1 00:00:03,150 --> 00:00:06,159 Good afternoon , everyone . A few 2 00:00:06,170 --> 00:00:08,226 things at the top and then we'll get 3 00:00:08,226 --> 00:00:09,892 right to your questions . The 4 00:00:09,892 --> 00:00:12,114 Department of Defense continues to work 5 00:00:12,114 --> 00:00:14,059 closely with FEMA and the state of 6 00:00:14,059 --> 00:00:16,170 Hawaii to support the ongoing federal 7 00:00:16,170 --> 00:00:17,892 and state response to the Maui 8 00:00:17,892 --> 00:00:20,370 wildfires . Nearly 700 dod personnel 9 00:00:20,379 --> 00:00:22,690 and 157 coast guardsmen are currently 10 00:00:22,700 --> 00:00:25,190 engaged and the US Army Pacific Command 11 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:27,889 and joint task force . 50 are actively 12 00:00:27,899 --> 00:00:30,010 conducting the eight approved mission 13 00:00:30,010 --> 00:00:32,177 assignments they've received from FEMA 14 00:00:32,389 --> 00:00:34,529 in the past 24 hours . Search and 15 00:00:34,540 --> 00:00:36,650 recovery operations continue with 16 00:00:36,659 --> 00:00:39,590 Hawaii National Guard teams . The FBI 17 00:00:39,599 --> 00:00:41,599 and anthropologist from the defense 18 00:00:41,599 --> 00:00:44,279 Powmi , a accounting agency , the US 19 00:00:44,290 --> 00:00:46,900 Army's 25th Infantry Division , heavy 20 00:00:46,909 --> 00:00:48,853 expanded mobility , tactical truck 21 00:00:48,853 --> 00:00:50,720 fuelers began fuel distribution 22 00:00:50,729 --> 00:00:53,009 operations yesterday providing 23 00:00:53,020 --> 00:00:55,409 approximately 1500 gallons of fuel 24 00:00:55,419 --> 00:00:58,439 daily in support of 18 US army corps of 25 00:00:58,450 --> 00:01:01,279 engineer generators operating along the 26 00:01:01,290 --> 00:01:04,120 west coast of Maui . Meanwhile US 27 00:01:04,129 --> 00:01:06,073 Pacific fleet has deployed a three 28 00:01:06,073 --> 00:01:08,296 person mobile diving salvage unit which 29 00:01:08,296 --> 00:01:10,351 is scheduled to arrive later today . 30 00:01:10,559 --> 00:01:12,726 Also our coast guard partners continue 31 00:01:12,726 --> 00:01:14,448 their work minimizing maritime 32 00:01:14,448 --> 00:01:16,839 environmental impacts coast guardsmen . 33 00:01:16,849 --> 00:01:19,110 Recently partnered with Maui fire dive 34 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:21,250 teams in Lahaina Harbor and that 35 00:01:21,260 --> 00:01:23,538 operation is scheduled to resume today . 36 00:01:24,260 --> 00:01:26,204 Separately . I also want to take a 37 00:01:26,204 --> 00:01:28,093 moment to highlight last Friday's 38 00:01:28,093 --> 00:01:29,927 announcement following President 39 00:01:29,927 --> 00:01:31,871 Biden's meeting at Camp David with 40 00:01:31,871 --> 00:01:33,760 Prime Minister Shida of Japan and 41 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:36,038 President Nun of the Republic of Korea . 42 00:01:36,038 --> 00:01:37,871 As you all saw our three nations 43 00:01:37,871 --> 00:01:39,593 committed to several important 44 00:01:39,593 --> 00:01:41,816 agreements that will strengthen peace , 45 00:01:41,816 --> 00:01:44,038 peace and security for our people , the 46 00:01:44,038 --> 00:01:46,093 Indo Pacific region and the world on 47 00:01:46,093 --> 00:01:48,260 exercises . Our leaders committed to a 48 00:01:48,260 --> 00:01:50,316 multi year trilateral framework that 49 00:01:50,316 --> 00:01:52,538 includes annual multi domain trilateral 50 00:01:52,538 --> 00:01:54,538 exercises . And this follows recent 51 00:01:54,538 --> 00:01:56,760 successful trilateral ballistic missile 52 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:58,704 defense and anti submarine warfare 53 00:01:58,704 --> 00:02:00,871 exercises . Among our three militaries 54 00:02:01,180 --> 00:02:03,124 on ballistic missile defense , our 55 00:02:03,124 --> 00:02:05,180 three countries will activate by the 56 00:02:05,180 --> 00:02:07,069 end of this year , a data sharing 57 00:02:07,069 --> 00:02:09,291 mechanism to exchange real time missile 58 00:02:09,291 --> 00:02:11,402 warning data that will improve mutual 59 00:02:11,402 --> 00:02:14,210 detection and assessment of D PR K 60 00:02:14,220 --> 00:02:16,690 missile launches . This follows the 61 00:02:16,699 --> 00:02:18,588 commitments that our leaders made 62 00:02:18,588 --> 00:02:21,369 together in November of last year as 63 00:02:21,380 --> 00:02:23,158 well as an important meeting by 64 00:02:23,158 --> 00:02:25,324 Secretary Austin with his Japanese and 65 00:02:25,324 --> 00:02:27,547 Rok counterparts in Singapore in July . 66 00:02:27,547 --> 00:02:30,720 This July or excuse me , this June on 67 00:02:30,729 --> 00:02:32,673 enhanced information sharing , our 68 00:02:32,673 --> 00:02:34,840 three countries will leverage existing 69 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:36,951 secure lines of communications and we 70 00:02:36,951 --> 00:02:38,173 continue building and 71 00:02:38,173 --> 00:02:40,062 institutionalizing our respective 72 00:02:40,062 --> 00:02:42,007 communication channels . This will 73 00:02:42,007 --> 00:02:43,785 enhance our trilateral security 74 00:02:43,785 --> 00:02:45,896 cooperation in the region in the face 75 00:02:45,896 --> 00:02:47,729 of North Korean provocations and 76 00:02:47,729 --> 00:02:49,896 improve information sharing and policy 77 00:02:49,896 --> 00:02:51,929 coordination in the future . All of 78 00:02:51,940 --> 00:02:53,996 these agreements underscore that our 79 00:02:53,996 --> 00:02:56,051 relationships with Japan and the rok 80 00:02:56,051 --> 00:02:58,130 are stronger than ever . That's why 81 00:02:58,139 --> 00:03:00,139 Secretary Austin issued a statement 82 00:03:00,139 --> 00:03:02,306 last week celebrating what he called a 83 00:03:02,350 --> 00:03:04,979 historic day for the United States and 84 00:03:04,990 --> 00:03:07,589 two of our closest allies . And it's 85 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:09,711 why the department is looking forward 86 00:03:09,711 --> 00:03:11,767 to continue to work closely with our 87 00:03:11,767 --> 00:03:13,767 Japanese and rok counterparts as we 88 00:03:13,767 --> 00:03:15,711 keep delivering results together . 89 00:03:15,820 --> 00:03:17,820 Finally , us , Indo Pacific Command 90 00:03:17,820 --> 00:03:21,139 concluded exercise Malabar 2023 91 00:03:21,149 --> 00:03:23,260 yesterday , which ran 10 through 21 . 