WEBVTT 00:11.340 --> 00:14.060 Well , good morning . Unlike the 00:14.489 --> 00:16.600 endless wars of the past that dragged 00:16.600 --> 00:18.729 on for years and for decades with 00:18.729 --> 00:21.049 little to show for it , Operation Epic 00:21.049 --> 00:24.129 Fury has delivered a decisive military 00:24.129 --> 00:27.399 result in just weeks . Korea , Vietnam , 00:27.559 --> 00:29.670 Iraq , Afghanistan , as the president 00:29.670 --> 00:32.659 has pointed out , all took years , 00:33.279 --> 00:35.650 decades , vague missions , shifting 00:35.650 --> 00:38.319 sands , little to show for it . 00:39.119 --> 00:41.159 Operation Epic Fury has been laser 00:41.159 --> 00:43.500 focused from the very start , as I've 00:43.759 --> 00:45.759 said to all of you . Clear mission 00:45.759 --> 00:48.259 objectives and ultimately Iran will not 00:48.439 --> 00:52.250 have a nuclear weapon . It's a bold and 00:52.250 --> 00:55.349 dangerous mission , a gift to the world , 00:55.970 --> 00:59.430 historic , courtesy of a bold 00:59.569 --> 01:03.409 and historic president . That mission 01:03.409 --> 01:05.809 continues today in this new phase as 01:05.809 --> 01:08.269 Iran has an important choice , a chance 01:08.889 --> 01:12.629 to make a deal . A good deal A wise 01:12.629 --> 01:15.220 deal . As part of that effort , the 01:15.220 --> 01:17.500 United States has imposed an ironclad 01:17.500 --> 01:21.059 blockade that grows more powerful by 01:21.059 --> 01:23.540 the day . From the Gulf of Oman to the 01:23.540 --> 01:26.540 open oceans , our Navy is enforcing 01:26.540 --> 01:29.620 this blockade without hesitation or 01:29.620 --> 01:32.300 apology . Now , as usual , there's a 01:32.300 --> 01:34.356 lot of false information out there . 01:34.660 --> 01:37.059 I'll say this every ship , every ship 01:37.059 --> 01:39.779 that the US believes meets our criteria . 01:40.279 --> 01:43.599 Either Iranian ships or to and from 01:43.599 --> 01:46.870 Iranian ports has been turned around . 01:47.160 --> 01:49.580 As of this morning , 34 total . 01:50.239 --> 01:52.800 Non-Iranian vessels are allowed to 01:52.800 --> 01:55.790 transit . And many have , including 01:56.290 --> 01:59.800 overnight . Not only is the blockade 01:59.800 --> 02:02.620 growing . In fact , a 2nd aircraft 02:02.620 --> 02:05.010 carrier will join the blockade in just 02:05.010 --> 02:07.779 a few days , but this growing blockade 02:07.779 --> 02:11.369 is also gone global . Just this 02:11.369 --> 02:13.929 week , we seized two Iranian Dark Fleet 02:13.929 --> 02:16.718 ships in the Indo-Pacific region that 02:16.718 --> 02:19.488 had left Iranian ports before the 02:19.488 --> 02:21.608 blockade went into effect . They 02:21.608 --> 02:23.941 thought they'd made it out just in time . 02:24.009 --> 02:26.309 They did not . We seized their 02:26.309 --> 02:29.509 sanctioned ships , and we will seize 02:29.509 --> 02:32.910 more . Our blockade is growing 02:33.149 --> 02:36.899 and going global . America's military 02:36.899 --> 02:39.610 is unmatched , projecting power , 02:39.740 --> 02:42.179 denying passage to adversaries , and 02:42.179 --> 02:44.401 protecting our interest at the time and 02:44.401 --> 02:46.580 place of our choosing . No one sails 02:46.580 --> 02:48.691 from the Strait of Hormuz to anywhere 02:48.691 --> 02:50.858 in the world without the permission of 02:50.858 --> 02:53.024 the United States Navy . To the regime 02:53.024 --> 02:55.419 in Tehran , the blockade is tightening 02:55.419 --> 02:58.190 by the hour . We are in control , 02:58.529 --> 03:02.369 nothing in , nothing out . Iran's 03:02.369 --> 03:04.690 battered military , the IRGC 03:04.690 --> 03:06.759 specifically , has been reduced to a 03:06.759 --> 03:10.729 gang of pirates with a flag . They 03:10.729 --> 03:12.951 cloak their aggression in slogans , but 03:12.951 --> 03:15.062 the world now sees them for what they 03:15.062 --> 03:18.029 are criminals on the high seas . Uh , 03:18.110 --> 03:20.630 they don't control anything . They're 03:20.630 --> 03:22.990 acting like pirates , acting like 03:22.990 --> 03:25.820 terrorists . They're the ones who lay 03:25.820 --> 03:28.759 indiscriminate mines , who shoot at 03:29.080 --> 03:31.580 random ships , who killed 03:31.580 --> 03:34.559 45,000 of their own people , 03:35.059 --> 03:37.139 innocent protesters in the course of 03:37.139 --> 03:40.869 weeks , their own people . They are the 03:40.869 --> 03:43.490 bad actors . The vessels that the 03:43.490 --> 03:45.434 Iranians seized in recent days , a 03:45.434 --> 03:47.546 couple of them , they're not American 03:47.546 --> 03:49.889 ships . They're not Israeli ships , 03:50.309 --> 03:53.509 they're just random ships . That drove , 03:53.970 --> 03:55.637 where they drove their little 03:55.637 --> 03:57.581 speedboats up to and shot at those 03:57.581 --> 03:59.748 ships with AK-4ty-sevens . Anyone with 03:59.748 --> 04:01.748 a speedboat , a gun , and the wrong 04:01.748 --> 04:05.539 intentions can do that . They know 04:05.539 --> 04:07.970 that we , the United States of America , 04:08.259 --> 04:10.370 control the flow of global shipping , 04:10.370 --> 04:13.309 and we know that they know . Their real 04:13.309 --> 04:15.369 navy is at the bottom of the Arabian 04:15.369 --> 04:18.410 Gulf . It's worth saying again 04:19.369 --> 04:22.070 For 47 years , Iran has been at war 04:22.070 --> 04:24.959 with America . Killing our citizens , 04:25.119 --> 04:27.230 our soldiers , and our allies , while 04:27.230 --> 04:29.549 previous administrations looked the 04:29.549 --> 04:33.339 other way . The real endless war is the 04:33.339 --> 04:36.559 war that Iran has waged on us for 47 04:36.559 --> 04:38.890 years . President Trump is the only 04:38.890 --> 04:40.940 president with the guts and moral 04:40.940 --> 04:43.051 clarity to finally do something about 04:43.051 --> 04:46.299 it . I see it every day behind closed 04:46.299 --> 04:48.579 doors . President Trump's fortitude is 04:48.579 --> 04:51.070 unshakable , and his mission is crystal 04:51.070 --> 04:53.970 clear . President Trump said it again 04:53.970 --> 04:57.489 yesterday . We have all the time in the 04:57.489 --> 05:00.640 world . And we're not anxious for a 05:00.640 --> 05:03.579 deal . And I hear him say it every day 05:04.000 --> 05:06.750 in private as well . Iran knows that 05:06.750 --> 05:08.639 they still have an open window to 05:08.639 --> 05:10.861 choose wisely , as we said previously , 05:10.861 --> 05:13.290 choose wisely at the negotiating table . 