WEBVTT 00:01.139 --> 00:03.519 Ok , good afternoon . Believe we're 00:03.529 --> 00:05.640 having some tech issues . Thank you , 00:05.640 --> 00:07.751 Jen Griffin . I heard that you helped 00:07.751 --> 00:09.918 assist . So , thank you . Um and we'll 00:09.918 --> 00:12.085 get started . All right . So just if I 00:12.085 --> 00:14.307 do have a , a little bit of a list here 00:14.307 --> 00:16.418 today , so just bear with me and then 00:16.418 --> 00:18.529 happy to take your questions over the 00:18.529 --> 00:20.696 weekend , Secretary Austin spoke twice 00:20.696 --> 00:22.918 with his Israeli counterpart , Minister 00:22.918 --> 00:24.751 of Defense Galan , the secretary 00:24.751 --> 00:26.918 expressed his condolences for the ID F 00:26.918 --> 00:29.085 soldiers killed in a drone attack from 00:29.085 --> 00:31.307 Lebanese Hezbollah . The secretary also 00:31.307 --> 00:33.307 reinforced the importance of Israel 00:33.307 --> 00:35.529 taking all necessary measures to ensure 00:35.529 --> 00:37.196 the safety and security of un 00:37.196 --> 00:39.362 peacekeeping forces and Lebanese armed 00:39.362 --> 00:41.251 forces and the need to pivot from 00:41.251 --> 00:43.251 military operations in Lebanon to a 00:43.251 --> 00:45.418 diplomatic pathway to provide security 00:45.418 --> 00:47.362 for civilians on both sides of the 00:47.362 --> 00:49.251 border . Secretary , Austin again 00:49.251 --> 00:50.807 raised concern for the dire 00:50.807 --> 00:52.751 humanitarian situation in Gaza and 00:52.751 --> 00:54.918 stressed that steps must be taken soon 00:54.918 --> 00:56.990 to address it in each of his calls . 00:57.000 --> 00:59.000 The secretary reiterated the United 00:59.000 --> 01:01.222 states' commitment to Israel's security 01:01.580 --> 01:03.469 and that's why over the weekend , 01:03.469 --> 01:05.247 Secretary Austin authorized the 01:05.247 --> 01:07.413 deployment of a terminal high altitude 01:07.413 --> 01:09.680 area defense or Thaad battery and 01:09.690 --> 01:11.989 associated us military personnel to 01:12.000 --> 01:14.830 help bolster Israel's air defenses 01:14.860 --> 01:17.082 following Iran's attacks against Israel 01:17.082 --> 01:19.440 on April 13th and again on October 1st 01:20.190 --> 01:22.349 yesterday , an advanced team of 01:22.360 --> 01:24.082 military personnel and initial 01:24.082 --> 01:26.082 components necessary to operate the 01:26.082 --> 01:28.449 Thaad Battery arrived in Israel and 01:28.459 --> 01:30.348 over the coming days , additional 01:30.348 --> 01:32.515 personnel and Thaad battery components 01:32.515 --> 01:34.681 will continue to arrive and will bring 01:34.681 --> 01:36.848 the THAAD to fully operational capable 01:36.848 --> 01:39.489 in the in the near future . This 01:39.500 --> 01:41.419 decision was made in part of the 01:41.430 --> 01:43.652 broader adjustments the US military has 01:43.652 --> 01:45.708 made in recent months to support the 01:45.708 --> 01:47.930 defense of Israel and protect Americans 01:47.940 --> 01:49.773 from attacks by Iran and Iranian 01:49.773 --> 01:52.099 aligned militias . This is not the 01:52.110 --> 01:53.943 first time the United States has 01:53.943 --> 01:56.221 deployed a Thaad battery to the region . 01:56.221 --> 01:58.443 Earlier this year , a Thad was deployed 01:58.443 --> 02:00.332 to the Middle East following last 02:00.332 --> 02:02.388 year's October 7th attacks to defend 02:02.388 --> 02:04.443 American troops and interests in the 02:04.443 --> 02:06.332 region . In addition , the United 02:06.332 --> 02:08.499 States has previously deployed a Thaad 02:08.499 --> 02:10.666 battery to Israel in 2019 for training 02:10.666 --> 02:12.721 and integrated and an integrated air 02:12.721 --> 02:15.149 defense exercise . Shifting gears . The 02:15.160 --> 02:17.327 department continues to support relief 02:17.327 --> 02:19.549 efforts related to hurricane Helene and 02:19.549 --> 02:21.660 Milton and will continue to work with 02:21.660 --> 02:23.882 our federal state and local partners to 02:23.882 --> 02:25.771 help our fellow Americans . As of 02:25.771 --> 02:27.938 earlier today , the National Guard has 02:27.938 --> 02:30.160 mobilized more than 4500 guardsmen from 02:30.160 --> 02:32.770 seven states for response and recovery 02:32.779 --> 02:35.070 missions following hurricane Milton . 02:35.509 --> 02:37.419 The US Army Corps of Engineer has 02:37.429 --> 02:39.940 approximately 300 people supporting the 02:39.949 --> 02:42.060 temporary roof support infrastructure 02:42.060 --> 02:44.060 assessment , debris control , flood 02:44.060 --> 02:46.160 response and more . The department's 02:46.169 --> 02:48.280 response efforts for hurricane Helene 02:48.280 --> 02:50.391 continue as well . The National Guard 02:50.391 --> 02:52.559 has roughly 3000 guardsmen from 13 02:52.570 --> 02:55.199 states mobilized and approximately 1500 02:55.210 --> 02:57.600 active duty soldiers who are mobilized 02:57.610 --> 03:00.029 and helping with response efforts . The 03:00.039 --> 03:02.039 US Army Corps of Engineers has more 03:02.039 --> 03:04.690 than 560 personnel engaged in 27 03:04.699 --> 03:06.809 missions across the region . Some of 03:06.820 --> 03:09.270 that includes supporting debris control , 03:09.279 --> 03:11.112 temporary power , infrastructure 03:11.112 --> 03:13.112 assessment , flood control and safe 03:13.112 --> 03:16.270 waterway assessments . Secretary Austin 03:16.279 --> 03:18.390 continues to receive updates on these 03:18.390 --> 03:20.390 response efforts and the department 03:20.390 --> 03:22.446 continues to engage with interagency 03:22.446 --> 03:25.080 partners . Shifting gears again . In 03:25.089 --> 03:27.720 September 2023 Secretary Austin 03:27.729 --> 03:29.951 announced that the department would for 03:29.951 --> 03:31.951 the first time begin to proactively 03:31.951 --> 03:34.062 review the military records of former 03:34.070 --> 03:36.014 service members discharged under . 03:36.014 --> 03:38.014 Don't ask , don't tell due to their 03:38.014 --> 03:40.250 sexual orientation . The review was 03:40.259 --> 03:42.315 focused on those who might have been 03:42.315 --> 03:43.926 eligible for upgrades to the 03:43.926 --> 03:46.092 characterization of their discharge or 03:46.092 --> 03:48.259 changes to their reason for separation 03:48.259 --> 03:50.481 but had not yet applied after a year of 03:50.481 --> 03:52.259 exceptional work . The military 03:52.259 --> 03:54.148 department review boards directed 03:54.148 --> 03:57.850 relief in 96.8% of the 03:57.860 --> 04:00.669 851 cases that they proactively 04:00.679 --> 04:03.880 reviewed what this means is that of the 04:03.889 --> 04:06.830 nearly 13,500 individuals who were 04:06.839 --> 04:08.783 administratively separated under . 04:08.783 --> 04:10.729 Don't ask , don't tell policy and 04:10.740 --> 04:12.851 served long enough to receive a merit 04:12.851 --> 04:15.809 based characterization of service . 96% 04:15.820 --> 04:18.510 now have an honorable discharge . The 04:18.519 --> 04:20.575 department is sending former service 04:20.575 --> 04:22.797 members who obtained relief through the 04:22.797 --> 04:22.779 department's . Don't ask , don't tell 04:22.790 --> 04:25.012 records , review initiative information 04:25.040 --> 04:27.096 on how to obtain copies of their new 04:27.096 --> 04:29.390 discharge certificates . We encourage 04:29.399 --> 04:31.343 all veterans who believe they have 04:31.343 --> 04:33.232 suffered an error or injustice to 04:33.232 --> 04:35.399 request a correction to their military 04:35.399 --> 04:38.279 records . Um Today , the secretary held 04:38.290 --> 04:40.068 a bilateral engagement with the 04:40.068 --> 04:41.957 Minister of Defense Polson of the 04:41.957 --> 04:44.290 Kingdom of Denmark here at the Pentagon . 04:44.290 --> 04:46.512 The secretary values the United states' 04:46.512 --> 04:48.679 close relationship with the Kingdom of 04:48.679 --> 04:50.901 Denmark and a readout will be available 04:50.901 --> 04:53.660 later online today at defense.gov . And 04:53.670 --> 04:56.260 finally , tomorrow , Secretary Austin 04:56.269 --> 04:58.510 will travel to Brussels Belgium for 04:58.519 --> 05:01.320 from October 16th through 18th , 2024 05:01.329 --> 05:02.996 to participate in a series of 05:02.996 --> 05:04.996 multilateral meetings including the 05:04.996 --> 05:06.829 NATO Defense Ministerial and the 05:06.829 --> 05:08.940 Ministerial of the Force contributing 05:08.940 --> 05:11.119 members of the global coalition to 05:11.130 --> 05:13.690 defeat ISIS these engagements and 05:13.700 --> 05:15.644 others will focus on strengthening 05:15.644 --> 05:17.756 nato's collective defensive posture , 05:17.890 --> 05:20.160 adapting the D ISIS coalition to an 05:20.170 --> 05:22.392 evolving threat from ISIS in the Middle 05:22.392 --> 05:24.170 East and globally and enhancing 05:24.170 --> 05:25.892 military support for Ukraine . 