92 00:03:23,260 --> 00:03:25,770 August . This annual exercise is a 93 00:03:25,779 --> 00:03:27,479 surface air and sub surface 94 00:03:27,490 --> 00:03:29,546 multilateral exercise with the Royal 95 00:03:29,546 --> 00:03:32,350 Australian Navy , Indian Navy , Japan 96 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,639 Maritime Self Defense Force and the US 97 00:03:34,649 --> 00:03:37,039 Navy . This year's exercise was 98 00:03:37,050 --> 00:03:39,161 comprised of a harbor phase and a sea 99 00:03:39,161 --> 00:03:41,217 phase encompassing a wide variety of 100 00:03:41,217 --> 00:03:42,772 mission sets to develop the 101 00:03:42,772 --> 00:03:45,419 participants capabilities in integrated 102 00:03:45,429 --> 00:03:47,679 air and missile defense , combined 103 00:03:47,690 --> 00:03:49,679 undersea warfare , anti submarine 104 00:03:49,690 --> 00:03:52,020 warfare , combined strike , maritime 105 00:03:52,029 --> 00:03:54,140 interdiction operations , visit board 106 00:03:54,149 --> 00:03:56,205 search and seizure and combined live 107 00:03:56,205 --> 00:03:59,250 fire . Since 1992 exercise , Malabar 108 00:03:59,259 --> 00:04:01,699 has provided participating nations the 109 00:04:01,710 --> 00:04:03,877 opportunity to enhance and demonstrate 110 00:04:03,877 --> 00:04:06,099 interoperability while furthering peace 111 00:04:06,099 --> 00:04:07,988 and stability in the Indo Pacific 112 00:04:07,988 --> 00:04:10,229 region . If you have more questions on 113 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,351 that or for more information , please 114 00:04:12,351 --> 00:04:14,296 reach out to us indo paycom public 115 00:04:14,296 --> 00:04:16,462 affairs with that . Happy to take your 116 00:04:16,462 --> 00:04:18,684 questions . We'll start with Associated 117 00:04:18,684 --> 00:04:21,730 Press on the line . Hi , General Ryder . 118 00:04:21,739 --> 00:04:24,660 Thanks for doing this . Um I was 119 00:04:24,670 --> 00:04:26,559 wondering if you could give us an 120 00:04:26,559 --> 00:04:28,559 update on the status of fighting in 121 00:04:28,559 --> 00:04:30,781 Ukraine's counteroffensive . We haven't 122 00:04:30,781 --> 00:04:33,149 heard much about that recently . Um Are 123 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,216 there any concerns that there hasn't 124 00:04:35,216 --> 00:04:37,049 been a lot of progress or enough 125 00:04:37,049 --> 00:04:39,019 progress , especially as the 126 00:04:39,029 --> 00:04:41,251 administration has now put in a request 127 00:04:41,251 --> 00:04:43,940 for another $24 billion in aid to 128 00:04:43,950 --> 00:04:46,839 Ukraine . And then on a separate topic , 129 00:04:46,850 --> 00:04:49,899 um Maui , if uh you could give us any 130 00:04:49,910 --> 00:04:52,390 details on what the DP A team is doing 131 00:04:52,399 --> 00:04:54,621 on the ground , whether they're helping 132 00:04:54,621 --> 00:04:56,788 with collection or how they're helping 133 00:04:56,788 --> 00:04:58,843 with identification . Thanks a lot . 134 00:04:58,843 --> 00:05:00,899 Yeah , thanks Tara . Uh On the first 135 00:05:00,899 --> 00:05:02,843 question in terms of operations in 136 00:05:02,843 --> 00:05:04,955 Ukraine . Uh I'd I'd refer you to the 137 00:05:04,955 --> 00:05:06,843 Ukrainians really to go into more 138 00:05:06,843 --> 00:05:09,010 details on their specific operations , 139 00:05:09,010 --> 00:05:11,066 largely speaking . Uh We continue to 140 00:05:11,066 --> 00:05:13,288 see fighting all along the forward line 141 00:05:13,288 --> 00:05:15,510 of troops with the Ukrainians making uh 142 00:05:15,510 --> 00:05:18,320 some forward movement . And again , our 143 00:05:18,329 --> 00:05:20,440 focus is going to be on continuing to 144 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:22,551 communicate closely with them and our 145 00:05:22,551 --> 00:05:24,773 allies and partners to ensure that they 146 00:05:24,773 --> 00:05:26,885 have what they need to continue to be 147 00:05:26,885 --> 00:05:28,996 able to defend their country and take 148 00:05:28,996 --> 00:05:31,040 back sovereign territory uh as it 149 00:05:31,049 --> 00:05:34,670 relates to Maui . Um as you probably 150 00:05:34,679 --> 00:05:38,649 heard on Friday , we had the um uh 151 00:05:38,660 --> 00:05:42,559 the joint task force 50 Commander 152 00:05:42,570 --> 00:05:46,359 provide a briefing uh in terms of what 153 00:05:46,369 --> 00:05:48,799 DPA A is being asked to provide . As I 154 00:05:48,809 --> 00:05:50,779 understand it , they are sending 155 00:05:50,790 --> 00:05:53,239 subject matter experts to assist uh the 156 00:05:53,250 --> 00:05:56,750 the civilian uh authorities there 157 00:05:57,299 --> 00:05:59,519 in terms of uh recovery ops and 158 00:05:59,529 --> 00:06:01,640 identification . Um But I'd refer you 159 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:03,918 to them for , for more details on that . 160 00:06:03,918 --> 00:06:06,251 All right , let's go into the room here , 161 00:06:06,251 --> 00:06:08,790 sir . Hi , Pa Tucker didn't recognize 162 00:06:08,850 --> 00:06:10,906 you . I know . I know it very , very 163 00:06:10,906 --> 00:06:14,320 hard um , new uh profile out in the New 164 00:06:14,329 --> 00:06:17,160 Yorker on Elon Musk uh cooperates what 165 00:06:17,549 --> 00:06:19,605 the Wall Street Journal has reported 166 00:06:19,605 --> 00:06:21,771 over the summer . Basically , a lot of 167 00:06:21,771 --> 00:06:23,882 people around him uh suggest that his 168 00:06:23,882 --> 00:06:25,660 growing erratic behavior can be 169 00:06:25,660 --> 00:06:27,882 attributed to ketamine abuse . Is there 170 00:06:27,882 --> 00:06:29,882 going to be a review of Elon Musk's 171 00:06:29,882 --> 00:06:32,160 security clearance ? Yeah , thanks Pat . 172 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:34,493 Um So a couple of things . First of all , 173 00:06:34,493 --> 00:06:37,109 um we're for privacy reasons . Uh you 174 00:06:37,119 --> 00:06:39,459 know , uh per policy , we don't discuss 175 00:06:39,470 --> 00:06:42,519 particular individuals . Um security 176 00:06:42,529 --> 00:06:44,799 clearances . I'd refer you to , to Mr 177 00:06:44,809 --> 00:06:47,087 Musk's company to , to talk about that . 178 00:06:47,119 --> 00:06:49,869 Um Broadly speaking , kind of behind 179 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:52,559 your question is uh will the Department 180 00:06:52,570 --> 00:06:54,403 of Defense continue to work with 181 00:06:54,403 --> 00:06:57,230 companies like spacex ? Um I , what I 182 00:06:57,239 --> 00:06:59,350 would tell you is that we work with a 183 00:06:59,350 --> 00:07:01,517 wide variety of companies . Uh We have 184 00:07:01,517 --> 00:07:04,290 well developed processes and procedures 185 00:07:04,299 --> 00:07:06,521 uh to look at things like contracts and 186 00:07:06,521 --> 00:07:09,380 services uh that are person , uh 187 00:07:09,390 --> 00:07:11,730 independent , personality , independent . 