 66 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,191 single security assistance package we 67 00:02:20,191 --> 00:02:22,302 have ever provided to support Ukraine 68 00:02:22,302 --> 00:02:24,524 In previous briefings , we've discussed 69 00:02:24,524 --> 00:02:26,747 various presidential drawdown authority 70 00:02:26,747 --> 00:02:28,969 packages or P . D . A . Packages . It's 71 00:02:28,969 --> 00:02:31,024 important to note that U . S . Ai is 72 00:02:31,024 --> 00:02:33,080 different from presidential drawdown 73 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:35,024 because we will be procuring these 74 00:02:35,024 --> 00:02:37,191 systems under U . S . A . I . From the 75 00:02:37,191 --> 00:02:39,080 private sector rather rather than 76 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,024 pulling them out of our own stocks 77 00:02:41,024 --> 00:02:43,247 which is what we do with P . D . A . By 78 00:02:43,247 --> 00:02:45,358 its very nature of this usa I package 79 00:02:45,358 --> 00:02:47,024 underscores our commitment to 80 00:02:47,024 --> 00:02:49,191 supporting Ukraine for the long term , 81 00:02:49,191 --> 00:02:51,413 representing a multi year investment in 82 00:02:51,413 --> 00:02:53,469 critical defense capabilities . This 83 00:02:53,469 --> 00:02:55,413 package is about building enduring 84 00:02:55,413 --> 00:02:57,636 strength for Ukraine as it continues to 85 00:02:57,636 --> 00:02:59,747 defend its sovereignty in the face of 86 00:02:59,747 --> 00:03:01,747 Russian aggression . Vladimir Putin 87 00:03:01,747 --> 00:03:03,802 seems to believe that Russia can win 88 00:03:03,802 --> 00:03:05,524 the long game , outlasting the 89 00:03:05,524 --> 00:03:07,691 Ukrainians and their will to fight and 90 00:03:07,691 --> 00:03:09,802 the international community's will to 91 00:03:09,802 --> 00:03:11,969 continue to support Ukraine . This usa 92 00:03:11,969 --> 00:03:14,080 I package is a tangible demonstration 93 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:15,913 that this is yet another Russian 94 00:03:15,913 --> 00:03:18,024 miscalculation . The cap capabilities 95 00:03:18,024 --> 00:03:20,247 in this package are tailored to sustain 96 00:03:20,247 --> 00:03:22,191 Ukraine's most critical capability 97 00:03:22,191 --> 00:03:24,358 needs in the medium to long term . And 98 00:03:24,358 --> 00:03:27,040 they include six additional national 99 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,262 advanced surface to air missile systems 100 00:03:29,262 --> 00:03:31,510 or nay Sams with additional munitions 101 00:03:31,510 --> 00:03:33,720 for those nice arms up to 102 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:37,540 245,000 rounds of 155 millimeter 103 00:03:37,550 --> 00:03:39,550 artillery ammunition , which is the 104 00:03:39,550 --> 00:03:41,661 ammunition used for the NATO standard 105 00:03:41,661 --> 00:03:43,494 artillery systems that have been 106 00:03:43,494 --> 00:03:46,200 transferred to Ukraine up to 65,000 107 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:48,850 rounds of 1 20 millimeter mortar 108 00:03:48,850 --> 00:03:52,420 ammunition up to 24 counter artillery 109 00:03:52,420 --> 00:03:55,520 radars . We're also including in this 110 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:57,687 package puma , unmanned aerial systems 111 00:03:57,687 --> 00:03:59,742 or U . A . S . And support equipment 112 00:03:59,742 --> 00:04:02,760 for scan Eagle US systems . We're 113 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:04,890 including Vampire counter unmanned 114 00:04:04,890 --> 00:04:07,810 aerial systems , laser guided rocket 115 00:04:07,810 --> 00:04:09,890 systems and a substantial funding 116 00:04:09,890 --> 00:04:12,057 package for training , maintenance and 117 00:04:12,057 --> 00:04:14,112 sustainment so that Ukraine can keep 118 00:04:14,112 --> 00:04:16,279 the equipment they already have in the 119 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:18,446 fight deliveries of this USA I package 120 00:04:18,446 --> 00:04:20,557 will begin in the next several months 121 00:04:20,557 --> 00:04:22,612 and continue over the coming years . 122 00:04:22,612 --> 00:04:24,668 While many of these capabilities are 123 00:04:24,668 --> 00:04:26,446 not intended direct to directly 124 00:04:26,446 --> 00:04:28,668 contribute to today's fight , they will 125 00:04:28,668 --> 00:04:30,834 form the backbone of a robust future . 126 00:04:30,834 --> 00:04:32,560 You Ukrainian force capable of 127 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:34,600 defending Ukraine for years to come 128 00:04:35,250 --> 00:04:37,472 Stepping back for a moment . The United 129 00:04:37,472 --> 00:04:39,417 States has now committed more than 130 00:04:39,417 --> 00:04:40,430 $13.5 billion 131 00:04:40,430 --> 00:04:44,220 Biden 132 00:04:44,220 --> 00:04:46,960 administration , including $12.9 133 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,500 billion dollars in the last six months . 134 00:04:50,300 --> 00:04:52,022 This level of U . S . Security 135 00:04:52,022 --> 00:04:53,522 assistance is historically 136 00:04:53,522 --> 00:04:55,467 unprecedented and demonstrates our 137 00:04:55,467 --> 00:04:57,356 unwavering support for a free and 138 00:04:57,356 --> 00:04:59,522 democratic Ukraine on its Independence 139 00:04:59,522 --> 00:05:01,689 day . This may be our largest security 140 00:05:01,689 --> 00:05:03,911 assistance package to date , but let me 141 00:05:03,911 --> 00:05:06,022 be clear , it will not be our last We 142 00:05:06,022 --> 00:05:08,133 will continue to closely consult with 143 00:05:08,133 --> 00:05:10,244 Ukraine on its near mid and long term 144 00:05:10,244 --> 00:05:12,320 capability needs . We are far from 145 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:14,542 alone in this effort . As I noted in my 146 00:05:14,542 --> 00:05:16,653 last briefing earlier this month , at 147 00:05:16,653 --> 00:05:18,709 least 50 countries have now provided 148 00:05:18,709 --> 00:05:20,931 billions of dollars worth of additional 149 00:05:20,931 --> 00:05:22,987 security assistance to Ukraine since 150 00:05:22,987 --> 00:05:24,931 Russia invaded and participated uh 151 00:05:24,931 --> 00:05:27,150 invaded in in February . And these 152 00:05:27,150 --> 00:05:29,261 allies and partners have participated 153 00:05:29,261 --> 00:05:31,428 in the monthly Ukraine defense contact 154 00:05:31,428 --> 00:05:33,650 group meetings that have been hosted by 155 00:05:33,650 --> 00:05:35,483 Secretary Austin . Our continued 156 00:05:35,483 --> 00:05:37,372 unified efforts will help Ukraine 157 00:05:37,372 --> 00:05:39,372 continue to be successful today and 158 00:05:39,372 --> 00:05:41,483 build enduring strength to ensure the 159 00:05:41,483 --> 00:05:41,330 Ukrainian people are able to 160 00:05:41,330 --> 00:05:43,590 commemorate many more independence days 161 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:45,600 for years to come and with that . I 162 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:47,600 think we're going to take the first 163 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:49,656 question from the Ap Thank you sir . 164 00:05:49,656 --> 00:05:52,260 Thank you . Um so one sort of specific 165 00:05:52,260 --> 00:05:54,427 question and then a broader question . 166 00:05:54,427 --> 00:05:56,880 Um the vampires . Can you give us a 167 00:05:56,890 --> 00:06:00,740 sense of how far down the road that is , 168 00:06:00,740 --> 00:06:03,018 what kind of what a little more detail , 169 00:06:03,018 --> 00:06:05,240 what they are and how far down the road 170 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:07,462 that is , because I think it's a fairly 171 00:06:07,462 --> 00:06:09,518 new system . And then more broadly , 172 00:06:09,518 --> 00:06:11,296 can you tell us how much of the 173 00:06:11,296 --> 00:06:13,600 packages on would would fund training 174 00:06:13,830 --> 00:06:16,060 and is there a U . S . Going to expand 175 00:06:16,060 --> 00:06:18,560 training ? Give us a picture of us 176 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:22,170 training for Ukraine down the road into 177 00:06:22,170 --> 00:06:25,160 the future ? Yeah . So the vampire 178 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,327 system itself is a counter US system . 179 00:06:27,327 --> 00:06:30,540 It is kinetic system . It uses a small 180 00:06:30,550 --> 00:06:32,828 uh missiles essentially to shoot U . A . 