1 00:00:02,900 --> 00:00:06,780 Good afternoon everybody . I 2 00:00:06,780 --> 00:00:10,240 was remiss last time in recognizing the 3 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:12,184 fact that we have returned to full 4 00:00:12,184 --> 00:00:14,407 capacity here in the briefing room . So 5 00:00:14,407 --> 00:00:16,518 I'm glad that we were finally able to 6 00:00:16,518 --> 00:00:18,600 do that and welcome everyone back . 7 00:00:18,610 --> 00:00:20,832 That said , we do have a fair number of 8 00:00:20,832 --> 00:00:22,888 folks on the phones today , so we'll 9 00:00:22,888 --> 00:00:24,999 make sure to get out to them before I 10 00:00:24,999 --> 00:00:27,221 take your questions . Just a few things 11 00:00:27,221 --> 00:00:28,943 to pass along . So yesterday , 12 00:00:28,943 --> 00:00:30,666 Secretary Austin announced the 13 00:00:30,666 --> 00:00:32,610 appointment of U . S . Navy , Rear 14 00:00:32,610 --> 00:00:34,721 Admiral john wade is the commander of 15 00:00:34,721 --> 00:00:36,777 the Joint Task Force Red Hill . Upon 16 00:00:36,777 --> 00:00:38,832 taking command , Rear Admiral Wade's 17 00:00:38,832 --> 00:00:40,943 sole responsibility will be to ensure 18 00:00:40,943 --> 00:00:43,054 the department's safe and expeditious 19 00:00:43,054 --> 00:00:45,110 de fueling of the Red Hill bulk fuel 20 00:00:45,110 --> 00:00:47,480 storage facility in Oahu Hawaii . The 21 00:00:47,480 --> 00:00:49,480 Department of Defense in the United 22 00:00:49,480 --> 00:00:51,480 States Navy remained focused on the 23 00:00:51,480 --> 00:00:53,369 health and safety of our military 24 00:00:53,369 --> 00:00:55,591 families and the people of Hawaii . And 25 00:00:55,591 --> 00:00:57,647 the Secretary is confident that Rear 26 00:00:57,647 --> 00:00:57,580 Admiral Wade will continue to do 27 00:00:57,580 --> 00:00:59,760 everything necessary to protect the 28 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,010 local communities and the environment 29 00:01:02,010 --> 00:01:04,650 affected by Redhill , ensuring clean , 30 00:01:04,650 --> 00:01:06,872 safe drinking water to our families and 31 00:01:06,872 --> 00:01:08,817 communities while addressing their 32 00:01:08,817 --> 00:01:11,039 continued health and safety concerns is 33 00:01:11,039 --> 00:01:13,317 among D . O . D . S highest priorities . 34 00:01:13,317 --> 00:01:15,150 As he carries out this important 35 00:01:15,150 --> 00:01:17,261 mission , Rear Admiral Wade will work 36 00:01:17,261 --> 00:01:19,372 closely with the Hawaii Department of 37 00:01:19,372 --> 00:01:21,483 Health , the Environmental Protection 38 00:01:21,483 --> 00:01:23,539 Agency and the local community to de 39 00:01:23,539 --> 00:01:25,483 fuel the Red Hill facility . While 40 00:01:25,483 --> 00:01:25,320 making environmentally protective 41 00:01:25,320 --> 00:01:27,810 decisions separately . The Department 42 00:01:27,810 --> 00:01:30,032 of Defense continues to monitor closely 43 00:01:30,032 --> 00:01:32,143 our fellow citizens in Puerto rico as 44 00:01:32,143 --> 00:01:33,921 they deal with the aftermath of 45 00:01:33,921 --> 00:01:35,643 Hurricane Fiona Department has 46 00:01:35,643 --> 00:01:37,588 activated the defense coordinating 47 00:01:37,588 --> 00:01:39,699 element for fema region too . And the 48 00:01:39,699 --> 00:01:41,754 Governor Governor of Puerto Rico has 49 00:01:41,754 --> 00:01:44,460 activated more than 450 members of the 50 00:01:44,460 --> 00:01:46,610 Puerto Rico National Guard to assist 51 00:01:46,610 --> 00:01:48,710 people in need . After Fiona's heavy 52 00:01:48,710 --> 00:01:51,350 rains , high winds uh caused high 53 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,070 widespread damage , flooding mudslides 54 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,610 and power outages nearby . The Virgin 55 00:01:56,610 --> 00:01:58,666 Islands National Guard has activated 56 00:01:58,666 --> 00:02:00,777 personnel to monitor the situation as 57 00:02:00,777 --> 00:02:02,888 part of their joint operations center 58 00:02:02,888 --> 00:02:05,000 team . Before the , before the storm 59 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,056 hit , the Puerto Rico National Guard 60 00:02:07,056 --> 00:02:08,889 prepositioned soldiers and heavy 61 00:02:08,889 --> 00:02:10,889 equipment , including vehicles with 62 00:02:10,889 --> 00:02:13,000 high ground clearance at 10 strategic 63 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,222 points around the island to allow it to 64 00:02:15,222 --> 00:02:17,389 quickly respond to emergencies such as 65 00:02:17,389 --> 00:02:19,611 rescuing stranded or trapped people and 66 00:02:19,611 --> 00:02:23,030 clearing roads Notably on Monday and 67 00:02:23,030 --> 00:02:25,270 Kadji , the Puerto Rico National Guard 68 00:02:25,270 --> 00:02:28,430 65th Infantry Regiment rescued 21 69 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:30,662 elderly and Bedridden people from their 70 00:02:30,662 --> 00:02:32,890 care facility as landslides threatened 71 00:02:32,890 --> 00:02:35,350 the home structure and residents safety . 72 00:02:35,550 --> 00:02:38,730 Also monday Puerto Rico's 2 96 Infantry 73 00:02:38,730 --> 00:02:41,570 Regiment in Mayaguez rescued 59 people 74 00:02:41,580 --> 00:02:44,020 and 13 pets from a flooded community 75 00:02:44,030 --> 00:02:46,420 while guard members with the one 25th 76 00:02:46,420 --> 00:02:49,350 Military Police Battalion rescued a man 77 00:02:49,350 --> 00:02:51,640 in Ponzi who got caught in a flash 78 00:02:51,640 --> 00:02:54,000 flood . He was clinging to a concrete 79 00:02:54,010 --> 00:02:56,660 beam near Mercedes to airport in 80 00:02:56,660 --> 00:02:58,740 southern Puerto rico Puerto rico , 81 00:02:58,750 --> 00:03:00,861 where floodwaters were as high as six 82 00:03:00,861 --> 00:03:03,260 ft . Guard personnel also rescued 83 00:03:03,260 --> 00:03:06,770 people in Salinas unesco to baja and 84 00:03:06,770 --> 00:03:09,030 other municipalities . Meanwhile , the 85 00:03:09,030 --> 00:03:11,252 US Army Corps of Engineers is preparing 86 00:03:11,252 --> 00:03:13,419 generators for emergency power and the 87 00:03:13,419 --> 00:03:15,419 Civil Air Patrol has been providing 88 00:03:15,419 --> 00:03:17,641 post landfall imagery support and small 89 00:03:17,641 --> 00:03:19,974 unmanned aerial systems support to fema , 90 00:03:19,974 --> 00:03:21,974 urban search and rescue teams . The 91 00:03:21,974 --> 00:03:24,086 department continues to stay in close 92 00:03:24,086 --> 00:03:26,252 contact with fema , the National Guard 93 00:03:26,252 --> 00:03:28,419 Bureau and U . S . Northern Command as 94 00:03:28,419 --> 00:03:30,474 response and recovery efforts unfold 95 00:03:30,570 --> 00:03:32,570 later today , Secretary Austin will 96 00:03:32,570 --> 00:03:34,848 welcome Norwegian Minister for Defense , 97 00:03:34,848 --> 00:03:36,959 Bjorn Graham Graham to the pentagon . 