1 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:06,380 afternoon , everybody , let me just get 2 00:00:06,380 --> 00:00:08,047 organized here for a second . 3 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:19,370 Okay , I'm going to jump around a 4 00:00:19,370 --> 00:00:22,440 little bit here , but as I mentioned 5 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:24,780 last week , the Secretary will be 6 00:00:24,790 --> 00:00:26,860 leaving on travel Tomorrow morning . 7 00:00:27,340 --> 00:00:29,810 First stop is brussels for the NATO 8 00:00:29,810 --> 00:00:31,977 defense ministerial . He looks forward 9 00:00:31,977 --> 00:00:34,790 to uh having another discussion to talk 10 00:00:34,790 --> 00:00:36,970 with our our NATO allies about all the 11 00:00:36,970 --> 00:00:39,360 things we're doing as an alliance uh to 12 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,210 bolster uh and support our deterrence 13 00:00:42,210 --> 00:00:44,210 capabilities on the eastern flank . 14 00:00:44,740 --> 00:00:48,280 From there he will go uh to Slovakia , 15 00:00:48,290 --> 00:00:50,346 I think uh I think we already talked 16 00:00:50,346 --> 00:00:52,568 about that last week . Um and today the 17 00:00:52,568 --> 00:00:55,810 Secretary has added a third stop on uh 18 00:00:55,820 --> 00:00:58,080 in Bulgaria . So he will extend the 19 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,247 trip by a day . We'll we'll we'll have 20 00:01:00,247 --> 00:01:02,510 a chance to meet with with senior uh 21 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:04,353 civilian and military leaders in 22 00:01:04,353 --> 00:01:07,160 Bulgaria . Also a key stop in terms of 23 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,327 the eastern flank of the alliance , he 24 00:01:09,327 --> 00:01:11,382 looks forward to that well obviously 25 00:01:11,382 --> 00:01:13,160 have more detail um as the trip 26 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:15,271 progresses and and certainly keep you 27 00:01:15,271 --> 00:01:18,640 informed um on an exercise note , 28 00:01:18,650 --> 00:01:21,450 operation , Noble Defender now as a 29 00:01:21,460 --> 00:01:23,571 recurring NORAD air defense operation 30 00:01:23,571 --> 00:01:25,738 takes place throughout the year . This 31 00:01:25,738 --> 00:01:27,738 winter's noble defender planned for 32 00:01:27,738 --> 00:01:30,440 March 16 will occur during a series of 33 00:01:30,450 --> 00:01:32,730 arctic activities that demonstrate 34 00:01:32,740 --> 00:01:34,796 allied collaboration to defend north 35 00:01:34,796 --> 00:01:37,530 America's northern approaches . This 36 00:01:37,530 --> 00:01:39,363 iteration of Noble Defender will 37 00:01:39,363 --> 00:01:41,419 incorporate several assets from both 38 00:01:41,419 --> 00:01:43,363 Canada and the United States would 39 00:01:43,363 --> 00:01:45,474 support from Denmark to allow our air 40 00:01:45,474 --> 00:01:47,697 defense operations . I'm sorry to allow 41 00:01:47,697 --> 00:01:49,530 air defense operations from full 42 00:01:49,530 --> 00:01:52,330 Greenland during this exercise . NORAD 43 00:01:52,330 --> 00:01:54,552 fighters will conduct intercepts of U . 44 00:01:54,552 --> 00:01:56,219 S . Strategic command bombers 45 00:01:56,219 --> 00:01:57,886 representing threat platforms 46 00:01:57,886 --> 00:01:59,941 throughout the arctic from Alaska to 47 00:01:59,941 --> 00:02:02,163 Greenland and we'll keep your prizes at 48 00:02:02,163 --> 00:02:04,163 exercise progresses . And then just 49 00:02:04,163 --> 00:02:06,274 lastly on behalf of everybody here at 50 00:02:06,274 --> 00:02:08,510 the department . Uh we'd like to extend 51 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:11,690 our deepest sympathies to the family of 52 00:02:11,690 --> 00:02:15,360 Brent Renaud a freelance journalist who 53 00:02:15,740 --> 00:02:17,907 was tragically killed over the weekend 54 00:02:17,907 --> 00:02:20,018 covering Ukraine . We understand that 55 00:02:20,018 --> 00:02:22,129 he was working on a documentary about 56 00:02:22,129 --> 00:02:24,296 refugees . And clearly this unprovoked 57 00:02:24,296 --> 00:02:27,990 war by Mr Putin has created now more 58 00:02:27,990 --> 00:02:31,210 than 2.5 million refugees . So 59 00:02:31,640 --> 00:02:34,240 we applaud uh the work that he was 60 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:36,680 doing . Um the bravery with which he 61 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:38,640 did it and again our deepest 62 00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:40,730 condolences and sympathies go out to 63 00:02:40,730 --> 00:02:42,897 his family . I would also like to take 64 00:02:42,897 --> 00:02:44,674 this opportunity to express our 65 00:02:44,674 --> 00:02:46,950 concerns over the what what we are 66 00:02:46,950 --> 00:02:49,117 under . What we understand now is that 67 00:02:49,117 --> 00:02:51,228 the injuries sustained by Mr Benjamin 68 00:02:51,228 --> 00:02:53,061 Hall Fox news correspondent also 69 00:02:53,061 --> 00:02:55,490 covering the war in Ukraine were given 70 00:02:55,490 --> 00:02:57,601 to understand that he's being treated 71 00:02:57,601 --> 00:02:59,490 right now in the hospital for his 72 00:02:59,490 --> 00:03:01,546 injuries . We certainly wish him all 73 00:03:01,546 --> 00:03:03,657 the best a speedy recovery and a safe 74 00:03:03,657 --> 00:03:07,000 return again to examples of of 75 00:03:07,010 --> 00:03:10,740 the dangers in covering war . Uh this 76 00:03:10,740 --> 00:03:12,907 is a war that didn't need to be fought 77 00:03:12,907 --> 00:03:15,250 to be sure . Um but justice to be sure 78 00:03:15,250 --> 00:03:17,306 there are there are journalists from 79 00:03:17,306 --> 00:03:19,417 around the world on the ground trying 80 00:03:19,417 --> 00:03:21,583 to discover the truth and to show that 81 00:03:21,583 --> 00:03:23,694 truth and to and to and to tell these 82 00:03:23,694 --> 00:03:25,750 important stories . And again we are 83 00:03:25,750 --> 00:03:27,694 our best go out to Mr hall and are 84 00:03:27,694 --> 00:03:29,806 certainly are our deepest thoughts go 85 00:03:29,806 --> 00:03:31,750 to his family as I'm sure they are 86 00:03:31,750 --> 00:03:33,861 worried about him and uh and his well 87 00:03:33,861 --> 00:03:35,806 being . But again , uh we're we're 88 00:03:35,806 --> 00:03:37,972 thinking about him and with that start 89 00:03:37,972 --> 00:03:40,950 taking questions . Uh let's see where's 90 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:43,980 uh where's my ap guy lita ? You're on 91 00:03:43,980 --> 00:03:47,630 the phone , yep , I'm here . Um 92 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:50,150 Thanks john . Um can you talk a little 93 00:03:50,150 --> 00:03:53,510 bit about the strikes on ya Voorhoeve ? 