1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,059 All right , good afternoon , everyone . 2 00:00:05,050 --> 00:00:07,106 Sorry . Just give me a second here . 3 00:00:07,570 --> 00:00:09,737 All right . So good afternoon . I have 4 00:00:09,737 --> 00:00:11,959 a few things at the top and then I'd be 5 00:00:11,959 --> 00:00:14,237 happy to take your questions last week . 6 00:00:14,237 --> 00:00:16,014 As you know , the Senate took a 7 00:00:16,014 --> 00:00:18,126 critical step in passing a bipartisan 8 00:00:18,126 --> 00:00:20,126 national security supplemental . If 9 00:00:20,126 --> 00:00:22,459 passed by the House and signed into law , 10 00:00:22,459 --> 00:00:24,681 this legislation would directly advance 11 00:00:24,681 --> 00:00:26,737 America's interests and values . The 12 00:00:26,737 --> 00:00:28,514 Senate passed national security 13 00:00:28,514 --> 00:00:28,350 supplemental bill would allow the 14 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:30,471 department to provide military aid to 15 00:00:30,471 --> 00:00:32,582 Ukraine , deliver security assistance 16 00:00:32,582 --> 00:00:34,709 to Israel and bolster our support in 17 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:37,139 the Indo Pacific region . It is also an 18 00:00:37,150 --> 00:00:39,094 investment in our nation's defense 19 00:00:39,094 --> 00:00:41,060 industrial base every day . The 20 00:00:41,069 --> 00:00:43,013 Ukrainian people fight bravely and 21 00:00:43,013 --> 00:00:44,736 heroically against the Russian 22 00:00:44,736 --> 00:00:46,791 aggression . As the president said , 23 00:00:46,791 --> 00:00:49,125 quote , they've put so much on the line . 24 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:51,159 So we are going to continue to urge 25 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:52,770 Congress to pass this urgent 26 00:00:52,770 --> 00:00:54,770 supplemental request so that we can 27 00:00:54,770 --> 00:00:56,715 deliver Ukraine the air defenses , 28 00:00:56,715 --> 00:00:58,826 artillery and ammunition they need to 29 00:00:58,826 --> 00:01:00,826 defend themselves . And as the vice 30 00:01:00,826 --> 00:01:03,048 president said in Munich last weekend , 31 00:01:03,048 --> 00:01:05,215 the failure to not pass a supplemental 32 00:01:05,215 --> 00:01:07,489 would be a gift to Vladimir Putin if 33 00:01:07,500 --> 00:01:09,879 the US stands by while an aggressor 34 00:01:09,889 --> 00:01:12,050 invades its neighbor with impunity . 35 00:01:12,370 --> 00:01:14,426 The aggressor will keep going and in 36 00:01:14,426 --> 00:01:16,648 the case of Vladimir Putin , that would 37 00:01:16,648 --> 00:01:18,926 mean all of Europe would be threatened . 38 00:01:18,926 --> 00:01:20,981 So this is a moment where our allies 39 00:01:20,981 --> 00:01:23,349 and our adversaries are watching . So 40 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:25,527 we need the House to urgently pass and 41 00:01:25,527 --> 00:01:28,569 act uh and work to pass this bipartisan 42 00:01:28,580 --> 00:01:30,802 supplemental agreement that passed last 43 00:01:30,802 --> 00:01:33,024 week in the Senate . However , when the 44 00:01:33,024 --> 00:01:35,136 House returns from recess on February 45 00:01:35,136 --> 00:01:36,913 28th , there will be only three 46 00:01:36,913 --> 00:01:39,080 legislative days until certain federal 47 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:41,300 agencies run out of funding . On March 48 00:01:41,309 --> 00:01:43,253 1st , funding for the department's 49 00:01:43,253 --> 00:01:45,365 military construction activities will 50 00:01:45,365 --> 00:01:47,650 expire and on March 8th , funding for 51 00:01:47,660 --> 00:01:49,938 the rest of the department will expire . 52 00:01:50,150 --> 00:01:52,379 This brinkmanship creates uncertainty , 53 00:01:52,389 --> 00:01:54,611 increased costs and delays missions and 54 00:01:54,611 --> 00:01:56,722 most importantly , it's a distraction 55 00:01:56,722 --> 00:01:58,722 for the force . We will continue to 56 00:01:58,722 --> 00:02:00,833 defend the nation and conduct ongoing 57 00:02:00,833 --> 00:02:03,056 military operations . But the impact of 58 00:02:03,056 --> 00:02:04,722 a government shutdown will be 59 00:02:04,722 --> 00:02:06,611 widespread and devastating to our 60 00:02:06,611 --> 00:02:08,667 service members , their families and 61 00:02:08,667 --> 00:02:10,667 dod civilians who work every day in 62 00:02:10,667 --> 00:02:12,833 support of our national security . And 63 00:02:12,833 --> 00:02:14,945 as you know , the department is still 64 00:02:14,945 --> 00:02:17,111 operating under our third extension of 65 00:02:17,111 --> 00:02:19,167 a continuing resolution . A stop gap 66 00:02:19,167 --> 00:02:21,278 funding measure that prevents any new 67 00:02:21,278 --> 00:02:23,111 starts and limits our ability to 68 00:02:23,111 --> 00:02:25,167 implement a fully resourced national 69 00:02:25,167 --> 00:02:27,289 defense strategy . No amount of money 70 00:02:27,300 --> 00:02:29,411 can buy back the time we lose when we 71 00:02:29,411 --> 00:02:31,578 are forced to operate under continuing 72 00:02:31,578 --> 00:02:33,740 resolutions . If you add up the total 73 00:02:33,750 --> 00:02:35,960 time spent under AC R going back to 74 00:02:35,970 --> 00:02:38,479 2011 . We've spent nearly five years 75 00:02:38,490 --> 00:02:40,919 under CRS that puts our national 76 00:02:40,929 --> 00:02:42,818 security at risk and prevents the 77 00:02:42,818 --> 00:02:44,707 department from modernizing as we 78 00:02:44,707 --> 00:02:46,873 continue to be constrained to existing 79 00:02:46,873 --> 00:02:48,762 funding levels and prevented from 80 00:02:48,762 --> 00:02:50,929 launching new programs . We must break 81 00:02:50,929 --> 00:02:53,050 this pattern of inaction . We can't 82 00:02:53,059 --> 00:02:55,270 outcompete the PR C with one hand tied 83 00:02:55,279 --> 00:02:59,229 behind our back , 345 or even six 84 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:02,369 months of every fiscal year . The best 85 00:03:02,380 --> 00:03:04,269 way that Congress can support the 86 00:03:04,269 --> 00:03:06,324 department is to pass appropriations 87 00:03:06,324 --> 00:03:08,547 bills into law as soon as possible . We 88 00:03:08,547 --> 00:03:10,769 need predictable , adequate , sustained 89 00:03:10,769 --> 00:03:12,824 and timely funding . And with that , 90 00:03:12,824 --> 00:03:14,936 I'd be happy to take your questions . 91 00:03:14,936 --> 00:03:16,936 Tara , I didn't get the memo that I 92 00:03:16,936 --> 00:03:19,047 should wear red today . I see every , 93 00:03:19,047 --> 00:03:18,929 all the ladies are wearing red in this 94 00:03:18,940 --> 00:03:21,051 front row . All right . Why don't you 95 00:03:21,051 --> 00:03:23,107 go ahead ? Yeah , next time Thursday 96 00:03:23,107 --> 00:03:25,384 one or something different . All right , 97 00:03:25,384 --> 00:03:27,329 thanks Sabrina . Um , first on the 98 00:03:27,329 --> 00:03:29,496 houthis , it's been a pretty active 24 99 00:03:29,496 --> 00:03:31,607 hours . A number of , uh , drones and 100 00:03:31,607 --> 00:03:33,607 missiles were either intercepted or 101 00:03:33,607 --> 00:03:35,718 shot down . Uh , has the US been able 102 00:03:35,718 --> 00:03:37,829 to degrade , uh , the houthis ability 103 00:03:37,829 --> 00:03:40,250 to get more munitions , um , especially 104 00:03:40,259 --> 00:03:42,203 for many of these shipments headed 105 00:03:42,203 --> 00:03:44,315 toward Yemen and if not , what is the 106 00:03:44,315 --> 00:03:46,481 US doing about it ? So , we've had two 107 00:03:46,481 --> 00:03:49,039 successful interdictions , um , earlier 108 00:03:49,050 --> 00:03:51,106 in January and earlier this month by 109 00:03:51,106 --> 00:03:53,328 the US Coast Guard . And then , um , as 110 00:03:53,328 --> 00:03:55,850 you know , with our , um , seals that 111 00:03:55,860 --> 00:03:58,027 were able to interdict the dow So we , 112 00:03:58,027 --> 00:03:59,916 we have been able to disrupt some 113 00:03:59,916 --> 00:04:02,249 delivery of capabilities to the Houthis . 