WEBVTT 00:00.040 --> 00:03.980 power . Right right . Hey guys , good 00:03.980 --> 00:06.640 afternoon . Good to see you all . It's 00:06.650 --> 00:08.706 been a while . In fact , I think the 00:08.706 --> 00:10.928 last time I was out here at the podiums 00:10.928 --> 00:13.350 before thanksgiving . So you shouldn't 00:13.350 --> 00:15.406 take that person and trying to dodge 00:15.406 --> 00:17.128 you . Which is that we've been 00:17.128 --> 00:19.350 traveling nearly nonstop as many of you 00:19.350 --> 00:21.572 know over the past several weeks and in 00:21.572 --> 00:23.739 fact I'm gonna start off by announcing 00:23.739 --> 00:25.628 yet another trip this afternoon . 00:25.628 --> 00:28.800 Secretary Gates flies to Ottawa where 00:28.800 --> 00:30.470 he had expected to join his 00:30.470 --> 00:32.770 counterparts from Mexico and Canada 00:32.770 --> 00:34.937 tomorrow for the first ever trilateral 00:34.937 --> 00:37.060 meeting of the north american defense 00:37.060 --> 00:39.810 ministers . This session was originally 00:39.810 --> 00:42.940 planned for last july but had to be 00:42.940 --> 00:44.718 postponed due to an outbreak of 00:44.718 --> 00:47.520 violence in Mexico . Now unfortunately 00:47.520 --> 00:50.050 we received word that due to illness , 00:50.060 --> 00:52.030 the mexican Secretary of National 00:52.030 --> 00:55.540 Defense General Guillermo galvan galvan 00:55.690 --> 00:58.080 will not be able to attend tomorrow's 00:58.080 --> 01:00.870 session as he had hoped . And the 01:00.870 --> 01:02.814 trilateral meeting will have to be 01:02.814 --> 01:04.870 postponed once again . The Secretary 01:04.870 --> 01:07.950 however will still go on to Ottawa and 01:07.950 --> 01:11.290 uh now they will conduct a bilateral uh 01:11.300 --> 01:13.800 engagement with Canadian Minister of 01:13.800 --> 01:16.530 Defense Peter Mackay . Uh they will 01:16.530 --> 01:19.200 discuss ongoing US Canada defense 01:19.200 --> 01:20.978 issues and areas of cooperation 01:20.978 --> 01:23.960 including of course our mutual efforts 01:23.970 --> 01:27.410 in Afghanistan . As from Mexico . The 01:27.410 --> 01:29.077 Secretary will look for other 01:29.077 --> 01:31.540 opportunities uh in the future to 01:31.540 --> 01:33.596 engage with his counterparts there , 01:33.840 --> 01:36.660 but nothing to announce in terms of , 01:37.440 --> 01:39.990 I'll make update at this point um from 01:39.990 --> 01:42.140 Ottawa , the secretary will head down 01:42.140 --> 01:44.790 to Omaha Nebraska in order to 01:44.800 --> 01:46.689 participate in friday's change of 01:46.689 --> 01:49.640 command ceremony for strategic command 01:49.640 --> 01:51.870 at Offutt Air Force Base this event 01:51.870 --> 01:53.870 will give the secretary a chance to 01:53.870 --> 01:55.926 thank General kevin chili chilton uh 01:55.926 --> 01:57.814 for his decades of service in the 01:57.814 --> 01:59.926 military and welcome his successor at 01:59.926 --> 02:02.490 stratcom . General bob Caylor who has 02:02.490 --> 02:04.712 most recently been the Commander of Air 02:04.712 --> 02:08.330 Force Space Command um also 02:08.330 --> 02:10.552 participating in friday stratcom change 02:10.552 --> 02:12.900 of command is as chairman mullen , the 02:12.900 --> 02:14.900 chairman will be flying in straight 02:14.900 --> 02:17.122 from brussels where he arrived today to 02:17.122 --> 02:19.178 attend the NATO Military Committee . 