94 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,160 Um the other day , are those strikes 95 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:58,438 making it any more difficult for the U . 96 00:03:58,438 --> 00:04:01,000 S . To get security assistance in to 97 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,760 the Ukrainians ? Um and 98 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,810 does that raise concerns about the war 99 00:04:07,810 --> 00:04:09,990 moving closer to the polish border ? 100 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:13,670 Are there any new efforts going on 101 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:17,610 to either supplement troops or other 102 00:04:17,770 --> 00:04:20,150 systems , weapons etcetera to protect 103 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:24,070 Poland um near the 104 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:25,080 polish border ? 105 00:04:28,740 --> 00:04:31,290 So again , without getting into too 106 00:04:31,290 --> 00:04:33,401 much tactical detail , jen , I mean , 107 00:04:33,401 --> 00:04:35,950 it's it's uh this was clearly a Russian 108 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,071 airstrike . Our understanding is that 109 00:04:38,071 --> 00:04:40,880 these were cruise missiles fired from 110 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:44,790 aircraft long range on on the iava 111 00:04:44,790 --> 00:04:48,180 reeve training facility . They're in 112 00:04:48,190 --> 00:04:52,170 western Ukraine . I can 113 00:04:52,170 --> 00:04:54,281 assure you that there were no U . S . 114 00:04:54,281 --> 00:04:56,114 Military personnel there at that 115 00:04:56,114 --> 00:04:58,170 training facility . That's where the 116 00:04:58,170 --> 00:05:00,281 florida National Guard had been doing 117 00:05:00,281 --> 00:05:02,392 their training before they left a few 118 00:05:02,392 --> 00:05:04,337 weeks ago . No U . S . Contractors 119 00:05:04,337 --> 00:05:06,559 there , No US civilians , no government 120 00:05:06,559 --> 00:05:08,781 US government personnel there at all as 121 00:05:08,781 --> 00:05:10,837 for the a damage done . We know that 122 00:05:10,837 --> 00:05:13,003 several structures were hit . We don't 123 00:05:13,003 --> 00:05:15,050 have a perfect picture of what the 124 00:05:15,060 --> 00:05:17,830 damage was done or how much , um , 125 00:05:17,840 --> 00:05:21,120 how much gear equipment was was hit and 126 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:24,270 with what effect . Um , but as we've 127 00:05:24,270 --> 00:05:27,060 said before , this is now the third 128 00:05:27,630 --> 00:05:29,852 significant strike in Western Ukraine . 129 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:32,462 It certainly appears as if the Russians 130 00:05:32,462 --> 00:05:34,518 are broadening their , their targets 131 00:05:34,518 --> 00:05:37,660 set and we're NATO weapons shipments 132 00:05:37,670 --> 00:05:40,250 going through that location . Is that 133 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,310 why we're being targeted ? I can't 134 00:05:43,310 --> 00:05:45,088 speak for Russian and targeting 135 00:05:45,088 --> 00:05:48,500 justification . That's really , uh , 136 00:05:48,510 --> 00:05:51,560 not always clear to us . Um , 137 00:05:52,140 --> 00:05:55,140 but without , but we've been very 138 00:05:55,140 --> 00:05:57,362 careful about not wanting to talk about 139 00:05:57,362 --> 00:05:59,760 the routes through which , um , 140 00:06:00,210 --> 00:06:02,099 security assistance is getting to 141 00:06:02,099 --> 00:06:04,321 Ukraine . And I don't want to , I don't 142 00:06:04,321 --> 00:06:06,321 want to start by , you know , doing 143 00:06:06,321 --> 00:06:08,654 that today . I would just tell you that , 144 00:06:08,654 --> 00:06:11,250 uh , that , uh , we have multiple 145 00:06:11,250 --> 00:06:14,350 routes to to to get security assistance 146 00:06:14,350 --> 00:06:16,572 into the hands of the Ukrainians . Um , 147 00:06:16,572 --> 00:06:18,628 this was not one of them , but these 148 00:06:18,628 --> 00:06:20,961 Russian planes were in Russian airspace . 149 00:06:20,961 --> 00:06:23,180 They didn't cross into Ukraine . I'd 150 00:06:23,180 --> 00:06:25,124 rather not talk about specific air 151 00:06:25,124 --> 00:06:27,236 operations for the Russians . We know 152 00:06:27,236 --> 00:06:29,402 there were long range strikes , cruise 153 00:06:29,402 --> 00:06:31,458 missiles , But beyond that , I think 154 00:06:31,458 --> 00:06:35,000 I'd I think I did . Yeah . Thank you 155 00:06:35,010 --> 00:06:38,440 guys . This is this airstrike on 156 00:06:38,570 --> 00:06:40,681 average . And I think I believe there 157 00:06:40,681 --> 00:06:42,792 was another town that was targeted as 158 00:06:42,792 --> 00:06:46,490 well . Do you have no indications that 159 00:06:46,490 --> 00:06:48,360 the Russians are , there are any 160 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:50,460 efforts by the Russians to interfere 161 00:06:50,460 --> 00:06:53,710 with security assistant supplies and 162 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:55,720 and routes into Ukraine . Is that a 163 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:58,400 concern now ? Because so far , senior 164 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,400 