98 00:03:36,959 --> 00:03:39,181 The two senior leaders will discuss the 99 00:03:39,181 --> 00:03:41,181 strength of our US Norway bilateral 100 00:03:41,181 --> 00:03:43,292 defense relationship and ongoing work 101 00:03:43,292 --> 00:03:45,181 to support Ukraine as well as our 102 00:03:45,181 --> 00:03:47,292 shared security interests in europe , 103 00:03:47,292 --> 00:03:49,292 the arctic and across the globe and 104 00:03:49,292 --> 00:03:51,403 bilateral and NATO efforts to advance 105 00:03:51,403 --> 00:03:53,626 those interests . And then finally , on 106 00:03:53,626 --> 00:03:55,237 a separate note , we want to 107 00:03:55,237 --> 00:03:57,181 congratulate US Navy Hospital ship 108 00:03:57,181 --> 00:03:59,237 Mercy , which is docked in Hawaii on 109 00:03:59,237 --> 00:04:01,014 concluding a successful pacific 110 00:04:01,014 --> 00:04:03,014 partnership 2022 . This is the 17th 111 00:04:03,014 --> 00:04:05,237 year of this multinational humanitarian 112 00:04:05,237 --> 00:04:06,959 assistance and disaster relief 113 00:04:06,959 --> 00:04:09,014 preparedness mission and the largest 114 00:04:09,014 --> 00:04:11,181 effort of its kind in the indo pacific 115 00:04:11,181 --> 00:04:13,403 region Mission stops during this year's 116 00:04:13,403 --> 00:04:15,459 pacific partnership included Vietnam 117 00:04:15,459 --> 00:04:17,292 plow , the Philippines , Solomon 118 00:04:17,292 --> 00:04:19,403 islands , Fiji and Papua . New guinea 119 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:21,313 Events are coordinated with host 120 00:04:21,313 --> 00:04:23,091 nations and plan based on their 121 00:04:23,091 --> 00:04:24,869 requirements and requests which 122 00:04:24,869 --> 00:04:26,702 typically include medical care , 123 00:04:26,702 --> 00:04:28,758 exchanges , engineering projects and 124 00:04:28,758 --> 00:04:30,536 discussions on humanitarian and 125 00:04:30,536 --> 00:04:32,591 disaster relief . It's another great 126 00:04:32,591 --> 00:04:34,536 example of allies partners and non 127 00:04:34,536 --> 00:04:36,702 governmental organizations in the Indo 128 00:04:36,702 --> 00:04:38,647 pacific region working together to 129 00:04:38,647 --> 00:04:40,591 improve our ability to effectively 130 00:04:40,591 --> 00:04:42,813 respond to natural disasters while also 131 00:04:42,813 --> 00:04:44,480 providing needed humanitarian 132 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:46,647 assistance and support and with that , 133 00:04:46,647 --> 00:04:48,813 I am happy to take your questions will 134 00:04:48,813 --> 00:04:49,813 go first to ap 135 00:04:53,430 --> 00:04:55,720 we'll go right here to the room , 136 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:58,420 anybody in the room , right Don will go 137 00:04:58,420 --> 00:05:01,370 with you . Uh one quick question , I 138 00:05:01,370 --> 00:05:04,300 have two questions but one on the 139 00:05:04,310 --> 00:05:06,300 hospital ship , you said Solomon 140 00:05:06,300 --> 00:05:08,411 islands is one of its stops . Did the 141 00:05:08,411 --> 00:05:11,830 Solomon Islands wave their current role 142 00:05:11,830 --> 00:05:13,830 against military ships coming in or 143 00:05:13,830 --> 00:05:15,997 they consider the mercy not a military 144 00:05:15,997 --> 00:05:18,580 ship ? Um I'll refer you refer you to 145 00:05:18,580 --> 00:05:20,636 the navy in terms of the timing . My 146 00:05:20,636 --> 00:05:22,413 understanding is that they were 147 00:05:22,413 --> 00:05:24,650 permitted to participate . Um , and 148 00:05:24,650 --> 00:05:26,640 that they had been operating there 149 00:05:26,650 --> 00:05:29,500 before . Solomon Islands had made the 150 00:05:29,500 --> 00:05:31,556 declaration . Two questions . One is 151 00:05:31,556 --> 00:05:33,710 from the , from the podium this year 152 00:05:33,710 --> 00:05:36,550 we've heard when the US provide Ukraine 153 00:05:36,550 --> 00:05:39,410 with weapons . It's no strings attached . 154 00:05:39,410 --> 00:05:41,577 No conditions . We don't tell them how 155 00:05:41,577 --> 00:05:43,688 to use them where you were not to use 156 00:05:43,688 --> 00:05:45,743 them . I'm wondering if that carries 157 00:05:45,743 --> 00:05:47,688 over to the claymore mines that we 158 00:05:47,688 --> 00:05:50,340 provided . Uh in response to a question , 159 00:05:50,350 --> 00:05:52,239 you all send us a note saying the 160 00:05:52,239 --> 00:05:54,461 claymore mines that we provided to them 161 00:05:54,461 --> 00:05:56,810 conform with the Ottawa treaty , wanted 162 00:05:56,810 --> 00:05:58,866 to know if that provision , we don't 163 00:05:58,866 --> 00:06:00,921 tell them how to use . It applies to 164 00:06:00,921 --> 00:06:03,143 the Claymore mines as well . So yes , I 165 00:06:03,143 --> 00:06:04,977 mean we provide equipment to the 166 00:06:04,977 --> 00:06:06,866 Ukrainians and they determine how 167 00:06:06,866 --> 00:06:09,032 they're going to use it . Um , so no , 168 00:06:09,032 --> 00:06:11,088 no you can't put the trip wires on , 169 00:06:11,088 --> 00:06:13,254 you have to make them . So again , you 170 00:06:13,254 --> 00:06:15,310 know , just to clarify to uh I think 171 00:06:15,310 --> 00:06:17,532 sometimes that the term , you know as I 172 00:06:17,532 --> 00:06:19,588 looked into this um admittedly as an 173 00:06:19,588 --> 00:06:21,088 Air Force guy , this is an 174 00:06:21,088 --> 00:06:23,830 antipersonnel device above ground . So 175 00:06:23,840 --> 00:06:26,007 mines in that sense is a little bit of 176 00:06:26,007 --> 00:06:28,340 a misnomer . But under the Ottawa 177 00:06:28,340 --> 00:06:32,050 treaty claymore antipersonnel device uh 178 00:06:32,060 --> 00:06:35,560 is not covered if it's detonated with 179 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:39,160 the trip wire , it's covered the 180 00:06:39,170 --> 00:06:41,610 the capabilities that we're providing 181 00:06:41,620 --> 00:06:43,509 are in compliance with the Ottawa 182 00:06:43,509 --> 00:06:45,342 treaty . Thanks tom let me go to 183 00:06:45,342 --> 00:06:47,453 Barbara . No sorry thank you . Let me 184 00:06:47,453 --> 00:06:49,398 go to Barbara um yesterday General 185 00:06:49,398 --> 00:06:51,920 Grigorovich , the head of air forces uh 186 00:06:51,930 --> 00:06:53,763 US air forces in the Middle East 187 00:06:53,763 --> 00:06:56,500 speaking here in Washington publicly 188 00:06:56,500 --> 00:07:00,330 said that Russian forces are getting in 189 00:07:00,340 --> 00:07:03,690 his words more aggressive in Syria 190 00:07:03,690 --> 00:07:07,250 since the invasion . And he said that 191 00:07:07,260 --> 00:07:10,400 Russian armed aircraft had been flying 192 00:07:10,410 --> 00:07:13,170 over where U . S . Troops are located 193 00:07:13,170 --> 00:07:15,340 in Syria . I'm wondering if you can 194 00:07:15,350 --> 00:07:18,850 better describe uh this aggressive 195 00:07:18,860 --> 00:07:22,120 Russian activity and whether the flying 196 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,990 of armed Russian aircraft over U . S . 