1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:04,740 --> 00:00:08,260 Okay , just uh a couple of things to 3 00:00:08,270 --> 00:00:11,750 start off with here , I think as you 4 00:00:11,750 --> 00:00:14,120 saw yesterday , we announced that the 5 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:16,120 pentagon reservation will now go to 6 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:18,120 force health protection level Alpha 7 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:20,730 tomorrow morning . This change is not a 8 00:00:20,730 --> 00:00:24,260 return to pre covid 19 normal . And 9 00:00:24,260 --> 00:00:26,790 we're gonna continue to uh we're going 10 00:00:26,790 --> 00:00:28,790 to continue force health protection 11 00:00:28,790 --> 00:00:30,734 measures to mitigate the spread of 12 00:00:30,734 --> 00:00:33,700 covid 19 within our workforce . One 13 00:00:33,700 --> 00:00:36,770 change is that the occupancy goal will 14 00:00:36,770 --> 00:00:39,450 be to no more than 90% of personnel and 15 00:00:39,450 --> 00:00:41,283 workspaces . However , this is a 16 00:00:41,283 --> 00:00:44,050 maximum goal and not a target to 17 00:00:44,050 --> 00:00:47,380 achieve immediately HP con Alpha is not 18 00:00:47,390 --> 00:00:50,020 re entry or a return to the pentagon 19 00:00:50,020 --> 00:00:52,187 workplace . It provides the department 20 00:00:52,187 --> 00:00:54,590 more flexibility to meet our national 21 00:00:54,590 --> 00:00:56,646 security mission while allowing more 22 00:00:56,646 --> 00:00:58,646 occupants to be in the workspace to 23 00:00:58,646 --> 00:01:00,534 support classified missions . The 24 00:01:00,534 --> 00:01:02,646 department will continue to work with 25 00:01:02,646 --> 00:01:04,868 the Office of Management and Budget and 26 00:01:04,868 --> 00:01:07,090 the White House , say federal workplace 27 00:01:07,090 --> 00:01:07,070 Task Force . To finalize the 28 00:01:07,070 --> 00:01:09,210 department's reentry plan , we will 29 00:01:09,210 --> 00:01:12,520 continue to use maximum telework 30 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:14,631 opportunities and flexible scheduling 31 00:01:14,740 --> 00:01:16,962 and we're only gonna bring employees as 32 00:01:16,962 --> 00:01:19,129 needed to support their mission and to 33 00:01:19,129 --> 00:01:21,184 implement the secretary's priorities 34 00:01:21,184 --> 00:01:23,129 while keeping a focus of course on 35 00:01:23,129 --> 00:01:25,296 defeating covid other changes under HP 36 00:01:25,296 --> 00:01:28,000 con Alpha are outlined in the Director 37 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,222 of Administration and Management memo , 38 00:01:30,222 --> 00:01:32,444 which is available on Defense dot gov . 39 00:01:32,444 --> 00:01:34,222 If you haven't seen it lastly , 40 00:01:34,222 --> 00:01:36,222 Secretary Austin looking forward to 41 00:01:36,222 --> 00:01:38,278 welcoming the french Minister of the 42 00:01:38,278 --> 00:01:40,278 Armed Forces Florence parley to the 43 00:01:40,278 --> 00:01:42,389 pentagon tomorrow . Of course , we'll 44 00:01:42,389 --> 00:01:44,520 post a readout following that meeting 45 00:01:44,530 --> 00:01:46,752 and with that we'll go some questions . 46 00:01:46,752 --> 00:01:50,100 We'll start with leader . It's 47 00:01:50,110 --> 00:01:52,800 a couple of things from the President's 48 00:01:52,810 --> 00:01:55,950 um speech on Afghanistan . 49 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:01,250 Can you say 50 00:02:02,340 --> 00:02:05,160 what if any progress the 51 00:02:06,740 --> 00:02:09,950 Defense Department is making on 52 00:02:10,340 --> 00:02:14,270 the the I'm sorry , on over the horizon 53 00:02:14,270 --> 00:02:17,580 negotiations . And can you talk a 54 00:02:17,580 --> 00:02:20,140 little bit about the taliban and what 55 00:02:20,150 --> 00:02:23,020 progress they've made on um , district 56 00:02:23,020 --> 00:02:26,030 takeovers ? Um , how far do you think 57 00:02:26,030 --> 00:02:28,540 they've gotten ? I've heard over 100 at 58 00:02:28,540 --> 00:02:30,707 this point , can you talk a little bit 59 00:02:30,707 --> 00:02:32,651 about what the situation is on the 60 00:02:32,651 --> 00:02:34,762 ground with the taliban ? Thank you . 61 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:37,840 Uh , so , um , on over the horizon 62 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,480 capabilities , we continue to explore 63 00:02:40,490 --> 00:02:42,270 additional over the horizon 64 00:02:42,270 --> 00:02:44,570 capabilities with neighboring nations . 65 00:02:44,570 --> 00:02:46,910 I don't have any agreements that are 66 00:02:46,920 --> 00:02:49,700 linked to read out to you today , but 67 00:02:49,710 --> 00:02:51,377 General Mackenzie , our State 68 00:02:51,377 --> 00:02:53,599 Department colleagues and of course the 69 00:02:53,599 --> 00:02:55,710 secretary himself , uh , is exploring 70 00:02:55,710 --> 00:02:58,660 this . Uh daily , we're still working 71 00:02:58,670 --> 00:03:01,260 working through this . Um , I would 72 00:03:02,140 --> 00:03:04,362 hastened to add , as you've heard me do 73 00:03:04,362 --> 00:03:07,480 in the past , that we already have over 74 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:09,591 horizon counterterrorism capabilities 75 00:03:09,591 --> 00:03:11,480 at our disposal . And it's fairly 76 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:14,170 robust lead . I mean , we've got a a 77 00:03:14,180 --> 00:03:16,236 sizable footprint in the Middle East 78 00:03:16,236 --> 00:03:19,900 and facilities assure that we can 79 00:03:19,900 --> 00:03:22,910 utilize with fixed wing air assets , 80 00:03:22,910 --> 00:03:25,740 both manned and unmanned in the region 81 00:03:25,750 --> 00:03:29,240 as well as a carrier strike group uh in 82 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,810 waters not far from Afghanistan , that 83 00:03:32,820 --> 00:03:34,970 that continues to provide additional 84 00:03:34,970 --> 00:03:38,510 capability . So um uh we are making 85 00:03:38,510 --> 00:03:40,621 progress . We are working this very , 86 00:03:40,621 --> 00:03:44,480 very hard and as we get solutions that 87 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:46,640 we can talk to , we certainly will do 88 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:48,910 that . But I do want to make sure 89 00:03:48,910 --> 00:03:50,799 that's very clear to the american 90 00:03:50,799 --> 00:03:52,966 people that we already have in place , 91 00:03:52,966 --> 00:03:55,850 robust , capable over the horizon 92 00:03:55,850 --> 00:03:58,960 capability uh to to continue to get at 93 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:00,970 the terrorist threats that are 94 00:04:00,970 --> 00:04:03,081 affecting the homeland , I would also 95 00:04:03,081 --> 00:04:05,520 add and we've talked about this before . 96 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:09,000 But uh the the terrorist threat 97 00:04:09,010 --> 00:04:12,380 certainly uh the more 98 00:04:12,380 --> 00:04:14,770 significant terrorist threats to our 99 00:04:14,770 --> 00:04:16,714 interests and the interests of our 100 00:04:16,714 --> 00:04:19,270 friends and partners has metastasized 101 00:04:19,280 --> 00:04:21,447 outside Afghanistan . We aren't seeing 102 00:04:21,447 --> 00:04:23,720 the same level of of terrorism threat 103 00:04:23,730 --> 00:04:26,970 emanating from Afghanistan that we once 104 00:04:26,970 --> 00:04:29,260 did . And that's a big reason why in 105 00:04:29,260 --> 00:04:31,316 fact , the president has ordered the 106 00:04:31,316 --> 00:04:33,360 drawdown . I mean , we we had 107 00:04:33,370 --> 00:04:35,810 accomplished the mission of Of not 108 00:04:35,810 --> 00:04:38,540 getting attacked from Afghanistan here 109 00:04:38,540 --> 00:04:40,818 on the Homeland over the last 20 years . 