officials have been telling us that 165 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:02,456 there were no indications of such an 166 00:07:02,456 --> 00:07:04,940 effort is the strike on the weekend 167 00:07:04,940 --> 00:07:07,051 kind of ? Again , we're not we're not 168 00:07:07,051 --> 00:07:09,218 we're not looking at this strike as as 169 00:07:09,218 --> 00:07:12,250 an effort to , uh , to 170 00:07:13,140 --> 00:07:14,060 go after 171 00:07:17,100 --> 00:07:19,267 the delivery of security assistance to 172 00:07:19,267 --> 00:07:21,378 Ukraine . I'm not going to talk about 173 00:07:21,540 --> 00:07:23,710 the all the modalities of how we're 174 00:07:23,710 --> 00:07:26,300 continuing to find ways to help Ukraine 175 00:07:26,300 --> 00:07:28,356 defend itself . I think you guys can 176 00:07:28,356 --> 00:07:30,522 understand that . Um , and all I would 177 00:07:30,522 --> 00:07:32,633 tell you an answer to your question . 178 00:07:32,633 --> 00:07:34,578 Your larger question is that we're 179 00:07:34,578 --> 00:07:36,411 going to continue to get as much 180 00:07:36,411 --> 00:07:38,522 security assistance to the Ukrainians 181 00:07:38,522 --> 00:07:40,522 as fast as we can , and in the most 182 00:07:40,522 --> 00:07:42,744 efficient , effective way . And there's 183 00:07:42,744 --> 00:07:44,967 lots of different ways that we're we're 184 00:07:44,967 --> 00:07:47,078 uh , we're pursuing that . And I just 185 00:07:47,078 --> 00:07:49,133 don't think it's helpful ? Certainly 186 00:07:49,133 --> 00:07:50,856 not to Ukrainians for us to be 187 00:07:50,856 --> 00:07:53,022 detailing that here from the podium on 188 00:07:53,022 --> 00:07:55,244 the efforts by the Russians to have you 189 00:07:55,244 --> 00:07:57,133 seen any indications that they're 190 00:07:57,133 --> 00:07:59,189 trying now to interfere with these , 191 00:07:59,750 --> 00:08:01,528 All I would tell you is that we 192 00:08:01,528 --> 00:08:04,720 continue to have ways to get stuff into 193 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:06,942 the hands of the Ukrainians and again , 194 00:08:06,942 --> 00:08:09,053 I'm just gonna leave it at that . I'm 195 00:08:09,053 --> 00:08:10,831 not going to talk about Russian 196 00:08:10,831 --> 00:08:13,164 targeting and Russian operations ? Yeah . 197 00:08:13,164 --> 00:08:16,570 Yes . Thank you to go back to this , uh , 198 00:08:16,580 --> 00:08:18,880 strike on you . 199 00:08:19,780 --> 00:08:23,760 Do you consider that as a turning point 200 00:08:23,770 --> 00:08:26,610 in the in the war , the fact that 201 00:08:26,620 --> 00:08:30,580 they start striking in the 202 00:08:30,580 --> 00:08:33,520 west , or do you consider that as 203 00:08:33,740 --> 00:08:37,660 just a signal to the 204 00:08:37,660 --> 00:08:40,810 west that we can do that if we want ? I 205 00:08:40,820 --> 00:08:42,931 don't think we would reduce something 206 00:08:42,931 --> 00:08:45,260 like this to calling it a signal . Um , 207 00:08:45,740 --> 00:08:49,150 I mean , they they use multiple cruise 208 00:08:49,150 --> 00:08:51,660 missiles here . Uh 209 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,950 clearly they had their reasons for 210 00:08:54,950 --> 00:08:57,230 targeting that training facility and it 211 00:08:57,230 --> 00:08:59,190 is a Ukrainian military training 212 00:08:59,190 --> 00:09:01,460 facility , I'll let them speak to , 213 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:04,062 they're targeting justifications , um , 214 00:09:04,062 --> 00:09:06,229 as for a turning point ? No , Sylvie , 215 00:09:06,229 --> 00:09:08,229 I wouldn't think that that we would 216 00:09:08,229 --> 00:09:10,340 consider this or the other strikes in 217 00:09:10,340 --> 00:09:12,229 Western . Ukraine is some sort of 218 00:09:12,229 --> 00:09:14,470 turning point . Um , the Russians 219 00:09:14,470 --> 00:09:17,010 clearly are expanding some of their uh 220 00:09:17,020 --> 00:09:19,640 some of their target sets , um that 221 00:09:19,650 --> 00:09:21,817 that's obvious just from the fact that 222 00:09:21,817 --> 00:09:24,039 over the last couple of days we've seen 223 00:09:24,039 --> 00:09:25,928 other targets hit in Ukraine , it 224 00:09:25,928 --> 00:09:28,410 doesn't change . I think our general 225 00:09:28,410 --> 00:09:30,577 understanding that they continue to be 226 00:09:30,577 --> 00:09:32,632 frustrated by a very stiff Ukrainian 227 00:09:32,632 --> 00:09:34,799 resistance and they are not making the 228 00:09:34,799 --> 00:09:36,966 kind of progress on the ground that we 229 00:09:36,966 --> 00:09:35,780 believe they thought they would be 230 00:09:35,780 --> 00:09:38,210 making by this point , let me try a 231 00:09:38,210 --> 00:09:40,750 leader again since uh since we we we 232 00:09:40,750 --> 00:09:42,861 didn't make that work leader either , 233 00:09:42,861 --> 00:09:45,720 yep , I'm here . Sorry . Um can you 234 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:46,720 hear me ? 235 00:09:49,940 --> 00:09:53,890 Can you hear me ? Okay ? I just 236 00:09:53,890 --> 00:09:57,020 want to expand a little bit on on a 237 00:09:57,020 --> 00:10:00,540 couple of the questions , is it getting 238 00:10:00,550 --> 00:10:03,730 difficult more broadly to get the 239 00:10:03,740 --> 00:10:07,360 security assistance into Ukraine at all ? 