1 00:00:00,940 --> 00:00:04,340 right yeah , 2 00:00:05,540 --> 00:00:08,770 afternoon . Nobody . Just a couple of 3 00:00:08,770 --> 00:00:12,190 things at the top here . As you know , 4 00:00:12,190 --> 00:00:13,912 and I'm sure you heard from my 5 00:00:13,912 --> 00:00:16,190 colleague over at the State Department . 6 00:00:16,240 --> 00:00:18,462 The president has ordered the reduction 7 00:00:18,462 --> 00:00:21,310 of civilian personnel uh at our embassy 8 00:00:21,310 --> 00:00:23,720 in Kabul and the acceleration of the 9 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,120 evacuation of afghan special immigrant 10 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,240 visa applicants from the country . To 11 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,180 enable the safe orderly reduction . The 12 00:00:32,180 --> 00:00:34,291 Secretary of Defense has directed the 13 00:00:34,291 --> 00:00:36,124 department to position temporary 14 00:00:36,124 --> 00:00:38,124 enabling capabilities to ensure the 15 00:00:38,124 --> 00:00:40,291 safety and security of us and partners 16 00:00:40,291 --> 00:00:42,347 civilian personnel . I'm gonna break 17 00:00:42,347 --> 00:00:44,569 this down for you just real quick . The 18 00:00:44,569 --> 00:00:46,640 first movement Will consist of three 19 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:48,807 infantry battalions that are currently 20 00:00:48,807 --> 00:00:50,529 in the Central Command area of 21 00:00:50,529 --> 00:00:52,473 responsibility . They will move to 22 00:00:52,473 --> 00:00:54,584 Hamid Karzai International Airport in 23 00:00:54,584 --> 00:00:57,760 Kabul within the next 24-48 hours . Two 24 00:00:57,760 --> 00:00:59,871 of those battalions are United States 25 00:00:59,871 --> 00:01:01,760 Marines and one is a U . S . Army 26 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:03,704 Battalion . The next movement will 27 00:01:03,704 --> 00:01:05,704 consist of a joint U . S . Army Air 28 00:01:05,704 --> 00:01:08,010 Force support element of around 1000 29 00:01:08,010 --> 00:01:11,080 personnel to facilitate the processing 30 00:01:11,090 --> 00:01:13,090 of S . I . V . Applicants . Initial 31 00:01:13,090 --> 00:01:16,150 elements of this uh movement of this 32 00:01:16,150 --> 00:01:18,310 element will arrive in Qatar in the 33 00:01:18,310 --> 00:01:21,420 coming days . The third movement is to 34 00:01:21,420 --> 00:01:23,710 alert and to deploy one infantry 35 00:01:23,710 --> 00:01:26,270 brigade combat team out of fort Bragg 36 00:01:26,330 --> 00:01:28,570 to kuwait where they will be postured 37 00:01:28,570 --> 00:01:31,200 and prepared if needed to provide 38 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,422 additional security at the airport . We 39 00:01:33,422 --> 00:01:35,367 anticipate those forces will reach 40 00:01:35,367 --> 00:01:37,533 kuwait sometime within the next week . 41 00:01:38,140 --> 00:01:40,307 Now I want to stress that these forces 42 00:01:40,307 --> 00:01:42,196 are being deployed to support the 43 00:01:42,196 --> 00:01:44,362 orderly and safe reduction of civilian 44 00:01:44,362 --> 00:01:46,473 personnel at the request of the State 45 00:01:46,473 --> 00:01:48,529 Department and to help facilitate an 46 00:01:48,529 --> 00:01:50,418 accelerated process of of working 47 00:01:50,418 --> 00:01:52,529 through S . I . V . Applicants . This 48 00:01:52,529 --> 00:01:54,584 is a temporary mission with a narrow 49 00:01:54,584 --> 00:01:56,640 focus as with all deployments of our 50 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:58,862 troops into harm's way . Our commanders 51 00:01:58,862 --> 00:02:01,084 have the inherent right of self defense 52 00:02:01,084 --> 00:02:03,196 in any attack on them can and will be 53 00:02:03,196 --> 00:02:05,307 met with a forceful and inappropriate 54 00:02:05,307 --> 00:02:07,750 response as ned price . My colleague at 55 00:02:07,750 --> 00:02:09,583 the State Department highlighted 56 00:02:09,583 --> 00:02:11,583 earlier , Secretary Austin did join 57 00:02:11,583 --> 00:02:13,806 Secretary Blinken and a phone call this 58 00:02:13,806 --> 00:02:16,028 morning with President Ghani . Uh These 59 00:02:16,028 --> 00:02:18,194 conversations with allies and partners 60 00:02:18,194 --> 00:02:19,861 will continue to ensure close 61 00:02:19,861 --> 00:02:22,028 coordination going forward . Well that 62 00:02:22,028 --> 00:02:24,194 will take questions bob . I think your 63 00:02:24,194 --> 00:02:27,540 first . Thank you john thank you for 64 00:02:27,540 --> 00:02:29,707 spelling out some of the breaking down 65 00:02:29,707 --> 00:02:32,850 some of the numbers um with regard to 66 00:02:32,850 --> 00:02:34,683 those forces that are going into 67 00:02:34,683 --> 00:02:37,420 Afghanistan to work specifically on 68 00:02:37,430 --> 00:02:41,430 supporting there removal or evacuation 69 00:02:41,430 --> 00:02:43,541 or whatever you call it . A personnel 70 00:02:43,541 --> 00:02:47,160 from the embassy . Um Is that about 71 00:02:47,540 --> 00:02:51,180 3000 people ? And also is that in 72 00:02:51,180 --> 00:02:54,160 addition to the 600 or 650 73 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,062 already there doing that sort of work ? 74 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,620 Yes Bob . Those three infantry 75 00:02:59,620 --> 00:03:01,980 battalions will comprise approximately 76 00:03:01,980 --> 00:03:04,640 3000 personnel and they will be in 77 00:03:04,640 --> 00:03:07,600 addition uh to those troops that are 78 00:03:07,610 --> 00:03:11,380 already in in Kabul uh as we 79 00:03:11,390 --> 00:03:13,501 conduct as you know in the process of 80 00:03:13,501 --> 00:03:15,612 conducting our drawdown . So we still 81 00:03:15,612 --> 00:03:18,470 have Uh more than 650 troops in Kabul 82 00:03:18,470 --> 00:03:20,800 right now these 3000 will join them 83 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:23,450 there . Can I do a quick follow up . 84 00:03:23,460 --> 00:03:26,550 Thank you . Um Does the military 85 00:03:26,550 --> 00:03:30,180 mission include um flying U . 86 00:03:30,180 --> 00:03:33,480 S . Civilian personnel , the the 87 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:35,710 embassy personnel out of the country or 88 00:03:35,710 --> 00:03:37,790 only processing and securing them at 89 00:03:37,790 --> 00:03:40,190 the airport . We certainly anticipate 90 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:43,310 being postured to support airlift as 91 00:03:43,310 --> 00:03:46,210 well for not only the reduction of 92 00:03:46,210 --> 00:03:49,220 civilian personnel from the embassy but 93 00:03:49,220 --> 00:03:52,650 also in the forward movement of special 94 00:03:53,310 --> 00:03:55,710 immigrant visa applicants . So we do 95 00:03:55,710 --> 00:03:57,821 anticipate that there will be airlift 96 00:03:57,821 --> 00:03:59,980 required of us and we are working 97 00:03:59,980 --> 00:04:02,036 through the final plans right now to 98 00:04:02,036 --> 00:04:04,950 put that into place . Thank you . Yeah . 99 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,400 Tom thanks john in regards to what you 100 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:09,570 just said to bob about the possible 101 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:11,780 airlifting out of individuals in 102 00:04:11,780 --> 00:04:13,891 regards to the special immigrant visa 103 00:04:13,891 --> 00:04:16,730 applicants . Has it been decided yet 104 00:04:16,730 --> 00:04:18,897 where they will be airlifted to and if 105 00:04:18,897 --> 00:04:21,008 so where please ? We're still working 106 00:04:21,008 --> 00:04:23,174 through a series of options here . Tom 107 00:04:23,174 --> 00:04:26,060 we anticipate that we'll be looking at 108 00:04:26,540 --> 00:04:30,120 um locations overseas 109 00:04:30,130 --> 00:04:33,200 outside of the United States as well as 110 00:04:33,210 --> 00:04:36,620 U . S . Installations uh that you know 111 00:04:36,620 --> 00:04:38,509 that belongs to the United States 112 00:04:38,509 --> 00:04:40,620 either overseas and or here at home . 