114 00:04:02,249 --> 00:04:04,529 Um We've also continued to conduct uh 115 00:04:04,539 --> 00:04:07,229 coalition strikes , um , and dynamic 116 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:09,470 strikes in Houthi controlled areas in 117 00:04:09,479 --> 00:04:11,789 Yemen . So we have been able to degrade 118 00:04:12,544 --> 00:04:14,804 the Houthis capabilities . I can't say 119 00:04:14,815 --> 00:04:16,759 that we've been able to stop every 120 00:04:16,759 --> 00:04:18,934 single shipment that has been able to 121 00:04:18,945 --> 00:04:21,815 get to them by most likely Iran . But 122 00:04:21,825 --> 00:04:23,714 we have been able to considerably 123 00:04:23,714 --> 00:04:25,825 degrade their capabilities . It seems 124 00:04:25,825 --> 00:04:27,936 like the number of munitions that are 125 00:04:27,936 --> 00:04:29,992 being either intercepted or actually 126 00:04:29,992 --> 00:04:32,269 being shot is actually on the rise now . 127 00:04:32,269 --> 00:04:34,492 So what is the Pentagon's assessment on 128 00:04:34,492 --> 00:04:36,658 where these weapons are coming from or 129 00:04:36,658 --> 00:04:38,881 did Yemen or the Houthis just have such 130 00:04:38,881 --> 00:04:41,103 a large cache already ? So , um without 131 00:04:41,103 --> 00:04:43,103 getting into intelligence , I think 132 00:04:43,103 --> 00:04:45,214 it's fair to say that the Houthis did 133 00:04:45,214 --> 00:04:47,839 have and do have a large warehouse of 134 00:04:47,850 --> 00:04:49,980 capabilities . But every single time 135 00:04:49,989 --> 00:04:52,100 that we conduct a strike , whether it 136 00:04:52,100 --> 00:04:53,989 be with our coalition partners or 137 00:04:53,989 --> 00:04:56,100 whether it be unilateral and in these 138 00:04:56,100 --> 00:04:57,933 dynamic strikes that you've seen 139 00:04:57,933 --> 00:05:00,600 Centcom take , we do degrade their 140 00:05:00,609 --> 00:05:03,329 abilities and their capabilities . Um 141 00:05:03,630 --> 00:05:05,910 We know that Iran supports the Houthis 142 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,980 continues to fund , um , continues to 143 00:05:08,989 --> 00:05:11,230 train . I RGC backed militias across 144 00:05:11,239 --> 00:05:13,690 the region . Um So we know Iran finds 145 00:05:13,700 --> 00:05:16,089 ways to , to get weapons and get 146 00:05:16,100 --> 00:05:18,156 capabilities to the Houthis . But uh 147 00:05:18,649 --> 00:05:20,760 you know , I'll just have to leave it 148 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:23,339 at that Jen um Sabrina , where is the 149 00:05:23,350 --> 00:05:25,809 Iranian spy ship ? The BSO right now , 150 00:05:25,820 --> 00:05:28,589 has it left Djibouti ? I don't have an 151 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:30,600 assessment of where it is . We know 152 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,600 it's in the region though . It's my 153 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:34,822 understanding that it has left Djibouti 154 00:05:34,822 --> 00:05:36,933 and that it is moving back toward the 155 00:05:36,933 --> 00:05:39,267 Red Sea , if not already in the Red Sea , 156 00:05:39,267 --> 00:05:42,149 is it us policy not to touch the , uh , 157 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,709 the Iranian spy ship to not interfere 158 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:46,720 with it ? Because it does seem that 159 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,149 since it's back in those waters that 160 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:51,970 the Houthis are targeting more directly 161 00:05:51,980 --> 00:05:54,036 and more accurately than when it was 162 00:05:54,036 --> 00:05:56,091 out of the region . Well , this is a 163 00:05:56,091 --> 00:05:58,091 ship um that has been in the region 164 00:05:58,091 --> 00:06:00,290 long before this weekend and has been 165 00:06:00,299 --> 00:06:02,989 there uh prior when there were , I mean , 166 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,278 at the start when the Houthis launched , 167 00:06:05,278 --> 00:06:07,222 started launching missiles towards 168 00:06:07,222 --> 00:06:09,000 commercial fix uh ships back in 169 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:10,778 November 19th , Iran did have a 170 00:06:10,778 --> 00:06:12,889 presence in the region . I don't know 171 00:06:12,889 --> 00:06:12,799 if it was a bash shot or another ship , 172 00:06:12,809 --> 00:06:14,642 but they always had some type of 173 00:06:14,642 --> 00:06:17,959 presence that's not unusual . Um Again , 174 00:06:17,970 --> 00:06:19,637 I don't , I wouldn't get into 175 00:06:19,637 --> 00:06:21,859 necessarily um our policy when it comes 176 00:06:21,859 --> 00:06:24,081 to the ship , but we're certainly aware 177 00:06:24,081 --> 00:06:26,192 of it . We track , we monitor , um we 178 00:06:26,192 --> 00:06:28,248 did see more activity this weekend , 179 00:06:28,248 --> 00:06:29,970 but we again have been able to 180 00:06:29,970 --> 00:06:33,404 intercept some of the UAVS , the 181 00:06:33,415 --> 00:06:35,526 missiles that Houthis have launched , 182 00:06:35,535 --> 00:06:37,702 whether it be towards our own ships or 183 00:06:37,702 --> 00:06:39,813 ships in the region . And we're going 184 00:06:39,813 --> 00:06:41,924 to continue to do that , that Iranian 185 00:06:41,924 --> 00:06:44,146 ship is helping the Houthis target us , 186 00:06:44,146 --> 00:06:46,479 ships and US warships . Correct . Again , 187 00:06:46,479 --> 00:06:48,424 I'm not gonna give an intelligence 188 00:06:48,424 --> 00:06:50,535 assessment from here on Ukraine . How 189 00:06:50,535 --> 00:06:52,757 quickly can the US and the Pentagon get 190 00:06:52,757 --> 00:06:54,924 the next tranche of weapons to Ukraine 191 00:06:54,924 --> 00:06:57,091 to the front lines if Congress were to 192 00:06:57,091 --> 00:06:59,202 pass this supplemental . So if you've 193 00:06:59,202 --> 00:07:01,313 seen with uh most of our PDAs , we've 194 00:07:01,313 --> 00:07:03,239 been able to surge uh systems and 195 00:07:03,250 --> 00:07:05,306 capabilities pretty rapidly within a 196 00:07:05,306 --> 00:07:07,950 few days . So as soon as Congress gives 197 00:07:07,959 --> 00:07:10,609 us that authority , um we will be able 198 00:07:10,619 --> 00:07:13,200 to , I think pretty quickly deliver a 199 00:07:13,209 --> 00:07:15,940 PD A to the Ukrainians Carla and then 200 00:07:15,950 --> 00:07:18,061 I'll come over here . Thank you . Can 201 00:07:18,061 --> 00:07:20,480 you confirm that A US MQ nine Reaper 202 00:07:20,510 --> 00:07:23,609 was shot down near Haida . Was it shot 203 00:07:23,619 --> 00:07:26,869 down over land or over sea ? Has the US 204 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:29,279 recovered this aircraft ? What more can 205 00:07:29,290 --> 00:07:31,290 you give us about ? Sure . So I can 206 00:07:31,290 --> 00:07:33,457 confirm that on February 19th , the US 207 00:07:33,457 --> 00:07:36,529 MQ nine was downed or went down off the 208 00:07:36,540 --> 00:07:38,540 coast of Houthi controlled areas in 209 00:07:38,540 --> 00:07:40,989 Yemen in the Red Sea . Initial 210 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,111 indications are that it was shot down 211 00:07:43,111 --> 00:07:45,222 by a Houthi surface to air missile in 212 00:07:45,222 --> 00:07:47,450 terms of um recovery options . I know 213 00:07:47,459 --> 00:07:49,681 Centcom is looking into that . Um But I 214 00:07:49,690 --> 00:07:51,857 don't believe it has been recovered at 215 00:07:51,857 --> 00:07:51,619 this time . 