WEBVTT 00:00.730 --> 00:03.690 All right , good afternoon . Everyone . 00:04.469 --> 00:06.840 Before we begin , I would like to 00:06.849 --> 00:09.279 recognize , recognize our distinguished 00:09.289 --> 00:11.233 guests in the Pentagon today , the 00:11.233 --> 00:13.345 Children of many of our employees who 00:13.345 --> 00:15.630 are here for , take your child to work 00:15.640 --> 00:17.840 day . It has been great to see so many 00:17.850 --> 00:19.809 smiling faces in the halls of the 00:19.819 --> 00:22.250 Pentagon and to realize that light up 00:22.260 --> 00:24.204 tennis shoes really do make you go 00:24.204 --> 00:27.229 faster . So , Kudos to all of those who 00:27.239 --> 00:29.406 played a role in hosting today's event 00:29.406 --> 00:31.406 and for helping our families better 00:31.406 --> 00:33.461 understand the important work that's 00:33.461 --> 00:35.628 done here in the Pentagon every day in 00:35.628 --> 00:37.683 service to our nation . Uh So now to 00:37.683 --> 00:39.628 business , uh I do have uh several 00:39.628 --> 00:41.850 items to pass along at the top and then 00:41.850 --> 00:41.380 I'll get right to your questions . Uh 00:41.400 --> 00:43.610 First , the department continues to 00:43.619 --> 00:45.639 stay actively engaged with State 00:45.650 --> 00:47.817 department and our allies and partners 00:47.817 --> 00:49.817 regarding the security situation in 00:49.817 --> 00:51.483 Sudan to include planning and 00:51.483 --> 00:53.594 preparation to assist with evacuating 00:53.594 --> 00:55.594 us citizens who decide they want to 00:55.594 --> 00:58.119 depart the country . As previously 00:58.130 --> 01:00.229 mentioned , us , Africa Command has 01:00.240 --> 01:02.240 established a deconfliction cell to 01:02.240 --> 01:04.529 flatten communications and ensure that 01:04.540 --> 01:06.699 D D is prepared to support state 01:06.709 --> 01:08.739 Department requests . They are also 01:08.750 --> 01:11.839 continuing to fly unmanned I R 24 7 and 01:11.849 --> 01:14.016 position us naval assets off the coast 01:14.016 --> 01:16.071 of Sudan to be available if needed . 01:16.199 --> 01:18.088 We'll be sure to keep you updated 01:18.088 --> 01:20.366 regarding any significant developments . 01:20.366 --> 01:22.421 Second Secretary Austin will welcome 01:22.421 --> 01:24.477 Republic of Korea president y to the 01:24.477 --> 01:26.421 Pentagon this afternoon and as the 01:26.421 --> 01:28.532 United States and the rok mark the 70 01:28.532 --> 01:30.588 th anniversary of our alliance , the 01:30.588 --> 01:32.699 secretary and president will reaffirm 01:32.699 --> 01:34.477 our ironclad commitment to that 01:34.477 --> 01:36.477 alliance Secretary Austin will also 01:36.477 --> 01:38.477 provide President Yun a tour of the 01:38.477 --> 01:40.477 National Military Command Center to 01:40.477 --> 01:42.643 showcase the alliance's high degree of 01:42.643 --> 01:44.779 interoperability and responsiveness . 01:44.790 --> 01:46.846 We'll of course , have more to share 01:46.846 --> 01:48.568 after this afternoon's meeting 01:48.819 --> 01:50.819 separately dod released today . The 01:50.819 --> 01:53.370 fiscal year 2022 annual report on 01:53.379 --> 01:55.569 sexual assault in the military . Our 01:55.580 --> 01:57.802 national military strategy depends upon 01:57.802 --> 02:00.250 a lethal resilient and agile joint 02:00.260 --> 02:02.580 force . So taking care of our people is 02:02.589 --> 02:04.589 central to fielding combat credible 02:04.589 --> 02:06.367 capabilities that are respected 02:06.367 --> 02:07.989 worldwide . The department's 02:08.000 --> 02:10.222 initiatives this year empowered leaders 02:10.222 --> 02:12.278 to identify threats to readiness and 02:12.278 --> 02:14.444 restore the health of both their units 02:14.444 --> 02:16.679 and service members impacted by sexual 02:16.690 --> 02:19.119 assault and other misconduct to be 02:19.130 --> 02:21.241 crystal clear . The department's most 02:21.241 --> 02:23.352 senior leaders remain sharply focused 02:23.352 --> 02:25.186 on solving the scourge of sexual 02:25.186 --> 02:27.408 assault and sexual harassment . We will 02:27.408 --> 02:29.352 continue to work very hard to make 02:29.352 --> 02:31.241 sustained progress to bolster war 02:31.241 --> 02:33.130 fighter confidence and leadership 02:33.130 --> 02:35.186 assist sexual assault survivors with 02:35.186 --> 02:37.009 the recovery and hold offenders 02:37.020 --> 02:39.229 accountable . Sexual violence will not 02:39.240 --> 02:41.539 be tolerated Condoned or ignored within 02:41.580 --> 02:44.520 our ranks . Shifting gears . Dr William 02:44.529 --> 02:46.585 La Plante under Secretary of Defense 02:46.585 --> 02:48.696 for acquisition and sustainment is in 02:48.696 --> 02:50.862 Brussels this week where among several 02:50.862 --> 02:52.640 engagements with our allies and 02:52.640 --> 02:54.751 partners in theater , he has signed a 02:54.751 --> 02:56.918 new administrative arrangement between 02:56.918 --> 02:58.807 the Department of Defense and the 02:58.807 --> 03:00.529 European Defense Agency . This 03:00.529 --> 03:02.696 arrangement confirms the importance of 03:02.696 --> 03:04.918 continued transatlantic cooperation and 03:04.918 --> 03:06.862 a strong and more capable European 03:06.862 --> 03:08.862 defense that's complementary to and 03:08.862 --> 03:11.085 interoperable with NATO A press release 03:11.085 --> 03:13.251 highlighting this new arrangement with 03:13.251 --> 03:15.473 E D A is currently available on the dod 03:15.473 --> 03:17.696 website . In addition , Dr La Plante is 03:17.696 --> 03:19.918 also chairing a session of the National 03:19.918 --> 03:22.085 Armament Directors Group in Brussels . 