05:26.369 --> 05:28.591 Secretary , Austin will then attend the 05:28.591 --> 05:30.880 first ever G7 defense Ministers meeting 05:30.890 --> 05:33.880 October 19th in Naples Italy where he 05:33.890 --> 05:35.668 will also meet with his Italian 05:35.668 --> 05:37.890 Minister of Defense counterpart and the 05:37.890 --> 05:39.723 new Japanese Minister of Defense 05:39.723 --> 05:42.149 Nakatani . The discussions at the G7 05:42.160 --> 05:44.049 will center on ensuring continued 05:44.049 --> 05:45.827 security assistance for Ukraine 05:45.827 --> 05:47.771 addressing the need to de escalate 05:47.771 --> 05:49.938 tensions in the Middle East exchanging 05:49.938 --> 05:52.049 views on the importance of a free and 05:52.049 --> 05:54.104 Open Indo Pacific discussing support 05:54.104 --> 05:56.160 for partners in Africa and fostering 05:56.160 --> 05:58.327 additional co-operation on the defense 05:58.327 --> 06:00.540 industrial base and issues uh among 06:00.549 --> 06:02.716 world's leading democratic economies . 06:03.489 --> 06:05.711 Later on in the trip , Secretary Austin 06:05.711 --> 06:07.433 will conclude with an official 06:07.433 --> 06:09.545 engagement in Vatican City . And with 06:09.545 --> 06:11.378 that , I'd be happy to take your 06:11.378 --> 06:13.600 questions , Tara , and I know there was 06:13.600 --> 06:13.100 a lot of the time , there was a lot 06:13.109 --> 06:15.929 that's good . Um All right . So with 06:15.940 --> 06:18.350 the secretary's consultations with 06:18.359 --> 06:20.609 Minister Gallant over the last couple 06:20.619 --> 06:22.730 of weeks since Iran ballistic missile 06:22.730 --> 06:26.154 attack , has he been encouraging Israel 06:26.165 --> 06:29.595 to not retaliate against um Iran's oil 06:29.605 --> 06:31.772 facilities or nuclear facilities ? And 06:31.772 --> 06:33.915 is he encouraged by indications that 06:33.924 --> 06:36.454 Iran or that Israel may avoid those 06:36.464 --> 06:38.242 targets ? So thanks Tar for the 06:38.242 --> 06:40.799 question . So , um as you saw over the 06:40.809 --> 06:43.029 weekend , um the secretary spoke with 06:43.040 --> 06:45.262 Mr Gallant twice . I don't have more to 06:45.262 --> 06:47.207 provide beyond those readouts . Um 06:47.207 --> 06:49.151 Again , speculating on a potential 06:49.151 --> 06:52.709 response um from Israel , uh you know , 06:52.720 --> 06:54.942 I'd refer you to them to speak to their 06:54.942 --> 06:57.109 own operations , but I just don't have 06:57.109 --> 06:56.549 more to provide than those readouts . 06:56.649 --> 06:58.705 Ok . So trying it from another angle 06:58.705 --> 07:00.760 then , um would the secretary prefer 07:00.760 --> 07:02.871 that Israel not strike Iran's nuclear 07:02.871 --> 07:05.040 facilities ? Appreciate , appreciate 07:05.049 --> 07:06.993 the question in a , in a different 07:06.993 --> 07:09.160 angle . I just , I'm not gonna be able 07:09.160 --> 07:08.869 to provide more than , than the 07:08.880 --> 07:11.640 readouts . Um The secretary a as , as 07:11.649 --> 07:14.739 we've said from the um for a few weeks 07:14.750 --> 07:17.399 now , uh we continue to engage the 07:17.410 --> 07:19.354 Israelis on , you know , and , and 07:19.354 --> 07:21.700 speak with them about what a response , 07:21.709 --> 07:23.820 what their response might look like . 07:23.820 --> 07:26.042 But um I'm just not going to be able to 07:26.042 --> 07:28.265 provide more on that , Natasha . Thanks 07:28.265 --> 07:30.042 Sabrina . So in the letter that 07:30.042 --> 07:31.931 Secretary Austin co-authored with 07:31.931 --> 07:34.042 Secretary Lincoln to the Israelis , I 07:34.042 --> 07:36.042 believe it was sent um earlier this 07:36.042 --> 07:39.559 week . Um Was that letter specifically 07:39.570 --> 07:41.630 a threat that the US military is not 07:41.640 --> 07:44.339 going to be able to provide weapons to 07:44.350 --> 07:46.809 Israel anymore if they do not within 30 07:46.820 --> 07:49.290 days , get more aid into Gaza . It was 07:49.299 --> 07:51.466 a little bit vague in its wording . It 07:51.466 --> 07:53.243 kind of said that there will be 07:53.243 --> 07:55.355 implications for us law if they don't 07:55.355 --> 07:57.577 change what they're doing . But is this 07:57.577 --> 07:59.466 specifically a threat to withhold 07:59.466 --> 08:01.688 certain forms of military assistance if 08:01.688 --> 08:01.390 they don't uh move forward with 08:01.399 --> 08:03.732 changing uh the amount of aid into Gaza ? 08:03.732 --> 08:05.677 So in terms of the letter that you 08:05.677 --> 08:07.455 referenced , I can confirm that 08:07.455 --> 08:09.788 Secretary Austin with Secretary Blinken , 08:09.788 --> 08:11.788 they , they co signed a letter that 08:11.788 --> 08:14.010 went to their Israeli counterparts . Um 08:14.010 --> 08:15.566 This was personal , private 08:15.566 --> 08:17.788 correspondence . So um I'm not going to 08:17.788 --> 08:19.788 get into more specifics of it other 08:19.788 --> 08:22.170 than um you know , it was expressing 08:22.179 --> 08:23.901 concern about the humanitarian 08:23.901 --> 08:26.068 conditions in Gaza . But beyond that , 08:26.068 --> 08:28.179 I'm just not going to be able to , to 08:28.179 --> 08:30.346 provide more details . How can you say 08:30.346 --> 08:32.346 that it's personal and private when 08:32.346 --> 08:32.070 it's the Secretary of State and 08:32.080 --> 08:34.302 Secretary of defense sending a letter . 08:34.302 --> 08:36.191 Uh , the Secretary of Defense and 08:36.191 --> 08:38.358 Secretary of State can consent private 08:38.358 --> 08:40.136 correspondence to their Israeli 08:40.136 --> 08:42.247 counterparts or counterparts all over 08:42.247 --> 08:44.302 the world . That doesn't necessarily 08:44.302 --> 08:44.020 mean that those letters need to be 08:44.030 --> 08:46.630 public . Um , I understand that there 08:46.640 --> 08:48.619 is , uh , reporting out there and 08:48.630 --> 08:50.630 imagery out there of a letter , but 08:50.630 --> 08:52.741 that doesn't necessarily mean that it 08:52.741 --> 08:54.408 is a public letter for public 08:54.408 --> 08:56.630 consumption . It was , can I just , can 08:56.630 --> 08:58.630 I just finish , um , it was private 08:58.630 --> 09:00.852 correspondence because it was addressed 09:00.852 --> 09:03.074 to their Israeli counterparts , both of 09:03.074 --> 09:06.650 them , um , they send letters all the 09:06.659 --> 09:08.659 time to whether it be to members of 09:08.659 --> 09:11.330 Congress , um , or their counterparts 09:11.340 --> 09:13.118 all over the world that are not 09:13.118 --> 09:15.284 intended for public consumption . Um , 09:15.284 --> 09:17.396 so the letters weren't addressed to , 09:17.396 --> 09:19.562 you know , associated press or to , to 09:19.562 --> 09:21.729 Fox . It was addressed to two people , 09:21.729 --> 09:24.130 um , to their counterparts . And it was , 09:24.140 --> 09:26.140 um , a letter that , you know , I'm 09:26.140 --> 09:27.918 just not gonna get into private 09:27.918 --> 09:29.696 correspondence beyond that us . 09:29.696 --> 09:31.918 Government letterhead , correct ? I , I 09:31.918 --> 09:34.830 cannot , is it like on , you know , 09:34.840 --> 09:37.400 pink stationery or is it on letterhead 09:37.409 --> 09:39.576 from the U ? Si would assume it was on 09:39.576 --> 09:41.742 letterhead , Jen . But what I can tell 09:41.742 --> 09:43.853 you is that just because something is 09:43.853 --> 09:45.909 on letterhead doesn't mean that it's 09:45.909 --> 09:48.020 meant for public consumption or to be 09:48.020 --> 09:50.187 leaked to the pratt . Sure . Yeah , of 09:50.187 --> 09:52.131 course . But that's still , that's 09:52.131 --> 09:54.298 still , I mean , that's , if you are a 09:54.298 --> 09:56.187 US government official and you're 09:56.187 --> 09:58.409 writing to your counterparts that's not 09:58.409 --> 10:00.659 private um or personal it , you are a 10:00.669 --> 10:03.070 US government official . Us can I just 10:03.320 --> 10:05.542 can we just , I understand the back and 10:05.542 --> 10:08.340 forth here . But like so II , I think 10:08.750 --> 10:11.520 in fairness , us , government officials 10:11.530 --> 10:13.586 can engage their counterparts , they 10:13.586 --> 10:15.530 can have closed door meetings with 10:15.530 --> 10:17.530 their counterparts . Um They can do 10:17.530 --> 10:19.474 calls with their counterparts . We 10:19.474 --> 10:21.697 provide readouts of those calls . There 10:21.697 --> 10:23.919 are letters that are sent often between 10:23.919 --> 10:25.808 government officials that are not 10:25.808 --> 10:28.229 intended to be made uh made public . Um 10:29.109 --> 10:31.165 I have seen some of the social media 10:31.165 --> 10:33.109 circulating around this letter . I 10:33.109 --> 10:35.165 understand the questions that you're 10:35.165 --> 10:37.387 asking about it , but this was meant to 10:37.387 --> 10:39.553 be a private letter . I shouldn't have 10:39.553 --> 10:41.387 said personal , a private letter 10:41.387 --> 10:43.442 between government officials talking 10:43.442 --> 10:45.729 about um the situation in Gaza and it 10:45.739 --> 10:48.354 was intended to be private and those 10:48.364 --> 10:50.475 are conversations that also happen in 10:50.475 --> 10:52.697 person that are private conversations . 