113 00:04:40,620 --> 00:04:42,890 We don't have , I don't have a list for 114 00:04:42,890 --> 00:04:46,300 you right now but I think it will be a 115 00:04:46,300 --> 00:04:48,133 mix of both . And as we get more 116 00:04:48,133 --> 00:04:50,022 clarity on that , we'll certainly 117 00:04:50,022 --> 00:04:51,911 update just to be clear , we will 118 00:04:51,911 --> 00:04:54,022 follow the same criteria you outlined 119 00:04:54,022 --> 00:04:56,022 earlier . Those who have passed the 120 00:04:56,022 --> 00:04:58,078 security clearance could come within 121 00:04:58,078 --> 00:05:00,078 the United States and those without 122 00:05:00,078 --> 00:05:00,040 other locations . I'm going to defer to 123 00:05:00,050 --> 00:05:02,217 my State Department colleagues to talk 124 00:05:02,217 --> 00:05:04,106 to the S . I . V . Process . More 125 00:05:04,106 --> 00:05:05,883 specifically our job will be in 126 00:05:05,883 --> 00:05:09,360 locating helping secure facilities 127 00:05:09,860 --> 00:05:11,916 and installations that can be used . 128 00:05:11,916 --> 00:05:14,027 And as we did with fort lee , I think 129 00:05:14,027 --> 00:05:16,138 you can expect the Defense Department 130 00:05:16,138 --> 00:05:18,138 will lean in to the degree possible 131 00:05:18,138 --> 00:05:20,138 that we can to help facilitate this 132 00:05:20,138 --> 00:05:22,416 movement and relocation . Thanks David , 133 00:05:22,416 --> 00:05:25,260 these infantry battalions help with the 134 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:29,160 movement of diplomats from the embassy 135 00:05:29,740 --> 00:05:32,980 to the airport as well as moving them 136 00:05:32,980 --> 00:05:35,340 out of the country . And if so will 137 00:05:35,340 --> 00:05:39,230 that movement be done by convoy will be 138 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,760 done by helicopter . And let me just 139 00:05:43,340 --> 00:05:45,520 Add one more question . Sure you say 140 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:47,860 temporarily . I do bud . 141 00:05:49,340 --> 00:05:51,396 Aren't they going to remain there in 142 00:05:51,396 --> 00:05:55,160 case further draw down our order . So 143 00:05:55,170 --> 00:05:57,190 let me take the first one first . 144 00:05:58,300 --> 00:06:02,250 These infantry battalions will be there 145 00:06:02,250 --> 00:06:05,420 to help facilitate this safe and 146 00:06:05,420 --> 00:06:08,070 orderly reduction . And um and I don't 147 00:06:08,070 --> 00:06:10,230 want to get into too much tactical 148 00:06:10,230 --> 00:06:12,780 detail about what that would require . 149 00:06:12,780 --> 00:06:14,613 Commanders on the ground will be 150 00:06:14,613 --> 00:06:16,836 working with the State Department uh to 151 00:06:16,836 --> 00:06:18,891 determine what is what's what's most 152 00:06:18,891 --> 00:06:20,770 needed . Um And if it is to help 153 00:06:20,770 --> 00:06:23,740 facilitate and secure transportation uh 154 00:06:23,750 --> 00:06:26,060 to the airport , then our troops will 155 00:06:26,060 --> 00:06:28,250 be postured to do that . But again , I 156 00:06:28,260 --> 00:06:30,482 can't speak here today when they're not 157 00:06:30,482 --> 00:06:32,649 even there yet about what that's gonna 158 00:06:32,649 --> 00:06:34,816 look like , what the transportation is 159 00:06:34,816 --> 00:06:36,982 gonna look like and some of this David 160 00:06:36,982 --> 00:06:39,204 is going to depend on uh you know , the 161 00:06:39,204 --> 00:06:40,982 degree of permissibility in the 162 00:06:40,982 --> 00:06:40,880 environment and the security 163 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:43,440 environment , but uh these are infantry 164 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:45,607 battalions that are highly trained and 165 00:06:45,607 --> 00:06:47,718 uh and we'll have the capabilities to 166 00:06:47,718 --> 00:06:49,773 support in any manner what the State 167 00:06:49,773 --> 00:06:51,940 Department needs to to facilitate this 168 00:06:51,940 --> 00:06:54,640 reduction . Um uh your second question 169 00:06:54,650 --> 00:06:58,610 on the temporary nature as the State 170 00:06:58,610 --> 00:07:00,777 Department has said , they're going to 171 00:07:00,777 --> 00:07:02,832 uh try to complete this reduction of 172 00:07:02,832 --> 00:07:04,777 their personnel by the end of this 173 00:07:04,777 --> 00:07:07,200 month . Um and these troops are being 174 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:09,440 ordered in to help facilitate that 175 00:07:09,450 --> 00:07:11,390 purpose . That mission along that 176 00:07:11,390 --> 00:07:13,760 timeline , I won't speculate beyond 177 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:15,970 august 31st as to what the footprints 178 00:07:15,970 --> 00:07:18,610 going to look like or or how how many 179 00:07:18,610 --> 00:07:20,554 troops are gonna be there and what 180 00:07:20,554 --> 00:07:22,721 they're going to be doing , What I can 181 00:07:22,721 --> 00:07:22,490 tell you is , we're focused on trying 182 00:07:22,490 --> 00:07:24,601 to get them there as soon as possible 183 00:07:24,730 --> 00:07:26,970 to facilitate this mission , which is 184 00:07:26,970 --> 00:07:29,137 the reduction of civilian personnel by 185 00:07:29,137 --> 00:07:31,303 the end of the month and 11 follower , 186 00:07:31,303 --> 00:07:34,850 was there a specific event which 187 00:07:35,340 --> 00:07:37,510 triggered this decision . It would be 188 00:07:37,510 --> 00:07:39,566 wrong to conclude that there was one 189 00:07:39,566 --> 00:07:41,343 specific event that led to this 190 00:07:41,343 --> 00:07:43,399 decision that we believe this is the 191 00:07:43,399 --> 00:07:45,621 prudent thing to do , given the rapidly 192 00:07:45,621 --> 00:07:48,230 deteriorating security situation uh in 193 00:07:48,230 --> 00:07:51,070 and around Kabul . So I think uh 194 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,302 there's a confluence of things you guys 195 00:07:53,302 --> 00:07:55,413 have all been reporting over the last 196 00:07:55,413 --> 00:07:58,880 24-36 hours . The taliban's advances . 197 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:01,790 Um and and where they are . Uh and I 198 00:08:01,790 --> 00:08:04,470 think again , cognizant of that 199 00:08:04,470 --> 00:08:07,010 security situation , uh this 200 00:08:07,010 --> 00:08:09,121 administration believes that this was 201 00:08:09,121 --> 00:08:11,121 the prudent action to take one more 202 00:08:11,121 --> 00:08:14,660 math questions , 3000 650 203 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:18,610 and then another 1000 of this joint 204 00:08:18,620 --> 00:08:22,310 task force to process . So Joint Army 205 00:08:22,310 --> 00:08:24,366 Air Force , Yeah , that's about 1000 206 00:08:24,366 --> 00:08:26,254 personnel . It's engineers , it's 207 00:08:26,254 --> 00:08:27,700 medical personnel . It's 208 00:08:27,710 --> 00:08:30,660 uh 209 00:08:31,340 --> 00:08:33,930 military police , that kind of thing . 