03:22.085 --> 03:23.918 This week , the meeting includes 03:23.918 --> 03:26.085 armament directors and representatives 03:26.085 --> 03:27.862 from more than 40 nations . The 03:27.862 --> 03:30.029 European Union and NATO focused on the 03:30.029 --> 03:31.807 global effort to accelerate the 03:31.807 --> 03:33.973 sourcing production and sustainment of 03:33.973 --> 03:35.696 capabilities that are vital to 03:35.696 --> 03:37.640 Ukraine's defense against Russia's 03:37.640 --> 03:39.640 unprovoked and illegal invasion . A 03:39.640 --> 03:41.751 readout of Dr La Plante's engagements 03:41.751 --> 03:43.973 will be available on our website at the 03:43.973 --> 03:46.085 conclusion of his visit . And finally 03:46.085 --> 03:47.862 this week , the defense pow Mia 03:47.862 --> 03:49.973 Accounting agency announced that army 03:49.973 --> 03:52.240 Corporal Luther H story killed during 03:52.250 --> 03:54.472 the Korean War and posthumously awarded 03:54.472 --> 03:56.528 the medal of honor was accounted for 03:56.528 --> 04:00.169 April 6 , 2023 . Corporal Story's name 04:00.179 --> 04:02.123 is recorded on the American Battle 04:02.123 --> 04:04.123 Monuments Commission's court of the 04:04.123 --> 04:05.957 missing at the National Memorial 04:05.957 --> 04:07.957 Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu 04:07.957 --> 04:09.957 along with the others who are still 04:09.957 --> 04:12.179 missing from the Korean War . A rosette 04:12.179 --> 04:14.123 will be placed next to his name to 04:14.123 --> 04:16.179 indicate he's been accounted for the 04:16.179 --> 04:18.179 United States . And the Republic of 04:18.179 --> 04:20.401 Korea will continue making every effort 04:20.401 --> 04:22.568 to identify service members missing in 04:22.568 --> 04:24.679 action like army corporal story . And 04:24.679 --> 04:26.623 on the seven th anniversary of the 04:26.623 --> 04:28.401 Korean War armistice and the US 04:28.401 --> 04:30.568 alliance , our two countries take this 04:30.568 --> 04:32.790 opportunity to reaffirm our respect and 04:32.790 --> 04:34.846 gratitude for the courageous acts of 04:34.846 --> 04:37.579 service our members have performed in 04:37.589 --> 04:39.367 defense of freedom , values and 04:39.367 --> 04:41.478 democracy . And with that , I'm happy 04:41.478 --> 04:43.790 to take your questions . We'll go to a 04:43.799 --> 04:46.630 P Thank you General Rider . Um A lot 04:46.640 --> 04:48.696 going on today , but I wanted to ask 04:48.696 --> 04:50.251 about the uh document leaks 04:50.251 --> 04:53.029 investigation in the uh hearing today 04:53.040 --> 04:55.200 for Herman to uh the military . 04:55.209 --> 04:58.179 Prosecutors said that they'd or the 04:58.209 --> 05:00.320 prosecutors said they'd spoken to the 05:00.320 --> 05:02.542 military prosecutor who'd let them know 05:02.542 --> 05:04.709 that uh dod is monitoring the case and 05:04.709 --> 05:07.890 may uh possibly pursue separation . Uh 05:07.899 --> 05:11.350 Is this the next step for airman to on 05:11.359 --> 05:14.420 the dod side of things ? Uh Thanks Tara . 05:14.429 --> 05:18.179 Um as it relates to uh the airman uh 05:18.190 --> 05:21.790 and the ongoing investigation really 05:21.799 --> 05:24.132 limited in what I can say at this point , 05:24.132 --> 05:26.299 given the fact that there continues to 05:26.299 --> 05:28.355 be an ongoing investigation , as you 05:28.355 --> 05:30.619 highlight our office of General Counsel 05:30.630 --> 05:32.408 stays in close contact with the 05:32.408 --> 05:34.741 Department of Justice . But beyond that , 05:34.741 --> 05:36.963 I'm not going to have more to provide a 05:36.963 --> 05:39.186 couple more on it in the affidavit that 05:39.186 --> 05:41.352 was released last night , there were a 05:41.352 --> 05:43.574 couple of red flags that popped out the 05:43.574 --> 05:45.797 airman on a government computer looking 05:45.797 --> 05:48.630 at mass shootings , his suspension 05:48.640 --> 05:51.260 during high school for possible threats . 05:51.480 --> 05:53.799 Why weren't these things caught by the 05:53.809 --> 05:57.190 security vetting process ? Again , this 05:57.200 --> 05:59.200 is something that the investigation 05:59.200 --> 06:01.367 will tell us . So I'm just not able to 06:01.367 --> 06:03.478 comment on his particular case on his 06:03.478 --> 06:05.420 particular case in general on a 06:05.429 --> 06:08.130 government computer . If you input 06:08.140 --> 06:10.140 things like mass shootings or other 06:10.140 --> 06:12.362 trigger words , wouldn't that trigger a 06:12.362 --> 06:14.196 security review ? Well , again , 06:14.196 --> 06:16.165 without getting into uh specific 06:16.174 --> 06:18.554 hypotheticals and without knowing the 06:18.565 --> 06:21.454 context . Um as you highlight , we do 06:21.464 --> 06:23.631 have a continuous vetting process when 06:23.631 --> 06:25.464 it relates to holding a security 06:25.464 --> 06:27.631 clearance that would look at a variety 06:27.631 --> 06:29.742 of things to include public records , 06:29.742 --> 06:32.059 financial records , but in terms of 06:32.070 --> 06:34.279 individual searches and what those are 06:34.290 --> 06:36.457 and the context of what those searches 06:36.457 --> 06:38.820 may be and why it's important to 06:38.829 --> 06:40.940 obviously look at each of those cases 06:40.940 --> 06:43.162 individually . And as it relates to the 06:43.162 --> 06:45.107 sermon , that's something that the 06:45.107 --> 06:47.329 investigation will have to tell us just 06:47.329 --> 06:47.109 one quick last one . Can you give us an 06:47.119 --> 06:49.063 update on the status of continuous 06:49.063 --> 06:51.940 vetting ? Um As of right now , uh The 06:51.950 --> 06:54.172 process within the department continues 06:54.172 --> 06:56.283 to be a continuous vetting . And as I 06:56.283 --> 06:58.980 mentioned , this is the uh near real 06:58.989 --> 07:01.279 time monitoring of cleared individuals 07:01.290 --> 07:04.220 uh supported by automatic uh automated 07:04.230 --> 07:06.119 record checks that pull data from 07:06.119 --> 07:07.841 several different data sources 07:07.841 --> 07:09.786 including criminal , financial and 07:09.786 --> 07:11.563 public records uh throughout an 07:11.563 --> 07:13.920 individual's period of el eligibility . 