197 00:07:24,990 --> 00:07:28,090 Troops is a matter of concern . Yeah . 198 00:07:28,100 --> 00:07:30,690 Thanks Barb . Certainly I defer to 199 00:07:30,690 --> 00:07:33,170 General Grant which to provide a more 200 00:07:33,170 --> 00:07:35,120 detailed description of what he's 201 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:37,009 seeing as the air Force's central 202 00:07:37,009 --> 00:07:38,880 commander uh from a D . O . D . 203 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:41,530 Perspective as you know , we maintain 204 00:07:41,540 --> 00:07:43,860 regular military to military contact 205 00:07:43,860 --> 00:07:46,640 with the Russian military uh as it 206 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:50,140 pertains to syria to deconflict . Um 207 00:07:50,630 --> 00:07:53,070 when you look at that area of the world 208 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:56,590 that airspace is particularly dynamic 209 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,510 uh and crowded as there are operations 210 00:07:59,510 --> 00:08:01,900 conducted there , We don't have any 211 00:08:01,900 --> 00:08:04,290 information to indicate any specific 212 00:08:04,300 --> 00:08:06,480 unsafe or unprofessional behavior at 213 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,536 this stage , but certainly something 214 00:08:08,536 --> 00:08:11,360 that bears keeping an eye on . Thank 215 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:15,190 you . Uh Yeah , so recently or just 216 00:08:15,190 --> 00:08:17,412 before the briefing , the seventh fleet 217 00:08:17,412 --> 00:08:19,301 announced that there was a Taiwan 218 00:08:19,301 --> 00:08:21,579 strait transit with a Canadian frigate . 219 00:08:21,579 --> 00:08:25,260 Uh I'm first curious just to clarify 220 00:08:25,270 --> 00:08:27,330 this is the second Taiwan strait 221 00:08:27,330 --> 00:08:29,860 transit since uh Speaker of the House 222 00:08:29,860 --> 00:08:32,470 Pelosi went to Taiwan and then also has 223 00:08:32,470 --> 00:08:35,120 the D . O . D . Observed any unsafe or 224 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,350 unprofessional behavior by chinese Navy 225 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,600 air forces . Um and then I have a 226 00:08:41,610 --> 00:08:44,250 follow up question about Ukraine . Sure 227 00:08:44,260 --> 00:08:46,038 to answer the last part of your 228 00:08:46,038 --> 00:08:48,204 question first . I'm not aware at this 229 00:08:48,204 --> 00:08:50,710 time of any uh incidents or unsafe 230 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,670 behavior in the vicinity of the Taiwan 231 00:08:53,670 --> 00:08:56,180 strait in terms of the transit . What I 232 00:08:56,180 --> 00:08:59,380 can tell you is that the um guided 233 00:08:59,380 --> 00:09:01,950 missile destroyer Uss Higgins in 234 00:09:01,950 --> 00:09:04,500 cooperation with Royal Canadian Navy 235 00:09:04,500 --> 00:09:07,270 Halifax class frigate , Hmcs , 236 00:09:07,270 --> 00:09:10,840 Vancouver uh did conduct a routine 237 00:09:10,850 --> 00:09:13,470 Taiwan strait transit on september 20th 238 00:09:13,680 --> 00:09:16,750 through waters where high seas freedoms 239 00:09:16,750 --> 00:09:18,861 of navigation and overflight apply in 240 00:09:18,861 --> 00:09:21,430 accordance with international law . Um 241 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:23,530 they transited through a corridor in 242 00:09:23,530 --> 00:09:25,141 the strait that's beyond the 243 00:09:25,141 --> 00:09:27,308 territorial sea of any coastal state . 244 00:09:27,308 --> 00:09:29,980 Uh And as always we will continue to 245 00:09:29,990 --> 00:09:32,440 fly and sail and operate wherever 246 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:34,496 international law laws . This is the 247 00:09:34,496 --> 00:09:37,830 second one since Pelosi's visit . Uh I 248 00:09:37,830 --> 00:09:40,052 would check with the Navy but I believe 249 00:09:40,052 --> 00:09:42,274 that's correct . And then on Ukraine uh 250 00:09:42,274 --> 00:09:44,441 there have been reports that Russia is 251 00:09:44,441 --> 00:09:46,441 now starting to use the drones that 252 00:09:46,441 --> 00:09:49,090 Iran had provided it . Can you confirm 253 00:09:49,090 --> 00:09:52,360 that and have their or how it has the D . 254 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:54,249 O . D . Observed the use of these 255 00:09:54,249 --> 00:09:56,670 drones on the battlefield ? Yeah . So I 256 00:09:56,670 --> 00:09:58,448 don't I don't have any specific 257 00:09:58,448 --> 00:10:01,100 information to provide to you on how 258 00:10:01,110 --> 00:10:03,800 Russia is operating these particular 259 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:05,967 drones . Again , as we've talked about 260 00:10:05,967 --> 00:10:08,170 before , we do know that Russia has 261 00:10:08,180 --> 00:10:11,030 requested and has received Iranian 262 00:10:11,030 --> 00:10:13,440 drones . We do know that they intend to 263 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:15,662 use those in the Ukraine conflict . But 264 00:10:15,662 --> 00:10:17,884 beyond that I don't have any additional 265 00:10:17,884 --> 00:10:19,940 information to provide . Let me do a 266 00:10:19,940 --> 00:10:22,107 quick question from the phone here and 267 00:10:22,107 --> 00:10:24,329 then I'll come back to the room . Let's 268 00:10:24,329 --> 00:10:26,551 go to Sylvie from A F . P . Hello Pat , 269 00:10:26,551 --> 00:10:29,230 thank you . I have two questions . Um 270 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:32,930 can you confirm that ? Couldn't 271 00:10:32,940 --> 00:10:36,070 call launched an internal internal 272 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:39,890 investigation about the use of 273 00:10:39,900 --> 00:10:43,730 twitter and facebook by some military 274 00:10:43,730 --> 00:10:46,500 units to launch operation of 275 00:10:46,510 --> 00:10:50,320 disinformation . And also um the 276 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,850 president said that he would send 277 00:10:53,850 --> 00:10:56,880 troops to Taiwan if china invaded the 278 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:59,600 island . Does it mean that the pentagon 279 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:02,870 has to change its posture in the in the 280 00:11:02,870 --> 00:11:06,300 region ? Yeah . Thanks . Sylvie . Um In 281 00:11:06,310 --> 00:11:09,840 in terms of your first question um 282 00:11:09,850 --> 00:11:12,800 what I would tell you is that our D . O . 