110 00:04:40,818 --> 00:04:43,040 Doeses't mean you're taking eye off the 111 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,262 ball , doesn't mean we're not gonna try 112 00:04:45,262 --> 00:04:47,151 to maintain a focus on this or uh 113 00:04:47,151 --> 00:04:49,207 continue to have the authorities and 114 00:04:49,207 --> 00:04:51,429 the capabilities to go after terrorists 115 00:04:51,429 --> 00:04:53,207 that threaten the homeland from 116 00:04:53,207 --> 00:04:55,096 Afghanistan . But there are other 117 00:04:55,096 --> 00:04:56,651 places that that threat has 118 00:04:56,651 --> 00:04:58,818 metastasized to africa other places in 119 00:04:58,818 --> 00:05:01,410 the Middle East , uh that were also 120 00:05:01,420 --> 00:05:03,570 that we need to be focused on to um 121 00:05:03,580 --> 00:05:05,802 your second question on the Taliban . I 122 00:05:05,802 --> 00:05:08,250 don't have an up to date uh 123 00:05:09,140 --> 00:05:11,390 operational assessment of Taliban 124 00:05:11,390 --> 00:05:13,970 advances as you know , we don't talk 125 00:05:13,970 --> 00:05:16,280 about intelligence assessments and I 126 00:05:16,280 --> 00:05:18,280 don't want to get into the habit of 127 00:05:18,280 --> 00:05:20,770 reading out uh you know , the Taliban's 128 00:05:20,770 --> 00:05:23,760 military strategy . They have taken 129 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:27,720 dozens of district centers . Uh 130 00:05:27,730 --> 00:05:31,170 That is , that is true and we believe 131 00:05:31,170 --> 00:05:34,770 that they mean to threaten provincial 132 00:05:34,780 --> 00:05:38,460 centers as well . But I don't want to , 133 00:05:38,470 --> 00:05:40,581 I just don't think it would be useful 134 00:05:40,581 --> 00:05:42,470 for me to get into a tiktok of of 135 00:05:42,470 --> 00:05:44,526 everything they've been doing on the 136 00:05:44,526 --> 00:05:46,748 ground . We are mindful of the security 137 00:05:46,748 --> 00:05:48,803 situation . Uh We are mindful of the 138 00:05:48,803 --> 00:05:51,970 Taliban's advances and and that's why 139 00:05:51,970 --> 00:05:54,580 it is so important for us to continue 140 00:05:54,580 --> 00:05:56,580 to press for a negotiated political 141 00:05:56,580 --> 00:05:58,747 settlement to this war . That's why it 142 00:05:58,747 --> 00:06:00,802 is so important . As you heard , the 143 00:06:00,802 --> 00:06:02,760 president just say for the Afghan 144 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,110 government and the Afghan military to 145 00:06:05,110 --> 00:06:07,140 use the capacity and the capability 146 00:06:07,140 --> 00:06:09,307 that they have and that we have helped 147 00:06:09,307 --> 00:06:11,830 them uh engender over the last 20 years 148 00:06:11,840 --> 00:06:14,320 uh , to defend themselves , their , 149 00:06:14,330 --> 00:06:16,163 their their government and their 150 00:06:16,163 --> 00:06:19,060 territory and their people . Tara , 151 00:06:19,540 --> 00:06:22,890 thanks john the President said that the 152 00:06:22,890 --> 00:06:24,612 interpreters might be moved to 153 00:06:24,612 --> 00:06:26,557 facilities outside the Continental 154 00:06:26,557 --> 00:06:29,290 United States . That is fairly limiting 155 00:06:29,290 --> 00:06:32,000 in the number of kokonas facilities 156 00:06:32,010 --> 00:06:34,890 potentially bases at Guam . Or could 157 00:06:34,890 --> 00:06:37,057 you talk a little bit about what these 158 00:06:37,057 --> 00:06:39,223 potential facilities could be that the 159 00:06:39,223 --> 00:06:41,279 interpreters could be sent to ? So a 160 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:43,446 couple of thoughts , are You heard the 161 00:06:43,446 --> 00:06:46,000 president say that the US installations 162 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,490 overseas as well as third countries and 163 00:06:48,490 --> 00:06:50,970 we are looking at a range of options in 164 00:06:50,970 --> 00:06:54,030 that regard ? Um you said it was 165 00:06:54,030 --> 00:06:56,086 limiting . I think I would challenge 166 00:06:56,086 --> 00:06:58,197 that presumption . You also heard the 167 00:06:58,197 --> 00:07:01,060 president say that of the 2500 or so 168 00:07:01,340 --> 00:07:03,760 that have worked their way through the 169 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,670 S . I . D . Process to that point that 170 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:08,940 less than half of them have indicated a 171 00:07:08,940 --> 00:07:11,610 willingness to to move at this point . 172 00:07:11,620 --> 00:07:15,590 So the numbers wouldn't necessarily a 173 00:07:15,590 --> 00:07:17,910 note to a level that was so high that 174 00:07:17,910 --> 00:07:21,120 we couldn't manage it with either 175 00:07:21,130 --> 00:07:23,600 range with a range of U . S . 176 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,660 Installations overseas , US military 177 00:07:26,660 --> 00:07:28,670 installations or third countries . 178 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:30,680 Again , we're still working at this 179 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,100 very hard with with countries in and 180 00:07:33,100 --> 00:07:35,510 out of the region . Um And as I said 181 00:07:35,510 --> 00:07:37,732 before , the department is looking very 182 00:07:37,732 --> 00:07:40,220 hard at installations overseas 183 00:07:40,220 --> 00:07:42,930 installations that we possess or that 184 00:07:42,930 --> 00:07:45,650 we're using . That might that might 185 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:48,790 prove valuable follow up that has been 186 00:07:48,790 --> 00:07:51,100 requested by state to look at specific 187 00:07:51,100 --> 00:07:54,430 installations to potentially how's the 188 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,030 interpreters ? It's less about state 189 00:07:57,030 --> 00:07:58,697 asking us to look at specific 190 00:07:58,697 --> 00:08:01,490 installations , star as it is about our 191 00:08:01,490 --> 00:08:04,020 task in this interagency process is to 192 00:08:04,020 --> 00:08:06,280 look at our installations overseas and 193 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,860 to recommend to state and to 194 00:08:09,860 --> 00:08:12,980 dhs what installations we think might 195 00:08:12,980 --> 00:08:16,130 fill the need . And I think 196 00:08:16,140 --> 00:08:18,530 again , depending on the numbers here , 197 00:08:18,540 --> 00:08:20,651 we don't have a perfect sense of what 198 00:08:20,651 --> 00:08:23,050 the demand signal is going to be . But 199 00:08:23,060 --> 00:08:25,290 what we're assuming is that we've got 200 00:08:25,290 --> 00:08:27,512 to have some flexible options here that 201 00:08:27,512 --> 00:08:29,512 it's not just gonna be one and done 202 00:08:29,512 --> 00:08:31,679 like , you know , one installation and 203 00:08:31,679 --> 00:08:34,012 that's it and they all have to go there . 204 00:08:34,012 --> 00:08:36,234 Uh we want to preserve some flexibility 205 00:08:36,234 --> 00:08:38,346 in the process to again to be able to 206 00:08:38,346 --> 00:08:40,623 absorb numbers as they flex up or down . 207 00:08:40,623 --> 00:08:43,270 So I would anticipate that uh that we 208 00:08:43,270 --> 00:08:45,381 would , we will want to be ready as a 209 00:08:45,381 --> 00:08:47,710 government for a range of different 210 00:08:47,710 --> 00:08:49,820 places that they can go to as they 211 00:08:49,830 --> 00:08:51,941 continue to process their way through 212 00:08:51,941 --> 00:08:54,108 the system . Last one , just to follow 213 00:08:54,108 --> 00:08:56,052 up to lead us question on the Over 214 00:08:56,052 --> 00:08:58,219 Hillary's on um when we've asked us in 215 00:08:58,219 --> 00:09:00,552 the past , you've often said , you know , 216 00:09:00,552 --> 00:09:02,608 we do already have a robust over the 217 00:09:02,608 --> 00:09:04,608 horizon response and ability . So I 218 00:09:04,608 --> 00:09:06,830 guess my question is , why then , would 219 00:09:06,830 --> 00:09:08,997 you need to negotiate additional , why 220 00:09:08,997 --> 00:09:11,163 is there a need for additional sites ? 221 00:09:11,163 --> 00:09:13,441 Same reason I just gave you with S . I . 222 00:09:13,441 --> 00:09:15,663 V . S . Flexibility options . Uh One of 223 00:09:15,663 --> 00:09:17,886 the things that we prize highly here at 224 00:09:17,886 --> 00:09:20,770 the pentagon is options uh and and 225 00:09:20,770 --> 00:09:22,881 being as usual and being nimble uh in 226 00:09:22,881 --> 00:09:25,540 case you need to do something 227 00:09:25,540 --> 00:09:27,484 differently . Plus look , I mean , 228 00:09:27,484 --> 00:09:29,540 geography is geography Tara . And so 229 00:09:29,540 --> 00:09:31,651 the options that we have available to 230 00:09:31,651 --> 00:09:33,940 us though , they are robust and though 231 00:09:33,940 --> 00:09:36,860 and and and we are using them . Uh 232 00:09:36,870 --> 00:09:39,020 There's there's a there's a geography 233 00:09:39,030 --> 00:09:41,510 component here . I mean there's uh 234 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,631 there's great distances to cover . Uh 235 00:09:43,631 --> 00:09:46,050 So obviously we would also like to 236 00:09:46,060 --> 00:09:48,610 pursue the possibility of capabilities 237 00:09:48,610 --> 00:09:52,060 that are closer uh to uh to Afghanistan . 238 00:09:52,060 --> 00:09:54,171 And and that's and that's really what 239 00:09:54,171 --> 00:09:56,504 that's where the headspace is right now , 240 00:09:56,504 --> 00:09:58,616 Tony would follow up on the I S . R . 