216 00:07:55,769 --> 00:07:57,769 That's what I've seen some of those 217 00:07:57,769 --> 00:07:59,713 reports , but I just can't , can't 218 00:07:59,713 --> 00:08:01,880 confirm that at this time . Yes , over 219 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:04,102 here on Iraq , given Kataib Hezbollah's 220 00:08:04,102 --> 00:08:06,179 prominence in the PM F and the PMF S 221 00:08:06,190 --> 00:08:08,730 role in the Iraqi government is the US 222 00:08:08,739 --> 00:08:10,850 government concerned that weapons and 223 00:08:10,850 --> 00:08:12,906 other security assistance we send to 224 00:08:12,906 --> 00:08:14,906 the Iraqi Ministry of Defense could 225 00:08:14,906 --> 00:08:17,128 wind up in the hands of PM F and Kataib 226 00:08:17,128 --> 00:08:19,017 Hezbollah fighters . Well , we're 227 00:08:19,017 --> 00:08:21,017 confident in our end use monitoring 228 00:08:21,017 --> 00:08:22,850 that we have in Iraq and we work 229 00:08:22,850 --> 00:08:25,017 closely with the if so . I think we're 230 00:08:25,017 --> 00:08:27,769 pretty confident in our coordinations 231 00:08:27,779 --> 00:08:29,779 when it comes to the Iraqi security 232 00:08:29,779 --> 00:08:31,946 forces and the security environment in 233 00:08:31,946 --> 00:08:33,779 Iraq . Does it make that end use 234 00:08:33,779 --> 00:08:37,568 monitoring harder ? No , I mean , we're 235 00:08:37,578 --> 00:08:39,800 there . We have a presence still in the 236 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:42,022 region . Um Again , and I , I'm sorry , 237 00:08:42,022 --> 00:08:43,967 I didn't address your , your first 238 00:08:43,967 --> 00:08:46,134 question about Katab Hezbollah Cage is 239 00:08:46,134 --> 00:08:48,411 not part of the PM F . Um And so again , 240 00:08:48,411 --> 00:08:50,467 the work that we do when it comes to 241 00:08:50,467 --> 00:08:52,689 our Iraqi partners is with the ISF it's 242 00:08:52,689 --> 00:08:54,911 not with the PM F directly . Courtney . 243 00:08:55,078 --> 00:08:57,268 Uh just on the MP nine . Was it armed 244 00:08:57,289 --> 00:08:59,679 when it was ? I do not know the answer 245 00:08:59,689 --> 00:09:01,856 to that . I can take that question . I 246 00:09:01,856 --> 00:09:04,022 wanna ask you Afsa put out a statement 247 00:09:04,022 --> 00:09:06,189 this morning about the Osprey crash um 248 00:09:06,189 --> 00:09:07,689 investigation , the safety 249 00:09:07,689 --> 00:09:09,689 investigation and said that at this 250 00:09:09,689 --> 00:09:11,522 time , the material failure that 251 00:09:11,522 --> 00:09:13,578 occurred is known , but the cause of 252 00:09:13,578 --> 00:09:13,520 the failure has not been determined . 253 00:09:13,789 --> 00:09:15,789 Um And I'm just wondering is , is , 254 00:09:15,789 --> 00:09:17,845 does the Pentagon think it's safe to 255 00:09:17,845 --> 00:09:19,956 put ospreys back up in the air before 256 00:09:19,956 --> 00:09:22,067 you determine what caused the crash . 257 00:09:22,067 --> 00:09:21,690 Well , to my understanding , ospreys 258 00:09:21,700 --> 00:09:23,811 are not going back in the air at this 259 00:09:23,811 --> 00:09:26,144 time , the case that you're referencing , 260 00:09:26,144 --> 00:09:28,144 um The Air Force Special Operations 261 00:09:28,144 --> 00:09:30,256 Commander did determine that it was a 262 00:09:30,256 --> 00:09:32,256 material failure , but the cause of 263 00:09:32,256 --> 00:09:33,811 that failure is still under 264 00:09:33,811 --> 00:09:36,033 investigation . So I'm not going to get 265 00:09:36,033 --> 00:09:38,256 ahead of that investigation , but while 266 00:09:38,256 --> 00:09:40,256 it's being completed , I think , um 267 00:09:40,256 --> 00:09:39,940 we'll leave it to the services to 268 00:09:39,950 --> 00:09:41,894 determine when it's best for those 269 00:09:41,894 --> 00:09:44,117 ospreys uh to be relieved of that stand 270 00:09:44,117 --> 00:09:46,061 down order . But right now they're 271 00:09:46,061 --> 00:09:48,172 still not flying at this time . So is 272 00:09:48,172 --> 00:09:47,820 it , is it your understanding though 273 00:09:47,830 --> 00:09:49,830 that until they determine that root 274 00:09:49,830 --> 00:09:52,000 cause Ospreys won't fly ? Um I would 275 00:09:52,010 --> 00:09:53,843 just leave it to the services to 276 00:09:53,843 --> 00:09:55,954 determine best they're the ones doing 277 00:09:55,954 --> 00:09:58,177 the investigation . So when it comes to 278 00:09:58,177 --> 00:09:57,710 when these Ospreys will be allowed back 279 00:09:57,719 --> 00:09:59,886 in the air , it's really up their call 280 00:10:00,179 --> 00:10:02,457 a couple of weeks ago . General writer , 281 00:10:02,457 --> 00:10:04,568 I think , had given a general BD a of 282 00:10:04,568 --> 00:10:06,790 how many missile launchers and missiles 283 00:10:06,790 --> 00:10:08,849 had been destroyed or degraded by us 284 00:10:08,859 --> 00:10:10,915 strikes since those uh since , since 285 00:10:10,915 --> 00:10:13,137 you guys started striking in Yemen . Do 286 00:10:13,137 --> 00:10:15,359 you have an update on that ? Let me see 287 00:10:15,359 --> 00:10:19,090 here if I have an update , I don't have 288 00:10:19,099 --> 00:10:21,432 an update from February 15th , which is , 289 00:10:21,432 --> 00:10:23,488 I think what you were referencing on 290 00:10:23,488 --> 00:10:25,599 just some of the launchers and cruise 291 00:10:25,599 --> 00:10:27,890 missiles um that we have destroyed . So 292 00:10:27,900 --> 00:10:30,359 I don't have a further uh BD A update I 293 00:10:30,369 --> 00:10:32,869 can tell you that as of , um , February 294 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:36,250 20th , the US has taken 32 self defense 295 00:10:36,260 --> 00:10:39,159 strike strikes . Um , the most recent 296 00:10:39,169 --> 00:10:41,659 one being yesterday . Um , and there 297 00:10:41,669 --> 00:10:43,780 was a Reuters report over the weekend 298 00:10:43,780 --> 00:10:45,891 saying that , um , Iran's could force 299 00:10:45,891 --> 00:10:48,520 leader had gone to , uh , Iraq and 300 00:10:48,530 --> 00:10:50,549 spoken with some of the , um , uh , 301 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:53,200 militias , it backs and said dial down 302 00:10:53,210 --> 00:10:55,377 the attacks in the US and there hasn't 303 00:10:55,377 --> 00:10:57,599 been one since Sep February 4th . So do 304 00:10:57,599 --> 00:10:59,710 you believe Iran is playing , um , in 305 00:10:59,710 --> 00:11:01,710 this case , at least a constructive 306 00:11:01,710 --> 00:11:03,710 role in reducing attacks against us 307 00:11:03,710 --> 00:11:06,090 troops ? Well , look , I mean , we know 308 00:11:06,099 --> 00:11:08,590 Iran continues to , we know Iran 309 00:11:08,599 --> 00:11:11,729 continues to support whether it be Ir 310 00:11:11,739 --> 00:11:14,119 DC backed militias in Iraq and Syria , 311 00:11:14,130 --> 00:11:17,500 the Houthis Hezbollah . Um , yes , we 312 00:11:17,510 --> 00:11:19,789 have seen , uh , we have not seen 313 00:11:19,799 --> 00:11:21,577 attacks in Iraq and Syria since 314 00:11:21,577 --> 00:11:23,355 February 4th , but we have seen 315 00:11:23,355 --> 00:11:25,577 certainly an uptick over the weekend in 316 00:11:25,577 --> 00:11:27,688 attacks from the Houthis on US forces 317 00:11:27,688 --> 00:11:29,855 and commercial shipping . So , if Iran 318 00:11:29,855 --> 00:11:32,077 does have a , for a role to play , it's 319 00:11:32,077 --> 00:11:34,299 certainly not doing it when it comes to 320 00:11:34,299 --> 00:11:37,070 the Houthis Brad . Um , can you tell us 321 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,080 what other cities may be at risk of 322 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:41,409 falling in Ukraine after , uh , Adika ? 