07:14.160 --> 07:16.104 Uh As you've heard us say , uh the 07:16.104 --> 07:18.369 department is looking uh not only at 07:18.380 --> 07:21.209 our um intelligence processes and 07:21.220 --> 07:24.190 procedures as it relates to uh security 07:24.329 --> 07:26.551 uh or sensitive information and who has 07:26.551 --> 07:28.718 that information , but also looking at 07:28.718 --> 07:30.929 the process by which we uh clear and 07:30.940 --> 07:33.529 vet individuals for security clearances 07:33.540 --> 07:35.596 and that work is ongoing . Let me go 07:35.596 --> 07:37.651 ahead and go to Idris and then we'll 07:37.651 --> 07:39.818 come back over here , Natasha . One of 07:39.818 --> 07:39.359 the things the court filings talks 07:39.369 --> 07:41.591 about is how he was suspend , suspended 07:41.591 --> 07:45.149 from school . Um He was denied licenses 07:45.160 --> 07:48.600 for guns knowing what you know , was it 07:48.609 --> 07:50.776 a failure ? Does the secretary believe 07:50.776 --> 07:52.665 that it was a failure that he was 07:52.665 --> 07:54.998 allowed in the military ? Again , Idris , 07:54.998 --> 07:54.989 I think it's important to allow this 07:55.000 --> 07:57.429 investigation to look at the totality 07:57.440 --> 07:59.709 of this case . And before then it would 07:59.720 --> 08:02.299 be premature to comment two leaders 08:02.309 --> 08:05.450 from the 102nd um until when we're also 08:05.459 --> 08:08.140 suspended . Um again , given what you 08:08.149 --> 08:10.205 know right now , do you believe that 08:10.205 --> 08:12.260 there are systemic issues within the 08:12.260 --> 08:15.119 102nd that require more action ? So the 08:15.130 --> 08:16.630 Air Force has initiated an 08:16.630 --> 08:18.630 investigation as you know , the Air 08:18.630 --> 08:20.130 Force Inspector General is 08:20.130 --> 08:22.920 investigating the wing . Um as you 08:22.929 --> 08:25.151 highlight , uh my understanding is they 08:25.151 --> 08:27.318 have suspended , temporarily suspended 08:27.318 --> 08:29.429 two leaders within that unit . Um But 08:29.429 --> 08:32.739 uh whereas uh in terms of what happens 08:32.750 --> 08:35.179 next ? Uh That's really uh for the Air 08:35.190 --> 08:37.301 Force to comment at the conclusion of 08:37.301 --> 08:39.190 their investigation . Thank you , 08:39.190 --> 08:40.190 Natasha . 08:45.679 --> 08:47.790 So one on the leak and one on Sudan . 08:47.790 --> 08:49.957 So the first is that there have been a 08:49.957 --> 08:52.068 number of public reports including in 08:52.068 --> 08:54.270 the New York Times that that Jack 08:54.510 --> 08:56.950 posted classified documents , not only 08:56.960 --> 08:59.182 in a small private chat room , but also 08:59.182 --> 09:01.238 on a much larger public chat room on 09:01.238 --> 09:03.929 Discord that was apparently accessible 09:03.940 --> 09:05.729 via public link that was easily 09:05.739 --> 09:08.659 accessed in seconds . So why wasn't the 09:08.669 --> 09:11.289 department able to kind of scrub the 09:11.299 --> 09:13.466 internet for these kinds of classified 09:13.466 --> 09:15.688 documents that were apparently publicly 09:15.688 --> 09:17.688 available ? And is that a failure ? 09:17.688 --> 09:19.799 Yeah , thanks Natasha . Um Again , we 09:19.799 --> 09:22.021 need to allow this investigation to run 09:22.021 --> 09:23.966 its course . Uh Certainly aware of 09:23.966 --> 09:26.077 those press reports . Uh but in terms 09:26.077 --> 09:28.188 of the actions of this individual and 09:28.188 --> 09:30.299 the scope of those leaks , that again 09:30.299 --> 09:32.188 is something that continues to be 09:32.188 --> 09:31.895 assessed and continues to be 09:31.906 --> 09:34.072 investigated in the abstract , the 09:34.081 --> 09:36.248 defense department that they can do as 09:36.248 --> 09:38.414 part of this continuous vetting , that 09:38.414 --> 09:40.525 they can look online and see if there 09:40.525 --> 09:42.637 have been classified documents posted 09:42.637 --> 09:41.651 in these public forums ? Well , again , 09:41.661 --> 09:43.883 I think it's important to differentiate 09:43.883 --> 09:45.952 uh between the Department of Defense 09:45.961 --> 09:48.872 monitoring uh private commercial 09:48.882 --> 09:51.721 websites . Uh unless there is a reason 09:51.731 --> 09:54.471 to do that uh in accordance with um 09:54.981 --> 09:57.322 current law as it pertains to civil 09:57.331 --> 10:01.109 civil liberties and privacy . Um But 10:01.119 --> 10:03.359 again , uh what you're talking about 10:03.369 --> 10:05.536 here is this particular individual and 10:05.536 --> 10:07.758 his alleged actions and that's what the 10:07.758 --> 10:09.925 Department of Justice is investigating 10:09.925 --> 10:12.202 as part of this criminal investigation . 10:12.202 --> 10:14.425 And we'll certainly know more once that 10:14.425 --> 10:16.480 investigation is completed . What on 10:16.480 --> 10:16.320 Sudan ? Are there a question that I 10:16.330 --> 10:18.386 need to move on here ? Are there any 10:18.386 --> 10:20.274 plans to deploy us vessels to get 10:20.274 --> 10:22.386 Americans from Port Sudan to Jeddah ? 10:22.386 --> 10:24.330 Yeah . So uh first let me just say 10:24.330 --> 10:26.552 right up front that we are committed to 10:26.559 --> 10:28.559 assisting State Department with the 10:28.559 --> 10:30.503 evacuation of us citizens that are 10:30.503 --> 10:32.670 seeking to depart the country . Uh And 10:32.670 --> 10:34.726 we're looking to help do that in the 10:34.726 --> 10:36.948 most safe and secure way possible . And 10:36.948 --> 10:38.892 to put this in the context , we're 10:38.892 --> 10:40.892 working very closely with the State 10:40.892 --> 10:42.948 Department to identify the number of 10:42.948 --> 10:45.170 Americans who want to leave Sudan as of 10:45.170 --> 10:47.170 right now , the indications that we 10:47.170 --> 10:48.892 have is that those numbers are 10:48.892 --> 10:50.837 relatively small . However , we do 10:50.837 --> 10:52.670 recognize that that could change 10:52.670 --> 10:54.837 quickly . So as previously stated , we 10:54.837 --> 10:58.219 have focused our efforts on support to 10:58.229 --> 11:01.270 over land routes . Um We are obviously 11:01.280 --> 11:03.280 a planning organization . We're not 11:03.280 --> 11:05.558 ruling out any options , but right now , 11:05.558 --> 11:07.539 we remain primarily focused on an 11:07.549 --> 11:09.438 overland route as it allows a few 11:09.438 --> 11:11.609 things uh include including 11:11.619 --> 11:14.109 establishing a repeatable sustainable 11:14.119 --> 11:16.341 method to get large numbers of American 11:16.341 --> 11:18.008 citizens out of the country , 11:18.008 --> 11:20.230 regardless of the security situation at 11:20.230 --> 11:22.397 the airport in the near or long term . 