10:52.697 --> 10:54.586 We don't read all those out every 10:54.586 --> 10:56.586 single time . Can I come around the 10:56.586 --> 10:58.920 room or do you have another one on this ? 10:58.920 --> 11:01.031 Citing official US policy on how they 11:01.031 --> 11:03.844 qualify someone or a country to qualify 11:03.854 --> 11:06.076 for foreign military financing ? That's 11:06.076 --> 11:08.298 I mean , that's just US policy . Yeah , 11:08.298 --> 11:10.298 so I'm just not gonna be able to go 11:10.298 --> 11:12.576 into more details on the letter itself . 11:12.576 --> 11:14.632 Um Again , I confirmed that a letter 11:14.632 --> 11:16.854 was sent , it was meant to be private . 11:16.854 --> 11:18.965 Um Someone obviously felt the need to 11:18.965 --> 11:21.890 uh get out this private correspondence 11:21.900 --> 11:24.122 but uh I'm just not gonna be able to uh 11:24.122 --> 11:26.178 get into more details on that bill . 11:26.178 --> 11:27.844 The State Department , uh the 11:27.844 --> 11:29.844 spokesperson said that , you know , 11:29.844 --> 11:32.067 talking about this letter so that , you 11:32.067 --> 11:31.710 know , we need the quotas , we need to 11:31.719 --> 11:33.830 see further changes by the government 11:33.830 --> 11:35.886 of Israel . And I'm wondering , uh , 11:35.886 --> 11:38.219 you know , what can you talk about , uh , 11:38.219 --> 11:40.585 the Pentagon's views on changes to how 11:40.594 --> 11:44.215 Israel is safeguarding civilians or 11:44.224 --> 11:46.375 failing to do so . So I think without 11:46.385 --> 11:48.552 speaking to the letter itself , you've 11:48.552 --> 11:51.094 seen us from this podium and from a few 11:51.104 --> 11:53.271 of the readouts that the secretary has 11:53.271 --> 11:55.215 done with Minister Gallant , speak 11:55.215 --> 11:58.075 about the deteriorating and dire 11:58.085 --> 12:00.184 humanitarian situation within Gaza 12:02.030 --> 12:04.450 just because there's other um you know , 12:04.599 --> 12:06.766 uh engagements happening in the region 12:06.766 --> 12:08.877 doesn't mean that we've taken our eye 12:08.877 --> 12:11.043 off of what's happening in Gaza and we 12:11.043 --> 12:13.280 know that , um you know , humanitarian 12:13.289 --> 12:15.729 aid still a stalling to get in , into 12:15.739 --> 12:17.850 Gazan to reach , you know , civilians 12:17.850 --> 12:20.280 that need it desperately . Um So that's 12:20.289 --> 12:22.400 some of the things that the secretary 12:22.400 --> 12:24.567 talks about in his calls with Minister 12:24.567 --> 12:24.349 Galant . Those are some of the things 12:24.359 --> 12:26.415 that we've also read out publicly in 12:26.415 --> 12:29.599 our readouts . Um This letter um 12:29.609 --> 12:31.553 follows on a letter that I believe 12:31.553 --> 12:33.940 Secretary Lincoln sent in April . Um 12:33.950 --> 12:37.109 We're looking to , you know , see more 12:37.440 --> 12:40.479 or to see concrete measures taken to 12:40.489 --> 12:42.950 address the humanitarian situation in 12:42.960 --> 12:45.500 Gaza , which we know continues to be an 12:45.510 --> 12:48.099 issue and we want to see how they , you 12:48.109 --> 12:50.276 know , conduct operations that they're 12:50.276 --> 12:52.276 considering civilians in the battle 12:52.276 --> 12:52.119 space . And that's what we said from 12:52.130 --> 12:55.419 the beginning has been criticized for 12:55.429 --> 12:57.880 failing to use its leverage , which is 12:57.890 --> 12:59.834 the weapons to Israel to influence 12:59.834 --> 13:03.750 Israeli military actions . Is 13:03.760 --> 13:06.038 that , is that a fair characterization , 13:06.038 --> 13:08.260 especially after this letters have been 13:08.260 --> 13:10.371 made public , you know , I would push 13:10.371 --> 13:12.482 back on that . Um And again , without 13:12.482 --> 13:14.593 going down the rabbit hole of private 13:14.593 --> 13:16.969 conversations , but , um , we have had 13:16.979 --> 13:19.109 very frank and direct conversations 13:19.119 --> 13:21.341 with our , you know , the secretary has 13:21.341 --> 13:23.452 with his Israeli counterpart . Um I'm 13:23.452 --> 13:25.563 not going to go into a line item list 13:25.563 --> 13:27.452 of every single time they've done 13:27.452 --> 13:29.508 something differently because of our 13:29.508 --> 13:31.730 advice or , um because of conversations 13:31.730 --> 13:33.897 that we've had . But , um , you know , 13:33.897 --> 13:36.119 we have seen them change their behavior 13:36.119 --> 13:38.286 in certain circumstances . Um Is there 13:38.286 --> 13:40.397 more that we are working with them on 13:40.397 --> 13:42.563 there ? Is and we're going to continue 13:42.563 --> 13:41.909 to engage with them on that . So you've 13:41.919 --> 13:44.086 used that leverage , you've threatened 13:44.086 --> 13:46.308 to withhold weapons . I didn't say that 13:46.308 --> 13:48.419 I said that we continue to have frank 13:48.419 --> 13:50.460 conversations with them . Um As you 13:50.469 --> 13:52.302 know , we do still have that one 13:52.302 --> 13:54.302 shipment of the 2000 pound bombs uh 13:54.302 --> 13:56.890 currently still paused . Um But I'm 13:56.900 --> 13:58.900 just not gonna be able to go beyond 13:58.900 --> 14:00.844 that , Joe . Thanks . Um , on your 14:00.844 --> 14:02.900 advice and you said you've seen some 14:02.900 --> 14:04.900 changes in their behavior among the 14:04.900 --> 14:07.011 things that the secretaries mentioned 14:07.011 --> 14:09.233 that you just mentioned were opposition 14:09.233 --> 14:11.400 to , uh , bombing or targeting densely 14:11.400 --> 14:13.622 populated areas in Beirut from Missouri 14:13.622 --> 14:15.511 airstrikes . We haven't seen that 14:15.511 --> 14:17.678 happen in the past couple of days . Is 14:17.678 --> 14:19.900 that something that they committed to , 14:19.900 --> 14:21.900 uh , the secretary or to anybody in 14:21.900 --> 14:24.011 this department of stopping ? Um , so 14:24.011 --> 14:26.233 I'm just not gonna be able to go beyond 14:26.233 --> 14:28.233 the conversations and the , and the 14:28.233 --> 14:30.456 readouts that we've provided . Um , but 14:30.456 --> 14:30.270 one of the things that I think you've 14:30.280 --> 14:32.502 seen in the readouts is the secretary , 14:32.502 --> 14:34.960 in part , the need to take into account , 14:34.969 --> 14:37.650 um you know , innocent civilians , um 14:37.659 --> 14:40.650 whether it be uh in Beirut or on that , 14:40.659 --> 14:43.380 you know , on that border region in the , 14:43.390 --> 14:45.446 in the northern part of Israel where 14:45.446 --> 14:47.779 they are conducting operations to clear , 14:47.779 --> 14:49.446 um you know , where Hezbollah 14:49.446 --> 14:51.446 infrastructure is . Um We've always 14:51.446 --> 14:53.612 said from the beginning that civilians 14:53.612 --> 14:55.612 need to be considered in the battle 14:55.612 --> 14:57.668 space and they , you know , measures 14:57.668 --> 14:59.723 need to be taken to protect innocent 14:59.723 --> 15:01.723 lives . That's something that , you 15:01.723 --> 15:00.835 know , is not new . It's something that 15:00.844 --> 15:02.900 we've continued to say from the very 15:02.900 --> 15:06.190 beginning did Israel request that it 15:06.200 --> 15:08.422 was a conversation between , um I would 15:08.422 --> 15:10.644 say both governments , you know , I , I 15:10.644 --> 15:13.039 think it's fair to say that we've seen 15:13.049 --> 15:16.719 now two unprecedented attacks from Iran 15:16.729 --> 15:19.719 on April 13th and October 1st . Um 15:19.900 --> 15:22.122 You've seen our destroyers engaged from 15:22.122 --> 15:24.067 the sea . This is now a land based 15:24.067 --> 15:26.122 capability that will be able to help 15:26.122 --> 15:27.956 defend against another ballistic 15:27.956 --> 15:30.011 missile attack if Iran did choose to 15:30.011 --> 15:33.419 respond in that way . Uh The former top , 15:33.429 --> 15:35.429 I guess policy chief for the Middle 15:35.429 --> 15:37.596 East here at the Depart Danish rule um 15:37.596 --> 15:40.419 and spoke to FT I guess today , she 15:40.429 --> 15:42.469 says that the Israeli Israeli M 15:42.510 --> 15:45.130 munitions issue is a serious issue and 15:45.140 --> 15:47.251 that the US cannot continue to supply 15:47.251 --> 15:49.251 Ukraine and Israel at the same pace 15:49.309 --> 15:51.700 because us stockpiles are not limitless 15:51.789 --> 15:54.419 is the department able to provide 15:54.429 --> 15:56.485 weapons to both countries as long as 15:56.485 --> 15:59.049 needed . Well , I , I think it's fair . 15:59.059 --> 16:01.059 That's a fair assessment that , you 16:01.059 --> 16:03.170 know , our supplies are not endless . 