323 00:11:41,630 --> 00:11:43,686 Because last week , depending on the 324 00:11:43,686 --> 00:11:45,686 saying that the situation is pretty 325 00:11:45,686 --> 00:11:47,859 cool across the , well , Ivka , 326 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,669 unfortunately , um , it was a strategic 327 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:52,846 withdrawal that Ukraine made , um , in 328 00:11:52,849 --> 00:11:54,960 order to conserve their own artillery 329 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:57,710 and ammunition . Um , look , if we 330 00:11:57,719 --> 00:11:59,775 don't get more . If we don't get the 331 00:11:59,775 --> 00:12:01,886 supplemental , I outlined that at the 332 00:12:01,886 --> 00:12:03,830 very top . But if we don't get the 333 00:12:03,830 --> 00:12:06,640 funding uh needed from the Senate , um , 334 00:12:06,650 --> 00:12:08,650 or sorry from the house to pass the 335 00:12:08,650 --> 00:12:10,859 Senate supplemental , um , we will not 336 00:12:10,869 --> 00:12:13,036 be able to provide these critical PD A 337 00:12:13,036 --> 00:12:15,859 packages and Ukraine will have to make 338 00:12:15,869 --> 00:12:19,650 choices and decisions on um what cities , 339 00:12:19,659 --> 00:12:22,059 what towns they can hold with , what 340 00:12:22,070 --> 00:12:24,140 they have and what partners can 341 00:12:24,229 --> 00:12:26,729 continue to supply them . Um I can't 342 00:12:26,739 --> 00:12:28,850 forecast that from here . It's really 343 00:12:28,850 --> 00:12:30,961 the Ukrainians decision to speak to , 344 00:12:30,961 --> 00:12:32,961 but obviously they're in a critical 345 00:12:32,961 --> 00:12:35,183 fight for their , for their lives , for 346 00:12:35,183 --> 00:12:37,295 their country . Um And that's why you 347 00:12:37,295 --> 00:12:39,406 heard me say in very stark terms . Uh 348 00:12:39,406 --> 00:12:41,406 That's why we need the supplemental 349 00:12:41,406 --> 00:12:43,572 immediately and we've been saying that 350 00:12:43,572 --> 00:12:43,570 and sounding these alarm bells since 351 00:12:43,580 --> 00:12:45,619 October . Um And so we're going to 352 00:12:45,630 --> 00:12:47,963 continue to urge Congress to do its job . 353 00:12:48,239 --> 00:12:50,406 There's no other cities that are under 354 00:12:50,406 --> 00:12:52,572 threat right now . I mean , they're in 355 00:12:52,572 --> 00:12:54,850 a , they're in a current war right now . 356 00:12:54,850 --> 00:12:56,795 Of course , there are under cities 357 00:12:56,795 --> 00:12:58,795 under fire , under threat . I would 358 00:12:58,795 --> 00:13:01,017 direct you to the Ukrainians . I'm sure 359 00:13:01,017 --> 00:12:59,890 they're not going to give you their 360 00:12:59,900 --> 00:13:02,109 battle plans , but uh absolutely , 361 00:13:02,119 --> 00:13:04,119 they're on the front lines fighting 362 00:13:04,119 --> 00:13:06,230 every single day to hold every single 363 00:13:06,230 --> 00:13:08,341 inch of territory , but I can't speak 364 00:13:08,341 --> 00:13:10,530 to each specific city . Laura . Yeah . 365 00:13:11,239 --> 00:13:13,859 Um has also reviewed the findings of 366 00:13:13,869 --> 00:13:16,780 the 30 day review yet . And can you 367 00:13:16,789 --> 00:13:19,011 tell us whether there's going to be any 368 00:13:19,011 --> 00:13:21,178 action taken from that action in terms 369 00:13:21,178 --> 00:13:24,369 of like anything , there were 370 00:13:24,380 --> 00:13:26,547 recommendations laid out in the 30 day 371 00:13:26,547 --> 00:13:28,658 review ? Um , I know that's something 372 00:13:28,658 --> 00:13:30,936 that we're working towards in terms of , 373 00:13:30,936 --> 00:13:33,102 um , uh , being able to share . I just 374 00:13:33,102 --> 00:13:35,213 don't have more for you to be able to 375 00:13:35,213 --> 00:13:35,059 outline just yet on what those 376 00:13:35,070 --> 00:13:37,292 recommendations are . And I believe the 377 00:13:37,292 --> 00:13:39,348 reviews with the secretary , I don't 378 00:13:39,348 --> 00:13:41,459 know that he's been able to , I can't 379 00:13:41,459 --> 00:13:43,737 speak to if he's finished reviewing it , 380 00:13:43,737 --> 00:13:45,848 but it's something that um as soon as 381 00:13:45,848 --> 00:13:45,650 he is done , we will , you know , 382 00:13:45,659 --> 00:13:48,260 provide you more information to provide 383 00:13:48,270 --> 00:13:50,419 the the review to the hill . Has that 384 00:13:50,429 --> 00:13:52,596 already been done ? It has not gone to 385 00:13:52,596 --> 00:13:54,429 the hill . Some , I believe some 386 00:13:54,429 --> 00:13:57,969 version or uh classified uh uh 387 00:13:57,979 --> 00:14:00,419 version or , or the classified review 388 00:14:00,429 --> 00:14:02,485 would be submitted to the Hill or to 389 00:14:02,485 --> 00:14:04,651 the relevant committees . But I just , 390 00:14:04,651 --> 00:14:04,400 that's not , that hasn't been submitted 391 00:14:04,409 --> 00:14:07,320 at this time . Yeah , Tony , a couple 392 00:14:07,330 --> 00:14:09,386 of Ukraine questions how much of the 393 00:14:09,386 --> 00:14:11,552 Ukraine Security assistance initiative 394 00:14:11,552 --> 00:14:13,909 funding the dollars and the weapons 395 00:14:13,919 --> 00:14:15,863 have actually been delivered . I'm 396 00:14:15,863 --> 00:14:17,919 thinking in particular there is $1.7 397 00:14:17,919 --> 00:14:20,700 billion put on contract in August of 22 398 00:14:20,710 --> 00:14:22,924 for one 55 shells . Do you have an 399 00:14:22,934 --> 00:14:25,375 update of how many of those shells have 400 00:14:25,385 --> 00:14:27,274 been delivered to Ukraine ? So we 401 00:14:27,274 --> 00:14:29,274 wouldn't , we wouldn't get into the 402 00:14:29,274 --> 00:14:31,441 specific numbers of how many have been 403 00:14:31,441 --> 00:14:33,663 delivered to Ukraine . We announce with 404 00:14:33,663 --> 00:14:35,885 every PD A and USA I package the dollar 405 00:14:35,885 --> 00:14:37,885 figure . But again , we don't , you 406 00:14:37,885 --> 00:14:40,107 know , announce when a PD A gets closed 407 00:14:40,107 --> 00:14:42,107 out or when a certain contract gets 408 00:14:42,107 --> 00:14:44,052 closed out . We let the Ukrainians 409 00:14:44,052 --> 00:14:46,218 speak to what systems get delivered uh 410 00:14:46,218 --> 00:14:48,385 in country . So I just don't have more 411 00:14:48,385 --> 00:14:50,552 specifics on , um , you know , I can't 412 00:14:50,552 --> 00:14:52,496 give you the totals of how many of 413 00:14:52,496 --> 