181 00:06:32,828 --> 00:06:34,994 V . S out of the sky . And we're happy 182 00:06:34,994 --> 00:06:37,106 to provide you more technical details 183 00:06:37,106 --> 00:06:39,106 from the right experts at the right 184 00:06:39,106 --> 00:06:41,217 time . Um as it relates to training , 185 00:06:41,217 --> 00:06:42,994 you know , we continue to train 186 00:06:42,994 --> 00:06:44,994 Ukrainian forces on all the systems 187 00:06:44,994 --> 00:06:46,939 that we are providing and that our 188 00:06:46,939 --> 00:06:49,161 allies and partners are providing um uh 189 00:06:49,161 --> 00:06:51,328 that they haven't already been trained 190 00:06:51,328 --> 00:06:53,050 on . So as they made kind of a 191 00:06:53,050 --> 00:06:55,161 transition from many cases , soviet , 192 00:06:55,161 --> 00:06:57,050 legacy equipment to NATO standard 193 00:06:57,050 --> 00:06:59,383 equipment that's required more training . 194 00:06:59,383 --> 00:06:58,560 And this has been happening on a 195 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:01,110 rolling basis now as it relates to 196 00:07:01,110 --> 00:07:03,640 systems in this package . Since really 197 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:05,751 we're talking about systems that will 198 00:07:05,751 --> 00:07:07,807 take months to get on contract and , 199 00:07:07,807 --> 00:07:09,973 you know , 123 years in some instances 200 00:07:09,973 --> 00:07:12,270 to arrive in Ukraine , we think we're 201 00:07:12,270 --> 00:07:14,437 confident we we have the time to train 202 00:07:14,437 --> 00:07:16,492 the Ukrainians on whatever systems , 203 00:07:16,492 --> 00:07:18,714 you know , they're not already familiar 204 00:07:18,714 --> 00:07:20,714 with , but you know how much of the 205 00:07:20,714 --> 00:07:22,992 package is on the sustainment training ? 206 00:07:22,992 --> 00:07:25,103 Well yeah . The sustainment package . 207 00:07:25,103 --> 00:07:27,550 Sorry I answered as it relates to 208 00:07:27,550 --> 00:07:29,550 training . The piece of it . That's 209 00:07:29,550 --> 00:07:31,606 about sustainment . I'll get you the 210 00:07:31,606 --> 00:07:33,772 exact numbers on that afterwards . But 211 00:07:33,772 --> 00:07:36,106 sustainment is really about spare parts . 212 00:07:36,106 --> 00:07:38,106 The things that help them with with 213 00:07:38,106 --> 00:07:40,328 maintenance training training , I don't 214 00:07:40,328 --> 00:07:42,439 have a number for me . I can give you 215 00:07:42,439 --> 00:07:45,610 that . Yeah . Let's go to Adam Air 216 00:07:45,610 --> 00:07:47,666 Force magazine . Thank you so much . 217 00:07:47,770 --> 00:07:51,050 Can you tell us why still no aircraft 218 00:07:51,050 --> 00:07:53,106 or pilot training if you're thinking 219 00:07:53,106 --> 00:07:56,120 medium and long term And also um why 220 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:58,810 not include some systems like the 221 00:07:58,820 --> 00:08:01,250 attack on the A . T . A . C . M . S . 222 00:08:01,250 --> 00:08:03,417 The army tactical missile systems with 223 00:08:03,417 --> 00:08:05,570 ranges beyond 80 kilometers since 224 00:08:05,570 --> 00:08:07,800 Russia is now moving their logistics 225 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,022 and command control beyond the range of 226 00:08:10,022 --> 00:08:12,356 the current munitions that were sending . 227 00:08:12,356 --> 00:08:14,578 Thank you . Yeah . Thanks . Uh so as it 228 00:08:14,578 --> 00:08:16,467 relates to aircraft , our current 229 00:08:16,467 --> 00:08:18,689 priority as it relates to air is making 230 00:08:18,689 --> 00:08:20,467 sure the Ukrainians can use the 231 00:08:20,467 --> 00:08:22,356 aircraft . They currently have to 232 00:08:22,356 --> 00:08:24,133 generate effects in the current 233 00:08:24,133 --> 00:08:26,189 conflict . So for example , the last 234 00:08:26,189 --> 00:08:28,356 time we had a briefing here , we broke 235 00:08:28,356 --> 00:08:30,411 some news and talking about the fact 236 00:08:30,411 --> 00:08:32,356 that we have provided them some of 237 00:08:32,356 --> 00:08:34,356 these anti radiation missiles . The 238 00:08:34,356 --> 00:08:36,189 harm missiles . Uh and um we had 239 00:08:36,189 --> 00:08:38,244 adapted those missiles to be able to 240 00:08:38,244 --> 00:08:40,356 fire off mid 29 . They of course were 241 00:08:40,356 --> 00:08:42,133 not designed to fly off Russian 242 00:08:42,133 --> 00:08:44,078 equipment . They were uh they were 243 00:08:44,078 --> 00:08:46,244 designed to fly off our aircraft . And 244 00:08:46,244 --> 00:08:48,244 the Ukrainians in recent weeks have 245 00:08:48,244 --> 00:08:50,356 been using the harm missiles to great 246 00:08:50,356 --> 00:08:52,189 effect to take out Russian radar 247 00:08:52,189 --> 00:08:54,411 systems . So , you know , as it relates 248 00:08:54,411 --> 00:08:56,578 to future aircraft , fourth generation 249 00:08:56,578 --> 00:08:58,578 aircraft , for example , even if we 250 00:08:58,578 --> 00:09:00,411 were to provide those now , they 251 00:09:00,411 --> 00:09:02,744 wouldn't they wouldn't arrive for years . 252 00:09:02,744 --> 00:09:02,116 So we've been focused on as it relates 253 00:09:02,116 --> 00:09:04,116 to their fighter aircraft , on what 254 00:09:04,116 --> 00:09:05,949 they need for the to support the 255 00:09:05,949 --> 00:09:08,172 current efforts to hold in the east and 256 00:09:08,172 --> 00:09:10,394 perhaps go on on a counter offensive as 257 00:09:10,394 --> 00:09:12,560 it relates to the future of aircraft . 258 00:09:12,560 --> 00:09:14,560 Let me tell you where we are in the 259 00:09:14,560 --> 00:09:16,560 process . So , Secretary Austin has 260 00:09:16,560 --> 00:09:18,616 tasked uh the Office of Secretary of 261 00:09:18,616 --> 00:09:20,672 Defense to work with the Joint Staff 262 00:09:20,672 --> 00:09:22,783 and european command essentially on a 263 00:09:22,783 --> 00:09:24,838 future forces picture of kind of the 264 00:09:24,838 --> 00:09:26,870 Ukrainian force for the mid to long 265 00:09:26,870 --> 00:09:29,037 term . Obviously this is done in close 266 00:09:29,037 --> 00:09:31,148 consultation with the Ukrainians . It 267 00:09:31,148 --> 00:09:33,314 is , after all , uh their military and 268 00:09:33,314 --> 00:09:35,037 we're really trying to be very 269 00:09:35,037 --> 00:09:37,037 deliberate and disciplined about um 270 00:09:37,037 --> 00:09:39,856 what type of Ukrainian force matters in 271 00:09:39,956 --> 00:09:43,476 the next 12 24 36 months under any 272 00:09:43,476 --> 00:09:45,420 range of scenarios . It could be a 273 00:09:45,420 --> 00:09:47,532 scenario in which the war continues . 274 00:09:47,532 --> 00:09:49,532 It could be a scenario in which the 275 00:09:49,532 --> 00:09:52,076 violence uh ebs um because there's an 276 00:09:52,076 --> 00:09:54,836 agreement or because it just dies down 277 00:09:54,846 --> 00:09:57,346 a bit . Um , but even in that instance , 278 00:09:57,346 --> 00:09:59,346 the Ukrainians are going to need to 279 00:09:59,346 --> 00:10:01,679 defend their territory and deter future . 280 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:03,790 So we're trying to be very deliberate 281 00:10:03,790 --> 00:10:05,902 about what systems we think makes the 282 00:10:05,902 --> 00:10:08,068 most sense for Ukraine to have in that 283 00:10:08,068 --> 00:10:10,235 context and also matters very much can 284 00:10:10,235 --> 00:10:12,402 they sustain it ? Can they afford it ? 285 00:10:12,402 --> 00:10:14,624 Because of course , you know , billions 286 00:10:14,624 --> 00:10:16,790 of dollars of international assistance 287 00:10:16,790 --> 00:10:18,679 is not is , you know , may not be 288 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:20,902 something 10 years from now or 20 years 289 00:10:20,902 --> 00:10:20,742 from now . So there's also have to be 290 00:10:20,902 --> 00:10:23,235 systems that Ukraine itself can sustain . 291 00:10:23,235 --> 00:10:25,180 But I can tell you that uh fighter 292 00:10:25,180 --> 00:10:27,346 aircraft remain on the table . Just no 293 00:10:27,346 --> 00:10:29,402 final decisions have been made about 294 00:10:29,402 --> 00:10:31,513 that . Yeah . As it relates to attack 295 00:10:31,513 --> 00:10:33,735 them . So , uh , I think as most of you 296 00:10:33,735 --> 00:10:35,791 are tracking , um , you know , we've 297 00:10:35,791 --> 00:10:37,680 been we've provided 16 time . Our 298 00:10:37,680 --> 00:10:40,740 systems which are precision rocket 299 00:10:40,750 --> 00:10:43,090 multiple launch rocket systems . A 300 00:10:43,090 --> 00:10:45,146 number of other allies have provided 301 00:10:45,146 --> 00:10:47,146 similar systems . The brits and the 302 00:10:47,146 --> 00:10:49,368 Germans in particular have provided M 2 303 00:10:49,368 --> 00:10:51,590 70 systems . The high MArs is a truck , 304 00:10:51,590 --> 00:10:53,757 it launches the rockets off the back . 