1 00:00:02,119 --> 00:00:04,550 All right . Hello , good afternoon , 2 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:06,726 everyone . Uh Just a few items here at 3 00:00:06,726 --> 00:00:08,948 the top to pass along and then happy to 4 00:00:08,948 --> 00:00:11,170 take your questions . So first a Hawaii 5 00:00:11,170 --> 00:00:12,726 update as of this morning , 6 00:00:12,726 --> 00:00:15,479 approximately 580 national Guardsmen , 7 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:19,190 133 additional dod personnel and 100 8 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:21,200 and 19 coast guardsmen are actively 9 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:23,367 engaged in the coordinated response to 10 00:00:23,367 --> 00:00:25,889 the Western Maui wildfire . US . Army 11 00:00:25,899 --> 00:00:27,843 Pacific is executing nine approved 12 00:00:27,843 --> 00:00:29,843 mission assignments from FEMA . The 13 00:00:29,843 --> 00:00:32,066 most recent mission assignment addition 14 00:00:32,066 --> 00:00:34,343 is portable water distribution support . 15 00:00:34,389 --> 00:00:36,779 Navy , mobile diving salvage unit teams 16 00:00:36,790 --> 00:00:39,012 from Pacific Fleet concluded their dive 17 00:00:39,012 --> 00:00:41,400 operations yesterday and JTF 50 18 00:00:41,409 --> 00:00:43,700 continues search and rescue activities 19 00:00:44,119 --> 00:00:46,340 with the Hawaii National Guard teams . 20 00:00:46,349 --> 00:00:49,279 FBI and the defense Powmi , a 21 00:00:49,290 --> 00:00:52,319 accounting agency . Hawaii National 22 00:00:52,330 --> 00:00:54,509 Guard continues 24 hour support to 23 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,369 local law enforcement while the US 25th , 24 00:00:57,380 --> 00:01:00,590 excuse me , while the US army 25th 25 00:01:00,599 --> 00:01:02,599 infantry divisions , fueling trucks 26 00:01:02,599 --> 00:01:05,470 distributed about 470 gallons of fuel 27 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:07,860 over the over the past 48 hours in 28 00:01:07,870 --> 00:01:10,330 support of us . Army Corps of Engineers , 29 00:01:10,339 --> 00:01:13,389 temporary power operations . Pacific 30 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:15,819 forces delivered two trucks , two large 31 00:01:15,830 --> 00:01:17,997 water tanks and six operators from the 32 00:01:17,997 --> 00:01:20,680 25th Infantry Division to Maui in 33 00:01:20,690 --> 00:01:22,579 support of the water distribution 34 00:01:22,579 --> 00:01:24,559 mission , Pacific Fleet's Navy 35 00:01:24,569 --> 00:01:26,580 Environmental Preventative Medicine 36 00:01:26,589 --> 00:01:28,879 Unit , six will deploy two sailors to 37 00:01:28,889 --> 00:01:31,169 Maui later today . In support of 38 00:01:31,180 --> 00:01:33,940 potable water testing for the JTF water 39 00:01:33,949 --> 00:01:36,510 distribution mission . The department 40 00:01:36,519 --> 00:01:38,860 and the GTF 50 continue to work closely 41 00:01:38,870 --> 00:01:41,129 together with state officials fema and 42 00:01:41,139 --> 00:01:43,195 other supporting agencies to support 43 00:01:43,195 --> 00:01:45,195 the people of Hawaii in response to 44 00:01:45,195 --> 00:01:48,769 this terrible disaster on the hurricane 45 00:01:48,779 --> 00:01:51,001 that's making its way towards Florida . 46 00:01:51,290 --> 00:01:53,290 As you've probably seen the Florida 47 00:01:53,290 --> 00:01:55,012 National Guard have been fully 48 00:01:55,012 --> 00:01:57,179 activated under state active duty with 49 00:01:57,179 --> 00:01:59,860 a mobilization of over 3000 guardsmen 50 00:02:00,150 --> 00:02:01,983 in position across the state for 51 00:02:01,983 --> 00:02:04,150 preparedness and response efforts . An 52 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,360 additional 1800 guardsmen are on their 53 00:02:06,370 --> 00:02:10,250 way bringing the total to 5500 prior 54 00:02:10,259 --> 00:02:12,529 to the storm landing , the department 55 00:02:12,539 --> 00:02:14,710 stands ready to assist the state of 56 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,210 Florida fema and state and local 57 00:02:17,220 --> 00:02:19,387 officials in any recovery efforts that 58 00:02:19,387 --> 00:02:22,479 are needed . Today , the department 59 00:02:22,490 --> 00:02:24,601 also announced an additional security 60 00:02:24,601 --> 00:02:26,712 assistance to meet Ukraine's critical 61 00:02:26,712 --> 00:02:28,601 security and defense needs . This 62 00:02:28,601 --> 00:02:30,046 announcement is the Biden 63 00:02:30,046 --> 00:02:31,934 administration's 45th drawdown of 64 00:02:31,934 --> 00:02:33,768 equipment to be provided from DD 65 00:02:33,768 --> 00:02:35,768 inventories to Ukraine since August 66 00:02:35,768 --> 00:02:38,690 2021 it includes additional air defense 67 00:02:38,699 --> 00:02:40,921 and artillery munitions , mine clearing 68 00:02:40,921 --> 00:02:43,088 equipment , medical vehicles and other 69 00:02:43,088 --> 00:02:44,977 equipment to help Ukraine counter 70 00:02:44,977 --> 00:02:47,032 Russia's ongoing war of aggression . 71 00:02:47,110 --> 00:02:49,221 The US will continue to work with its 72 00:02:49,221 --> 00:02:51,388 allies and partners to provide Ukraine 73 00:02:51,388 --> 00:02:53,277 with the capabilities to meet its 74 00:02:53,277 --> 00:02:55,443 immediate battlefield needs and longer 75 00:02:55,443 --> 00:02:57,666 term security assistance requirements . 76 00:02:57,666 --> 00:02:59,610 Additional details of the security 77 00:02:59,610 --> 00:03:01,832 assistance package will be available on 78 00:03:01,832 --> 00:03:03,832 defense dot gov . And finally , the 79 00:03:03,832 --> 00:03:05,832 secretary spoke by phone today with 80 00:03:05,832 --> 00:03:07,888 Qatar Deputy Prime Minister of State 81 00:03:07,888 --> 00:03:10,054 for Defense Affairs . His excellency , 82 00:03:10,054 --> 00:03:12,190 Doctor Khalid Bin Mohammad Al at to 83 00:03:12,199 --> 00:03:14,310 discuss the importance of U of the US 84 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:16,630 Qatar defense partnership and the US 85 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:18,750 commitment to a strong bilateral 86 00:03:18,759 --> 00:03:20,870 relationship built on common interest 87 00:03:20,870 --> 00:03:22,926 and mutual respect . And with that , 88 00:03:22,926 --> 00:03:25,037 I'd be happy to take your questions . 