240 00:10:07,740 --> 00:10:11,060 And secondly , um as the strike , it 241 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,022 sort of got you got the fight closer to 242 00:10:15,022 --> 00:10:17,110 the polish border , Are you hearing 243 00:10:17,110 --> 00:10:20,640 anything from Poland about requests for 244 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:23,400 potentially more security assistance to 245 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:26,210 them or more troops ? Do you see any 246 00:10:26,210 --> 00:10:28,430 more of that , of any more troops 247 00:10:28,430 --> 00:10:31,570 etcetera going into europe in the next 248 00:10:31,570 --> 00:10:33,630 week or so ? I don't have any 249 00:10:33,630 --> 00:10:36,220 additional troop movements to speak to 250 00:10:36,230 --> 00:10:39,600 lita . As you all know when we do have 251 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:41,600 something like that to talk about a 252 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:43,822 muscle movement , we will do that . But 253 00:10:43,822 --> 00:10:46,110 I'm not , I have no troop announcements 254 00:10:46,110 --> 00:10:49,200 to to talk about today . Um We are in 255 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,570 constant communication with our 256 00:10:51,570 --> 00:10:53,970 Ukrainian counterparts about the types 257 00:10:53,970 --> 00:10:55,914 of assistance that they need , the 258 00:10:55,914 --> 00:10:58,026 defensive assistance that they need . 259 00:10:58,026 --> 00:10:59,637 This is an ongoing iterative 260 00:10:59,637 --> 00:11:01,637 conversation that we're having with 261 00:11:01,637 --> 00:11:03,692 them . So I wouldn't go so far as to 262 00:11:03,692 --> 00:11:06,070 say that this particular set of strikes 263 00:11:06,070 --> 00:11:08,480 on that particular military facility 264 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,670 has led to Some renewed calls for 265 00:11:11,680 --> 00:11:14,390 additional or different assistance . 266 00:11:14,390 --> 00:11:16,612 This is a conversation that we continue 267 00:11:16,612 --> 00:11:18,668 to have with them . You saw that the 268 00:11:18,668 --> 00:11:20,890 president approved another $200 million 269 00:11:20,890 --> 00:11:25,320 Pentagon 270 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:27,487 have pen and paper in hand and they're 271 00:11:27,487 --> 00:11:29,770 working out how we would realize that 272 00:11:29,770 --> 00:11:33,060 draw down as quickly as we can . Um 273 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:36,140 and uh again , your question about is 274 00:11:36,140 --> 00:11:38,730 it more dangerous now ? It we've never 275 00:11:38,730 --> 00:11:42,610 taken for granted um , any opportunity 276 00:11:42,610 --> 00:11:45,150 that we have to continue to assist the 277 00:11:45,150 --> 00:11:47,261 Ukrainians with their defense needs . 278 00:11:47,261 --> 00:11:49,483 We're not taking anything for granted . 279 00:11:49,483 --> 00:11:51,594 And as I've said before , we're gonna 280 00:11:51,594 --> 00:11:53,706 or we're going to continue to provide 281 00:11:53,706 --> 00:11:55,817 as much as we can as fast as we can . 282 00:11:55,817 --> 00:11:57,950 Yeah , David , you just said the 283 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:00,520 Russians continued , frustrated not 284 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,670 making any progress on the ground . You 285 00:12:03,670 --> 00:12:06,150 say that most days , does it , does 286 00:12:06,150 --> 00:12:09,120 that mean that the Ukrainians are 287 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:12,010 fighting the Russians to a standstill ? 288 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:15,870 Are the Russians making progress in 289 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:18,260 ways that aren't measured by advances 290 00:12:18,260 --> 00:12:20,482 in the front line ? I think we're going 291 00:12:20,482 --> 00:12:22,593 to be careful here at the pentagon in 292 00:12:22,593 --> 00:12:24,816 terms of providing a qualitative report 293 00:12:24,816 --> 00:12:26,982 card assessment here and and putting a 294 00:12:26,982 --> 00:12:29,316 name on it stand still or what have you ? 295 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:31,862 What I would tell you , David , is that 296 00:12:31,862 --> 00:12:33,973 the Ukrainians continue to fight back 297 00:12:33,973 --> 00:12:35,862 very bravely and skillfully . And 298 00:12:35,862 --> 00:12:38,084 you've heard me use the word creatively 299 00:12:38,084 --> 00:12:40,251 and I would say that that continues to 300 00:12:40,251 --> 00:12:42,418 be the case . They are making good use 301 00:12:42,418 --> 00:12:46,120 of , of their own knowledge , their 302 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,270 own situational awareness , their skill 303 00:12:49,270 --> 00:12:51,270 sets , and certainly they're making 304 00:12:51,270 --> 00:12:53,381 good use of the material that they're 305 00:12:53,381 --> 00:12:55,326 getting , not just from the United 306 00:12:55,326 --> 00:12:57,548 States , but from many other nations as 307 00:12:57,548 --> 00:12:59,770 well . And they if you just look at the 308 00:12:59,770 --> 00:13:01,937 map and you just look at um how little 309 00:13:01,937 --> 00:13:04,159 progress the Russians have been able to 310 00:13:04,159 --> 00:13:06,450 make in in the two plus weeks now that 311 00:13:06,450 --> 00:13:09,050 they've been at this , yes , some of 312 00:13:09,050 --> 00:13:11,161 that is due to their own stumbles and 313 00:13:11,161 --> 00:13:13,328 missteps and logistical problems . But 314 00:13:13,328 --> 00:13:15,480 a lot of it a lot of it is due to the 315 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:17,940 Ukrainian resistance um and how 316 00:13:17,940 --> 00:13:20,980 adaptive they are proving to be on the 317 00:13:20,980 --> 00:13:24,790 field and frankly in the street . Yeah , 318 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,280 in regards to these Russian strikes in 319 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:30,230 western Ukraine and close to the polish 320 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:32,710 border , um as we know , the Russians 321 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,350 aren't always particularly precise with 322 00:13:35,350 --> 00:13:37,600 their strikes and I'm just wondering if 323 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:39,822 there has been any change in the status 324 00:13:39,822 --> 00:13:41,870 of U . S . Forces deployed to the 325 00:13:41,870 --> 00:13:44,160 eastern flank because there any 326 00:13:44,170 --> 00:13:47,270 heightened alert or change of posture 327 00:13:47,270 --> 00:13:49,270 or any additional preparations that 328 00:13:49,270 --> 00:13:51,492 have been made . Since we've seen those 329 00:13:51,492 --> 00:13:53,381 strikes move farther west without 330 00:13:53,381 --> 00:13:55,610 getting into details about the force 331 00:13:55,610 --> 00:13:57,570 posture ? I can tell you that uh 332 00:13:57,580 --> 00:13:59,960 everybody that's serving in bolstering 333 00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:02,340 NATO's eastern flank is pretty alert , 334 00:14:02,340 --> 00:14:04,660 pretty vigilant as you might expect . 