188 00:07:11,739 --> 00:07:14,179 So , uh again , we'll continue to uh 189 00:07:14,190 --> 00:07:16,412 conduct business with a wide variety of 190 00:07:16,412 --> 00:07:18,579 partners in industry . I just leave it 191 00:07:18,579 --> 00:07:21,079 at that . Thank you very much . Thank 192 00:07:21,089 --> 00:07:23,160 you . Uh North Korea is planning a 193 00:07:23,170 --> 00:07:25,829 military satellite launch as early as 194 00:07:25,839 --> 00:07:28,500 this week . What is the , what is the 195 00:07:28,510 --> 00:07:31,519 level on concerns about this launch ? 196 00:07:31,750 --> 00:07:34,170 Yeah , thanks . So certainly seeing 197 00:07:34,179 --> 00:07:36,401 those reports I'm not going to get into 198 00:07:36,401 --> 00:07:38,709 specifics in terms of intelligence on , 199 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:40,942 on what we may or may not be tracking . 200 00:07:40,942 --> 00:07:43,130 I will say that as always , we will 201 00:07:43,140 --> 00:07:45,859 stand with our Japanese and our Rok 202 00:07:45,869 --> 00:07:48,529 allies in the face of North Korea's 203 00:07:48,540 --> 00:07:50,950 continued provocations to include their 204 00:07:51,119 --> 00:07:54,079 claimed space program . So we're going 205 00:07:54,089 --> 00:07:55,978 to take all necessary measures to 206 00:07:55,978 --> 00:07:57,756 ensure that the security of our 207 00:07:57,756 --> 00:07:59,922 homeland and the defense of our allies 208 00:07:59,922 --> 00:08:02,329 continues and we will continue working 209 00:08:02,339 --> 00:08:05,809 closely with Japan and Rok to promote 210 00:08:05,820 --> 00:08:07,931 peace , security and stability in the 211 00:08:07,931 --> 00:08:10,098 region are preparing a strong response 212 00:08:10,098 --> 00:08:13,119 to such including the additional assets 213 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:15,271 to the region . Again , I'm not going 214 00:08:15,271 --> 00:08:17,140 to get ahead of any particular 215 00:08:17,230 --> 00:08:19,619 potential response . Other than to say 216 00:08:19,630 --> 00:08:21,630 again , we as always will remain in 217 00:08:21,630 --> 00:08:24,140 close contact with our Japanese and Rok 218 00:08:24,149 --> 00:08:26,739 allies . Thank you very much . OK , and 219 00:08:26,750 --> 00:08:30,630 go to the other Rio . So in 220 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:32,862 June , Pentagon said North Korea's Sair 221 00:08:32,862 --> 00:08:34,950 plant is a clear violation of Un 222 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:38,880 Security Council . So I can I 223 00:08:38,890 --> 00:08:41,150 ask your stance on potential North 224 00:08:41,159 --> 00:08:45,020 Korea's ? Well , I just answered that 225 00:08:45,030 --> 00:08:47,086 question again , I I am not going to 226 00:08:47,086 --> 00:08:49,141 get into at this point other than to 227 00:08:49,141 --> 00:08:51,719 say again , where those reports will 228 00:08:51,729 --> 00:08:54,039 continue to remain in close contact and 229 00:08:54,049 --> 00:08:56,105 communication with our allies in the 230 00:08:56,105 --> 00:08:58,160 region . Thank you very much . Thank 231 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:00,160 you . I have two questions . I mean 232 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,160 previously , when , when Ukrainians 233 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:04,216 were able to push Russians away from 234 00:09:04,216 --> 00:09:06,271 Kiev , the Pentagon was very keen on 235 00:09:06,271 --> 00:09:08,271 sharing information and perspective 236 00:09:08,271 --> 00:09:10,327 from this building on how successful 237 00:09:10,327 --> 00:09:14,065 the the defense of was . Um 238 00:09:14,395 --> 00:09:16,304 Now you always refer us to the 239 00:09:16,315 --> 00:09:18,984 Ukrainians . However , the US American 240 00:09:18,994 --> 00:09:22,065 taxpayers putting big money to help 241 00:09:22,075 --> 00:09:24,297 Ukrainians in this fight . What is your 242 00:09:24,297 --> 00:09:26,715 assessment of the counter offensive so 243 00:09:26,724 --> 00:09:28,891 far ? Have you seen any breakthrough ? 244 00:09:28,965 --> 00:09:31,104 And is it succeeding in achieving its 245 00:09:31,114 --> 00:09:33,336 goals ? That's the first question . The 246 00:09:33,336 --> 00:09:35,392 second question is on , is there any 247 00:09:35,392 --> 00:09:37,724 contingency planning in the Pentagon uh 248 00:09:37,734 --> 00:09:41,590 for maybe future 249 00:09:41,599 --> 00:09:44,210 decision to pull out troops ? And is 250 00:09:44,219 --> 00:09:46,380 there any talks with partners in , in 251 00:09:46,390 --> 00:09:49,039 on the continent in Africa to find 252 00:09:49,049 --> 00:09:51,559 other alternatives in the counter 253 00:09:51,570 --> 00:09:53,681 terrorism operation ? Yeah , thanks . 254 00:09:54,289 --> 00:09:56,289 Um So a couple of things there . So 255 00:09:56,289 --> 00:09:59,099 first of all , when it comes to Ukraine , 256 00:09:59,109 --> 00:10:01,331 um and , and I mean , this with all due 257 00:10:01,331 --> 00:10:03,409 respect , I'm a US Department of 258 00:10:03,419 --> 00:10:05,641 Defense spokesperson . So I'm not gonna 259 00:10:05,641 --> 00:10:07,863 provide an operational update from this 260 00:10:07,863 --> 00:10:10,929 podium on Ukrainian combat operations . 261 00:10:10,940 --> 00:10:12,773 Other than to say again , we are 262 00:10:12,773 --> 00:10:14,884 committed to supporting them in their 263 00:10:14,884 --> 00:10:16,969 fight . Uh We've said from the very 264 00:10:16,979 --> 00:10:19,035 beginning that this is going to be a 265 00:10:19,035 --> 00:10:21,950 very tough and difficult uh operation 266 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,169 and a difficult fight for them . Um And , 267 00:10:25,179 --> 00:10:27,179 and I know you've heard me say this 268 00:10:27,179 --> 00:10:29,068 before , but Secretary Austin has 269 00:10:29,068 --> 00:10:31,068 highlighted the fact that this is a 270 00:10:31,068 --> 00:10:33,068 marathon and it's not a sprint . So 271 00:10:33,068 --> 00:10:35,179 there should be no uh illusions about 272 00:10:35,179 --> 00:10:37,940 that . That fact , I will also say uh 273 00:10:37,950 --> 00:10:41,400 that that this is a Ukrainian operation . 274 00:10:41,409 --> 00:10:43,465 They are leading it . Uh , our , our 275 00:10:43,465 --> 00:10:45,687 focus is on supporting them in terms of 276 00:10:45,687 --> 00:10:47,809 what they need to be successful . 