89 00:03:25,037 --> 00:03:26,870 I'm gonna go to the phones first 90 00:03:26,870 --> 00:03:26,619 because I believe we have Tara joining 91 00:03:26,630 --> 00:03:28,852 us by phone today . So Tara , I'll turn 92 00:03:28,852 --> 00:03:31,074 it over to you . Hey , thanks for doing 93 00:03:31,074 --> 00:03:33,619 this . Um In the National Guard build 94 00:03:33,630 --> 00:03:35,741 up for this storm , that seems like a 95 00:03:35,820 --> 00:03:38,000 really high number to have about 5000 96 00:03:38,009 --> 00:03:40,350 assembled ready . Um Is there a sense 97 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:42,750 that this storm will be more serious 98 00:03:42,759 --> 00:03:44,889 than anticipated ? And then uh you've 99 00:03:44,899 --> 00:03:46,955 seen mcdill evacuate , are there any 100 00:03:46,955 --> 00:03:49,121 plans for any other base evacuations ? 101 00:03:49,389 --> 00:03:51,556 Thanks Tara . So in terms of any other 102 00:03:51,556 --> 00:03:53,779 additional base evacuations , as you 103 00:03:53,789 --> 00:03:55,789 know , there are well over 20 bases 104 00:03:55,789 --> 00:03:57,733 across the state of Florida . So I 105 00:03:57,733 --> 00:04:00,399 would refer you to the services to um 106 00:04:00,410 --> 00:04:02,539 further comment on how they plan to 107 00:04:02,550 --> 00:04:04,328 prepare for the storm and , and 108 00:04:04,328 --> 00:04:05,839 evacuate their bases as or 109 00:04:05,850 --> 00:04:09,070 installations as appropriate . Um As I 110 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,247 mentioned , I , I believe in the top , 111 00:04:11,247 --> 00:04:13,191 this is the Florida National Guard 112 00:04:13,191 --> 00:04:15,469 that's been activated under state duty . 113 00:04:15,469 --> 00:04:17,636 I just saw that the fema administrator 114 00:04:17,636 --> 00:04:19,802 was briefing the press earlier today . 115 00:04:19,802 --> 00:04:22,329 I think this is a storm that um we are 116 00:04:22,339 --> 00:04:24,506 certainly taking seriously . The state 117 00:04:24,506 --> 00:04:26,728 of Florida is taking seriously in terms 118 00:04:26,728 --> 00:04:28,783 of not only making sure that we have 119 00:04:28,783 --> 00:04:31,006 the appropriate number of people in the 120 00:04:31,006 --> 00:04:32,895 state of Florida to help with any 121 00:04:32,895 --> 00:04:34,783 response that's needed , but also 122 00:04:34,783 --> 00:04:36,839 prepositioning um any assets or , or 123 00:04:36,850 --> 00:04:39,065 any forces that , that might be needed 124 00:04:39,075 --> 00:04:41,825 um in the aftermath of the storm . Um 125 00:04:41,834 --> 00:04:44,001 in , in terms of more in , in terms of 126 00:04:44,001 --> 00:04:46,056 the storm and , and how , you know , 127 00:04:46,056 --> 00:04:48,924 quickly it's moving , how much damage 128 00:04:48,934 --> 00:04:51,045 we can expect . I would really direct 129 00:04:51,045 --> 00:04:52,934 you to FEMA for that . But um the 130 00:04:52,934 --> 00:04:55,045 department stands ready to assist the 131 00:04:55,045 --> 00:04:57,156 state of Florida and FEMA and what it 132 00:04:57,156 --> 00:04:59,378 might need . Um I'll come back into the 133 00:04:59,378 --> 00:05:01,378 room . Yeah , Jenny , thank you . I 134 00:05:01,378 --> 00:05:04,700 have two questions uh regarding the 135 00:05:04,709 --> 00:05:07,519 North Koreans satellite launch . 136 00:05:07,739 --> 00:05:11,290 Expert pointed out that the recent 137 00:05:11,299 --> 00:05:15,290 failure of North Korean launch could 138 00:05:15,299 --> 00:05:18,519 be a test . This structure . 139 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,720 Has the US analyzed uh anything about 140 00:05:22,730 --> 00:05:26,579 this about the failed test ? Um Nothing 141 00:05:26,589 --> 00:05:28,422 that I mean , nothing that we've 142 00:05:28,422 --> 00:05:30,478 analyzed . Other than that , we , we 143 00:05:30,478 --> 00:05:32,645 certainly monitored that um that there 144 00:05:32,645 --> 00:05:35,559 was uh a a space launch , an attempted 145 00:05:35,570 --> 00:05:37,681 space launch but nothing further than 146 00:05:37,681 --> 00:05:39,959 what we've said previously . I'm sorry , 147 00:05:39,959 --> 00:05:41,737 maybe I'm not understanding the 148 00:05:41,737 --> 00:05:43,848 question for , yeah , maybe you uh uh 149 00:05:43,848 --> 00:05:46,014 us is still analyzing this or why they 150 00:05:46,014 --> 00:05:49,929 failure this . We continue 151 00:05:49,940 --> 00:05:52,609 to monitor the , that the DP RDP RK 152 00:05:52,619 --> 00:05:55,309 takes whenever , um , whenever it comes 153 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:57,559 to a missile or a space launch or a 154 00:05:57,570 --> 00:06:00,200 missile launch like this one . you know , 155 00:06:00,209 --> 00:06:02,839 we're aware that the D pr K is using 156 00:06:02,850 --> 00:06:05,079 ballistic missile technology , um , 157 00:06:05,089 --> 00:06:07,619 which is a violation of multiple un 158 00:06:07,630 --> 00:06:10,640 security resolutions . The behavior 159 00:06:10,649 --> 00:06:12,260 that we've seen continues to 160 00:06:12,260 --> 00:06:14,690 destabilize and undermine security in 161 00:06:14,700 --> 00:06:16,756 the region . But other than that , I 162 00:06:16,756 --> 00:06:18,756 just don't have , have more at this 163 00:06:18,756 --> 00:06:22,709 time when the missile one information 164 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:26,130 system for North Korea between the 165 00:06:26,140 --> 00:06:29,100 United States and South Korea and Japan 166 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:33,029 begin to operate under the recent camp 167 00:06:33,420 --> 00:06:36,309 daily . You know , agreement , you know , 168 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,980 do you have anything on that when , 169 00:06:38,989 --> 00:06:41,959 when they are gonna be uh you know , 170 00:06:41,970 --> 00:06:45,769 working in the system right away ? Well , 171 00:06:45,779 --> 00:06:47,835 you mean following the Camp David uh 172 00:06:47,835 --> 00:06:50,579 meeting , I mean , I we just conducted 173 00:06:50,589 --> 00:06:53,100 a trilateral exercise that followed the 174 00:06:53,109 --> 00:06:55,609 historic Camp David summit . Um It 175 00:06:55,619 --> 00:06:57,730 brought together , of course , even 176 00:06:57,739 --> 00:06:59,739 closer to the leaders of the United 177 00:06:59,739 --> 00:07:02,209 States , Japan and the Rock . Um we are 178 00:07:02,220 --> 00:07:04,276 committed to peace and prosperity in 179 00:07:04,276 --> 00:07:06,498 the region and we'll continue to engage 180 00:07:06,498 --> 00:07:08,498 with our partners and allies in the 181 00:07:08,498 --> 00:07:10,720 region , but I don't have more in terms 182 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:12,831 of uh any , any further response from 183 00:07:12,831 --> 00:07:15,053 the United States . Great . Hey Laura . 