210 00:08:33,930 --> 00:08:37,860 And uh they are going to cut her 211 00:08:37,860 --> 00:08:39,971 right now because as you know , we've 212 00:08:39,971 --> 00:08:42,160 been uh working with countries in the 213 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:44,790 region uh to tom's question to try to 214 00:08:44,790 --> 00:08:46,750 find processing sites outside 215 00:08:46,750 --> 00:08:49,210 Afghanistan . So I would just tell you 216 00:08:49,210 --> 00:08:51,266 they're going to cut her for now and 217 00:08:51,266 --> 00:08:53,420 then we'll see what the need is after 218 00:08:53,420 --> 00:08:55,531 that . But we want to be flexible and 219 00:08:55,531 --> 00:08:57,753 we want to get them close by and in the 220 00:08:57,753 --> 00:08:59,920 region . And that's that's why they're 221 00:08:59,920 --> 00:08:59,880 going there right now . And then 222 00:08:59,890 --> 00:09:02,001 there's one infantry bct that's going 223 00:09:02,001 --> 00:09:04,223 to kuwait you said . And that's only if 224 00:09:04,223 --> 00:09:06,223 things go bad . You have like a qrf 225 00:09:06,223 --> 00:09:08,223 basically right there will be their 226 00:09:08,223 --> 00:09:10,334 posture as prepared if there's a need 227 00:09:10,334 --> 00:09:12,612 for additional security at the airport , 228 00:09:12,612 --> 00:09:15,210 they'll be they'll be in the region and 229 00:09:15,220 --> 00:09:17,490 a lot more accessible . Okay , so and 230 00:09:17,500 --> 00:09:19,611 then the ones who are going to cutter 231 00:09:19,611 --> 00:09:21,611 that's specifically for S . I . V . 232 00:09:21,611 --> 00:09:23,833 Applicants . It sounds like engineers . 233 00:09:23,833 --> 00:09:26,056 Medical and mps , they're going to , it 234 00:09:26,056 --> 00:09:28,111 sounds like to build . No when I say 235 00:09:28,111 --> 00:09:30,278 engineers actually we're talking about 236 00:09:30,278 --> 00:09:32,333 a very small number of engineers and 237 00:09:32,333 --> 00:09:34,333 it's largely for electrical power . 238 00:09:34,333 --> 00:09:36,556 It's to make sure that we actually have 239 00:09:36,556 --> 00:09:39,270 you know power to do the processing of 240 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:41,970 applicants . I don't buy engineers . I 241 00:09:41,970 --> 00:09:44,026 didn't mean to construction and that 242 00:09:44,026 --> 00:09:46,303 kind of thing . So the beast and the B . 243 00:09:46,303 --> 00:09:48,137 C . T . Wanna quit . That's what 244 00:09:48,137 --> 00:09:50,137 roughly 3000 to 3500 people . Right 245 00:09:50,137 --> 00:09:52,950 Total a common infantry combat brigade 246 00:09:52,950 --> 00:09:56,370 is about 3500 to 4000 . So why is it ? 247 00:09:56,380 --> 00:09:58,830 I'm unclear why . So it's 3000 people 248 00:09:58,830 --> 00:10:00,941 who are going to HK right away in the 249 00:10:00,941 --> 00:10:03,052 coming days and then you have another 250 00:10:03,052 --> 00:10:05,108 3500 who will be there on standby in 251 00:10:05,108 --> 00:10:07,274 case all for security . I'm unclear on 252 00:10:07,274 --> 00:10:09,497 what they're doing . I mean if the 3000 253 00:10:09,497 --> 00:10:11,719 going to hk it's like a couple of miles 254 00:10:11,719 --> 00:10:14,520 from the embassy to HK what exactly are 255 00:10:14,530 --> 00:10:16,641 3000 people doing ? Are they are they 256 00:10:16,641 --> 00:10:18,808 just they're securing the airport then 257 00:10:18,808 --> 00:10:21,730 they'll be there to provide safety and 258 00:10:21,730 --> 00:10:24,350 secure and secure movement of the 259 00:10:24,350 --> 00:10:26,572 reduction of civilian personnel the out 260 00:10:26,572 --> 00:10:28,294 of the embassy to help to help 261 00:10:28,294 --> 00:10:30,630 facilitate their departure from the 262 00:10:30,630 --> 00:10:33,530 country to also help with the process 263 00:10:33,530 --> 00:10:35,470 of moving special immigrant visa 264 00:10:35,470 --> 00:10:37,526 applicants out of the country and to 265 00:10:37,526 --> 00:10:39,470 provide additional security at the 266 00:10:39,470 --> 00:10:41,526 airport . Again we believe this is a 267 00:10:41,526 --> 00:10:43,748 prudent measure given the deteriorating 268 00:10:43,748 --> 00:10:45,692 security situation a lot of people 269 00:10:45,692 --> 00:10:47,803 though . I mean I'm still , what is , 270 00:10:47,803 --> 00:10:50,400 can you give any better sense of like 271 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,456 on a day to day , what what are they 272 00:10:52,456 --> 00:10:54,511 doing ? I mean , it sounds like they 273 00:10:54,511 --> 00:10:56,511 must be that the number of people , 274 00:10:56,511 --> 00:10:58,567 they must be responsible for getting 275 00:10:58,567 --> 00:10:58,330 people to the airport . And then 276 00:10:58,330 --> 00:11:00,497 actually it almost sounds that they're 277 00:11:00,497 --> 00:11:02,608 coming in and taking over security at 278 00:11:02,608 --> 00:11:04,608 the airport . If it's that side , I 279 00:11:04,608 --> 00:11:06,719 wouldn't go that far . Courtney , the 280 00:11:06,719 --> 00:11:09,052 Turkish forces are still at the airport . 281 00:11:09,052 --> 00:11:10,997 The Turks are still in the lead of 282 00:11:10,997 --> 00:11:13,052 security at the airport . We already 283 00:11:13,052 --> 00:11:15,219 have some Security forces , the United 284 00:11:15,219 --> 00:11:17,441 States Security Forces at the airport , 285 00:11:17,441 --> 00:11:19,386 including some aviation elements . 286 00:11:19,386 --> 00:11:21,630 These 3000 would be going to bolster 287 00:11:21,630 --> 00:11:24,150 that presence and to make sure that 288 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:26,696 that the airport is secure enough to 289 00:11:26,696 --> 00:11:28,751 facilitate the movement of all these 290 00:11:28,751 --> 00:11:30,918 people over the next couple of weeks . 291 00:11:30,918 --> 00:11:32,751 Um Again , this is about prudent 292 00:11:32,751 --> 00:11:34,973 preparation uh and we want to make sure 293 00:11:34,973 --> 00:11:38,030 that we've got enough on hand uh to to 294 00:11:38,030 --> 00:11:40,086 adapt to any eventually , you know , 295 00:11:40,086 --> 00:11:43,110 contingencies . Um uh so I your 296 00:11:43,110 --> 00:11:45,166 question about the numbers being too 297 00:11:45,166 --> 00:11:47,940 high . We believe it's appropriate to 298 00:11:47,940 --> 00:11:50,107 the security situation that we see now 299 00:11:50,107 --> 00:11:52,329 and that we can anticipate possible and 300 00:11:52,329 --> 00:11:54,662 possibly in the future , which is again , 301 00:11:54,662 --> 00:11:57,220 why we're gonna flow a brigade combat 302 00:11:57,220 --> 00:11:59,500 team into the theater to be ready in 303 00:11:59,500 --> 00:12:01,222 case we need even more . Now , 304 00:12:01,222 --> 00:12:04,090 hopefully Kourtney , uh this will be an 305 00:12:04,090 --> 00:12:06,257 incredibly permissive environment . Um 306 00:12:06,257 --> 00:12:08,530 and we won't need these additional 307 00:12:08,530 --> 00:12:10,810 capabilities . But the secretary 308 00:12:10,810 --> 00:12:13,032 believes the safety and security of our 309 00:12:13,032 --> 00:12:15,750 people , not just american troops but 310 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:17,871 our allies and partners and our State 311 00:12:17,871 --> 00:12:19,982 Department colleagues is of paramount 312 00:12:19,982 --> 00:12:22,190 concern and he's not going to add 313 00:12:22,190 --> 00:12:24,540 additional risk to that to that safe 314 00:12:24,540 --> 00:12:26,651 movement just very quickly . Kandahar 315 00:12:26,651 --> 00:12:28,707 city in Herat City . Can you confirm 316 00:12:28,707 --> 00:12:30,707 with the Taliban are reporting that 317 00:12:30,707 --> 00:12:30,580 they've taken it ? I can't and I'm not 318 00:12:30,580 --> 00:12:32,691 gonna do battlefield assessments here 319 00:12:32,691 --> 00:12:34,747 from the pentagon podium . Let me go 320 00:12:34,747 --> 00:12:36,930 back to the phones . I know we've got 321 00:12:36,930 --> 00:12:40,650 lots to get through . Mhm . Mhm . 