305 00:10:53,757 --> 00:10:55,868 The M two seventies launches the same 306 00:10:55,868 --> 00:10:58,090 rockets , but essentially off the chain 307 00:10:58,090 --> 00:11:00,201 of a Bradley fighting vehicle type of 308 00:11:00,201 --> 00:11:02,423 armored vehicle . We have provided them 309 00:11:02,423 --> 00:11:04,257 uh guided multiple launch rocket 310 00:11:04,257 --> 00:11:06,479 systems are gamblers that have arranged 311 00:11:06,479 --> 00:11:08,146 uh , you know around 70 or 80 312 00:11:08,146 --> 00:11:10,760 kilometers . We have provided them with 313 00:11:10,770 --> 00:11:12,510 hundreds and hundreds of these 314 00:11:12,510 --> 00:11:14,343 precision guided systems and the 315 00:11:14,343 --> 00:11:17,040 Ukrainians have been using them to 316 00:11:17,090 --> 00:11:19,423 extraordinary effect on the battlefield . 317 00:11:19,423 --> 00:11:21,312 It's our assessment that the most 318 00:11:21,312 --> 00:11:23,479 relevant munitions for the curry fight 319 00:11:23,479 --> 00:11:25,368 are the gamblers . And so we have 320 00:11:25,368 --> 00:11:27,423 prioritized getting the Ukrainians , 321 00:11:27,423 --> 00:11:29,479 the gamblers , they need not only to 322 00:11:29,479 --> 00:11:31,423 hold in the east but generate some 323 00:11:31,423 --> 00:11:33,530 momentum elsewhere in the country . 324 00:11:33,530 --> 00:11:35,530 It's our assessment that they don't 325 00:11:35,530 --> 00:11:37,752 currently require attacking the service 326 00:11:37,752 --> 00:11:39,863 targets that are directly relevant to 327 00:11:39,863 --> 00:11:41,863 the current fight . Um , you know , 328 00:11:41,863 --> 00:11:43,697 we'll obviously continue to have 329 00:11:43,697 --> 00:11:45,919 conversations with the Ukrainians about 330 00:11:45,919 --> 00:11:45,390 about their needs , but it's our 331 00:11:45,390 --> 00:11:47,501 judgment at the moment that we should 332 00:11:47,501 --> 00:11:49,723 be focusing on gamblers not attacking . 333 00:11:49,723 --> 00:11:51,779 Thank you . Okay , sorry , Abraham , 334 00:11:51,779 --> 00:11:53,890 we're gonna move on , we're gonna pee 335 00:11:53,890 --> 00:11:53,190 and then we'll go out to the phone line . 336 00:11:53,190 --> 00:11:56,080 Sylvie . Thank you . Speaking about 337 00:11:56,560 --> 00:12:00,210 you there is you mentioned laser 338 00:12:00,210 --> 00:12:02,266 guided work at system I suppose it's 339 00:12:02,266 --> 00:12:05,870 it's them , can you say um 340 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:09,760 how many , how long they 341 00:12:09,770 --> 00:12:13,350 are supposed to last ? How how long 342 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:15,440 does it's going to take for them to 343 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:18,750 receive them and for how long ? 344 00:12:19,870 --> 00:12:22,092 Yeah , I mean , so it's going to take . 345 00:12:22,092 --> 00:12:24,148 Um so you're asking about the rocket 346 00:12:24,148 --> 00:12:26,259 systems in particular , correct ? Let 347 00:12:26,259 --> 00:12:28,481 me make sure I have all the information 348 00:12:28,481 --> 00:12:30,426 for you . So the laser , the laser 349 00:12:30,426 --> 00:12:32,592 guided rocket systems provided in this 350 00:12:32,592 --> 00:12:34,314 tranche of funding . Um well , 351 00:12:34,314 --> 00:12:36,426 basically complement the systems that 352 00:12:36,426 --> 00:12:38,537 Ukrainians already have been provided 353 00:12:38,537 --> 00:12:40,314 in previous security assistance 354 00:12:40,314 --> 00:12:42,450 packages . The the specific rocket 355 00:12:42,450 --> 00:12:45,140 systems have a range of about eight 356 00:12:45,140 --> 00:12:47,690 kilometers uh , and they can be used to 357 00:12:47,700 --> 00:12:49,450 basically to target Russian 358 00:12:49,450 --> 00:12:51,450 capabilities like armored personnel 359 00:12:51,450 --> 00:12:54,020 carriers and unmanned aerial systems In 360 00:12:54,020 --> 00:12:56,310 terms of the delivery timeline , some 361 00:12:56,310 --> 00:12:58,143 of those systems and rounds will 362 00:12:58,143 --> 00:13:00,310 probably be provided to the Ukrainians 363 00:13:00,310 --> 00:13:02,088 within the next nine months and 364 00:13:02,088 --> 00:13:04,088 additional systems and rounds could 365 00:13:04,088 --> 00:13:05,254 take a year or two . 366 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:10,360 There are no colors . There there are 367 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:12,527 no gamblers in this package . Know the 368 00:13:12,527 --> 00:13:14,527 way that well because the , because 369 00:13:14,527 --> 00:13:16,360 we've been focusing on providing 370 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:18,590 gamblers through the PGA packages . So 371 00:13:18,590 --> 00:13:21,030 the most recent , so we've been in 372 00:13:21,030 --> 00:13:22,974 every just about every P . D . A . 373 00:13:22,974 --> 00:13:25,040 Package . We have provided a steady 374 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:27,270 stream of gamblers hundreds and 375 00:13:27,270 --> 00:13:29,470 hundreds at a time . Um It's our 376 00:13:29,470 --> 00:13:31,692 assessment that the Ukrainian stocks of 377 00:13:31,692 --> 00:13:33,859 gamblers are pretty good right now and 378 00:13:33,859 --> 00:13:33,730 we're going to continue to provide 379 00:13:33,740 --> 00:13:35,410 those . But but remember the 380 00:13:35,410 --> 00:13:37,521 distinction I drew before about , you 381 00:13:37,521 --> 00:13:39,410 know , P . D . A . Is essentially 382 00:13:39,410 --> 00:13:39,020 something we can draw it out of our own 383 00:13:39,020 --> 00:13:40,909 stocks to make it not immediately 384 00:13:40,909 --> 00:13:43,020 available , but usually in the matter 385 00:13:43,020 --> 00:13:45,020 of days or weeks . Whereas US II is 386 00:13:45,020 --> 00:13:46,964 typically months or years . Okay , 387 00:13:46,964 --> 00:13:48,964 let's go to the phone lines . Do we 388 00:13:48,964 --> 00:13:51,187 have tom Squitieri from Red Snow News ? 389 00:13:51,187 --> 00:13:53,298 Thanks . Good afternoon . Uh Doctor , 390 00:13:53,298 --> 00:13:55,353 could you just give give us a little 391 00:13:55,353 --> 00:13:57,464 more clarity please on the timeline . 392 00:13:57,464 --> 00:13:59,631 There has been some delays in the past 393 00:13:59,631 --> 00:14:01,742 of contracting equipment for delivery 394 00:14:01,742 --> 00:14:03,940 to Ukraine . Um could you just being 395 00:14:03,940 --> 00:14:06,218 more specific on the timeline , Please ? 396 00:14:06,218 --> 00:14:08,218 Thank you timeline for a particular 397 00:14:08,218 --> 00:14:10,384 system you're interested in because of 398 00:14:10,384 --> 00:14:12,607 the timelines are all different for the 399 00:14:12,607 --> 00:14:11,995 various timelines . Well , let me 400 00:14:11,995 --> 00:14:14,217 rephrase , let me rephrase the question 401 00:14:14,217 --> 00:14:15,939 that I have , has the pentagon 402 00:14:15,939 --> 00:14:17,717 experienced any difficulties in 403 00:14:17,717 --> 00:14:19,884 contracting in the past for these kind 404 00:14:19,884 --> 00:14:22,051 of weapons ? And if so , has that been 405 00:14:22,051 --> 00:14:24,162 factored into the timeline ? I mean , 406 00:14:24,162 --> 00:14:26,273 well , I mean , the short answer is , 407 00:14:26,273 --> 00:14:28,384 we're eager to get the Ukrainians the 408 00:14:28,384 --> 00:14:30,551 systems as quickly as the process will 409 00:14:30,551 --> 00:14:32,773 allow . Um we it takes sometimes months 410 00:14:32,773 --> 00:14:36,210 to get these uh systems on contract . 