184 00:07:15,053 --> 00:07:17,053 Yeah , thank you . Uh Senator Kaine 185 00:07:17,053 --> 00:07:19,109 recently called for an investigation 186 00:07:19,109 --> 00:07:21,109 into the accident in Australia that 187 00:07:21,109 --> 00:07:23,331 killed three marines the other day . Uh 188 00:07:23,331 --> 00:07:24,887 is dod going to be doing an 189 00:07:24,887 --> 00:07:26,664 investigation into this um this 190 00:07:26,664 --> 00:07:28,664 specific incident and not just this 191 00:07:28,664 --> 00:07:30,442 specific incident but a broader 192 00:07:30,442 --> 00:07:32,664 investigation of these mishaps aviation 193 00:07:32,664 --> 00:07:34,998 mishaps that have been happening . Sure . 194 00:07:34,998 --> 00:07:37,164 Well , first , as you probably saw the 195 00:07:37,164 --> 00:07:39,164 secretary over the weekend issued a 196 00:07:39,164 --> 00:07:41,109 statement just , um , offering our 197 00:07:41,109 --> 00:07:43,331 condolences and of course , we'd love , 198 00:07:43,331 --> 00:07:43,160 I'd like to offer that here from the 199 00:07:43,170 --> 00:07:45,337 podium . Our , our deepest condolences 200 00:07:45,337 --> 00:07:47,503 go out to the marines that were killed 201 00:07:47,503 --> 00:07:49,503 in that exercise . Um , as with any 202 00:07:49,503 --> 00:07:51,423 training accident , there is an 203 00:07:51,433 --> 00:07:53,863 investigation under way to determine um 204 00:07:53,872 --> 00:07:56,782 exactly what happened . And , uh , 205 00:07:57,173 --> 00:07:59,173 you've heard from myself and others 206 00:07:59,173 --> 00:08:01,340 that the safety and security of any of 207 00:08:01,340 --> 00:08:03,506 our service members is a priority . So 208 00:08:03,506 --> 00:08:05,617 of course , we would take any lessons 209 00:08:05,617 --> 00:08:07,617 learned from that investigation and 210 00:08:07,617 --> 00:08:09,729 apply it forward . Um I'm sorry , and 211 00:08:09,729 --> 00:08:11,562 your second question , a broader 212 00:08:11,562 --> 00:08:13,840 investigation , the aviation . So each , 213 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:15,673 each mishap that happens or each 214 00:08:15,673 --> 00:08:17,617 incident , um , there is always an 215 00:08:17,617 --> 00:08:19,562 investigation that happens , but I 216 00:08:19,562 --> 00:08:21,729 would view these as as separate ones . 217 00:08:21,729 --> 00:08:24,062 Um , not a , not one that needs to be a , 218 00:08:24,062 --> 00:08:26,335 like a , a holistic view of any 219 00:08:26,346 --> 00:08:29,346 aircraft or um any operations . So 220 00:08:29,376 --> 00:08:31,376 there is an investigation into this 221 00:08:31,376 --> 00:08:32,932 incident as there have been 222 00:08:32,932 --> 00:08:34,598 investigations in the past to 223 00:08:34,598 --> 00:08:37,179 individual mishaps or incidents . Yeah . 224 00:08:37,469 --> 00:08:39,691 Uh Thanks Sabrina . Uh , just to follow 225 00:08:39,691 --> 00:08:41,858 up on , on the , on the Osprey line of 226 00:08:41,858 --> 00:08:44,479 questioning . Um , uh , starting 227 00:08:44,489 --> 00:08:46,711 starting last year , both the Air Force 228 00:08:46,711 --> 00:08:48,878 and the Marine Corps acknowledged that 229 00:08:48,878 --> 00:08:50,878 the Osprey has this , uh rare , but 230 00:08:50,878 --> 00:08:53,200 persistent issue with its clutch . Does 231 00:08:53,210 --> 00:08:56,320 the dod is the dod concerned about this 232 00:08:56,330 --> 00:08:58,441 engineering fault , which the marines 233 00:08:58,441 --> 00:09:00,663 admit doesn't have a permanent solution 234 00:09:00,663 --> 00:09:03,000 yet . As far as just the platform 235 00:09:03,010 --> 00:09:05,232 itself is concerned broadly . Well , in 236 00:09:05,232 --> 00:09:07,650 terms of the um the incident that 237 00:09:07,659 --> 00:09:09,992 happened over this past weekend , again , 238 00:09:09,992 --> 00:09:12,215 that's still under investigation . So I 239 00:09:12,215 --> 00:09:14,437 don't want to jump ahead or , or get to 240 00:09:14,437 --> 00:09:16,659 um jump to any conclusions that haven't 241 00:09:16,659 --> 00:09:18,715 been reached yet . As I mentioned to 242 00:09:18,715 --> 00:09:20,937 Laura , each incident undergoes its own 243 00:09:20,937 --> 00:09:22,992 investigation . I wouldn't right now 244 00:09:22,992 --> 00:09:25,770 apply , um , a , a sweeping broad 245 00:09:25,780 --> 00:09:27,947 stroke across every incident , linking 246 00:09:27,947 --> 00:09:29,947 them together . Um They're all very 247 00:09:29,947 --> 00:09:32,090 unfortunate . They , you know , every 248 00:09:32,099 --> 00:09:34,700 time this happens , of course , uh we 249 00:09:34,710 --> 00:09:36,932 are , we always think about the service 250 00:09:36,932 --> 00:09:38,988 members who , um , are putting their 251 00:09:38,988 --> 00:09:41,210 lives at risk , but I wouldn't say that 252 00:09:41,210 --> 00:09:43,377 um , they're all connected in , in one 253 00:09:43,377 --> 00:09:45,432 way or the other . Does the Pentagon 254 00:09:45,432 --> 00:09:47,654 have confidence in the Osprey as a , as 255 00:09:47,654 --> 00:09:49,690 an air ? I , I think we , we do 256 00:09:49,700 --> 00:09:52,033 certainly have confidence in the Osprey . 