283 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,430 D . Policy team has requested a review 284 00:11:15,430 --> 00:11:17,450 of Department of Defense military 285 00:11:17,460 --> 00:11:20,680 Information Support Activities , which 286 00:11:20,680 --> 00:11:22,940 is simply meant to be an opportunity 287 00:11:22,940 --> 00:11:25,140 for us to assess the current work 288 00:11:25,140 --> 00:11:28,110 that's being done in this arena uh and 289 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,064 really shouldn't be interpreted as 290 00:11:30,064 --> 00:11:33,190 anything beyond that . Um in terms of 291 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:36,970 the uh your second question , um I'm 292 00:11:36,970 --> 00:11:39,540 not gonna speak for the President as he 293 00:11:39,540 --> 00:11:41,429 said , our policy , our one china 294 00:11:41,429 --> 00:11:44,900 policy remains . So beyond that , I 295 00:11:44,910 --> 00:11:47,243 would refer you back to the White House . 296 00:11:47,243 --> 00:11:49,243 Okay , let me go to the room here . 297 00:11:49,243 --> 00:11:51,490 Fine , thank you , general . Uh so it 298 00:11:51,490 --> 00:11:54,240 seems a number of referendums are being 299 00:11:54,250 --> 00:11:58,030 prepared for territories inside Ukraine 300 00:11:58,030 --> 00:12:00,900 that are being controlled by Russia or 301 00:12:00,910 --> 00:12:02,799 separatists that are supported by 302 00:12:02,799 --> 00:12:06,510 Russia . And today , Mr Medvedev , the 303 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:08,940 National Security Deputy Chairman in 304 00:12:08,940 --> 00:12:12,140 Russia basically warned that um 305 00:12:12,570 --> 00:12:15,430 targeting these areas in the future 306 00:12:15,430 --> 00:12:18,940 will be a crime and that Russia will 307 00:12:18,940 --> 00:12:21,820 use all the forces of self defense . So 308 00:12:21,820 --> 00:12:23,542 I'm just wondering if if those 309 00:12:23,542 --> 00:12:26,520 referendums actually ended up uh 310 00:12:26,530 --> 00:12:29,290 resulting in Russia formerly 311 00:12:29,300 --> 00:12:32,760 controlling uh these regions ? Will 312 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:35,630 that change in any way ? The type of 313 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:38,780 support the pentagon is offering the 314 00:12:38,780 --> 00:12:41,210 Ukrainians , And will these territories 315 00:12:41,210 --> 00:12:44,910 be off limit for Ukrainians when it 316 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:48,690 comes to using us analyze provided 317 00:12:48,690 --> 00:12:50,746 weapons ? Thank you . Thanks buddy . 318 00:12:50,746 --> 00:12:52,912 Well , you know , we've certainly been 319 00:12:52,912 --> 00:12:56,690 talking about um The potential for 320 00:12:56,690 --> 00:13:00,490 these sham referenda for for a while uh 321 00:13:00,490 --> 00:13:02,360 and Russia's efforts to lay the 322 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:06,110 groundwork to essentially annex 323 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:09,490 Ukrainian territory . Um it's part of 324 00:13:09,490 --> 00:13:11,712 their playbook . We saw them do this in 325 00:13:11,712 --> 00:13:13,823 2014 . Right . And it goes a little , 326 00:13:13,823 --> 00:13:15,768 something like this first . You're 327 00:13:15,768 --> 00:13:17,879 going to have proxy officials as what 328 00:13:17,879 --> 00:13:19,879 you're seeing reported in the press 329 00:13:19,879 --> 00:13:21,990 right now claim that they're going to 330 00:13:21,990 --> 00:13:24,157 conduct a referenda and then they will 331 00:13:24,157 --> 00:13:26,268 use that as the basis to try to claim 332 00:13:26,268 --> 00:13:28,500 legitimacy uh in terms of annexation of 333 00:13:28,500 --> 00:13:31,590 sovereign Ukrainian territory . Uh from 334 00:13:31,590 --> 00:13:34,170 my perspective , this is uh simply an 335 00:13:34,170 --> 00:13:36,281 information operation that's meant to 336 00:13:36,281 --> 00:13:39,850 distract from the difficult state that 337 00:13:39,850 --> 00:13:41,906 the Russian military currently finds 338 00:13:41,906 --> 00:13:44,910 itself in right now . But no one will 339 00:13:44,910 --> 00:13:47,710 view such sham referenda with any 340 00:13:47,710 --> 00:13:50,200 credibility in the US certainly will 341 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:53,330 not recognize the outcome of any sham 342 00:13:53,340 --> 00:13:56,720 elections . And so in terms of 343 00:13:56,730 --> 00:14:00,010 uh how that will affect 344 00:14:00,020 --> 00:14:03,260 uh U . S . And international support to 345 00:14:03,260 --> 00:14:05,440 Ukraine . It will not we will continue 346 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:07,051 to work with Ukraine and our 347 00:14:07,051 --> 00:14:09,218 international partners to provide them 348 00:14:09,218 --> 00:14:11,273 with the support they need to defend 349 00:14:11,273 --> 00:14:13,329 their territory . Thank you . Okay , 350 00:14:13,329 --> 00:14:15,440 let's go back up to the phone heather 351 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:18,350 from us . And I thanks so much . Um 352 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:21,920 earlier today , the british put out a 353 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:25,000 statement about um submarines being 354 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,640 moved away from uh their 355 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:30,529 area in the Black Sea . And I was 356 00:14:30,529 --> 00:14:32,930 wondering if you can um comment on that . 357 00:14:32,930 --> 00:14:34,986 I can give me a second . I will tell 358 00:14:34,986 --> 00:14:38,530 you exactly where um they moved 359 00:14:38,530 --> 00:14:41,260 towards a historic cry in Southern 360 00:14:41,260 --> 00:14:45,100 Russia away from Crimea . Thanks 361 00:14:45,100 --> 00:14:47,960 heather . I have seen the press reports 362 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:49,904 on that , but I'm afraid I don't I 363 00:14:49,904 --> 00:14:51,904 don't have anything to provide from 364 00:14:51,904 --> 00:14:53,960 here . Thank you . Let me go to Phil 365 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:55,238 Stewart from Reuters . 366 00:14:59,740 --> 00:15:02,018 Hey , thank you . Um , real quick . Uh , 367 00:15:02,018 --> 00:15:05,980 there is a report out saying that a 368 00:15:05,980 --> 00:15:08,920 ku Klux Klan plaque is at the entrance 369 00:15:08,930 --> 00:15:11,890 of the West Point , uh , at the , at 370 00:15:11,890 --> 00:15:14,057 the entrance of the West Point Science 371 00:15:14,057 --> 00:15:16,460 Center . Um , this report came out some 372 00:15:16,460 --> 00:15:18,793 time ago , I think , 22 weeks ago or so . 373 00:15:18,793 --> 00:15:20,793 I'm just wondering if the D . O . D 374 00:15:20,793 --> 00:15:22,960 looked into these reports about the ku 375 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:24,904 Klux Klan , the Klan plaque at the 376 00:15:24,904 --> 00:15:26,960 entrance of the science center there 377 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,127 and isn't taking any , any position on 378 00:15:29,127 --> 00:15:31,238 it . Thank you . Yeah , thanks Phil . 