11:22.619 --> 11:25.539 Uh And so , um also given the fact that 11:25.549 --> 11:27.327 there are international flights 11:27.327 --> 11:30.919 currently going in and out of uh uh 11:30.929 --> 11:33.270 the small number of Americans who have 11:33.280 --> 11:35.510 made their way to the airport have been 11:35.520 --> 11:37.750 offered flight outs flights out . So 11:37.760 --> 11:39.371 that's also part of what our 11:39.371 --> 11:41.690 deconfliction cell at a is doing is 11:41.859 --> 11:44.081 working with State Department , working 11:44.081 --> 11:45.859 with our allies and partners to 11:45.859 --> 11:47.803 identify available seats . And the 11:47.803 --> 11:49.748 Americans who have arrived at that 11:49.748 --> 11:51.748 airport have been able to fly out . 11:51.748 --> 11:53.748 Again . This is something that will 11:53.748 --> 11:55.970 continue to work very closely to ensure 11:55.970 --> 11:57.970 that we're able to support whatever 11:57.970 --> 12:00.248 requirements state Department provides . 12:00.248 --> 12:02.526 Thanks Laura . Then we'll go to Travis . 12:03.679 --> 12:07.419 Ok , thank you . Um So just um 12:07.429 --> 12:09.373 back on the leaks , uh a couple of 12:09.373 --> 12:11.429 questions , first of all , does do , 12:11.429 --> 12:13.429 does uh pro federal prosecutors say 12:13.429 --> 12:15.590 that may still have classified 12:15.599 --> 12:17.932 information that he hasn't yet released ? 12:17.932 --> 12:20.380 Does know the extent of the material 12:20.390 --> 12:22.612 that he actually still has . And then I 12:22.612 --> 12:24.779 have another question . Yeah , again , 12:24.779 --> 12:26.834 as it relates to him , uh there is a 12:26.834 --> 12:28.890 ongoing criminal investigation being 12:28.890 --> 12:31.001 led by the Department of Justice . Uh 12:31.001 --> 12:33.057 So anything related to that case , I 12:33.057 --> 12:35.057 would need to refer you to them and 12:35.057 --> 12:37.429 then just , just one more on this . Um 12:37.440 --> 12:40.179 You know , he , he had an arsenal of 12:40.190 --> 12:42.079 guns , he was suspended from high 12:42.079 --> 12:44.134 school for making violent and racist 12:44.134 --> 12:46.134 threats . Um And yet he was able to 12:46.134 --> 12:48.023 join the National Guard . So what 12:48.023 --> 12:50.023 message does it send that potential 12:50.023 --> 12:52.079 recruits can't join the military for 12:52.079 --> 12:54.400 marijuana use or maybe being overweight 12:54.409 --> 12:56.590 if someone like this get this person 12:56.599 --> 12:58.710 gets in . Yeah . So , uh , again , uh 12:58.719 --> 13:00.840 to labor The point , uh there's an 13:00.849 --> 13:02.960 ongoing investigation which will tell 13:02.960 --> 13:04.960 us a lot more about this particular 13:04.960 --> 13:07.071 individual . I would highlight though 13:07.071 --> 13:09.293 that the vast , vast , vast majority of 13:09.293 --> 13:11.460 people who serve within the Department 13:11.460 --> 13:13.238 of Defense and all the military 13:13.238 --> 13:15.460 branches and all the components , uh do 13:15.460 --> 13:17.627 so honorably , they come to work every 13:17.627 --> 13:19.960 day and can be trusted to do their jobs . 13:19.960 --> 13:22.016 Uh And in here by the oath that they 13:22.016 --> 13:23.905 took . So again , I think it's uh 13:23.905 --> 13:26.016 important not necessarily to take the 13:26.016 --> 13:27.960 actions of one individual . Uh and 13:27.960 --> 13:30.071 somehow paint a picture that , that , 13:30.071 --> 13:32.349 that uh indicates a systemic breakdown . 13:32.349 --> 13:34.571 Again , this is under investigation and 13:34.571 --> 13:34.070 the investigation will tell us a lot 13:34.080 --> 13:36.289 more about this particular individual 13:36.299 --> 13:38.521 and what he did and did not do . Let me 13:38.521 --> 13:39.855 go over here , Travis . 13:44.059 --> 13:46.789 Thanks Pat today , President Biden 13:46.799 --> 13:49.080 notified Congress that he's asked 13:49.190 --> 13:52.150 Secretary Austin to call up uh reserve 13:52.159 --> 13:55.229 forces to the Act of Duty to go down to 13:55.239 --> 13:58.140 the Southwest border and police drug 13:58.150 --> 14:01.000 trafficking . Can you tell us um how 14:01.010 --> 14:03.530 many troops may be sent down there ? 14:03.539 --> 14:05.909 What units they may come from and what 14:05.919 --> 14:08.141 the timeline for that might be ? Yeah , 14:08.141 --> 14:10.086 thanks Travis . Uh So I don't have 14:10.086 --> 14:12.086 anything to provide from the podium 14:12.086 --> 14:14.197 today on that . Uh Certainly uh going 14:14.197 --> 14:16.197 forward if and when we do , we'll , 14:16.197 --> 14:16.140 we'll be sure to pass that on . And so 14:16.150 --> 14:18.372 just as a refresher , could you tell us 14:18.372 --> 14:21.260 how many , um , troops on federal uh 14:21.270 --> 14:23.630 orders are down there today ? What type 14:23.640 --> 14:25.862 of a force do we have ? Yeah , let me , 14:25.862 --> 14:27.973 let me take that question for you . I 14:27.973 --> 14:27.760 don't have those numbers in front of me , 14:27.770 --> 14:29.826 but I'll , I'll take that and get it 14:29.826 --> 14:31.826 for you , Tony and then we'll go to 14:31.826 --> 14:33.539 town one more try in the leak 14:33.549 --> 14:35.650 investigation . The court papers 14:35.659 --> 14:37.826 released today indicate he he received 14:37.826 --> 14:39.715 a sensitive compartmented informa 14:39.715 --> 14:42.119 information clearance in July of 2021 . 14:42.299 --> 14:44.243 That's like the highest one of the 14:44.243 --> 14:46.355 highest classifications . Would it be 14:46.355 --> 14:48.577 accurate to say that your investigation 14:48.577 --> 14:51.210 is reviewing whether the S C I process 14:51.219 --> 14:54.570 as it now stands is adequate and should 14:54.580 --> 14:56.802 have caught some of these signals , you 14:56.802 --> 14:58.580 know , five months later he was 14:58.580 --> 15:00.858 accessing documents he should not have . 