02:19.178 --> 02:20.956 Chiefs of Defence meeting . The 02:20.956 --> 02:22.789 chairman also met today with his 02:22.789 --> 02:25.080 Russian counterpart , General Nikolai 02:25.090 --> 02:28.920 Makarov as well as as 02:28.920 --> 02:31.780 part of the NATO Russia council session 02:31.790 --> 02:34.140 that took place today also on friday 02:34.140 --> 02:36.196 for you who are those of you who are 02:36.196 --> 02:38.418 not traveling with us back here in this 02:38.418 --> 02:40.529 very room under Secretary Defense for 02:40.529 --> 02:42.751 Personnel and readiness . Cliff Stanley 02:42.751 --> 02:45.060 as well as General Hosko Cartwright , 02:45.060 --> 02:47.171 the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs 02:47.171 --> 02:49.640 of Staff will conduct um the first of 02:49.640 --> 02:51.880 what will likely be a series of 02:51.890 --> 02:54.112 briefings on how we are proceeding with 02:54.112 --> 02:56.500 the implementation the repeal of don't 02:56.500 --> 02:58.667 ask , don't tell so , I'm sure many of 02:58.667 --> 03:00.667 you will be interested in that . Uh 03:00.667 --> 03:02.889 likely friday afternoon I think I think 03:02.889 --> 03:04.944 they've got some hill engagements in 03:04.944 --> 03:07.000 the morning and then we'll meet with 03:07.000 --> 03:09.056 you all mid afternoon . So with that 03:09.640 --> 03:13.070 lida , welcome back . Yeah , Jeff on 03:13.070 --> 03:15.292 that actual subject and asked until the 03:15.292 --> 03:17.514 president , I mentioned it briefly last 03:17.514 --> 03:19.514 night talking about wanting to move 03:19.514 --> 03:21.570 forward . Can you at least give us a 03:21.570 --> 03:23.626 sense of how quickly the military is 03:23.626 --> 03:25.403 going to move forward on this , 03:25.403 --> 03:27.514 particularly in terms of training the 03:27.514 --> 03:29.514 force that they're going to be some 03:29.514 --> 03:31.403 interrupted . So you can think of 03:31.403 --> 03:33.626 another question why deflect this one . 03:33.626 --> 03:35.848 Um That's why we're having the briefing 03:35.848 --> 03:37.848 on friday . Those are the experts , 03:37.848 --> 03:40.014 those are the guys running this , they 03:40.014 --> 03:42.126 will address those and other issues . 03:42.126 --> 03:44.181 Trust me . So stay tuned to friday . 03:44.181 --> 03:46.292 I'm not gonna elaborate beyond that . 03:46.440 --> 03:49.660 I'm not okay , got another one and we 03:49.660 --> 03:52.210 want to come back . All right . All 03:52.210 --> 03:55.660 right . Yeah , Jeff is the secretary 03:55.670 --> 03:57.650 working on authorizing additional 03:57.650 --> 03:59.570 military commission charges in 03:59.580 --> 04:02.330 Guantanamo . And does he think that the 04:02.330 --> 04:04.890 new military commission system will 04:04.900 --> 04:06.970 result in verdicts that will have 04:06.980 --> 04:09.600 international credibility in order to 04:09.610 --> 04:11.777 put these cases behind us once and for 04:11.777 --> 04:14.380 all . Al I think as you know , there 04:14.380 --> 04:16.436 was an executive order signed by the 04:16.436 --> 04:18.436 president knighted states literally 04:18.436 --> 04:21.140 days after he took office um right 04:21.140 --> 04:23.362 about now , two years ago , right about 04:23.362 --> 04:27.110 now , um that deals with this . Um This 04:27.110 --> 04:29.166 is a matter that I think is probably 04:29.166 --> 04:31.388 best address to the White House as they 04:31.388 --> 04:33.443 go about trying to figure out how to 04:33.443 --> 04:35.610 proceed with the closure of Guantanamo 04:35.610 --> 04:37.832 bay and how to proceed with the uh with 04:37.832 --> 04:40.054 the adjudication of those who are still 04:40.054 --> 04:41.999 being held there and who cannot be 04:41.999 --> 04:45.120 return to their home countries . Um but 04:45.120 --> 04:47.560 I have no developments on that front to 04:47.570 --> 04:49.792 to share with you today , the secretary 04:49.792 --> 04:53.070 had to authorize uh resuming rather 04:53.070 --> 04:56.930 starting new . I mean when the when the 04:56.930 --> 04:59.180 executive order was signed back in 04:59.180 --> 05:02.680 January of 2009 , um the 05:02.680 --> 05:04.624 secretary had to sign a subsequent 05:04.624 --> 05:06.736 order for this department in terms of 05:06.736 --> 05:08.902 how it was going to proceed to stay in 05:08.902 --> 05:11.013 compliance with the executive order . 