277 00:10:48,099 --> 00:10:50,440 Because the implications if Ukraine is 278 00:10:50,450 --> 00:10:53,200 not successful transcend just Ukraine , 279 00:10:53,210 --> 00:10:55,599 it has implications for Europe and the 280 00:10:55,609 --> 00:10:58,520 world when it comes to Russia's 281 00:10:58,530 --> 00:11:01,239 unprovoked invasion . The last thing 282 00:11:01,250 --> 00:11:03,472 I'll say on this and , and , you know , 283 00:11:03,472 --> 00:11:05,194 I think it's very important to 284 00:11:05,194 --> 00:11:07,417 understand and I know that , you know , 285 00:11:07,417 --> 00:11:10,099 this , um , having watched and , and 286 00:11:10,109 --> 00:11:11,887 observed and reported on combat 287 00:11:11,887 --> 00:11:14,429 operations around the world is that 288 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:16,329 combat by its very nature is very 289 00:11:16,329 --> 00:11:18,273 dynamic . It's very fluid and it's 290 00:11:18,273 --> 00:11:20,107 unpredictable and any student of 291 00:11:20,107 --> 00:11:23,450 history would know uh that um the 292 00:11:23,460 --> 00:11:25,682 battle is not over until it's over . Uh 293 00:11:25,682 --> 00:11:28,020 And so our focus is going to continue 294 00:11:28,030 --> 00:11:30,700 to be , as I've said on helping them uh 295 00:11:30,710 --> 00:11:33,260 have the training and the equipment and 296 00:11:33,270 --> 00:11:35,381 the resources they need to be able to 297 00:11:35,381 --> 00:11:37,530 be victorious on the battlefield to 298 00:11:37,539 --> 00:11:39,483 defend their country and take back 299 00:11:39,483 --> 00:11:41,650 sovereign territory . So I'm not gonna 300 00:11:41,650 --> 00:11:43,650 get into providing scores uh in the 301 00:11:43,650 --> 00:11:45,820 middle of their fight again , that 302 00:11:45,830 --> 00:11:47,830 would be inappropriate . What we're 303 00:11:47,830 --> 00:11:50,052 gonna do is we're gonna keep supporting 304 00:11:50,052 --> 00:11:52,108 them for as long as it takes on . Um 305 00:11:52,979 --> 00:11:55,146 You know , look , uh we are a planning 306 00:11:55,146 --> 00:11:57,257 organization , I'm not gonna get into 307 00:11:57,257 --> 00:12:00,729 specifics of any potential actual or um 308 00:12:00,750 --> 00:12:02,806 speculate on any future plan . I say 309 00:12:02,806 --> 00:12:05,280 that's , that's what we do . Um We are 310 00:12:05,289 --> 00:12:08,099 an organization that uh plans and 311 00:12:08,109 --> 00:12:09,831 prepares for a wide variety of 312 00:12:09,831 --> 00:12:11,998 contingencies as of right now . Uh The 313 00:12:11,998 --> 00:12:15,030 number of us forces uh that we have in 314 00:12:15,690 --> 00:12:17,579 remain the same . There's been no 315 00:12:17,579 --> 00:12:20,000 change in our force posture broadly 316 00:12:20,010 --> 00:12:22,066 speaking , the US government remains 317 00:12:22,066 --> 00:12:24,380 focused on diplomacy and that will 318 00:12:24,390 --> 00:12:27,369 continue to be our , our focus . Uh And , 319 00:12:27,409 --> 00:12:29,700 and uh if we have any updates to 320 00:12:29,710 --> 00:12:31,543 provide on the dod front , we'll 321 00:12:31,543 --> 00:12:33,877 certainly do that . Thank you very much . 322 00:12:33,877 --> 00:12:35,988 Let me go to or , and then I'll go to 323 00:12:35,988 --> 00:12:38,154 the phone . Uh I just wanted to update 324 00:12:38,154 --> 00:12:40,266 on , on Travis King first . Has there 325 00:12:40,266 --> 00:12:39,669 been any additional communication with 326 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:41,846 the North Koreans , either through the 327 00:12:41,846 --> 00:12:43,957 US or through UN command about Travis 328 00:12:43,957 --> 00:12:46,068 King ? And as of the last check , his 329 00:12:46,068 --> 00:12:48,179 status was a but if you're a for more 330 00:12:48,179 --> 00:12:50,235 than 30 days , you're a deserter and 331 00:12:50,235 --> 00:12:52,235 you're dropped from the rolls . Has 332 00:12:52,235 --> 00:12:51,229 that happened ? And has there been a 333 00:12:51,239 --> 00:12:53,350 decision made on whether to designate 334 00:12:53,350 --> 00:12:56,219 king ? A pow ? Yeah , thanks or so , um 335 00:12:56,229 --> 00:12:58,285 the , the army can certainly provide 336 00:12:58,285 --> 00:13:00,729 you more detail and uh in terms of his 337 00:13:00,739 --> 00:13:02,850 status , I will tell you , uh there's 338 00:13:02,850 --> 00:13:05,500 been no change in status for private 339 00:13:05,510 --> 00:13:09,119 king right now . Um And um you know , 340 00:13:09,130 --> 00:13:12,710 tho those uh regulations that you refer 341 00:13:12,719 --> 00:13:16,510 to are regulations that pertain to 342 00:13:16,719 --> 00:13:18,830 your normal situation . This is not a 343 00:13:18,830 --> 00:13:21,359 normal situation clearly . So from a 344 00:13:21,369 --> 00:13:23,599 dod , from a US government standpoint , 345 00:13:23,609 --> 00:13:26,830 our focus remains on the safety and 346 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,429 security of private king and trying to 347 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:32,200 get him home . Um , but , you know , 348 00:13:32,210 --> 00:13:34,321 again , I'd refer to the army to talk 349 00:13:34,321 --> 00:13:36,210 about his , uh , specifics from a 350 00:13:36,210 --> 00:13:39,200 personnel status going forward . Um , 351 00:13:39,210 --> 00:13:41,359 we have not , uh , I don't have any 352 00:13:41,369 --> 00:13:43,313 updates to provide in terms of any 353 00:13:43,313 --> 00:13:45,258 communication , not nothing new to 354 00:13:45,258 --> 00:13:47,480 report on that front , but again , uh , 355 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:49,536 we will continue to do everything we 356 00:13:49,536 --> 00:13:51,480 can to , to , uh , learn about his 357 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,640 status and bring him home safely . Is a 358 00:13:54,650 --> 00:13:58,650 pow or not a again . Um I refer to the 359 00:13:58,659 --> 00:14:00,770 army but right now his status has not 360 00:14:00,770 --> 00:14:02,992 changed . Ok . All right . Let me go to 361 00:14:02,992 --> 00:14:05,048 the phone here real quick . And then 362 00:14:05,048 --> 00:14:07,103 I'll come to Tony . Uh wait , Mike , 363 00:14:07,103 --> 00:14:08,992 you're in the room here . It says 364 00:14:08,992 --> 00:14:12,099 you're on the phone . So , wow . All 365 00:14:12,109 --> 00:14:14,276 right . Well , let me go to Carl Bab . 