1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:01,240 Yeah . 2 00:00:04,940 --> 00:00:05,940 Mhm . 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:13,240 Mhm . 4 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:21,529 Yes , sir . Well , good afternoon 5 00:00:21,529 --> 00:00:23,751 everyone . It's good to see everybody . 6 00:00:23,751 --> 00:00:25,860 You've heard me say this before , 7 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:31,180 but it's worth repeating . We have the 8 00:00:31,180 --> 00:00:33,291 strongest fighting force in the world 9 00:00:33,291 --> 00:00:36,010 because we have the strongest team in 10 00:00:36,010 --> 00:00:38,900 the world and that includes not just 11 00:00:38,900 --> 00:00:41,250 our brave men and women in uniform but 12 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:44,820 our outstanding military families as 13 00:00:44,820 --> 00:00:47,860 well . Unfortunately , 14 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,060 the pandemic and tight housing markets 15 00:00:51,060 --> 00:00:54,610 across the country have made financial 16 00:00:54,610 --> 00:00:57,780 struggles even tougher with the 17 00:00:57,780 --> 00:01:01,060 holidays approaching . I know that 18 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:03,860 this is on the minds of our military 19 00:01:03,860 --> 00:01:07,000 communities and it's certainly top of 20 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:10,680 mind for me . So today I've 21 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:12,902 directed the department to take several 22 00:01:12,902 --> 00:01:15,760 steps to strengthen the economic 23 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:19,460 security of our force . First , 24 00:01:20,340 --> 00:01:22,562 we're providing some immediate relief . 25 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:25,307 The Department of Defense has 26 00:01:25,307 --> 00:01:27,700 temporarily raised the basic allowance 27 00:01:27,700 --> 00:01:30,780 for housing in areas That have had a 28 00:01:30,790 --> 00:01:33,450 10% increase in rental costs this year . 29 00:01:35,340 --> 00:01:37,850 And in places with housing shortages 30 00:01:37,980 --> 00:01:41,490 were extending temporary lodging , 31 00:01:41,500 --> 00:01:43,980 expense reimbursements so that families 32 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:46,890 have more time to find a home that fits 33 00:01:46,890 --> 00:01:50,560 their needs and when when it comes to 34 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:52,671 making sure our people have enough to 35 00:01:52,671 --> 00:01:56,220 eat . We've created a new toolkit that 36 00:01:56,220 --> 00:01:58,164 will help leaders identify service 37 00:01:58,164 --> 00:02:00,460 members who are struggling and connect 38 00:02:00,460 --> 00:02:03,160 service members and their families to 39 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:06,960 resources and support programs and more 40 00:02:08,540 --> 00:02:10,651 have also directed the undersecretary 41 00:02:10,651 --> 00:02:12,818 of Defense for personnel and readiness 42 00:02:13,210 --> 00:02:15,100 to develop a strategy and 43 00:02:15,100 --> 00:02:17,550 implementation roadmap within 90 days , 44 00:02:18,640 --> 00:02:20,807 to strengthen food security across the 45 00:02:20,807 --> 00:02:24,350 force . Now , the steps 46 00:02:24,350 --> 00:02:26,406 outlined in today's memo won't solve 47 00:02:26,406 --> 00:02:28,294 all the economic worries that our 48 00:02:28,294 --> 00:02:31,100 military families face , but they are 49 00:02:31,100 --> 00:02:33,267 important steps and we're committed to 50 00:02:33,267 --> 00:02:36,030 getting this right . Our men and women 51 00:02:36,030 --> 00:02:38,090 in uniform and their families have 52 00:02:38,090 --> 00:02:42,030 enough to worry about basic necessities 53 00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:45,650 like food and housing shouldn't be 54 00:02:45,650 --> 00:02:49,360 among them . This is a readiness issue . 55 00:02:50,640 --> 00:02:52,696 And that's why I'm focused on making 56 00:02:52,696 --> 00:02:54,918 sure that our service members and their 57 00:02:54,918 --> 00:02:57,084 families have what they need to thrive 58 00:02:57,084 --> 00:02:59,460 so that they can focus on the hard work 59 00:02:59,460 --> 00:03:00,904 of defending our nation . 60 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,262 Now , I'd like to say a few words about 61 00:03:06,262 --> 00:03:08,373 my trip to the Middle East . Starting 62 00:03:08,373 --> 00:03:10,484 later this week , I'm looking forward 63 00:03:10,484 --> 00:03:13,810 to being back in bahrain where I'll 64 00:03:13,810 --> 00:03:17,050 speak at the manama dialogue , a major 65 00:03:17,050 --> 00:03:19,530 security forum that will be meeting in 66 00:03:19,530 --> 00:03:21,980 person for the first time since the 67 00:03:21,980 --> 00:03:24,650 pandemic began . It will be good to 68 00:03:24,650 --> 00:03:27,300 connect with partners and allies in the 69 00:03:27,300 --> 00:03:31,080 region and beyond . Let me _ 70 00:03:31,090 --> 00:03:34,080 two themes . Then I'll discuss . 