15:00.858 --> 15:02.969 Yeah . So , so broadly speaking , the 15:02.969 --> 15:05.130 department is looking at our security 15:05.140 --> 15:07.029 process as I mentioned , right to 15:07.029 --> 15:10.859 include uh the the process by which 15:10.869 --> 15:14.179 we uh vet and provide security 15:14.190 --> 15:16.580 clearances . So that that is part of 15:16.590 --> 15:19.539 the ongoing review again as it relates 15:19.549 --> 15:22.169 to this particular individual . Um not 15:22.179 --> 15:24.401 going to comment on him . Other than to 15:24.401 --> 15:27.270 say , you have a essentially a network 15:27.280 --> 15:29.391 administrator working in intelligence 15:29.391 --> 15:32.099 wing which is by default , working with 15:32.109 --> 15:34.820 a lot of T S S E I type of information 15:34.830 --> 15:37.380 so that in and of itself is not unusual . 15:37.669 --> 15:39.669 Um But again , as it relates to the 15:39.669 --> 15:42.030 airmen , uh we will , you know , DOJ is 15:42.039 --> 15:43.983 investigating uh in the meantime , 15:43.983 --> 15:45.928 we're looking at our processes and 15:45.928 --> 15:48.039 procedures across uh our intelligence 15:48.239 --> 15:52.090 uh uh community . And also uh in terms 15:52.099 --> 15:54.849 of the dod security process , some 15:54.859 --> 15:57.409 pressure here , the dod to reassure the 15:57.419 --> 16:00.000 public that somebody with the highest 16:00.010 --> 16:02.299 of classifications under a special 16:02.309 --> 16:04.365 access program , I guess that's even 16:04.365 --> 16:06.359 higher . Somebody with that S A I 16:06.369 --> 16:09.580 clearance allegedly 16:09.590 --> 16:12.750 violated that act of that pledge . Yeah , 16:12.760 --> 16:14.927 so a couple things . So first of all , 16:14.927 --> 16:16.982 as I , as I've mentioned before , if 16:16.989 --> 16:18.989 we're going to award you a security 16:18.989 --> 16:21.156 clearance , uh it's gonna be pretty ST 16:21.156 --> 16:23.100 stringent requirements to get that 16:23.100 --> 16:25.100 security clearance . First of all , 16:25.100 --> 16:27.267 there is gonna be a background check , 16:27.267 --> 16:29.156 you're gonna take uh training and 16:29.156 --> 16:31.100 you're gonna sign a non disclosure 16:31.100 --> 16:33.267 agreement . So , you know , at the end 16:33.267 --> 16:34.989 of the day , um it , it is not 16:34.989 --> 16:36.933 something that you just get , it's 16:36.933 --> 16:39.100 something that you have to essentially 16:39.100 --> 16:40.933 earn and then maintain that . Um 16:40.933 --> 16:43.580 However , if an individual decides to 16:43.590 --> 16:46.580 break the law will willfully uh that's 16:46.590 --> 16:48.812 a different story . So again , the vast 16:48.812 --> 16:51.034 vast majority of people who are awarded 16:51.034 --> 16:53.201 security clearances come to work every 16:53.201 --> 16:55.201 day and do the right thing . Uh and 16:55.201 --> 16:57.423 this investigation will tell us uh what 16:57.423 --> 16:59.590 happened and where this individual did 16:59.590 --> 17:01.646 the wrong thing . Quick sub question 17:01.646 --> 17:03.757 from yesterday , the R O K . So the , 17:03.757 --> 17:05.479 the announcement what class of 17:05.479 --> 17:07.812 submarine will uh end up ? And in Korea , 17:07.812 --> 17:10.034 was it a Ohio class ? Virginia ? It was 17:10.034 --> 17:13.999 a , a , an Ohio class . Uh S B N made 17:14.009 --> 17:16.176 it show up within weeks or months . Um 17:16.176 --> 17:18.739 I'm not gonna get into uh forecasting 17:18.749 --> 17:21.178 or talking about future movements of 17:21.188 --> 17:23.879 our naval vessels . Thanks very much . 17:23.889 --> 17:25.945 All right , let's go to Tom and then 17:25.945 --> 17:25.788 we'll go here to Brandy 17:30.239 --> 17:33.000 getting back to Sudan . What are the 17:33.010 --> 17:35.410 numbers of Americans who have left so 17:35.420 --> 17:37.439 far ? And are you getting any sense 17:37.449 --> 17:39.719 from the State Department ? Uh I'm told 17:39.729 --> 17:41.951 that number is ramping up . Do you have 17:41.951 --> 17:44.173 any sense of how many would like to get 17:44.173 --> 17:46.340 out ? Uh Thanks Tom . So that , that's 17:46.340 --> 17:45.699 really a question for the State 17:45.709 --> 17:47.931 Department to answer since they are the 17:47.931 --> 17:49.931 ones that are communicating with us 17:49.931 --> 17:52.229 citizens in country to , first of all , 17:52.239 --> 17:54.183 make contact . And then number two 17:54.183 --> 17:56.910 determine what their desire to either 17:56.920 --> 17:59.219 seek any type of assistance or depart 17:59.229 --> 18:01.451 the country . So that , that's really , 18:01.451 --> 18:03.790 uh you guys , uh again , I'm not gonna 18:03.800 --> 18:05.633 speak for the State Department . 18:05.633 --> 18:07.689 They're the ones that keep the , the 18:07.689 --> 18:09.856 tally . And so I don't wanna , I don't 18:09.856 --> 18:09.640 wanna one last thing in the leak . I 18:09.650 --> 18:11.428 understand that when someone is 18:11.428 --> 18:13.539 downloading information , they're not 18:13.539 --> 18:15.594 supposed to , there's supposed to be 18:15.594 --> 18:17.594 some alert from the security office 18:17.594 --> 18:19.969 that goes to that person's supervisor . 18:20.979 --> 18:23.510 Is that the way it works from your ? So , 18:23.520 --> 18:25.631 you know , I think what we have to be 18:25.631 --> 18:27.853 careful of is allowing our imaginations 18:27.853 --> 18:29.687 to fill in gaps in terms of what 18:29.687 --> 18:31.853 happened in this particular case . And 18:31.853 --> 18:33.742 so this is why there's a thorough 18:33.742 --> 18:35.964 ongoing investigation that will look at 18:35.964 --> 18:38.076 all aspects of this . Uh So again , I 18:38.076 --> 18:41.500 don't , I don't want to speculate or do 18:41.510 --> 18:43.677 a hypothetical situation when we don't 18:43.677 --> 18:45.899 have the facts in general , is that how 18:45.899 --> 18:48.010 things are supposed to happen ? There 18:48.010 --> 18:50.232 could be a variety of means , a variety 18:50.232 --> 18:52.121 of ways . So for example , if I'm 18:52.121 --> 18:54.232 downloading something , I shouldn't , 18:54.232 --> 18:56.288 typically there will be some type of 18:56.288 --> 18:58.510 indication that you are not on sites or 18:58.510 --> 19:01.030 more more uh regularly . Uh You won't 19:01.040 --> 19:03.207 be able to access , access those sites 19:03.207 --> 19:05.373 that alert would go to my supervisor . 