16:03.179 --> 16:04.849 Uh , you've seen us request 16:04.859 --> 16:06.859 supplemental packages to help , you 16:06.859 --> 16:09.270 know , be able to support Ukraine and 16:09.280 --> 16:12.049 to support Israel . Um , you've seen us 16:12.059 --> 16:14.210 have issues , you know , uh , when it 16:14.219 --> 16:17.849 came to , um , reinvigorating 16:17.859 --> 16:19.979 the defense industrial base . So I 16:19.989 --> 16:22.799 think , uh , you know , we are 16:22.809 --> 16:24.920 continuing to support Ukraine in what 16:24.920 --> 16:26.920 it needs on the battlefield . We're 16:26.920 --> 16:28.920 continuing to support Israel in its 16:28.920 --> 16:28.830 self defense . We're going to continue 16:28.840 --> 16:30.951 to engage the defense industrial base 16:30.951 --> 16:33.118 on how best to do that . Um , but part 16:33.118 --> 16:35.007 of the way we have to work and to 16:35.007 --> 16:37.118 continue to do all this on all fronts 16:37.118 --> 16:39.179 is we have to work with Congress and 16:39.700 --> 16:42.033 not to labor the point . But , you know , 16:42.033 --> 16:43.867 for nearly six months , we had a 16:43.867 --> 16:45.922 delayed supplemental package that we 16:45.922 --> 16:48.033 didn't get , which delayed , uh , you 16:48.033 --> 16:47.429 know , our own shelves from being 16:47.440 --> 16:50.250 backfilled that puts pressure on the 16:50.260 --> 16:52.149 system . But one thing that we're 16:52.149 --> 16:54.316 always going to do , I , and one thing 16:54.316 --> 16:55.927 that the secretary is always 16:55.927 --> 16:58.038 considering is our own readiness . So 16:58.038 --> 17:00.260 we always have to weigh that when we're 17:00.260 --> 17:02.316 supporting , whether it be Ukraine , 17:02.316 --> 17:04.371 the Middle East and our , you know , 17:04.371 --> 17:06.538 Israel's self defense , you know , our 17:06.538 --> 17:08.427 own forces . And then of course , 17:08.427 --> 17:08.099 always keeping an eye on the Indo 17:08.170 --> 17:11.270 Pacific . And so putting the letter 17:11.280 --> 17:13.447 aside , is there anything that you can 17:13.447 --> 17:15.724 say that Secretary Austin wants to see , 17:15.724 --> 17:17.724 done ? What specific things does he 17:17.724 --> 17:19.780 want to see Israel do in the next 30 17:19.780 --> 17:22.002 days uh to increase aid ? And then also 17:22.002 --> 17:24.224 there was mention of the NSM 20 . So is 17:24.224 --> 17:26.447 there a concern that Israel is breaking 17:26.447 --> 17:29.209 these policies that us weapons are 17:29.219 --> 17:32.199 being used in possible war crimes ? So 17:32.209 --> 17:34.320 just not going to be able to get more 17:34.320 --> 17:36.376 into the letter in terms of what the 17:36.376 --> 17:38.598 secretary wants to see within Gaza . Um 17:38.598 --> 17:40.931 I mean , you've seen it in his readouts , 17:40.931 --> 17:43.042 what he said that he wants to see and 17:43.042 --> 17:45.042 what I read at the top is the , the 17:45.042 --> 17:47.042 humanitarian situation continues to 17:47.042 --> 17:49.209 deteriorate in Gaza . And that's why I 17:49.209 --> 17:51.431 mean , we did what we did over a summer 17:51.431 --> 17:53.540 which surging and , and installing a 17:53.550 --> 17:55.161 maritime corridor and to get 17:55.161 --> 17:57.699 humanitarian aid in um in any way that 17:57.709 --> 17:59.931 we could and we , you know , we're also 17:59.931 --> 18:02.310 conducting airdrops as well . Um We 18:02.319 --> 18:04.550 know that more trucks need to get in 18:05.160 --> 18:07.327 that is , and we've said that from the 18:07.327 --> 18:09.549 beginning when we installed J Lots into 18:09.549 --> 18:11.819 the , you know , beach in Gaza , the 18:11.829 --> 18:13.996 land routes are the most effective way 18:13.996 --> 18:15.996 to get aid flowing to the civilians 18:15.996 --> 18:18.218 that need it most . So , of course , we 18:18.218 --> 18:20.329 want to see those corridors open up . 18:20.329 --> 18:22.329 That's something that the secretary 18:22.329 --> 18:24.440 continues to emphasize in his calls . 18:24.440 --> 18:26.440 Um , I'm not going to be able to go 18:26.440 --> 18:28.607 more into the letter other than what I 18:28.607 --> 18:30.273 said earlier . But , um , the 18:30.273 --> 18:31.996 humanitarian situation in Gaza 18:31.996 --> 18:34.051 certainly remains on the secretary's 18:34.051 --> 18:33.819 mind in , in all of his calls with Mr 18:33.910 --> 18:37.770 Gallant first on the third , 18:37.780 --> 18:39.979 that requires a significant number of 18:39.989 --> 18:42.069 boots on the ground . Are we seeing 18:42.079 --> 18:44.780 here a shift in this administration ? 18:45.030 --> 18:47.400 No boots on the ground policy . And 18:47.410 --> 18:49.743 then I have another question on Lebanon . 18:49.743 --> 18:51.854 Sure . So just to clarify WAFA , um , 18:51.854 --> 18:55.000 the thaad will take approximately 100 18:55.010 --> 18:58.310 soldiers to operate it . Um , no change . 18:58.319 --> 19:00.812 Uh , in terms , I mean , just to , 19:00.822 --> 19:02.933 sorry , take a step back , you know , 19:02.933 --> 19:05.133 we've had personnel in Israel before 19:05.142 --> 19:07.420 October 7th . Um , so we've , you know , 19:07.420 --> 19:09.475 we've had a relationship with Israel 19:09.475 --> 19:11.698 and having a military footprint there . 19:11.698 --> 19:13.902 Um , think of the THAD as an augment 19:13.912 --> 19:15.801 augmentation to just Israel's air 19:15.801 --> 19:18.613 defenses and exactly what our DD DS do 19:18.623 --> 19:21.133 in the Eastern Med . Um , they provide 19:21.353 --> 19:23.235 a mi a ballistic missile defense 19:23.245 --> 19:25.595 capability that is , you know , sea 19:25.605 --> 19:28.005 based , this one's land based . Um , so 19:28.015 --> 19:30.293 it just augments Israel's self defense . 19:30.293 --> 19:32.666 It's um and you know , we saw the 19:32.676 --> 19:35.475 attacks that happened on April 13th and 19:35.485 --> 19:37.707 October 1st , we know that we need that 19:37.707 --> 19:39.929 additional layer on land . Um And we're 19:39.929 --> 19:42.156 happy to provide it , received phone 19:42.306 --> 19:45.586 calls with uh with Mr Galan , Secretary 19:45.595 --> 19:49.010 Austin , uh reinforce the need to shift 19:49.020 --> 19:51.770 from uh military operations in Lebanon 19:51.780 --> 19:55.239 to a uh uh diplomatic 19:55.250 --> 19:58.449 pathway in a feasible uh 19:59.180 --> 20:02.750 as soon as feasible . Has Secretary 20:02.760 --> 20:05.280 Austin asked Mr Gallon of a 20:05.290 --> 20:08.890 timeline , did he has the chance to 20:08.900 --> 20:12.329 discuss a timeline with him about the 20:12.339 --> 20:16.089 operations in Lebanon ? And I have 20:16.479 --> 20:18.423 to follow up . Sure , I don't have 20:18.423 --> 20:20.819 anything to add on um timelines . Uh 20:20.829 --> 20:23.107 but the secretary of course , you know , 20:23.107 --> 20:26.010 continues to urge for um a diplomatic 20:26.020 --> 20:28.076 off ramp here , we know that that is 20:28.076 --> 20:30.242 the best path forward . Um That's what 20:30.242 --> 20:32.131 we want to see , that's what this 20:32.131 --> 20:31.920 administration continues to push 20:31.930 --> 20:34.589 forward for . Um And so that's , that's 20:34.599 --> 20:36.710 what he emphasizes in his calls . You 20:36.710 --> 20:40.040 get another one . Has the Pentagon 20:40.050 --> 20:42.000 reached out , reached out to the 20:42.010 --> 20:45.839 Lebanese armed Forces after last week , 20:45.849 --> 20:47.750 Israeli strikes that killed two 20:47.760 --> 20:51.500 Lebanese armed forces uh soldiers . 20:51.650 --> 20:54.439 And uh is the assessment here at the 20:54.449 --> 20:57.410 Pentagon still that Israel is just 20:57.420 --> 21:01.410 targeting Hezbollah giving also that 21:01.420 --> 21:05.050 it targeted the the unifil forces in 21:05.060 --> 21:07.449 South Lebanon as well . So our 21:07.459 --> 21:09.681 assessment is that yes , they are still 21:09.681 --> 21:11.570 conducting operations to go after 21:11.570 --> 21:13.515 Lebanese Hezbollah . Um you know , 21:13.515 --> 21:15.626 infrastructure C two nodes along that 21:15.626 --> 21:18.160 northern border . Um As you heard me 21:18.170 --> 21:20.280 read out at the very beginning , we 21:20.290 --> 21:23.829 expressed deep concern over , um , you 21:23.839 --> 21:25.819 know , what happened with those un 21:25.829 --> 21:28.829 peace keeping , un peacekeepers that 21:28.839 --> 21:31.550 were , um , you know , within Lebanon . 21:31.739 --> 21:34.839 Um , but that is still our assessment 21:34.849 --> 21:36.849 that they are conducting operations 21:36.849 --> 21:40.310 against Hezbollah . Oh , I'm sorry , I , 21:40.400 --> 21:42.400 sorry , I didn't mean to not answer 21:42.400 --> 21:44.289 your question . Um , I don't have 21:44.289 --> 21:45.956 anything to read out from the 21:45.956 --> 21:48.011 secretary's level . Um I can't speak 21:48.011 --> 21:49.956 for other um components within the 21:49.956 --> 21:51.733 department but nothing from the 21:51.733 --> 21:54.099 secretary's level , Charlie Charlie 21:54.319 --> 21:56.739 private or otherwise there's a 21:56.750 --> 21:58.861 formalization about a letter . It's a 21:58.861 --> 22:01.194 document , it's , it could be traced it . 