00:14:52,229 something are in country . We'd let 414 00:14:52,239 --> 00:14:55,530 Ukraine speak to that the whole PD a 415 00:14:55,539 --> 00:14:57,669 question Pentagon , I think still has 416 00:14:57,679 --> 00:15:01,320 $4 billion of authority to draw down , 417 00:15:01,340 --> 00:15:03,284 but you don't have any replacement 418 00:15:03,284 --> 00:15:05,400 money . So why can't an $800 billion 419 00:15:05,409 --> 00:15:08,799 institution just risk drawing down $4 420 00:15:08,809 --> 00:15:11,119 billion of inventory on the assumption 421 00:15:11,130 --> 00:15:13,297 at some point you're gonna get it from 422 00:15:13,297 --> 00:15:15,408 Congress . Is that being discussed at 423 00:15:15,408 --> 00:15:15,380 all in the building ? Well , you sort 424 00:15:15,390 --> 00:15:17,334 of answered how I would answer the 425 00:15:17,334 --> 00:15:19,501 question because it's a risk . It's an 426 00:15:19,501 --> 00:15:21,612 absolute risk for us to incur . Uh We 427 00:15:21,612 --> 00:15:23,557 don't have the replenishment funds 428 00:15:23,557 --> 00:15:25,723 needed to resupply our own stocks . So 429 00:15:25,723 --> 00:15:27,779 if we can't do that , then we're not 430 00:15:27,779 --> 00:15:29,668 able or we don't feel comfortable 431 00:15:29,668 --> 00:15:31,557 enough to draw down or to give uh 432 00:15:31,557 --> 00:15:33,390 another PD A until we have those 433 00:15:33,390 --> 00:15:35,489 replenishment funds . So again , um 434 00:15:35,500 --> 00:15:37,729 it's something that you've seen not 435 00:15:37,739 --> 00:15:39,961 just from here , from this podium , but 436 00:15:39,961 --> 00:15:42,183 across the inter agency continuing this 437 00:15:42,183 --> 00:15:43,795 urging of Congress to pass a 438 00:15:43,795 --> 00:15:46,330 supplemental , you manage risk here , 439 00:15:46,340 --> 00:15:48,609 but you were talking like 155 shells 440 00:15:48,710 --> 00:15:50,821 and a lot of weapons that wouldn't be 441 00:15:50,821 --> 00:15:52,821 used in a fight against China . Has 442 00:15:52,821 --> 00:15:54,988 there been discussion that , why don't 443 00:15:54,988 --> 00:15:57,099 we just put out $4 billion of pdas on 444 00:15:57,099 --> 00:15:59,266 the assumption we're , we're gonna get 445 00:15:59,266 --> 00:16:01,599 funding eventually , if not soon . Well , 446 00:16:01,599 --> 00:16:03,766 again , we can say that we're going to 447 00:16:03,766 --> 00:16:05,988 get funding eventually , but we've been 448 00:16:05,988 --> 00:16:08,154 ringing the alarm bell since October . 449 00:16:08,154 --> 00:16:10,377 And so we're already into February . Uh 450 00:16:10,377 --> 00:16:12,599 the two year anniversary of um Russia's 451 00:16:12,599 --> 00:16:14,821 invasion of Ukraine is coming up at the 452 00:16:14,821 --> 00:16:17,043 end of the week . Uh We don't know when 453 00:16:17,043 --> 00:16:16,630 we're gonna get the funding and we're 454 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:18,807 going to continue the discussions that 455 00:16:18,807 --> 00:16:20,640 are having right now . Um At the 456 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:22,251 secretary's level across the 457 00:16:22,251 --> 00:16:24,473 interagency is we need Congress to give 458 00:16:24,473 --> 00:16:26,696 us a supplemental . That's what's being 459 00:16:26,696 --> 00:16:28,640 discussed . And as you know , this 460 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:28,400 because you tracked this . Well , we 461 00:16:28,409 --> 00:16:30,369 don't even have a fiscal year 2024 462 00:16:30,380 --> 00:16:32,491 budget approved . We're , we're about 463 00:16:32,491 --> 00:16:34,869 to start conversations about Fy 25 . Um 464 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:37,090 So we are truly operating with one arm 465 00:16:37,159 --> 00:16:39,750 tied behind our back and not being able 466 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:43,099 to provide Ukraine the assistance , the 467 00:16:43,109 --> 00:16:45,165 security assistance it needs in this 468 00:16:45,165 --> 00:16:47,276 crucial moment . Um And you're seeing 469 00:16:47,276 --> 00:16:48,998 the direct cost of that on the 470 00:16:48,998 --> 00:16:51,053 battlefield . Yeah , I'm gonna go to 471 00:16:51,053 --> 00:16:50,739 the phones and I'll , I'll come back in 472 00:16:50,750 --> 00:16:54,099 the room . Uh Chris Gordon , thanks 473 00:16:54,109 --> 00:16:56,880 Sabrina . Um with the US losing another 474 00:16:56,890 --> 00:16:59,140 MQ nine over . Yemen . Does the dod 475 00:16:59,150 --> 00:17:01,619 view these as expendable . Has there 476 00:17:01,630 --> 00:17:03,770 been a decision made to take greater 477 00:17:03,780 --> 00:17:06,002 risks with these assets for the greater 478 00:17:06,002 --> 00:17:08,420 good , so to speak ? Uh Why not use man 479 00:17:08,430 --> 00:17:11,290 platforms that don't fly as low and 480 00:17:11,300 --> 00:17:14,099 slow and pose a risk of getting shot 481 00:17:14,109 --> 00:17:16,099 down ? Yeah , thanks Chris for the 482 00:17:16,109 --> 00:17:18,165 question again . These are platforms 483 00:17:18,165 --> 00:17:20,109 that are that are available to the 484 00:17:20,109 --> 00:17:22,276 commander . He makes these decisions . 485 00:17:22,276 --> 00:17:24,331 Um There is a certain amount of risk 486 00:17:24,331 --> 00:17:26,498 that is incurred whenever we fly these 487 00:17:26,498 --> 00:17:28,720 to ensure that freedom of navigation is 488 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:30,776 upheld , upheld , the rule of law is 489 00:17:30,776 --> 00:17:32,887 upheld . Um And of course , there's a 490 00:17:32,887 --> 00:17:35,053 certain amount of risk and of course , 491 00:17:35,053 --> 00:17:37,220 we care about that risk . Um These are 492 00:17:37,220 --> 00:17:39,442 multimillion billion dollar platforms . 493 00:17:39,442 --> 00:17:41,498 Um And uh we are the commander using 494 00:17:41,498 --> 00:17:43,509 them to keep commercial uh Mariners 495 00:17:43,519 --> 00:17:45,829 safe to keep our US service members 496 00:17:45,839 --> 00:17:48,061 that are uh safe in the Red Sea and the 497 00:17:48,061 --> 00:17:50,069 Gulf of Aden . Um So of course , 498 00:17:50,079 --> 00:17:52,301 there's a , there's a risk incurred but 499 00:17:52,301 --> 00:17:54,412 um it's something that we're going to 500 00:17:54,412 --> 00:17:56,246 continue to do to ensure that uh 501 00:17:56,246 --> 00:17:58,357 freedom of navigation can continue to 502 00:17:58,357 --> 00:18:00,301 be upheld , the rule of law can be 503 00:18:00,301 --> 00:18:02,468 upheld and that um commercial shipping 504 00:18:02,468 --> 00:18:04,579 can continue whether it be in the Red 505 00:18:04,579 --> 00:18:06,857 Sea or um the Gulf of Aden . All right . 506 00:18:06,857 --> 00:18:08,857 Next question , Jeff Shoal task and 507 00:18:08,857 --> 00:18:11,500 purpose . Thank you . Given that the 508 00:18:11,510 --> 00:18:13,677 dod is under a continuing resolution . 