19:05.373 --> 19:07.040 Correct . It could go to your 19:07.040 --> 19:09.096 supervisor , it could go to uh the , 19:09.096 --> 19:11.262 the communications security folks that 19:11.262 --> 19:13.262 are monitoring networks . Um Yeah , 19:13.750 --> 19:16.619 that's how it's supposed to work . If , 19:16.630 --> 19:18.408 when you look at a phone in the 19:18.408 --> 19:20.519 Department of Defense or a computer , 19:20.519 --> 19:22.574 there is a banner that comes up that 19:22.574 --> 19:22.380 tells you exactly that , you know , you 19:22.390 --> 19:24.612 are subject to monitoring . And so it's 19:24.612 --> 19:26.723 a fair assumption that you were being 19:26.723 --> 19:28.390 monitored and if you're doing 19:28.390 --> 19:30.557 inappropriate activity , uh that there 19:30.557 --> 19:32.834 will be some type of alert . But again , 19:32.834 --> 19:35.112 as it pertains to this particular case , 19:35.112 --> 19:34.890 we need to allow the investigation to 19:34.900 --> 19:37.067 run its course to get the facts . So , 19:37.067 --> 19:38.233 thank you , Brandy . 19:41.959 --> 19:43.959 Thank you so much , General first I 19:43.959 --> 19:46.015 have a follow up um on some news you 19:46.015 --> 19:47.903 mentioned at the top , the um new 19:47.903 --> 19:50.015 arrangement signed by Mr La Plante in 19:50.015 --> 19:52.400 Brussels . Um Can you talk about the 19:52.410 --> 19:55.050 significance ? Why was that signed now ? 19:55.060 --> 19:58.219 What are its roots ? Sure . Um I'll 19:58.229 --> 20:00.229 tell you what brand if you , if you 20:00.229 --> 20:02.396 don't mind , let me get you the uh the 20:02.396 --> 20:04.451 press release on that we can go into 20:04.451 --> 20:06.562 much more uh detail . Um Part of this 20:06.562 --> 20:08.507 was the time timing it with the uh 20:08.507 --> 20:10.507 National Armaments Director meeting 20:10.507 --> 20:12.562 that uh Doctor La Plante was already 20:12.562 --> 20:16.219 gonna be in uh in Europe for uh and 20:16.229 --> 20:18.229 so we'll , we'll get you that press 20:18.229 --> 20:20.173 release which will have a lot more 20:20.173 --> 20:22.285 detail in it . Um And then in another 20:22.285 --> 20:24.340 direction , Twitter recently changed 20:24.340 --> 20:26.562 its blue check verification policy that 20:26.562 --> 20:28.507 validates real accounts . And then 20:28.510 --> 20:30.140 after a bunch of issues with 20:30.150 --> 20:33.140 impersonation , it reinstituted a gray 20:33.150 --> 20:35.780 check for um official government 20:35.790 --> 20:37.846 accounts right now . It seems really 20:37.846 --> 20:40.829 random . For example , today you have a 20:40.839 --> 20:42.949 great check . Secretary Austin has a 20:42.959 --> 20:45.474 gray check but people in including 20:45.484 --> 20:47.734 Deputy Secretary Hicks , General Nakai 20:48.224 --> 20:51.344 General Van do not have great checks at 20:51.354 --> 20:53.564 this point is dod concerned about the 20:53.574 --> 20:55.765 spread of disinformation or account 20:55.775 --> 20:59.165 spooking account spoofing on Twitter as 20:59.175 --> 21:01.964 an intensifying emerging threat . And 21:01.974 --> 21:04.515 have you guys reached out and um talked 21:04.525 --> 21:06.747 to them about their new badge policy at 21:06.747 --> 21:08.692 this point ? Yeah . So in terms of 21:08.692 --> 21:10.747 Twitter's policy , clearly , it's an 21:10.747 --> 21:12.858 independent uh company that's able to 21:12.858 --> 21:15.829 make its own policies . Um So I'd refer 21:15.839 --> 21:18.006 you to them in terms of their policies 21:18.006 --> 21:20.117 and procedures as it relates to check 21:20.117 --> 21:22.339 marks . Certainly within the Department 21:22.339 --> 21:24.450 of Defense , we have multiple ways to 21:24.450 --> 21:26.561 communicate of which Twitter is one . 21:26.561 --> 21:28.561 Um So just leave it at that concern 21:28.561 --> 21:30.728 from OS D about this sort of threat of 21:30.728 --> 21:33.006 account spoofing . Uh Again , you know , 21:33.006 --> 21:35.172 as it , in regards to disinformation , 21:35.172 --> 21:37.395 writ large , uh the way that we address 21:37.395 --> 21:39.339 that is through , again , multiple 21:39.339 --> 21:41.450 forms to include this . Uh So when it 21:41.450 --> 21:43.172 comes to disinformation , it's 21:43.172 --> 21:45.395 something we'll take seriously . But as 21:45.395 --> 21:45.099 it relates to Twitter , uh that's 21:45.109 --> 21:47.165 really something for Twitter to talk 21:47.165 --> 21:49.387 about . Let me go back here , colleague 21:49.387 --> 21:52.130 behind you , then to David President 21:52.140 --> 21:54.560 Biden and South Korea are now set up 21:54.569 --> 21:56.300 the Nuclear Consultative Group 21:56.310 --> 21:58.349 yesterday . Can you tell me the 21:58.359 --> 22:00.470 significance of this group ? And then 22:00.470 --> 22:02.581 when do you have the first meeting of 22:02.581 --> 22:06.109 this Nuclear Consultative group ? Sure . 22:06.119 --> 22:09.910 Um So as you heard from 22:09.920 --> 22:12.142 the White House , the United States and 22:12.142 --> 22:14.579 the Republic of Korea launched a 22:14.589 --> 22:17.020 nuclear Consultative group to discuss 22:17.030 --> 22:19.329 how to plan for nuclear contingencies 22:19.489 --> 22:21.267 and cooperate on the alliance's 22:21.267 --> 22:23.650 approach to nuclear deterrence , which 22:23.660 --> 22:26.689 will address the threat that's posed by 22:26.699 --> 22:29.859 the D pr K . Uh What we know right now 22:29.869 --> 22:32.040 is that that group will convene at the 22:32.050 --> 22:34.010 assistant secretary level . But in 22:34.020 --> 22:36.298 terms of when the first meeting of the , 22:36.298 --> 22:38.869 of the group will be held Uh I don't 22:38.880 --> 22:41.102 have any announcements today in regards 22:41.102 --> 22:43.158 to timing and also the US US plan to 22:43.158 --> 22:45.530 send more S S B to Korean Peninsula to 22:45.540 --> 22:47.540 reinforce the extent tourist . Um I 22:47.540 --> 22:49.318 don't have anything specific to 22:49.318 --> 22:51.429 announce today . Again . You heard uh 22:51.429 --> 22:53.373 President and President Biden talk 22:53.373 --> 22:55.429 about the submarine that I mentioned 22:55.429 --> 22:57.596 earlier . Um You've also heard us talk 22:57.596 --> 22:59.818 about deploying strategic assets to the 22:59.818 --> 23:01.651 region . Uh And so again , we'll 23:01.651 --> 23:03.818 continue to work very closely with the 23:03.818 --> 23:05.849 Republic of Korea when it comes to 23:05.859 --> 23:08.949 extended deterrence and fulfilling our 23:08.959 --> 23:12.449 uh our obligations to provide security 23:12.459 --> 23:15.079 to South Korea , as well as our allies 23:15.089 --> 23:17.367 and partners in the region . Thank you . 