05:13.829 --> 05:15.662 All they have to do is abandon a 05:15.662 --> 05:17.718 nuclear weapon in mean in meaningful 05:17.718 --> 05:19.829 and verifiable ways , or instead they 05:19.829 --> 05:22.051 can watch the regime's fragile economic 05:22.051 --> 05:23.773 state collapse under the under 05:23.773 --> 05:26.051 unrelenting pressure of American power , 05:26.051 --> 05:28.859 a blockade as long as it takes , 05:29.109 --> 05:32.309 whatever President Trump decides . 05:33.179 --> 05:35.790 Because the bottom line remains the 05:35.790 --> 05:37.790 bottom line . Iran will never get a 05:37.790 --> 05:40.010 nuclear bomb . The choice is theirs , 05:40.470 --> 05:43.070 but with this blockade , the clock is 05:43.070 --> 05:45.829 not on their side . Moreover , 05:47.040 --> 05:48.984 President Trump has authorized the 05:48.984 --> 05:50.873 United States Navy to destroy any 05:50.873 --> 05:53.040 Iranian fast boats that attempt to put 05:53.040 --> 05:55.579 mines in the water . Or disrupt passage 05:55.579 --> 05:57.690 through the Strait of Hormuz to shoot 05:57.690 --> 06:00.109 and kill . Our commanders have clear 06:00.109 --> 06:01.950 rules of engagement . If Iran is 06:01.950 --> 06:04.390 putting mines in the water or otherwise 06:04.390 --> 06:06.168 threatening American commercial 06:06.168 --> 06:08.279 shipping or American forces , we will 06:08.279 --> 06:11.179 shoot to destroy , no hesitation , just 06:11.179 --> 06:13.429 like the drug boats in the Caribbean . 06:14.679 --> 06:18.079 It's also worth saying . This should 06:18.079 --> 06:21.070 not be America's fight alone . We 06:21.070 --> 06:23.149 barely use the Strait of Hormuz as a 06:23.149 --> 06:25.519 country . Our energy doesn't flow 06:25.519 --> 06:29.429 through there . And we have plenty of 06:29.429 --> 06:31.485 energy . Just look at the new global 06:31.485 --> 06:34.470 Congo line . Headed to Texas , a 06:34.470 --> 06:37.869 beautiful picture . Europe and Asia 06:37.869 --> 06:40.390 have benefited from our protection for 06:40.390 --> 06:43.329 decades , but the time for free riding 06:43.630 --> 06:46.660 is over . America and the free world 06:46.660 --> 06:48.779 deserve allies who are capable , who 06:48.779 --> 06:51.579 are loyal , and who understand that 06:51.579 --> 06:54.140 being an ally is not a one-way street . 06:54.760 --> 06:57.500 It's a two-way street . We are not 06:57.500 --> 07:00.450 counting on Europe . But they need the 07:00.450 --> 07:02.672 Strait of Hormuz much more than we do . 07:03.630 --> 07:05.630 And might want to start doing less 07:05.630 --> 07:07.470 talking and having less fancy 07:07.470 --> 07:10.359 conferences in Europe and get in a boat . 07:11.420 --> 07:14.000 This is much more their fight than ours . 07:15.529 --> 07:17.640 On this core mission , America's will 07:17.640 --> 07:19.473 is unshakable , our capabilities 07:19.473 --> 07:21.700 unmatched . Our blockade is only 07:21.700 --> 07:24.399 growing and going global . And as the 07:24.399 --> 07:27.589 president said , We have all the time 07:27.589 --> 07:31.519 in the world . Iran has a historic 07:31.519 --> 07:35.470 chance . To make a serious deal . And 07:35.470 --> 07:39.429 the ball is in their court . Either way , 07:40.149 --> 07:42.190 The War Department stands ready for 07:42.190 --> 07:45.269 what comes next , locked and loaded . 07:46.160 --> 07:48.160 May God continue to bless bless our 07:48.160 --> 07:51.760 warriors each and every day , and on 07:51.760 --> 07:55.170 each and every mission . Mr . Chairman , 07:55.190 --> 07:56.912 over to you . Thank you , Mr . 07:56.912 --> 07:59.246 Secretary , and good morning , everyone . 07:59.246 --> 08:01.412 Thanks for being here . Today marks 55 08:01.412 --> 08:03.579 days since the President of the United 08:03.579 --> 08:05.746 States ordered major combat operations 08:05.746 --> 08:07.968 against Iran . Today and this morning , 08:07.968 --> 08:10.023 the joint force remains postured and 08:10.023 --> 08:12.023 prepared to recommence major combat 08:12.023 --> 08:13.746 operations on the order of the 08:13.746 --> 08:15.468 president . On April 8th , the 08:15.468 --> 08:17.579 president announced a ceasefire , and 08:17.579 --> 08:19.746 last week at the president's direction 08:19.746 --> 08:19.739 and on order , the Secretary of US 08:19.739 --> 08:22.660 CENTCOM began enforcing a blockade 08:22.660 --> 08:24.716 against all commercial vessels going 08:24.716 --> 08:27.799 into and out of Iran and their ports . 08:28.380 --> 08:30.820 Simultaneously , the US military , in 08:30.820 --> 08:33.153 support of the US Department of Justice , 08:33.153 --> 08:35.059 was ordered to conduct maritime 08:35.059 --> 08:36.979 interdiction operations against 08:36.979 --> 08:39.460 sanctioned and Dark fleet vessels 08:39.460 --> 08:43.030 globally . This operation also began on 08:43.039 --> 08:45.039 April 8th , and what I'd like to do 08:45.039 --> 08:47.095 this morning is update all of you on 08:47.095 --> 08:49.261 those actions and activities . First , 08:49.261 --> 08:51.261 as I mentioned , US Central Command 08:51.261 --> 08:53.483 continues to maintain a strict blockade 08:53.483 --> 08:55.650 on all the ports . We're enforcing the 08:55.650 --> 08:57.761 blockade across the board against any 08:57.761 --> 08:59.770 ship of any nationality that is 08:59.770 --> 09:03.159 transiting to or from an Iranian port 09:03.159 --> 09:06.590 or territory . We're closely tracking 09:06.590 --> 09:08.950 vessels of interest headed towards Iran 09:08.950 --> 09:11.950 and those moving away from Iran that 09:11.950 --> 09:14.789 were outside the blockade area when 09:14.789 --> 09:17.750 this blockade was ordered and as 09:17.750 --> 09:20.710 everyone saw this past weekend we're 09:20.710 --> 09:23.043 prepared and postured to intercept them . 