05:11.013 --> 05:13.124 So that's all it was was direction to 05:13.124 --> 05:15.124 the department based upon the order 05:15.124 --> 05:17.291 from the president . That does in fact 05:17.291 --> 05:19.480 remain in effect . While the while the 05:19.480 --> 05:21.591 inter agency still works on trying to 05:21.591 --> 05:23.258 figure out how we're going to 05:23.258 --> 05:25.313 permanently close Guantanamo Bay and 05:25.313 --> 05:27.258 how we're going to deal with those 05:27.258 --> 05:29.424 people there who cannot be returned to 05:29.424 --> 05:32.420 their home countries safely . Uh Those 05:32.420 --> 05:34.642 who can be adjudicated or those who may 05:34.642 --> 05:36.698 have to be held on a permanent basis 05:36.698 --> 05:39.620 somewhere , but that I have nothing new 05:39.630 --> 05:41.574 to provide for you on that front . 05:41.574 --> 05:43.797 Perhaps my friends at justice or at the 05:43.797 --> 05:46.750 White House do Okay . Yeah . Through 05:46.750 --> 05:49.540 the prosecutors have not been able to 05:49.550 --> 05:52.430 um thai private manning to Julian 05:52.430 --> 05:56.290 assange and essentially um 05:56.300 --> 05:59.250 make a link between the two in the case . 05:59.740 --> 06:02.680 Um Well , what I would say on this is 06:02.680 --> 06:06.210 as much as I'd like to way into this . 06:06.220 --> 06:09.660 Um this is as you know , an 06:09.660 --> 06:13.130 ongoing criminal investigation . So it 06:13.130 --> 06:15.297 would be inappropriate for me to speak 06:15.297 --> 06:17.700 to any with any specificity to these 06:17.710 --> 06:21.000 issues . But I would avail myself of 06:21.000 --> 06:23.820 this opportunity to admonish or warn 06:23.820 --> 06:26.320 you all to be extraordinarily careful 06:26.320 --> 06:28.376 about how you report on this story . 06:28.440 --> 06:30.460 Because one thing I can , I do feel 06:30.460 --> 06:32.682 comfortable in telling you is that this 06:32.682 --> 06:35.450 case is being taken extremely seriously 06:36.040 --> 06:38.720 by the investigators , both here in the 06:38.720 --> 06:40.942 Defense Department and of course at the 06:40.942 --> 06:43.480 Department of Justice , they are hard 06:43.480 --> 06:47.350 at work on building a case here . Um 06:47.740 --> 06:51.340 so any pronouncements about a 06:51.350 --> 06:53.294 connection or lack of connection , 06:53.740 --> 06:55.962 those that have been found or yet to be 06:55.962 --> 06:58.660 found are just premature at this point . 06:59.240 --> 07:02.830 Um so I'd urge everybody to proceed 07:02.830 --> 07:04.997 with caution on this and probably most 07:04.997 --> 07:07.380 stories for that matter . So I'm not in 07:07.380 --> 07:09.490 a position unfortunately , to tackle 07:09.490 --> 07:12.470 that as directly as I'd like to . Um 07:12.480 --> 07:14.591 but that's my admonition to you all , 07:14.591 --> 07:16.758 including Mr Miklaszewski in the front 07:16.758 --> 07:19.380 row old in solitary confinement . He's 07:19.380 --> 07:21.658 not being held in solitary confinement . 