257 00:09:52,033 --> 00:09:53,922 Um If anything changes , if these 258 00:09:53,922 --> 00:09:56,033 investigations lead to something that 259 00:09:56,033 --> 00:09:57,922 would uh cause us or a service to 260 00:09:57,922 --> 00:10:00,830 adjust , um , anything about how we 261 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:03,007 believe the osprey should be used , we 262 00:10:03,007 --> 00:10:05,118 would do that . But at this time , we 263 00:10:05,118 --> 00:10:07,118 have confidence in that , hey , Dan 264 00:10:07,118 --> 00:10:09,118 Worth looking at a broader issue of 265 00:10:09,118 --> 00:10:11,284 aviation safety . I mean , there was a 266 00:10:11,284 --> 00:10:13,396 GAO report as you know , that did say 267 00:10:13,396 --> 00:10:15,618 there was a broader problem in the Army 268 00:10:15,618 --> 00:10:17,618 and the National Guard over a whole 269 00:10:17,618 --> 00:10:19,729 period of years where they found that 270 00:10:19,729 --> 00:10:21,784 there was a problem with maintenance 271 00:10:21,784 --> 00:10:24,007 and a problem with pilots being able to 272 00:10:24,007 --> 00:10:26,229 get enough hours in the air because the 273 00:10:26,229 --> 00:10:28,451 aircraft weren't ready to fly . Is that 274 00:10:28,451 --> 00:10:28,059 something you're at least considering a 275 00:10:28,070 --> 00:10:30,530 broader look at safety at the moment 276 00:10:30,539 --> 00:10:33,440 right now . No , we are focused on what 277 00:10:33,450 --> 00:10:35,506 happened in this particular incident 278 00:10:35,506 --> 00:10:37,394 and what has happened in previous 279 00:10:37,394 --> 00:10:39,506 incidents . But I wouldn't , I really 280 00:10:39,506 --> 00:10:42,080 would , would um steer away from 281 00:10:42,090 --> 00:10:44,312 linking them together right now because 282 00:10:44,312 --> 00:10:46,479 they're still being investigated . And 283 00:10:46,479 --> 00:10:48,590 until we have a proper conclusion , I 284 00:10:48,590 --> 00:10:50,590 just , I don't want to get ahead of 285 00:10:50,590 --> 00:10:52,090 anything that ahead of the 286 00:10:52,090 --> 00:10:53,757 investigation or ahead of any 287 00:10:53,757 --> 00:10:55,812 recommendation that the secretary or 288 00:10:55,812 --> 00:10:57,979 service might have for the secretary , 289 00:10:57,979 --> 00:11:00,239 just in terms of uh the storm , the 290 00:11:00,250 --> 00:11:03,349 hurricane uh for us bases . Uh 291 00:11:03,359 --> 00:11:06,140 What I may have missed it . Are you are 292 00:11:06,150 --> 00:11:08,150 those , what's the pro what are the 293 00:11:08,150 --> 00:11:10,372 precautions being taken ? So , in terms 294 00:11:10,372 --> 00:11:12,317 of each base , there are , I think 295 00:11:12,317 --> 00:11:14,150 approximately 20 in the state of 296 00:11:14,150 --> 00:11:16,261 Florida and each one will conduct its 297 00:11:16,261 --> 00:11:19,719 own um evacuation uh procedures 298 00:11:19,729 --> 00:11:21,673 depending on where they are . So I 299 00:11:21,673 --> 00:11:23,896 refer you to each installation in terms 300 00:11:23,896 --> 00:11:25,951 of how they're handling the incoming 301 00:11:25,951 --> 00:11:28,173 storm or the incoming hurricane . Um We 302 00:11:28,173 --> 00:11:32,010 have had uh mcdill uh evacuate 303 00:11:32,020 --> 00:11:34,280 non-essential personnel as they are . I 304 00:11:34,289 --> 00:11:36,456 believe the storm is coming up right , 305 00:11:36,456 --> 00:11:38,869 um along the coast there and but in 306 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:40,880 terms of other individual bases , I 307 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:43,213 would just refer you to the service for , 308 00:11:43,213 --> 00:11:45,213 for more questions . Great . Yeah , 309 00:11:45,213 --> 00:11:48,700 right here on uh Turkey , the uh the US 310 00:11:48,710 --> 00:11:51,190 Embassy in Turkey announced that US 311 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:54,190 Gerald Ford was do , I guess over the 312 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:56,309 weekend , Turkish media reports say 313 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,320 that there was a joint exercise and 314 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:00,542 they called it the largest ever between 315 00:12:00,542 --> 00:12:03,599 the two militaries . Can you provide 316 00:12:03,609 --> 00:12:05,609 any details on those joint military 317 00:12:05,609 --> 00:12:07,831 exercises ? Sure , I'd have to actually 318 00:12:07,831 --> 00:12:09,831 take that question for you . I just 319 00:12:09,831 --> 00:12:12,053 don't have more details to provide from 320 00:12:12,053 --> 00:12:11,585 here at this time . So I'd be happy to 321 00:12:11,594 --> 00:12:15,195 take that one . The , I believe it was 322 00:12:15,205 --> 00:12:17,755 April , the Turkish drone strike that 323 00:12:17,765 --> 00:12:20,554 targeted a convoy that had a Kurdish uh 324 00:12:20,565 --> 00:12:22,732 military official and three US service 325 00:12:22,732 --> 00:12:24,343 members in it . There was an 326 00:12:24,343 --> 00:12:26,398 investigation launched Pentagon , uh 327 00:12:26,398 --> 00:12:28,343 you know , told us at the time and 328 00:12:28,343 --> 00:12:30,232 repeated , uh you know , repeated 329 00:12:30,232 --> 00:12:32,059 questions asking about that 330 00:12:32,070 --> 00:12:34,530 investigation . The , the response that 331 00:12:34,539 --> 00:12:36,761 we've gotten multiple times now is that 332 00:12:36,761 --> 00:12:38,539 there's no comment . Um Is this 333 00:12:38,539 --> 00:12:40,428 investigation closed ? Is there a 334 00:12:40,428 --> 00:12:42,317 reason ? Um Could you provide any 335 00:12:42,317 --> 00:12:44,428 updates on that ? I think , I believe 336 00:12:44,428 --> 00:12:44,219 you asked me about this just a few 337 00:12:44,229 --> 00:12:46,285 months ago . Um I , I don't have any 338 00:12:46,285 --> 00:12:48,229 updates for you at this time . I'm 339 00:12:48,229 --> 00:12:50,340 happy to take a look and come back to 340 00:12:50,340 --> 00:12:52,229 you . But at the moment from this 341 00:12:52,229 --> 00:12:54,285 podium right now , I just don't have 342 00:12:54,285 --> 00:12:54,159 any updates . I'm gonna go to the 343 00:12:54,169 --> 00:12:56,739 phones . Really quickly . Um Jim 344 00:12:56,750 --> 00:12:58,194 Laporta , the messenger . 345 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,070 Hi , thank you for doing this . Um On 346 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,320 the uh security assistance to Ukraine 347 00:13:05,330 --> 00:13:07,640 that was announced today . Um I had two 348 00:13:07,650 --> 00:13:10,789 questions . The , the 101 55 millimeter 349 00:13:10,799 --> 00:13:13,219 artillery shells . Does that include 350 00:13:13,229 --> 00:13:16,330 deep pickens ? And then also is this 351 00:13:16,340 --> 00:13:18,062 the first time the US has sent 352 00:13:18,062 --> 00:13:21,059 sidewinders , the uh the AM nine M . 