322 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:44,840 Uh Erica hey Don , thanks for 323 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:46,896 doing this . A couple of questions . 324 00:12:46,896 --> 00:12:48,896 The infantry battalions , where are 325 00:12:48,896 --> 00:12:51,420 they coming from ? The three infantry 326 00:12:51,420 --> 00:12:53,364 battalions that I talked about are 327 00:12:53,364 --> 00:12:55,531 already coming from inside the Central 328 00:12:55,531 --> 00:12:57,970 command area responsibility . Uh and I 329 00:12:57,970 --> 00:13:00,081 think I'd rather leave it at that for 330 00:13:00,081 --> 00:13:03,230 now . They're already in theatre . Okay , 331 00:13:03,230 --> 00:13:05,286 thank you . And then the 1000 Little 332 00:13:05,286 --> 00:13:07,600 Bit cutter is the intent that they will 333 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,090 stay at Qatar or would they also be 334 00:13:10,100 --> 00:13:12,870 flying into Kabul to provide additional 335 00:13:12,870 --> 00:13:15,210 supportive needed . As as I mentioned 336 00:13:15,210 --> 00:13:17,377 it to David right now , the plan is to 337 00:13:17,377 --> 00:13:19,550 get them to cutter because again , we 338 00:13:19,550 --> 00:13:22,080 were looking at regional sites for 339 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,560 processing of S . I . V . Applicants . 340 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:27,062 Qatar is one of those sites that we are 341 00:13:27,062 --> 00:13:29,229 looking at , potentially being able to 342 00:13:29,229 --> 00:13:32,510 use if they need to move in part or in 343 00:13:32,510 --> 00:13:35,410 whole elsewhere to do this job to help 344 00:13:35,410 --> 00:13:37,800 with the application process . We'll 345 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:39,967 deal with that at the right time . But 346 00:13:39,967 --> 00:13:41,911 for right now , in the coming days 347 00:13:41,911 --> 00:13:43,967 they'll be heading to Qatar And last 348 00:13:43,967 --> 00:13:47,410 one besides the increase in troops . Um 349 00:13:47,420 --> 00:13:49,587 It becomes kind of a logistics issue . 350 00:13:49,587 --> 00:13:52,170 If you don't have enough , I guess 351 00:13:52,180 --> 00:13:54,291 airlift support . Is the U . S . Also 352 00:13:54,291 --> 00:13:56,458 going to send additional planes or get 353 00:13:56,458 --> 00:13:58,880 additional contracted air to be able to 354 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:00,824 I guess increase the throughput of 355 00:14:00,824 --> 00:14:03,047 people that can leave Kabul . As I said 356 00:14:03,047 --> 00:14:05,370 earlier , we do anticipate an increased 357 00:14:05,370 --> 00:14:08,710 need for us airlift . And the secretary 358 00:14:08,710 --> 00:14:11,190 has already had conversations with the 359 00:14:11,190 --> 00:14:13,210 chairman uh and with transportation 360 00:14:13,210 --> 00:14:15,700 command about these potential needs . 361 00:14:15,700 --> 00:14:17,867 So we do fully expect that there'll be 362 00:14:17,867 --> 00:14:19,756 additional United States military 363 00:14:19,756 --> 00:14:21,811 airlift required . I just don't have 364 00:14:21,811 --> 00:14:23,978 the details here today for you exactly 365 00:14:23,978 --> 00:14:23,630 what that's gonna look like , how many 366 00:14:23,630 --> 00:14:25,852 tails and what the sorties are going to 367 00:14:25,852 --> 00:14:27,519 look like . But we absolutely 368 00:14:27,519 --> 00:14:29,741 anticipate uh being more involved in in 369 00:14:29,741 --> 00:14:32,350 the airlift uh airlift element of this 370 00:14:32,350 --> 00:14:35,160 mission Lucas , close air support . You 371 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:37,216 can increase the number of drones or 372 00:14:37,216 --> 00:14:39,382 fighter jets overhead to protect these 373 00:14:39,382 --> 00:14:41,382 troops . We still have yesterday we 374 00:14:41,382 --> 00:14:43,438 have and today we have the authority 375 00:14:43,438 --> 00:14:47,290 and the capabilities in the region uh 376 00:14:47,300 --> 00:14:49,350 to conduct airstrikes if needed . 377 00:14:49,490 --> 00:14:51,657 That's not gonna change as a result of 378 00:14:51,657 --> 00:14:53,879 these new mission sets . Does this mean 379 00:14:53,879 --> 00:14:56,101 the US military withdrawal is not going 380 00:14:56,101 --> 00:14:58,212 to be complete by August 31 . Again , 381 00:14:58,212 --> 00:15:00,300 what I said was we're aiming to 382 00:15:00,310 --> 00:15:02,210 facilitate the reduction of the 383 00:15:02,210 --> 00:15:05,080 civilian personnel by August 31 . So 384 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:07,700 it's all lining up on the same timeline . 385 00:15:07,710 --> 00:15:09,543 I won't speculate about what the 386 00:15:09,543 --> 00:15:11,488 footprints going to look like post 387 00:15:11,488 --> 00:15:13,321 august 31st because there's this 388 00:15:13,321 --> 00:15:15,266 additional emission set of helping 389 00:15:15,266 --> 00:15:17,321 process special immigrants . Uh , so 390 00:15:17,321 --> 00:15:19,543 we're just gonna have to wait and see . 391 00:15:19,543 --> 00:15:21,543 But the drawdown itself Is still on 392 00:15:21,543 --> 00:15:23,543 track to be complete by August 31 . 393 00:15:23,543 --> 00:15:25,654 That makes no sense , Johnny I know I 394 00:15:25,654 --> 00:15:27,821 know what you're three troops . I know 395 00:15:27,821 --> 00:15:29,932 what you're saying , Lucas I'm saying 396 00:15:29,932 --> 00:15:32,099 of the of the original footprint plans 397 00:15:32,099 --> 00:15:34,266 that's still continuing . But yes , we 398 00:15:34,266 --> 00:15:36,377 are adding additional troops for this 399 00:15:36,377 --> 00:15:38,543 specific and narrow focus . We can get 400 00:15:38,543 --> 00:15:37,820 them all out by the end of the month . 401 00:15:37,830 --> 00:15:40,910 I'm not gonna speculate beyond August 402 00:15:40,910 --> 00:15:43,450 31 . Our our job here now with this 403 00:15:43,460 --> 00:15:45,127 additional plus up is to help 404 00:15:45,127 --> 00:15:47,380 facilitate the safe movement of of 405 00:15:47,380 --> 00:15:50,260 civilian personnel out of Afghanistan . 406 00:15:50,270 --> 00:15:52,270 And the president's been very clear 407 00:15:52,270 --> 00:15:54,381 that he wants that reduction complete 408 00:15:54,381 --> 00:15:56,548 by the end of august that's what we're 409 00:15:56,548 --> 00:15:58,714 focused on . You spoken to the taliban 410 00:15:58,714 --> 00:16:00,770 and they know that you're doing this 411 00:16:00,770 --> 00:16:02,826 and that you have some assurances or 412 00:16:02,826 --> 00:16:04,881 guarantees that they will not attack 413 00:16:04,881 --> 00:16:06,992 these additional forces moving in the 414 00:16:06,992 --> 00:16:09,048 Defense Department has not spoken to 415 00:16:09,048 --> 00:16:11,048 the taliban about this . So are you 416 00:16:11,048 --> 00:16:10,380 concerned that are gonna be under 417 00:16:10,380 --> 00:16:12,910 attack , as I said , we've made it very 418 00:16:12,910 --> 00:16:14,966 clear as I just did in a few minutes 419 00:16:14,966 --> 00:16:16,688 ago . That as in all cases are 420 00:16:16,688 --> 00:16:18,854 commanders will have the right of self 421 00:16:18,854 --> 00:16:20,966 defense in any attack upon our forces 422 00:16:20,966 --> 00:16:22,860 will be met with a swift and 423 00:16:22,860 --> 00:16:24,860 appropriate response . You consider 424 00:16:24,860 --> 00:16:27,027 this a combat mission . This is a very 425 00:16:27,027 --> 00:16:30,400 narrowly focused the mission of 426 00:16:30,410 --> 00:16:33,280 safeguarding the orderly reduction of 427 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:35,630 civilian personnel out of Afghanistan 428 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:37,807 and that's what we're gonna be focused 429 00:16:37,807 --> 00:16:39,807 on . Not a combat mission , Lucas . 