71 00:03:35,340 --> 00:03:37,940 First , the United States is deeply 72 00:03:37,940 --> 00:03:40,162 committed to the security of the Middle 73 00:03:40,162 --> 00:03:42,750 East and we continue to strengthen our 74 00:03:42,750 --> 00:03:46,350 partnerships here and second , 75 00:03:47,140 --> 00:03:49,084 we understand many of today's most 76 00:03:49,084 --> 00:03:51,084 pressing security challenges in the 77 00:03:51,084 --> 00:03:53,360 Middle East and elsewhere transcend 78 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,840 borders . So we must meet these shared 79 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,160 threats with shared solutions in 80 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,790 lockstep with their friends who also 81 00:04:02,790 --> 00:04:04,750 come to the table with formidable 82 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:08,520 capabilities . You could see the 83 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:10,742 strength of our network of partnerships 84 00:04:10,742 --> 00:04:12,964 on full display just a few months ago . 85 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,170 As we wound down our 20 year military 86 00:04:16,180 --> 00:04:19,320 mission in Afghanistan , our partners 87 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:21,431 in the Middle East stepped up to help 88 00:04:21,540 --> 00:04:24,480 Help us evacuate more than 124,000 89 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:27,410 people . And we couldn't have done it 90 00:04:27,410 --> 00:04:29,800 without partners like the United Arab 91 00:04:29,810 --> 00:04:32,690 Emirates , which will be another stop 92 00:04:32,690 --> 00:04:35,360 on my trip . And I'm looking forward to 93 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,360 discussing our two countries common 94 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:41,000 defense priorities . Mm Now it's not 95 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,056 lost on me that this trip comes at a 96 00:04:43,056 --> 00:04:46,130 time when Iran is stoking tensions and 97 00:04:46,130 --> 00:04:48,560 undermining stability in the region . 98 00:04:49,740 --> 00:04:51,407 We remain deeply committed to 99 00:04:51,407 --> 00:04:53,462 preventing Iran from gaining nuclear 100 00:04:53,462 --> 00:04:56,150 weapons . And I've said before , no 101 00:04:56,150 --> 00:04:58,317 problem in the Middle East gets easier 102 00:04:58,317 --> 00:05:01,860 to solve with a nuclear armed Iran . 103 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:05,040 And that's why we fully support the 104 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:07,470 president's efforts to achieve a new 105 00:05:07,470 --> 00:05:09,692 diplomatic agreement with Iran over its 106 00:05:09,692 --> 00:05:13,490 nuclear program . But of course Iran 107 00:05:13,490 --> 00:05:17,330 presents serious security challenges 108 00:05:17,330 --> 00:05:20,440 that extend beyond that program . So 109 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:22,718 I'm going to continue to be very clear . 110 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:25,273 We will defend ourselves and our 111 00:05:25,273 --> 00:05:27,620 partners and our interests against 112 00:05:27,620 --> 00:05:29,750 threats from Iran or its proxies . 113 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,300 Now , one last thing before I take your 114 00:05:34,300 --> 00:05:37,470 questions and this gets to the issue of 115 00:05:37,470 --> 00:05:39,637 civilian casualties which I know is on 116 00:05:39,637 --> 00:05:43,600 your mind . It's on my mind as well . 117 00:05:43,610 --> 00:05:46,940 I can assure you As you know , we 118 00:05:46,940 --> 00:05:48,940 conducted an independent review and 119 00:05:48,940 --> 00:05:51,710 investigation into the August 29 Strike 120 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,640 Airstrike in Kabul , an air strike that 121 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,260 tragically killed 10 innocent civilians , 122 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:02,230 including seven Children . I know 123 00:06:02,230 --> 00:06:05,460 that Lieutenant General . So he brief 124 00:06:05,460 --> 00:06:09,140 you on his findings . I also asked the 125 00:06:09,140 --> 00:06:11,251 commanders of U . S . Central Command 126 00:06:11,251 --> 00:06:13,418 and Special Operations Command to come 127 00:06:13,418 --> 00:06:15,770 back with me with their plans for how 128 00:06:15,770 --> 00:06:18,630 to implement general . So he's findings 129 00:06:18,630 --> 00:06:20,686 and recommendations and they've done 130 00:06:20,686 --> 00:06:22,797 that . And I'm working my way through 131 00:06:22,797 --> 00:06:26,250 their recommendations . We're also 132 00:06:26,250 --> 00:06:28,650 looking for rigorous outside thinking 133 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,820 and I think you know that will soon be 134 00:06:31,820 --> 00:06:35,590 releasing a civilian harm study By ran 135 00:06:35,590 --> 00:06:37,701 that Congress ordered in the National 136 00:06:37,701 --> 00:06:41,100 Defense Authorization Act of 2020 . And 137 00:06:41,100 --> 00:06:43,630 there's another ranch study on civilian 138 00:06:43,630 --> 00:06:45,852 casualties in Syria that is working its 139 00:06:45,852 --> 00:06:49,130 way through a security review . I look 140 00:06:49,130 --> 00:06:51,186 forward to reading these two studies 141 00:06:51,186 --> 00:06:53,408 into benefiting from them as we conduct 142 00:06:53,408 --> 00:06:56,320 operations going forward . The american 143 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:58,660 people deserve to know that we take 144 00:06:58,660 --> 00:07:01,970 this issue very seriously and that we 145 00:07:01,970 --> 00:07:04,081 are committed to protecting civilians 146 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:06,662 and getting this right both in terms of 147 00:07:06,662 --> 00:07:08,884 how we execute missions on their behalf 148 00:07:09,340 --> 00:07:11,562 and how we talk about them afterwards . 149 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:15,007 We have more work to do in that regard 150 00:07:15,007 --> 00:07:18,610 clearly and I recognize that and I'm 151 00:07:18,610 --> 00:07:21,090 committed to doing this in full 152 00:07:21,090 --> 00:07:23,860 partnership with our military leaders 153 00:07:25,140 --> 00:07:27,100 and for now I'm ready to take your 154 00:07:27,100 --> 00:07:29,860 questions . And 155 00:07:30,540 --> 00:07:33,620 I'll start with bob Burns . 156 00:07:34,940 --> 00:07:37,110 Thank you sir . Mr Secretary , I want 157 00:07:37,110 --> 00:07:39,110 to ask you a couple of things about 158 00:07:39,110 --> 00:07:41,388 Russia . Recent developments on Russia . 159 00:07:41,388 --> 00:07:44,870 One is the build up of Russian forces 160 00:07:44,870 --> 00:07:47,310 and military structures in the vicinity 161 00:07:47,310 --> 00:07:49,730 of the Ukrainian border . The other is 162 00:07:49,740 --> 00:07:52,000 the Russian anti satellite tests that 163 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,160 they conducted recently um which which 164 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:56,993 this administration condemned as 165 00:07:56,993 --> 00:07:59,810 reckless now on Ukraine . I'm wondering , 166 00:07:59,820 --> 00:08:02,042 you know as a career military officer , 167 00:08:02,042 --> 00:08:04,209 What do you make of what you're seeing 168 00:08:04,209 --> 00:08:06,540 of the Russian activity near Ukraine ? 169 00:08:06,540 --> 00:08:08,429 Do you , does it look to you like 170 00:08:08,429 --> 00:08:10,484 preparations for an invasion or some 171 00:08:10,484 --> 00:08:12,920 sort of other kind of incursion and on 172 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:16,470 the anti satellite test ? What is it ? 173 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:18,480 Would you say that so objectionable 174 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:20,480 about what they did ? Does it point 175 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:22,060 toward conflict in space or 176 00:08:22,060 --> 00:08:25,500 weaponization of space ? Well , 177 00:08:25,510 --> 00:08:27,454 overall bob . And thanks for those 178 00:08:27,454 --> 00:08:29,870 questions , We continue to see 179 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:32,750 troubling behavior from Russia and 180 00:08:32,750 --> 00:08:36,010 you've highlighted too , two key issues 181 00:08:36,010 --> 00:08:38,660 there . 1st the troop build up near 182 00:08:38,660 --> 00:08:42,090 Ukraine in their recent anti satellite 183 00:08:42,100 --> 00:08:45,320 test and none of this , this activity 184 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:47,598 is helpful to the security environment . 