22:01.194 --> 22:04.510 It's who does that serve ? Is it 22:04.520 --> 22:07.329 because the United States needs to be 22:07.339 --> 22:09.599 seen to be doing something knowing this 22:09.609 --> 22:11.869 letter would get out signed by these 22:11.880 --> 22:13.824 two very important figures at this 22:13.824 --> 22:17.030 particular time . Why , why wasn't it a 22:17.040 --> 22:18.984 phone call ? Why was it a letter ? 22:20.569 --> 22:23.069 Ok . Uh Well , appreciate the question , 22:23.079 --> 22:25.579 but uh we didn't know it was gonna get 22:25.589 --> 22:27.700 out . We didn't know that someone was 22:27.700 --> 22:29.756 going to all , all I can tell you is 22:29.756 --> 22:31.478 all I can tell you is that the 22:31.478 --> 22:33.645 secretary and secretary Blinken sent a 22:33.645 --> 22:35.478 letter , not gonna go into those 22:35.478 --> 22:37.533 details . I've seen the social media 22:37.533 --> 22:39.589 reports out there , but I'm just not 22:39.589 --> 22:41.867 gonna go into more details of a letter . 22:41.867 --> 22:41.760 Uh Why do you make a phone call versus 22:41.770 --> 22:43.770 sending an email ? Ver Ver versus a 22:43.770 --> 22:46.094 text . Uh Look , I'm not gonna go into 22:46.104 --> 22:48.271 to the , to the decision making of why 22:48.271 --> 22:50.493 a letter versus a phone call . Um , but 22:50.493 --> 22:52.104 it was meant to be a private 22:52.104 --> 22:55.375 correspondence between two senior 22:55.385 --> 22:57.663 administration officials . Uh you know , 22:57.663 --> 22:59.607 from the Department of Defense and 22:59.607 --> 23:01.218 Department of State to their 23:01.218 --> 23:04.069 counterparts . Um Again , I understand 23:04.079 --> 23:06.246 it is official , an official letter on 23:06.246 --> 23:08.410 official letterhead . Uh But those 23:08.420 --> 23:10.930 correspondents are still , uh you know , 23:10.939 --> 23:13.050 meant to be private . And so I'm just 23:13.050 --> 23:15.161 not gonna go into more details on the 23:15.161 --> 23:17.383 letter . There's a paper trail , it was 23:17.383 --> 23:19.439 literally making a statement . It is 23:19.439 --> 23:21.383 literally a statement . Yeah , but 23:21.383 --> 23:23.495 Charlie , you also have to understand 23:23.495 --> 23:23.280 that we do statements that are press 23:23.290 --> 23:25.623 releases that are for press consumption . 23:25.623 --> 23:27.790 Uh You know , the secretary does calls 23:27.790 --> 23:30.012 with his counterparts all the time . We 23:30.012 --> 23:32.068 don't put , you know , the uh a live 23:32.068 --> 23:33.957 stream of that on defense.gov for 23:33.957 --> 23:36.179 everyone to listen to . Those are meant 23:36.179 --> 23:38.346 to be private conversations . This was 23:38.346 --> 23:40.346 a private correspondence with their 23:40.346 --> 23:42.512 counterparts . Um Again , I'm just not 23:42.512 --> 23:44.623 gonna be able to go into more details 23:44.623 --> 23:46.734 on the , on the list . Sure . Um In , 23:46.734 --> 23:49.068 in terms of when it becomes operational , 23:49.068 --> 23:51.290 I know , I know we can't discuss that . 23:51.630 --> 23:54.010 But what specific role does it fill ? 23:54.020 --> 23:56.650 What , what hole was missing in is 23:56.660 --> 23:59.939 Israel's defenses . America's , you 23:59.949 --> 24:02.171 know , very robust defenses there and , 24:02.171 --> 24:04.282 and why now there have been , there's 24:04.282 --> 24:06.505 been lots of trouble in the past , what 24:06.505 --> 24:08.560 specifically does the Thaad bring to 24:08.560 --> 24:10.671 this fight that isn't there already ? 24:10.689 --> 24:12.869 So , um , you'll remember that on 24:12.880 --> 24:14.436 October 1st , it was nearly 24:14.436 --> 24:16.491 approximately 200 ballistic missiles 24:16.491 --> 24:18.547 that are on fire towards Iran . That 24:18.547 --> 24:20.713 was nearly double what we saw on April 24:20.713 --> 24:23.469 13th . So , um , they launched more of 24:23.479 --> 24:26.109 a certain capability on April 13th . We 24:26.119 --> 24:28.119 had more of our fighters in the air 24:28.119 --> 24:30.397 shooting down uavs and , um , you know , 24:30.397 --> 24:32.719 cruise missiles , our fighters are not 24:32.729 --> 24:34.451 going to engage these types of 24:34.451 --> 24:36.599 ballistic missiles . The DDGS in the 24:36.609 --> 24:38.831 eastern med on April 13th were the ones 24:38.831 --> 24:40.942 that engaged the ballistic missiles . 24:40.942 --> 24:42.942 So , what we saw on October 1st was 24:42.942 --> 24:45.220 them , you know , adjusting their , um , 24:45.220 --> 24:47.430 strategy . We have to augment Israel's 24:47.439 --> 24:49.989 air defense systems . Um , we are there 24:50.000 --> 24:52.000 to help in their air defense and in 24:52.000 --> 24:53.944 their self defense and in doing so 24:53.944 --> 24:56.056 augmenting their air defense . So why 24:56.056 --> 24:58.229 now , um , should Iran choose to 24:58.239 --> 25:00.461 respond again with , you know , looks , 25:00.829 --> 25:02.996 you know , again , not , not trying to 25:02.996 --> 25:05.051 go down a hypothetical , but if it's 25:05.051 --> 25:07.218 more ballistic missiles or what we saw 25:07.218 --> 25:09.273 previously , that adds capability to 25:09.273 --> 25:11.218 Israel's air defenses and can help 25:11.218 --> 25:13.551 shoot those down and protect , you know , 25:13.551 --> 25:15.718 innocent civilians there . And in that 25:15.718 --> 25:17.885 includes Americans who are in Israel . 25:17.885 --> 25:20.107 Um , so , you know , we've made some of 25:20.107 --> 25:22.273 these force posture adjustments in the 25:22.273 --> 25:24.329 past , we are always nimble , always 25:24.329 --> 25:26.440 able to adjust as needed . This was a 25:26.440 --> 25:28.607 decision that the secretary decided to 25:28.607 --> 25:30.829 make . Thank you , Sabrina . Um , so as 25:30.829 --> 25:33.051 you said , the deployment of the threat 25:33.051 --> 25:35.218 in case Iran decides to attack again , 25:35.430 --> 25:39.310 which means potentially us soldiers 25:39.670 --> 25:42.510 will , might be in harm's way for a 25:42.520 --> 25:44.742 year . Now , you've been telling us the 25:44.742 --> 25:47.579 US is not involved in this conflict , 25:48.880 --> 25:51.319 putting troops on the ground now 25:51.329 --> 25:53.385 wouldn't make the US involved in the 25:53.385 --> 25:56.540 conflict . No . What would you do ? You 25:56.550 --> 25:58.772 know , potentially these soldiers could 25:58.772 --> 26:01.270 be targeted as well by Iran sofa . I 26:01.280 --> 26:03.391 think it's important to remember that 26:03.391 --> 26:05.790 the Thaad serves a similar purpose to 26:05.930 --> 26:09.380 um , our DDGS . They , it is an air 26:09.390 --> 26:12.079 defense system that is helping augment 26:12.089 --> 26:14.489 Israel's air defenses that can help 26:14.500 --> 26:18.430 shoot down ballistic missiles . Um This 26:18.439 --> 26:20.217 is also meant to be a temporary 26:20.217 --> 26:23.479 provision of air defense capabilities 26:23.500 --> 26:26.609 to better protect Israel . Um It's in 26:26.619 --> 26:28.508 keeping with our intent to reduce 26:28.508 --> 26:30.979 tensions . Um and it is , you know , 26:30.989 --> 26:34.060 also there uh to help 26:34.069 --> 26:36.869 deescalated . Um But of course , as the 26:36.880 --> 26:39.213 president has said , from the beginning , 26:39.213 --> 26:41.380 we are there to support in Israel self 26:41.380 --> 26:43.547 defense . This is a capability that we 26:43.547 --> 26:45.658 felt was needed . Helping , assisting 26:45.658 --> 26:47.824 with the defense of Israel from a ship 26:47.824 --> 26:50.047 is different from putting forces on the 26:50.047 --> 26:52.213 ground inside Israel . While Israel is 26:52.213 --> 26:54.380 being hit by ballistic missiles , both 26:54.380 --> 26:56.602 forces in the sea or land are in harm's 26:56.602 --> 26:59.400 WAFA . Putting them inside Israel is 26:59.410 --> 27:01.569 different as you know , from a 27:01.579 --> 27:03.869 political standpoint , this will open 27:03.880 --> 27:06.209 probably or not probably potentially 27:06.219 --> 27:09.859 open up the door for maybe them being 27:09.869 --> 27:12.091 in harm's way and then the US having to 27:12.091 --> 27:14.329 respond to Iranian attack . What I'm 27:14.339 --> 27:17.160 saying is this is , this potentially 27:17.170 --> 27:19.709 opens the door for us to be , to get 27:19.719 --> 27:22.160 more involved in this conflict , not 27:22.170 --> 27:25.030 the opposite . Just taking a step back . 