430 00:16:39,807 --> 00:16:42,029 I've already described this mission now 431 00:16:42,029 --> 00:16:44,450 three times . Um We're mindful that the 432 00:16:44,460 --> 00:16:46,880 security situation uh continues to 433 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,030 deteriorate in Afghanistan and as I 434 00:16:49,030 --> 00:16:51,470 said before , our troops will as always 435 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:53,536 have the right of self defense . But 436 00:16:53,536 --> 00:16:55,647 this is a narrowly focused mission to 437 00:16:55,647 --> 00:16:58,300 help with , help safeguard an orderly 438 00:16:58,300 --> 00:17:01,710 reduction of civilian personnel ? Uh 439 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:04,810 Jeff Selden , john , thanks very much 440 00:17:04,820 --> 00:17:06,876 if I could follow up a little bit on 441 00:17:06,876 --> 00:17:09,660 Lucas question um with all these new 442 00:17:09,670 --> 00:17:13,250 troops resources going into to Kabul , 443 00:17:13,260 --> 00:17:15,620 is there any consideration of using the 444 00:17:15,620 --> 00:17:18,560 Kabul airport as a staging point 445 00:17:18,940 --> 00:17:21,800 for what had been the over the horizon 446 00:17:21,810 --> 00:17:24,110 capabilities ? And has there also been 447 00:17:24,110 --> 00:17:25,999 any progress on securing anything 448 00:17:25,999 --> 00:17:28,640 closer to Afghanistan in terms of 449 00:17:28,650 --> 00:17:31,030 staging or basing for the over the 450 00:17:31,030 --> 00:17:34,160 horizon uh airstrikes ? And then 451 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:37,290 secondly , how worrisome is it that a 452 00:17:37,290 --> 00:17:40,330 city like Caracas city like Kandahar um 453 00:17:40,340 --> 00:17:42,830 which where U . S . Air power has been 454 00:17:42,830 --> 00:17:44,950 focused in recent weeks in an attempt 455 00:17:44,950 --> 00:17:47,740 to assist the Afghan security forces 456 00:17:47,750 --> 00:17:51,250 are either falling or have fallen 457 00:17:51,260 --> 00:17:53,730 to the Taliban despite the additional U . 458 00:17:53,730 --> 00:17:55,960 S . Support , I'm sorry , I didn't get 459 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:58,016 that . What the question was on your 460 00:17:58,016 --> 00:18:00,940 second one , sorry . Um over the last 461 00:18:00,940 --> 00:18:03,200 couple of weeks or so , the U . S . Uh 462 00:18:03,210 --> 00:18:05,154 we're told has focused some of its 463 00:18:05,154 --> 00:18:07,960 airstrike capability on cities like 464 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:10,820 Karachi on Kandahar in an effort to 465 00:18:10,830 --> 00:18:13,410 bolster the efforts of Afghan security 466 00:18:13,410 --> 00:18:16,020 forces there . How worrisome is it that 467 00:18:16,030 --> 00:18:19,070 those cities appear to be falling or 468 00:18:19,070 --> 00:18:21,590 have fallen into Taliban hands despite 469 00:18:21,590 --> 00:18:23,701 the fact that the US has focused what 470 00:18:23,701 --> 00:18:26,370 capabilities it has on those areas . 471 00:18:26,380 --> 00:18:29,980 Obviously no one's uh pleased to see 472 00:18:30,230 --> 00:18:31,952 that the security situation in 473 00:18:31,952 --> 00:18:34,008 Afghanistan continues to deteriorate 474 00:18:34,008 --> 00:18:36,119 and that the Taliban continues to act 475 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:39,700 as if they believe uh the only path to 476 00:18:39,700 --> 00:18:41,644 governance is through violence and 477 00:18:41,644 --> 00:18:43,811 brutality and oppression and and force 478 00:18:43,811 --> 00:18:45,756 uh contrary to what they have said 479 00:18:45,756 --> 00:18:47,850 previously at the at the negotiating 480 00:18:47,850 --> 00:18:50,360 table . So of course , uh nobody's 481 00:18:50,370 --> 00:18:52,481 happy to see that . And as we've said 482 00:18:52,481 --> 00:18:54,970 before , Jeff with these airstrikes , 483 00:18:54,970 --> 00:18:57,026 we would we would provide support to 484 00:18:57,026 --> 00:18:59,081 the Afghan National Security Defence 485 00:18:59,081 --> 00:19:01,303 Forces where and when feasible with the 486 00:19:01,303 --> 00:19:03,526 expectation and the knowledge that it's 487 00:19:03,526 --> 00:19:05,692 not always gonna be feasible . As your 488 00:19:05,692 --> 00:19:07,803 first question about uh the airport , 489 00:19:07,803 --> 00:19:09,526 uh there is no planning and no 490 00:19:09,526 --> 00:19:11,610 discussion of using Hamid Karzai 491 00:19:11,610 --> 00:19:14,890 International Airport um as a base 492 00:19:14,900 --> 00:19:18,670 for conducting airstrikes in and around 493 00:19:18,940 --> 00:19:21,490 Afghanistan , there is a small aviation 494 00:19:21,490 --> 00:19:24,660 element at the airport . Uh that is 495 00:19:24,670 --> 00:19:27,460 uh rotary based and it's for the 496 00:19:27,460 --> 00:19:29,710 facilitation and logistics and movement 497 00:19:29,710 --> 00:19:32,290 and that kind of thing . Yeah , like 498 00:19:32,830 --> 00:19:35,990 you have three battalions , three times 499 00:19:35,990 --> 00:19:38,650 there at the airport brigade , uh there 500 00:19:38,650 --> 00:19:41,890 in kuwait troops and who's in charge of 501 00:19:41,890 --> 00:19:43,779 this ? Well , what's the chain of 502 00:19:43,779 --> 00:19:45,779 command ? Do they report ? Is there 503 00:19:45,779 --> 00:19:47,834 somebody in charge of the collective 504 00:19:47,834 --> 00:19:49,890 military effort or do they report to 505 00:19:49,890 --> 00:19:51,946 the embassy security officer there ? 506 00:19:51,946 --> 00:19:54,310 The RSO or ? Well , as you said , we 507 00:19:54,310 --> 00:19:56,550 have real moral basically who is in 508 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:58,727 Kabul um and has been placed in charge 509 00:19:58,727 --> 00:20:01,950 by General Mackenzie uh to be the 510 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:04,410 commander of US forces Afghanistan 511 00:20:04,410 --> 00:20:08,350 forward . Okay , Ashley from James , 512 00:20:09,540 --> 00:20:11,680 Yes . Hi John um just to follow up on 513 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:13,902 some of the other questions in addition 514 00:20:13,902 --> 00:20:16,069 to any additional aircraft or there is 515 00:20:16,069 --> 00:20:18,236 the additional equipment um that these 516 00:20:18,236 --> 00:20:20,291 three battalions are going to meet . 517 00:20:20,291 --> 00:20:22,180 And then you just sort of walk us 518 00:20:22,180 --> 00:20:24,402 through how you arrived at the need for 519 00:20:24,402 --> 00:20:26,569 3000 additional troops . Uh Well , I'm 520 00:20:26,569 --> 00:20:28,791 not going to get into the deliberations 521 00:20:28,791 --> 00:20:32,520 over uh over exactly how uh 522 00:20:32,530 --> 00:20:34,586 these particular units were chosen . 