335 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:09,150 Um I know of no specific changes that 336 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:11,610 have been made or or planning to be 337 00:14:11,610 --> 00:14:13,721 made in the in the coming days , just 338 00:14:13,721 --> 00:14:16,040 based on the fact that uh this training 339 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:18,960 facility in Western Ukraine was was hit . 340 00:14:20,340 --> 00:14:23,780 Yeah , it was two questions . One when 341 00:14:23,780 --> 00:14:26,250 the US publicly states what it will not 342 00:14:26,260 --> 00:14:29,150 do , like enforcement of fly zone or 343 00:14:29,150 --> 00:14:31,450 the polish mig transfer , Does that not 344 00:14:31,460 --> 00:14:34,780 harm Ukraine and give Putin carte blanc 345 00:14:34,930 --> 00:14:37,840 and secondly , often you say that 346 00:14:37,850 --> 00:14:40,017 Russia does not have air superiority . 347 00:14:40,017 --> 00:14:41,960 However , if Russia is flying 200 348 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:44,240 sorties a day and Ukraine's flying 5 to 349 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:46,800 10 and can't fly its combat aircraft 350 00:14:46,820 --> 00:14:49,300 because Russia has complete um sam 351 00:14:49,300 --> 00:14:51,880 coverage . How is that not uh air 352 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,047 superiority for Russia ? I'm not going 353 00:14:54,047 --> 00:14:56,213 to get into the data metrics here with 354 00:14:56,213 --> 00:14:58,380 you . We still assess that Russia does 355 00:14:58,380 --> 00:15:00,491 not have air superiority over Ukraine 356 00:15:00,491 --> 00:15:02,602 and that the Ukrainians are defending 357 00:15:02,602 --> 00:15:05,800 their airspace . Ably , it doesn't mean 358 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:07,967 that it's not contested . Abraham . Of 359 00:15:07,967 --> 00:15:10,133 course it is . I mean you can see that 360 00:15:10,133 --> 00:15:12,078 for yourself and some of the video 361 00:15:12,078 --> 00:15:14,189 footage that gets put out there , but 362 00:15:14,189 --> 00:15:16,300 it's contested because the Ukrainians 363 00:15:16,300 --> 00:15:18,522 are are are finding ways to continue to 364 00:15:18,522 --> 00:15:20,522 try to defend their airspace and to 365 00:15:20,522 --> 00:15:22,633 preserve their their own mobility and 366 00:15:22,633 --> 00:15:24,744 and maneuver space . Um I'm sorry you 367 00:15:24,744 --> 00:15:26,911 had was there another Sure . The first 368 00:15:26,911 --> 00:15:29,920 question about when d O D publicly 369 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:31,920 states when us publicly states what 370 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,087 it's not going to do doesn't that harm 371 00:15:34,087 --> 00:15:36,309 Ukraine ? Because it gives Putin a cart 372 00:15:36,309 --> 00:15:38,760 blog . I think if you were to I can't 373 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:40,704 speak for Mr Putin , I doubt Putin 374 00:15:40,704 --> 00:15:44,640 would would after making as little 375 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:46,418 progress as he has made in this 376 00:15:46,418 --> 00:15:48,550 unprovoked war of his . It would be 377 00:15:48,550 --> 00:15:51,670 hard pressed to say that um that 378 00:15:51,670 --> 00:15:54,530 somehow he's being aided by by 379 00:15:54,530 --> 00:15:56,530 statements that we are making about 380 00:15:56,530 --> 00:15:59,870 what we will or we won't do um what 381 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:03,450 what I think is important . Abraham is 382 00:16:04,140 --> 00:16:06,160 not just talking about 383 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:10,751 things that we don't believe would be 384 00:16:10,751 --> 00:16:12,710 helpful because of the escalatory 385 00:16:12,710 --> 00:16:14,877 nature of it . Such as a no fly zone . 386 00:16:14,877 --> 00:16:16,988 But let's talk about what actually is 387 00:16:16,988 --> 00:16:19,154 happening . And I just talked a little 388 00:16:19,154 --> 00:16:21,266 bit about how hard the Ukrainians are 389 00:16:21,266 --> 00:16:23,488 fighting for their country , but we too 390 00:16:23,488 --> 00:16:25,599 are providing them and continue to do 391 00:16:25,599 --> 00:16:27,821 it over the course of the weekend . And 392 00:16:27,821 --> 00:16:29,988 now there's a new drawdown package and 393 00:16:29,988 --> 00:16:32,099 we will continue to fill that out and 394 00:16:32,099 --> 00:16:34,210 send material to them in concert with 395 00:16:34,210 --> 00:16:36,210 their needs . After talking to them 396 00:16:36,210 --> 00:16:38,321 about what those needs are as fast as 397 00:16:38,321 --> 00:16:40,432 we can And as effectively as we can . 398 00:16:40,432 --> 00:16:42,543 And it's not just the United States , 399 00:16:42,543 --> 00:16:42,010 14 other nations are doing this 400 00:16:42,140 --> 00:16:44,251 bilaterally . Of course we're helping 401 00:16:44,251 --> 00:16:46,084 coordinate some of that security 402 00:16:46,084 --> 00:16:48,140 assistance , but they're making good 403 00:16:48,140 --> 00:16:50,473 use of it . So there's a lot being done . 404 00:16:50,473 --> 00:16:52,280 Yeah . Uh yeah . 