185 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:51,660 And it causes us deep concern . And so 186 00:08:51,660 --> 00:08:54,090 we'll continue to call on Russia to act 187 00:08:54,090 --> 00:08:58,020 responsibly and be more transparent on 188 00:08:58,020 --> 00:09:01,680 the build up of the forces around 189 00:09:01,690 --> 00:09:04,500 on the board of Ukraine . We've watched 190 00:09:04,500 --> 00:09:07,870 this very closely and I'm in 191 00:09:07,870 --> 00:09:10,120 regular and frequent contact with 192 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:11,950 general Walters , the the Yukon 193 00:09:11,950 --> 00:09:14,960 commander . The truth is bob , we're 194 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:17,860 not sure exactly what Mr Putin is up to , 195 00:09:18,740 --> 00:09:20,907 but these movements certainly have our 196 00:09:20,907 --> 00:09:24,140 attention and you know , I I would urge 197 00:09:24,140 --> 00:09:26,290 Russia to be more transparent about 198 00:09:26,290 --> 00:09:29,770 what they're up to and to take steps to 199 00:09:29,780 --> 00:09:33,090 live up to the Minsk agreements , our 200 00:09:33,090 --> 00:09:36,310 support for Ukraine's sovereignty and 201 00:09:36,310 --> 00:09:38,870 territorial integrity remains 202 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:42,750 unwavering . You asked about the 203 00:09:43,140 --> 00:09:45,750 anti satellite test as well . And 204 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:49,560 uh , what's most troubling about that 205 00:09:49,570 --> 00:09:53,210 is the danger that it creates uh , for 206 00:09:53,210 --> 00:09:56,350 the international community . Um , 207 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,400 it undermines strategic stability as 208 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:02,344 you as you know , there's a debris 209 00:10:02,344 --> 00:10:04,511 field there now that will be there for 210 00:10:04,511 --> 00:10:08,220 forever . And it it's a it's a 211 00:10:08,220 --> 00:10:11,620 safety concern . And 212 00:10:11,690 --> 00:10:15,010 so we would call upon Russia to act 213 00:10:15,020 --> 00:10:18,210 more responsibly going forward . I mean , 214 00:10:18,210 --> 00:10:20,099 they have the ability , they know 215 00:10:20,099 --> 00:10:21,988 exactly what kind of debris field 216 00:10:21,988 --> 00:10:24,080 they're going to create . And so we 217 00:10:24,090 --> 00:10:26,530 wonder why they would move to do such a 218 00:10:26,530 --> 00:10:28,810 thing , suggest a step towards 219 00:10:28,810 --> 00:10:31,130 weaponization of space or conflict in 220 00:10:31,130 --> 00:10:34,710 space ? Well , certainly , we are 221 00:10:34,710 --> 00:10:36,930 concerned about the weaponization of 222 00:10:36,930 --> 00:10:40,050 space , and we would certainly 223 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,500 call upon Russia in all countries to 224 00:10:43,500 --> 00:10:45,620 act in a responsible manner in this 225 00:10:45,620 --> 00:10:49,500 regard . Let me call 226 00:10:49,500 --> 00:10:51,060 on ERic Schmidt , 227 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:56,870 thank you . U . Shoes , two 228 00:10:56,950 --> 00:11:00,180 casualties . Military operators have 229 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,990 used the justification for the strikes 230 00:11:03,990 --> 00:11:06,890 not only in Kabul on August 29 , but 231 00:11:06,890 --> 00:11:10,250 also A strike on March 18 , that we 232 00:11:10,250 --> 00:11:12,472 reported on Sunday . The New York Times 233 00:11:12,472 --> 00:11:14,650 did justification they used with self 234 00:11:14,660 --> 00:11:17,480 defense . My question is , how 235 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:19,640 concerned are you that over all these 236 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,270 years of military activity going up 237 00:11:22,270 --> 00:11:25,340 against organizations like ISIS and Al 238 00:11:25,340 --> 00:11:27,810 Qaeda ? How concerned are you that 239 00:11:27,810 --> 00:11:30,000 military operators are using self 240 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:32,470 defense perhaps too casually , even 241 00:11:32,470 --> 00:11:35,330 deliberately as a way of of 242 00:11:35,340 --> 00:11:38,730 circumventing the steps around the 243 00:11:38,740 --> 00:11:40,684 measures that have put in place to 244 00:11:40,684 --> 00:11:42,907 mitigate civilian casualties . And then 245 00:11:42,907 --> 00:11:46,080 I have one follow up after that . So 246 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:48,191 that's three questions and one follow 247 00:11:48,191 --> 00:11:49,760 up there . ErIC just kids 248 00:11:52,740 --> 00:11:54,684 at the outset ? ErIC , let me just 249 00:11:54,684 --> 00:11:57,450 highlight that we do work very hard to 250 00:11:58,140 --> 00:12:01,230 avoid causing harm to civilians . Every 251 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:03,407 every civilian casualty is a tragedy . 