23:17.367 --> 23:19.533 Thank you . All right , let me go back 23:19.533 --> 23:19.250 here to , I'm sorry , David . And then 23:20.739 --> 23:23.579 how does uh someone who's been 23:23.589 --> 23:26.729 suspended from high school earned a 23:27.140 --> 23:30.589 top secret clearance ? Is there a , a 23:30.599 --> 23:33.020 procedure for getting something like 23:33.030 --> 23:36.280 that expunged from your record or a 23:36.400 --> 23:39.849 procedure for somehow demonstrating 23:39.859 --> 23:42.349 that that was long ago in the past ? 23:43.260 --> 23:45.969 Yeah , thanks David . Um So let me kind 23:45.979 --> 23:48.201 of answer that in two different parts . 23:48.201 --> 23:50.423 So as it relates to this individual and 23:50.569 --> 23:52.736 his experiences and what he did or did 23:52.736 --> 23:54.847 not do in high school . Again , I'm , 23:54.847 --> 23:57.150 I'm not gonna get into his situation . 23:57.160 --> 23:59.327 We're gonna allow the investigation uh 23:59.327 --> 24:01.930 to run its course as it relates to a 24:01.939 --> 24:05.069 security clearance uh in general . Uh 24:05.079 --> 24:07.219 So , first of all , I think as I 24:07.229 --> 24:09.173 mentioned , there is no difference 24:09.173 --> 24:10.951 between applying for a security 24:10.951 --> 24:13.199 clearance uh in the International Guard 24:13.209 --> 24:16.790 versus the active duty . Uh And the 24:16.800 --> 24:18.989 organization that manages this process 24:19.000 --> 24:21.167 is the defense counterintelligence and 24:21.167 --> 24:23.111 security agency which conducts the 24:23.119 --> 24:25.790 investigation and adjudication process 24:25.800 --> 24:29.280 for security clearances for dod . Um 24:29.290 --> 24:31.739 happy to get you uh a much higher level 24:31.750 --> 24:33.694 of detail . But the bottom line is 24:33.694 --> 24:36.530 through this process . An adjudicator 24:36.540 --> 24:39.780 uh follows a uh a very prescribed 24:39.790 --> 24:42.130 process that examines a sufficient 24:42.140 --> 24:44.910 period in a person's life to make an 24:44.920 --> 24:46.920 affirmative determination that that 24:46.920 --> 24:49.031 person is eligible first for security 24:49.031 --> 24:51.140 clearance and then eligibility for 24:51.150 --> 24:53.640 access to classified information is 24:53.650 --> 24:56.520 predicated upon the individual meeting 24:56.530 --> 24:58.474 personnel , security guidelines to 24:58.474 --> 25:00.586 include a number of variables that we 25:00.586 --> 25:03.880 look at in terms of uh for example , 25:03.890 --> 25:05.557 the nature and extent and the 25:05.557 --> 25:07.400 seriousness of the conduct , the 25:07.410 --> 25:09.760 circumstances surrounding the contact 25:09.770 --> 25:11.603 conduct to include knowledgeable 25:11.603 --> 25:14.359 participation , the frequency and 25:14.369 --> 25:16.270 recency of the conduct , the 25:16.280 --> 25:18.336 individual's age and maturity at the 25:18.336 --> 25:20.558 time of the conduct , the voluntariness 25:20.558 --> 25:22.829 of participation , the presence or 25:22.839 --> 25:24.783 absence of rehabilitation or other 25:24.783 --> 25:26.728 pertinent behavioral changes , the 25:26.728 --> 25:28.561 motivation for the conduct , the 25:28.561 --> 25:30.450 potential for pressure , coercion 25:30.450 --> 25:32.450 exploitation or duress and then the 25:32.450 --> 25:34.117 likelihood of continuation of 25:34.117 --> 25:36.300 recurrence . So those are prescribed 25:36.310 --> 25:38.800 adjudication procedures that go into 25:38.810 --> 25:40.680 every single security clearance 25:40.689 --> 25:43.229 investigation . Uh Also part of that is 25:43.239 --> 25:45.560 a careful weighing uh of a number of 25:45.569 --> 25:47.569 variables known as the whole person 25:47.569 --> 25:49.569 concept . So uh that's part of that 25:49.569 --> 25:51.847 whole background investigation process . 25:51.847 --> 25:53.847 Uh where you are interviewed , uh , 25:53.847 --> 25:55.902 friends , family , acquaintances are 25:55.902 --> 25:57.902 interviewed . Uh A lot of that goes 25:57.902 --> 25:59.680 into the awarding of a security 25:59.680 --> 26:01.791 clearance . What is the uh sufficient 26:01.791 --> 26:04.439 period , sufficient period for you that 26:04.479 --> 26:07.560 they examine a sufficient period of the 26:07.569 --> 26:10.150 person's life ? What is the , what is a 26:10.160 --> 26:12.271 sufficient period for a 21 year old ? 26:12.479 --> 26:14.535 Uh Again , I , I , I'm not gonna get 26:14.535 --> 26:16.949 into his individual case . Um We can 26:16.959 --> 26:19.229 get back to you on , on that question . 26:19.530 --> 26:22.069 Thank you . We go over to Chris and I'm 26:22.079 --> 26:24.079 sorry , let's let's go to first and 26:24.079 --> 26:27.660 then Chris , I'm thank you General . 26:27.770 --> 26:30.260 Um Back to Sudan , you mentioned the 26:30.270 --> 26:32.859 land uh routes as probably the the best 26:32.869 --> 26:35.099 option for us citizens who want to 26:35.109 --> 26:37.140 leave . Uh Sudan the UN is still 26:37.150 --> 26:39.317 describing the situation on the ground 26:39.317 --> 26:41.150 as very dangerous . They're even 26:41.150 --> 26:43.859 calling for a humanitarian corridor to 26:43.869 --> 26:46.479 facilitate the evacuation . So I'm I'm 26:46.489 --> 26:48.510 interested in , in knowing your uh 26:48.520 --> 26:50.576 assessment of the security situation 26:50.576 --> 26:53.339 and the risks associated with uh maybe 26:53.349 --> 26:56.170 us citizens leaving uh Sudan city like 26:56.510 --> 26:58.621 Khartoum . And is the department open 26:58.621 --> 27:01.050 to the idea of having maybe uh troops 27:01.060 --> 27:02.838 on the ground to facilitate the 27:02.838 --> 27:05.116 evacuation ? Thank you . Yeah , thanks . 