09:23.330 --> 09:27.059 As of this morning , uh , 34 ships have 09:27.059 --> 09:29.940 met the US blockade and made the wise 09:29.940 --> 09:33.000 choice to turn around . One ship did 09:33.000 --> 09:34.889 not , and that ship was the motor 09:34.889 --> 09:38.780 vessel Tusca . Over several hours this 09:38.780 --> 09:41.900 past Sunday , April 19th , the US 09:41.900 --> 09:44.229 conducted maritime interdiction 09:44.229 --> 09:46.285 operations against the Tusca , whose 09:46.285 --> 09:48.700 crew attempted to breach the blockade 09:48.700 --> 09:51.929 line . The Tusca is a large container 09:51.929 --> 09:55.809 ship about 965 ft long or 09:55.809 --> 09:58.330 about the same size as a United States 09:58.330 --> 10:01.330 Navy aircraft carrier and over 100 ft 10:01.330 --> 10:04.809 wide . The operation began about 4 10:04.809 --> 10:07.489 a.m. Eastern Standard Time when the 10:07.489 --> 10:09.849 United States Navy destroyer approached 10:09.849 --> 10:13.049 her . Uh , and the crew and the vessel , 10:13.229 --> 10:16.349 uh , ignored warnings , and I've 10:16.349 --> 10:18.830 described how the destroyer force is 10:18.830 --> 10:21.630 operating in the , uh , in the area 10:21.630 --> 10:24.909 prior . Upon intercept and coming 10:24.909 --> 10:27.349 within visual range , American forces 10:27.349 --> 10:30.789 began to issue several clear and 10:30.789 --> 10:33.429 unambiguous warnings and informed the 10:33.429 --> 10:35.651 vessel and their crew that they were in 10:35.651 --> 10:38.739 a violation of the US blockade and 10:38.739 --> 10:41.919 directed the ship to turn around . Over 10:41.919 --> 10:44.919 a 6 hour period , the vessel and her 10:44.919 --> 10:48.200 crew repeatedly ignored US warnings , 10:48.559 --> 10:51.270 and then the US Navy destroyer executed 10:51.270 --> 10:54.039 a series of preplanned , carefully 10:54.039 --> 10:56.659 calibrated escalation options , 10:57.119 --> 11:00.469 including firing 5 warning shots . The 11:00.469 --> 11:03.400 vessel and her crew continued to ignore 11:03.400 --> 11:06.380 warnings . And after exhausting all 11:06.380 --> 11:09.099 other measures , Centcom authorized 11:09.099 --> 11:12.340 disabling fire against the Tusca . US 11:12.340 --> 11:14.770 sailors warned the crew of the Tusca to 11:14.770 --> 11:16.900 abandon the engine room . And at 11:16.900 --> 11:20.260 approximately 9 a.m. Eastern time , the 11:20.260 --> 11:22.900 destroyer disabled the Tusca's engine 11:22.900 --> 11:26.380 by firing nine inert rounds from the 11:26.380 --> 11:29.760 destroyer's Mark 45 5-inch guns 11:30.039 --> 11:33.299 precisely into the engine room and 11:33.299 --> 11:36.020 engine space on board the Tusca . Not 11:36.020 --> 11:38.700 surprisingly , the vessel then reported 11:38.700 --> 11:40.922 issues with their engine , went dead in 11:40.922 --> 11:43.659 the water , and began to comply with US 11:43.659 --> 11:47.020 directions and orders . At 4 p.m. 11:47.020 --> 11:50.010 Eastern Standard Time , CEO ordered 11:50.010 --> 11:52.940 United States Marines to seize the ship 11:53.239 --> 11:56.169 via helicopters . US Marines maneuvered 11:56.169 --> 11:58.770 quickly to the disabled ship , boarded 11:58.770 --> 12:01.169 her from fast ropes via helicopter 12:01.169 --> 12:03.849 infiltration methods , and took custody 12:03.849 --> 12:06.590 of the ship . The ship and her crew 12:06.890 --> 12:10.530 remain safe in US custody today . Let 12:10.530 --> 12:12.752 me now turn to global operations in the 12:12.752 --> 12:14.919 Pacific , and I want to highlight that 12:14.919 --> 12:17.789 this is a major interagency effort 12:18.169 --> 12:20.225 between the United States military , 12:20.225 --> 12:22.225 the White House , the Department of 12:22.225 --> 12:24.391 Homeland Security , and the Department 12:24.391 --> 12:26.690 of Justice . On Monday , April 20th , 12:27.169 --> 12:30.289 US IndoPaycom forces in support of a 12:30.289 --> 12:32.109 Department of Justice request 12:32.489 --> 12:34.880 interdicted the motor tanker Tiffany , 12:35.130 --> 12:37.349 which was transporting sanctioned 12:37.530 --> 12:41.270 Iranian oil . The Tiffany is a very 12:41.270 --> 12:44.570 large crude tanker , VLCC for short , 12:44.780 --> 12:48.030 and is also about the size of a US 12:48.030 --> 12:50.429 aircraft carrier and capable of 12:50.429 --> 12:52.809 transporting approximately 2 million 12:53.349 --> 12:56.729 barrels of oil . At approximately 11:30 12:56.950 --> 12:59.950 p.m. Eastern Time , US military forces 12:59.950 --> 13:03.150 and law enforcement forces also went to 13:03.150 --> 13:05.460 the ship via rotary wing platforms , 13:05.830 --> 13:08.390 fast roped onto her deck , and secured 13:08.390 --> 13:11.390 her . After the ship was secured , a US 13:11.390 --> 13:14.169 Navy control team embarked aboard the 13:14.169 --> 13:16.159 Tiffany , Tiffany or Tiffany , and 13:16.159 --> 13:18.539 assumed control of the ship at 4 a.m. 13:18.940 --> 13:22.409 Eastern Time on April 21st . A 13:22.409 --> 13:24.770 Navy control team is comprised of 13:24.770 --> 13:27.630 sailors led by a boarding officer that 13:27.630 --> 13:30.210 assumes control of a sea ship in order 13:30.210 --> 13:32.890 to secure the crew , the cargo , and 13:32.890 --> 13:35.330 the vessel , and disposition of that 13:35.330 --> 13:38.469 first vessel is still pending . The 13:38.469 --> 13:40.802 next interdiction occurred on Wednesday , 13:40.849 --> 13:43.530 this past Wednesday , 22 April , when 13:43.530 --> 13:45.729 Indoecom conducted yet another 13:45.729 --> 13:48.570 interdiction again at the request of 13:48.570 --> 13:51.210 the US Department of Justice . This 13:51.210 --> 13:53.130 time , the stateless motor tanker 13:53.130 --> 13:56.039 Majestic X , also known as the Ponic , 13:56.890 --> 13:59.770 also in the Indian Ocean . This is 13:59.770 --> 14:03.049 again a VLCC or very large crude tanker . 