353 00:13:22,190 --> 00:13:24,412 Um I do in terms of the sidewinders , I 354 00:13:24,412 --> 00:13:26,412 do not believe so , but I would , I 355 00:13:26,412 --> 00:13:28,468 would be happy to check that . Um in 356 00:13:28,468 --> 00:13:30,634 terms of the if were there any to pick 357 00:13:30,634 --> 00:13:32,746 included in this round of uh in terms 358 00:13:32,746 --> 00:13:34,857 of were there any pickups included in 359 00:13:34,857 --> 00:13:37,440 this 45th drawdown ? There were not uh 360 00:13:37,450 --> 00:13:40,080 with that , I will go to heather us and 361 00:13:40,090 --> 00:13:43,219 I , great , thank you so much . Um I 362 00:13:43,229 --> 00:13:45,396 was wondering just to go back to the o 363 00:13:45,396 --> 00:13:47,451 questions . Uh what is the breakdown 364 00:13:47,451 --> 00:13:49,562 between the US and Australia in terms 365 00:13:49,562 --> 00:13:51,618 of investigations going on into what 366 00:13:51,618 --> 00:13:53,785 happened with the crash ? Well , the , 367 00:13:53,785 --> 00:13:56,669 the um Marine Corps will be conducting 368 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:58,901 its own investigation , but of course , 369 00:13:58,901 --> 00:14:00,957 this was a joint exercise . So there 370 00:14:00,957 --> 00:14:02,790 will be collaboration and um and 371 00:14:02,790 --> 00:14:04,623 partnership there . But for more 372 00:14:04,623 --> 00:14:06,790 details on the investigation , I would 373 00:14:06,790 --> 00:14:06,729 refer you to the , to the Marine Corps 374 00:14:06,739 --> 00:14:09,969 to answer those questions . Ok , great . 375 00:14:09,979 --> 00:14:11,979 I'll come back in the room or , and 376 00:14:11,979 --> 00:14:14,201 then Carla , there's a hearing going on 377 00:14:14,201 --> 00:14:16,368 right now with Gold Star families from 378 00:14:16,368 --> 00:14:18,257 the Abbey Gate bombing and at the 379 00:14:18,257 --> 00:14:18,179 beginning of the hearing . Congressman 380 00:14:18,190 --> 00:14:20,079 mccaul Chair of the House Foreign 381 00:14:20,079 --> 00:14:22,357 Affairs Committee said two years later , 382 00:14:22,357 --> 00:14:24,523 we're still here seeking answers . How 383 00:14:24,523 --> 00:14:24,299 did this happen ? What went wrong ? Why 384 00:14:24,309 --> 00:14:26,087 couldn't this tragedy have been 385 00:14:26,087 --> 00:14:28,031 prevented ? These questions remain 386 00:14:28,031 --> 00:14:30,198 unanswered because this administration 387 00:14:30,198 --> 00:14:29,840 wants to sweep what happened under the 388 00:14:29,849 --> 00:14:32,016 rug . They know they bear the brunt of 389 00:14:32,016 --> 00:14:34,127 the blame and they want to escape any 390 00:14:34,127 --> 00:14:36,349 accountability . Do you care to respond 391 00:14:36,349 --> 00:14:38,571 to that ? Well , I , I haven't seen the 392 00:14:38,571 --> 00:14:40,793 comments that were made as , as I think 393 00:14:40,793 --> 00:14:40,729 you mentioned that this is ongoing 394 00:14:40,739 --> 00:14:43,059 right now . But um first let me say 395 00:14:43,070 --> 00:14:46,020 that uh the secretary and others in 396 00:14:46,030 --> 00:14:49,099 this department have um expressed their 397 00:14:49,109 --> 00:14:51,559 incredible , um They're incredibly 398 00:14:51,570 --> 00:14:53,737 grateful for the service and sacrifice 399 00:14:53,737 --> 00:14:55,737 that our , our service members have 400 00:14:55,737 --> 00:14:59,010 made um in Afghanistan and , and those 401 00:14:59,020 --> 00:15:01,076 who were committed to the evacuation 402 00:15:01,076 --> 00:15:04,750 operations . Um in terms of responding 403 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:07,038 to some of the comments that were made , 404 00:15:07,038 --> 00:15:08,927 I think , you know , that Centcom 405 00:15:08,927 --> 00:15:10,760 conducted a very comprehensive , 406 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,140 credible and definitive investigation 407 00:15:13,219 --> 00:15:15,330 into the Abbey Gate bombing following 408 00:15:15,330 --> 00:15:17,669 the attack . Um Our US military 409 00:15:17,679 --> 00:15:20,090 commanders on the ground made the best 410 00:15:20,099 --> 00:15:22,266 decisions that they could uh that they 411 00:15:22,266 --> 00:15:25,559 were provided um with of the , of 412 00:15:25,570 --> 00:15:29,460 the um uh intelligence and the 413 00:15:29,469 --> 00:15:31,679 evidence that they were given on the 414 00:15:31,690 --> 00:15:33,919 ground to a that they were able to make 415 00:15:33,929 --> 00:15:36,760 those decisions in , in . I'm sorry , 416 00:15:36,770 --> 00:15:38,937 let me just take a step back because I 417 00:15:38,937 --> 00:15:41,159 realize I'm sort of jumbling my words . 418 00:15:41,159 --> 00:15:43,214 Here , us military commanders on the 419 00:15:43,214 --> 00:15:45,214 ground in Afghanistan made the made 420 00:15:45,214 --> 00:15:47,159 decisions that they could with the 421 00:15:47,159 --> 00:15:49,381 information that they had at the time . 422 00:15:49,381 --> 00:15:52,799 Um They were fully given , um 423 00:15:53,890 --> 00:15:55,900 uh they were , they were given the 424 00:15:55,909 --> 00:15:58,419 decision making capability and were 425 00:15:58,429 --> 00:16:00,596 responding to threats on the ground in 426 00:16:00,596 --> 00:16:02,818 real time . And so we are very proud of 427 00:16:02,818 --> 00:16:04,873 the work that our commanders and our 428 00:16:04,873 --> 00:16:07,096 service members did not during just the 429 00:16:07,096 --> 00:16:09,262 evacuation in those um few weeks , but 430 00:16:09,262 --> 00:16:11,373 over the 20 year war . Um and I think 431 00:16:11,373 --> 00:16:13,485 as you probably know that we also did 432 00:16:13,485 --> 00:16:16,940 uh a very um deep investigative , a 433 00:16:16,950 --> 00:16:19,061 ar that we submitted to Congress that 434 00:16:19,061 --> 00:16:22,929 also provided um uh members of the A SC 435 00:16:22,940 --> 00:16:24,884 and , and House Committee with our 436 00:16:24,884 --> 00:16:28,489 findings of um not just the um 437 00:16:28,500 --> 00:16:30,799 evacuation but just our larger 438 00:16:30,809 --> 00:16:32,809 takeaways from Afghanistan and I'll 439 00:16:32,809 --> 00:16:35,031 leave it at that one follow up question 440 00:16:35,031 --> 00:16:37,142 Congressman mccaul is , is , has been 441 00:16:37,142 --> 00:16:39,365 working on his own investigation of the 442 00:16:39,365 --> 00:16:41,587 withdrawal itself and the circumstances 443 00:16:41,587 --> 00:16:43,420 around it . You talked about the 444 00:16:43,420 --> 00:16:45,531 investigation , the A ar as