366 00:14:14,276 --> 00:14:16,331 Then who's on the phone ? Vo A Hey , 367 00:14:16,331 --> 00:14:18,750 thanks Pat . Um So the Pentagon this 368 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:20,816 week had said that it would consider 369 00:14:20,816 --> 00:14:23,320 training Ukrainian pilots stateside on 370 00:14:23,330 --> 00:14:25,219 F-16s if the training capacity is 371 00:14:25,219 --> 00:14:27,386 reached in Europe , uh can you tell us 372 00:14:27,386 --> 00:14:29,608 what locations are being considered for 373 00:14:29,608 --> 00:14:31,608 training F-16 pilots here ? And can 374 00:14:31,608 --> 00:14:33,719 video journalists have access to this 375 00:14:33,719 --> 00:14:35,941 training ? And then I , I have one more 376 00:14:35,941 --> 00:14:38,052 question . Also . Uh can the Pentagon 377 00:14:38,052 --> 00:14:40,274 confirm that Russian military deaths in 378 00:14:40,274 --> 00:14:42,497 the war against Ukraine are now as many 379 00:14:42,497 --> 00:14:45,075 as 100 and 20,000 troops and that the 380 00:14:45,085 --> 00:14:47,724 Ukrainian figures are closer to 70,000 381 00:14:47,734 --> 00:14:49,845 deaths on the Ukrainian side . That's 382 00:14:49,845 --> 00:14:51,901 what the new York Times is reporting 383 00:14:51,901 --> 00:14:54,400 from US officials . Thanks . Yeah , 384 00:14:54,409 --> 00:14:56,353 thanks , Carla on , on your second 385 00:14:56,353 --> 00:14:58,580 question as it pertains to casualties . 386 00:14:58,590 --> 00:15:00,534 Um I , I don't have any numbers to 387 00:15:00,534 --> 00:15:03,000 provide . Clearly this , this war has 388 00:15:03,010 --> 00:15:05,419 uh resulted in significant casualties 389 00:15:05,429 --> 00:15:07,485 on both sides , but I , I just don't 390 00:15:07,485 --> 00:15:09,707 have any numbers to pass along um as it 391 00:15:09,707 --> 00:15:13,609 relates to um Ukrainian pilot 392 00:15:13,950 --> 00:15:17,679 uh F-16 training in the US . Um 393 00:15:17,919 --> 00:15:20,700 We are prepared to support a training 394 00:15:20,710 --> 00:15:22,821 effort here in the continental United 395 00:15:22,821 --> 00:15:26,000 States . Uh If capacity is reached in 396 00:15:26,010 --> 00:15:28,299 Europe , um I don't have any specifics 397 00:15:28,309 --> 00:15:30,476 to provide right now in terms of which 398 00:15:30,476 --> 00:15:32,698 bases that training could occur at . Um 399 00:15:32,698 --> 00:15:34,920 But certainly , if the decision is made 400 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:37,087 to do that and we move forward , we'll 401 00:15:37,087 --> 00:15:39,253 be sure to provide you with updates on 402 00:15:39,253 --> 00:15:42,289 that . Ok . Let me go to Nancy . I 403 00:15:42,299 --> 00:15:44,243 wanted to follow up on a couple of 404 00:15:44,243 --> 00:15:46,466 things you said earlier . You mentioned 405 00:15:46,466 --> 00:15:48,743 that there are eight specific missions . 406 00:15:48,743 --> 00:15:50,966 Um And Maui can you , can we get a list 407 00:15:50,966 --> 00:15:53,299 of those ? Absolutely . Um Yeah , there , 408 00:15:53,299 --> 00:15:55,840 there's quite a few . Um Well , let me 409 00:15:55,849 --> 00:15:57,960 just go ahead and , and read them out 410 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:00,016 for you here right now . Um So we've 411 00:16:00,016 --> 00:16:01,682 got um establishing a defense 412 00:16:01,682 --> 00:16:03,682 Coordinating element office , Inter 413 00:16:03,682 --> 00:16:06,190 Island Air Sea Transportation , um 414 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:09,349 providing scofield barracks and Oahu to 415 00:16:09,359 --> 00:16:12,520 assist with um federal responders . So 416 00:16:12,530 --> 00:16:14,586 things like billeting life support , 417 00:16:14,586 --> 00:16:16,808 hygiene , uh strategic transportation , 418 00:16:16,808 --> 00:16:19,000 aerial fire suppression capabilities , 419 00:16:19,210 --> 00:16:23,059 uh FEMA incident support base at uh 420 00:16:23,099 --> 00:16:26,289 uh uh fuel dis 421 00:16:26,419 --> 00:16:28,475 operations in support of the US Army 422 00:16:28,475 --> 00:16:30,530 Corps of Engineers and then mortuary 423 00:16:30,530 --> 00:16:32,641 fair support . Thank you . And then , 424 00:16:32,641 --> 00:16:34,859 um , can you tell us how many times 425 00:16:34,869 --> 00:16:37,091 Secretary Austin , top civilian leaders 426 00:16:37,091 --> 00:16:40,590 here have spoken to , um , the governor , 427 00:16:40,599 --> 00:16:44,000 um , quite about supporting , um , 428 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,159 their efforts . Sure . Um , so , uh , 429 00:16:47,169 --> 00:16:51,099 shortly after the president 430 00:16:51,109 --> 00:16:53,331 declared it a federal emergency shortly 431 00:16:53,331 --> 00:16:55,619 after the wildfires , uh , the 432 00:16:55,630 --> 00:16:57,463 secretary spoke with both of the 433 00:16:57,463 --> 00:17:00,090 senators . Uh , and then last week , 434 00:17:00,099 --> 00:17:01,988 the deputy secretary spoke to the 435 00:17:01,988 --> 00:17:04,266 governor and I wanna come back to , um , 436 00:17:04,266 --> 00:17:07,050 Pat's question about um , Elon Musk . 437 00:17:07,060 --> 00:17:10,020 You said that um , any review of his 438 00:17:10,030 --> 00:17:13,810 classification is um private , but um 439 00:17:13,819 --> 00:17:15,763 it's not classified whether he has 440 00:17:15,763 --> 00:17:17,819 security clearance . And I wonder if 441 00:17:17,819 --> 00:17:19,819 you would take the question to just 442 00:17:19,819 --> 00:17:21,541 answer whether he has security 443 00:17:21,541 --> 00:17:23,430 clearance on what level given how 444 00:17:23,430 --> 00:17:25,597 extensive um SpaceX contracts are with 445 00:17:25,597 --> 00:17:27,597 the US government . I will take the 446 00:17:27,597 --> 00:17:29,652 question . Thank you very much . All 447 00:17:29,652 --> 00:17:31,819 right . Let me go back to the , well , 448 00:17:31,819 --> 00:17:31,798 let me go back to the phone room here , 449 00:17:31,808 --> 00:17:35,069 Mike Washington examiner . Did you have 450 00:17:35,079 --> 00:17:37,301 a question ? I'm Washington Times . Not 451 00:17:37,301 --> 00:17:39,301 the Washington examiner you talking 452 00:17:39,301 --> 00:17:42,599 about ? Is that Mike Bres ? I apologize . 453 00:17:42,609 --> 00:17:44,831 We are two different people . I do have 454 00:17:44,831 --> 00:17:47,053 a question though . Tell me , can you , 455 00:17:47,053 --> 00:17:49,220 what does the administration think the 456 00:17:49,220 --> 00:17:51,331 long term implications of the F-16 uh 457 00:17:51,331 --> 00:17:54,160 delivery to Ukraine is gonna be ? What , 458 00:17:54,170 --> 00:17:56,959 what's the ultimate uh uh long term 459 00:17:56,969 --> 00:17:59,119 goal that the Pentagon wants out of 460 00:17:59,130 --> 00:18:02,650 this in terms of for Ukraine . 