14:03.799 --> 14:06.239 At approximately 11 p.m. Eastern 14:06.239 --> 14:08.469 Standard Time , US forces began the 14:08.469 --> 14:11.869 interdiction again using rotary wing 14:11.869 --> 14:14.520 assets to get to the ship , got on 14:14.520 --> 14:17.359 board , and secured the bridge . Both 14:17.359 --> 14:19.880 ships , the Tafani , the Majestic X , 14:19.960 --> 14:22.479 and their crews remain in US custody . 14:22.950 --> 14:25.369 And we will continue to conduct similar 14:25.609 --> 14:27.950 maritime interdiction actions and 14:27.950 --> 14:30.830 activities in the Pacific and Indian 14:30.830 --> 14:33.349 Oceans against Iranian ships and 14:33.349 --> 14:37.000 vessels of the Dark Fleet . The actions 14:37.219 --> 14:39.900 by our service members and our law 14:39.900 --> 14:42.099 enforcement partners demonstrate the 14:42.099 --> 14:45.119 incredible discipline and dedication 14:45.119 --> 14:48.239 and professionalism of our joint force 14:48.429 --> 14:51.700 and highlight the global reach of 14:51.700 --> 14:54.690 American combat power . The joint force 14:54.690 --> 14:57.010 remains on ensuring the Iranian regime 14:57.010 --> 14:59.690 cannot harm our interests or those of 14:59.690 --> 15:02.570 our allies and partners , and I'll 15:02.570 --> 15:05.289 highlight that Iran has repeatedly 15:05.289 --> 15:08.869 sought to offensively and proactively 15:09.039 --> 15:11.690 expand the conflict by aggression 15:11.690 --> 15:14.049 against its neighbors and its attacks 15:14.049 --> 15:16.271 on global shipping through the strait . 15:16.780 --> 15:19.549 To date , Iran has attacked 5 merchant 15:19.549 --> 15:22.150 vessels , seized 2 of them that were 15:22.150 --> 15:24.317 attempting to transit the strait , and 15:24.317 --> 15:26.849 these include ships that Iran itself 15:27.309 --> 15:30.250 had cleared to proceed . Now , as I 15:30.250 --> 15:32.417 always do , I want to honor members of 15:32.417 --> 15:34.306 the Joint Force . Today I want to 15:34.306 --> 15:36.250 highlight and proudly describe the 15:36.250 --> 15:38.194 essential role of our intelligence 15:38.194 --> 15:40.361 enterprise and the role that they play 15:40.361 --> 15:42.599 in conducting our military operations . 15:43.140 --> 15:45.169 The totality of their work is the 15:45.169 --> 15:48.299 culmination of days , months , and in 15:48.299 --> 15:50.700 many cases years of work by our 15:50.700 --> 15:53.580 uniformed and civilian intelligence 15:53.580 --> 15:56.099 professionals . We have been able to do 15:56.099 --> 15:58.219 the work that we are ordered to do 15:58.219 --> 16:00.440 because America's intelligence force , 16:00.900 --> 16:02.789 including our core collectors and 16:02.789 --> 16:05.349 analysts , have spent decades searching 16:05.349 --> 16:07.989 for every . Loose thread from the 16:07.989 --> 16:09.750 determination of a particular 16:09.750 --> 16:12.169 intelligence requirement to that piece 16:12.169 --> 16:14.336 of intelligence being collected in the 16:14.336 --> 16:17.349 field by a military or interagency case 16:17.349 --> 16:19.669 officer to the rigorous analysis that 16:19.669 --> 16:22.429 goes into reporting on that finding , 16:22.710 --> 16:25.530 those team members spend their careers 16:25.809 --> 16:28.549 answering the incredibly important 16:28.549 --> 16:30.549 questions that we . Must attempt to 16:30.549 --> 16:33.950 answer before , during , and after 16:33.950 --> 16:36.869 operations . They live in the enemy's 16:36.869 --> 16:39.679 mind . Normally located behind the 16:39.679 --> 16:41.790 green door , behind the vault door in 16:41.790 --> 16:44.030 dark , windowless rooms across the 16:44.030 --> 16:47.400 world , 24 hours a day , 7 days a week , 16:47.479 --> 16:51.359 365 days a year , our world class intel 16:51.359 --> 16:54.210 members from DIA . Service intelligence 16:54.210 --> 16:57.770 components , NSA , NGA , CIA , 16:57.890 --> 17:01.010 NRO , and in the case of the operations 17:01.010 --> 17:03.409 that I've just described , the Office 17:03.409 --> 17:05.890 of Naval Intelligence all work 17:05.890 --> 17:08.449 tirelessly to sift through the 17:08.449 --> 17:10.650 mountains of collected information 17:10.930 --> 17:13.199 using tools , tactics , techniques , 17:13.209 --> 17:15.431 and procedures that I'm , I'm not going 17:15.431 --> 17:17.808 to discuss today . The sun never sets 17:17.808 --> 17:19.864 on these world class professionals , 17:20.048 --> 17:22.369 and their goal is every minute of every 17:22.369 --> 17:24.968 day to be on the account , and they 17:24.968 --> 17:27.190 know the enemy . They know their combat 17:27.190 --> 17:29.135 capability , their weapons , their 17:29.135 --> 17:31.729 industrial and economic systems , and 17:31.729 --> 17:33.729 they know their leaders , their 17:33.729 --> 17:36.009 leaders' pattern of life , where they 17:36.009 --> 17:38.619 go , what they think , and what they do . 17:39.048 --> 17:41.348 Thanks to their work , we know Iran , 17:41.409 --> 17:43.729 and it is an incredible work that they 17:43.729 --> 17:46.290 do . Again , none of our operations 17:46.290 --> 17:48.457 that we've conducted during my time in 17:48.457 --> 17:50.512 this job could have done , but could 17:50.512 --> 17:52.623 have been done without the service of 17:52.623 --> 17:54.790 these intelligence professionals , and 17:54.790 --> 17:57.310 the distance from those core collectors 17:57.770 --> 18:00.209 and those analysts to those Patriot 18:00.209 --> 18:02.489 crews who are defending US forces 18:02.489 --> 18:04.770 forward or the fighter pilots is 18:04.770 --> 18:08.500 incredibly small . Every single day as 18:08.500 --> 18:10.611 their mottos say , they are committed 18:10.611 --> 18:12.611 to excellence in the defense of the 18:12.611 --> 18:15.260 nation and to securing the future , and 18:15.260 --> 18:17.520 they're doing the work of the nation . 