509 00:18:13,709 --> 00:18:15,339 Does it have the funding and 510 00:18:15,349 --> 00:18:17,571 authorities ? It needs to replenish the 511 00:18:17,571 --> 00:18:19,738 weapons that it's using in the Red Sea 512 00:18:19,738 --> 00:18:21,849 to shoot down the Houthi missiles and 513 00:18:21,849 --> 00:18:24,250 drones and is the fact that the Navy is 514 00:18:24,260 --> 00:18:26,270 firing so many SM Sixes and other 515 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:29,290 missiles uh causing a deficit for Indo 516 00:18:29,310 --> 00:18:32,099 Paycom . No , thanks Jeff for the 517 00:18:32,109 --> 00:18:34,276 question again . This is why we need a 518 00:18:34,750 --> 00:18:36,949 budget past . We need a supplemental 519 00:18:36,959 --> 00:18:39,070 past and we're about to head into the 520 00:18:39,070 --> 00:18:41,469 fy 25 and we're operating under a 521 00:18:41,479 --> 00:18:43,810 continuing resolution . So we have what 522 00:18:43,819 --> 00:18:46,209 we need right now , but it's not an 523 00:18:46,219 --> 00:18:48,330 unlimited pit that we can continue to 524 00:18:48,330 --> 00:18:50,330 pull from . Um And so we absolutely 525 00:18:50,330 --> 00:18:52,497 need Congress to help us uh whether it 526 00:18:52,497 --> 00:18:55,680 comes to uh defending our interests in 527 00:18:55,689 --> 00:18:58,959 um the Sam A or uh keeping abreast with 528 00:18:58,969 --> 00:19:01,400 our pacing challenge uh with the PR C 529 00:19:01,410 --> 00:19:03,466 and of course , uh providing Ukraine 530 00:19:03,466 --> 00:19:05,689 what it needs in its fight uh for its 531 00:19:05,699 --> 00:19:07,810 sovereign territory . Yes , come back 532 00:19:07,810 --> 00:19:10,390 in there , as you said , since February 533 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:12,579 4th , there hast been any new attacks 534 00:19:12,589 --> 00:19:15,239 on us forces in Iraq and Syria and 535 00:19:15,250 --> 00:19:18,359 there hasn't been any us attacks on 536 00:19:18,369 --> 00:19:21,770 militia groups backed by Iran . So does 537 00:19:21,780 --> 00:19:24,550 that mean if these militia groups stop 538 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:26,671 their attacks on us forces ? Will you 539 00:19:26,671 --> 00:19:29,800 stop their , your attacks too ? Again , 540 00:19:29,810 --> 00:19:31,979 I , I would say that are you just 541 00:19:31,989 --> 00:19:33,989 talking about in Iraq and Syria ? I 542 00:19:33,989 --> 00:19:35,933 should or clarify , we will always 543 00:19:35,933 --> 00:19:38,156 continue to hold those responsible that 544 00:19:38,156 --> 00:19:40,267 are , have been attacking us forces . 545 00:19:40,267 --> 00:19:42,322 Um Just taking a step back . We have 546 00:19:42,322 --> 00:19:44,267 incurred over 100 70 attacks on us 547 00:19:44,267 --> 00:19:46,433 forces in Iraq and Syria . It's pretty 548 00:19:46,433 --> 00:19:48,689 significant . Um , so I'm not going to 549 00:19:48,699 --> 00:19:50,643 forecast or get ahead of any other 550 00:19:50,643 --> 00:19:52,699 decisions that the secretary and the 551 00:19:52,699 --> 00:19:54,866 President make . But um , we will hold 552 00:19:54,866 --> 00:19:57,660 those responsible for the attacks on um , 553 00:19:58,260 --> 00:20:00,204 our service members who lost their 554 00:20:00,204 --> 00:20:02,149 lives in Jordan . And if there are 555 00:20:02,149 --> 00:20:04,093 attacks , we will continue to hold 556 00:20:04,093 --> 00:20:07,630 those accountable . I RGC in Baghdad 557 00:20:07,910 --> 00:20:11,380 met with like Iraqi militia leaders 558 00:20:11,550 --> 00:20:13,680 and he demanded them to stop their 559 00:20:13,689 --> 00:20:16,180 attacks on us forces . So do you think 560 00:20:16,189 --> 00:20:18,930 Iran is looking for the escalation of 561 00:20:18,939 --> 00:20:21,770 conflicts or they are afraid of 562 00:20:21,780 --> 00:20:24,400 retaliation forces by the United States ? 563 00:20:24,890 --> 00:20:26,890 Our assessment is that Iran doesn't 564 00:20:26,890 --> 00:20:29,057 seek a wider regional conflict . We've 565 00:20:29,057 --> 00:20:31,279 said that from the beginning , but they 566 00:20:31,279 --> 00:20:33,599 do support these militia groups that 567 00:20:33,609 --> 00:20:35,959 attack our forces . They do support the 568 00:20:35,969 --> 00:20:38,739 Houthis that over this past weekend 569 00:20:38,750 --> 00:20:40,920 have launched multiple attacks on 570 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:44,959 commercial ships on uh us forces in the 571 00:20:44,969 --> 00:20:47,099 region and they support Hezbollah , 572 00:20:47,109 --> 00:20:49,053 they support these groups that are 573 00:20:49,053 --> 00:20:51,165 continuing attacks in the region that 574 00:20:51,165 --> 00:20:53,276 are destabilizing and are a threat to 575 00:20:53,276 --> 00:20:55,498 the rule of law . Um So if Iran doesn't 576 00:20:55,498 --> 00:20:57,665 want to see a regional conflict , they 577 00:20:57,665 --> 00:20:59,776 can continue to intervene and to tell 578 00:20:59,776 --> 00:21:01,939 these groups to stop . Thank you , 579 00:21:01,979 --> 00:21:04,209 Sabrina . Yesterday , the China 580 00:21:04,219 --> 00:21:07,719 inspected a Taiwanese tourist ship near 581 00:21:07,729 --> 00:21:10,829 the Kim Island days after two Chinese 582 00:21:10,839 --> 00:21:13,069 fishermen died while being chased by 583 00:21:13,079 --> 00:21:15,959 Taiwan's Coast Guard . So how concerned 584 00:21:15,969 --> 00:21:17,913 is the Pentagon that the situation 585 00:21:17,913 --> 00:21:20,349 could escalate in the days ahead . Uh 586 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:22,415 Yeah , I've seen those reports , Rio 587 00:21:22,415 --> 00:21:24,637 I'd refer you to uh you know , both the 588 00:21:24,637 --> 00:21:26,859 Pr C and Taiwan to speak to that . Um I 589 00:21:26,859 --> 00:21:29,192 don't have anything more to add on that . 590 00:21:29,192 --> 00:21:31,415 We , we don't want to see an escalation 591 00:21:31,415 --> 00:21:33,526 in the region at all . Um But I would 592 00:21:33,526 --> 00:21:35,748 refer you to refer you to them for more 593 00:21:35,748 --> 00:21:37,803 details . The Japanese government is 594 00:21:37,803 --> 00:21:40,209 seeking a leader , leaders meeting with 595 00:21:40,219 --> 00:21:43,005 North Korea . The Pentagon support such 596 00:21:43,015 --> 00:21:45,334 Japanese diplomatic outreach is the 597 00:21:45,344 --> 00:21:47,214 Pentagon worry that that could 598 00:21:47,224 --> 00:21:49,604 undermine the trilateral defense cooper 599 00:21:49,805 --> 00:21:52,015 among the three countries including 600 00:21:52,025 --> 00:21:54,025 South Korea . We support diplomatic 601 00:21:54,025 --> 00:21:56,505 outreach to the D pr K . We , we have 602 00:21:56,515 --> 00:21:58,734 also said from here that we would uh 603 00:21:58,744 --> 00:22:00,911 seek diplomatic outreach , should they 604 00:22:00,911 --> 00:22:03,935 want to engage ? Um We want to see 605 00:22:03,944 --> 00:22:05,944 regional stability in the region if 606 00:22:05,944 --> 00:22:08,055 those conversations lead to that , we 607 00:22:08,055 --> 00:22:10,520 certainly welcome that . Yeah , sling 608 00:22:10,689 --> 00:22:13,880 ground us N A news um over the , 609 00:22:14,979 --> 00:22:17,750 over the weekend , um we saw a release 610 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:19,982 from the Coast Guard that they'd seized 611 00:22:19,982 --> 00:22:23,369 um underwater drone uh components uh 612 00:22:23,380 --> 00:22:25,213 believed to be from Iran and the 613 00:22:25,213 --> 00:22:27,213 Houthis . And then we had the first 614 00:22:27,213 --> 00:22:30,599 report from s of a lethal attack drone 615 00:22:31,459 --> 00:22:33,989 interdicted by us forces in the region . 