461 00:18:03,079 --> 00:18:05,390 Yeah . So when , when the decision was 462 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:08,209 announced in May , uh in terms of 463 00:18:08,219 --> 00:18:12,020 providing Ukraine with the F-16 , um we 464 00:18:12,030 --> 00:18:14,086 highlighted that this is part of our 465 00:18:14,086 --> 00:18:16,619 long term commitment to Ukraine's uh 466 00:18:16,630 --> 00:18:20,140 security and defense . And so , um 467 00:18:20,540 --> 00:18:22,969 I mean , we , we have clearly a focus 468 00:18:22,979 --> 00:18:24,989 on the near term the battlefield 469 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,689 situation , uh which is what our PDAs 470 00:18:28,699 --> 00:18:30,890 and USA I have really been focused on 471 00:18:31,050 --> 00:18:33,859 uh the F-16 is really intended to be 472 00:18:33,869 --> 00:18:35,980 part of that longer term commitment . 473 00:18:36,489 --> 00:18:38,489 Ok . Now , let me go to Mike Breast 474 00:18:38,489 --> 00:18:41,300 Washington examiner and uh I apologize , 475 00:18:41,310 --> 00:18:44,079 Mike . Not a problem , not the first 476 00:18:44,089 --> 00:18:46,200 time it's happened . Uh I'm hoping to 477 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:49,719 get an update on uh Russia's attempts 478 00:18:49,729 --> 00:18:52,530 to build Iranian drones in Russian 479 00:18:52,540 --> 00:18:55,260 territory . Uh We've heard that that it 480 00:18:55,270 --> 00:18:56,937 could be operational or fully 481 00:18:56,937 --> 00:18:59,219 operational by early next year . Uh Has 482 00:18:59,229 --> 00:19:01,489 dog seen them already begin to produce 483 00:19:01,500 --> 00:19:04,280 drones ? Yeah . Thanks for the , the 484 00:19:04,290 --> 00:19:06,290 question , Mike . I'm gonna , I , I 485 00:19:06,290 --> 00:19:08,512 don't want to uh give you some bad data 486 00:19:08,512 --> 00:19:10,512 here . So let me , let me take that 487 00:19:10,512 --> 00:19:12,679 question and we'll come back to you on 488 00:19:12,679 --> 00:19:14,734 that . We do know uh as we've spoken 489 00:19:14,734 --> 00:19:17,069 about before , uh that Iran and Russia 490 00:19:17,180 --> 00:19:19,347 uh clearly have a relationship when it 491 00:19:19,347 --> 00:19:21,458 comes to , to drones . We've seen the 492 00:19:21,458 --> 00:19:23,291 Iranian drones being used on the 493 00:19:23,291 --> 00:19:25,347 battlefield . Uh But let me , let me 494 00:19:25,347 --> 00:19:27,650 come back to you with that . Thank you . 495 00:19:27,770 --> 00:19:31,739 OK , Janie . And then we'll go excuse 496 00:19:31,750 --> 00:19:34,790 me on North Korea regarding the North 497 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:38,400 Korean leader Kim Jong Un's reaction to 498 00:19:38,410 --> 00:19:42,000 the camp . The three other summit 499 00:19:42,010 --> 00:19:44,130 talks , North Korea Kim jong-un 500 00:19:44,140 --> 00:19:47,925 mentions they preempted use of nuclear 501 00:19:47,935 --> 00:19:50,645 weapons saying that the specific 502 00:19:50,655 --> 00:19:54,364 discussions for provoking nuclear war 503 00:19:54,494 --> 00:19:56,645 had taken place at the 504 00:19:58,334 --> 00:20:01,194 summit . What do you think about the 505 00:20:01,204 --> 00:20:04,795 North Korea's preemptive use of nuclear 506 00:20:04,805 --> 00:20:08,030 weapons ? Well , again , uh our , our 507 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:11,510 focus is on security and stability in 508 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:14,209 the Indo Pacific region uh ensuring 509 00:20:14,219 --> 00:20:16,680 that , that we can work together for 510 00:20:16,689 --> 00:20:20,030 our mutual defense . Um And so any 511 00:20:20,109 --> 00:20:23,020 exercises , any summits are predicated 512 00:20:23,030 --> 00:20:26,069 towards those efforts . Um The 513 00:20:26,079 --> 00:20:28,060 provocative language coming out of 514 00:20:28,069 --> 00:20:30,125 North Korea is of course dangerous . 515 00:20:30,125 --> 00:20:33,199 And as you've heard this building and 516 00:20:33,209 --> 00:20:35,431 others to include the White House say , 517 00:20:35,431 --> 00:20:38,489 we certainly would be willing to engage 518 00:20:38,500 --> 00:20:40,556 in dialogue with North Korea with no 519 00:20:40,556 --> 00:20:43,349 preconditions . And so we'll continue 520 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:45,530 to maintain that stance . But to this 521 00:20:45,540 --> 00:20:47,873 point , they have not agreed to do that , 522 00:20:47,873 --> 00:20:50,420 but North Korea warned that it would 523 00:20:50,430 --> 00:20:54,079 take a physical response if the 524 00:20:54,089 --> 00:20:57,800 US , reconnaissance aircraft crosses 525 00:20:58,199 --> 00:21:02,150 the economic zones , how again the 526 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,390 US will continue to fly , operate and 527 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,130 sail in international airspace and 528 00:21:07,140 --> 00:21:09,029 waters wherever international law 529 00:21:09,029 --> 00:21:11,479 allows . So let me go ahead and move on . 530 00:21:11,510 --> 00:21:15,430 Yes , ma'am . So another North Korea 531 00:21:15,439 --> 00:21:18,550 question here , um North Korea has 532 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:20,671 threatened , they are going to launch 533 00:21:20,671 --> 00:21:23,619 an ICBM this week but during last 534 00:21:23,630 --> 00:21:25,819 week's trilateral , there was where 535 00:21:25,829 --> 00:21:27,940 they state there is a hotline that is 536 00:21:27,940 --> 00:21:30,920 going to be set up . The first one is , 537 00:21:30,930 --> 00:21:33,189 has the hotline already been set up 538 00:21:33,199 --> 00:21:35,760 since this North Korea has already 539 00:21:35,770 --> 00:21:38,040 stated that they were threatening to 540 00:21:38,050 --> 00:21:40,810 launch a missile . And number two , how 541 00:21:40,819 --> 00:21:43,041 would it work in a scenario like this ? 542 00:21:44,180 --> 00:21:46,347 Yeah , and well , clearly , you know , 543 00:21:46,347 --> 00:21:48,569 as it relates to the , the items that I 544 00:21:48,569 --> 00:21:50,569 read out at the top , we'll , we'll 545 00:21:50,569 --> 00:21:52,791 have more details to follow uh on those 546 00:21:52,791 --> 00:21:55,013 in the days ahead . Uh How does it work 547 00:21:55,013 --> 00:21:57,124 right now ? Uh We have multiple means 548 00:21:57,124 --> 00:21:59,236 of communication with uh the Republic 549 00:21:59,236 --> 00:22:01,458 of Korea and Japan and our other allies 550 00:22:01,458 --> 00:22:03,750 in the region . Uh and so maintaining 551 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:05,927 those and , and many of those are long 552 00:22:05,927 --> 00:22:08,149 standing . Um But as you heard me say , 553 00:22:08,149 --> 00:22:10,316 you know , the , the intent here is to 554 00:22:10,316 --> 00:22:12,619 ensure that we can um increase and 555 00:22:12,630 --> 00:22:15,010 expedite any communication in the , in 556 00:22:15,020 --> 00:22:17,839 the event that there is a potential 557 00:22:17,849 --> 00:22:20,469 crisis situation , most notably from a 558 00:22:20,479 --> 00:22:22,689 trilateral standpoint , uh which I 559 00:22:22,699 --> 00:22:24,709 think is , is significant . So , uh 560 00:22:24,719 --> 00:22:26,886 again , we'll have more details in the 561 00:22:26,886 --> 00:22:29,163 days ahead . Thank you very much . Yes , 562 00:22:29,163 --> 00:22:31,163 sir . Uh Returning to the F-16s , I 563 00:22:31,170 --> 00:22:33,226 know a lot of the work that's taking 564 00:22:33,226 --> 00:22:35,448 place right now is going on in Europe . 