27:25.180 --> 27:27.400 Our destroyers in the Red Sea are 27:27.410 --> 27:29.910 getting shot at by the Houthis . Um , 27:29.939 --> 27:33.420 you know , pretty regularly our forces 27:33.430 --> 27:35.589 in Iraq and Syria getting attacked by 27:35.599 --> 27:38.189 Iran backed militias . Uh You know , 27:38.199 --> 27:40.699 you from , you know , October 17th , 27:40.709 --> 27:43.069 there was a regular cadence there . Um 27:43.079 --> 27:45.246 We have forces deployed all around the 27:45.246 --> 27:47.500 world in harm's way . Uh And our forces 27:47.510 --> 27:50.130 are bravely serving to protect American 27:50.140 --> 27:53.099 citizens and in this case to help with 27:53.109 --> 27:55.630 Israel's self defense . Um While I 27:55.640 --> 27:57.839 understand your question again , this 27:57.849 --> 27:59.738 is an operational deployment very 27:59.738 --> 28:01.960 similar to what you're seeing , whether 28:01.960 --> 28:04.127 it be in the Red Sea or in the Eastern 28:04.127 --> 28:06.182 Mediterranean . This is a capability 28:06.182 --> 28:08.349 that is going to help augment Israel's 28:08.349 --> 28:11.010 air defenses . Um This is not meant to 28:11.020 --> 28:13.353 draw us into a larger regional conflict . 28:13.353 --> 28:15.464 It is a commitment that the president 28:15.464 --> 28:17.631 made that we will be there to stand in 28:17.631 --> 28:19.599 Israel's self defense . Although I 28:19.609 --> 28:21.720 would like to note that deployment in 28:21.720 --> 28:23.831 the Red Sea is an international water 28:23.831 --> 28:26.599 is not on sovereign land or within the 28:26.609 --> 28:28.665 territorial of another , but they're 28:28.665 --> 28:30.869 still in harm's way , but that's 28:30.880 --> 28:32.936 different from deploying to a nation 28:32.936 --> 28:35.047 that might be attacked because of its 28:35.047 --> 28:37.380 own actions , which is different . Well , 28:37.380 --> 28:39.819 I mean , to , to be , well , well , you 28:39.829 --> 28:41.773 don't want to get into it but just 28:41.773 --> 28:43.885 pulling it back . Uh , you're talking 28:43.885 --> 28:45.940 about a nation's owned actions . But 28:45.940 --> 28:45.770 let's remember what happened on October 28:45.780 --> 28:49.579 7th . Ok . We can remember the last 28:49.589 --> 28:51.922 75 years , but that's not my point . Um , 28:51.922 --> 28:54.150 another question . Did the , did the 28:54.160 --> 28:56.271 secretary in his last two phone calls 28:56.271 --> 28:58.630 with Mr Galant Express opposition to 28:58.640 --> 29:01.300 Israel's strikes inside Beirut capital 29:01.310 --> 29:04.819 of Lebanon . I without going beyond the 29:04.829 --> 29:07.109 readout , the secretary reiterated the 29:07.119 --> 29:10.910 need um to do more when it comes 29:10.920 --> 29:13.910 to protecting innocent civilians . Um 29:14.239 --> 29:16.517 I'll just leave it at that . Thank you . 29:16.517 --> 29:18.628 So , could you confirm if this is the 29:18.628 --> 29:21.619 first time the US sent 29:21.640 --> 29:24.900 troops to Israel since October 7th ? 29:25.530 --> 29:27.363 Well , we've had a , we've had a 29:27.363 --> 29:29.419 military presence in Israel before , 29:29.419 --> 29:31.270 before October 7th . Um We had 29:31.280 --> 29:33.502 personnel there after October 7th . You 29:33.502 --> 29:35.336 might remember with , you know , 29:35.336 --> 29:37.169 whether J lots or assisting with 29:37.169 --> 29:39.391 hostage rescue and recovery . So , no , 29:39.391 --> 29:41.224 not the first time that military 29:41.224 --> 29:43.447 personnel has been with in Israel since 29:43.447 --> 29:45.669 October 7th . Um If you're asking about 29:45.669 --> 29:48.510 the Thaad specifically , we deployed a 29:48.520 --> 29:51.400 THAD to the region post October 7th and 29:51.439 --> 29:54.439 a THAD was there um in 2019 for an 29:54.449 --> 29:56.949 exercise , I'll come back . I'm just 29:56.959 --> 29:59.459 gonna go to some of the , I mean , I 29:59.469 --> 30:01.920 guess you have had uh batteries in 30:01.930 --> 30:04.250 other countries in the region . Would 30:04.260 --> 30:06.800 you mind if you , what what countries 30:06.810 --> 30:10.310 hosts , I would mind revealing those . 30:10.319 --> 30:12.569 I'm not going to give a operational 30:12.579 --> 30:14.468 place mat of where all of our air 30:14.468 --> 30:16.523 defenses are . Um I don't think that 30:16.523 --> 30:18.801 really helps our ads . Well , actually , 30:18.801 --> 30:21.135 I think that would help our adversaries , 30:21.135 --> 30:23.301 but I think what you can be assured of 30:23.301 --> 30:25.412 is that um we're always going to have 30:25.412 --> 30:27.468 capabilities in the region needed to 30:27.468 --> 30:29.579 protect our forces , but I'm just not 30:29.579 --> 30:31.746 going to be able to give you that read 30:31.746 --> 30:33.912 out in Israel , not mentioning them in 30:33.912 --> 30:37.250 other countries . Um Because of what we 30:37.260 --> 30:41.219 are doing to defend Israel , um It made 30:41.229 --> 30:43.489 sense to announce us . Well , thank you 30:43.500 --> 30:46.170 very much Sabrina . Um Do you have a 30:46.180 --> 30:48.291 back and forth about the f system and 30:48.291 --> 30:50.660 how they are always all around the 30:50.670 --> 30:53.380 region in harm's way ? But this time we 30:53.390 --> 30:55.557 have troops all over the world serving 30:55.557 --> 30:57.501 all over the world in harm's way . 30:58.239 --> 30:59.961 Anything could happen . That's 30:59.961 --> 31:02.170 obviously , you know , granted , but 31:02.180 --> 31:04.402 Iran has already committed to attacking 31:04.402 --> 31:06.180 Israel again if they were to be 31:06.180 --> 31:08.489 attacked . So making us personnel 31:08.500 --> 31:12.175 basically a military shield for Israel 31:12.224 --> 31:15.055 against Iran , they could very well be 31:15.064 --> 31:18.055 hit by Iran . So have you taken that 31:18.064 --> 31:20.185 into consideration because that could 31:20.574 --> 31:22.685 the United States and Iran right into 31:22.685 --> 31:25.175 the middle of a war ? Well , let me be 31:25.185 --> 31:27.354 clear again , we don't seek a war with 31:27.364 --> 31:30.244 Iran and we don't want to see a wider 31:30.255 --> 31:32.824 regional conflict . But Iran proxy 31:32.834 --> 31:35.655 groups have attacked US forces , you 31:35.665 --> 31:38.074 know , since October 17th , whether it 31:38.084 --> 31:41.420 be , you know , at any of the bases in 31:41.430 --> 31:43.729 Iraq and Syria or with our forces 31:43.739 --> 31:46.569 operating in the Red Sea , um or in the 31:46.579 --> 31:50.150 Eastern Med . So , um again , this is a 31:50.160 --> 31:52.530 capability that is land based , but 31:52.540 --> 31:54.750 that serves a similar purpose to what 31:54.760 --> 31:57.349 our destroyers did on October 1st in 31:57.359 --> 31:59.470 the Eastern Mediterranean , which was 31:59.470 --> 32:02.175 to help augment Israel's air defenses . 32:03.074 --> 32:05.584 The US has always said to Iran don't 32:05.935 --> 32:09.295 and they have done some stuff . So is 32:09.305 --> 32:11.834 that the basic message again that we 32:11.844 --> 32:13.925 have us personnel now where you say 32:13.935 --> 32:15.824 you're going to attack ? So don't 32:15.824 --> 32:18.525 attack at all . Is that the message , 32:18.775 --> 32:20.886 the message is that the United States 32:20.895 --> 32:22.728 stands with Israel in their self 32:22.728 --> 32:24.728 defense ? And that message has been 32:24.728 --> 32:26.895 clear from the very beginning . I will 32:26.895 --> 32:28.951 uh Carla . Yeah , thanks a couple of 32:28.951 --> 32:28.939 clarifications . And then one third 32:28.949 --> 32:31.060 question . Uh So you said you're not 32:31.069 --> 32:33.180 going to discuss the letter , but you 32:33.180 --> 32:34.791 are , you are confirming the 32:34.791 --> 32:36.819 authenticity of the letter that has 32:36.829 --> 32:38.750 been circulating online , right ? 32:38.760 --> 32:40.871 There's no dispute on that , but I am 32:40.871 --> 32:43.038 not confirming the authenticity that's 32:43.038 --> 32:45.260 circulating . I am confirming that they 32:45.260 --> 32:45.079 co-signed a letter that was sent to 32:45.089 --> 32:47.200 their Israeli counterparts . Ok . And 32:47.200 --> 32:51.030 then um should Israel fail to 32:51.040 --> 32:53.096 demonstrate commitments such as like 32:53.096 --> 32:55.359 like you said to Anne um increasing the 32:55.369 --> 32:57.949 corridors , et cetera ? Is the US 32:57.959 --> 33:00.689 military debating right now ? Whether 33:00.699 --> 33:02.959 or not to withhold military support to 33:02.969 --> 33:04.969 Israel . Yeah , so I appreciate the 33:04.969 --> 33:08.729 question , Carla . Um Israel continues 33:08.739 --> 33:11.920 to receive support from the United 33:11.930 --> 33:14.097 States . Um whether it be through F MS 33:14.099 --> 33:16.266 sales or what you're seeing , you know 33:16.266 --> 33:18.155 that we're doing in Israel's self 33:18.155 --> 33:20.155 defense . I just don't have more to 33:20.155 --> 33:22.210 provide , they make the changes that 33:22.210 --> 33:24.321 you have called for . Yeah , I'm just 33:24.321 --> 33:26.488 not going to go into more details . Um 33:26.488 --> 33:28.599 you know , you announced the Thaad to 33:28.599 --> 33:30.710 Israel . Should there be another thad 33:30.710 --> 33:33.069 in Eastern Europe , Romania , Poland 33:33.079 --> 33:35.246 have been some of the places that have 33:35.246 --> 33:37.412 been mentioned in the past . Why would 33:37.412 --> 33:39.468 those THS not be used to help defend 33:39.599 --> 33:41.469 Eastern ? Um excuse me , Western 33:41.560 --> 33:45.119 Ukraine um from Russian uh attacks 33:45.130 --> 33:47.297 because if is , if you can send a Thad 33:47.297 --> 33:49.297 to Israel to help stop attacks from 33:49.297 --> 33:52.800 Iran , why would a Thad in Poland or 33:52.810 --> 33:55.032 Romania , for example , not be utilized 33:55.032 --> 33:57.143 to help defend civilians in Ukraine ? 