405 00:16:54,940 --> 00:16:56,996 Just going back to the air strike in 406 00:16:56,996 --> 00:16:58,940 the West , it's believed to be the 407 00:16:58,940 --> 00:17:00,884 closest Moscow has come yet to the 408 00:17:00,884 --> 00:17:03,051 polish border . So what are you taking 409 00:17:03,051 --> 00:17:05,390 this as is this Putin testing the 410 00:17:05,390 --> 00:17:07,557 Westin anyway . And how are we kind of 411 00:17:07,557 --> 00:17:09,779 showing our response to that ? Yeah , I 412 00:17:09,779 --> 00:17:11,890 think we just need to be , you know , 413 00:17:11,890 --> 00:17:14,140 first of all , I'm not , I don't have 414 00:17:14,140 --> 00:17:16,196 granularity on the Russian targeting 415 00:17:16,196 --> 00:17:19,470 process . They hit a the Ukrainian 416 00:17:19,470 --> 00:17:21,637 military training facility . They also 417 00:17:21,637 --> 00:17:23,840 hit some airfields in the previous few 418 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:25,870 days in Western Ukraine , they are 419 00:17:25,870 --> 00:17:28,037 clearly expanding some of their target 420 00:17:28,037 --> 00:17:30,470 sets here . I can't get into their 421 00:17:30,470 --> 00:17:32,470 heads . And and to tell you exactly 422 00:17:32,470 --> 00:17:35,270 what was behind uh , that target on 423 00:17:35,270 --> 00:17:37,600 that day with with that many cruise 424 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:40,190 missiles . Um , I don't want to just 425 00:17:40,190 --> 00:17:42,301 reduce this to some sort of signaling 426 00:17:45,500 --> 00:17:48,750 if Mr Putin , I was trying to signal 427 00:17:48,750 --> 00:17:51,380 his displeasure about a strong United 428 00:17:51,380 --> 00:17:55,010 NATO with this war of his then 429 00:17:55,090 --> 00:17:56,923 he's failed because he's getting 430 00:17:56,923 --> 00:17:59,090 exactly what he says . He doesn't want 431 00:17:59,090 --> 00:18:01,120 a strong united NATO on his western 432 00:18:01,120 --> 00:18:03,870 flank . Just over the last few days , 433 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:05,936 we moved some patriot batteries from 434 00:18:05,936 --> 00:18:07,936 Germany to Poland . And we're gonna 435 00:18:07,936 --> 00:18:09,602 continue to look at potential 436 00:18:09,602 --> 00:18:11,713 repositioning if we need to to defend 437 00:18:11,713 --> 00:18:13,713 NATO's eastern flank . So I I can't 438 00:18:13,713 --> 00:18:15,769 again I can't speak for Mr Putin and 439 00:18:15,769 --> 00:18:17,991 and what messages he's trying to send , 440 00:18:17,991 --> 00:18:20,047 sending it with cruise missiles on a 441 00:18:20,047 --> 00:18:22,158 training facility . I again , I think 442 00:18:22,158 --> 00:18:24,047 that's being generous to him . If 443 00:18:24,047 --> 00:18:26,158 that's if that's in fact , all he did 444 00:18:26,158 --> 00:18:28,158 was try to signal all it all he has 445 00:18:28,158 --> 00:18:30,380 done with that and everything else he's 446 00:18:30,380 --> 00:18:32,602 doing in Ukraine . And please let's not 447 00:18:32,602 --> 00:18:35,240 get focused . Um only on a weekend 448 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,462 strike on a training facility , look at 449 00:18:37,462 --> 00:18:39,573 the damage and the death he's causing 450 00:18:39,573 --> 00:18:41,620 in places like Kiev and Kharkiv and 451 00:18:41,620 --> 00:18:44,720 Mario opal and you know , people losing 452 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:48,170 their lives and their homes . Um uh 453 00:18:49,140 --> 00:18:51,251 he clearly has more than a message in 454 00:18:51,251 --> 00:18:52,973 mind here . He clearly has the 455 00:18:52,973 --> 00:18:56,080 occupation of , of Ukraine in mind . Um 456 00:18:56,090 --> 00:18:58,320 and he also clearly has diplomatic 457 00:18:58,330 --> 00:19:00,330 options available to him that he is 458 00:19:00,330 --> 00:19:02,552 obviously not proving willing to take . 459 00:19:02,552 --> 00:19:04,860 Now we have heard talks about uh of 460 00:19:04,860 --> 00:19:07,730 talks and uh uh and we obviously would 461 00:19:07,740 --> 00:19:09,907 would love to see them succeed clearly 462 00:19:09,907 --> 00:19:12,129 but there hasn't been there hasn't been 463 00:19:12,129 --> 00:19:14,296 much progress in that in that regard . 464 00:19:14,296 --> 00:19:17,880 So um again I I want to be careful here 465 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:20,640 that uh that we're not reducing the 466 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:23,110 kind of damage and death he's causing 467 00:19:23,120 --> 00:19:25,630 to some sort of message signaling . I 468 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:27,807 think that's being way too generous to 469 00:19:27,807 --> 00:19:29,973 what the Kremlin's trying to do inside 470 00:19:29,973 --> 00:19:33,060 Ukraine . Um Carla bob . 471 00:19:34,740 --> 00:19:36,962 Yeah . Hey john thanks for doing this . 472 00:19:36,962 --> 00:19:40,130 Two quick questions . Um So Russia's 473 00:19:40,130 --> 00:19:43,140 deputy Foreign minister actually warned 474 00:19:43,150 --> 00:19:45,094 over the weekend that Moscow would 475 00:19:45,094 --> 00:19:48,450 start firing on weapons shipments . So 476 00:19:48,460 --> 00:19:50,404 I was just to follow up on some of 477 00:19:50,404 --> 00:19:52,460 these questions without getting into 478 00:19:52,460 --> 00:19:54,293 intelligence , have you seen any 479 00:19:54,293 --> 00:19:56,349 indications that they are now trying 480 00:19:56,349 --> 00:19:58,404 that they have shifted and we're all 481 00:19:58,404 --> 00:20:00,460 trying to target weapons shipments . 482 00:20:00,460 --> 00:20:02,460 That's question number one and then 483 00:20:02,460 --> 00:20:04,682 number two on a different topic because 484 00:20:04,682 --> 00:20:06,880 there is an africom centcom hearing 485 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:09,530 tomorrow . So on africa , General 486 00:20:09,540 --> 00:20:11,707 Stephen Townsend , the head of U . S . 