241 00:09:58,616 --> 00:10:00,449 Thing . And then I had a broader 242 00:10:00,449 --> 00:10:02,616 question . The President said , we are 243 00:10:02,616 --> 00:10:04,227 eyes will be firmly fixed on 244 00:10:04,227 --> 00:10:06,120 Afghanistan . That implies in the 245 00:10:06,130 --> 00:10:08,580 military technical world , possibly 246 00:10:08,580 --> 00:10:10,747 persistent intelligence , surveillance 247 00:10:10,747 --> 00:10:12,670 and reconnaissance drones , river 248 00:10:12,670 --> 00:10:14,670 joints , all your electronic combat 249 00:10:14,670 --> 00:10:16,837 type of planes and drones . Is that is 250 00:10:16,837 --> 00:10:18,781 that what he's referring to ? That 251 00:10:18,781 --> 00:10:20,614 persistence air presence outside 252 00:10:20,614 --> 00:10:22,600 looking into Afghanistan without 253 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,440 getting into too much specifics on 254 00:10:25,450 --> 00:10:28,060 until assets and resources Tony . I 255 00:10:28,070 --> 00:10:32,030 think you can expect that we plan 256 00:10:32,030 --> 00:10:35,070 to use a range of is our capabilities 257 00:10:35,070 --> 00:10:38,860 at our disposal . And we also intend to 258 00:10:38,860 --> 00:10:41,270 leverage the strong relationship we 259 00:10:41,270 --> 00:10:44,190 have with the Afghan forces who will 260 00:10:44,190 --> 00:10:46,190 still be on the ground and who will 261 00:10:46,190 --> 00:10:48,412 still have information and context that 262 00:10:48,412 --> 00:10:50,412 they can help provide us . I mean , 263 00:10:50,412 --> 00:10:52,246 we're not walking away from that 264 00:10:52,246 --> 00:10:52,140 relationship . We're certainly not 265 00:10:52,140 --> 00:10:54,480 going to walk away from the knowledge , 266 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:55,980 the context , the cultural 267 00:10:55,980 --> 00:10:58,147 understanding that our Afghan partners 268 00:10:58,147 --> 00:11:00,147 will be able to provide as well . I 269 00:11:00,147 --> 00:11:02,202 need to ask you a broader question . 270 00:11:02,202 --> 00:11:04,258 Pulling together some of the threads 271 00:11:04,258 --> 00:11:04,150 that came out of the White House , the 272 00:11:04,150 --> 00:11:06,317 press conference today , the president 273 00:11:06,317 --> 00:11:08,850 disclosed there's about 75,000 taliban . 274 00:11:08,860 --> 00:11:11,080 That's a new figure arrayed against 275 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,100 about three over 300,000 afghan 276 00:11:13,100 --> 00:11:15,960 security forces well equipped . We've 277 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:19,450 spent like $74 billion 20 years . 278 00:11:19,450 --> 00:11:22,320 According to cigar , the taliban is 279 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:25,200 nothing North Vietnamese army . The 280 00:11:25,210 --> 00:11:27,280 afghans are well quick . But as we 281 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:29,480 leave , The Taliban controls more 282 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:31,660 territory now than they did in 2001 . 283 00:11:32,140 --> 00:11:35,380 From a non , from a broad military 284 00:11:35,380 --> 00:11:37,491 perspective , can you tell us why the 285 00:11:37,491 --> 00:11:40,970 taliban has been so resilient given the 286 00:11:40,970 --> 00:11:42,970 forces arrayed against them and the 287 00:11:42,970 --> 00:11:44,914 dollars we've spent over there , I 288 00:11:44,914 --> 00:11:46,970 don't want to be in a position where 289 00:11:46,970 --> 00:11:48,870 I'm uh defending 290 00:11:48,870 --> 00:11:52,770 the tactics 291 00:11:52,770 --> 00:11:55,920 and the strategy of the taliban . They 292 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,660 have never not wanted to have 293 00:12:00,140 --> 00:12:03,360 uh governance capability in 294 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:05,527 Afghanistan . I mean , this has been a 295 00:12:05,527 --> 00:12:09,300 persistent goal of theirs . Um and uh 296 00:12:09,310 --> 00:12:12,190 and they are able to operate inside the 297 00:12:12,190 --> 00:12:15,340 population , uh you know , in ways that 298 00:12:15,350 --> 00:12:18,830 that uh that official uniformed 299 00:12:18,830 --> 00:12:22,270 personnel or not able to do necessarily 300 00:12:22,270 --> 00:12:25,130 as as easily or as adeptly . 301 00:12:26,030 --> 00:12:29,150 And they also unlike 302 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:32,530 Afghan national security and defence 303 00:12:32,530 --> 00:12:35,260 forces . I mean , they use intimidation 304 00:12:35,270 --> 00:12:38,140 and torture and cruel 305 00:12:38,150 --> 00:12:41,490 methods to achieve their ends through 306 00:12:41,490 --> 00:12:45,300 fear and intimidation . Um and I 307 00:12:45,300 --> 00:12:48,240 can't speak for why they , you know , I 308 00:12:48,250 --> 00:12:50,740 can't speak for why that's necessarily 309 00:12:50,740 --> 00:12:52,462 more effective than than other 310 00:12:52,462 --> 00:12:55,240 strategies in Afghanistan . But I think 311 00:12:55,250 --> 00:12:57,361 you don't don't miss the larger point 312 00:12:57,361 --> 00:12:59,361 here that I think the president was 313 00:12:59,361 --> 00:13:01,361 trying to make that , that over the 314 00:13:01,361 --> 00:13:04,500 last 20 years , whether you are one who 315 00:13:04,500 --> 00:13:07,960 is in favor of the mission or not , 316 00:13:07,980 --> 00:13:10,240 over the last 20 years , through great 317 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:12,407 blood and treasure , we and our allies 318 00:13:12,407 --> 00:13:14,296 and hasn't just been , the United 319 00:13:14,296 --> 00:13:16,610 States have helped build a capacity 320 00:13:16,610 --> 00:13:18,610 inside the Afghan national Security 321 00:13:18,610 --> 00:13:20,777 Defence forces , which is impressive . 322 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:24,110 They have an air force , a competent 323 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:27,060 air force . The taliban has none . They 324 00:13:27,060 --> 00:13:29,500 do have more forces in the field than 325 00:13:29,500 --> 00:13:31,770 what we estimate the taliban to have . 326 00:13:31,780 --> 00:13:34,260 And they have modern weaponry and they 327 00:13:34,260 --> 00:13:36,149 have had the training to use that 328 00:13:36,149 --> 00:13:38,260 weaponry . The question , and this is 329 00:13:38,260 --> 00:13:40,482 what the president was getting at was , 330 00:13:40,482 --> 00:13:42,593 you know , are they going to use that 331 00:13:42,593 --> 00:13:44,649 capacity ? Do they have that will to 332 00:13:44,649 --> 00:13:46,538 use that capacity ? We know their 333 00:13:46,538 --> 00:13:48,482 fighters and they have been in the 334 00:13:48,482 --> 00:13:50,482 fight ? Uh They have taken a lot of 335 00:13:50,482 --> 00:13:52,593 casualties over the last year alone . 336 00:13:52,593 --> 00:13:54,704 You guys have all covered that . Uh , 337 00:13:54,704 --> 00:13:56,816 there's not an issue about bravery or 338 00:13:56,816 --> 00:13:58,927 courage here . So the question is now 339 00:13:58,927 --> 00:14:01,360 for them , are they gonna , are they , 340 00:14:01,370 --> 00:14:03,259 are they willing and able to come 341 00:14:03,259 --> 00:14:05,370 together as a government and use that 342 00:14:05,370 --> 00:14:07,481 capacity that that they have and they 343 00:14:07,481 --> 00:14:09,481 will do it again . As the President 344 00:14:09,481 --> 00:14:11,703 said just a little bit ago , they'll do 345 00:14:11,703 --> 00:14:13,870 it with our help . It's not like , you 346 00:14:13,870 --> 00:14:16,092 know , we're clapping hands and walking 347 00:14:16,092 --> 00:14:17,981 away , They're still going to get 348 00:14:17,981 --> 00:14:20,037 financial support . Uh the president 349 00:14:20,037 --> 00:14:21,981 just pledged to think another $300 350 00:14:21,981 --> 00:14:24,203 million . Uh we're going to continue to 351 00:14:24,203 --> 00:14:26,314 work on improving their air force and 352 00:14:26,314 --> 00:14:28,259 their air force capabilities . The 353 00:14:28,259 --> 00:14:31,660 secretary just recently uh agreed to uh . 354 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,070 uh to help them to deliver another two 355 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:36,858 this month , will be able to to 356 00:14:36,858 --> 00:14:38,910 refurbished you H 60 Black Hawk 357 00:14:38,910 --> 00:14:42,860 helicopters with another 35 to come . 358 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:46,010 Um we're going to help manage an 359 00:14:46,020 --> 00:14:48,131 overhaul process for some of their my 360 00:14:48,131 --> 00:14:51,250 17 helicopters . Um and we're going to 361 00:14:51,250 --> 00:14:54,030 purchase another three super chicano 362 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:57,390 age 29 aircraft for them , A 29 sorry , 363 00:14:57,400 --> 00:14:59,460 a 29 aircraft . So I mean , we're 364 00:14:59,460 --> 00:15:01,880 committed in very tangible ways to 365 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,158 improving their Air Force capabilities . 366 00:15:04,158 --> 00:15:07,250 Uh and we're also gonna be working too 367 00:15:07,340 --> 00:15:09,530 provide logistical maintenance support 368 00:15:09,530 --> 00:15:11,780 for For their forces going forward . 