252 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:07,210 Uh but I would also say that I have no 253 00:12:07,210 --> 00:12:09,860 doubt that we can work harder and I'd 254 00:12:09,860 --> 00:12:11,916 go beyond that and said we must work 255 00:12:11,916 --> 00:12:15,470 harder . Uh I'm committed to adjusting 256 00:12:15,470 --> 00:12:17,692 our policies and our procedures to make 257 00:12:17,692 --> 00:12:20,230 sure that we improve . And I'll 258 00:12:20,230 --> 00:12:22,110 beholding all our senior leaders 259 00:12:22,110 --> 00:12:25,620 responsible for putting those 260 00:12:25,620 --> 00:12:28,160 policies and procedures into effect as 261 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:32,060 we go forward in terms of uh 262 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:35,210 whether or not we are taking things 263 00:12:35,210 --> 00:12:39,100 casualty casually . Excuse me . Uh , 264 00:12:39,110 --> 00:12:42,290 We take every strike very serious uh 265 00:12:42,300 --> 00:12:45,710 ERIC and I think again , it's incumbent 266 00:12:45,710 --> 00:12:48,090 upon us to to look at our procedures 267 00:12:48,090 --> 00:12:50,390 and our policies to make sure that we 268 00:12:50,390 --> 00:12:52,446 continue to refine them and where we 269 00:12:52,446 --> 00:12:54,612 see we're , you know , we're not doing 270 00:12:54,612 --> 00:12:57,270 things as well as we could . Uh we we 271 00:12:57,270 --> 00:12:59,630 should uh we should adjust and you'll 272 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:02,780 uh my goal is to make sure that uh we 273 00:13:02,780 --> 00:13:05,510 improve upon our performance going 274 00:13:05,510 --> 00:13:09,430 forward . You mentioned , this is 275 00:13:09,430 --> 00:13:11,486 my second question leads into that , 276 00:13:11,486 --> 00:13:12,986 that you said You've taken 277 00:13:12,986 --> 00:13:15,208 responsibility . The military has taken 278 00:13:15,208 --> 00:13:17,208 responsibility for the casualties . 279 00:13:17,208 --> 00:13:19,630 Again , both on August 29 as well as 280 00:13:19,630 --> 00:13:21,852 the ones in Syria and many others , but 281 00:13:21,852 --> 00:13:23,741 it's very it's very rare when the 282 00:13:23,741 --> 00:13:25,963 military actually holds anyone actually 283 00:13:25,963 --> 00:13:27,852 accountable or somebody , there's 284 00:13:27,852 --> 00:13:29,963 administrative action or other , some 285 00:13:29,963 --> 00:13:32,186 kind of other disciplinary actions . To 286 00:13:32,186 --> 00:13:33,908 what extent are you personally 287 00:13:33,908 --> 00:13:36,130 committed to holding people accountable 288 00:13:36,130 --> 00:13:37,908 now for these kind of actions ? 289 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:41,850 Well , I believe that leaders in this 290 00:13:41,850 --> 00:13:44,080 department should be held to account 291 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:45,969 for high standards of conduct and 292 00:13:45,969 --> 00:13:49,930 leadership in that's who we are . And 293 00:13:49,930 --> 00:13:52,820 I believe that our troops understand 294 00:13:52,820 --> 00:13:55,510 that . And for my part as Secretary of 295 00:13:55,510 --> 00:13:57,732 Defense , I have every intent to uphold 296 00:13:57,732 --> 00:14:00,950 that standard . Again , when we have 297 00:14:01,340 --> 00:14:04,130 a civilian casualty . Uh , we 298 00:14:04,130 --> 00:14:06,408 investigate that by standard procedure . 299 00:14:06,408 --> 00:14:08,574 And again , we'll look at our policies 300 00:14:08,574 --> 00:14:11,230 and procedures and make sure that we're 301 00:14:11,230 --> 00:14:13,563 as tight as possible going forward here . 302 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:18,610 Let me call on Jim Griffith , thank you 303 00:14:18,610 --> 00:14:20,860 sir . What in your opinion is the 304 00:14:20,860 --> 00:14:22,850 significance of the recent chinese 305 00:14:22,850 --> 00:14:25,530 hypersonic weapon test ? Some people in 306 00:14:25,530 --> 00:14:27,641 the pentagon have said it's a Sputnik 307 00:14:27,641 --> 00:14:29,752 moment . General Heighten said it did 308 00:14:29,752 --> 00:14:31,808 not create the sense of urgency . It 309 00:14:31,808 --> 00:14:34,060 should . Was this a Sputnik moment ? 