487 00:20:11,707 --> 00:20:13,929 Africa Command has frequently said over 488 00:20:13,929 --> 00:20:15,707 two years now that they've been 489 00:20:15,707 --> 00:20:17,762 commuting to work and he had told me 490 00:20:17,762 --> 00:20:19,984 away that there were more effective and 491 00:20:19,984 --> 00:20:22,151 efficient ways in Somalia to carry out 492 00:20:22,151 --> 00:20:23,984 Africans mission and that he had 493 00:20:23,984 --> 00:20:25,762 provided recommendations to the 494 00:20:25,762 --> 00:20:27,762 secretary . So has Secretary Austin 495 00:20:27,762 --> 00:20:29,818 made a decision on U . S . Troops in 496 00:20:29,818 --> 00:20:32,150 Somalia . And can you please tell us 497 00:20:32,150 --> 00:20:34,950 what the delay has been ? Thank you . I 498 00:20:34,950 --> 00:20:36,894 have no decisions on Somalia force 499 00:20:36,894 --> 00:20:39,006 presence to talk to about carla . And 500 00:20:39,006 --> 00:20:41,006 um if and when we do have decisions 501 00:20:41,006 --> 00:20:43,172 we'll talk about it . You talk about a 502 00:20:43,172 --> 00:20:47,010 delay . I I know of no delay uh when we 503 00:20:47,010 --> 00:20:49,380 have something to speak to with force 504 00:20:49,380 --> 00:20:51,436 force posture there or anywhere else 505 00:20:51,436 --> 00:20:54,050 and we can do it , we will again , 506 00:20:54,060 --> 00:20:55,838 we're going to continue to flow 507 00:20:55,838 --> 00:20:57,949 security assistance to the Ukrainians 508 00:20:57,949 --> 00:21:00,060 as fast as we can and as nimbly as we 509 00:21:00,060 --> 00:21:03,360 can . Um uh they are , all I can tell 510 00:21:03,360 --> 00:21:05,460 you is that as we stand here today 511 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:08,096 those shipments are getting into the 512 00:21:08,096 --> 00:21:10,318 hands of the Ukrainians and we're gonna 513 00:21:10,318 --> 00:21:10,100 keep looking for ways to make sure that 514 00:21:10,100 --> 00:21:13,310 that that continues Tony . Capasso 515 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:27,940 get in there , Tony Hey john I didn't 516 00:21:27,940 --> 00:21:29,718 know you called me sorry on the 517 00:21:29,718 --> 00:21:31,773 drawdown packages and packages going 518 00:21:31,773 --> 00:21:33,718 forward of aid to the Ukraine . Do 519 00:21:33,718 --> 00:21:35,718 those also include potential allied 520 00:21:35,718 --> 00:21:38,310 contributions that the pentagon would 521 00:21:38,310 --> 00:21:42,270 reimburse . Um so a couple of 522 00:21:42,270 --> 00:21:44,700 things there Tony . First of all the 523 00:21:44,710 --> 00:21:47,980 aid that's going to Ukraine is not is 524 00:21:47,980 --> 00:21:51,850 not a NATO alliance mission . 525 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:55,730 Uh these are sovereign decisions that 526 00:21:55,740 --> 00:21:57,660 individual nations are making are 527 00:21:57,660 --> 00:22:00,250 making about ways to assist Ukraine . 528 00:22:00,430 --> 00:22:02,500 Um it's not under the rubric of NATO 529 00:22:02,500 --> 00:22:06,130 and I think that's important . Um uh 530 00:22:06,140 --> 00:22:09,380 number two I know of no reimbursement 531 00:22:09,380 --> 00:22:11,520 plan for the kinds of security These 532 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:13,631 are decisions that individual nations 533 00:22:13,631 --> 00:22:15,353 are making to provide security 534 00:22:15,353 --> 00:22:17,409 assistance to Ukraine . They need to 535 00:22:17,409 --> 00:22:19,631 speak to those in ways in which they're 536 00:22:19,631 --> 00:22:21,853 comfortable speaking to them . But it's 537 00:22:21,853 --> 00:22:23,576 not , it's not done under some 538 00:22:23,576 --> 00:22:25,798 reimbursement plan by the United States 539 00:22:25,798 --> 00:22:27,798 of America . We are , we're working 540 00:22:27,798 --> 00:22:30,120 very hard on our own uh delivery and 541 00:22:30,120 --> 00:22:33,230 shipments of Of security assistance . 542 00:22:33,230 --> 00:22:35,590 And as I said now we we're nearly at 543 00:22:35,590 --> 00:22:38,440 the end of the $350 million dollar 544 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:40,607 package that the president signed over 545 00:22:40,607 --> 00:22:42,662 a week ago , we've got almost all of 546 00:22:42,662 --> 00:22:45,660 that into their hands . The remaining 547 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:48,470 The remaining items should be arriving 548 00:22:48,470 --> 00:22:50,303 very very soon . And then we are 549 00:22:50,303 --> 00:22:52,359 already at work trying to figure out 550 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:54,526 what the next drawdown package of $200 551 00:22:54,526 --> 00:22:57,460 million dollars is gonna look like uh 552 00:22:57,470 --> 00:23:01,120 Phil Stewart . Hey 553 00:23:01,120 --> 00:23:04,700 john so the US has or the 554 00:23:04,700 --> 00:23:07,700 Poland has patriot air defense is that 555 00:23:07,700 --> 00:23:10,130 I'm assuming could have arranged ? Yeah , 556 00:23:10,130 --> 00:23:12,186 very , very because it's so close to 557 00:23:12,186 --> 00:23:14,408 the border . I'm just wondering is this 558 00:23:14,408 --> 00:23:16,463 now show that you know that the that 559 00:23:16,463 --> 00:23:19,070 the U . S . Line about not having 560 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:22,300 troops fighting in Ukraine also extends 561 00:23:22,300 --> 00:23:24,411 to these air defenses that are on the 562 00:23:24,411 --> 00:23:26,411 NATO side that the air defenses are 563 00:23:26,411 --> 00:23:28,467 really just going to kind of protect 564 00:23:28,467 --> 00:23:28,110 NATO airspace ? I was wondering if you 565 00:23:28,110 --> 00:23:30,110 could , is that , is that what this 566 00:23:30,110 --> 00:23:31,999 incident kind of shows as well if 567 00:23:31,999 --> 00:23:34,110 there's not going to be even missiles 568 00:23:34,110 --> 00:23:36,332 hitting missiles kind of batteries that 569 00:23:36,332 --> 00:23:38,554 we have moved into into into Poland and 570 00:23:38,554 --> 00:23:40,554 any other air defenses that that we 571 00:23:40,554 --> 00:23:42,721 might be contributing to in Poland are 572 00:23:42,721 --> 00:23:44,888 purely defensive in nature , defensive 573 00:23:44,888 --> 00:23:46,999 in nature over NATO airspace and NATO 574 00:23:46,999 --> 00:23:49,332 territory . I won't speak for Poland uh , 575 00:23:49,332 --> 00:23:51,499 and that government , but uh , but for 576 00:23:51,499 --> 00:23:53,590 our purposes , the military 577 00:23:53,590 --> 00:23:55,534 capabilities that we are adding to 578 00:23:55,534 --> 00:23:57,700 NATO's eastern flank are designed to 579 00:23:57,710 --> 00:23:59,990 protect and defend and deter against 580 00:23:59,990 --> 00:24:02,212 attacks on NATO territory that includes 581 00:24:02,212 --> 00:24:05,550 NATO airspace . Um , Jeff . 