369 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,530 You were a spokesman for General Allen 370 00:15:14,530 --> 00:15:16,641 there in Afghanistan nine years ago . 371 00:15:16,641 --> 00:15:18,630 Associate to what extent as the 372 00:15:18,630 --> 00:15:21,780 Taliban's resilience ? A product of the 373 00:15:21,780 --> 00:15:23,724 fact that Pakistan has allowed the 374 00:15:23,724 --> 00:15:25,870 Haqqani network and help other 375 00:15:25,870 --> 00:15:27,870 organizations of the Taliban to use 376 00:15:27,870 --> 00:15:29,592 their safe havens . Used their 377 00:15:29,592 --> 00:15:31,814 territory to refurbish and go back into 378 00:15:31,814 --> 00:15:33,648 Afghanistan . Is that one of the 379 00:15:33,648 --> 00:15:35,870 historic reasons for their resilience ? 380 00:15:35,870 --> 00:15:38,037 The safe havens along that border have 381 00:15:38,037 --> 00:15:40,148 historically been a problem . There's 382 00:15:40,148 --> 00:15:43,780 no question about that . Um uh , and we 383 00:15:43,780 --> 00:15:46,002 know that the taliban has used has been 384 00:15:46,002 --> 00:15:47,947 able to use safe havens along that 385 00:15:47,947 --> 00:15:51,060 spine uh , to refurbish , to retrain , 386 00:15:51,060 --> 00:15:53,810 to replenish themselves to plan . Uh , 387 00:15:53,810 --> 00:15:55,810 and that's something that we are in 388 00:15:55,810 --> 00:15:58,900 constant communication with with 389 00:15:58,900 --> 00:16:01,260 Pakistan about . I would also remind , 390 00:16:01,260 --> 00:16:03,260 and I think it's too easy to forget 391 00:16:03,260 --> 00:16:06,860 that Pakistan itself has uh have become 392 00:16:06,940 --> 00:16:10,920 victim to terrorist networks operating 393 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:13,190 out of that same , same , some of those 394 00:16:13,190 --> 00:16:15,246 same safe havens . So it's a problem 395 00:16:15,246 --> 00:16:17,560 that they share to uh , and we're going 396 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:20,280 to continue to work with them about how 397 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:23,040 to better close out those closed down 398 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:25,300 those safe havens . Thank you . Yeah , 399 00:16:25,310 --> 00:16:27,366 let me let me go to the phone . If I 400 00:16:27,366 --> 00:16:29,421 don't then I get in trouble so we'll 401 00:16:29,421 --> 00:16:31,310 just we'll keep we'll keep moving 402 00:16:31,310 --> 00:16:33,143 around here . It is here . Sorry 403 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:35,550 jennifer , steinhauer new york times . 404 00:16:36,140 --> 00:16:38,251 Hi thanks . If I could switch to code 405 00:16:38,251 --> 00:16:40,362 for a second . Um I wonder if you had 406 00:16:40,362 --> 00:16:42,251 anything more to update us on the 407 00:16:42,251 --> 00:16:44,307 status of possible mandated vaccines 408 00:16:44,307 --> 00:16:47,320 and also um do you have any visibility 409 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:51,310 into why there are such pretty broad 410 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:54,300 notable differences in vaccine 411 00:16:54,310 --> 00:16:56,610 acceptance rates between the service 412 00:16:56,610 --> 00:16:59,490 branches ? I can't answer the second 413 00:16:59,490 --> 00:17:01,601 question for you , Jennifer . I think 414 00:17:01,601 --> 00:17:03,490 that's really a question better . 415 00:17:03,490 --> 00:17:05,823 Better asked of the services themselves . 416 00:17:05,823 --> 00:17:08,140 I would uh say and you heard us talk 417 00:17:08,140 --> 00:17:10,084 about this a few days ago . I mean 418 00:17:10,084 --> 00:17:12,730 we're at almost 70 of D . O . D . 419 00:17:12,730 --> 00:17:15,740 Personnel with one dose . So I think 420 00:17:15,740 --> 00:17:17,740 we're glad to see that we obviously 421 00:17:17,740 --> 00:17:19,962 want to see that number keep going up . 422 00:17:19,962 --> 00:17:22,129 But as for the differences between the 423 00:17:22,129 --> 00:17:24,129 services , I don't have an analysis 424 00:17:24,129 --> 00:17:26,296 here for you and I refer you to to the 425 00:17:26,296 --> 00:17:28,680 services on the mandatory versus 426 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:32,070 voluntary Again , uh , it isn't . The 427 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:33,990 vaccines are under emergency use 428 00:17:33,990 --> 00:17:36,101 authorization right now . And so they 429 00:17:36,101 --> 00:17:38,400 are voluntary . Uh , and with the 430 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:40,567 acceptance rates across the force that 431 00:17:40,567 --> 00:17:42,710 we're seeing , we're glad to see that 432 00:17:42,710 --> 00:17:44,877 with a voluntary vaccine , we're doing 433 00:17:44,877 --> 00:17:47,420 that well . If these vaccines are 434 00:17:47,420 --> 00:17:49,142 approved by the FDA , then the 435 00:17:49,142 --> 00:17:51,198 secretary will certainly talk to the 436 00:17:51,198 --> 00:17:53,364 services and health care professionals 437 00:17:53,364 --> 00:17:55,364 here at the department to determine 438 00:17:55,364 --> 00:17:57,698 what the best options are going forward , 439 00:17:57,698 --> 00:17:59,587 which it could include making the 440 00:17:59,587 --> 00:17:59,230 mandatory . But I don't want to get 441 00:17:59,230 --> 00:18:01,452 ahead of that process . Uh , you know , 442 00:18:01,452 --> 00:18:03,563 we're gonna wait and see what the FDA 443 00:18:03,563 --> 00:18:05,508 does and what they decide and then 444 00:18:05,508 --> 00:18:07,841 we'll move forward . It is not uncommon . 445 00:18:07,841 --> 00:18:10,180 In fact , it is quite common that FDA 446 00:18:10,180 --> 00:18:12,890 approved vaccines are mandatory in the 447 00:18:12,890 --> 00:18:15,070 service having been in the Navy myself 448 00:18:15,070 --> 00:18:17,126 for nearly 30 years . I can tell you 449 00:18:17,126 --> 00:18:19,292 I've been stuck quite a bit . Um , and 450 00:18:19,292 --> 00:18:21,403 it wasn't like I was asking for every 451 00:18:21,403 --> 00:18:23,737 one of those . It is , it's common here , 452 00:18:23,737 --> 00:18:25,792 but I don't want to get ahead of the 453 00:18:25,792 --> 00:18:25,700 process and we're going to do this the 454 00:18:25,700 --> 00:18:27,811 right way and we're going to do it in 455 00:18:27,811 --> 00:18:29,811 concert with service leadership and 456 00:18:29,811 --> 00:18:32,400 health care professionals . Pierre how 457 00:18:32,410 --> 00:18:34,920 concerned are you ? The attacks in the 458 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:37,960 last few days on us soldiers and 459 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:40,570 facilities in Iraq and Syria obviously 460 00:18:40,570 --> 00:18:42,630 deeply concerned , uh , we take the 461 00:18:42,630 --> 00:18:44,519 security and safety of our people 462 00:18:44,519 --> 00:18:46,750 overseas extremely seriously . Uh , and 463 00:18:46,750 --> 00:18:49,340 you've seen us uh , retaliate 464 00:18:49,340 --> 00:18:51,284 appropriately when that safety and 465 00:18:51,284 --> 00:18:53,507 security has been threatened . So we're 466 00:18:53,507 --> 00:18:55,451 obviously watching this with great 467 00:18:55,451 --> 00:18:57,610 concern . As you saw just a couple of 468 00:18:57,610 --> 00:18:59,610 days ago , we had a couple of minor 469 00:18:59,610 --> 00:19:01,721 injuries . So it's not something that 470 00:19:01,721 --> 00:19:03,760 wherever we ever lose sight of . If 471 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:06,120 you're well , you didn't ask 472 00:19:06,170 --> 00:19:10,100 I can borrow since since you're giving 473 00:19:10,100 --> 00:19:13,560 me a chance . I mean , All right , go 474 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:15,960 ahead . I did . I was into it . Is it ? 475 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:18,440 I understand what you what you said 476 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:20,384 obviously , but I want to ask more 477 00:19:20,384 --> 00:19:22,607 about how threatening , how dangerous , 478 00:19:22,607 --> 00:19:24,662 what's happening Or is it just a low 479 00:19:24,662 --> 00:19:28,460 level um what's 480 00:19:28,460 --> 00:19:30,770 happening in that these 481 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:35,060 these attacks are they're using lethal 482 00:19:35,060 --> 00:19:38,260 weaponry . I don't know 483 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:43,630 how you can say anything other than 484 00:19:43,630 --> 00:19:47,130 that . It's a serious threat . We were 485 00:19:47,140 --> 00:19:49,307 we were lucky the other day two people 486 00:19:49,307 --> 00:19:53,270 had minor injuries . Who knows how else 487 00:19:53,270 --> 00:19:55,750 that could have turned out ? We take 488 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:59,260 each one of these deadly serious 489 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:03,327 a couple of questions in Afghanistan . 