616 00:22:34,130 --> 00:22:36,410 Is this a technical escalation of what 617 00:22:36,420 --> 00:22:38,642 we're seeing in ? There ? Are there are 618 00:22:38,642 --> 00:22:40,698 these more sophisticated attacks and 619 00:22:40,698 --> 00:22:42,809 new weapons ? Can you give us a sense 620 00:22:42,809 --> 00:22:45,031 on like where these fit in the spectrum 621 00:22:45,031 --> 00:22:47,087 of capabilities that the Houthis are 622 00:22:47,087 --> 00:22:49,198 bringing into ships in the region . I 623 00:22:49,198 --> 00:22:48,579 think you're certainly seeing , uh , 624 00:22:48,589 --> 00:22:50,650 seeing that they have sophisticated 625 00:22:50,660 --> 00:22:52,493 technology and capabilities that 626 00:22:52,493 --> 00:22:56,079 they're getting from Iran . Um , and I 627 00:22:56,089 --> 00:22:58,869 mean , it's , yeah , of course , their 628 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:01,158 attacks are getting more sophisticated . 629 00:23:01,158 --> 00:23:03,491 That was the first time as Centcom , uh , 630 00:23:03,491 --> 00:23:05,547 put out . I think it was on Saturday 631 00:23:05,547 --> 00:23:07,658 that the first time that they used an 632 00:23:07,658 --> 00:23:09,824 underwater unmanned vehicle to try and 633 00:23:09,824 --> 00:23:11,991 launch an attack . So absolutely , the 634 00:23:11,991 --> 00:23:13,880 attacks are sophisticated . Their 635 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:15,991 weapons are sophisticated and we know 636 00:23:15,991 --> 00:23:18,158 where they're coming from . Uh We know 637 00:23:18,158 --> 00:23:20,324 that Iran is continuing to supply them 638 00:23:20,324 --> 00:23:20,250 with what they , you know , are 639 00:23:20,260 --> 00:23:22,316 continuing to launch at us . Vessels 640 00:23:22,316 --> 00:23:25,770 and commercial Mariners . Yeah . And 641 00:23:26,180 --> 00:23:28,236 they're getting more sophisticated . 642 00:23:28,236 --> 00:23:30,347 What impact are your strikes having , 643 00:23:30,347 --> 00:23:32,402 it's actually improving after you're 644 00:23:32,402 --> 00:23:34,790 striking them , they used , they used a 645 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:36,967 capability that was more sophisticated 646 00:23:36,967 --> 00:23:39,078 than we've seen before . But what are 647 00:23:39,078 --> 00:23:41,022 the impact of our strikes is every 648 00:23:41,022 --> 00:23:43,339 single day that we initiate another 649 00:23:43,349 --> 00:23:45,660 dynamic strike . We are taking another 650 00:23:45,670 --> 00:23:47,837 surface to air missile off the map for 651 00:23:47,837 --> 00:23:49,892 them . Um They can't necessarily say 652 00:23:49,892 --> 00:23:52,003 the same for us . Um We are using our 653 00:23:52,003 --> 00:23:54,114 capabilities to shoot down uh whether 654 00:23:54,114 --> 00:23:56,420 it be missiles or UAVS or in this case , 655 00:23:56,430 --> 00:23:59,060 the underwater unmanned vehicle , um , 656 00:23:59,199 --> 00:24:01,255 we are being able to stop them , but 657 00:24:01,255 --> 00:24:03,310 again , sometimes the attacks do get 658 00:24:03,310 --> 00:24:05,532 through . And actually , since we're on 659 00:24:05,532 --> 00:24:07,699 this topic , I mean , one of the , one 660 00:24:07,699 --> 00:24:09,755 of the ships that they targeted , uh 661 00:24:09,755 --> 00:24:12,760 was carrying grain bound for Yemen for 662 00:24:12,770 --> 00:24:15,048 their starving population . So they're , 663 00:24:15,048 --> 00:24:17,159 they're saying that they're targeting 664 00:24:17,159 --> 00:24:19,214 uh , ships that have a connection to 665 00:24:19,214 --> 00:24:21,381 Israel or ships that have a connection 666 00:24:21,381 --> 00:24:23,603 to the United States . I mean , look at 667 00:24:23,603 --> 00:24:23,550 exactly what you're doing . You're 668 00:24:23,560 --> 00:24:25,671 putting your own population at risk . 669 00:24:25,671 --> 00:24:28,760 Um , and so , uh , every single day I 670 00:24:28,770 --> 00:24:31,439 think our uh dynamic strikes or our 671 00:24:31,449 --> 00:24:33,505 coalition strikes absolutely have an 672 00:24:33,505 --> 00:24:35,727 impact . But we , at no point said that 673 00:24:35,727 --> 00:24:37,893 we're wiping all of their capabilities 674 00:24:37,893 --> 00:24:40,060 off the map . We know that they have a 675 00:24:40,060 --> 00:24:42,282 large inventory , a large warehouse and 676 00:24:42,282 --> 00:24:42,079 they're going to continue to use it . 677 00:24:42,810 --> 00:24:45,729 Yeah , over here , two related 678 00:24:45,739 --> 00:24:48,680 questions as far as China's activities 679 00:24:48,689 --> 00:24:51,430 inside the US is concerned . How much 680 00:24:51,439 --> 00:24:53,661 do you think this building is concerned 681 00:24:53,869 --> 00:24:55,959 about China's activity against the 682 00:24:55,969 --> 00:24:58,489 United States national security ? Is 683 00:24:58,500 --> 00:25:00,556 there something specific that you're 684 00:25:00,556 --> 00:25:02,778 referencing or just broadly ? Yeah , in 685 00:25:02,778 --> 00:25:04,889 general , I mean , because China is , 686 00:25:04,889 --> 00:25:06,944 you know , in the news because there 687 00:25:06,944 --> 00:25:09,000 are so many hacking going on . And I 688 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:10,944 see . So , I mean , we continue to 689 00:25:10,944 --> 00:25:12,944 monitor the Pr CS activities . Um I 690 00:25:12,944 --> 00:25:15,140 don't have something specific uh to 691 00:25:15,150 --> 00:25:17,449 your , to , to what you're asking , but 692 00:25:17,609 --> 00:25:21,010 um just generally , um we know that we 693 00:25:21,020 --> 00:25:24,219 don't see conflict with China . Um but 694 00:25:24,229 --> 00:25:26,285 we know we're in competition uh that 695 00:25:26,285 --> 00:25:28,790 doesn't need to escalate anymore . Um 696 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:30,967 You've seen conversations happening at 697 00:25:30,967 --> 00:25:33,189 different levels of government . Um But 698 00:25:33,199 --> 00:25:35,366 of course , we're , we're concerned of 699 00:25:35,366 --> 00:25:37,255 any activities and we continue to 700 00:25:37,255 --> 00:25:39,310 monitor that and , and that's why we 701 00:25:39,310 --> 00:25:41,477 have the robust presence that we do in 702 00:25:41,477 --> 00:25:45,000 the Indo Pacific expansion 703 00:25:45,060 --> 00:25:47,349 going on in the South Asia region , 704 00:25:47,609 --> 00:25:49,915 many smaller nation are worried and 705 00:25:49,925 --> 00:25:53,234 also including Taiwan . And uh as many 706 00:25:53,244 --> 00:25:55,525 times question been there that uh China 707 00:25:55,535 --> 00:25:58,224 is watching very much about Taiwan's uh 708 00:25:58,285 --> 00:26:01,045 getting help from the Capitol Hill or 709 00:26:01,055 --> 00:26:03,166 in this package , maybe something for 710 00:26:03,166 --> 00:26:05,334 the Taiwan . Where are we standing as 711 00:26:05,344 --> 00:26:08,334 far as Chinese are really watching 712 00:26:08,344 --> 00:26:10,814 about this . Yeah , China is watching 713 00:26:11,185 --> 00:26:14,530 um a lot of , a lot of countries around 714 00:26:14,540 --> 00:26:16,540 the world are watching right now at 715 00:26:16,540 --> 00:26:18,484 this moment and that's why we need 716 00:26:18,484 --> 00:26:20,707 Congress to do its job . Uh We need the 717 00:26:20,707 --> 00:26:23,439 supplemental , we need to be able to um 718 00:26:23,469 --> 00:26:26,209 support our commitments in the Indo 719 00:26:26,329 --> 00:26:29,380 Pacific while also supporting Ukraine , 720 00:26:29,439 --> 00:26:31,495 while also supporting Israel and its 721 00:26:31,495 --> 00:26:34,030 and its fight against Hamas . Um but we 722 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:36,469 can't do that . Uh If we don't have the 723 00:26:36,479 --> 00:26:38,812 funds to do it , I'm gonna go on . Yeah . 