well that 445 00:16:45,531 --> 00:16:47,587 looked over all of that . Is it your 446 00:16:47,587 --> 00:16:49,642 position that there is that there is 447 00:16:49,642 --> 00:16:49,320 nothing more to learn that everything 448 00:16:49,330 --> 00:16:51,552 that has been learned about it could be 449 00:16:51,552 --> 00:16:53,608 learned or is there more information 450 00:16:53,608 --> 00:16:55,608 out there that could be made public 451 00:16:55,608 --> 00:16:57,886 that we haven't heard about yet ? Well , 452 00:16:57,886 --> 00:16:59,386 I think , I think from the 453 00:16:59,386 --> 00:17:01,330 investigations and from this , the 454 00:17:01,330 --> 00:17:03,219 investigation that Centcom did in 455 00:17:03,219 --> 00:17:05,274 particular around Abby gate , it was 456 00:17:05,274 --> 00:17:07,497 incredibly exhaustive interviewing over 457 00:17:07,497 --> 00:17:09,719 100 members that were on the ground and 458 00:17:09,719 --> 00:17:11,719 um in this department to figure out 459 00:17:11,719 --> 00:17:14,199 what exactly happened . Um We of course 460 00:17:14,209 --> 00:17:16,098 welcome transparency . We welcome 461 00:17:16,098 --> 00:17:18,265 accountability . Um We are accountable 462 00:17:18,265 --> 00:17:20,180 to Congress and that is why we 463 00:17:20,189 --> 00:17:22,411 submitted the A ar when we did . That's 464 00:17:22,411 --> 00:17:24,578 also why Centcom led the investigation 465 00:17:24,578 --> 00:17:27,280 and interviewed the um the many people 466 00:17:27,290 --> 00:17:29,457 that were involved in the evacuation . 467 00:17:29,457 --> 00:17:32,829 And so , um we feel confident in our 468 00:17:32,839 --> 00:17:36,660 efforts to um get to the truth uh 469 00:17:36,670 --> 00:17:40,459 to get to um the facts 470 00:17:40,469 --> 00:17:42,920 and of course , what we think about um 471 00:17:42,930 --> 00:17:44,930 as we are coming up on the two year 472 00:17:44,930 --> 00:17:48,439 anniversary is um the service members , 473 00:17:48,449 --> 00:17:51,069 the civilians who dedicated their lives 474 00:17:51,079 --> 00:17:54,260 um in Afghanistan . And so that's 475 00:17:54,270 --> 00:17:56,270 something that we're thinking about 476 00:17:56,270 --> 00:17:58,381 around the two year anniversary as we 477 00:17:58,381 --> 00:18:00,603 close out the month of August . I think 478 00:18:00,603 --> 00:18:02,437 I said , yeah , and I think that 479 00:18:02,437 --> 00:18:04,548 Chairman Milly had said that he would 480 00:18:04,548 --> 00:18:06,770 welcome additional investigations um to 481 00:18:06,770 --> 00:18:09,619 the the post . Um Do , does the 482 00:18:09,630 --> 00:18:11,186 Pentagon support additional 483 00:18:11,186 --> 00:18:13,297 investigations ? Just I know you said 484 00:18:13,297 --> 00:18:15,969 you , you uh welcome transparency . Is 485 00:18:15,979 --> 00:18:17,890 that a yes that you are welcoming 486 00:18:17,900 --> 00:18:20,250 mccall's investigation as well . If 487 00:18:20,260 --> 00:18:22,093 there is an investigation led in 488 00:18:22,093 --> 00:18:23,816 Congress , of course , we will 489 00:18:23,816 --> 00:18:25,871 cooperate . But again , we feel very 490 00:18:25,871 --> 00:18:28,038 confident in the efforts that were led 491 00:18:28,038 --> 00:18:31,319 by Centcom and by um our , the , the 492 00:18:31,329 --> 00:18:33,273 cigar report that was submitted to 493 00:18:33,273 --> 00:18:35,079 Congress um on our efforts in 494 00:18:35,089 --> 00:18:37,750 Afghanistan . And then on has the US 495 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,160 flown any drone missions out of any 496 00:18:40,170 --> 00:18:43,969 bases in uh since the president of was 497 00:18:43,979 --> 00:18:46,090 forcibly removed from office , so I'm 498 00:18:46,090 --> 00:18:48,949 not going to comment on any ISR um 499 00:18:49,430 --> 00:18:51,880 capabilities or flights out of . But 500 00:18:51,890 --> 00:18:54,910 what I can tell you is that um we 501 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:57,290 continue to maintain and protect our 502 00:18:57,300 --> 00:18:59,510 interests in the region and will 503 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:01,687 continue to work to protect our allies 504 00:19:01,687 --> 00:19:03,798 and partners in the region . Um , and 505 00:19:03,798 --> 00:19:06,020 we have other means of doing that , but 506 00:19:06,020 --> 00:19:08,298 I just don't have anything more to say , 507 00:19:08,298 --> 00:19:10,242 we'll say whether or not it's , we 508 00:19:10,242 --> 00:19:10,150 don't run on ISR operation , so I'm 509 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:12,493 just not gonna go into that . Ok . Well , 510 00:19:12,493 --> 00:19:14,549 how , I mean , is the counter terror 511 00:19:14,549 --> 00:19:17,020 mission in West Africa ? Is that on 512 00:19:17,030 --> 00:19:19,141 pause as a whole ? Because , I mean , 513 00:19:19,141 --> 00:19:22,060 not just in , but those drone bases are 514 00:19:22,069 --> 00:19:25,109 responsible for areas outside of as 515 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:27,680 well . So we have other way . I mean , 516 00:19:27,689 --> 00:19:30,869 again , we have , um , we have 517 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:34,280 redundancies around the world and , and 518 00:19:34,290 --> 00:19:36,670 in the region that allow for us to 519 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:39,949 continue to protect our interests of 520 00:19:39,959 --> 00:19:42,126 our allies and the United States . But 521 00:19:42,126 --> 00:19:44,126 I'm not , not going to get into any 522 00:19:44,126 --> 00:19:46,348 further intelligence . And so finally , 523 00:19:46,348 --> 00:19:48,070 would you say that the counter 524 00:19:48,070 --> 00:19:50,181 terrorism uh mission in West Africa , 525 00:19:50,181 --> 00:19:53,209 is it being hindered by this situation , 526 00:19:53,219 --> 00:19:56,040 this coup or it are things able to go 527 00:19:56,050 --> 00:19:58,439 as business as usual ? Well , it's 528 00:19:58,449 --> 00:20:00,459 certainly not business as usual as 529 00:20:00,469 --> 00:20:03,189 we're not conducting um we're not 530 00:20:03,199 --> 00:20:06,959 conducting operations or uh conducting 531 00:20:06,969 --> 00:20:09,939 um uh any other exercises within our , 532 00:20:09,949 --> 00:20:11,838 our Nigerian counterparts at this 533 00:20:11,838 --> 00:20:14,005 moment , uh What we're focused on what 534 00:20:14,005 --> 00:20:16,005 um this building and other agencies 535 00:20:16,005 --> 00:20:19,069 remain focused on , um , is seeing a 536 00:20:19,079 --> 00:20:21,589 resolve to this diplomatically . And so 537 00:20:21,599 --> 00:20:23,839 I'll just leave that , that . Yeah . 