379 00:15:31,238 --> 00:15:33,404 Um , so , what , what you're referring 380 00:15:33,404 --> 00:15:35,516 to is uh , the second report from the 381 00:15:35,516 --> 00:15:37,738 Navy in Commission which talked about a 382 00:15:37,738 --> 00:15:41,070 um , a painting as I understand it . 383 00:15:41,070 --> 00:15:44,010 That is at , uh , at West Point . 384 00:15:44,020 --> 00:15:47,970 That's , that's um , has a , there's an 385 00:15:47,970 --> 00:15:50,200 aspect in there that includes some ku 386 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:53,240 Klux Klan imagery . Um , that is I 387 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:55,296 again , as I understand as part of a 388 00:15:55,296 --> 00:15:57,407 broader painting that was intended to 389 00:15:57,407 --> 00:16:00,420 indicate that these were one of the 390 00:16:00,430 --> 00:16:03,230 adversaries or foes that soldiers had 391 00:16:03,230 --> 00:16:06,540 fought previously . Um , all that to 392 00:16:06,540 --> 00:16:10,200 say the naming commission report did 393 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:12,256 highlight that is something for West 394 00:16:12,256 --> 00:16:15,180 Point to address . So in terms of what 395 00:16:15,190 --> 00:16:17,730 army leadership is doing to address 396 00:16:17,730 --> 00:16:20,170 that particular painting . I would 397 00:16:20,170 --> 00:16:22,630 refer you to the army . We're confident 398 00:16:22,630 --> 00:16:24,797 that that they're working through that 399 00:16:24,797 --> 00:16:27,019 process is as are all the services when 400 00:16:27,019 --> 00:16:29,250 it comes to the naming commission 401 00:16:29,260 --> 00:16:33,020 findings to address those appropriately 402 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:35,207 and so they may be able to provide you 403 00:16:35,207 --> 00:16:37,262 with a more detailed update on where 404 00:16:37,262 --> 00:16:39,890 that stands . Thank you . All right , 405 00:16:39,890 --> 00:16:42,223 let me go ahead and go back in the room . 406 00:16:42,223 --> 00:16:44,870 Any questions here sir ? The President 407 00:16:44,870 --> 00:16:47,220 biden's rather explicit comment that 408 00:16:47,230 --> 00:16:50,090 the pandemic is over . Does that mean 409 00:16:50,090 --> 00:16:52,180 the pentagon D . O . D . Is going to 410 00:16:52,180 --> 00:16:55,690 amend its vaccination policy or it's an 411 00:16:55,690 --> 00:16:58,760 occupation policy regarding covid 19 . 412 00:16:58,770 --> 00:17:01,320 So certainly from a Department of 413 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:04,480 Defense standpoint , we still have a 414 00:17:04,490 --> 00:17:08,310 requirement to vaccinate when it comes 415 00:17:08,310 --> 00:17:11,390 to Covid . And so we'll continue to 416 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:14,230 implement our measures . And again , 417 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:16,462 you know , at the end of the day for us 418 00:17:16,462 --> 00:17:18,240 this is about readiness , about 419 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:21,690 warfighting readiness . I would refer 420 00:17:21,690 --> 00:17:24,380 you to the White House to uh for any 421 00:17:24,380 --> 00:17:26,780 questions on the President . Thank you . 422 00:17:26,790 --> 00:17:30,190 Yes ma'am . And a special coordinator 423 00:17:30,190 --> 00:17:33,040 in Lebanon announced today that the 424 00:17:33,050 --> 00:17:36,660 United Nations is finalizing a plan to 425 00:17:36,660 --> 00:17:40,060 provide the US funded salaries 426 00:17:40,070 --> 00:17:43,370 to the Lebanese Armed forms Forces . 427 00:17:43,380 --> 00:17:46,850 Uh this part of a previous 428 00:17:47,260 --> 00:17:50,180 authorized funding to love . Can you 429 00:17:50,180 --> 00:17:53,290 confirm anything ? I'm afraid ? I don't 430 00:17:53,290 --> 00:17:55,510 have any updates immediately , but we 431 00:17:55,510 --> 00:17:57,566 can certainly take that question and 432 00:17:57,566 --> 00:17:59,788 get back to you . Okay , let me go back 433 00:17:59,788 --> 00:18:01,899 up to the phone here real quick carla 434 00:18:01,899 --> 00:18:05,820 bob . Hi , general writer . 435 00:18:05,820 --> 00:18:07,987 Thanks for taking my question . Thanks 436 00:18:07,987 --> 00:18:09,987 for doing this . Um Can I follow up 437 00:18:09,987 --> 00:18:12,320 really quickly on what Sylvie had asked ? 438 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:14,320 Um So you said that the D . O . D . 439 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:16,431 Policy team has requested a review of 440 00:18:16,431 --> 00:18:16,200 the military's information Support 441 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:18,580 activities . Um But is the U . S . 442 00:18:18,580 --> 00:18:21,380 Military responsible for in charge of 443 00:18:21,390 --> 00:18:23,612 some or all of the more than 100 and 50 444 00:18:23,612 --> 00:18:25,557 fake accounts that were deleted by 445 00:18:25,557 --> 00:18:28,900 twitter and meta slash facebook ? So 446 00:18:28,910 --> 00:18:31,180 what I would tell you is that um 447 00:18:31,190 --> 00:18:33,301 facebook neither facebook nor twitter 448 00:18:33,301 --> 00:18:35,950 have provided us with that information . 449 00:18:35,950 --> 00:18:38,280 So I can't answer that question . We 450 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:41,940 don't know . But uh as mentioned we're 451 00:18:41,940 --> 00:18:45,150 taking this opportunity uh to go out to 452 00:18:45,150 --> 00:18:48,190 our organizations that do conduct 453 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:50,422 military information support operations 454 00:18:50,422 --> 00:18:54,370 To do a review . Sure . 455 00:18:54,890 --> 00:18:58,200 I mean what is this review about ? Is 456 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:00,900 it in fact a 30 day review ? What are 457 00:19:00,900 --> 00:19:03,740 you asking these organizations to 458 00:19:03,740 --> 00:19:05,590 provide ? And who are these 459 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:09,290 organizations uh if it's information ? 460 00:19:09,610 --> 00:19:13,560 Um Is this regular public 461 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:16,720 affairs people that interact with the U . 462 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:20,100 S . And global media or these people 463 00:19:20,100 --> 00:19:22,410 who do not do that ? Do they engage in 464 00:19:22,420 --> 00:19:24,960 deception ? Can we get some details ? 465 00:19:24,970 --> 00:19:27,220 Sure . So I'm not going to put a 466 00:19:27,220 --> 00:19:29,387 timeline on the review . The review is 467 00:19:29,850 --> 00:19:32,110 part of a standard management process 468 00:19:32,110 --> 00:19:35,250 to make sure that that our policy team 469 00:19:35,260 --> 00:19:37,710 has a you know the opportunity to take 470 00:19:37,710 --> 00:19:39,654 a look at what it is . We're doing 471 00:19:39,654 --> 00:19:41,877 again as we see this press coverage out 472 00:19:41,877 --> 00:19:44,099 of due diligence ? Just to make sure uh 473 00:19:44,099 --> 00:19:46,790 that we can take a look and be aware . 