724 00:26:39,579 --> 00:26:42,209 Um just uh last week , it was claimed 725 00:26:42,219 --> 00:26:44,163 that in a US airstrike , two Cuban 726 00:26:44,170 --> 00:26:46,226 hostages were killed in Somalia . Do 727 00:26:46,226 --> 00:26:48,503 you have anything on us uh for on that , 728 00:26:48,503 --> 00:26:50,448 for us ? Yeah . No , I've seen the 729 00:26:50,448 --> 00:26:52,448 reports on that . I just don't have 730 00:26:52,448 --> 00:26:54,614 anything for you at this time . Yeah , 731 00:26:54,614 --> 00:26:56,448 Mike uh European Union this week 732 00:26:56,448 --> 00:26:58,614 launched operation Aspi , I don't know 733 00:26:58,614 --> 00:27:00,503 how to pronounce it uh to protect 734 00:27:00,503 --> 00:27:02,614 merchant ships in the Red Sea against 735 00:27:02,614 --> 00:27:04,614 Houthi attacks . The fact that this 736 00:27:04,614 --> 00:27:06,503 mission is gonna run alongside or 737 00:27:06,503 --> 00:27:08,726 parallel to Prosperity Guard Guardian . 738 00:27:08,726 --> 00:27:10,670 Is that an indication that uh some 739 00:27:10,670 --> 00:27:12,781 nations don't think the US led effort 740 00:27:12,781 --> 00:27:15,229 is doing the job , sufficient enough 741 00:27:15,239 --> 00:27:17,410 job to protect the shipping . No , the 742 00:27:17,420 --> 00:27:20,800 U the eu is um its its own coalition of 743 00:27:20,810 --> 00:27:24,109 countries uh conducting this 744 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:27,469 operation uh while running alongside 745 00:27:27,479 --> 00:27:29,423 parallel to operation . Prosperity 746 00:27:29,423 --> 00:27:33,060 Guardian only augments the goals of all 747 00:27:33,069 --> 00:27:35,125 of these countries , of all of these 748 00:27:35,125 --> 00:27:37,125 like minded countries , which is to 749 00:27:37,125 --> 00:27:39,180 uphold the rule of law and to ensure 750 00:27:39,180 --> 00:27:41,458 the freedom of navigation is protected . 751 00:27:41,458 --> 00:27:43,625 Um So we certainly welcome um this new 752 00:27:43,625 --> 00:27:45,847 coalition again , we're all , we're all 753 00:27:45,847 --> 00:27:48,013 working towards the same goals here uh 754 00:27:48,013 --> 00:27:50,013 which is to ensure that um innocent 755 00:27:50,013 --> 00:27:52,180 Mariners , commercial shippers can get 756 00:27:52,180 --> 00:27:54,402 through the Red Sea , the BM , the Gulf 757 00:27:54,402 --> 00:27:56,569 of Aden safely . Um as , as you know , 758 00:27:56,569 --> 00:27:59,219 well know , 10 to 15% of the world's uh 759 00:27:59,229 --> 00:28:01,118 commerce flows right through that 760 00:28:01,118 --> 00:28:03,118 strait . So uh we certainly welcome 761 00:28:03,118 --> 00:28:05,173 more partners as part of if it's not 762 00:28:05,173 --> 00:28:07,340 operation prosperity Guardian as being 763 00:28:07,340 --> 00:28:09,451 part of the effort to uphold the rule 764 00:28:09,451 --> 00:28:11,507 of law , Carl . Do you have one more 765 00:28:11,507 --> 00:28:13,729 question , then we'll wrap it up . So , 766 00:28:13,729 --> 00:28:15,562 uh just to follow up on Andres's 767 00:28:15,562 --> 00:28:17,562 question is the secretary satisfied 768 00:28:17,609 --> 00:28:20,270 with the current strategy against the 769 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:22,969 Hoy . Can you pull out that thread a 770 00:28:22,979 --> 00:28:25,146 little bit more for me ? Yeah , sure . 771 00:28:25,146 --> 00:28:27,035 Because you said it was having an 772 00:28:27,035 --> 00:28:26,969 impact , you told Andre that it was 773 00:28:26,979 --> 00:28:29,260 having an impact . But you've also said 774 00:28:29,270 --> 00:28:32,140 with Tara that it's not deterring the 775 00:28:32,150 --> 00:28:34,483 houthis . So it may be having an impact , 776 00:28:34,483 --> 00:28:36,900 but it's not , it's not giving you the , 777 00:28:36,910 --> 00:28:39,021 the goal that you're desiring . So is 778 00:28:39,021 --> 00:28:40,910 the secretary satisfied with this 779 00:28:40,910 --> 00:28:42,966 current almost whack a mole strategy 780 00:28:42,966 --> 00:28:45,132 that's going on . So the secretary has 781 00:28:45,132 --> 00:28:47,299 full confidence in the central command 782 00:28:47,299 --> 00:28:49,521 commander . Um and , and the operations 783 00:28:49,521 --> 00:28:52,520 that he um is doing every single day to 784 00:28:52,530 --> 00:28:55,369 ensure that our Mariners , our service 785 00:28:55,380 --> 00:28:59,250 members are safe . Um Look , and I said 786 00:28:59,260 --> 00:29:01,316 this earlier , we never said that we 787 00:29:01,316 --> 00:29:03,538 are taking every single capability that 788 00:29:03,538 --> 00:29:05,482 the Houthis have off the map , but 789 00:29:05,482 --> 00:29:07,427 every single day that we conduct a 790 00:29:07,427 --> 00:29:09,704 strike , we are degrading them further . 791 00:29:09,704 --> 00:29:11,704 Um And so I think the secretary has 792 00:29:11,704 --> 00:29:13,927 confidence that uh the more we continue 793 00:29:13,927 --> 00:29:16,038 to do this , um the Houthis are going 794 00:29:16,038 --> 00:29:17,871 to , they are already seeing the 795 00:29:17,871 --> 00:29:19,871 effects . I mean , as General Ryder 796 00:29:19,871 --> 00:29:22,093 read out just last week , um You know , 797 00:29:22,093 --> 00:29:24,093 we do have battle damage assessment 798 00:29:24,093 --> 00:29:25,982 that we have been able to make an 799 00:29:25,982 --> 00:29:25,859 impact to some of the capabilities that 800 00:29:25,869 --> 00:29:28,091 they have . Again , it's not everything 801 00:29:28,091 --> 00:29:30,202 off the map , but it is steps , it is 802 00:29:30,202 --> 00:29:32,202 progress . Um And , and we're gonna 803 00:29:32,202 --> 00:29:34,202 keep holding them accountable until 804 00:29:34,202 --> 00:29:37,319 they stop . Ok . Sustainable . I mean , 805 00:29:37,430 --> 00:29:39,780 trading a multimillion dollar us 806 00:29:39,790 --> 00:29:43,589 missiles for 1000 couple $1000 Houthi . 807 00:29:45,189 --> 00:29:47,245 Well , I don't have the cost for the 808 00:29:47,245 --> 00:29:49,300 Houthi weapons , but what I can tell 809 00:29:49,300 --> 00:29:52,099 you is um if we don't have the support 810 00:29:52,109 --> 00:29:54,670 of Congress , if we don't have a budget , 811 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:56,769 if we continue to operate under a 812 00:29:56,769 --> 00:29:58,991 continuing resolution , if we don't get 813 00:29:58,991 --> 00:30:01,158 our supplemental passed , uh no things 814 00:30:01,158 --> 00:30:03,213 are not going to be sustainable . We 815 00:30:03,213 --> 00:30:05,380 are going to have to look to make cuts 816 00:30:05,380 --> 00:30:07,491 uh to continue to fund our operations 817 00:30:07,491 --> 00:30:09,436 in the Centcom A or to continue to 818 00:30:09,436 --> 00:30:11,547 support Ukraine . Um So that's why we 819 00:30:11,547 --> 00:30:13,602 continue to urge Congress to give us 820 00:30:13,602 --> 00:30:15,880 the funding , the support that we need . 821 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:18,102 So we can continue these operations and 822 00:30:18,102 --> 00:30:20,213 continue to uh protect not only our , 823 00:30:20,213 --> 00:30:22,436 our service members in the region , but 824 00:30:22,436 --> 00:30:24,547 ensure that commercial shipping can , 825 00:30:24,547 --> 00:30:26,658 can flow through that region safely . 826 00:30:26,755 --> 00:30:27,714 Thank you everyone .