33:57.349 --> 33:59.349 Ok . Um So different capabilities , 33:59.349 --> 34:01.869 different wars , different regions . Um 34:02.250 --> 34:05.660 The commitments also to Israel and 34:05.670 --> 34:09.419 Ukraine um are different . We have a 34:09.888 --> 34:12.718 and a lo a long standing partnership to 34:12.729 --> 34:14.789 come to Israel's self defense . Um 34:14.799 --> 34:17.099 You've seen the president commit that 34:17.108 --> 34:20.909 from October 7th and when Ukraine 34:20.919 --> 34:24.290 was attacked , um over two years ago , 34:24.639 --> 34:26.750 the , the president made a commitment 34:26.750 --> 34:28.972 to stand with Ukraine for as long as it 34:28.972 --> 34:31.083 takes . Um But again , you're talking 34:31.083 --> 34:33.028 about different capabilities being 34:33.028 --> 34:36.909 moved . Um And what's needed for , you 34:36.919 --> 34:39.510 know , should Iran attack again ? Was 34:39.520 --> 34:42.709 is a thad um for engagements from , you 34:42.719 --> 34:45.780 know , what Russia is doing in Ukraine , 34:45.949 --> 34:48.171 um different capabilities such as , you 34:48.171 --> 34:50.338 know , as , you know , I don't need to 34:50.338 --> 34:53.389 go through the long list , but um not 34:53.399 --> 34:55.455 to use this expression , but it is a 34:55.455 --> 34:57.677 little bit of apples and oranges here . 34:57.677 --> 34:59.843 Um So , you know , I , I don't want to 34:59.843 --> 35:01.899 go down the whole list of everything 35:01.899 --> 35:01.629 that , you know , we're providing 35:01.639 --> 35:03.472 Ukraine to everything that we're 35:03.472 --> 35:05.472 providing is Israel to Israel . But 35:05.472 --> 35:07.028 what I can tell you is this 35:07.028 --> 35:08.861 administration , this department 35:08.861 --> 35:10.695 continues to support both in the 35:10.695 --> 35:14.360 different needs that they need the , 35:14.729 --> 35:17.370 I need a little bit of clarification on 35:17.379 --> 35:19.323 the different capabilities because 35:19.323 --> 35:21.546 Russia has fired ballistic missiles . I 35:21.546 --> 35:23.435 believe they use them in Yavar in 35:23.435 --> 35:25.657 Western Ukraine um towards the start of 35:25.657 --> 35:27.879 the war when they were attacking um a , 35:27.879 --> 35:29.490 a base that had been used by 35:29.490 --> 35:31.657 international forces . So why couldn't 35:31.657 --> 35:33.780 a thad if it's already defending NATO 35:33.790 --> 35:35.870 territory also defend Western 35:35.879 --> 35:38.101 Ukrainians against ballistic missiles ? 35:38.101 --> 35:40.101 Should Russia decide to fire more ? 35:40.101 --> 35:42.157 Yeah , Carl , I think I , I answered 35:42.157 --> 35:44.212 that question constitute thanks . Um 35:44.212 --> 35:45.823 Just uh continuing the third 35:45.823 --> 35:48.290 conversation . Um Can you say where 35:48.300 --> 35:50.522 this unit is coming from ? Are you guys 35:50.522 --> 35:52.744 deploying it from the US or it's coming 35:52.744 --> 35:54.911 from the United States coming from the 35:54.911 --> 35:56.967 United States ? Ok . Are you any any 35:56.967 --> 35:58.967 more specifics than that ? Not more 35:58.967 --> 36:01.133 specifics than that ? Fair enough ? Um 36:01.133 --> 36:03.467 And then more just more broadly I guess , 36:03.467 --> 36:05.633 you know , following up on some of the 36:05.633 --> 36:07.856 conversation that we've been having and 36:07.856 --> 36:07.510 some of the questions my colleagues 36:07.520 --> 36:09.620 have asked , you know , when we look 36:09.629 --> 36:11.796 back to , for example , J lots there , 36:11.796 --> 36:14.600 this building had a very strong 36:14.610 --> 36:16.666 reticence and went out of its way to 36:16.666 --> 36:18.888 point out no boots on the ground to the 36:18.888 --> 36:20.899 point that maritime experts said it 36:20.909 --> 36:22.853 hampered the operation , it really 36:22.853 --> 36:25.290 limited and you guys had to pull it out 36:25.300 --> 36:27.810 because personnel couldn't step foot 36:27.820 --> 36:30.770 onto Gaza . But it seems now we're 36:30.780 --> 36:32.780 incredibly willing to put troops in 36:32.780 --> 36:36.290 harm's way square the circle . I mean , 36:36.300 --> 36:39.250 what Israel is different than Gaza . 36:39.540 --> 36:41.530 And before October 7th , we had 36:41.780 --> 36:45.449 military personnel uh within Israel . 36:45.620 --> 36:48.149 Um and we have Contin , you know , 36:48.159 --> 36:50.326 we've , that's been a relationship and 36:50.326 --> 36:53.370 partnership that goes , you know , far , 36:53.379 --> 36:56.929 you know , far back um in Gaza , the , 36:56.939 --> 36:59.106 the president committed to not putting 36:59.106 --> 37:01.217 troops on the ground there , which is 37:01.217 --> 37:03.328 why you saw what we did with J Lots . 37:03.328 --> 37:06.239 Um We continue to support and stand by 37:06.250 --> 37:09.159 Israel in their self defense . Um I 37:09.169 --> 37:11.336 know there's a lot of parsing here but 37:11.336 --> 37:13.899 the thaad capability while it is going 37:13.909 --> 37:16.419 to Israel , it is temporary . It is , 37:16.429 --> 37:18.610 you know , temporary provision of air 37:18.620 --> 37:20.676 capabilities that they need . Should 37:20.676 --> 37:22.842 they face another attack like they did 37:22.842 --> 37:26.169 on October 1st ? Um But that doesn't 37:26.179 --> 37:28.290 minimize , you know , again what we , 37:28.290 --> 37:30.457 what we did in Gaza , we're incredibly 37:30.457 --> 37:33.129 proud of all the humanitarian um you 37:33.139 --> 37:35.139 know , whether it be food , water , 37:35.139 --> 37:37.250 medical supplies that we were able to 37:37.250 --> 37:39.195 get in during that time , but more 37:39.195 --> 37:41.417 needs to be done and there needs and it 37:41.417 --> 37:43.583 needs to be done quickly . And that is 37:43.583 --> 37:45.750 something that the secretary continues 37:45.750 --> 37:47.861 to impress upon in all of his calls . 37:47.861 --> 37:49.972 Um Yeah , in the back , I'm Lana Lens 37:49.972 --> 37:52.520 with the she um shifting over to the 37:52.530 --> 37:54.959 Indo Pacific on Monday , China 37:54.969 --> 37:57.959 conducted drills surrounding Taiwan 37:57.969 --> 38:00.949 which alerted and alarm the Taiwanese 38:00.959 --> 38:03.181 government . Uh the Pentagon released a 38:03.181 --> 38:05.959 statement condemning these acts . Uh 38:05.969 --> 38:08.729 That being said , my question is , is 38:08.739 --> 38:10.760 there any plans to change us force 38:10.770 --> 38:13.110 posture in the region or to conduct 38:13.120 --> 38:15.469 additional operations and reaction to 38:15.479 --> 38:17.750 China's drills ? Uh Thanks for the 38:17.760 --> 38:19.790 question . So no uh forced posture 38:19.800 --> 38:22.750 changes to make uh today . Um It's 38:22.760 --> 38:25.350 something you know , in , in reference 38:25.360 --> 38:27.389 to , to what you mentioned , it's 38:27.399 --> 38:30.570 something that we monitored . Um And 38:30.580 --> 38:32.580 you know , as the White House noted 38:32.580 --> 38:34.358 last week , it is long standing 38:34.358 --> 38:36.358 tradition for Taiwan's President to 38:36.358 --> 38:38.879 deliver remarks on October 10th . Um 38:39.689 --> 38:41.911 You know , again , we remain focused on 38:41.911 --> 38:43.911 the Indo Pacific , but I just don't 38:43.911 --> 38:45.967 have any force posture changes to to 38:45.967 --> 38:48.300 announce today . I will take a few more . 38:48.300 --> 38:47.810 I know there are some follow up . So 38:47.820 --> 38:49.876 one here and then I'll come and come 38:49.876 --> 38:51.931 back here . Yeah , there's been some 38:51.931 --> 38:54.250 new reporting around the 2023 drone 38:54.260 --> 38:56.629 incursion over Langley Air Force Base . 38:57.040 --> 38:59.096 Um Does the dod have an idea of what 38:59.096 --> 39:02.989 objects it might have been . Um 39:03.000 --> 39:05.167 Thanks so much for the question . So , 39:05.167 --> 39:07.790 um specifically Langley Air Force Base 39:07.800 --> 39:10.429 did experience incursions of 39:10.439 --> 39:12.495 unauthorized unmanned aerial systems 39:12.495 --> 39:16.149 last year in December 2023 . Um The 39:16.159 --> 39:19.110 number of those UAs incursions did 39:19.120 --> 39:22.689 fluctuate on any given day . Um But 39:22.699 --> 39:24.899 they didn't appear to exhibit any 39:24.909 --> 39:27.179 hostile intent . Um It's something that 39:27.189 --> 39:29.356 we , you know , have kept our eye on , 39:29.356 --> 39:31.578 but I'm just don't have more to provide 39:31.578 --> 39:33.739 on that . Jen wanted to follow up . 