565 00:22:35,448 --> 00:22:37,559 So I just wanted to step back and ask 566 00:22:37,559 --> 00:22:39,614 what the administration's role right 567 00:22:39,614 --> 00:22:41,837 now is in that process . Uh Sure . So a 568 00:22:41,837 --> 00:22:43,892 couple of things , first of all , we 569 00:22:43,892 --> 00:22:46,130 are very grateful to our European 570 00:22:46,140 --> 00:22:48,469 allies , Denmark and the Netherlands uh 571 00:22:48,479 --> 00:22:50,829 in particular for leading this effort . 572 00:22:50,839 --> 00:22:54,390 And so , because this is a US system , 573 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:57,209 uh there are certain uh laws and , and 574 00:22:57,219 --> 00:22:59,380 regulations in place in terms of how 575 00:22:59,390 --> 00:23:01,979 that equipment can be used uh by third 576 00:23:01,989 --> 00:23:04,250 parties . And so , uh as you recently 577 00:23:04,260 --> 00:23:06,219 saw State Department uh publicly 578 00:23:06,229 --> 00:23:09,329 announce uh our intent to support any 579 00:23:09,339 --> 00:23:11,172 requests . So that's part of the 580 00:23:11,172 --> 00:23:13,228 process . Um Again , we'll have much 581 00:23:13,228 --> 00:23:15,339 more details to provide in the future 582 00:23:15,339 --> 00:23:17,395 as uh Denmark and the Netherlands uh 583 00:23:17,395 --> 00:23:20,609 kick off this program . And um we'll , 584 00:23:20,619 --> 00:23:22,841 we'll be able to illuminate some of our 585 00:23:22,841 --> 00:23:24,786 additional support on that front . 586 00:23:24,786 --> 00:23:26,952 Thank you . Ok . Time for a few more . 587 00:23:26,952 --> 00:23:28,786 Yes , sir . Yeah . Um I was just 588 00:23:28,786 --> 00:23:31,008 curious , you said that the Coast Guard 589 00:23:31,008 --> 00:23:30,640 is working to mitigate environmental 590 00:23:30,650 --> 00:23:32,761 impacts . What exactly are they doing 591 00:23:32,761 --> 00:23:34,983 and what impacts is dod concerned about 592 00:23:35,020 --> 00:23:37,131 in terms of the environment and why ? 593 00:23:37,131 --> 00:23:39,187 Yeah . So I'd , I'd refer you to the 594 00:23:39,187 --> 00:23:41,353 Coast Guard to speak uh uh about their 595 00:23:41,353 --> 00:23:43,131 efforts broadly speaking , as I 596 00:23:43,131 --> 00:23:46,589 understand it uh given the uh the scope 597 00:23:46,599 --> 00:23:49,099 of the disaster and , and how that 598 00:23:49,109 --> 00:23:52,000 impacted the harbor there . Um You know , 599 00:23:52,010 --> 00:23:54,288 clearly you had some vessels that were , 600 00:23:54,288 --> 00:23:56,670 were damaged . Um And , and again , I 601 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:58,791 don't want to speculate and just make 602 00:23:58,791 --> 00:24:00,847 things up from the podium here , but 603 00:24:00,847 --> 00:24:02,847 they're going to be looking at that 604 00:24:02,847 --> 00:24:04,958 from an environmental safety , from a 605 00:24:04,958 --> 00:24:07,069 human safety standpoint . Um which as 606 00:24:07,069 --> 00:24:09,124 I'm sure you can appreciate would be 607 00:24:09,124 --> 00:24:11,347 significant given the importance of any 608 00:24:11,347 --> 00:24:13,458 harbor . Uh So , but I'd refer you to 609 00:24:13,458 --> 00:24:15,680 them . Let me go to Tony on the Persian 610 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:17,979 issue . What's the status of us os D 611 00:24:17,989 --> 00:24:20,100 policy review in terms of whether the 612 00:24:20,100 --> 00:24:21,989 secretary is going to sign off on 613 00:24:21,989 --> 00:24:25,020 allowing marines and sailors to go on 614 00:24:25,030 --> 00:24:26,920 commercial vessels if requested ? 615 00:24:27,130 --> 00:24:29,186 Thanks , Tony . So I don't , I don't 616 00:24:29,186 --> 00:24:31,130 have anything to announce today in 617 00:24:31,130 --> 00:24:33,520 terms of any changes to our force 618 00:24:33,530 --> 00:24:35,880 posture in the Middle East . Uh Nor do 619 00:24:35,890 --> 00:24:38,229 I want to get into or speculate about 620 00:24:38,239 --> 00:24:40,719 potential uh areas that are under 621 00:24:40,729 --> 00:24:43,359 consideration . Um Or , or that are 622 00:24:43,369 --> 00:24:46,380 precision could commit to announce if 623 00:24:46,390 --> 00:24:48,446 in fact , the secretary signs off on 624 00:24:48,446 --> 00:24:50,510 such an a policy to announce that 625 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:53,170 publicly , I think if there's anything 626 00:24:53,180 --> 00:24:55,013 significant from a force posture 627 00:24:55,013 --> 00:24:57,199 standpoint , uh you know , within the 628 00:24:57,209 --> 00:24:59,380 bounds of operation security , uh We 629 00:24:59,390 --> 00:25:01,557 will certainly look to keep the public 630 00:25:01,557 --> 00:25:03,723 informed on the New Yorker article . I 631 00:25:03,723 --> 00:25:05,890 don't want to hype it up too much here 632 00:25:05,890 --> 00:25:07,890 but buried in there is a discussion 633 00:25:07,890 --> 00:25:11,020 Colin Colin had with Musk about the 634 00:25:11,030 --> 00:25:13,719 need to , to get spacex O contract to 635 00:25:13,729 --> 00:25:16,050 provide Starling for Ukraine . So they 636 00:25:16,060 --> 00:25:18,060 just couldn't pull out , you know , 637 00:25:18,060 --> 00:25:19,782 summarily the the contract was 638 00:25:19,782 --> 00:25:21,893 announced in June , you guys have not 639 00:25:21,893 --> 00:25:24,060 announced any details of even the cost 640 00:25:24,060 --> 00:25:26,329 of it . Uh The the of it . Can you give 641 00:25:26,339 --> 00:25:28,450 some kind of detail in terms of , you 642 00:25:28,450 --> 00:25:30,339 know , bound the dollars at least 643 00:25:30,339 --> 00:25:32,450 involved ? Yeah , thanks Tony . I , I 644 00:25:32,450 --> 00:25:34,561 do appreciate the question . Um And , 645 00:25:34,561 --> 00:25:36,339 and in this particular case for 646 00:25:36,339 --> 00:25:38,561 operation security reasons , we're just 647 00:25:38,561 --> 00:25:40,810 really not able to go into details 648 00:25:40,819 --> 00:25:42,986 about this particular contract as , as 649 00:25:42,986 --> 00:25:45,439 you know , um , satellite communication 650 00:25:45,449 --> 00:25:47,689 is an important aspect of the fight 651 00:25:47,699 --> 00:25:49,921 that's occurring in Ukraine right now . 