490 00:20:03,327 --> 00:20:05,160 First on Pakistan . What kind of 491 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:07,382 commitment as students we have received 492 00:20:07,382 --> 00:20:09,438 from Pakistan that they will not let 493 00:20:09,438 --> 00:20:11,604 territories to be used as a safe haven 494 00:20:11,604 --> 00:20:13,716 heavens for terrorists . I won't talk 495 00:20:13,716 --> 00:20:15,660 for the Pakistani government . I'm 496 00:20:15,660 --> 00:20:17,382 certainly not going to divulge 497 00:20:17,382 --> 00:20:17,230 conversations that we're having with 498 00:20:17,230 --> 00:20:19,341 Pakistani leaders . I think my answer 499 00:20:19,341 --> 00:20:22,470 to uh , to Tony was uh , was 500 00:20:22,470 --> 00:20:24,637 appropriately , this is something that 501 00:20:24,637 --> 00:20:26,581 we are uh , we routinely talked to 502 00:20:26,581 --> 00:20:29,220 Pakistan about it is a concern that 503 00:20:29,220 --> 00:20:32,550 Pakistani share and they too , have 504 00:20:32,550 --> 00:20:34,661 suffered at the hands of these groups 505 00:20:34,661 --> 00:20:36,994 operating out of those safe havens . Uh , 506 00:20:36,994 --> 00:20:39,161 it's a difficult problem to solve . We 507 00:20:39,161 --> 00:20:41,383 know there's more work that needs to be 508 00:20:41,383 --> 00:20:43,550 done uh and we're going to continue to 509 00:20:43,550 --> 00:20:45,772 uh to have those conversations with our 510 00:20:45,772 --> 00:20:47,883 Pakistani counterparts and one of the 511 00:20:47,883 --> 00:20:49,661 stated goals of the Obama biden 512 00:20:49,661 --> 00:20:51,883 administration for being in Afghanistan 513 00:20:51,883 --> 00:20:54,106 was to destroy dismantle and defeat the 514 00:20:54,106 --> 00:20:54,090 terrorist infrastructure and the 515 00:20:54,100 --> 00:20:56,580 taliban in particular . And now , since 516 00:20:56,580 --> 00:20:58,524 they are gaining so much ground in 517 00:20:58,524 --> 00:21:00,580 Afghanistan , do you think that goal 518 00:21:00,580 --> 00:21:02,747 has been achieved there ? I think your 519 00:21:02,747 --> 00:21:05,024 understanding the gold uhh incorrectly . 520 00:21:05,024 --> 00:21:07,024 The goal was deterred dismantle and 521 00:21:07,024 --> 00:21:09,520 defeat al Qaeda and that and that has 522 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:11,687 been accomplished . Now , that doesn't 523 00:21:11,687 --> 00:21:13,798 mean that there aren't still Al Qaeda 524 00:21:13,798 --> 00:21:15,853 operatives or cells in Afghanistan . 525 00:21:15,853 --> 00:21:18,020 I'm not saying that there aren't , But 526 00:21:18,020 --> 00:21:20,298 they are nothing like the organization . 527 00:21:20,298 --> 00:21:22,520 They were on 9 , 11 , 20 years ago . Um 528 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,520 and that's a real testament to the hard 529 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:28,560 work that Our men and women in uniform 530 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:30,504 accomplished . Our Afghan partners 531 00:21:30,504 --> 00:21:32,880 accomplished and our NATO and coalition 532 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:35,150 allies accomplished in Afghanistan over 533 00:21:35,150 --> 00:21:37,206 the last 20 years . They are greatly 534 00:21:37,206 --> 00:21:39,261 reduced threat . They're still there 535 00:21:39,261 --> 00:21:41,428 but there are greatly reduced threat . 536 00:21:41,428 --> 00:21:43,539 And one final question on as withdraw 537 00:21:43,539 --> 00:21:45,706 from Afghanistan , what is the message 538 00:21:45,706 --> 00:21:47,817 that you want to send to countries in 539 00:21:47,817 --> 00:21:49,930 the region , Iran and India as we 540 00:21:49,930 --> 00:21:53,770 withdraw out of Afghanistan ? If 541 00:21:53,780 --> 00:21:55,891 if you're asking what message that we 542 00:21:55,891 --> 00:21:58,002 have to send to them ? That has to do 543 00:21:58,002 --> 00:21:59,724 with Afghanistan ? I think the 544 00:21:59,724 --> 00:22:01,613 president , I think the president 545 00:22:01,613 --> 00:22:03,724 covered this quite well today when he 546 00:22:03,724 --> 00:22:05,780 was taking questions that uh that we 547 00:22:05,780 --> 00:22:09,350 want all countries in the region uh to 548 00:22:09,350 --> 00:22:11,960 want the same thing that we want for 549 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:13,793 the afghans , which is peace and 550 00:22:13,793 --> 00:22:15,890 security and stability and an afghan 551 00:22:15,890 --> 00:22:18,057 led negotiated process that leads to a 552 00:22:18,057 --> 00:22:20,990 political settlement that is that is up 553 00:22:20,990 --> 00:22:23,300 to the Afghans and for their future to 554 00:22:23,300 --> 00:22:26,380 be determined by them . So , our hope 555 00:22:26,380 --> 00:22:29,670 is that other nations uh in the region , 556 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:31,729 whatever they do , whatever their 557 00:22:31,729 --> 00:22:33,340 bilateral relations are with 558 00:22:33,340 --> 00:22:35,562 Afghanistan , it is to support that end 559 00:22:35,562 --> 00:22:39,070 a negotiated peaceful solution . Uh So 560 00:22:39,070 --> 00:22:41,660 that doesn't render into civil war and 561 00:22:41,660 --> 00:22:44,130 that there's an Afghanistan that is 562 00:22:44,130 --> 00:22:46,297 peaceful , prosperous and secure going 563 00:22:46,297 --> 00:22:48,490 forward . That the Afghan people own 564 00:22:48,500 --> 00:22:51,230 that that that that they decide the 565 00:22:51,230 --> 00:22:53,452 future that they decide and that's what 566 00:22:53,452 --> 00:22:55,563 we want all of the countries too . Um 567 00:22:55,563 --> 00:22:57,730 to take to heart to thank you . Yeah . 568 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:01,050 Uh let's see . Carla bob . 569 00:23:04,140 --> 00:23:06,800 Hey john um I wanted to talk about what 570 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:08,744 you had mentioned about the terror 571 00:23:08,744 --> 00:23:11,320 group's metastasizing in Africa . Uh 572 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:13,487 And then I have a quick follow on that 573 00:23:13,487 --> 00:23:15,709 related as well . So please guys in the 574 00:23:15,709 --> 00:23:17,950 back room don't cut my mic um eye on 575 00:23:17,950 --> 00:23:19,950 Africa . You know , potus also said 576 00:23:19,950 --> 00:23:22,061 what you had said today and said that 577 00:23:22,061 --> 00:23:24,228 the US was repositioning its resources 578 00:23:24,228 --> 00:23:27,580 to tackle these threats . So you know , 579 00:23:27,580 --> 00:23:29,413 is the US sending troops back to 580 00:23:29,413 --> 00:23:31,820 Somalia ? Are you putting more forces 581 00:23:31,830 --> 00:23:34,200 in the Suhel ? How precisely is the U . 582 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:36,311 S . Going to be changing its security 583 00:23:36,311 --> 00:23:38,440 posture on the continent ? Carl ? I 584 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:40,218 think you can understand why we 585 00:23:40,218 --> 00:23:42,218 wouldn't necessarily detailed troop 586 00:23:42,218 --> 00:23:44,590 movements or force presence uh in 587 00:23:44,590 --> 00:23:46,479 advance , particularly when we're 588 00:23:46,479 --> 00:23:48,368 talking about a counter terrorism 589 00:23:48,368 --> 00:23:50,640 threat . I would just say a couple of 590 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:52,862 things . We won , we are doing a global 591 00:23:52,862 --> 00:23:54,862 posture review that should end that 592 00:23:54,862 --> 00:23:56,973 should be wrapped up here towards the 593 00:23:56,973 --> 00:23:59,084 end of the summer . That will greatly 594 00:23:59,084 --> 00:24:01,140 inform the secretary with respect to 595 00:24:01,140 --> 00:24:03,251 resources around the world to include 596 00:24:03,251 --> 00:24:05,418 counterterror resources in places like 597 00:24:05,418 --> 00:24:07,950 uh this hell or the Horn of Africa , 598 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:11,700 Places where Yemen uh all around the 599 00:24:11,700 --> 00:24:13,422 world where we see the counter 600 00:24:13,422 --> 00:24:15,478 terrorism , counter terrorism threat 601 00:24:15,478 --> 00:24:17,589 metastasizing and I don't want to get 602 00:24:17,589 --> 00:24:19,589 ahead of that review . But short of 603 00:24:19,589 --> 00:24:22,010 that review , the secretary is in 604 00:24:22,010 --> 00:24:23,899 constant touch with his combatant 605 00:24:23,899 --> 00:24:25,732 commanders about the threats and 606 00:24:25,732 --> 00:24:27,788 challenges as they see them . Uh and 607 00:24:27,788 --> 00:24:30,130 we're constantly making operational 608 00:24:30,130 --> 00:24:32,650 decisions about force posture in 609 00:24:32,650 --> 00:24:34,910 relation to that . I simply am just not 610 00:24:34,910 --> 00:24:37,200 going to be at the podium able to 611 00:24:37,210 --> 00:24:39,960 telegraph some of these in advance when 612 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:42,500 and if we can talk about these kinds of 613 00:24:42,500 --> 00:24:44,333 operations , we certainly will , 614 00:24:44,333 --> 00:24:46,389 there's going to be times when we're 615 00:24:46,389 --> 00:24:48,667 simply not going to be able to do that . 