39:33.820 --> 39:35.987 Yeah , of course . So why couldn't the 39:35.987 --> 39:38.153 Air Force shoot down these drones ? Um 39:38.153 --> 39:40.209 if they were coming towards the base 39:40.209 --> 39:41.820 over the base , if they were 39:41.820 --> 39:44.153 surveilling , which it proved that when , 39:44.153 --> 39:46.320 when one went down on January 5th , it 39:46.330 --> 39:49.020 was found to have a video surveilling 39:49.030 --> 39:51.629 um a sensitive base . Why couldn't they 39:51.639 --> 39:53.639 shoot them down ? The Air Force can 39:53.639 --> 39:55.861 shoot down Cessnas if they get close to 39:55.861 --> 39:57.528 um sensitive fa facilities in 39:57.528 --> 39:59.250 Washington , New York . So the 39:59.250 --> 40:01.306 commander um or any commander of any 40:01.306 --> 40:03.306 base has the authority necessary to 40:03.306 --> 40:05.472 protect forces to protect facilities , 40:05.472 --> 40:07.709 infrastructure and capability there . 40:07.719 --> 40:09.941 So I'm not aware that they did not have 40:09.941 --> 40:11.997 any authority to shoot it down or to 40:11.997 --> 40:14.052 shoot anything down . I do know that 40:14.052 --> 40:16.108 with all of these incursions , given 40:16.108 --> 40:18.108 that it's , you know , on us soil , 40:18.108 --> 40:20.350 there is um another level of co 40:20.360 --> 40:22.582 ordination with within the inter agency 40:22.582 --> 40:24.527 that needs to take place . But the 40:24.527 --> 40:26.527 commander absolutely had his or her 40:26.527 --> 40:28.693 authorities to engage any systems that 40:28.693 --> 40:30.693 are a threat to the base . Wouldn't 40:30.693 --> 40:32.860 surveillance or intelligence gathering 40:32.860 --> 40:35.389 be a threat to the base . Yeah . Again , 40:35.399 --> 40:37.732 Jen , this is something that , you know , 40:37.732 --> 40:39.955 I know the department continues to , to 40:39.955 --> 40:41.732 analyze . Um , I don't have any 40:41.879 --> 40:44.340 information or I can't confirm some 40:44.350 --> 40:46.760 what you're , what you're saying . All 40:46.770 --> 40:48.992 I can tell you is that , you know , the 40:48.992 --> 40:51.260 Air Force Base did experience , um a 40:51.270 --> 40:53.709 number of incursions and that , you 40:53.719 --> 40:55.830 know , we , we have been looking into 40:55.830 --> 40:58.052 it . Um And if I have more to share , I 40:58.052 --> 41:00.163 certainly will , you know , I don't , 41:00.550 --> 41:03.550 Tara and then um Tara one in the back 41:03.560 --> 41:05.830 and then Charlie um back to the letter 41:05.840 --> 41:07.909 understanding it's a private letter 41:07.919 --> 41:09.975 that was not intended to be released 41:09.975 --> 41:12.510 publicly . Did the secretary coordinate 41:12.520 --> 41:14.520 this letter with the White House or 41:14.520 --> 41:17.750 notify the president or NSC that they 41:17.760 --> 41:19.704 were sending this to their Israeli 41:19.704 --> 41:22.110 counterparts . Yeah . So without going 41:22.120 --> 41:25.340 into the Interagency Court on a private 41:25.350 --> 41:27.461 correspondence , I think it's fair to 41:27.461 --> 41:29.461 say that there was an effort by the 41:29.461 --> 41:31.517 inner agency here . You can see that 41:31.517 --> 41:33.294 with one of the cosigners being 41:33.294 --> 41:35.461 secretary Blinken , but I'm just gonna 41:35.461 --> 41:37.517 leave it at that , but the president 41:37.517 --> 41:40.129 was not supportive of this letter going 41:40.139 --> 41:42.472 out . You'd have to ask the White House . 41:42.472 --> 41:44.639 I'm not gonna get into more details on 41:44.639 --> 41:44.060 that . Yeah , in the back and then I'll 41:44.070 --> 41:46.300 go to Charlie . Thanks , heads of 41:46.310 --> 41:48.500 German . Intelligence have reported an 41:48.510 --> 41:50.677 increase Russian backed sabotage . And 41:50.677 --> 41:52.510 this information , there was one 41:52.510 --> 41:54.621 particular incident that was reported 41:54.621 --> 41:56.788 last week involving a package catching 41:56.788 --> 41:58.843 fire for loading , being loaded on a 41:58.843 --> 42:01.010 cargo plane . And there have also been 42:01.010 --> 42:03.177 reports of drones flying over critical 42:03.177 --> 42:05.232 infrastructure . Is the dod aware of 42:05.232 --> 42:07.399 this . Is there some sort of increased 42:07.399 --> 42:09.232 cooper operation with the German 42:09.232 --> 42:11.232 authorities regarding this ? Um and 42:11.232 --> 42:13.066 other drones that were mentioned 42:13.066 --> 42:15.177 reportedly flying over military bases 42:15.177 --> 42:17.649 here being investigated um in that 42:17.659 --> 42:19.826 context and as a follow up , what gave 42:19.826 --> 42:21.659 the impression that there was no 42:21.659 --> 42:24.500 hostile um That's in terms of the no 42:24.510 --> 42:26.510 hostile intent . That's our initial 42:26.510 --> 42:28.677 assessment . Um As I mentioned to , to 42:28.677 --> 42:30.954 Jen who asked about this , um you know , 42:31.520 --> 42:33.576 while I don't have more to provide , 42:33.576 --> 42:35.798 it's something that we're continuing to 42:35.798 --> 42:37.964 do an assessment on um in terms of the 42:37.964 --> 42:40.020 reports that you're citing , I don't 42:40.020 --> 42:42.131 have anything to add to that . Um But 42:42.131 --> 42:44.419 what I can tell you is , um you know , 42:45.040 --> 42:46.762 we always work with our German 42:46.762 --> 42:48.929 counterparts and as you know , we have 42:49.709 --> 42:52.860 forces that engage um with our German 42:52.870 --> 42:54.759 counterparts at different times , 42:54.759 --> 42:56.592 whether it be in exercises or in 42:56.592 --> 42:58.370 diplomatic channels or military 42:58.370 --> 43:00.537 channels and um something that we keep 43:00.537 --> 43:02.703 an open line of communication on , but 43:02.703 --> 43:02.570 I just don't have anything to add on on 43:02.580 --> 43:04.413 those reports that you mentioned 43:04.413 --> 43:06.629 Charlie to close this out . You 43:06.679 --> 43:08.623 mentioned the destroyers that were 43:08.623 --> 43:10.457 involved in the last large scale 43:10.457 --> 43:12.512 Iranian attack . Do we ever get hard 43:12.512 --> 43:14.290 numbers for how many successful 43:14.290 --> 43:16.346 intercepts they got ? They shot down 43:16.346 --> 43:18.346 multiple ballistic missiles . But I 43:18.346 --> 43:20.568 don't have the hard numbers . I will be 43:20.568 --> 43:22.401 honest with you that if there is 43:22.401 --> 43:24.401 another attack , I just don't think 43:24.401 --> 43:26.457 we're going to broadcast how many we 43:26.457 --> 43:28.623 were able to shoot down successfully . 43:28.623 --> 43:28.310 But I can tell you it was multiple . 43:28.750 --> 43:31.030 There is a need that either the United 43:31.040 --> 43:34.629 States or Israel are both assessed that 43:34.639 --> 43:36.989 this is a significant step forward . 43:37.000 --> 43:39.000 You are symbolically and physically 43:39.000 --> 43:41.189 putting us forces on Israeli soil , 43:41.199 --> 43:43.366 which is different than being at sea . 43:43.679 --> 43:46.012 So that need must have been so pressing . 43:46.012 --> 43:47.957 Was it because the attack was more 43:47.957 --> 43:50.068 successful with , did they get to the 43:50.068 --> 43:52.235 military bases ? Are the Israelis that 43:52.235 --> 43:54.290 concerned about a large scale attack 43:54.290 --> 43:57.989 from Iran to put us forces on Israeli 43:58.000 --> 44:00.850 soil ? The attack was almost twice as 44:00.860 --> 44:03.209 large as the , as the attack that we 44:03.219 --> 44:05.441 saw on April 13th in terms of ballistic 44:05.441 --> 44:07.552 missiles that were used . So , are we 44:07.552 --> 44:09.608 concerned ? Yeah , of course , we're 44:09.608 --> 44:13.129 concerned we don't know what a response 44:13.139 --> 44:15.250 could look like , but we're not gonna 44:15.250 --> 44:17.472 also wait and find out . Um We're gonna 44:17.472 --> 44:19.879 do things that we need to protect um 44:20.000 --> 44:22.610 whether it be us forces or um what 44:22.620 --> 44:24.787 you've seen us do before , we've , you 44:24.787 --> 44:26.620 know , uh taken force protection 44:26.620 --> 44:28.820 protection measures at our bases . Uh 44:28.830 --> 44:31.469 You know , move DDGS closer to the uh 44:31.479 --> 44:33.368 in the eastern Med to help defend 44:33.368 --> 44:36.350 Israel . Um I completely acknowledge 44:36.360 --> 44:38.527 that this is different and that you're 44:38.527 --> 44:40.693 putting , um , you know , a capability 44:40.693 --> 44:43.969 with people on land , but it is also a , 44:43.979 --> 44:46.679 a capability that is similar to what is 44:46.689 --> 44:49.280 on those ddgs and it helps augment 44:49.875 --> 44:52.235 Israel's air defenses . So we don't 44:52.245 --> 44:55.514 know what a potential possible response 44:55.524 --> 44:57.625 would look like from Iran , but what 44:57.635 --> 45:00.274 this does is it helps bolster the air 45:00.284 --> 45:02.506 defenses . Should there be a response ? 45:02.506 --> 45:04.728 Um , it's one additional system to help 45:04.728 --> 45:06.562 engage . Ok . All right . Thanks 45:06.562 --> 45:06.735 everyone .