18:18.260 --> 18:20.500 Before I close , as I do every time , I 18:20.500 --> 18:22.444 want to highlight and remember our 18:22.444 --> 18:24.611 fallen . Today I want to highlight the 18:24.611 --> 18:27.739 63 victims of the terrorist bombing of 18:27.739 --> 18:30.300 the US embassy in Beirut , which 18:30.300 --> 18:32.939 occurred 43 years ago , just a few days 18:32.939 --> 18:36.020 ago on April 18 , 1983 . 18:36.770 --> 18:39.420 At that time this was the deadliest 18:39.420 --> 18:42.540 attack on a US diplomatic mission and 18:42.540 --> 18:45.219 this was the first attack conducted by 18:45.219 --> 18:47.969 Iranian-backed forces on Americans . 18:48.260 --> 18:50.180 The suicide bomber detonated a 18:50.180 --> 18:53.060 vehicle-borne improvised explosive 18:53.060 --> 18:55.116 device out in front of the embassy , 18:55.339 --> 18:58.479 killing 63 innocent people , including 18:58.479 --> 19:01.979 32 Lebanese , 14 visitors , and 17 19:01.979 --> 19:04.339 Americans . And among those lost , 19:04.380 --> 19:07.000 members of the joint force to include 3 19:07.219 --> 19:09.699 Army soldiers and 1 United States 19:09.699 --> 19:12.119 Marine . We remember their names 19:12.380 --> 19:14.579 Sergeant First Class Richard Twine . 19:15.069 --> 19:18.050 Staff Sergeant Ben Maxwell , Staff 19:18.050 --> 19:20.949 Sergeant Mark Salazar , and United 19:20.949 --> 19:23.790 States Marine Corporal Vincent McMaw , 19:24.589 --> 19:26.949 today we remember them . We carry on 19:26.949 --> 19:29.430 their memory and the memory of all our 19:29.430 --> 19:31.989 fallen , and remain grateful for their 19:31.989 --> 19:34.849 sacrifice and that of their families 19:34.989 --> 19:37.109 who continue to show us what courage 19:37.109 --> 19:39.790 looks like . As we continue to press 19:39.790 --> 19:42.012 forward and maintain these operations , 19:42.012 --> 19:44.012 the secretary , the Joint Chiefs of 19:44.012 --> 19:47.030 Staff , and I are deeply humbled by the 19:47.030 --> 19:49.197 spirit , tenacity , and commitment and 19:49.197 --> 19:51.550 grit of the 2.8 million members of our 19:51.550 --> 19:53.839 Joint Force . The Secretary . And I 19:53.839 --> 19:56.589 thank every member of the joint force 19:56.589 --> 19:58.880 engaged in this operation , every 19:58.880 --> 20:01.880 warrior who remains deployed or who is 20:01.880 --> 20:03.936 supporting from here at home . Thank 20:03.936 --> 20:05.991 you and thank you to your families , 20:05.991 --> 20:08.102 sir , I'll turn it back over to you . 20:08.102 --> 20:10.269 Thank you , Mr . Chairman . We'll take 20:10.269 --> 20:12.380 a few questions . Thank you . Um , in 20:12.380 --> 20:14.750 your estimation , have there been 20:14.750 --> 20:16.760 increased or decreased instances of 20:16.760 --> 20:19.560 Iranian vessels either approaching or 20:19.560 --> 20:21.640 trying to breach the blockade the 20:21.640 --> 20:24.359 longer it is in effect ? Um , and 20:24.359 --> 20:26.637 another question about the mine threat , 20:26.637 --> 20:28.303 um , has the mine threat been 20:28.303 --> 20:30.839 neutralized enough to facilitate freer 20:30.839 --> 20:34.119 flow in the straits ? Well , to the 20:34.119 --> 20:36.230 second question , first of all , uh , 20:36.230 --> 20:38.175 we are seeing vessels transiting . 20:38.175 --> 20:40.230 There are paths that are open , uh , 20:40.230 --> 20:42.119 and part of what the president is 20:42.119 --> 20:44.063 threatening is ensuring if there's 20:44.063 --> 20:43.839 attempts to lay recklessly and 20:43.839 --> 20:45.895 irresponsibly lay more mines , we're 20:45.895 --> 20:47.728 going to deal with that . It's a 20:47.728 --> 20:49.950 violation of the ceasefire . So transit 20:49.950 --> 20:51.950 is occurring much more limited than 20:51.950 --> 20:54.172 anybody would like to , to see and with 20:54.172 --> 20:56.506 more risk than people would like to see , 20:56.506 --> 20:58.450 but that's because . Iran is doing 20:58.450 --> 21:00.506 irresponsible things with small fast 21:00.506 --> 21:02.672 boats , crafts like I said with , with 21:02.672 --> 21:04.839 weapons on them . These are commercial 21:04.839 --> 21:06.895 ships , in some cases cruise ships , 21:06.895 --> 21:09.006 cruise ships that came through , uh , 21:09.006 --> 21:11.117 being threatened , uh , by these . So 21:11.117 --> 21:13.339 as far as breaching the blockade , it's 21:13.339 --> 21:15.450 been a pretty consistent there were a 21:15.450 --> 21:17.672 number of ships at the beginning . Then 21:17.672 --> 21:16.790 you had the interdiction that the 21:16.790 --> 21:19.012 chairman described , uh , where we took 21:19.012 --> 21:21.234 out the . Engine room and disabled that 21:21.234 --> 21:23.346 ship . I think that sent a very clear 21:23.346 --> 21:25.679 sign that this is not a a fake blockade . 21:25.679 --> 21:27.734 This is a real full blockade . We'll 21:27.734 --> 21:29.957 use up to and including lethal force if 21:29.957 --> 21:32.179 necessary , uh , and that stopped , and 21:32.179 --> 21:32.030 other ships have , have taken note of 21:32.030 --> 21:34.363 that . So any ships that have attempted , 21:34.380 --> 21:36.547 uh , there's been levels of escalation 21:36.547 --> 21:38.713 but none , uh , that far , and they've 21:38.713 --> 21:40.936 turned around . Absolutely , yes . Good 21:40.936 --> 21:42.713 morning , Mr . Secretary , Mr . 