616 00:24:48,667 --> 00:24:48,350 The last thing I'll say to answer your 617 00:24:48,350 --> 00:24:50,240 question is were absolutely laser 618 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:52,610 focused on the metastases ation of this 619 00:24:52,610 --> 00:24:54,777 particular threat and the migration of 620 00:24:54,777 --> 00:24:57,210 it outside of Afghanistan and where 621 00:24:57,210 --> 00:24:59,377 it's going and and what they're trying 622 00:24:59,377 --> 00:25:01,432 to do . I mean , it's something that 623 00:25:01,432 --> 00:25:03,432 we're uh we're literally looking at 624 00:25:03,432 --> 00:25:05,543 every single day and we want to be as 625 00:25:05,543 --> 00:25:07,654 nimble , as flexible as we can . Part 626 00:25:07,654 --> 00:25:09,710 of being a part of drawing down from 627 00:25:09,710 --> 00:25:11,800 Afghanistan is being able then to 628 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:14,022 refocus our efforts in this regard . It 629 00:25:14,022 --> 00:25:16,070 is also giving us an opportunity to 630 00:25:16,070 --> 00:25:18,540 refocus our departmental efforts 631 00:25:18,550 --> 00:25:22,470 against other uh nation state . And in 632 00:25:22,470 --> 00:25:24,526 some cases , you know , like climate 633 00:25:24,526 --> 00:25:26,692 change , literally existential threats 634 00:25:26,692 --> 00:25:28,803 and challenges that the department is 635 00:25:28,803 --> 00:25:31,140 also facing . So it does help us free 636 00:25:31,140 --> 00:25:34,170 up resources , uh , both dollars and 637 00:25:34,170 --> 00:25:36,114 and people to focus on these other 638 00:25:36,114 --> 00:25:38,490 threats around the world . And then , 639 00:25:38,500 --> 00:25:41,760 um so when experts have referred to the 640 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:43,880 Afghanistan Pakistan region to follow 641 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:45,824 on this , they called it terrorism 642 00:25:45,824 --> 00:25:47,658 central , there's still 20 or so 643 00:25:47,658 --> 00:25:49,713 terrorism groups there . So when you 644 00:25:49,713 --> 00:25:51,540 say that the terror threat has 645 00:25:51,540 --> 00:25:53,970 metastasized , does that mean 646 00:25:53,970 --> 00:25:55,859 specifically help me understand a 647 00:25:55,859 --> 00:25:57,970 little better ? Are they stronger now 648 00:25:57,970 --> 00:25:59,748 elsewhere than they are in this 649 00:25:59,748 --> 00:26:01,803 Afghanistan Pakistan region , larger 650 00:26:01,803 --> 00:26:03,692 numbers , greater capabilities to 651 00:26:03,692 --> 00:26:05,859 attack the homeland . What exactly are 652 00:26:05,859 --> 00:26:05,540 you talking about ? I'm talking about 653 00:26:05,540 --> 00:26:09,100 Carla is that we're not seeing the 654 00:26:09,110 --> 00:26:11,670 sorts of threats to the homeland 655 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:14,262 Emanating from Afghanistan the way they 656 00:26:14,262 --> 00:26:16,110 did in 2001 , or even in years 657 00:26:16,110 --> 00:26:18,550 subsequent to 2001 , were simply not 658 00:26:18,550 --> 00:26:21,140 seeing that . And we don't want to see 659 00:26:21,140 --> 00:26:23,410 it return , which is why the president 660 00:26:23,410 --> 00:26:26,730 talked today about being so focused 661 00:26:26,740 --> 00:26:30,510 on making sure that we're able to watch 662 00:26:30,510 --> 00:26:32,621 what's going on in Afghanistan from a 663 00:26:32,621 --> 00:26:34,732 persistent perspective and to be able 664 00:26:34,732 --> 00:26:36,677 to act on that , that knowledge as 665 00:26:36,677 --> 00:26:38,732 quickly as possible so that it can't 666 00:26:38,732 --> 00:26:40,677 That that threat can't rise to the 667 00:26:40,677 --> 00:26:42,399 level that it was in 2001 from 668 00:26:42,399 --> 00:26:44,566 Afghanistan . So we're just not seeing 669 00:26:44,566 --> 00:26:46,732 the same level of terrorist threat out 670 00:26:46,732 --> 00:26:48,732 of Afghanistan at that level . Uh , 671 00:26:48,732 --> 00:26:51,550 there are other places where the threat 672 00:26:51,550 --> 00:26:53,550 of terrorism is growing now . Is it 673 00:26:53,550 --> 00:26:55,717 growing to the level that , you know , 674 00:26:55,717 --> 00:26:57,772 I can stand here and predict that an 675 00:26:57,772 --> 00:26:59,994 immediate attack on the homeland ? No , 676 00:26:59,994 --> 00:27:01,939 but we are seeing uh the terrorism 677 00:27:01,939 --> 00:27:04,320 threat migrate to other places around 678 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:06,950 the world , particularly in africa . 679 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:08,984 And that's something we need to be 680 00:27:08,984 --> 00:27:12,820 focused on . Uh Yeah 681 00:27:13,510 --> 00:27:15,732 I just want to provide more information 682 00:27:15,732 --> 00:27:17,788 on which specific U . S . Facilities 683 00:27:17,788 --> 00:27:20,010 have been identified as part of the S . 684 00:27:20,010 --> 00:27:22,177 I . V . Applicant process to hold them 685 00:27:22,177 --> 00:27:24,121 as their visas or what region . At 686 00:27:24,121 --> 00:27:26,232 least I'm not gonna be able to detail 687 00:27:26,232 --> 00:27:28,454 specific installations were just not at 688 00:27:28,454 --> 00:27:30,677 that point right now that to be able to 689 00:27:30,677 --> 00:27:32,899 to list them , uh there are several U . 690 00:27:32,899 --> 00:27:35,360 S . Military installations overseas 691 00:27:35,360 --> 00:27:39,060 that are being considered . Um and 692 00:27:40,540 --> 00:27:44,530 uh regionally I uh you 693 00:27:44,530 --> 00:27:48,330 know I say 694 00:27:48,340 --> 00:27:51,930 almost almost globally in terms of 695 00:27:51,930 --> 00:27:54,097 where they're where we're looking at , 696 00:27:54,097 --> 00:27:56,340 there's not like there's not one part 697 00:27:56,340 --> 00:27:58,850 of the world you know that we're that 698 00:27:58,850 --> 00:28:02,060 we're so solely focused on in terms of 699 00:28:02,940 --> 00:28:04,940 where we could , where we could how 700 00:28:04,940 --> 00:28:08,200 some of these individuals , it's , it's 701 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:10,850 truly sort of a global look . Yeah . 702 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:13,570 Thanks , Lucas , johnson , the Taliban 703 00:28:13,570 --> 00:28:15,514 have taken over dozens of district 704 00:28:15,514 --> 00:28:17,737 centers in Afghanistan . Why aren't you 705 00:28:17,737 --> 00:28:19,737 launching airstrikes to support the 706 00:28:19,737 --> 00:28:21,792 Afghan government ? I would tell you 707 00:28:21,792 --> 00:28:21,300 that again , we still have the 708 00:28:21,300 --> 00:28:24,500 authorities to uh , to support Afghan 709 00:28:24,500 --> 00:28:26,722 national Security forces in the field . 710 00:28:26,722 --> 00:28:29,820 Those decisions are and will continue 711 00:28:29,820 --> 00:28:31,876 to be made on a case by case basis , 712 00:28:31,876 --> 00:28:34,042 Lucas . I'm not prepared to go through 713 00:28:34,042 --> 00:28:36,264 the rules of engagement here with you , 714 00:28:36,264 --> 00:28:39,050 uh , in this forum , uh , but it is 715 00:28:39,140 --> 00:28:42,800 obviously as uh , to drawdown 716 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:46,080 continues , some of , some of the , the 717 00:28:46,090 --> 00:28:48,257 some of those capabilities will change 718 00:28:48,257 --> 00:28:50,750 over time . Um , but it's it's also 719 00:28:50,750 --> 00:28:54,230 really important that the afghans stand 720 00:28:54,230 --> 00:28:56,850 up to this threat and it's not like 721 00:28:56,850 --> 00:29:00,550 they aren't everywhere Lucas , it's the 722 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:03,420 narrative that that they aren't pushing 723 00:29:03,420 --> 00:29:05,642 back , that they aren't fighting , that 724 00:29:05,642 --> 00:29:07,864 they're not capable . That's that's not 725 00:29:07,864 --> 00:29:09,750 what we're seeing . Uh So it's 726 00:29:09,750 --> 00:29:12,840 important that that they continue to 727 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:15,230 use the capacity that they have , 728 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:18,030 including their own air force , which 729 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:20,050 does have strike capabilities , 730 00:29:20,060 --> 00:29:22,470 competent strike capabilities . But if 731 00:29:22,470 --> 00:29:24,803 you have all the authorities , you need , 732 00:29:24,803 --> 00:29:27,026 you have an aircraft carrier sitting in 733 00:29:27,026 --> 00:29:29,248 the Arabian sea with 44 Super Hornets . 