582 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:10,350 Okay , thank you . Um , and I know you 583 00:24:10,350 --> 00:24:12,517 don't have perfect visibility over the 584 00:24:12,517 --> 00:24:15,320 situation in Ukraine and you don't have 585 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:17,153 visibility of what's going on in 586 00:24:17,153 --> 00:24:19,550 Vladimir Putin's head . But is the 587 00:24:19,550 --> 00:24:21,217 Defense Department seeing any 588 00:24:21,217 --> 00:24:23,106 indications that the Russians are 589 00:24:23,106 --> 00:24:25,272 intentionally targeting journalists in 590 00:24:25,272 --> 00:24:29,180 Ukraine , Jeff ? I don't have 591 00:24:29,260 --> 00:24:32,390 evidence of that specifically . Um I 592 00:24:32,390 --> 00:24:35,330 certainly can't uh in in the case of uh 593 00:24:35,340 --> 00:24:37,770 of these two individuals speak to the 594 00:24:37,770 --> 00:24:40,340 circumstances surrounding that . Um , 595 00:24:40,350 --> 00:24:42,720 so I I can't I don't have any 596 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:44,664 indications that he's deliberately 597 00:24:44,664 --> 00:24:46,840 targeting journalists . But again , I 598 00:24:46,850 --> 00:24:50,430 just again , our admiration for the 599 00:24:50,430 --> 00:24:52,800 work that so many journalists are doing 600 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:54,967 there in Ukraine , it's important work 601 00:24:54,967 --> 00:24:58,600 um and and all of us stand again by 602 00:24:59,140 --> 00:25:01,760 uh by the context , quite frankly , 603 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:04,030 that that these journalists are 604 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,510 bringing to light . Okay , last 605 00:25:06,510 --> 00:25:08,566 question , I think , yeah , go ahead 606 00:25:08,566 --> 00:25:12,330 Castle on a separate topic from Iraq We 607 00:25:12,330 --> 00:25:15,400 see that it was under attack yesterday . 608 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:17,511 And then US statement was saying that 609 00:25:17,511 --> 00:25:19,567 the US was not the target apparently 610 00:25:19,567 --> 00:25:21,789 would suggest actually , you know , who 611 00:25:21,789 --> 00:25:23,789 was the target ? Who was the target 612 00:25:23,789 --> 00:25:25,789 point ? You know what the Irgc said 613 00:25:25,789 --> 00:25:27,956 about who they were targeting ? Yeah , 614 00:25:27,956 --> 00:25:30,067 I have a follow up question on that . 615 00:25:30,067 --> 00:25:31,844 Obviously , Irgc said they were 616 00:25:31,844 --> 00:25:34,011 targeting Israeli strategic sites . We 617 00:25:34,011 --> 00:25:36,178 know that the Iranian foreign Minister 618 00:25:36,178 --> 00:25:38,470 now is going to Russia tomorrow . Also 619 00:25:38,580 --> 00:25:41,020 reports just came out from an Iranian 620 00:25:41,170 --> 00:25:43,630 affiliated hacker , Iranian state media 621 00:25:43,630 --> 00:25:45,686 actually saying that Iran hacked the 622 00:25:45,686 --> 00:25:47,852 Israeli government website I . D . F . 623 00:25:47,852 --> 00:25:49,963 Officials are at the pentagon today . 624 00:25:50,140 --> 00:25:52,196 What did you discuss with them ? Any 625 00:25:52,196 --> 00:25:54,196 concerns that they mentioned to you 626 00:25:54,196 --> 00:25:56,307 specifically ? I don't have a readout 627 00:25:56,307 --> 00:25:55,970 of any discussions that we would have 628 00:25:55,970 --> 00:25:58,880 with my idea if I don't I don't not 629 00:25:58,890 --> 00:26:01,140 actually tracking meetings today with 630 00:26:01,150 --> 00:26:03,317 with the I . D . F . So we'll take the 631 00:26:03,317 --> 00:26:05,372 question if there's something we can 632 00:26:05,372 --> 00:26:04,460 get back down , I don't know what , 633 00:26:04,460 --> 00:26:06,682 what level this is . It certainly isn't 634 00:26:06,682 --> 00:26:08,738 at the Secretary's level . So you're 635 00:26:08,738 --> 00:26:10,960 gonna , you're catching me a little bit 636 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,182 unawares so we'll take the question and 637 00:26:13,182 --> 00:26:12,050 we'll see if we can get back to you 638 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:16,910 Yeah , your defense systems in the 639 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:19,142 airport and they're built to detect the 640 00:26:19,142 --> 00:26:20,920 incoming rockets on that second 641 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:23,142 question , jake Sullivan yesterday said 642 00:26:23,142 --> 00:26:25,253 that they're in consultation with the 643 00:26:25,253 --> 00:26:27,420 Iraqi and the kurdish government to to 644 00:26:27,420 --> 00:26:29,587 provide them with some sort of defense 645 00:26:29,587 --> 00:26:31,698 capacities . Is that something that a 646 00:26:31,698 --> 00:26:33,587 conversation that has reached the 647 00:26:33,587 --> 00:26:35,809 pentagon were always in discussion with 648 00:26:35,809 --> 00:26:37,642 our partners in the region about 649 00:26:37,642 --> 00:26:39,753 defensive capabilities ? I don't have 650 00:26:39,753 --> 00:26:41,864 anything new to update you on today , 651 00:26:41,864 --> 00:26:43,531 and I don't have any tactical 652 00:26:43,531 --> 00:26:45,300 information about , um , about 653 00:26:45,310 --> 00:26:47,580 detection of the , of the threats of 654 00:26:47,580 --> 00:26:49,730 the , of the missiles that were fired 655 00:26:49,730 --> 00:26:51,786 over the weekend . I just don't have 656 00:26:51,786 --> 00:26:53,841 that level of detail . Okay . Thanks 657 00:26:53,841 --> 00:26:54,770 everybody . I appreciate it . Okay .