411 00:14:36,220 --> 00:14:38,053 Um that's been the case with the 412 00:14:38,053 --> 00:14:41,720 possums for , for example . Um so in 413 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:43,831 each case we will endeavor to get the 414 00:14:43,831 --> 00:14:45,942 contracts uh filled out as quickly as 415 00:14:45,942 --> 00:14:47,998 possible and get stuff on the road , 416 00:14:47,998 --> 00:14:50,164 but I think we have to manage people's 417 00:14:50,164 --> 00:14:52,109 expectations . This package is the 418 00:14:52,109 --> 00:14:54,331 package of capabilities here are really 419 00:14:54,331 --> 00:14:56,442 aimed at getting Ukraine what they're 420 00:14:56,442 --> 00:14:56,410 going to need in the medium to long 421 00:14:56,410 --> 00:14:59,235 term . So it's not relevant to the 422 00:14:59,305 --> 00:15:01,945 fight today , tomorrow next week . It 423 00:15:01,945 --> 00:15:04,215 is relevant to the ability of Ukraine 424 00:15:04,215 --> 00:15:06,159 to defend itself and deter further 425 00:15:06,159 --> 00:15:08,326 aggression a year from now , two years 426 00:15:08,326 --> 00:15:10,548 from now . And this is this is actually 427 00:15:10,548 --> 00:15:13,700 extraordinarily important because at 428 00:15:13,710 --> 00:15:16,900 least as we can discern , uh , Vladimir 429 00:15:16,900 --> 00:15:19,150 Putin has not given up on his overall 430 00:15:19,150 --> 00:15:21,372 strategic objectives of seizing most of 431 00:15:21,372 --> 00:15:23,280 Ukraine toppling the regime , uh 432 00:15:23,290 --> 00:15:25,290 reclaiming Ukraine as part of a new 433 00:15:25,290 --> 00:15:27,810 Russian empire ? What he has done is 434 00:15:27,810 --> 00:15:30,032 lengthened his timeline and recognition 435 00:15:30,032 --> 00:15:33,850 that uh he's off plan . Uh and so as a 436 00:15:33,850 --> 00:15:36,650 consequence , his theory of victory is 437 00:15:36,650 --> 00:15:38,872 that he can wait everybody out . He can 438 00:15:38,872 --> 00:15:41,094 wait the Ukrainians out because they'll 439 00:15:41,094 --> 00:15:43,261 be exhausted and treated . He can wait 440 00:15:43,261 --> 00:15:45,483 us out because we'll turn our attention 441 00:15:45,483 --> 00:15:47,206 uh elsewhere . He can wait the 442 00:15:47,206 --> 00:15:49,261 Europeans out because of high energy 443 00:15:49,261 --> 00:15:51,580 prices or whatever . Uh and so packages 444 00:15:51,580 --> 00:15:53,880 like this are extraordinarily important 445 00:15:53,890 --> 00:15:56,112 and directly challenging Putin's theory 446 00:15:56,112 --> 00:15:58,223 of the case , which is that we're not 447 00:15:58,223 --> 00:16:00,112 in it for the long that we aren't 448 00:16:00,112 --> 00:16:02,279 supporting Ukraine for the long haul . 449 00:16:02,279 --> 00:16:05,650 So um the other value in us using the 450 00:16:05,650 --> 00:16:08,560 USA i money is that , you know , there 451 00:16:08,570 --> 00:16:10,626 when we take things about out of our 452 00:16:10,626 --> 00:16:12,792 own stocks , were taking things out of 453 00:16:12,792 --> 00:16:14,848 our own stocks and that puts certain 454 00:16:14,848 --> 00:16:14,660 constraints on what we can provide on 455 00:16:14,660 --> 00:16:16,820 what timelines when we do usa I were 456 00:16:16,820 --> 00:16:19,840 buying stuff on contract and therefore 457 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:21,896 the private sector can produce , can 458 00:16:21,896 --> 00:16:24,062 produce these things . It takes longer 459 00:16:24,062 --> 00:16:26,070 time . We'll go to Tara and then to 460 00:16:26,420 --> 00:16:29,680 nancy . Thank you . Defense one . 461 00:16:30,940 --> 00:16:32,607 that's called is the building 462 00:16:32,607 --> 00:16:34,730 assessment now that this war is 463 00:16:34,730 --> 00:16:37,570 winnable for Ukraine . Um , and that's 464 00:16:37,570 --> 00:16:39,681 why there's this announcement of this 465 00:16:39,681 --> 00:16:41,848 multi year us will continue to provide 466 00:16:41,848 --> 00:16:44,014 these arms in the long term . And then 467 00:16:44,014 --> 00:16:46,181 can you provide some context ? Is this 468 00:16:46,181 --> 00:16:48,348 not only the biggest challenge to date 469 00:16:48,348 --> 00:16:48,260 for Ukraine , but is this the biggest 470 00:16:48,260 --> 00:16:50,780 security assistance package provided in 471 00:16:50,790 --> 00:16:53,650 any conflict individually for 472 00:16:53,650 --> 00:16:55,594 Afghanistan Iraq , I realized that 473 00:16:55,594 --> 00:16:57,650 might take some time to uh to put in 474 00:16:57,650 --> 00:16:59,817 context . Yeah , the latter question , 475 00:16:59,817 --> 00:17:02,370 I think my sense is it is historically 476 00:17:02,370 --> 00:17:04,330 unusual whether it's historically 477 00:17:04,330 --> 00:17:06,608 unprecedented in its in its sheer size , 478 00:17:06,608 --> 00:17:08,663 I think we're gonna have to get back 479 00:17:08,663 --> 00:17:10,719 back to you on it . It's also it may 480 00:17:10,719 --> 00:17:12,830 not be an apples to apples comparison 481 00:17:12,830 --> 00:17:14,941 in terms of the types of things usa i 482 00:17:14,941 --> 00:17:16,997 is not equivalent to , you know , uh 483 00:17:16,997 --> 00:17:19,274 foreign military funding , for example . 484 00:17:19,274 --> 00:17:21,497 Um So anyway , let's get back to you on 485 00:17:21,497 --> 00:17:23,774 the way . It's the biggest of all time . 486 00:17:23,774 --> 00:17:25,997 Um I think the sheer amount of security 487 00:17:25,997 --> 00:17:27,997 assistance we've provided through a 488 00:17:27,997 --> 00:17:30,163 combination of P . D . A . And U . S . 489 00:17:30,163 --> 00:17:32,274 A . I . Is historically unprecedented 490 00:17:32,274 --> 00:17:34,386 as far as we can tell , because we're 491 00:17:34,386 --> 00:17:36,441 now north of $13 billion with this . 492 00:17:36,441 --> 00:17:39,130 And you know , uh $12.9 billion just 493 00:17:39,130 --> 00:17:41,960 since the the invasion kicked off on on 494 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:45,500 february 24th . In terms of the 495 00:17:45,500 --> 00:17:47,760 relevant in terms of essentially does 496 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:49,927 the package represents some assessment 497 00:17:49,927 --> 00:17:51,780 about the Endgame . I think the 498 00:17:51,780 --> 00:17:54,570 shortest answer to that is no , it's 499 00:17:54,570 --> 00:17:56,626 actually agnostic to what the word . 500 00:17:56,626 --> 00:17:58,848 What the , you know , the end game is . 501 00:17:58,848 --> 00:18:02,100 Obviously it's important for us that uh 502 00:18:02,110 --> 00:18:04,710 that Ukraine survives and endures as a 503 00:18:04,710 --> 00:18:08,030 democratic , independent uh sovereign 504 00:18:08,030 --> 00:18:10,197 country with its territorial integrity 505 00:18:10,197 --> 00:18:13,030 intact . It's important to us that uh 506 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:15,140 that Russia pays a cost in excess of 507 00:18:15,140 --> 00:18:17,307 the benefits they gain from aggression 508 00:18:17,307 --> 00:18:19,529 so that they don't do it again . Uh And 509 00:18:19,529 --> 00:18:21,640 so that other aggressors uh take that 510 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:23,862 lesson . It's also important to us that 511 00:18:23,862 --> 00:18:25,807 that Vladimir Putin's objective of 512 00:18:25,807 --> 00:18:27,973 weakening the West and segmenting NATO 513 00:18:27,973 --> 00:18:30,029 actually has turned on its head that 514 00:18:30,029 --> 00:18:32,196 NATO emerges stronger . The free world 515 00:18:32,196 --> 00:18:34,196 emerges stronger . I think we're on 516 00:18:34,196 --> 00:18:36,196 track to achieve all three of those 517 00:18:36,196 --> 00:18:38,140 objectives . And you independent , 518 00:18:38,140 --> 00:18:37,760 sovereign , democratic Ukraine that 519 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,860 endures Russia , that has paid more 520 00:18:40,860 --> 00:18:43,950 costs than benefits . And West that is 521 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:47,150 stronger than when this started . This 522 00:18:47,150 --> 00:18:50,540 type of package does not presume any 523 00:18:50,540 --> 00:18:52,651 particular outcome of the conflict in 524 00:18:52,651 --> 00:18:54,818 Ukraine . So , for example , uh if the 525 00:18:54,818 --> 00:18:57,980 war continues for years , this package 526 00:18:57,980 --> 00:19:00,320 is relevant . Uh if there is a cease 527 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:02,400 fire or a peace settlement , this 528 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:04,650 package is still relevant because 529 00:19:04,650 --> 00:19:06,650 Ukraine needs the ability to defend 530 00:19:06,650 --> 00:19:08,872 itself and deter future aggression . So 531 00:19:08,872 --> 00:19:11,460 kind of under any uh scenario or all 532 00:19:11,460 --> 00:19:13,682 the ones in between ? We think that the 533 00:19:13,682 --> 00:19:15,793 package is relevant . Okay , we'll go 534 00:19:15,793 --> 00:19:17,904 to nancy and then we'll go out to the 535 00:19:17,904 --> 00:19:19,960 phone lines . A couple of things you 536 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:21,960 said earlier , you talked about the 537 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:23,904 strikes in Syria , There have been 538 00:19:23,904 --> 00:19:26,016 reports of additional U . S . Strikes 539 00:19:26,016 --> 00:19:25,840 in Syria . Can you give us any 540 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:27,840 additional information about that ? 541 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:31,220 Also received three ? You also had 542 00:19:31,220 --> 00:19:33,387 questions about training . How much of 543 00:19:33,387 --> 00:19:35,553 this was dedicated training . You said 544 00:19:35,553 --> 00:19:37,776 you couldn't give us a number . Can you 545 00:19:37,776 --> 00:19:39,998 give us a sense of how many people will 546 00:19:39,998 --> 00:19:39,810 be trained and over what time period . 