474 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:49,720 um from a policy standpoint in terms of 475 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:53,360 your question on um you know what the D . 476 00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:55,527 O . D . Does . Let's let's take a step 477 00:19:55,527 --> 00:19:58,040 aside uh in terms of military 478 00:19:58,050 --> 00:20:01,380 information support operations um which 479 00:20:01,380 --> 00:20:03,269 used to be known as psychological 480 00:20:03,269 --> 00:20:06,180 operations . Um That is a capability 481 00:20:06,190 --> 00:20:08,190 that the Department of Defense does 482 00:20:08,190 --> 00:20:10,860 maintain . Uh it's an aspect of warfare 483 00:20:10,870 --> 00:20:13,940 uh as old as warfare itself . Uh and we 484 00:20:13,940 --> 00:20:16,860 conduct those operations in support of 485 00:20:16,860 --> 00:20:18,971 national security priorities . What I 486 00:20:18,971 --> 00:20:21,027 would highlight is that they must be 487 00:20:21,027 --> 00:20:23,580 undertaken in compliance with US law 488 00:20:23,580 --> 00:20:25,524 and D . O . D . Policy and we have 489 00:20:25,524 --> 00:20:27,636 safeguards in place and are committed 490 00:20:27,636 --> 00:20:30,480 to observing those safeguards . Uh 491 00:20:30,490 --> 00:20:32,823 These are not public affairs operations . 492 00:20:32,823 --> 00:20:35,470 These are military information support 493 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:39,000 operations . Uh And so um again 494 00:20:39,010 --> 00:20:41,570 capability that we maintain capability 495 00:20:41,570 --> 00:20:44,650 that we employ uh and operations 496 00:20:44,660 --> 00:20:46,620 overseas and in support of uh 497 00:20:46,630 --> 00:20:50,270 contingencies . It must these 498 00:20:50,270 --> 00:20:53,190 operations and the information they 499 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:55,580 communicate must they be truthful . 500 00:20:56,270 --> 00:20:59,870 So again , not not to get into a a 501 00:20:59,870 --> 00:21:02,760 prolonged conversation about um you 502 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:06,590 know doctrine but when it comes to uh 503 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:08,970 miso or psychological operations 504 00:21:08,970 --> 00:21:12,230 generally speaking , um when you talk 505 00:21:12,230 --> 00:21:15,650 to um miso operators , truth is 506 00:21:15,650 --> 00:21:18,550 always the preferred option . 507 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:21,440 But when you start talking about 508 00:21:21,450 --> 00:21:23,728 military deception operations , I mean , 509 00:21:23,910 --> 00:21:26,132 not to go too far back and you think of 510 00:21:26,132 --> 00:21:28,077 World War Two and you think of the 511 00:21:28,077 --> 00:21:30,188 invasion of D . Day and and airplanes 512 00:21:30,188 --> 00:21:32,243 that were out on a runway that we're 513 00:21:32,243 --> 00:21:34,466 meant to deceive the adversary . Um you 514 00:21:34,466 --> 00:21:36,354 know that is a capability in your 515 00:21:36,354 --> 00:21:38,521 toolkit that you will keep uh in order 516 00:21:38,521 --> 00:21:40,480 to enable your operations . So to 517 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:44,250 answer your question um there are 518 00:21:44,250 --> 00:21:47,040 opportunities in conducting operations 519 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:49,207 against adversaries where you may want 520 00:21:49,207 --> 00:21:52,860 to uh use information in a way that 521 00:21:52,870 --> 00:21:56,530 um is going to help them think a 522 00:21:56,530 --> 00:22:00,490 certain way not truthful information . 523 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:05,520 Sure . General . How is this different 524 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:09,310 from the behavior of Russia 525 00:22:09,310 --> 00:22:11,560 and and china and all the accusations 526 00:22:11,570 --> 00:22:13,990 from the U . S . That they use such 527 00:22:13,990 --> 00:22:16,101 operations ? Well , let's take a step 528 00:22:16,101 --> 00:22:18,170 back because you're you know , again 529 00:22:19,620 --> 00:22:22,600 there is no to my knowledge , we have 530 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:24,600 not reviewed this information so we 531 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:26,767 can't make the assumption that this is 532 00:22:26,767 --> 00:22:28,989 D . O . D . Again we have safeguards in 533 00:22:28,989 --> 00:22:30,989 place in terms of how we manage our 534 00:22:30,989 --> 00:22:34,160 operations . Um and and so I'll leave 535 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:37,290 it at that . Okay . Louis 536 00:22:37,940 --> 00:22:40,540 uh sir , the um with regards to this um 537 00:22:40,550 --> 00:22:42,606 was there a previous review that had 538 00:22:42,606 --> 00:22:46,520 been done prior to this new review that 539 00:22:46,530 --> 00:22:48,752 sector call has called for because when 540 00:22:48,752 --> 00:22:50,808 you read the Washington post article 541 00:22:50,808 --> 00:22:53,290 talks about a draft of miso operations 542 00:22:53,300 --> 00:22:57,290 um that ended in august a 543 00:22:57,290 --> 00:22:59,401 month later . Now here comes a smooth 544 00:22:59,401 --> 00:23:01,623 report that he ordered this review last 545 00:23:01,623 --> 00:23:04,010 week . Can you provide some guidance as 546 00:23:04,010 --> 00:23:06,580 to what's actually going on here ? Yeah , 547 00:23:06,590 --> 00:23:09,050 certainly . So what I would say is 548 00:23:09,050 --> 00:23:11,600 again , you know part of using this as 549 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:14,120 an opportunity to go back because again 550 00:23:14,120 --> 00:23:16,009 we have not seen this information 551 00:23:16,009 --> 00:23:18,231 that's been reported on by facebook and 552 00:23:18,231 --> 00:23:20,342 twitter to go back and take a look at 553 00:23:20,342 --> 00:23:24,140 our own operations . Um And again um 554 00:23:24,150 --> 00:23:25,872 when we conduct these types of 555 00:23:25,872 --> 00:23:28,580 operations they're going to be done 556 00:23:28,590 --> 00:23:30,940 within the policies and the safeguards 557 00:23:30,950 --> 00:23:34,360 that we put into place . So um you know 558 00:23:34,360 --> 00:23:36,582 in terms of past and previous reviews , 559 00:23:36,582 --> 00:23:38,638 I don't have any information on that 560 00:23:38,638 --> 00:23:40,638 other than to say you know like any 561 00:23:40,638 --> 00:23:42,582 management function , you're gonna 562 00:23:42,582 --> 00:23:45,080 constantly you know , be asking those 563 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:47,136 kinds of questions to make sure that 564 00:23:47,136 --> 00:23:49,580 you have a full picture of who's doing 565 00:23:49,580 --> 00:23:52,800 what and when uh to continue to ensure 566 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:54,689 that things are being done within 567 00:23:54,689 --> 00:23:58,580 policy and the the regulations that we 568 00:23:58,580 --> 00:23:59,790 have in place . 