734 00:29:29,248 --> 00:29:31,470 Why aren't you unleashing those jets on 735 00:29:31,470 --> 00:29:31,090 the Taliban to help your Afghan 736 00:29:31,090 --> 00:29:33,300 partners ? We are helping our afghan 737 00:29:33,300 --> 00:29:35,890 partners , Lucas and the focus the 738 00:29:35,900 --> 00:29:39,350 focus right now militarily is to get to 739 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:41,527 get the drawdown complete , to do that 740 00:29:41,527 --> 00:29:43,582 in a safe way to transition to a new 741 00:29:43,582 --> 00:29:45,693 relationship with our afghan partners 742 00:29:45,693 --> 00:29:48,860 um and to uh to help reinforce for the 743 00:29:48,860 --> 00:29:51,370 afghan government and the afghan forces , 744 00:29:51,380 --> 00:29:53,436 the capacities that they have , that 745 00:29:53,436 --> 00:29:55,547 they that they already have intrinsic 746 00:29:55,547 --> 00:29:58,170 to them . I won't get into a case by 747 00:29:58,170 --> 00:30:00,440 case . Uh , this is in this is our 748 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:02,440 discussion here from the podium . I 749 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:04,218 think you can understand why we 750 00:30:04,218 --> 00:30:06,218 wouldn't do that , but they already 751 00:30:06,218 --> 00:30:08,200 have a lot of capability at their 752 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:10,760 disposal to assist themselves in these 753 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:13,620 efforts . And I would remind you that 754 00:30:13,630 --> 00:30:17,300 in the year or so before the 755 00:30:17,300 --> 00:30:19,860 president announced the drawdown , 756 00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:23,660 afghans were in the lead of the great 757 00:30:23,660 --> 00:30:25,660 majority of operations inside their 758 00:30:25,660 --> 00:30:28,260 country in the lead for almost every 759 00:30:28,260 --> 00:30:31,960 perspective ? No , I do 760 00:30:32,340 --> 00:30:34,680 what no one believes that Lucas or you 761 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:36,791 don't believe that . I think a lot of 762 00:30:36,791 --> 00:30:38,847 them do not believe that the afghans 763 00:30:38,847 --> 00:30:40,680 are in the lead . Uh , all these 764 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:40,350 operations you're talking about , they 765 00:30:40,350 --> 00:30:42,517 were in the lead for the vast majority 766 00:30:42,517 --> 00:30:44,628 of the operations in the country over 767 00:30:44,628 --> 00:30:46,850 the last year . Maybe you don't believe 768 00:30:46,850 --> 00:30:48,961 that that's fine separately through a 769 00:30:48,961 --> 00:30:48,880 separate topic . You mentioned china 770 00:30:48,890 --> 00:30:50,946 earlier in Climate change . Does the 771 00:30:50,946 --> 00:30:52,779 pentagon believe that china is a 772 00:30:52,779 --> 00:30:54,946 trusted agent when it comes to dealing 773 00:30:54,946 --> 00:30:57,340 with climate change ? I think we have 774 00:30:57,350 --> 00:31:00,770 concerns about about 775 00:31:01,740 --> 00:31:04,940 uh , some of china's policies with 776 00:31:04,940 --> 00:31:07,051 respect to environmental protection . 777 00:31:07,051 --> 00:31:09,580 There's no question about that , but we 778 00:31:09,580 --> 00:31:13,190 also believe and that that in the area 779 00:31:13,190 --> 00:31:15,301 of climate change , that is something 780 00:31:15,301 --> 00:31:17,480 that could be an area for better 781 00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:19,490 cooperation with china . There's no 782 00:31:19,490 --> 00:31:22,440 reason why it shouldn't be since it 783 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:24,900 affects everybody in the world . Uh , 784 00:31:24,910 --> 00:31:26,960 China is a great producer of carbon 785 00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:29,420 emissions . They have responsibilities 786 00:31:29,420 --> 00:31:31,642 on the international stage with respect 787 00:31:31,642 --> 00:31:33,809 to climate change . And we want to see 788 00:31:33,809 --> 00:31:35,642 they meet those trucks , Are you 789 00:31:35,642 --> 00:31:37,642 concerned that the growing need for 790 00:31:37,642 --> 00:31:39,864 solar panels from this administration ? 791 00:31:39,864 --> 00:31:42,031 Uh they come from china , there's some 792 00:31:42,031 --> 00:31:43,976 slave labor that goes into them of 793 00:31:43,976 --> 00:31:45,864 their concerns that chinese solar 794 00:31:45,864 --> 00:31:47,976 panels are . Do you have any concerns 795 00:31:47,976 --> 00:31:49,976 about them ? Just solar panels that 796 00:31:49,976 --> 00:31:52,087 china makes ? That's not a question I 797 00:31:52,087 --> 00:31:54,031 think for the Defense Department I 798 00:31:54,031 --> 00:31:55,976 appreciate that but I would uh and 799 00:31:55,976 --> 00:31:57,753 referring I think to the EPA on 800 00:31:57,753 --> 00:31:59,976 something like that that's not really a 801 00:31:59,976 --> 00:32:02,253 question I'm qualified to answer Lucas . 802 00:32:02,253 --> 00:32:04,364 Yeah we just following up by oren and 803 00:32:04,364 --> 00:32:06,253 Stars questions about the U . S . 804 00:32:06,253 --> 00:32:08,920 Facilities overseas . Yeah . Um If 805 00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:11,850 they're in 3rd countries potentially 806 00:32:11,860 --> 00:32:14,027 potentially if they are does that mean 807 00:32:14,027 --> 00:32:16,193 that these U . S . Facilities need the 808 00:32:16,193 --> 00:32:18,480 permission of the host country uh to 809 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:20,702 happen ? Um And since the president did 810 00:32:20,702 --> 00:32:23,730 say you know starting this month , does 811 00:32:23,730 --> 00:32:25,897 that mean that you are on the verge of 812 00:32:25,897 --> 00:32:28,174 getting approval from potentially some ? 813 00:32:28,174 --> 00:32:30,341 The short answer , your first question 814 00:32:30,341 --> 00:32:32,563 is yes . Now some U . S . Installations 815 00:32:32,563 --> 00:32:36,310 that we're looking at are ours on US 816 00:32:36,840 --> 00:32:40,790 territory . Right . Some would be 817 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:42,980 installations that don't belong to us 818 00:32:42,980 --> 00:32:45,300 that are in host nations but that we 819 00:32:45,300 --> 00:32:47,522 have access to and that we're using and 820 00:32:47,522 --> 00:32:49,578 yes , absolutely , you would have to 821 00:32:49,578 --> 00:32:51,744 talk to the host nation about that and 822 00:32:51,744 --> 00:32:51,090 make sure that you have their 823 00:32:51,090 --> 00:32:53,480 permission and approval . And then 824 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:55,800 there are some Possibilities and 825 00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:59,650 options in 3rd nations or other nations 826 00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:04,240 uh at locations that have nothing to do 827 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:06,810 with the U . S . Military that , you 828 00:33:06,810 --> 00:33:09,220 know , we're not we're not in uh and we 829 00:33:09,220 --> 00:33:11,930 don't use but just other nations that 830 00:33:11,930 --> 00:33:14,097 might be willing to take some of these 831 00:33:14,097 --> 00:33:16,660 people in temporarily . So again to my 832 00:33:16,670 --> 00:33:18,800 Tatars question , there's a range of 833 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:21,750 options that we're looking at . Um I'm 834 00:33:21,750 --> 00:33:23,917 not going to get ahead of the decision 835 00:33:23,917 --> 00:33:25,639 making process . You heard the 836 00:33:25,639 --> 00:33:27,861 president say that we're going to start 837 00:33:28,140 --> 00:33:31,310 moving them out very very soon and uh 838 00:33:31,320 --> 00:33:33,431 over the course of the next couple of 839 00:33:33,431 --> 00:33:36,530 23 weeks . Um and we all we're all 840 00:33:36,530 --> 00:33:38,641 mindful of that timeline and that and 841 00:33:38,641 --> 00:33:41,860 that goal . But as to exactly where the 842 00:33:41,870 --> 00:33:44,037 first group we're going to go , I just 843 00:33:44,037 --> 00:33:46,203 I'm not prepared to to speak with that 844 00:33:46,203 --> 00:33:48,259 level of specificity right now . And 845 00:33:48,259 --> 00:33:50,259 aside from these U . S . Facilities 846 00:33:50,259 --> 00:33:52,037 which we can assume our U . S . 847 00:33:52,037 --> 00:33:54,710 Military for the most part , would 848 00:33:54,710 --> 00:33:56,654 there be a role in for the U . S . 