538 00:20:23,849 --> 00:20:26,780 Hey , Chris , and um , the , thank you 539 00:20:27,829 --> 00:20:31,780 the , on the forces the US um 540 00:20:31,790 --> 00:20:34,449 sent to the Gulf in response to the 541 00:20:34,459 --> 00:20:37,099 Iranian actions that you yourself 542 00:20:37,109 --> 00:20:39,331 announced and said , didn't want to put 543 00:20:39,331 --> 00:20:41,650 a timeline on . Um Has the Pentagon 544 00:20:41,750 --> 00:20:44,689 seen a decrease in that Iranian threat ? 545 00:20:44,699 --> 00:20:47,569 How are you going to judge when those 546 00:20:47,579 --> 00:20:50,770 forces are , can draw , you know , come 547 00:20:50,780 --> 00:20:53,400 back and , and when they need to stay , 548 00:20:53,410 --> 00:20:55,839 I mean , how , what's that look like ? 549 00:20:56,290 --> 00:20:58,512 Well , I , I can't predict the future . 550 00:20:58,512 --> 00:21:01,189 Um So I will say that , you know , as 551 00:21:01,199 --> 00:21:03,489 long as there remains a need for these 552 00:21:03,500 --> 00:21:05,556 forces to be in the region , they're 553 00:21:05,556 --> 00:21:08,369 going to stay there . Um They are there 554 00:21:08,380 --> 00:21:11,300 to deter any um threats or um 555 00:21:11,310 --> 00:21:14,189 unprofessional unsafe from I RGC back 556 00:21:14,199 --> 00:21:16,310 groups and I'll just have to leave it 557 00:21:16,310 --> 00:21:18,890 at that when you see same forces I , is 558 00:21:18,900 --> 00:21:22,569 it possible that these forces were made 559 00:21:22,579 --> 00:21:24,699 in the region ? Is that force posture 560 00:21:24,709 --> 00:21:27,469 or can we see rotational of , of 561 00:21:27,479 --> 00:21:30,040 similar assets if this um becomes an 562 00:21:30,050 --> 00:21:33,089 ongoing ? I don't really have , I don't 563 00:21:33,099 --> 00:21:35,266 have anything to announce today . Um I 564 00:21:35,266 --> 00:21:37,589 have no updates or , or changes to 565 00:21:37,599 --> 00:21:39,900 announce in terms of um the forces that 566 00:21:39,910 --> 00:21:42,132 were moved to the region at this time . 567 00:21:42,132 --> 00:21:44,243 If that does change , I'd be happy to 568 00:21:44,243 --> 00:21:46,410 read that out . But at this moment , I 569 00:21:46,410 --> 00:21:48,521 just don't have anything . Great . Do 570 00:21:48,521 --> 00:21:50,688 you have anything anyone else ? Sure . 571 00:21:50,688 --> 00:21:53,829 The uh the drawdown . Um How much is 572 00:21:53,839 --> 00:21:57,540 left now in the Ukraine 573 00:21:57,550 --> 00:22:01,189 funding ? And do you , does 574 00:22:01,199 --> 00:22:05,010 that , uh , authority expire at the end 575 00:22:05,020 --> 00:22:07,310 of September or does it carry over into 576 00:22:07,319 --> 00:22:10,119 the next fiscal year ? Um Good question . 577 00:22:10,130 --> 00:22:12,241 So , in terms of how much is left , I 578 00:22:12,241 --> 00:22:14,297 would have to take that question and 579 00:22:14,297 --> 00:22:13,890 get back to you . I just don't have 580 00:22:13,900 --> 00:22:16,122 that on hand in , in terms of the funds 581 00:22:16,122 --> 00:22:18,289 that are left you , you might remember 582 00:22:18,289 --> 00:22:20,579 that this was um a recalculation done 583 00:22:20,589 --> 00:22:23,060 of previous pdas . So , because it was 584 00:22:23,069 --> 00:22:26,180 a recalculation , um this would not 585 00:22:26,189 --> 00:22:28,356 expire at the end of the fiscal year . 586 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:30,420 Um We're confident that we will have 587 00:22:30,430 --> 00:22:32,739 enough money to meet Ukraine's need 588 00:22:32,750 --> 00:22:34,806 through the fiscal year . But as you 589 00:22:34,806 --> 00:22:36,806 know , there's been a request for a 590 00:22:36,806 --> 00:22:38,917 supplemental , um , and we're , we're 591 00:22:38,917 --> 00:22:41,469 hopeful uh that a , um , that the 592 00:22:41,479 --> 00:22:43,535 Congress will approve a supplemental 593 00:22:43,535 --> 00:22:47,180 package for , for Ukraine , but that 594 00:22:47,219 --> 00:22:50,130 answer , how is a taken for the , for 595 00:22:50,140 --> 00:22:52,251 how much is left ? Yes . Absolutely . 596 00:22:52,251 --> 00:22:54,418 Yep , Liz . And then I'll come back to 597 00:22:54,418 --> 00:22:56,640 you . Um Thanks . Can you explain the , 598 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:58,807 um , announcement from Secretary Hicks 599 00:22:58,807 --> 00:23:01,140 a little bit from yesterday on the , um , 600 00:23:01,140 --> 00:23:03,307 replicator drone program ? Sure . Um , 601 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:06,510 so the replicator uh initiative is 602 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:10,250 another tool uh for us to innovate and 603 00:23:10,260 --> 00:23:13,410 to modernize and to keep um a pace with 604 00:23:13,420 --> 00:23:17,410 the PR C . Um The the replicator is is 605 00:23:17,420 --> 00:23:19,087 basically a way to accelerate 606 00:23:19,087 --> 00:23:20,920 innovation by the war fighter by 607 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:23,359 delivering low cost autonomous systems 608 00:23:23,369 --> 00:23:26,030 at a scale of multiple thousands across 609 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:28,207 war fighting domains . And that should 610 00:23:28,207 --> 00:23:30,096 be in a timeline between 18 to 24 611 00:23:30,096 --> 00:23:32,300 months . Um The secretary and the 612 00:23:32,310 --> 00:23:34,239 deputy have been focused on this 613 00:23:34,250 --> 00:23:36,540 urgency to innovate and the replicator . 614 00:23:36,550 --> 00:23:39,959 Is that next step ? Great ? Sure . 