07:21.658 --> 07:24.110 That's a misnomer among many in the 07:24.110 --> 07:27.090 reporting of this case . Well , let me 07:27.090 --> 07:29.360 describe how private first class 07:29.360 --> 07:32.790 manning is being held . He is not in 07:32.790 --> 07:35.010 solitary confinement , he is not in 07:35.010 --> 07:37.920 isolation , he is in max , he's a 07:37.920 --> 07:41.530 maximum custody detainee uh in a 07:41.530 --> 07:44.380 prevention of injury status , he is not 07:44.380 --> 07:46.960 on suicide watch , he is being held in 07:46.960 --> 07:49.370 the same quarter section with other 07:49.370 --> 07:52.140 pretrial detainees . He's allowed to 07:52.140 --> 07:54.362 watch television , he's allowed to read 07:54.362 --> 07:56.529 newspapers , he's allowed one hour per 07:56.529 --> 07:59.130 day of exercise . He is in a cell by 07:59.130 --> 08:02.090 himself , but that is like every single 08:02.100 --> 08:05.040 other pretrial detainee at the brig . 08:05.100 --> 08:06.656 It just so happens that the 08:06.656 --> 08:08.878 configuration of the brig is that every 08:08.878 --> 08:11.150 individual is confined to his or her 08:11.540 --> 08:14.450 own cell . He's being provided well 08:14.450 --> 08:16.450 balanced , nutritious meals . Three 08:16.450 --> 08:18.617 times a day . He receives visitors and 08:18.617 --> 08:20.394 mail and can write letters . He 08:20.394 --> 08:22.617 routinely meets with doctors as well as 08:22.617 --> 08:24.617 his attorney . He's allowed to make 08:24.617 --> 08:26.839 telephone calls and he is being treated 08:26.839 --> 08:28.950 just like every other detainee in the 08:28.950 --> 08:32.220 brig . So assertions by uh liberal 08:32.220 --> 08:35.630 bloggers or network reporters or others 08:35.640 --> 08:38.160 that he is being mistreated or somehow 08:38.170 --> 08:40.114 treated differently than others in 08:40.114 --> 08:43.490 isolation uh are just not 08:43.500 --> 08:45.790 accurate . And I'm glad you asked the 08:45.790 --> 08:47.840 question . So I had the opportunity 08:47.850 --> 08:50.017 hopefully to clear that matter up once 08:50.017 --> 08:52.239 and for all . Yeah , chris follow up on 08:52.239 --> 08:55.440 that . Um I mean all that being said , 08:55.440 --> 08:58.290 he still does spend 23 out of every 24 08:58.290 --> 09:01.910 hours in that cell by himself . He's 09:01.910 --> 09:04.021 not allowed to exercise in the cell . 09:04.021 --> 09:06.077 He's not allowed to arbitrarily just 09:06.077 --> 09:08.890 write letters , He has to specifically 09:08.900 --> 09:11.720 ask for anything more than say one book 09:11.720 --> 09:15.410 at a time . Are is there any concern 09:15.420 --> 09:19.330 that because from what we've heard even 09:19.340 --> 09:22.330 the forensic psychologist who spoke 09:22.330 --> 09:24.441 with him and examined him recommended 09:24.441 --> 09:26.390 that he not beyond this protective 09:26.390 --> 09:30.160 order . I think that there's a there's 09:30.160 --> 09:32.440 a question out there is to exactly how 09:32.440 --> 09:35.990 the bric commander , what criteria is 09:35.990 --> 09:38.410 being used to keep him under this order 09:38.420 --> 09:40.630 for such a long period of time 09:40.640 --> 09:42.970 considering he's still in a pretrial 09:42.970 --> 09:45.980 status . Just as though he is not being 09:45.980 --> 09:47.970 treated any worse than any other 09:47.970 --> 09:50.360 detainee . He is not being treated any 09:50.360 --> 09:52.527 better than any other detainee . He is 09:52.527 --> 09:54.860 not going to receive special privileges , 09:54.860 --> 09:56.749 which is essentially what you are 09:56.749 --> 09:58.749 asking him to receive . He is being 09:58.749 --> 10:00.970 treated exactly like everyone else in 10:00.970 --> 10:02.914 the brig is being treated . That's 10:02.914 --> 10:05.081 what's appropriate . We treat them all 10:05.081 --> 10:07.920 equally . Uh and I don't understand why 10:07.920 --> 10:10.430 there would be a need for an exception 10:10.430 --> 10:12.541 to those rules to be made for private 10:12.541 --> 10:14.819 manning or anyone else for that matter . 