523 00:20:34,586 --> 00:20:37,620 This was based on uh consultation by 524 00:20:37,620 --> 00:20:39,787 the secretary with the Chairman of the 525 00:20:39,787 --> 00:20:41,620 Joint Chiefs of Staff . And when 526 00:20:41,620 --> 00:20:43,787 General Mackenzie based on the mission 527 00:20:43,787 --> 00:20:45,676 set . And again , it's a narrowly 528 00:20:45,676 --> 00:20:47,509 defined mission to safeguard the 529 00:20:47,509 --> 00:20:49,620 movement of civilian personnel and to 530 00:20:49,620 --> 00:20:52,100 help process at an accelerated pace , 531 00:20:52,130 --> 00:20:54,352 special immigrant visas and so based on 532 00:20:54,352 --> 00:20:56,297 the missions that we we source the 533 00:20:56,297 --> 00:20:58,440 mission um and based on consultations 534 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:00,270 with top military leaders , the 535 00:21:00,270 --> 00:21:02,270 secretary decided that this was the 536 00:21:02,270 --> 00:21:04,270 appropriate amount right now and to 537 00:21:04,270 --> 00:21:06,437 again have additional forces available 538 00:21:06,437 --> 00:21:08,440 closer into theater if that was 539 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:10,496 required . I'm sorry , I missed your 540 00:21:10,496 --> 00:21:13,040 other question . Oh I'm in addition to 541 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,550 potential aircraft being sent into the 542 00:21:15,550 --> 00:21:18,760 country , jane and 543 00:21:18,770 --> 00:21:20,992 transportation or anything else at this 544 00:21:20,992 --> 00:21:22,714 point in time , as I said , we 545 00:21:22,714 --> 00:21:24,548 anticipate the use of additional 546 00:21:24,548 --> 00:21:26,930 military airlift as required and we're 547 00:21:26,930 --> 00:21:28,986 working through the requirements for 548 00:21:28,986 --> 00:21:31,152 that right now . Um and these infantry 549 00:21:31,152 --> 00:21:33,208 battalions come with some measure of 550 00:21:33,208 --> 00:21:35,152 self defense equipment , mortars , 551 00:21:35,152 --> 00:21:38,530 machine guns uh and of course 552 00:21:39,140 --> 00:21:43,050 right personally uh carried weaponry . 553 00:21:43,050 --> 00:21:45,161 So I mean they they have self defense 554 00:21:45,161 --> 00:21:47,328 capabilities but I'm not gonna and I'm 555 00:21:47,328 --> 00:21:49,990 not able to detail specifically what 556 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:52,056 each battalion will be carrying with 557 00:21:52,056 --> 00:21:54,222 them . But they will obviously have uh 558 00:21:54,222 --> 00:21:56,278 the capabilities they need to defend 559 00:21:56,278 --> 00:21:58,389 themselves . Well one term that we've 560 00:21:58,389 --> 00:22:00,500 heard in the last couple of days is a 561 00:22:00,500 --> 00:22:03,360 Neo noncombatant evacuation operation 562 00:22:03,740 --> 00:22:06,840 Um sending 3000 personnel , another 563 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:08,840 1000 another country . 4000 another 564 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:12,070 3000 2 inside . I mean that's a 565 00:22:12,070 --> 00:22:14,181 significant number . Is this a Neil ? 566 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:16,900 Um and if not why is it why are you not 567 00:22:16,900 --> 00:22:19,011 calling it that we're not classifying 568 00:22:19,011 --> 00:22:20,900 this as a noncombatant evacuation 569 00:22:20,900 --> 00:22:22,900 operation ? We are as I said at the 570 00:22:22,900 --> 00:22:24,678 very beginning , this is a very 571 00:22:24,678 --> 00:22:27,190 narrowly focused temporary mission to 572 00:22:27,190 --> 00:22:29,480 facilitate the safe and orderly 573 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:31,530 departure of additional civilian 574 00:22:31,530 --> 00:22:33,660 personnel from from from the State 575 00:22:33,660 --> 00:22:36,780 Department and to help accelerate to 576 00:22:36,780 --> 00:22:38,836 help the State Department colleagues 577 00:22:38,836 --> 00:22:42,070 accelerate the processing of S . I . V . 578 00:22:42,070 --> 00:22:44,292 Applicants were not classifying this as 579 00:22:44,292 --> 00:22:46,750 a Neo at this time Or follow . I mean 580 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:48,871 there's a certain irony here that the 581 00:22:48,871 --> 00:22:51,490 drawdown was for 2500 troops and you're 582 00:22:51,490 --> 00:22:53,720 sending in an additional 3000 to get 583 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,720 out civilians . Um and ramping it up 584 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:59,700 super quick and on top of that uh 585 00:22:59,710 --> 00:23:03,240 another 3500 in Kuwait . I mean um 586 00:23:03,250 --> 00:23:05,410 what is the irony here if for people 587 00:23:05,410 --> 00:23:07,810 who might be asking ? Isn't I mean 588 00:23:07,810 --> 00:23:09,810 literally isn't this ironic that in 589 00:23:09,810 --> 00:23:11,921 order to get out of the 2500 , you're 590 00:23:11,921 --> 00:23:14,210 having a ramp up significantly ? No , I 591 00:23:14,210 --> 00:23:18,000 don't I don't share your view of uh of 592 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:20,780 the irony louis this is a a very 593 00:23:20,780 --> 00:23:22,891 temporary mission for a very specific 594 00:23:22,891 --> 00:23:24,669 purpose . That's a that's a big 595 00:23:24,669 --> 00:23:26,447 difference . Then saying you're 596 00:23:26,447 --> 00:23:30,030 deploying for 89 12 months , you know , 597 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:32,220 forces to stabilize and secure 598 00:23:32,220 --> 00:23:34,387 Afghanistan which we've been doing for 599 00:23:34,387 --> 00:23:36,331 the last 20 years . This is a very 600 00:23:36,331 --> 00:23:38,664 narrowly defined very temporary mission . 601 00:23:38,664 --> 00:23:40,670 So once this mr this very narrowly 602 00:23:40,670 --> 00:23:43,260 defined mission is over , They're only 603 00:23:43,260 --> 00:23:45,371 going to be 650 troops to protect the 604 00:23:45,371 --> 00:23:48,040 airport and the embassy staff . Once 605 00:23:48,050 --> 00:23:50,840 this mission is over , I won't get into 606 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:53,670 a specific numbers here but we 607 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:57,050 anticipate having uh less than 1000 U . 608 00:23:57,050 --> 00:23:59,272 S . Troops on the ground to support the 609 00:23:59,272 --> 00:24:02,360 diplomatic presence in Kabul which we 610 00:24:02,360 --> 00:24:04,471 all agree we still want to be able to 611 00:24:04,471 --> 00:24:06,693 have and I could hurt my colleague very 612 00:24:06,693 --> 00:24:08,860 gracious after three questions . Yes . 613 00:24:09,620 --> 00:24:11,731 Are you considering the need for even 614 00:24:11,731 --> 00:24:13,898 more troops if the situation continues 615 00:24:13,898 --> 00:24:15,842 to deteriorate and to follow up on 616 00:24:15,842 --> 00:24:18,009 David's question , if there wasn't one 617 00:24:18,009 --> 00:24:20,120 event that led to this , what changed 618 00:24:20,120 --> 00:24:19,740 in the last 24 to 48 hours ? That's led 619 00:24:19,740 --> 00:24:21,740 to what appears to be an incredible 620 00:24:21,740 --> 00:24:23,796 acceleration of the plans to get out 621 00:24:23,796 --> 00:24:25,907 those the U . S . Needs to get out to 622 00:24:25,907 --> 00:24:28,018 your first question . No , I think we 623 00:24:28,018 --> 00:24:30,184 laid out pretty clearly that the three 624 00:24:30,184 --> 00:24:32,920 infantry battalions on the way now uh 625 00:24:32,930 --> 00:24:35,440 and a brigade combat team being brought 626 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:37,810 over into the region as a reserve . So 627 00:24:37,810 --> 00:24:39,532 there's no plans right now for 628 00:24:39,532 --> 00:24:43,280 additional forces . Um And I can only 629 00:24:43,290 --> 00:24:46,420 say what I said before too to to David , 630 00:24:46,430 --> 00:24:48,630 I mean there wasn't one precipitating 631 00:24:48,630 --> 00:24:50,920 event uh in the last couple of days 632 00:24:50,930 --> 00:24:53,540 that led the President and the 633 00:24:53,540 --> 00:24:55,740 secretary to make this decision . Uh 634 00:24:55,750 --> 00:24:58,800 It's it's a confluence of events and um 635 00:24:58,810 --> 00:25:01,030 and as I've been saying for now for 636 00:25:01,030 --> 00:25:03,141 several weeks , we have been watching 637 00:25:03,141 --> 