21:42.713 --> 21:44.436 Chairman , uh , David Z , Real 21:44.436 --> 21:46.602 America's Voice , uh , to follow up on 21:46.602 --> 21:49.270 Alexandra's question , um , how big are 21:49.270 --> 21:51.381 these mine laying boats ? Can they be 21:51.381 --> 21:53.603 achieved from fast boats ? And I wanted 21:53.603 --> 21:55.937 to follow up my last big question about , 21:55.937 --> 21:57.826 um , as jet fuel stocks in Europe 21:57.826 --> 22:00.103 reportedly are only about 6 weeks left , 22:00.290 --> 22:02.457 they get most of the jet fuel from the 22:02.457 --> 22:04.401 Gulf . Have any European countries 22:04.401 --> 22:06.568 reached out to assist in cordoning off 22:06.568 --> 22:08.901 the strait and participating in escorts ? 22:09.719 --> 22:12.459 I know there's a lot of talks . You saw 22:12.459 --> 22:14.126 the , I would call it a silly 22:14.126 --> 22:16.680 conference , uh , in , in Europe last 22:16.680 --> 22:18.902 week where they got together and talked 22:18.902 --> 22:20.680 about talking about maybe doing 22:20.680 --> 22:22.736 something eventually when things are 22:22.736 --> 22:24.624 done . uh , those are not serious 22:24.624 --> 22:26.819 efforts yet . We would welcome that . 22:26.890 --> 22:28.890 We would welcome a serious European 22:28.890 --> 22:30.779 effort to do something about this 22:30.779 --> 22:32.890 strait and this passage , considering 22:33.050 --> 22:35.272 it's their energy capabilities that are 22:35.272 --> 22:37.439 most at stake . I think it's a wake up 22:37.439 --> 22:39.161 call . It's a wake up call for 22:39.161 --> 22:41.383 countries around the world . Either you 22:41.383 --> 22:40.530 have capabilities or you don't , 22:40.599 --> 22:42.599 otherwise you're at the behest of a 22:42.599 --> 22:44.710 country , uh , like Iran and the only 22:44.710 --> 22:46.988 country that can do something about it . 22:46.988 --> 22:49.210 Uh , is the United States military . Do 22:49.210 --> 22:49.140 you want to talk about the mines and 22:49.140 --> 22:51.140 the small crafts ? Uh , they , they 22:51.140 --> 22:53.540 have a variety of smaller Boston whaler 22:53.540 --> 22:55.680 size boats . We have , we have forces 22:55.680 --> 22:57.819 up there , uh , deterring and 22:57.819 --> 22:59.930 preventing them from continuing to do 22:59.930 --> 23:01.763 that and we'll continue to do so 23:01.763 --> 23:03.986 pursuant to the orders of the secretary 23:03.986 --> 23:05.819 and the president . But it would 23:05.819 --> 23:07.541 reckless mining like that is a 23:07.541 --> 23:09.652 violation of the ceasefire to do that 23:09.652 --> 23:11.708 and very unwise to do . Absolutely , 23:11.708 --> 23:15.160 Jerry , thank you . So , uh , 23:15.530 --> 23:17.308 Pope Leo has made some strident 23:17.308 --> 23:19.569 comments about the war in Iran and the 23:19.569 --> 23:21.458 US Conference of Catholic Bishops 23:21.458 --> 23:24.010 recently put out a statement suggesting 23:24.010 --> 23:26.209 that the war does not fit the 23:26.209 --> 23:28.489 requirements of just war theory . And I 23:28.489 --> 23:31.410 wondered if the Pentagon had thought 23:31.410 --> 23:33.466 about this war against the terrorist 23:33.466 --> 23:35.188 regime in Iran in terms of the 23:35.188 --> 23:37.410 framework of a just war , and if either 23:37.410 --> 23:39.466 one of you could talk about that and 23:39.466 --> 23:41.688 then just my . My second question would 23:41.688 --> 23:44.650 be , um , the Pentagon recently this 23:44.650 --> 23:47.880 week , uh , gave well-deserved , um , 23:47.890 --> 23:51.650 award upgrades to the members of Golf 23:51.650 --> 23:54.290 Company 21 Marines who served at H and 23:54.290 --> 23:56.569 Abbey Gate during the withdrawal and 23:56.569 --> 23:59.290 evacuation . Um , I wonder if you , you , 23:59.449 --> 24:01.449 uh , Mr . Secretary , could speak a 24:01.449 --> 24:03.671 little bit about that and maybe give us 24:03.671 --> 24:05.727 a little bit more in terms of , um , 24:05.727 --> 24:07.505 what to expect from this , uh , 24:07.505 --> 24:10.189 Afghanistan review in terms of . Uh , 24:10.329 --> 24:12.810 further proper recognition and proper 24:12.810 --> 24:15.239 accountability . Um , on the first 24:15.239 --> 24:17.406 question , Pope's gonna do his thing , 24:17.406 --> 24:19.406 that's fine . Uh , we know what our 24:19.406 --> 24:21.572 mission is . We know what authority we 24:21.572 --> 24:23.795 have . We're very clear about that . We 24:23.795 --> 24:25.850 follow that . Uh , the orders of the 24:25.850 --> 24:27.906 president , we've got , uh , lawyers 24:27.906 --> 24:27.459 all over the place looking at what 24:27.459 --> 24:29.626 we're doing and why we're doing it and 24:29.626 --> 24:31.626 giving us every authority necessary 24:31.626 --> 24:31.400 under the Constitution and under our 24:31.400 --> 24:33.579 laws to execute it , so we feel very 24:33.579 --> 24:35.780 confident across the spectrum about 24:35.780 --> 24:38.002 what we're doing and why we're doing in 24:38.002 --> 24:39.947 the legal justification that we're 24:39.947 --> 24:42.113 following in order to do it . Uh , you 24:42.113 --> 24:44.224 mentioned the Marines at Abbey Gate , 24:44.224 --> 24:46.447 uh , and you know what we've undertaken 24:46.447 --> 24:48.900 at this department is a historic . Uh , 24:48.920 --> 24:51.239 Afghanistan review . So we have over 24:51.239 --> 24:53.183 the course of months reviewed what 24:53.183 --> 24:55.239 happened leading up to and including 24:55.239 --> 24:57.072 the events at Abbey Gate and the 24:57.072 --> 24:56.959 disastrous withdrawal in Afghanistan . 24:57.069 --> 24:59.013 There's never actually been a full 24:59.013 --> 25:01.069 accounting in this department of the 25:01.069 --> 25:03.291 decisions that were made . There's been 25:03.291 --> 25:05.236 sort of papered over congressional 25:05.236 --> 25:07.347 attempts , but never a real deep dive 25:07.347 --> 25:09.458 where we brought everybody in to talk 25:09.458 --> 25:09.329 about what happened and why it happened . 