652 00:25:49,921 --> 00:25:53,439 Um And we are working with 653 00:25:53,449 --> 00:25:55,540 Starlink and others , of course , on 654 00:25:55,550 --> 00:25:57,606 that front , but I just not gonna be 655 00:25:57,606 --> 00:25:59,890 able to , I got one , there's one quote 656 00:25:59,900 --> 00:26:02,839 in this article by Ronan Farrow that if 657 00:26:02,849 --> 00:26:04,905 it's true , it's somewhat outrageous 658 00:26:04,905 --> 00:26:06,905 and I need you to rent to this . He 659 00:26:06,905 --> 00:26:09,127 said , one Pentagon spokesman said that 660 00:26:09,127 --> 00:26:11,071 he was keeping Musk apprised of my 661 00:26:11,071 --> 00:26:13,293 inquiries about his role in Ukraine and 662 00:26:13,293 --> 00:26:15,127 would grant an interview with an 663 00:26:15,127 --> 00:26:17,127 official about the matter only with 664 00:26:17,127 --> 00:26:19,349 Musk's permission . Yeah , well , might 665 00:26:19,349 --> 00:26:21,571 have said that , yeah , as a , as a dod 666 00:26:21,579 --> 00:26:23,912 spokesperson , uh , I think that's , uh , 667 00:26:24,030 --> 00:26:26,560 ludicrous , um , the anonymous 668 00:26:26,569 --> 00:26:28,839 spokesperson , uh , is not speaking on 669 00:26:28,849 --> 00:26:30,960 behalf of the Department of Defense . 670 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:33,238 That's not the way we do business . Uh , 671 00:26:33,238 --> 00:26:35,460 we make our own determinations in terms 672 00:26:35,460 --> 00:26:37,516 of the release of information to the 673 00:26:37,516 --> 00:26:40,199 public . Uh , and so , um , that , that 674 00:26:40,209 --> 00:26:43,180 is patently false statement is false 675 00:26:43,189 --> 00:26:45,599 and he's making , this is not true that 676 00:26:45,609 --> 00:26:47,276 that is not the policy of the 677 00:26:47,276 --> 00:26:49,479 Department of Defense . Um , you all 678 00:26:49,489 --> 00:26:51,489 work with us here on a , on a daily 679 00:26:51,489 --> 00:26:53,656 basis and know that that's not the way 680 00:26:53,656 --> 00:26:55,719 we operate and , and , um , uh , an 681 00:26:55,729 --> 00:26:57,869 individual , um , that you're 682 00:26:57,880 --> 00:26:59,824 referencing is not going to make a 683 00:26:59,824 --> 00:27:01,880 determination on whether we do or do 684 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:04,300 not answer questions . That does that 685 00:27:04,310 --> 00:27:06,790 answer . This is award winning 686 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:09,410 journalist and I , I can't speak to his 687 00:27:09,420 --> 00:27:11,839 sources . I'm just , yeah , and the New 688 00:27:11,849 --> 00:27:14,071 Yorker fact checks the living daylights 689 00:27:14,071 --> 00:27:16,293 out of there . They're reporters that's 690 00:27:16,293 --> 00:27:18,349 good for them . So when I saw this , 691 00:27:18,349 --> 00:27:20,571 you know , this is fairly outrageous if 692 00:27:20,571 --> 00:27:22,793 it's true . And I'm asking if you did , 693 00:27:22,793 --> 00:27:24,793 you canvass your eyes , your people 694 00:27:24,793 --> 00:27:26,960 saying , did anybody say this to him ? 695 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:29,016 Um I did not canvass my guys , but I 696 00:27:29,016 --> 00:27:30,627 can tell you as the Pentagon 697 00:27:30,627 --> 00:27:32,516 spokesperson that that is not our 698 00:27:32,516 --> 00:27:34,682 policy and that person is not speaking 699 00:27:34,682 --> 00:27:36,960 on behalf of the Department of Defense . 700 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:39,127 There's a lot of people in the dod , I 701 00:27:39,127 --> 00:27:41,293 don't know who it is . I don't know if 702 00:27:41,293 --> 00:27:43,405 it's real . I'm not gonna question uh 703 00:27:43,405 --> 00:27:45,682 this particular reporter . Uh You know , 704 00:27:45,682 --> 00:27:47,905 I , but I will tell you right here from 705 00:27:47,905 --> 00:27:49,905 this podium that that is uh not our 706 00:27:49,905 --> 00:27:52,016 policy and that person's not speaking 707 00:27:52,016 --> 00:27:54,071 for the dod , whoever that is . Ok . 708 00:27:54,099 --> 00:27:57,339 And you had a , you , you just uh on 709 00:27:57,349 --> 00:28:00,510 the point about um us troops going on 710 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:02,742 um civilian ships in the Persian Gulf . 711 00:28:02,742 --> 00:28:04,576 He said , if there's significant 712 00:28:04,576 --> 00:28:06,687 movement on that , it strikes me that 713 00:28:06,687 --> 00:28:08,798 any us personnel on the civilian ship 714 00:28:08,798 --> 00:28:08,439 would be significant . So I just want 715 00:28:08,449 --> 00:28:10,449 to make the plea for any release if 716 00:28:10,449 --> 00:28:12,671 that happens however small , the number 717 00:28:12,819 --> 00:28:14,979 of appreciate that Thank you . All 718 00:28:14,989 --> 00:28:17,119 right , do uh one more here , Heather 719 00:28:17,130 --> 00:28:20,089 from us . And I , I also wanted to ask 720 00:28:20,099 --> 00:28:23,170 about the , the marines out there . Uh 721 00:28:23,180 --> 00:28:25,430 Can you tell us , you know , if they're 722 00:28:25,439 --> 00:28:27,606 not going on the ships right now ? Are 723 00:28:27,606 --> 00:28:29,661 they , is their presence alone being 724 00:28:29,661 --> 00:28:31,883 any kind of deterrent ? Do you have any 725 00:28:31,883 --> 00:28:34,106 information about what is going on with 726 00:28:34,106 --> 00:28:36,217 those marines ? Um , or anything that 727 00:28:36,217 --> 00:28:38,272 you can say it's an update on a , on 728 00:28:38,272 --> 00:28:40,328 the force posture right now ? Yeah , 729 00:28:40,328 --> 00:28:42,606 thanks Heather . Um So , you know , we , 730 00:28:42,606 --> 00:28:45,449 we recently announced uh the arrival of 731 00:28:45,459 --> 00:28:48,369 the amphibious readiness group uh and 732 00:28:48,380 --> 00:28:50,547 the marine expeditionary unit uh which 733 00:28:50,547 --> 00:28:52,380 you're tracking . Um But for any 734 00:28:52,380 --> 00:28:54,269 further details , in terms of the 735 00:28:54,269 --> 00:28:56,547 individual dispositions of those units , 736 00:28:56,709 --> 00:28:58,890 um I , I'd refer you to NASA and they 737 00:28:58,900 --> 00:29:01,067 should be able to give you an update . 738 00:29:01,067 --> 00:29:03,067 Ok ? Thanks very much , everybody . 739 00:29:03,067 --> 00:29:02,869 Appreciate it .