547 00:19:40,100 --> 00:19:42,267 And finally , you talked about this as 548 00:19:42,267 --> 00:19:44,630 an investment in Ukraine's military in 549 00:19:44,630 --> 00:19:46,741 the medium to long term . I think you 550 00:19:46,741 --> 00:19:48,852 talked about three years , is it your 551 00:19:48,852 --> 00:19:50,852 assessment that at three years that 552 00:19:50,852 --> 00:19:52,963 Ukraine will be fully integrated into 553 00:19:52,963 --> 00:19:55,186 the NATO and NATO weapons systems , you 554 00:19:55,186 --> 00:19:57,186 anticipate they will no longer need 555 00:19:57,186 --> 00:19:59,352 soviet weapons systems at that point . 556 00:19:59,352 --> 00:20:01,519 Can you , can you give us a picture of 557 00:20:01,519 --> 00:20:03,297 what you envision the Ukrainian 558 00:20:03,297 --> 00:20:05,519 military looking at looking like at the 559 00:20:05,519 --> 00:20:05,510 end of this weapons package ? Thank you . 560 00:20:05,750 --> 00:20:08,380 So just on this strikes were tracking 561 00:20:08,380 --> 00:20:10,602 the same reports . You are that there's 562 00:20:10,602 --> 00:20:13,700 been an exchange uh , in Syria , I 563 00:20:13,700 --> 00:20:15,811 don't have any details to provide you 564 00:20:15,811 --> 00:20:18,033 when , when we have more . Well , we'll 565 00:20:18,033 --> 00:20:20,256 give you more , I will say as a general 566 00:20:20,256 --> 00:20:22,311 matter , we're not gonna hesitate to 567 00:20:22,311 --> 00:20:23,922 defend ourselves . And we've 568 00:20:23,922 --> 00:20:26,033 communicated this both in the actions 569 00:20:26,033 --> 00:20:28,256 that we took last night . The nature of 570 00:20:28,256 --> 00:20:30,367 those actions , and also what we have 571 00:20:30,367 --> 00:20:32,810 communicated uh , to the Iranians were 572 00:20:32,810 --> 00:20:35,032 not going to tolerate attacks by a Iran 573 00:20:35,032 --> 00:20:38,260 backed forces on our forces anywhere in 574 00:20:38,260 --> 00:20:40,680 the world to include in Syria . Uh , 575 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:42,540 and we won't hesitate to protect 576 00:20:42,540 --> 00:20:44,484 ourselves uh , and take additional 577 00:20:44,484 --> 00:20:46,707 measures as appropriate . Now , in this 578 00:20:46,707 --> 00:20:49,170 particular case . Um , our response was 579 00:20:49,180 --> 00:20:51,630 I think extraordinarily carefully 580 00:20:51,630 --> 00:20:53,408 calibrated . It was meant to be 581 00:20:53,408 --> 00:20:55,463 proportional to the attacks that the 582 00:20:55,463 --> 00:20:57,352 Iran backed groups carried out on 583 00:20:57,352 --> 00:21:00,470 august 15th . It was very precise . We 584 00:21:00,470 --> 00:21:03,050 had essentially scoped out 11 bunker 585 00:21:03,050 --> 00:21:04,994 targets on this site . We ended up 586 00:21:04,994 --> 00:21:07,250 prosecuting nine of them because uh , 587 00:21:07,260 --> 00:21:09,360 shortly before the strike . um there 588 00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:11,520 was new evidence that there might be 589 00:21:11,530 --> 00:21:13,419 individuals near two of the other 590 00:21:13,419 --> 00:21:15,641 bunkers . So we held off striking those 591 00:21:15,641 --> 00:21:17,808 out of an abundance of caution because 592 00:21:17,808 --> 00:21:19,974 our goal was not to produce casualties 593 00:21:19,974 --> 00:21:22,197 in this instance , but we will continue 594 00:21:22,197 --> 00:21:24,790 to respond if our people are are are 595 00:21:24,790 --> 00:21:26,957 attacked . Uh and but as it relates to 596 00:21:26,957 --> 00:21:29,012 the additional reports , we'll we'll 597 00:21:29,012 --> 00:21:31,234 tell you more when we know more . Um as 598 00:21:31,234 --> 00:21:33,401 it relates to the training numbers , I 599 00:21:33,401 --> 00:21:35,346 don't have the specific numbers in 600 00:21:35,346 --> 00:21:35,120 front of me . Nancy will will get back 601 00:21:35,120 --> 00:21:37,231 to you with with whatever details you 602 00:21:37,231 --> 00:21:39,990 need for for your your story on that at 603 00:21:39,990 --> 00:21:41,990 three years . Will we be done ? You 604 00:21:41,990 --> 00:21:43,934 know , will the Ukrainians be done 605 00:21:43,934 --> 00:21:45,657 transitioning in NATO standard 606 00:21:45,657 --> 00:21:47,879 equipment ? You know , my sense is they 607 00:21:47,879 --> 00:21:50,157 will they will still have some aspects , 608 00:21:50,157 --> 00:21:49,970 you know , for example , they have 609 00:21:49,980 --> 00:21:53,400 hundreds and hundreds of 152 millimeter 610 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:56,050 artillery systems . They also have 611 00:21:56,050 --> 00:21:58,161 considerable industrial capacity . It 612 00:21:58,161 --> 00:22:00,217 is conceivable that years from now , 613 00:22:00,217 --> 00:22:02,439 they could still be using those systems 614 00:22:02,439 --> 00:22:04,217 produced by uh you know , using 615 00:22:04,217 --> 00:22:06,494 munitions that they themselves produce . 616 00:22:06,494 --> 00:22:08,661 I will say though , I would anticipate 617 00:22:08,661 --> 00:22:10,883 that um in the time frame we're talking 618 00:22:10,883 --> 00:22:10,680 about here , that Ukraine will 619 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:12,850 gradually transition to NATO standard 620 00:22:12,850 --> 00:22:15,017 equipment . You're already seeing that 621 00:22:15,017 --> 00:22:17,072 um in the transition to the M triple 622 00:22:17,072 --> 00:22:18,961 seven howitzers . Another similar 623 00:22:18,961 --> 00:22:21,017 systems like the french cesar system 624 00:22:21,017 --> 00:22:23,128 that use the 155 millimeter systems , 625 00:22:23,128 --> 00:22:25,350 there's you know , high mars is another 626 00:22:25,350 --> 00:22:27,183 example . Some of the U . S . Uh 627 00:22:27,183 --> 00:22:29,183 systems . I think one of the things 628 00:22:29,183 --> 00:22:31,406 that will be you know , important as as 629 00:22:31,406 --> 00:22:33,780 we think through this alongside Ukraine 630 00:22:33,790 --> 00:22:36,530 in the coming years is How can we and 631 00:22:36,530 --> 00:22:38,586 secretary Austin is very seized with 632 00:22:38,586 --> 00:22:41,180 this is what does the future force of 633 00:22:41,180 --> 00:22:43,347 Ukraine look like that's sustainable . 634 00:22:43,347 --> 00:22:46,210 Uh and the reality is that in the six 635 00:22:46,210 --> 00:22:48,740 months of this war , um it's been an 636 00:22:48,740 --> 00:22:50,851 all hands on deck situation . Right . 637 00:22:50,851 --> 00:22:53,018 Uh security assistance flowing in from 638 00:22:53,018 --> 00:22:55,184 more than 50 countries . But that also 639 00:22:55,184 --> 00:22:57,296 means dozens of systems . And ideally 640 00:22:57,296 --> 00:22:59,351 the Ukrainian military of the future 641 00:22:59,351 --> 00:23:01,129 will not be rooted in dozens of 642 00:23:01,129 --> 00:23:03,184 different systems but a much smaller 643 00:23:03,184 --> 00:23:05,840 number of systems uh that are you know 644 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:08,007 easier to sustain and maintain and all 645 00:23:08,007 --> 00:23:10,173 that . So , you know , let's see where 646 00:23:10,173 --> 00:23:12,396 the few future holds but just know that 647 00:23:12,396 --> 00:23:14,340 we're very focused here in helping 648 00:23:14,340 --> 00:23:16,562 Ukraine try to plan out what is kind of 649 00:23:16,562 --> 00:23:18,729 a rational force of the future . And I 650 00:23:18,729 --> 00:23:20,729 would anticipate a lot of that will 651 00:23:20,729 --> 00:23:23,007 include NATO standard equipment . Okay , 652 00:23:23,007 --> 00:23:22,820 let's go out to the phone line . Do we 653 00:23:22,820 --> 00:23:24,876 have Oscar Kaczynski from the polish 654 00:23:24,876 --> 00:23:28,870 press agency . Hi , thank 655 00:23:28,870 --> 00:23:31,610 you . Thank you for this . Um , a 656 00:23:31,620 --> 00:23:35,050 couple of questions . Um so 657 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:39,840 um is your reason for not providing 658 00:23:40,940 --> 00:23:42,270 um 659 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:52,630 because uh for example 660 00:23:55,630 --> 00:23:56,750 providing 661 00:23:58,990 --> 00:24:02,460 world world world not 662 00:24:02,470 --> 00:24:06,400 consideration and uh talking 663 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:09,930 about um the shift to long 664 00:24:09,930 --> 00:24:13,630 term um 665 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:16,380 mm I'm sorry , 666 00:24:17,690 --> 00:24:20,850 um commitment to the security 667 00:24:22,050 --> 00:24:25,520 also um translated the 668 00:24:25,530 --> 00:24:29,090 commitment of the region and then well 669 00:24:29,090 --> 00:24:32,230 you keep forces president there for a 670 00:24:32,230 --> 00:24:36,020 long at all . Thank you . Yes . 