569 00:24:02,330 --> 00:24:04,820 If they if these actions do not follow 570 00:24:04,820 --> 00:24:07,130 policy , I don't wanna get into 571 00:24:07,130 --> 00:24:09,770 hypotheticals . I mean again we have 572 00:24:09,770 --> 00:24:11,910 clear policy and guidance that's 573 00:24:11,910 --> 00:24:13,910 communicated to all of our military 574 00:24:13,910 --> 00:24:17,750 units on this . Um And yeah just leave 575 00:24:17,750 --> 00:24:21,560 it at that . You said I got this 576 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:23,990 part , not public affairs operation but 577 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:26,222 military support operations . Does that 578 00:24:26,222 --> 00:24:28,389 mean it's conducted by elements of the 579 00:24:28,389 --> 00:24:30,056 Department of Defense and not 580 00:24:30,056 --> 00:24:32,550 contracted out ? I mean across the D . 581 00:24:32,550 --> 00:24:35,210 O . D . Obviously we employ contractors 582 00:24:35,210 --> 00:24:38,420 for a variety of things to include in 583 00:24:38,420 --> 00:24:40,340 the areas of military information 584 00:24:40,340 --> 00:24:42,190 support operations . Right to to 585 00:24:42,190 --> 00:24:44,079 provide a variety of support from 586 00:24:44,079 --> 00:24:46,450 administrative to subject matter 587 00:24:46,450 --> 00:24:48,840 expertise . I don't have any specifics 588 00:24:48,840 --> 00:24:51,460 to provide you but yeah I appreciate 589 00:24:51,460 --> 00:24:53,560 that response to any anything that 590 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:56,210 would be contracted out in terms of 591 00:24:56,220 --> 00:24:58,553 this issue without going into specifics ? 592 00:24:58,553 --> 00:25:00,887 Would it be part of the review of D . O . 593 00:25:00,887 --> 00:25:03,410 D . Personnel before it goes out at 594 00:25:03,410 --> 00:25:06,740 some point ? Um Again I yeah 595 00:25:06,750 --> 00:25:09,230 I think again we're going to take a 596 00:25:09,230 --> 00:25:13,070 look at organizations that conduct miso 597 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:16,680 um and you know , all 598 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:19,270 aspects of it . Yes . Barbara , just to 599 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:23,240 circle back again for those of us who 600 00:25:23,250 --> 00:25:26,920 are still confused , what is can you 601 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:28,920 help us understand ? Can you define 602 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:32,740 what is me ? So what is a 603 00:25:32,740 --> 00:25:35,350 military information support operations 604 00:25:35,360 --> 00:25:38,690 for the general public ? What is it ? 605 00:25:38,700 --> 00:25:41,360 Sure ? I mean it can be a variety of 606 00:25:41,360 --> 00:25:45,340 things . Right . So for example um you 607 00:25:45,340 --> 00:25:48,250 know typically miso is going to target 608 00:25:48,260 --> 00:25:51,490 adversary populations , adversary 609 00:25:51,500 --> 00:25:55,000 leaders in terms of what is the 610 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:56,620 information that needs to be 611 00:25:56,620 --> 00:25:59,380 communicated to them using again ? 612 00:25:59,390 --> 00:26:01,820 Typically truthful information to try 613 00:26:01,820 --> 00:26:04,030 to push back on disinformation or 614 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:07,520 misinformation . Um and it 615 00:26:07,530 --> 00:26:11,350 is uh you know uh it can also be things 616 00:26:11,360 --> 00:26:15,110 like um if 617 00:26:15,110 --> 00:26:18,480 there are um bad actors that are 618 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:20,480 pushing out information that is you 619 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:24,110 know um that is incorrect 620 00:26:24,120 --> 00:26:27,770 or is targeting us forces . It helps 621 00:26:27,780 --> 00:26:31,130 to uh ensure that those 622 00:26:32,420 --> 00:26:34,600 adversaries or target populations get 623 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:36,489 accurate information about what's 624 00:26:36,489 --> 00:26:38,600 happening but I'm not gonna go in any 625 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:41,940 specific T T . P . S . Or um current 626 00:26:41,940 --> 00:26:44,340 operations from here for obvious 627 00:26:44,340 --> 00:26:48,270 reasons . 12 things . Is 628 00:26:48,270 --> 00:26:51,890 it always reactive to 629 00:26:51,900 --> 00:26:54,720 push back or can one of these 630 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:58,630 operations be enacted on 631 00:26:58,630 --> 00:27:02,280 its own because you have a requirement 632 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:04,700 to do it ? Or is it always in response 633 00:27:04,710 --> 00:27:07,820 to something else ? Uh like all 634 00:27:07,820 --> 00:27:11,720 military operations ? Uh it can be uh 635 00:27:11,730 --> 00:27:14,090 part of the military planning cycle . 636 00:27:14,100 --> 00:27:17,380 Right ? So when you are looking at what 637 00:27:17,380 --> 00:27:20,400 a what the objectives are for any 638 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:22,511 particular campaign or operation , if 639 00:27:22,511 --> 00:27:24,233 there is a requirement that is 640 00:27:24,233 --> 00:27:26,067 something that can be taken into 641 00:27:26,067 --> 00:27:28,178 account . But again , I don't want to 642 00:27:28,370 --> 00:27:30,850 um say that that's always the case . 643 00:27:30,850 --> 00:27:32,739 It's going to be dependent on the 644 00:27:32,739 --> 00:27:34,961 mission . It's going to be dependent on 645 00:27:34,961 --> 00:27:34,440 the area of the world that we're 646 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:36,930 operating in . And this is the last 647 00:27:36,930 --> 00:27:39,041 question . But what I need to move on 648 00:27:39,041 --> 00:27:41,180 to some other folks said , you target 649 00:27:41,190 --> 00:27:44,200 adversary population and leadership 650 00:27:44,990 --> 00:27:47,157 and you know , the other thing I would 651 00:27:47,157 --> 00:27:49,379 tell you if you get online and you take 652 00:27:49,379 --> 00:27:52,070 a look at the joint publications , uh 653 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:54,080 there's doctrine on there that goes 654 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:56,610 into uh military information support 655 00:27:56,610 --> 00:27:58,721 operations that will provide you with 656 00:27:58,721 --> 00:28:00,666 the doctrinal definitions and some 657 00:28:00,666 --> 00:28:03,280 additional information . Yeah . Okay . 