25:09.589 --> 25:12.439 That has happened . That review will 25:12.439 --> 25:14.939 come . Uh , later this summer , and I 25:14.939 --> 25:17.161 think you'll find it to be probably the 25:17.161 --> 25:18.883 most comprehensive review this 25:18.883 --> 25:21.106 department has ever done about a single 25:21.106 --> 25:23.439 series of events , and it's because the , 25:23.439 --> 25:25.606 the cascading effect of what Joe Biden 25:25.606 --> 25:27.550 did in abandoning , uh , uh , that 25:27.550 --> 25:29.717 mission the way that he did . And that 25:29.717 --> 25:31.550 disastrous withdrawal had ripple 25:31.550 --> 25:33.890 effects for our military , for our 25:33.890 --> 25:35.946 country , and for the world . That's 25:35.946 --> 25:38.168 why reestablishing deterrence is one of 25:38.168 --> 25:40.168 the core pillars of what we've been 25:40.168 --> 25:42.390 doing at the War Department because the 25:42.390 --> 25:42.329 world looked at that disaster and made 25:42.329 --> 25:44.829 choices . Vladimir Putin made choices . 25:44.994 --> 25:47.755 Hamas made choices and saw that America 25:47.755 --> 25:49.977 wouldn't do anything about it . Houthis 25:49.977 --> 25:51.866 shot at ships . They made choices 25:51.866 --> 25:53.311 because Joe Biden and his 25:53.311 --> 25:55.366 administration were seen as feckless 25:55.366 --> 25:57.422 and weak , and that withdrawal was a 25:57.422 --> 25:59.311 part of what the world saw people 25:59.311 --> 26:01.477 hanging to planes as we , as we fled . 26:01.515 --> 26:03.737 That deserves a full accounting , which 26:03.737 --> 26:05.682 is exactly what we're doing . Sean 26:05.682 --> 26:07.737 Parnell , uh , our chief spokesman , 26:07.737 --> 26:07.714 one of my senior advisers has been 26:07.714 --> 26:09.770 leading that effort , getting to the 26:09.770 --> 26:11.436 bottom of it , and one of the 26:11.436 --> 26:13.547 revelations was that those Marines at 26:13.547 --> 26:15.689 Abbey Gate . Who showed courage , who 26:15.689 --> 26:17.911 were out there exposed , knew there was 26:17.911 --> 26:20.078 a threat , nebulous mission , the only 26:20.078 --> 26:22.245 gate that's open , did not receive the 26:22.245 --> 26:24.411 kind of proper recognition they should 26:24.411 --> 26:26.578 have for their heroism . So one of the 26:26.578 --> 26:28.745 early results of this Afghan review is 26:28.745 --> 26:30.911 to ensure they get the due recognition 26:30.911 --> 26:33.078 and award they deserve for the heroism 26:33.078 --> 26:35.245 and courage they showed at that gate , 26:35.245 --> 26:37.133 despite the bad decisions of this 26:37.133 --> 26:39.078 building and that administration . 26:39.078 --> 26:41.022 Those Marines acted heroically and 26:41.022 --> 26:43.133 we're gonna recognize them for that . 26:43.133 --> 26:43.069 Jerry , thank you . Yeah , right here . 26:43.290 --> 26:45.457 Thank you , Michael Casey with O'Keefe 26:45.457 --> 26:47.623 Media Group . Um , earlier this week , 26:47.623 --> 26:49.568 James O'Keefe published a story on 26:49.568 --> 26:51.790 Department of Army Nuclear Chief Andrew 26:51.790 --> 26:54.012 Hugg , who revealed top secret national 26:54.012 --> 26:56.123 security information to a stranger he 26:56.123 --> 26:58.290 met on a dating app . Will you defer , 26:58.290 --> 26:59.957 uh , Mr . Hugg for term ? and 26:59.957 --> 27:02.179 prosecution , yeah , he won't work here 27:02.179 --> 27:02.114 anymore . And , um , given the 27:02.114 --> 27:04.225 revelations , will an easy one , will 27:04.225 --> 27:06.170 any changes be made to the current 27:06.170 --> 27:07.947 anti-espionage training for all 27:07.947 --> 27:10.058 Department of War employees now given 27:10.058 --> 27:09.464 this ? Well , we're always on the 27:09.464 --> 27:11.635 lookout for CIA threats , any internal 27:11.635 --> 27:14.155 threats , anyone talking out of school 27:14.155 --> 27:16.322 about things they should not . We take 27:16.322 --> 27:18.488 leaking very seriously here informally 27:18.488 --> 27:20.711 or formally . Uh , which is why some of 27:20.711 --> 27:22.599 the reporting done by some of the 27:22.599 --> 27:24.211 people in here is incredibly 27:24.211 --> 27:26.044 problematic . They're willing to 27:26.044 --> 27:27.988 publish things based on classified 27:27.988 --> 27:30.211 information that would potentially harm 27:30.211 --> 27:32.433 those in harm's way , and we think them 27:32.433 --> 27:34.488 doing so is incredibly irresponsible 27:34.488 --> 27:36.211 and unpatriotic , and it would 27:36.211 --> 27:38.433 encourage members of the press to think 27:38.433 --> 27:40.655 twice about the lives they're affecting 27:40.655 --> 27:40.650 when they publish things in their in 27:40.650 --> 27:42.706 their publications like The New York 27:42.706 --> 27:44.619 Times . Yes , right here carrying 27:44.619 --> 27:47.329 equipment to China , Sir , I'm sorry , 27:47.369 --> 27:49.647 the question is right here . Thank you , 27:49.647 --> 27:51.536 Ryan Morgan with the Epic Times . 27:51.536 --> 27:53.758 Earlier this week on that topic , there 27:53.758 --> 27:55.758 was a report , I believe , with the 27:55.758 --> 27:57.869 Washington Post that the Pentagon had 27:57.869 --> 28:00.036 briefed Congress that it could take up 28:00.036 --> 28:03.324 to 6 months to fully . Sweep the Strait 28:03.324 --> 28:06.435 of Horms for mines . Um , I , I was 28:06.435 --> 28:08.657 wondering if you could comment a little 28:08.657 --> 28:10.491 bit more on the specifics of the 28:10.491 --> 28:12.657 timeline , the range of , uh , of time 28:12.657 --> 28:14.713 that it could take , and then just a 28:14.713 --> 28:16.713 general idea of how many , how many 28:16.713 --> 28:18.824 mines have been placed . We would not 28:18.824 --> 28:20.879 speculate on a timeline . I saw that 28:20.879 --> 28:23.046 report . It was based on again another 28:23.046 --> 28:25.157 leak from a closed door session which 28:25.157 --> 28:27.435 was supposed to be classified and , uh , 28:27.435 --> 28:29.657 apparently allegedly that was something 28:29.657 --> 28:31.879 that was said . About we feel confident 28:31.879 --> 28:31.780 in our ability , uh , in the correct 28:31.780 --> 28:34.140 period of time to clear any minds , uh , 28:34.209 --> 28:36.339 that we identify . I would encourage 28:36.339 --> 28:38.561 other countries to be a part of such an 28:38.561 --> 28:40.561 effort as well , but we're tracking 28:40.561 --> 28:42.839 that very closely . um , Mr . Chairman , 28:42.839 --> 28:41.869 do you want to add anything to that ? 