671 00:24:36,020 --> 00:24:38,187 So Oscar we're having a little trouble 672 00:24:38,187 --> 00:24:40,464 hearing . You hear there was some echo . 673 00:24:40,464 --> 00:24:42,242 So um hopefully I'll answer the 674 00:24:42,242 --> 00:24:44,464 question . So the question of an attack 675 00:24:44,464 --> 00:24:44,410 is essentially , you know , it's a 676 00:24:44,410 --> 00:24:46,466 version of the question before . Why 677 00:24:46,466 --> 00:24:48,410 have we decided not to provide the 678 00:24:48,410 --> 00:24:50,466 attack comes as of yet ? I will tell 679 00:24:50,466 --> 00:24:53,010 you our primary consideration is our 680 00:24:53,010 --> 00:24:56,360 judgment about what is most useful and 681 00:24:56,360 --> 00:24:58,527 efficient for what the Ukrainians need 682 00:24:58,527 --> 00:25:00,749 for their current purposes which are to 683 00:25:00,749 --> 00:25:02,582 hold in the east and to generate 684 00:25:02,582 --> 00:25:04,804 momentum elsewhere in the country . And 685 00:25:04,804 --> 00:25:06,860 why do we say that we consulted very 686 00:25:06,860 --> 00:25:08,971 closely with the Ukrainians about the 687 00:25:08,971 --> 00:25:11,193 types of of targets that they needed to 688 00:25:11,193 --> 00:25:13,310 be able to prosecute inside Ukrainian 689 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:15,960 terror . The vast majority of those 690 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:19,930 targets were range herbal by high 691 00:25:19,930 --> 00:25:22,100 mars using gamblers as opposed to the 692 00:25:22,100 --> 00:25:25,510 much longer range attack comes . Um uh 693 00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:27,298 and so we have been emphasizing 694 00:25:27,298 --> 00:25:29,576 providing them gamblers and by the way , 695 00:25:29,576 --> 00:25:31,520 I should I should note it's had an 696 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:34,080 extraordinary effect . The I think as 697 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:35,858 all of your reporting and other 698 00:25:35,858 --> 00:25:37,980 reporting has has suggested , um you 699 00:25:37,980 --> 00:25:39,950 know , This isn't just an average 700 00:25:39,950 --> 00:25:42,172 rocket , this is the equivalent of kind 701 00:25:42,172 --> 00:25:44,590 of a £200 precision guided airstrike 702 00:25:44,590 --> 00:25:47,180 launched off the back of a truck uh and 703 00:25:47,180 --> 00:25:49,347 the Ukrainians have been using this to 704 00:25:49,347 --> 00:25:51,458 for precision strikes against command 705 00:25:51,458 --> 00:25:53,700 and control facilities , logistical 706 00:25:53,710 --> 00:25:56,670 nodes and other sustainment facilities . 707 00:25:56,670 --> 00:25:58,840 And it has had the effect , we believe 708 00:25:58,850 --> 00:26:01,960 of frustrating Russia's advances in the 709 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:04,040 east . Um I think it's really the 710 00:26:04,050 --> 00:26:06,217 Russians have really slowed down uh in 711 00:26:06,217 --> 00:26:08,620 the in the east and it's held uh 712 00:26:08,630 --> 00:26:10,852 Russian assets at risk elsewhere in the 713 00:26:10,852 --> 00:26:13,019 country . That's very much complicated 714 00:26:13,019 --> 00:26:15,241 Russia's planning efforts . So it's our 715 00:26:15,241 --> 00:26:17,463 assessment that um the gamblers are the 716 00:26:17,463 --> 00:26:19,297 most important thing to continue 717 00:26:19,297 --> 00:26:21,408 emphasizing and there's a steady flow 718 00:26:21,408 --> 00:26:23,519 of those going going to Ukraine as it 719 00:26:23,519 --> 00:26:25,574 relates to your question about , you 720 00:26:25,574 --> 00:26:25,190 know , obviously part of this package 721 00:26:25,190 --> 00:26:27,357 is is to signal a long term commitment 722 00:26:27,357 --> 00:26:29,468 to Ukraine . What about the long term 723 00:26:29,468 --> 00:26:31,412 commitment to the broader region I 724 00:26:31,412 --> 00:26:33,523 would assume to include Poland uh and 725 00:26:33,523 --> 00:26:35,690 other countries on the eastern flank ? 726 00:26:35,690 --> 00:26:37,912 Um I think as you all saw from the most 727 00:26:37,912 --> 00:26:40,450 recent Madrid setting , um our posture 728 00:26:40,450 --> 00:26:42,617 is more robust than it was before this 729 00:26:42,617 --> 00:26:45,930 crisis . And um you know , before the 730 00:26:45,940 --> 00:26:48,051 crisis , we had between 70 and 80,000 731 00:26:48,051 --> 00:26:50,162 forces in the Yukon Mayo , are we now 732 00:26:50,162 --> 00:26:52,450 have around 100,000 forces in the in 733 00:26:52,450 --> 00:26:55,370 the in the er we had on any given day , 734 00:26:55,370 --> 00:26:58,230 around three uh you know , two brigade 735 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:00,730 combat teams or three brigade combat 736 00:27:00,730 --> 00:27:02,897 teams . Now we're at five , we will be 737 00:27:02,897 --> 00:27:05,600 at a steady state of 41 of those will 738 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:07,480 be headquartered in Poland as it 739 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:09,536 currently is , another , One will be 740 00:27:09,536 --> 00:27:11,702 headquartered in Romania , but they'll 741 00:27:11,702 --> 00:27:13,536 be available to do exercises and 742 00:27:13,536 --> 00:27:15,647 reinforce all up and down the eastern 743 00:27:15,647 --> 00:27:17,647 flank . So whether that be uh , you 744 00:27:17,647 --> 00:27:19,758 know , Poland and the Baltic states , 745 00:27:19,758 --> 00:27:22,091 or whether it be in places like Romania , 746 00:27:22,091 --> 00:27:23,869 Bulgaria , Hungary , Slovakia , 747 00:27:23,869 --> 00:27:25,980 etcetera . We've also put a couple of 748 00:27:25,980 --> 00:27:28,120 additional Ddgs are gonna be flowing 749 00:27:28,120 --> 00:27:30,280 into spain . Uh , those are naval 750 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:33,370 assets , we're gonna be putting uh f 35 751 00:27:33,380 --> 00:27:35,680 into the , into the UK . Uh And there 752 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:37,680 are other movements as well . And I 753 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:39,624 think one of the things that we've 754 00:27:39,624 --> 00:27:41,624 demonstrated through this crisis is 755 00:27:41,624 --> 00:27:43,736 that a lot of the investments we made 756 00:27:43,736 --> 00:27:45,902 in um in improving our forward posture 757 00:27:45,902 --> 00:27:48,069 in our infrastructure after the 2014 , 758 00:27:48,069 --> 00:27:50,850 uh illegal annexation of Crimea . And 759 00:27:50,850 --> 00:27:52,906 the beginning of the violence in the 760 00:27:52,906 --> 00:27:55,460 Donbass , a lot of that work has paid 761 00:27:55,460 --> 00:27:57,682 off because of what it allowed us to do 762 00:27:57,682 --> 00:27:59,793 early in the crisis is to nimbly move 763 00:27:59,793 --> 00:28:02,370 around uh Yukon forces forces that may 764 00:28:02,370 --> 00:28:04,537 have been further back . We're able to 765 00:28:04,537 --> 00:28:06,648 flow forward very quickly because the 766 00:28:06,648 --> 00:28:08,592 infrastructure was there , the pre 767 00:28:08,592 --> 00:28:10,814 positioned equipment was there . And so 768 00:28:10,814 --> 00:28:13,037 I would say that it's important as even 769 00:28:13,037 --> 00:28:15,203 as we look at the eastern flank to not 770 00:28:15,203 --> 00:28:15,100 only look at the capabilities that are 771 00:28:15,100 --> 00:28:17,120 resident every single day in those 772 00:28:17,120 --> 00:28:19,064 countries , but the ability of the 773 00:28:19,064 --> 00:28:21,231 United States and NATO to surge forces 774 00:28:21,231 --> 00:28:23,453 forward . And one of the things that we 775 00:28:23,453 --> 00:28:25,620 came out of the Madrid summit with was 776 00:28:25,620 --> 00:28:27,620 a commitment not just by the United 777 00:28:27,620 --> 00:28:29,453 State , but other countries like 778 00:28:29,453 --> 00:28:31,564 Germany , the UK Canada , etcetera to 779 00:28:31,564 --> 00:28:33,176 put in place commitments and 780 00:28:33,176 --> 00:28:35,231 infrastructure to be able to rapidly 781 00:28:35,231 --> 00:28:37,398 surge forward into the eastern flank . 782 00:28:37,398 --> 00:28:39,398 So I think that is signaling a long 783 00:28:39,398 --> 00:28:41,398 term commitment , not just from the 784 00:28:41,398 --> 00:28:43,453 United States , but from the rest of 785 00:28:43,453 --> 00:28:45,564 NATO to security in the east . Okay . 