27:05.116 --> 27:07.319 Uh So , so to answer your second 27:07.329 --> 27:10.140 question first . Um Right now , we do 27:10.150 --> 27:12.689 not have any us military forces on the 27:12.699 --> 27:15.890 ground in Sudan . Uh And in looking to 27:15.900 --> 27:18.469 facilitate that land route , uh we 27:18.479 --> 27:20.257 would be working with the state 27:20.257 --> 27:23.839 department uh to employ um local 27:23.849 --> 27:26.016 nationals that are associated with the 27:26.016 --> 27:28.127 State Department to assist in that in 27:28.127 --> 27:30.182 that process , as well as contracted 27:30.280 --> 27:32.489 capability . Uh I won't get into the 27:32.500 --> 27:34.939 specifics of security . Um But clearly 27:34.949 --> 27:37.116 that is a factor uh that we're looking 27:37.116 --> 27:39.282 at in addition to the I S R capability 27:39.282 --> 27:42.270 that , that we provide overhead in 27:42.280 --> 27:45.280 terms of the security situation . Again . 27:45.290 --> 27:47.012 Right now , you've heard State 27:47.012 --> 27:49.179 Department talk about the cease fire . 27:49.179 --> 27:51.401 Things have been a little bit calmer in 27:51.401 --> 27:53.290 Khartoum as I understand it , but 27:53.290 --> 27:55.457 clearly still a deteriorating security 27:55.457 --> 27:58.079 situation with the prospect that things 27:58.089 --> 28:00.459 of course will get worse . So again , 28:00.469 --> 28:02.819 as I highlighted the viability of a 28:02.829 --> 28:04.885 land route does a couple of things . 28:04.885 --> 28:08.699 One because we're in a situation where 28:08.709 --> 28:11.199 people are departing the city , not 28:11.209 --> 28:13.265 necessarily having to make their way 28:13.265 --> 28:15.098 through checkpoints to get to an 28:15.098 --> 28:17.098 airport which you know , could over 28:17.098 --> 28:19.098 time , the security situation could 28:19.098 --> 28:21.320 deteriorate . It allows us to establish 28:21.320 --> 28:23.320 a sustainable repeatable process by 28:23.320 --> 28:25.770 which to get people out overground in 28:25.780 --> 28:28.569 larger numbers to Port Sudan , for 28:28.579 --> 28:31.369 example , where they could be received 28:31.380 --> 28:34.010 and then moved onward via sea . So 28:34.449 --> 28:36.616 that's something that we will continue 28:36.616 --> 28:38.616 to work at the bottom line is we're 28:38.616 --> 28:40.616 ready to support now . Uh And we'll 28:40.616 --> 28:42.560 continue to work very closely with 28:42.560 --> 28:42.030 State Department . We'll continue to 28:42.040 --> 28:44.151 stay in close contact with our allies 28:44.151 --> 28:46.420 and partners to ensure that if an 28:46.430 --> 28:48.708 American citizen is looking to get out , 28:48.708 --> 28:51.119 we will work with State to ensure and 28:51.130 --> 28:53.660 enable that . Thank you , Chris . 28:55.750 --> 28:57.806 Thanks Pat . If I may ask a question 28:57.806 --> 29:00.380 about Russia's actions toward uh US 29:00.390 --> 29:02.612 forces last week . US , Central Command 29:02.612 --> 29:04.859 in the Air Force said uh Russian planes 29:04.869 --> 29:06.780 had violated the deconfliction 29:06.949 --> 29:10.400 protocols over 60 times since March 1st . 29:10.410 --> 29:12.632 And during that time period , overflown 29:12.632 --> 29:15.300 US troops armed with armed planes . Uh 29:15.310 --> 29:17.588 More than two dozen times additionally , 29:17.588 --> 29:19.532 Centcom said back in November , uh 29:19.540 --> 29:22.854 Russia surface to air missile fired at 29:22.954 --> 29:26.035 A US M Q nine . Um We had the incident 29:26.045 --> 29:28.314 over the Black Sea in which uh Russian 29:28.324 --> 29:30.795 planes harassed the US M Q nine . And 29:30.805 --> 29:32.861 the Pentagon said that was part of a 29:32.861 --> 29:35.244 broader pattern by Russian pilots . So 29:35.265 --> 29:37.584 does the Pentagon believe these actions 29:37.594 --> 29:39.427 have been ordered by Moscow that 29:39.427 --> 29:41.104 Russian pilots should be more 29:41.114 --> 29:43.225 aggressive towards us forces ? Yeah , 29:43.234 --> 29:45.604 so I I I won't speak to uh what we 29:45.614 --> 29:48.694 think Moscow may or may not be ordering . 29:49.260 --> 29:51.949 I would say that when it comes to Syria , 29:52.150 --> 29:55.430 our focus remains singular in terms of 29:55.439 --> 29:57.495 why we're there and what it is we're 29:57.495 --> 29:59.717 trying to do which is again support the 29:59.717 --> 30:01.883 enduring defeat of ISIS . We recognize 30:01.883 --> 30:04.250 that this type of activity by Russia is 30:04.260 --> 30:06.660 very inappropriate . It also is very 30:06.670 --> 30:08.800 dangerous , but we're not seeking to 30:08.810 --> 30:11.032 get into a conflict with Russia nor are 30:11.032 --> 30:14.569 we looking to divert attention from why 30:14.579 --> 30:16.468 it is that we're there ? So we'll 30:16.468 --> 30:18.746 continue to use the deconfliction line . 30:18.746 --> 30:20.801 Uh We'll continue to use both public 30:20.801 --> 30:22.912 and private means to communicate with 30:22.912 --> 30:24.857 the Russians on what is and is not 30:24.857 --> 30:26.968 appropriate . And you have , uh , had 30:26.968 --> 30:28.468 this conversation with the 30:28.468 --> 30:30.635 deconfliction line . They've picked up 30:30.635 --> 30:30.449 the phone answered . You've addressed 30:30.459 --> 30:32.570 this with them . Um I would refer you 30:32.570 --> 30:34.737 to , but my understanding is that that 30:34.737 --> 30:36.792 deconfliction line remains open , uh 30:36.792 --> 30:39.126 and something that they continue to use . 30:39.160 --> 30:41.160 All right . Thank you . All right . 30:41.160 --> 30:42.882 Thanks very much . Everybody . 30:42.882 --> 30:41.910 Appreciate it .