28:42.020 --> 28:44.242 No , sir , I think you covered it right 28:44.242 --> 28:46.353 here , new members of our press corps 28:46.353 --> 28:49.219 here , uh , Jacob Wasserman with TMZ DC . 28:49.380 --> 28:51.547 Uh , I'm , we have two questions . I'm 28:51.547 --> 28:53.769 gonna ask the first . My colleague will 28:53.769 --> 28:55.936 ask the second . You know , I've heard 28:55.936 --> 28:58.213 you talk a lot . about bombing . Sorry , 28:58.213 --> 29:00.380 we'll see . OK , I've heard you talk a 29:00.380 --> 29:02.491 lot about bombing people and places , 29:02.699 --> 29:04.921 and when you give these orders to carry 29:04.921 --> 29:06.977 out this extreme level of violence , 29:06.977 --> 29:09.199 what's going through your mind and your 29:09.199 --> 29:11.310 body ? Do you have like an adrenaline 29:11.310 --> 29:13.459 rush ? Are you scared ? Do you feel 29:13.459 --> 29:15.681 like you're on a power trip ? Just walk 29:15.681 --> 29:17.737 us through and paint us a picture of 29:17.737 --> 29:19.515 what it feels like mentally and 29:19.515 --> 29:21.737 physically . It's a very TMZ question . 29:21.737 --> 29:24.449 Um , my only thought process is to 29:24.449 --> 29:26.282 ensure that our warfighters have 29:26.282 --> 29:28.505 everything they need to be successful , 29:28.505 --> 29:30.727 defeat and destroy the enemy , and they 29:30.727 --> 29:32.727 come home . Uh , that they , I want 29:32.727 --> 29:34.782 them to feel empowered to have every 29:34.782 --> 29:36.838 authority they need within our rules 29:36.838 --> 29:38.838 and within our law to bring maximum 29:38.838 --> 29:40.969 violence to the enemy because war is 29:40.969 --> 29:43.810 violent . Uh , war , it , uh , requires 29:43.810 --> 29:46.032 doing difficult things , but I want our 29:46.032 --> 29:48.088 people to feel empowered so it's our 29:48.088 --> 29:50.310 guys that come home and their guys that 29:50.310 --> 29:53.310 do not . Uh , Charlie Cotton from TMZ 29:53.310 --> 29:56.270 DC , uh , you changed the Department of 29:56.270 --> 29:59.150 Defense to the Department of War . 29:59.599 --> 30:01.750 Would you consider changing the name 30:01.750 --> 30:04.010 again to the Department of Peace , 30:04.349 --> 30:06.349 since that's what we're all after . 30:06.689 --> 30:08.633 Well , that's the pursuit . It's a 30:08.633 --> 30:10.745 great question actually . Uh , you go 30:10.745 --> 30:12.967 from defense to war because you want to 30:12.967 --> 30:14.800 be proactive about peace through 30:14.800 --> 30:17.133 strength and , and , and , and really I , 30:17.133 --> 30:19.189 I gave a speech in front of generals 30:19.189 --> 30:19.170 about what , what the ethos of the War 30:19.170 --> 30:21.059 Department is all about because I 30:21.059 --> 30:23.170 wanted to go through every echelon of 30:23.170 --> 30:25.337 this department . It means something . 30:25.337 --> 30:27.503 It's not just words and when you fight 30:27.503 --> 30:29.670 a war the right way , the ideas on the 30:29.670 --> 30:31.892 other side you bring about peace . Uh , 30:31.892 --> 30:34.170 that is what we'd like to see the most . 30:34.170 --> 30:33.760 In fact , I once did a video about the , 30:33.920 --> 30:36.031 the one institution . That should win 30:36.031 --> 30:38.290 the Nobel Peace Prize every single year 30:38.479 --> 30:40.590 is the United States military because 30:40.590 --> 30:42.757 we are the guarantor of the safety and 30:42.757 --> 30:44.979 security not just of our country but of 30:44.979 --> 30:47.035 a lot of people in this world . Last 30:47.035 --> 30:49.035 question , yes sir . Thank you very 30:49.035 --> 30:51.257 much , Mr . Secretary . I do appreciate 30:51.257 --> 30:53.459 your time . Since February 28 , 30:53.790 --> 30:57.489 725 drones and missiles 30:57.790 --> 30:59.901 have hit the Kurdistan region as your 31:00.630 --> 31:04.280 loyal ally , killing . 22 31:04.280 --> 31:07.579 people and injuring 100 others . 31:08.079 --> 31:10.760 Even after the ceasefire , Mr . 31:11.000 --> 31:14.979 Secretary , 20 more attacks were 31:15.160 --> 31:18.369 carried out . My question is , 31:18.839 --> 31:21.800 does that ceasefire include Iraq and 31:21.800 --> 31:23.949 the Kurdistan region , and really , 31:23.959 --> 31:26.219 what is your clear policy toward 31:26.760 --> 31:30.349 proxies ? Why I am asking this question 31:30.989 --> 31:32.869 by President Massoud Barzani's 31:32.869 --> 31:36.670 statement 5 times targeting his office , 31:37.150 --> 31:39.869 even targeting president of Kurdistan 31:39.869 --> 31:42.550 region residents in Duhok city . We 31:42.550 --> 31:45.709 watch it very closely and that area and 31:45.709 --> 31:48.849 those those folks , the Kurds deal with 31:48.849 --> 31:51.016 a lot of what the IAMGs or the proxies 31:51.016 --> 31:53.127 are capable of doing and a reminder . 31:53.127 --> 31:55.209 Of the reverberating effect of this 31:55.209 --> 31:57.376 Iranian regime . It's not just what it 31:57.376 --> 31:59.598 does to its own people , killing 45,000 31:59.598 --> 32:01.820 of its own citizens just recently , but 32:01.820 --> 32:04.042 it's also the terror they've brought to 32:04.042 --> 32:06.265 the region . And so getting a good deal 32:06.265 --> 32:06.209 and making sure they can't wield a 32:06.209 --> 32:08.042 nuclear weapon over top of those 32:08.042 --> 32:10.449 proxies is why this mission is such an 32:10.449 --> 32:12.560 important one . Thank you very much . 32:12.560 --> 32:12.109 Thank you .