786 00:28:45,564 --> 00:28:47,676 We have time for just a couple more . 787 00:28:47,676 --> 00:28:49,620 Let's go to 40 and then go back to 788 00:28:49,620 --> 00:28:53,380 carla Ukraine . The United 789 00:28:53,390 --> 00:28:55,550 you just mentioned that the US 790 00:28:55,550 --> 00:28:57,800 communicated to the Iranians that we 791 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:00,200 will not tolerate any attacks on US 792 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:02,530 troops . Was that made directly through 793 00:29:02,530 --> 00:29:04,640 direct channels to Iran and then on 794 00:29:04,650 --> 00:29:06,483 Ukraine , the first thing on the 795 00:29:06,483 --> 00:29:08,920 funding for training is this , since 796 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:11,142 we're talking about long term here , is 797 00:29:11,142 --> 00:29:13,253 it only training on equipment or does 798 00:29:13,253 --> 00:29:15,364 it involve other things like tactical 799 00:29:15,364 --> 00:29:18,090 fighting ? And then you said since this 800 00:29:18,090 --> 00:29:21,470 is a long term commitment , um , you're 801 00:29:21,470 --> 00:29:23,870 not presuming any outcome . However , 802 00:29:23,870 --> 00:29:25,880 most often times wars end with 803 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:29,590 political settlements and huge say huge 804 00:29:29,590 --> 00:29:32,830 security systems like this impact at 805 00:29:32,830 --> 00:29:35,163 the end of the day . Political calculus , 806 00:29:35,163 --> 00:29:38,290 so why don't you factor in the 807 00:29:38,290 --> 00:29:40,680 possibility of being able to have an 808 00:29:40,690 --> 00:29:44,340 impact on Russia is willing to be 809 00:29:44,340 --> 00:29:46,460 engaged in political dialogue to end 810 00:29:46,460 --> 00:29:48,870 this war . Yeah . So on that actually , 811 00:29:48,870 --> 00:29:51,092 I think we're in exactly the same place 812 00:29:51,092 --> 00:29:53,148 as your question suggested as I made 813 00:29:53,148 --> 00:29:55,314 clear a bunch of times that a big part 814 00:29:55,314 --> 00:29:57,370 of the reason for this commitment is 815 00:29:57,370 --> 00:29:59,592 actually to challenge Putin's theory of 816 00:29:59,592 --> 00:29:58,520 victory , right ? His theory of 817 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:00,298 victories , that he can outlast 818 00:30:00,298 --> 00:30:02,298 everybody packages like this . That 819 00:30:02,298 --> 00:30:04,187 signal , we're not just providing 820 00:30:04,187 --> 00:30:06,298 assistance to Ukraine right now . But 821 00:30:06,298 --> 00:30:06,140 it's gonna be a steady stream of 822 00:30:06,150 --> 00:30:08,261 assistance that will stretch out over 823 00:30:08,261 --> 00:30:10,560 many months and years is precisely 824 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:12,782 challenging Putin's miscalculation . We 825 00:30:12,782 --> 00:30:14,893 believe that he can just grind it out 826 00:30:14,893 --> 00:30:17,920 and wait it out . So it is uh supposed 827 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:20,990 to impact his calculus . Um We're also 828 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,222 largely through our P . D . A . Package 829 00:30:23,222 --> 00:30:25,444 is trying to affect the calculus in the 830 00:30:25,444 --> 00:30:27,444 near term obviously by enabling the 831 00:30:27,444 --> 00:30:29,667 Ukrainians to defend the territory they 832 00:30:29,667 --> 00:30:31,722 have pushed back where they can . So 833 00:30:31,722 --> 00:30:33,833 that when and if negotiations start , 834 00:30:33,833 --> 00:30:33,790 whenever that happens they have the 835 00:30:33,790 --> 00:30:36,240 best hand at the negotiating table . So 836 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:38,296 we're very mindful of that as well . 837 00:30:38,296 --> 00:30:41,060 The point I was making is that the USA 838 00:30:41,060 --> 00:30:43,282 i package matters essentially no matter 839 00:30:43,282 --> 00:30:46,210 what world we end up in . Uh So clearly 840 00:30:46,210 --> 00:30:49,460 we hope that the USA I package helps to 841 00:30:49,460 --> 00:30:51,627 send a particular signal to Putin that 842 00:30:51,627 --> 00:30:53,627 he can't just wait everybody out in 843 00:30:53,627 --> 00:30:55,738 that hopefully incentivizes Russia to 844 00:30:55,738 --> 00:30:59,410 stop the fighting uh and to and to uh 845 00:30:59,420 --> 00:31:02,150 get down to negotiations . But if it 846 00:31:02,150 --> 00:31:04,317 doesn't and the fighting continued and 847 00:31:04,317 --> 00:31:06,094 the fighting continues then the 848 00:31:06,094 --> 00:31:08,206 assistance continues to be relevant . 849 00:31:08,206 --> 00:31:10,450 If it does incentivize him to strike a 850 00:31:10,450 --> 00:31:12,672 deal . The assistance is still relevant 851 00:31:12,672 --> 00:31:14,617 because Ukraine will have to hedge 852 00:31:14,617 --> 00:31:16,783 against the possibility that Russia to 853 00:31:16,783 --> 00:31:19,520 do this again , on on Iran , I'm not 854 00:31:19,520 --> 00:31:21,576 gonna go much further than I already 855 00:31:21,576 --> 00:31:23,631 said . We have passed messages . I'm 856 00:31:23,631 --> 00:31:25,520 not gonna go through exactly what 857 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:25,470 channels . We have lots of ways of 858 00:31:25,470 --> 00:31:27,581 communicating than them . And we have 859 00:31:27,581 --> 00:31:29,803 tapped all of those channels to make it 860 00:31:29,803 --> 00:31:32,026 clear to the Iranians that what they're 861 00:31:32,026 --> 00:31:34,137 doing is unacceptable . Uh , and that 862 00:31:34,137 --> 00:31:35,859 we will defend ourselves where 863 00:31:35,859 --> 00:31:38,081 necessary , I should say , by the way . 864 00:31:38,081 --> 00:31:41,350 Um , you know , the other piece of Iran 865 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:44,350 uh , business right now is the 866 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:46,527 conversation about the J . C . P . O . 867 00:31:46,527 --> 00:31:48,527 A . The nuclear deal . And I should 868 00:31:48,527 --> 00:31:50,638 just make clear that what the strikes 869 00:31:50,638 --> 00:31:52,693 last night illustrated is that , you 870 00:31:52,693 --> 00:31:54,790 know , our commitment to push back 871 00:31:54,790 --> 00:31:56,846 against Iran's support for terrorism 872 00:31:56,846 --> 00:31:58,846 militancy and the threats that they 873 00:31:58,846 --> 00:32:00,846 engage in against our people in the 874 00:32:00,846 --> 00:32:02,957 region or elsewhere are not linked to 875 00:32:02,957 --> 00:32:05,234 wherever we end up on the nuclear deal . 876 00:32:05,234 --> 00:32:07,234 Uh , so there's the nuclear nuclear 877 00:32:07,234 --> 00:32:09,290 diplomacy lane . Um , you know , the 878 00:32:09,290 --> 00:32:11,401 president has been pretty clear , the 879 00:32:11,401 --> 00:32:13,457 administration has been pretty clear 880 00:32:13,457 --> 00:32:15,623 that in the event that Iran moves back 881 00:32:15,623 --> 00:32:17,901 into compliance with the J . C . P . O . 882 00:32:17,901 --> 00:32:20,012 A . That's in our interest because it 883 00:32:20,012 --> 00:32:22,234 pushes Iran further away from a nuclear 884 00:32:22,234 --> 00:32:24,512 weapons capability . But whether the J . 885 00:32:24,512 --> 00:32:28,020 C . P . O A is is reborn or not , uh , 886 00:32:28,030 --> 00:32:30,600 it actually has nothing to do with our 887 00:32:30,610 --> 00:32:32,810 willingness and resolve to defend 888 00:32:32,810 --> 00:32:35,032 ourselves . And I think the strike last 889 00:32:35,032 --> 00:32:37,199 night was a pretty clear communication 890 00:32:37,199 --> 00:32:39,310 to the Iranians that these things are 891 00:32:39,310 --> 00:32:41,477 are are on different tracks . Lastly , 892 00:32:41,477 --> 00:32:43,366 just on training on equipment and 893 00:32:43,366 --> 00:32:45,588 tactics . I will say that um you know , 894 00:32:45,588 --> 00:32:44,550 for the most part we've been 895 00:32:44,550 --> 00:32:46,860 prioritizing training Ukrainian , true 896 00:32:46,990 --> 00:32:48,990 on the systems that they need to be 897 00:32:48,990 --> 00:32:51,160 able to very rapidly employ in the 898 00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:53,216 field . Obviously with these systems 899 00:32:53,216 --> 00:32:55,382 will have a longer time period . Those 900 00:32:55,382 --> 00:32:58,100 interactions do have uh , the ability 901 00:32:58,110 --> 00:33:00,950 um to , you know , pass on not just the 902 00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:03,016 technical details but also tactics , 903 00:33:03,016 --> 00:33:05,530 techniques and procedures . Um uh , you 904 00:33:05,530 --> 00:33:07,697 know , how to use these in combination 905 00:33:07,697 --> 00:33:09,808 with other capabilities . So we'll do 906 00:33:09,808 --> 00:33:11,919 our best to me , make sure that we're 907 00:33:11,919 --> 00:33:13,974 kind of synergize ng the training in 908 00:33:13,974 --> 00:33:16,197 that way . Okay , we'll go to the final 909 00:33:16,197 --> 00:33:18,419 question . Thank you for doing this . I 910 00:33:18,419 --> 00:33:20,530 have one on Ukraine and then I'd like 911 00:33:20,530 --> 00:33:22,641 to ask one on Taiwan if I may . Um so 912 00:33:22,641 --> 00:33:24,641 on Ukraine , the pentagon suggested 913 00:33:24,641 --> 00:33:26,863 that 10 switchblade six hundred's we're 914 00:33:26,863 --> 00:33:29,030 gonna be going into Ukraine . Have any 915 00:33:29,030 --> 00:33:31,197 of those arrived in theater ? And will 916 00:33:31,197 --> 00:33:33,540 this package include any switch 600 ? 