615 00:23:40,099 --> 00:23:43,219 Hi . Has there been any effort 616 00:23:44,239 --> 00:23:46,989 to evacuate uh personnel from American 617 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:50,599 personnel from involving uh us assets 618 00:23:50,609 --> 00:23:52,831 from Europe ? There's been no change to 619 00:23:52,831 --> 00:23:55,219 our force posture at this moment . Um 620 00:23:55,229 --> 00:23:57,173 So in terms of any evacuations , I 621 00:23:57,173 --> 00:23:59,396 would say no , um if that changes , I'd 622 00:23:59,396 --> 00:24:01,560 be happy to keep you updated . Um I 623 00:24:01,569 --> 00:24:03,625 will take one more question from the 624 00:24:03,625 --> 00:24:05,680 phone , Howard Altman . Hey , thanks 625 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:07,847 for , I got two questions . Actually , 626 00:24:07,847 --> 00:24:10,699 one is on uh the picks D Ignatius who 627 00:24:10,709 --> 00:24:12,598 over the weekend talked about the 628 00:24:12,598 --> 00:24:15,420 rocket launch to pick probably the M 26 629 00:24:15,689 --> 00:24:17,959 being uh the US being closer to 630 00:24:17,969 --> 00:24:20,025 providing those . Can you give us an 631 00:24:20,025 --> 00:24:22,025 update ? Is that on the table ? And 632 00:24:22,025 --> 00:24:24,834 then I have a question about uh claims 633 00:24:24,844 --> 00:24:27,094 and satellite imagery seems to back 634 00:24:27,104 --> 00:24:29,584 that up that um Russia is sinking 635 00:24:29,594 --> 00:24:32,795 ferries along the uh Karch bridge to 636 00:24:32,805 --> 00:24:34,916 protect it against sea drones . And , 637 00:24:34,916 --> 00:24:36,638 and I wanted to get a Pentagon 638 00:24:36,638 --> 00:24:38,527 assessment on that . Hey , thanks 639 00:24:38,527 --> 00:24:40,694 Howard for the question . I just don't 640 00:24:40,694 --> 00:24:42,861 have on , on both of those questions . 641 00:24:42,861 --> 00:24:42,744 I just don't have more of an update to 642 00:24:42,755 --> 00:24:45,150 provide . I'm um on the , on your 643 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:47,382 second part just on , in terms of where 644 00:24:47,382 --> 00:24:49,438 I think you're asking where Russians 645 00:24:49,438 --> 00:24:51,493 are amassing forces along a bridge . 646 00:24:51,493 --> 00:24:53,438 I'm just not going to get into any 647 00:24:53,438 --> 00:24:55,660 intelligence , intelligence assessments 648 00:24:55,660 --> 00:24:57,771 that we have here . I would refer you 649 00:24:57,771 --> 00:24:59,920 to the Ukrainians to speak to their 650 00:24:59,930 --> 00:25:03,260 operations um in terms of what the 651 00:25:03,270 --> 00:25:05,381 Ukrainians are doing in their counter 652 00:25:05,381 --> 00:25:08,040 offensive , um We're seeing that they 653 00:25:08,250 --> 00:25:11,979 have continue to make slow progress 654 00:25:11,989 --> 00:25:15,400 and are continuing in this fight as 655 00:25:15,530 --> 00:25:18,540 um the months continue . And so I would 656 00:25:18,550 --> 00:25:20,661 just leave it at that and , and , and 657 00:25:20,661 --> 00:25:22,494 direct you to the Ukrainians for 658 00:25:22,494 --> 00:25:24,606 further comment . Great . Anyone else 659 00:25:24,606 --> 00:25:26,661 know Dan . Ok . Last question to Dan 660 00:25:26,661 --> 00:25:28,883 and then I'll wrap it up . Presumably , 661 00:25:28,883 --> 00:25:32,050 attacks are still not something that 662 00:25:32,060 --> 00:25:33,949 the administration is considering 663 00:25:33,949 --> 00:25:36,004 providing Ukraine . I don't have any 664 00:25:36,004 --> 00:25:38,116 update for you on anything that we're 665 00:25:38,116 --> 00:25:40,116 providing regarding attacks . Is it 666 00:25:40,116 --> 00:25:42,339 still under consideration ? I mean , I 667 00:25:42,349 --> 00:25:44,460 have no updates for you when it comes 668 00:25:44,460 --> 00:25:46,627 to attacks . I think the Ukrainians as 669 00:25:46,627 --> 00:25:48,460 you've seen have been using , um 670 00:25:48,460 --> 00:25:51,770 whether it's the high Mars or um uh the 671 00:25:51,780 --> 00:25:55,459 storm shadow uh in quite incredible 672 00:25:55,469 --> 00:25:57,636 effect on the battlefield , but I just 673 00:25:57,636 --> 00:25:59,858 don't have anything to announce when it 674 00:25:59,858 --> 00:26:01,913 comes to attacks . Going back to the 675 00:26:01,913 --> 00:26:05,349 question about the Gulf is since over 676 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:07,400 the past several months , has the 677 00:26:07,410 --> 00:26:11,119 threat reduced in terms of US , forces 678 00:26:11,130 --> 00:26:13,270 in Iraq and Syria from Iranian backed 679 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:16,689 militia or in the Strait of Hormuz in 680 00:26:16,699 --> 00:26:18,921 terms of commercial shipping . Is there 681 00:26:18,921 --> 00:26:21,088 an assessment that the temperature has 682 00:26:21,088 --> 00:26:22,810 dropped slightly in that whole 683 00:26:22,810 --> 00:26:25,400 situation ? I wouldn't know that I'd 684 00:26:25,410 --> 00:26:27,299 make an assessment on temperature 685 00:26:27,299 --> 00:26:30,150 dropping . We continue to see , um , 686 00:26:30,530 --> 00:26:33,130 harassment , uh , over the past few 687 00:26:33,140 --> 00:26:36,000 weeks we've seen harassment , um from I 688 00:26:36,010 --> 00:26:38,780 RGC backed groups over commercial uh 689 00:26:38,790 --> 00:26:41,839 ships . And so , um as that 690 00:26:41,849 --> 00:26:44,880 continues , um that's why we moved our 691 00:26:44,890 --> 00:26:47,630 forces into the region as we did . Um 692 00:26:47,699 --> 00:26:49,810 We have not seen that threat drop , I 693 00:26:49,810 --> 00:26:51,921 would say so we haven't seen a reason 694 00:26:51,921 --> 00:26:53,810 to move our forces out . So until 695 00:26:53,810 --> 00:26:56,140 there's a change , um you know , I 696 00:26:56,150 --> 00:26:58,261 would , I would just , I'm just gonna 697 00:26:58,261 --> 00:27:00,372 leave it at that . And then the final 698 00:27:00,372 --> 00:27:02,428 thing that has got some intention is 699 00:27:02,428 --> 00:27:05,420 the US considering reestablishing the 700 00:27:05,430 --> 00:27:07,541 nuclear weapons mission in the United 701 00:27:07,541 --> 00:27:11,430 Kingdom . Um I think II , I think I saw 702 00:27:11,439 --> 00:27:13,772 the report that you're referencing . So , 703 00:27:13,772 --> 00:27:15,772 um consistent with our longstanding 704 00:27:15,772 --> 00:27:17,939 practice , we just do not disclose the 705 00:27:17,939 --> 00:27:20,609 specifics of us nuclear Posture um or 706 00:27:20,619 --> 00:27:22,770 basing it is us policy to neither 707 00:27:22,780 --> 00:27:24,613 confirm nor deny the presence or 708 00:27:24,613 --> 00:27:26,502 absence of nuclear weapons at any 709 00:27:26,502 --> 00:27:28,502 general or specific location . I'll 710 00:27:28,502 --> 00:27:29,930 leave it that . Thank you .