00:25:05,308 very closely with concern the security 638 00:25:05,308 --> 00:25:07,474 situation on the ground and far better 639 00:25:07,474 --> 00:25:09,141 to be prudent about it and be 640 00:25:09,141 --> 00:25:12,820 responsible . Uh watching the trends to 641 00:25:12,820 --> 00:25:15,870 make the best decisions you can for 642 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:18,047 safety and security of our people than 643 00:25:18,047 --> 00:25:20,047 to wait until it's too late . So we 644 00:25:20,047 --> 00:25:22,269 believe that this is not only the right 645 00:25:22,269 --> 00:25:24,380 thing to do , but it's the right time 646 00:25:24,380 --> 00:25:26,602 to do it . At what point is the fall of 647 00:25:26,602 --> 00:25:29,030 Kabul inevitable ? I would speculate or 648 00:25:29,030 --> 00:25:31,240 orange . I'm not gonna speculate about 649 00:25:31,250 --> 00:25:33,560 hypothetical situations in the future 650 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:35,782 and I'm certainly not going to get into 651 00:25:35,782 --> 00:25:37,671 intelligence assessments from the 652 00:25:37,671 --> 00:25:37,600 really you think it's close , if you're 653 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:39,656 evacuating all these americans , I'm 654 00:25:39,656 --> 00:25:42,590 not going to speculate about the future 655 00:25:42,590 --> 00:25:44,646 of kabul Lucas and I'm certainly not 656 00:25:44,646 --> 00:25:46,479 going to talk about intelligence 657 00:25:46,479 --> 00:25:48,590 assessments . We believe that this is 658 00:25:48,590 --> 00:25:50,701 the right thing to do and this is the 659 00:25:50,701 --> 00:25:52,812 right time to do it . And as my State 660 00:25:52,812 --> 00:25:55,034 Department colleague said earlier today 661 00:25:55,034 --> 00:25:57,201 um there's there is still a diplomatic 662 00:25:57,201 --> 00:25:59,368 presence in Kabul and uh the intention 663 00:25:59,368 --> 00:26:01,710 is to maintain a diplomatic presence in 664 00:26:01,710 --> 00:26:03,821 Kabul pentagon . Isn't talking to the 665 00:26:03,821 --> 00:26:05,599 taliban is the State Department 666 00:26:05,599 --> 00:26:08,050 diplomats . I'm not , well we have a 667 00:26:08,050 --> 00:26:11,350 special envoy . Uh Mr Khalilzad who 668 00:26:11,540 --> 00:26:13,429 routinely talks to leaders of the 669 00:26:13,429 --> 00:26:15,740 taliban . Uh In terms of the pursuit of 670 00:26:15,740 --> 00:26:19,470 a diplomatic negotiated settlement . U 671 00:26:19,470 --> 00:26:21,137 I would refer you to my State 672 00:26:21,137 --> 00:26:23,303 Department colleagues to speak to what 673 00:26:23,303 --> 00:26:25,192 ambassador while that is a combat 674 00:26:25,192 --> 00:26:27,303 deployment because it's insulting for 675 00:26:27,303 --> 00:26:29,470 americans Watch , I disagree , Lucas , 676 00:26:29,470 --> 00:26:29,430 I don't think that it's insulting and 677 00:26:29,430 --> 00:26:31,730 I'm not sure I share that that 678 00:26:31,730 --> 00:26:33,940 sentiment at all . This is deploying 679 00:26:33,940 --> 00:26:36,162 into Kabul , you're telling me that the 680 00:26:36,162 --> 00:26:38,384 marines and the soldiers about to strap 681 00:26:38,384 --> 00:26:40,384 it on . Going to Kabul , this isn't 682 00:26:40,384 --> 00:26:42,551 combat Lucas , what I'm telling you is 683 00:26:42,551 --> 00:26:44,551 and I've said it before , they will 684 00:26:44,551 --> 00:26:46,773 have the ability to defend themselves , 685 00:26:46,773 --> 00:26:46,690 they will be armed of course they're 686 00:26:46,690 --> 00:26:48,857 going for a security mission . They're 687 00:26:48,857 --> 00:26:51,079 going for a narrowly defined mission to 688 00:26:51,079 --> 00:26:53,246 help secure and safeguard the movement 689 00:26:53,246 --> 00:26:55,301 of the civilian personnel as well as 690 00:26:55,301 --> 00:26:57,680 the movement of special immigrants are 691 00:26:57,690 --> 00:26:59,746 men and women and their families who 692 00:26:59,746 --> 00:27:01,634 are applying under that process . 693 00:27:01,634 --> 00:27:03,634 That's the goal . It's not a combat 694 00:27:03,634 --> 00:27:06,100 mission that I'm being clear here . I'm 695 00:27:06,100 --> 00:27:08,211 responding to emails I'm getting from 696 00:27:08,211 --> 00:27:10,340 people in Afghanistan . This is a 697 00:27:10,340 --> 00:27:12,562 narrowly defined mission to because you 698 00:27:12,562 --> 00:27:15,420 just said for our diplomatic personnel 699 00:27:15,430 --> 00:27:17,597 and those in the S . I . V . Program , 700 00:27:17,597 --> 00:27:20,300 it is not for any other uh individuals 701 00:27:20,300 --> 00:27:22,900 who are not afghans in Kabul who may 702 00:27:22,900 --> 00:27:25,800 work have worked for US agencies or who 703 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:27,967 worked for other governments . And the 704 00:27:27,967 --> 00:27:30,220 follow up question is at some point 705 00:27:30,220 --> 00:27:32,331 without you speculating uh you know , 706 00:27:32,331 --> 00:27:34,600 this is a NATO mission , is it possible 707 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:36,767 that the US could work with other NATO 708 00:27:36,767 --> 00:27:39,130 allies to evacuate other personnel on 709 00:27:39,130 --> 00:27:41,130 your first question ? Tom again , I 710 00:27:41,130 --> 00:27:43,241 think I've characterized this mission 711 00:27:43,241 --> 00:27:45,463 appropriately and I'm gonna leave it at 712 00:27:45,463 --> 00:27:47,630 that on your second question . Um This 713 00:27:47,630 --> 00:27:50,380 is a uh US decision by the Commander in 714 00:27:50,380 --> 00:27:53,660 chief uh to reduce civilian 715 00:27:53,660 --> 00:27:57,420 personnel um and to have US military 716 00:27:57,420 --> 00:27:59,940 personnel flow in to help with that 717 00:27:59,940 --> 00:28:03,510 reduction . Uh So it's not a NATO 718 00:28:03,510 --> 00:28:06,760 mission that said we fully anticipate 719 00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:08,816 to be in close consultation with our 720 00:28:08,816 --> 00:28:11,870 allies and partners going forward . Um 721 00:28:11,870 --> 00:28:15,140 And if we can be of assistance to them 722 00:28:15,150 --> 00:28:18,880 if they desire uh to make uh changes in 723 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:21,170 their footprint , then the secretary 724 00:28:21,170 --> 00:28:23,337 fully intends to make it clear to them 725 00:28:23,337 --> 00:28:25,820 that will be ready to help as needed . 726 00:28:25,830 --> 00:28:29,750 Yeah . Um let's see dan 727 00:28:29,750 --> 00:28:33,470 them off . Yes . Thank you , john can 728 00:28:33,470 --> 00:28:36,550 you clarify how this doesn't qualify as 729 00:28:36,550 --> 00:28:40,430 a Neo and can and regardless of that , 730 00:28:40,430 --> 00:28:43,300 can you at least make it clear that if 731 00:28:43,300 --> 00:28:45,467 a Neo is needed because this speeds up 732 00:28:45,467 --> 00:28:47,810 yet , still uh you've got everything 733 00:28:47,810 --> 00:28:50,050 you need in place for one . Yeah . 