917 00:33:33,970 --> 00:33:35,914 Yes , so this package doesn't , it 918 00:33:35,914 --> 00:33:39,070 includes uh puma US systems and then 919 00:33:39,070 --> 00:33:41,292 also some additional parts for for scan 920 00:33:41,292 --> 00:33:43,630 eagle . Um but it does not include 921 00:33:43,640 --> 00:33:45,980 switchblade 600 as it relates to the 922 00:33:45,980 --> 00:33:48,036 actual delivery of the switchblade . 923 00:33:48,036 --> 00:33:50,202 I'll have to get back to you . I don't 924 00:33:50,202 --> 00:33:49,520 have that information in front of me . 925 00:33:49,530 --> 00:33:51,586 You had a question on Taiwan ? Yes , 926 00:33:51,586 --> 00:33:53,808 we've seen this just this week that the 927 00:33:53,808 --> 00:33:55,808 P . L . A . Is still maintaining an 928 00:33:55,808 --> 00:33:57,919 aggressive tempo . Um Flying close to 929 00:33:57,919 --> 00:34:01,860 Taiwan . Uh has the pentagon seen any 930 00:34:01,860 --> 00:34:04,140 indications that this is going to slow 931 00:34:04,140 --> 00:34:06,251 down ? And should we view this as the 932 00:34:06,251 --> 00:34:08,820 new normal over in Taiwan at the Taiwan 933 00:34:08,820 --> 00:34:11,430 strait ? Yeah . So our assessment , I 934 00:34:11,430 --> 00:34:13,486 mean I think we're still we'll still 935 00:34:13,486 --> 00:34:16,500 have to see what settles out and what 936 00:34:16,500 --> 00:34:18,611 the new normal looks like . I'll tell 937 00:34:18,611 --> 00:34:20,880 you what we've seen thus far . Um The 938 00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:23,047 tempo of their activities is less than 939 00:34:23,047 --> 00:34:25,260 it was in the immediate aftermath of 940 00:34:25,260 --> 00:34:27,980 Speaker Pelosi's visit . But it's still 941 00:34:27,990 --> 00:34:30,840 higher than historical norms . Uh and 942 00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:33,410 they have clearly used this particular 943 00:34:33,410 --> 00:34:36,830 incident uh to try to essentially de 944 00:34:36,830 --> 00:34:39,380 facto erase the norm of the center line . 945 00:34:39,380 --> 00:34:41,658 For example , of crossing between this , 946 00:34:41,658 --> 00:34:43,769 you know , the media position between 947 00:34:43,769 --> 00:34:46,102 mainland china and the island of Taiwan . 948 00:34:46,102 --> 00:34:48,324 They have been more active in the air , 949 00:34:48,324 --> 00:34:50,491 they have been more active at sea . Um 950 00:34:50,491 --> 00:34:52,713 uh So I think we should anticipate that 951 00:34:52,713 --> 00:34:54,991 whatever the ultimate level ends being , 952 00:34:54,991 --> 00:34:57,158 it will be higher than it was before . 953 00:34:57,158 --> 00:34:59,324 And that speaks to your question about 954 00:34:59,324 --> 00:35:01,491 the new normal um and will continue to 955 00:35:01,491 --> 00:35:03,713 adjust our activities to make sure that 956 00:35:03,713 --> 00:35:07,000 wherever china ends up settling , that 957 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:09,160 we make clear a couple of things we 958 00:35:09,160 --> 00:35:12,110 remain committed to , to defending our 959 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:14,370 allies and partners in the region . We 960 00:35:14,370 --> 00:35:17,250 remain committed to a stable free and 961 00:35:17,250 --> 00:35:19,361 open indo pacific which is I think an 962 00:35:19,361 --> 00:35:21,230 interest that all our allies and 963 00:35:21,230 --> 00:35:24,020 partners in the region . Um uh 964 00:35:24,030 --> 00:35:26,310 subscribe to . Um and that we will 965 00:35:26,310 --> 00:35:28,820 continue to operate uh in the air at 966 00:35:28,820 --> 00:35:32,420 sea wherever international law allows 967 00:35:32,420 --> 00:35:34,253 and that will include freedom of 968 00:35:34,253 --> 00:35:36,570 navigation operations , Taiwan strait 969 00:35:36,580 --> 00:35:40,530 transits uh and other activities . So 970 00:35:40,540 --> 00:35:43,530 look , our view of this is that um you 971 00:35:43,530 --> 00:35:45,910 know , China took the speaker's visit 972 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:48,020 as an excuse to manufacture a crisis 973 00:35:48,030 --> 00:35:51,400 and to set a new normal and that what 974 00:35:51,400 --> 00:35:54,880 we need to do is is to show that we and 975 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:57,102 the rest of the international community 976 00:35:57,102 --> 00:35:59,213 will not be coerced uh that what what 977 00:35:59,213 --> 00:36:01,380 Beijing wants is for the international 978 00:36:01,380 --> 00:36:03,547 community to react to their new normal 979 00:36:03,547 --> 00:36:05,769 by taking a step back and saying , whoa 980 00:36:05,769 --> 00:36:07,880 uh you know , we don't want any piece 981 00:36:07,880 --> 00:36:09,936 of that . And our reaction is not to 982 00:36:09,936 --> 00:36:12,410 invite conflict or to generate 983 00:36:12,410 --> 00:36:14,132 unnecessary frictions , but to 984 00:36:14,132 --> 00:36:16,850 basically make clear that Beijing's 985 00:36:16,850 --> 00:36:18,961 gambit isn't going to pay off that if 986 00:36:18,961 --> 00:36:20,906 their goal was to coerce us in the 987 00:36:20,906 --> 00:36:23,017 international community to back off , 988 00:36:23,017 --> 00:36:25,710 it's not gonna work just quickly . Can 989 00:36:25,710 --> 00:36:27,932 you explain what why , you know , there 990 00:36:27,932 --> 00:36:29,988 have been a number of attacks by the 991 00:36:29,988 --> 00:36:32,099 Iranian backed groups against U . S . 992 00:36:32,099 --> 00:36:34,321 Forces and facilities in Iraq and Syria 993 00:36:34,321 --> 00:36:36,377 in the last year or so , including a 994 00:36:36,377 --> 00:36:38,543 pretty egregious one against 80 G last 995 00:36:38,543 --> 00:36:40,488 october and there hasn't been a US 996 00:36:40,488 --> 00:36:42,654 kinetic response like last night . You 997 00:36:42,654 --> 00:36:44,599 just explain why the US decided to 998 00:36:44,599 --> 00:36:46,932 respond to the august 15th when they're , 999 00:36:46,932 --> 00:36:49,154 they don't seem to have been so far out 1000 00:36:49,154 --> 00:36:48,880 of the norm from the other ones we've 1001 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:52,750 seen Little careful here uh , 1002 00:36:52,760 --> 00:36:54,982 due to classification issues , but I'll 1003 00:36:54,982 --> 00:36:56,816 say this part of part of it's an 1004 00:36:56,816 --> 00:36:58,982 accumulation um , that we want uh , we 1005 00:36:58,982 --> 00:37:00,871 don't want Iran to draw the wrong 1006 00:37:00,871 --> 00:37:03,038 conclusion that they can continue just 1007 00:37:03,038 --> 00:37:05,149 doing this and and get away with it . 1008 00:37:05,149 --> 00:37:07,260 But part of it was also the nature of 1009 00:37:07,260 --> 00:37:09,482 the attacks on the 15th . The fact that 1010 00:37:09,482 --> 00:37:11,482 they were coordinated against to us 1011 00:37:11,482 --> 00:37:13,649 facilities at the same time . The fact 1012 00:37:13,649 --> 00:37:15,704 that we believe we have Iran dead to 1013 00:37:15,704 --> 00:37:18,490 rights on on attribution . Uh , the the 1014 00:37:18,500 --> 00:37:20,667 U A . V . Parts that we've collected , 1015 00:37:20,667 --> 00:37:22,778 for example , traced directly back to 1016 00:37:22,778 --> 00:37:26,350 Tehran . Um , so I think our concern 1017 00:37:26,360 --> 00:37:28,970 was that um , this might be an 1018 00:37:28,970 --> 00:37:31,192 indication that that Iran intends to do 1019 00:37:31,192 --> 00:37:33,359 more of this and we wanted to disabuse 1020 00:37:33,359 --> 00:37:35,526 them of any sense that that was a good 1021 00:37:35,526 --> 00:37:37,748 idea . Thank you very much . Ladies and 1022 00:37:37,748 --> 00:37:38,310 gentlemen appreciate it .