310 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:37,607 Well , those are terms that I wouldn't 311 00:14:37,607 --> 00:14:41,580 use . I don't personally use gen , you 312 00:14:41,580 --> 00:14:45,300 know , that uh , we have concerns 313 00:14:45,300 --> 00:14:47,360 about the military capabilities that 314 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,600 the PRC continues to develop . I've 315 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:53,910 highlighted the PRC is our pacing 316 00:14:53,910 --> 00:14:57,250 challenge and we continue to 317 00:14:57,750 --> 00:15:00,030 to do everything that we can , to 318 00:15:00,030 --> 00:15:02,770 develop the right capabilities and 319 00:15:02,770 --> 00:15:06,130 also , you know , the right 320 00:15:06,130 --> 00:15:09,570 concepts . Uh , we think it will be 321 00:15:09,570 --> 00:15:11,737 necessary and will be effective in any 322 00:15:11,737 --> 00:15:13,900 kind of contestant going forward that 323 00:15:13,900 --> 00:15:16,750 includes china Russia or any other uh 324 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:19,830 country that we want to take us on . Uh 325 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:21,451 we also have to maintain the 326 00:15:21,451 --> 00:15:23,396 capabilities to defend ourselves . 327 00:15:23,396 --> 00:15:25,507 You've heard me say a number of times 328 00:15:25,507 --> 00:15:27,673 that it's my job to defend this nation 329 00:15:27,673 --> 00:15:29,784 and I take that very seriously . This 330 00:15:29,784 --> 00:15:31,951 department takes that very seriously . 331 00:15:31,951 --> 00:15:34,062 And so we're working on as hard as we 332 00:15:34,062 --> 00:15:36,540 can to ensure that we can defend 333 00:15:36,540 --> 00:15:38,720 ourselves against a range of threats 334 00:15:38,790 --> 00:15:41,610 going forward . Just a follow up . Why 335 00:15:41,610 --> 00:15:43,920 have the chinese been able to field a 336 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:46,240 medium range hypersonic weapon ? And 337 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:49,040 the U . S . Has not ? I don't know if 338 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:52,090 they fielded those weapons but they're 339 00:15:52,090 --> 00:15:55,090 testing . I believe general heightened 340 00:15:55,100 --> 00:15:57,378 did say that in the interview with Cbs . 341 00:15:57,740 --> 00:16:01,540 Okay , well you know we uh we continue 342 00:16:01,540 --> 00:16:04,590 to move as fast as we can to to develop 343 00:16:04,590 --> 00:16:07,670 capabilities . And again we look at our 344 00:16:07,670 --> 00:16:09,837 full range of capabilities and and not 345 00:16:09,837 --> 00:16:12,900 just one specific capability as we look 346 00:16:12,900 --> 00:16:15,940 at , you know , our our adversaries and 347 00:16:15,940 --> 00:16:17,940 I believe we have robust capability 348 00:16:17,940 --> 00:16:18,996 across the board . 349 00:16:23,540 --> 00:16:26,150 Let me go to WAFA job . I 350 00:16:28,340 --> 00:16:30,507 thank you sir for taking my question . 351 00:16:30,507 --> 00:16:34,070 We've seen lately a pattern of 352 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:37,310 provocative actions from Iran against 353 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:39,510 the U . S . Navy that ended safely so 354 00:16:39,510 --> 00:16:42,950 far . Is the US exercising self 355 00:16:42,950 --> 00:16:46,710 restraint to avoid any escalation 356 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:50,560 or to make way for 357 00:16:50,570 --> 00:16:53,190 diplomacy And what are the red lines 358 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:56,850 that for the U . S . Patients in that 359 00:16:56,850 --> 00:17:00,730 sense ? Well I don't think it's 360 00:17:00,730 --> 00:17:04,260 helpful to talk about red lines but 361 00:17:05,140 --> 00:17:07,029 I want to be clear on a couple of 362 00:17:07,029 --> 00:17:09,920 points . Uh You mentioned Iran's 363 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:13,350 activity in the maritime domain . We 364 00:17:13,350 --> 00:17:16,240 can we continue to see unsafe and 365 00:17:16,250 --> 00:17:19,880 unprofessional actions uh as 366 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:23,550 they operate as we operate in the gulf . 367 00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:25,929 And I think that kind of behavior 368 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:28,073 affects everyone . And it's very 369 00:17:28,073 --> 00:17:30,280 troubling . It certainly impacts 370 00:17:30,290 --> 00:17:34,060 freedom of navigation . Uh and you know , 371 00:17:34,070 --> 00:17:37,440 everyone loses by these dangerous and 372 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,720 disruptive actions . And I know that we 373 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,160 share those concerns with our allies 374 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:46,660 and partners . Uh You heard me say 375 00:17:46,670 --> 00:17:50,380 at the at the top that we won't 376 00:17:50,380 --> 00:17:53,380 hesitate to defend ourselves and our 377 00:17:53,380 --> 00:17:56,380 partners and we're committed to that we 378 00:17:56,380 --> 00:17:59,170 have the capability for that . And so 379 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:02,700 in