849 00:33:56,654 --> 00:33:58,690 Military to evacuate some of these 850 00:33:58,700 --> 00:34:01,360 personnel ? Or is this um possibly just 851 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:03,360 again whole of government chartered 852 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:06,270 aircraft ? I think some of this remains 853 00:34:06,270 --> 00:34:10,050 to be seen as I said the other day , um 854 00:34:11,240 --> 00:34:13,760 the State Department is in the lead and 855 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:15,816 the State Department knows how to do 856 00:34:15,816 --> 00:34:19,440 this . Uh this is not uh their first 857 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:21,610 turn at this , especially with the 858 00:34:21,610 --> 00:34:23,666 special immigrant visa program . And 859 00:34:23,666 --> 00:34:26,250 they typically use chartered aircraft , 860 00:34:26,260 --> 00:34:28,482 commercial aircraft that's chartered by 861 00:34:28,482 --> 00:34:31,930 the government to fly to fly people out . 862 00:34:31,940 --> 00:34:35,000 I think that's probably going to be the 863 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:37,111 preferred option here going forward . 864 00:34:37,111 --> 00:34:39,278 Louis obviously we have transportation 865 00:34:39,278 --> 00:34:41,520 capabilities that if needed , we would 866 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:43,750 be able to lend to the effort . I'm not 867 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:46,180 seeing that right now in terms of a 868 00:34:46,180 --> 00:34:48,291 huge demand signal for it . The other 869 00:34:48,291 --> 00:34:50,180 thing . And again , the president 870 00:34:50,180 --> 00:34:52,670 alluded to this is how many takers are 871 00:34:52,670 --> 00:34:54,990 gonna have because that could also 872 00:34:54,990 --> 00:34:57,400 drive capacity . Uh so again , I think 873 00:34:57,410 --> 00:34:59,521 there's uh there's a lot of questions 874 00:34:59,521 --> 00:35:02,250 we still have to answer right now . Our 875 00:35:02,250 --> 00:35:04,750 focus in this interagency process is on 876 00:35:04,750 --> 00:35:08,370 identifying installations , military 877 00:35:08,370 --> 00:35:11,730 installations that could be of use for 878 00:35:11,740 --> 00:35:14,330 this temporary housing . And uh , and 879 00:35:14,330 --> 00:35:16,497 we obviously will be prepared if we're 880 00:35:16,497 --> 00:35:19,680 asked to if we needed to expand those 881 00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:21,791 requirements beyond just installation 882 00:35:21,791 --> 00:35:23,847 identification . But that's where we 883 00:35:23,847 --> 00:35:26,990 are right now . Uh , Stephen Lucey 884 00:35:26,990 --> 00:35:30,270 military dot com thank you . Uh 885 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:33,670 continuing on that subject . Um King , 886 00:35:34,240 --> 00:35:36,240 he talked to me , I'll talk to us a 887 00:35:36,240 --> 00:35:39,130 little bit about what the what afghans 888 00:35:39,130 --> 00:35:41,840 are supposed to be doing to prepare for 889 00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:43,507 the process of this potential 890 00:35:43,507 --> 00:35:45,729 evacuation . There are people who still 891 00:35:45,729 --> 00:35:48,370 haven't heard anything about what might 892 00:35:48,380 --> 00:35:50,491 be coming or what they're supposed to 893 00:35:50,491 --> 00:35:53,260 do is the is the State Department or 894 00:35:53,260 --> 00:35:55,371 the D . O . D . Going to reach out to 895 00:35:55,371 --> 00:35:57,482 these people and say you need to come 896 00:35:57,482 --> 00:36:01,240 to X . Airport at this time to go here . 897 00:36:01,240 --> 00:36:03,018 I mean , this seems like a very 898 00:36:03,630 --> 00:36:06,430 elaborate process that is that needs to 899 00:36:06,430 --> 00:36:09,660 happen in the next month or two . 900 00:36:10,030 --> 00:36:13,330 And there's still nobody has been told 901 00:36:13,340 --> 00:36:15,451 what they're supposed to do . I can't 902 00:36:15,451 --> 00:36:17,760 speak for my colleagues at the State 903 00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:21,040 Department and uh , and the specific 904 00:36:21,830 --> 00:36:24,390 um notifications and communications 905 00:36:24,390 --> 00:36:26,557 that they're having with individuals . 906 00:36:26,557 --> 00:36:28,668 That's really a question for uh , for 907 00:36:28,668 --> 00:36:30,890 my colleagues over there , uh , because 908 00:36:30,890 --> 00:36:33,057 it is under the special immigrant Visa 909 00:36:33,057 --> 00:36:35,112 program and that is run by the State 910 00:36:35,112 --> 00:36:38,840 Department . Uh , but I do know from 911 00:36:39,330 --> 00:36:40,997 prior experience at the State 912 00:36:40,997 --> 00:36:43,163 Department that there is a process for 913 00:36:43,163 --> 00:36:45,163 doing that for uh for communicating 914 00:36:45,163 --> 00:36:47,340 with individuals who have qualified . 915 00:36:47,350 --> 00:36:49,720 And as the president said that the 916 00:36:49,730 --> 00:36:51,841 first group , we're talking about our 917 00:36:51,841 --> 00:36:53,841 groups or individuals who have gone 918 00:36:53,841 --> 00:36:56,174 through almost all the approval process . 919 00:36:56,174 --> 00:36:58,063 So certainly our State Department 920 00:36:58,063 --> 00:37:00,174 colleagues know who they are and they 921 00:37:00,174 --> 00:37:02,174 do have procedures and protocols in 922 00:37:02,174 --> 00:37:04,397 place to communicate with them . I just 923 00:37:04,397 --> 00:37:06,397 can't speak to each individual case 924 00:37:06,397 --> 00:37:09,190 Stephen to tell you who's who's getting 925 00:37:09,190 --> 00:37:11,079 a call and and who isn't . That's 926 00:37:11,079 --> 00:37:13,246 really a a question better put from my 927 00:37:13,246 --> 00:37:15,301 colleagues at the State Department , 928 00:37:15,301 --> 00:37:17,412 I'm afraid I've got time for just one 929 00:37:17,412 --> 00:37:17,070 more and then I'm going to have to get 930 00:37:17,070 --> 00:37:20,270 going . Yeah , confirmed reports this 931 00:37:20,270 --> 00:37:23,410 week that Turkey maybe looking to 932 00:37:23,410 --> 00:37:25,021 deploy Syrian mercenaries to 933 00:37:25,021 --> 00:37:26,743 Afghanistan and support of the 934 00:37:26,743 --> 00:37:28,910 potential Kabul airport mission . It's 935 00:37:28,910 --> 00:37:31,021 an unconfirmed report , but given the 936 00:37:31,021 --> 00:37:33,188 Turkey has deployed Syrian mercenaries 937 00:37:33,188 --> 00:37:35,299 to other conflicts in , you know , in 938 00:37:35,299 --> 00:37:37,188 North Africa in the region in the 939 00:37:37,188 --> 00:37:39,410 caucus , can you say unequivocally that 940 00:37:39,410 --> 00:37:39,390 this would not be acceptable to the 941 00:37:39,390 --> 00:37:41,279 United States if there's gonna be 942 00:37:41,279 --> 00:37:43,446 cooperation with Turkey on a couple of 943 00:37:43,446 --> 00:37:45,612 I have not seen that press reporting . 944 00:37:45,612 --> 00:37:47,557 I'm certainly not in a position to 945 00:37:47,557 --> 00:37:51,330 confirm uh that that report , 946 00:37:51,340 --> 00:37:54,150 I think , uh but 947 00:37:55,130 --> 00:37:57,352 broadly speaking , without getting into 948 00:37:57,352 --> 00:37:59,574 that specific press report , we believe 949 00:37:59,574 --> 00:38:01,352 that security at the airport is 950 00:38:01,352 --> 00:38:03,463 absolutely critical for being able to 951 00:38:03,463 --> 00:38:05,686 have a diplomatic presence and not just 952 00:38:05,686 --> 00:38:07,574 our diplomatic presence , but the 953 00:38:07,574 --> 00:38:09,630 diplomatic presence of other nations 954 00:38:09,630 --> 00:38:11,463 who want to stay in in Kabul and 955 00:38:11,463 --> 00:38:14,310 Afghanistan .1.2 . Because it's so 956 00:38:14,310 --> 00:38:16,880 critical we would want we would it 957 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:19,930 would be it would be extraordinarily 958 00:38:19,930 --> 00:38:21,874 important to us that that security 959 00:38:21,874 --> 00:38:24,910 presence be competent and capable and 960 00:38:24,910 --> 00:38:28,890 subject to international , the 961 00:38:28,890 --> 00:38:32,280 international rule of law uh and the 962 00:38:32,290 --> 00:38:35,610 proper proper conduct and behavior 963 00:38:35,760 --> 00:38:38,700 for international security forces , 964 00:38:38,710 --> 00:38:41,580 that they would be responsible to those 965 00:38:41,580 --> 00:38:43,840 protocols and accountable to those 966 00:38:43,840 --> 00:38:45,840 kinds of protocols . I think that's 967 00:38:45,840 --> 00:38:47,951 about as far as I'll go . Okay guys , 968 00:38:47,951 --> 00:38:50,650 thank you very much . Sorry , I'm using 969 00:38:50,650 --> 00:38:52,706 an ipad today instead of my binder . 970 00:38:52,706 --> 00:38:54,820 How about that ? Huh ? Mhm . We are 971 00:38:54,830 --> 00:38:56,530 coming into .