658 00:28:03,290 --> 00:28:06,620 All right , let me go to Kassem Anadolu 659 00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:10,409 General , thank you very much for 660 00:28:10,409 --> 00:28:12,630 thanking my question . Last week , the 661 00:28:12,630 --> 00:28:15,060 United States Government lifted the 662 00:28:15,060 --> 00:28:17,810 embargo on South Cyprus administration . 663 00:28:17,820 --> 00:28:20,910 Isn't there a concern this move could 664 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:24,040 cause an arms race on the island . And 665 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:27,600 what would you do to assure to to 666 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:30,460 ensure that this move doesn't end up in 667 00:28:30,460 --> 00:28:33,210 a escalatory arms race on the island . 668 00:28:33,780 --> 00:28:36,002 I'm sorry cause I missed the first part 669 00:28:36,002 --> 00:28:38,160 of your question . Um Which which 670 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:42,090 island Cyprus like South South Cyprus 671 00:28:42,090 --> 00:28:44,410 administration ? Yeah , I'm afraid I 672 00:28:44,410 --> 00:28:47,690 don't have anything on that . I'd refer 673 00:28:47,690 --> 00:28:50,023 you to the State department on that one . 674 00:28:50,023 --> 00:28:53,020 Thank you . Okay , let's go to john a 675 00:28:53,020 --> 00:28:55,700 new york times . Yes . Hi general a 676 00:28:55,710 --> 00:28:57,821 question about money . Um , I believe 677 00:28:57,821 --> 00:28:59,932 the last time we got a comment on the 678 00:28:59,932 --> 00:29:02,043 amount of money available for PDS was 679 00:29:02,043 --> 00:29:04,680 back in july 22nd when a senior defense 680 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:07,190 official said about $6 billion remained 681 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:09,300 under current authorizations . I was 682 00:29:09,300 --> 00:29:11,189 wondering if you can say how much 683 00:29:11,189 --> 00:29:13,411 remains now and then separately . I was 684 00:29:13,411 --> 00:29:15,522 I was like to ask that it be possible 685 00:29:15,522 --> 00:29:17,744 to get something hung up on the D . O . 686 00:29:17,744 --> 00:29:19,689 D . S . Website . That's a running 687 00:29:19,689 --> 00:29:21,467 breakdown of all the individual 688 00:29:21,467 --> 00:29:23,578 announcements that make up the dollar 689 00:29:23,578 --> 00:29:25,578 figures . The pentagon uses when it 690 00:29:25,578 --> 00:29:27,522 says things like us has provided x 691 00:29:27,522 --> 00:29:29,633 number of billion dollars in security 692 00:29:29,633 --> 00:29:31,800 assistance to Ukraine either beginning 693 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:33,578 since the invasion or since the 694 00:29:33,578 --> 00:29:33,290 beginning of the biden administration 695 00:29:33,290 --> 00:29:36,130 or since 2014 . I've been trying to 696 00:29:36,140 --> 00:29:38,307 make sense . You know , get my math to 697 00:29:38,307 --> 00:29:41,320 match um D . O . D . S . Math and 698 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:43,209 there's some gaps and it would be 699 00:29:43,209 --> 00:29:45,098 really helpful if whatever dollar 700 00:29:45,098 --> 00:29:47,290 figures OsD uses that . We could just 701 00:29:47,290 --> 00:29:50,130 get a point by point . Um you know , 702 00:29:50,140 --> 00:29:52,362 this state , this state for P . D . A . 703 00:29:52,362 --> 00:29:54,362 S . U . S . A . I . F . M . F . And 704 00:29:54,362 --> 00:29:56,473 such that we can all be on the same , 705 00:29:56,473 --> 00:29:56,370 you know , understand where these 706 00:29:56,370 --> 00:29:59,080 figures come from . Okay . Thanks john 707 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:01,350 so we'll go back and take a look to 708 00:30:01,350 --> 00:30:03,517 make sure it addresses your question . 709 00:30:03,517 --> 00:30:06,160 But we do have a fact sheet posted to 710 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:09,830 our website that lays out all of the 711 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:12,270 things that we've announced in terms of 712 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:15,910 um equipment um with 713 00:30:15,910 --> 00:30:17,780 the with the dollar figures not 714 00:30:17,780 --> 00:30:20,130 necessarily next to the pieces of 715 00:30:20,130 --> 00:30:22,130 equipment obviously but we'll we'll 716 00:30:22,130 --> 00:30:24,352 take a look at that . So I believe that 717 00:30:24,352 --> 00:30:26,574 information is out there um in terms of 718 00:30:26,574 --> 00:30:30,170 how much money is left . Um what I 719 00:30:30,170 --> 00:30:33,060 would tell you right now is that um 720 00:30:34,150 --> 00:30:38,100 2.27 721 00:30:38,100 --> 00:30:41,250 2.275 billion remains in um 722 00:30:42,580 --> 00:30:46,020 P . D . A . until September 30 , 723 00:30:46,020 --> 00:30:49,680 2022 . Um And for us 724 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:53,440 ai we've got 1.505 billion available 725 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:56,260 through september 30th of 2023 . 726 00:30:58,100 --> 00:31:00,850 Okay . Alright . Any other questions in 727 00:31:00,850 --> 00:31:04,740 the room here ? Nice number sir . Thank 728 00:31:04,740 --> 00:31:07,610 you . Nice and go to you and then I get 729 00:31:07,610 --> 00:31:09,721 one more on the phone . Yeah . Just a 730 00:31:09,721 --> 00:31:11,721 quick question on the meeting today 731 00:31:11,721 --> 00:31:13,999 with the Norwegian Minister of Defense , 732 00:31:13,999 --> 00:31:15,999 will there be any discussion on the 733 00:31:15,999 --> 00:31:18,054 abandoned Osprey ? That is still out 734 00:31:18,054 --> 00:31:20,221 there in the Norwegian wilderness . So 735 00:31:20,221 --> 00:31:22,221 we'll issue a readout following the 736 00:31:22,221 --> 00:31:21,900 meeting . I don't want to speculate on 737 00:31:21,900 --> 00:31:24,120 the specifics of the conversation as I 738 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:26,180 mentioned in my opening remarks . 739 00:31:26,190 --> 00:31:29,040 Secretary Austin is certainly 740 00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:32,920 excited and glad to be able to welcome 741 00:31:32,930 --> 00:31:34,986 the minister to the building today . 742 00:31:34,986 --> 00:31:36,930 But beyond that , I don't have any 743 00:31:36,930 --> 00:31:39,200 additional info . Okay . And , uh , 744 00:31:39,210 --> 00:31:41,432 last question will go to Laura Seligman 745 00:31:41,432 --> 00:31:42,432 at politico . 746 00:31:53,060 --> 00:31:55,282 Okay . Thanks very much , everybody . I 747 00:31:55,282 --> 00:31:57,230 appreciate it . Have a great day .