terms of , you know , how we behave 380 00:18:02,700 --> 00:18:04,867 were always very prudent about what we 381 00:18:04,867 --> 00:18:06,867 do . But again , let no one mistake 382 00:18:07,340 --> 00:18:09,630 that we will defend ourselves our 383 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:12,010 interests and our partners before I 384 00:18:12,010 --> 00:18:15,420 make a follow up . So our our 385 00:18:15,430 --> 00:18:18,800 understanding that your priority number 386 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:21,240 one priority in the middle is to deter 387 00:18:21,250 --> 00:18:24,810 Iran . But still Iran continues its uh 388 00:18:24,820 --> 00:18:27,270 so called malign activities whether in 389 00:18:27,270 --> 00:18:30,360 Lebanon and Iraq and Syria and the gulf . 390 00:18:30,370 --> 00:18:33,990 So how do you evaluate your policy of 391 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:36,870 deterrence and is around taking it 392 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:40,600 seriously in that way ? Well , you know , 393 00:18:40,610 --> 00:18:43,350 it's not just us who are concerned 394 00:18:43,350 --> 00:18:45,630 about Iran's behavior in the region . 395 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:48,910 It's all of our allies and partners in 396 00:18:48,910 --> 00:18:50,966 the region and all of our allies and 397 00:18:50,966 --> 00:18:53,299 partners quite frankly around the globe . 398 00:18:53,340 --> 00:18:56,120 You know , the the choke points and 399 00:18:56,120 --> 00:18:58,231 waterways that are in this region are 400 00:18:58,231 --> 00:19:00,540 very important to the international uh 401 00:19:00,550 --> 00:19:03,030 community , international commerce . Uh , 402 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:05,320 and so we're going to continue to work 403 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:07,780 with our allies and partners to ensure 404 00:19:07,780 --> 00:19:11,020 that we communicate to Iran that this 405 00:19:11,020 --> 00:19:13,350 type of behavior won't be , won't be 406 00:19:13,350 --> 00:19:16,240 tolerated again . We are prepared to 407 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:19,110 defend our interests and our partners 408 00:19:19,120 --> 00:19:21,960 going forward . Yeah . Other countries 409 00:19:22,550 --> 00:19:24,660 let me go to Megan Myers . 410 00:19:27,340 --> 00:19:30,320 So secretary , often the border mission 411 00:19:30,330 --> 00:19:32,219 is into its fourth year . Now , I 412 00:19:32,219 --> 00:19:34,530 understand you have ongoing discussions 413 00:19:34,530 --> 00:19:36,586 with the Homeland Security Secretary 414 00:19:36,586 --> 00:19:38,830 about their needs and your ability to 415 00:19:38,830 --> 00:19:41,720 meet them . Um , what is the goal that 416 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,130 you guys are working toward ? And is 417 00:19:44,130 --> 00:19:46,260 there a point at which you would 418 00:19:46,270 --> 00:19:48,730 decline their next request to bring 419 00:19:48,730 --> 00:19:51,310 more troops , uh , to continue to put 420 00:19:51,310 --> 00:19:54,470 troops down there ? Well , thanks Megan . 421 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:56,500 Uh , as you know , and as you've 422 00:19:56,500 --> 00:19:59,730 indicated , our troops are there in 423 00:19:59,730 --> 00:20:02,760 support of uh 424 00:20:03,140 --> 00:20:05,770 Department of Homeland Defense . So 425 00:20:06,140 --> 00:20:08,170 Homeland Security . So , um , 426 00:20:09,540 --> 00:20:12,830 we uh , we continue to work with the 427 00:20:12,830 --> 00:20:16,350 leadership to make sure that , 428 00:20:17,140 --> 00:20:19,720 you know , we're doing what we can to 429 00:20:19,730 --> 00:20:23,220 enable their forces . I've talked with 430 00:20:23,230 --> 00:20:25,174 uh , with secretary on a number of 431 00:20:25,174 --> 00:20:27,750 occasions and we both agree that our 432 00:20:27,750 --> 00:20:29,528 goal is for them to develop the 433 00:20:29,528 --> 00:20:31,750 capability to to conduct operations on 434 00:20:31,750 --> 00:20:35,670 their own . And so over time you'll see 435 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:39,480 our presence diminish or and and 436 00:20:39,490 --> 00:20:41,940 and you'll see homeland security take 437 00:20:41,940 --> 00:20:44,090 this over on their own . So are they 438 00:20:44,100 --> 00:20:46,044 meeting those are there ? They are 439 00:20:46,044 --> 00:20:48,390 meeting that progress and they are they 440 00:20:48,390 --> 00:20:51,560 are making progress . And I don't have 441 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:54,070 a specific date to put a pin on at this 442 00:20:54,070 --> 00:20:56,126 point in time . But I would tell you 443 00:20:56,126 --> 00:20:57,848 that we're moving in the right 444 00:20:57,848 --> 00:21:01,260 direction and 445 00:21:01,740 --> 00:21:03,907 one time for one last question there , 446 00:21:03,907 --> 00:21:06,460 I'll go to Tony Cappuccio detectors . 