734 00:28:50,060 --> 00:28:53,470 Again , the purpose here is to help 735 00:28:53,470 --> 00:28:55,192 with the reduction of civilian 736 00:28:55,192 --> 00:28:57,359 personnel out of the embassy . That is 737 00:28:57,359 --> 00:28:59,526 that is not the same as a noncombatant 738 00:28:59,526 --> 00:29:01,581 evacuation operation where uh you're 739 00:29:01,581 --> 00:29:03,930 moving a massive amount of people um 740 00:29:03,940 --> 00:29:07,080 who uh you know who aren't 741 00:29:07,090 --> 00:29:10,960 necessarily um uh U . S . Government 742 00:29:10,970 --> 00:29:13,026 employees that this is a different , 743 00:29:13,026 --> 00:29:15,137 it's a different operation altogether 744 00:29:15,137 --> 00:29:17,359 and we're just not there . Um The other 745 00:29:17,359 --> 00:29:19,303 thing that we're gonna be doing is 746 00:29:19,303 --> 00:29:21,248 helping the State Department again 747 00:29:21,248 --> 00:29:21,210 accelerate the process for special 748 00:29:21,210 --> 00:29:24,570 immigrant visa applicants that also 749 00:29:24,580 --> 00:29:27,510 does not fall under the rubric of what 750 00:29:27,510 --> 00:29:29,454 would be a noncombatant evacuation 751 00:29:29,454 --> 00:29:32,660 operation . Um Jeff shuttle . Yeah , 752 00:29:33,740 --> 00:29:35,740 thank you very much . I know you're 753 00:29:35,740 --> 00:29:37,960 telling us as much as you can and I 754 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:39,849 know the pentagon is committed to 755 00:29:39,849 --> 00:29:42,530 transparency . It is in that spirit 756 00:29:42,540 --> 00:29:44,680 that I asked can you say where these 757 00:29:44,690 --> 00:29:47,040 infantry battalions are coming from ? 758 00:29:47,070 --> 00:29:49,070 The new york times is reporting the 759 00:29:49,070 --> 00:29:50,903 marines are coming from a marine 760 00:29:50,903 --> 00:29:52,848 expeditionary unit , can you say ? 761 00:29:52,848 --> 00:29:56,410 Which new uh Jeff as I as I said , I'm 762 00:29:56,410 --> 00:29:58,930 gonna uh leave it at letting you know 763 00:29:58,930 --> 00:30:00,986 that there are coming from with with 764 00:30:00,986 --> 00:30:02,750 inside a central command area 765 00:30:02,750 --> 00:30:04,750 responsibility . And I'm just gonna 766 00:30:04,750 --> 00:30:06,806 leave it at that for for right now . 767 00:30:07,340 --> 00:30:10,330 Thank you . Which brigade from um Bragg 768 00:30:10,330 --> 00:30:12,497 is going ? I'm not going into detail . 769 00:30:12,497 --> 00:30:14,510 Which brigade , but it is a brigade 770 00:30:14,510 --> 00:30:16,930 from the 82nd Airborne Megan . Did you 771 00:30:16,930 --> 00:30:20,720 have a question ? Okay , Sylvie . And 772 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:22,887 then I'll take one more after that and 773 00:30:22,887 --> 00:30:26,030 we'll have to call today . Okay , thank 774 00:30:26,030 --> 00:30:29,230 you john you said that you don't want 775 00:30:29,230 --> 00:30:32,140 to speak about intelligence , which I 776 00:30:32,140 --> 00:30:34,990 understand , but you can speak about 777 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:38,940 image . And what do you think 778 00:30:38,940 --> 00:30:42,740 the evacuation of civilians by the 779 00:30:42,740 --> 00:30:46,140 military will look like ? And how do 780 00:30:46,140 --> 00:30:49,600 you how are you going to avoid a 781 00:30:49,610 --> 00:30:53,340 parallel with the fall of Saigon ? What 782 00:30:53,340 --> 00:30:55,562 this is gonna look like is what it is , 783 00:30:55,562 --> 00:30:57,760 Sylvia ? And that's that's uh the 784 00:30:57,760 --> 00:30:59,927 United States Government looking after 785 00:30:59,927 --> 00:31:02,038 the safety and security of our people 786 00:31:02,038 --> 00:31:04,260 first and foremost , uh and making sure 787 00:31:04,260 --> 00:31:06,620 that we in the military are supporting 788 00:31:06,630 --> 00:31:08,820 the safe movement of these individuals 789 00:31:08,820 --> 00:31:11,500 out of Afghanistan , as I said , which 790 00:31:11,500 --> 00:31:13,560 we believe is a prudent step . We're 791 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:15,782 not walking away from our commitment to 792 00:31:15,782 --> 00:31:17,893 the Afghan forces were not completely 793 00:31:17,893 --> 00:31:20,060 eliminating our diplomatic presence on 794 00:31:20,060 --> 00:31:22,227 the ground . We're still going to have 795 00:31:22,227 --> 00:31:24,338 diplomats , there were still going to 796 00:31:24,338 --> 00:31:26,227 be doing work , as ned Price said 797 00:31:26,227 --> 00:31:28,393 earlier uh and the military will still 798 00:31:28,393 --> 00:31:30,616 remain committed to helping protect the 799 00:31:30,616 --> 00:31:32,838 diplomatic presence that remains inside 800 00:31:32,838 --> 00:31:34,949 Afghanistan . So nobody is abandoning 801 00:31:34,949 --> 00:31:37,282 Afghanistan is not walking away from it . 802 00:31:37,282 --> 00:31:39,504 It's doing the right thing at the right 803 00:31:39,504 --> 00:31:41,727 time to protect our people . Okay , one 804 00:31:41,727 --> 00:31:43,949 more anything here . Uh jim you haven't 805 00:31:43,949 --> 00:31:45,782 had a question may seem a little 806 00:31:45,782 --> 00:31:47,949 strange . But does this operation have 807 00:31:47,949 --> 00:31:50,100 a name ? No , it does not . UK 808 00:31:50,100 --> 00:31:52,156 announced its sending in troops help 809 00:31:52,156 --> 00:31:54,378 evacuate as people , you know more than 810 00:31:54,378 --> 00:31:58,010 me . I don't know , I wasn't I wasn't 811 00:31:58,010 --> 00:32:00,121 aware of that . Are you worried about 812 00:32:00,121 --> 00:32:02,343 this triggering panic in the population 813 00:32:02,343 --> 00:32:06,320 there in Kabul again , this is this is 814 00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:09,650 about the safe movement of our people 815 00:32:09,660 --> 00:32:13,190 in Afghanistan and 816 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:17,150 um we obviously want millions who 817 00:32:17,150 --> 00:32:19,150 live there are going to see a large 818 00:32:19,150 --> 00:32:21,317 number of americans being whisked away 819 00:32:21,317 --> 00:32:23,317 by the military while they're stuck 820 00:32:23,317 --> 00:32:25,970 there as a taliban taliban . What I'd 821 00:32:25,970 --> 00:32:28,192 say Mike , what I'd say to that mike is 822 00:32:28,192 --> 00:32:30,359 what I've been saying for the last few 823 00:32:30,359 --> 00:32:32,192 days that the Afghan forces have 824 00:32:32,192 --> 00:32:34,248 advantages , they have capability to 825 00:32:34,248 --> 00:32:36,540 protect their territory and their 826 00:32:36,540 --> 00:32:39,370 people , they have the capacity to do 827 00:32:39,370 --> 00:32:43,010 that . What what I think the 828 00:32:43,010 --> 00:32:45,232 Afghan people want to see and what they 829 00:32:45,232 --> 00:32:47,570 deserve to see is the leadership in the 830 00:32:47,570 --> 00:32:49,681 will to use those advantages to their 831 00:32:49,681 --> 00:32:51,903 benefit . Thanks . Everybody gonna have 832 00:32:51,903 --> 00:32:54,990 to go now numbers more mistakes , 3000 833 00:32:54,990 --> 00:32:57,740 going into the airport 1001st going to 834 00:32:57,740 --> 00:32:59,920 Qatar and then to Afghanistan to help 835 00:32:59,920 --> 00:33:02,380 with staying in Qatar ? No , I said the 836 00:33:02,390 --> 00:33:04,530 1000 enables or go to Qatar for right 837 00:33:04,530 --> 00:33:06,641 now , I can't predict whether they'll 838 00:33:06,641 --> 00:33:08,974 be onward movement from there right now . 839 00:33:08,974 --> 00:33:11,030 They're going to Qatar and then 3500 840 00:33:11,030 --> 00:33:13,086 again for helping process , uh , and 841 00:33:13,086 --> 00:33:15,150 then 3000 to the airport in the next 842 00:33:15,150 --> 00:33:17,670 few days . Uh , and then there'll be a 843 00:33:17,680 --> 00:33:20,070 reserve force out of brag that will 844 00:33:20,080 --> 00:33:22,070 that will stage out of kuwait and 845 00:33:22,070 --> 00:33:25,060 that's roughly 3500 to 4000 . All of 846 00:33:25,060 --> 00:33:27,393 that . In addition to the 6 50 or their . 847 00:33:27,393 --> 00:33:30,140 That is correct . Thanks everybody of 848 00:33:30,150 --> 00:33:32,070 the immigrants . Is that just 849 00:33:32,070 --> 00:33:34,292 transportation ? Are they actually like 850 00:33:34,292 --> 00:33:36,514 helping processing their applications ? 851 00:33:39,540 --> 00:33:39,860 Okay .