447 00:21:07,540 --> 00:21:11,060 Sir . You started you started out 448 00:21:11,070 --> 00:21:13,070 talking about the measures , you're 449 00:21:13,070 --> 00:21:15,292 doing two reliefs , financial strain on 450 00:21:15,292 --> 00:21:17,810 soldiers . You're in the 12th year , 451 00:21:17,820 --> 00:21:20,220 12th continuing resolution of the last 452 00:21:20,220 --> 00:21:23,090 13 years , fiscal years . What's been 453 00:21:23,090 --> 00:21:25,201 the damage to date over the first two 454 00:21:25,201 --> 00:21:27,870 months ? And if as there's talk on 455 00:21:27,870 --> 00:21:29,981 Capitol hill extending it for a whole 456 00:21:29,981 --> 00:21:32,037 year , what are your budget ? People 457 00:21:32,037 --> 00:21:34,203 telling you will be the greatest areas 458 00:21:34,203 --> 00:21:38,200 of major impact ? Well , 459 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:40,144 Tony I think you heard me say many 460 00:21:40,144 --> 00:21:42,840 months ago as as we were rolling out 461 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:46,150 our budget , that a long term 462 00:21:46,150 --> 00:21:48,900 continuing resolution is not helpful to 463 00:21:48,900 --> 00:21:51,830 anyone . It creates 464 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,900 uncertainty and it limits our 465 00:21:54,900 --> 00:21:58,640 flexibility when we have a 466 00:21:58,650 --> 00:22:01,850 long , long term cr we 467 00:22:01,850 --> 00:22:05,360 can't we can't create any new starts so 468 00:22:05,360 --> 00:22:07,850 we can invest in in the cutting edge 469 00:22:07,850 --> 00:22:10,680 technologies and capabilities that 470 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:13,180 we're looking to bring on board . And 471 00:22:13,190 --> 00:22:16,730 uh and the reason for that obviously is 472 00:22:16,730 --> 00:22:19,063 we're straddled with last year's budget . 473 00:22:19,340 --> 00:22:22,860 Um also , you know , when you consider 474 00:22:22,860 --> 00:22:26,460 things like the fact that 475 00:22:26,460 --> 00:22:30,190 we've got a raise has been authorized a 476 00:22:30,190 --> 00:22:32,412 well deserved raise has been authorized 477 00:22:32,412 --> 00:22:34,550 for our troops . We'll have to take 478 00:22:34,550 --> 00:22:36,990 that absorb that raise out of the out 479 00:22:36,990 --> 00:22:40,570 of the current budget . And so that 480 00:22:40,580 --> 00:22:42,950 that creates less flexibility for us to 481 00:22:42,950 --> 00:22:45,180 do other things . And for example , 482 00:22:45,180 --> 00:22:46,902 some of the things that you uh 483 00:22:46,902 --> 00:22:49,069 initiatives that you mentioned will be 484 00:22:49,069 --> 00:22:51,236 fine with the initiatives that we that 485 00:22:51,236 --> 00:22:53,291 have announced . But again , I don't 486 00:22:53,291 --> 00:22:55,402 want to infringe upon our flexibility 487 00:22:55,402 --> 00:22:57,569 to do other things going forward . Are 488 00:22:57,569 --> 00:22:59,569 you lobbying the members of the GOP 489 00:22:59,569 --> 00:23:01,791 members who are holding up the bill and 490 00:23:01,791 --> 00:23:03,902 threatening a continuing resolution ? 491 00:23:03,902 --> 00:23:06,069 Are you personally calling some of the 492 00:23:06,069 --> 00:23:08,291 members saying help us out ? You know , 493 00:23:08,291 --> 00:23:11,520 I I continue to uh as you would expect 494 00:23:11,530 --> 00:23:13,790 Tony to communicate with our 495 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:15,911 congressional leadership on a routine 496 00:23:15,911 --> 00:23:18,200 basis . And and quite frankly , I think 497 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:20,470 that they get it as well . They 498 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:24,400 understand uh the uh the concern , the 499 00:23:24,410 --> 00:23:27,430 severity of the impact . Uh and I 500 00:23:27,430 --> 00:23:29,710 really believe that uh they're really 501 00:23:29,710 --> 00:23:31,877 working hard to help us in this regard 502 00:23:31,877 --> 00:23:34,440 for the uh and and we'll continue to 503 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:36,273 have those conversations . But I 504 00:23:36,273 --> 00:23:38,384 thought I heard you say lobbying when 505 00:23:38,384 --> 00:23:40,607 you were talking to Secretary Defense , 506 00:23:40,607 --> 00:23:42,718 is that it was a slip of the tongue , 507 00:23:42,718 --> 00:23:44,970 sir ? Okay . All right . All right . 508 00:23:44,980 --> 00:23:47,670 Thanks everybody . Thank you . Yeah ,