10:14.819 --> 10:16.819 Other prisoners who have been under 10:16.819 --> 10:19.041 this protective order for the length of 10:19.041 --> 10:21.208 time . That private manning has , it's 10:21.208 --> 10:22.986 probably a question that's best 10:22.986 --> 10:25.152 addressed to my colleagues at Quantico 10:25.152 --> 10:27.208 in terms of the population at at the 10:27.208 --> 10:29.263 brig there . How long some have been 10:29.263 --> 10:31.640 there versus others . I don't believe 10:31.640 --> 10:33.751 that this is an unusually long period 10:33.751 --> 10:36.660 of time a case is being built 10:37.040 --> 10:40.540 uh to to prosecute him on the charges 10:40.540 --> 10:43.950 that were again , to correct another MS 10:43.950 --> 10:46.930 report yesterday that you know , there 10:46.930 --> 10:48.819 were cable news reports yesterday 10:48.819 --> 10:50.986 somehow private manning was being held 10:50.986 --> 10:53.340 without charge , not just that he was 10:53.340 --> 10:55.507 being held in conditions that that the 10:55.507 --> 10:57.673 media thought were inappropriate , but 10:57.673 --> 10:59.784 that he was being held without charge 10:59.784 --> 11:01.840 and how un american that is . As you 11:01.840 --> 11:04.007 all know , who work in this building , 11:04.007 --> 11:06.118 Who received the charge sheet back in 11:06.118 --> 11:08.007 july , he most certainly has been 11:08.007 --> 11:10.173 charged and he's not only been charged 11:10.173 --> 11:12.062 with , um , illegally downloading 11:12.062 --> 11:14.290 classified information , but he has 11:14.290 --> 11:16.068 been charged with disseminating 11:16.068 --> 11:18.123 classified information to people who 11:18.123 --> 11:20.240 unauthorized to receive it . So those 11:20.240 --> 11:22.850 are very serious charges levied against 11:22.850 --> 11:26.560 him related to a very discreet incident 11:26.570 --> 11:28.730 involving mostly the downloading of 11:28.730 --> 11:30.786 Apache gunship video from Iraq , but 11:30.786 --> 11:33.040 also some cables as well were mentioned 11:33.040 --> 11:35.530 in the charging sheet back in july . He 11:35.530 --> 11:37.474 is , as we mentioned , a person of 11:37.474 --> 11:40.150 interest in the much larger leaked by 11:40.150 --> 11:43.130 wikileaks of additional classified 11:43.130 --> 11:45.640 documents , cables and tactical field 11:45.640 --> 11:48.530 reports and so forth . Um , but I think 11:48.530 --> 11:50.752 the manner in which he is being held is 11:50.752 --> 11:52.863 completely appropriate and completely 11:52.863 --> 11:55.810 consistent with how any and all 11:55.820 --> 11:58.560 detainees at the brig are treated . 11:59.400 --> 12:01.440 Last question I'll give me and I 12:01.440 --> 12:03.218 promise you , I will give you a 12:03.218 --> 12:05.650 protective order . Is not designed to 12:05.660 --> 12:08.010 punish him for being charged with those 12:08.010 --> 12:11.260 crimes . It's supposed to protect him . 12:12.140 --> 12:14.860 I guess we're trying . I would imagine 12:14.860 --> 12:17.170 that one when one is confined in the 12:17.170 --> 12:19.480 brig , it is not just for their 12:19.480 --> 12:21.424 protection . That we are worried . 12:21.424 --> 12:23.758 We're also worried about our protection . 12:23.758 --> 12:26.036 He is charged with very serious crimes . 12:26.036 --> 12:28.147 That's why you isolate someone behind 12:28.147 --> 12:30.313 bars . That's why you can find someone 12:30.313 --> 12:32.591 so that they cannot escape , cannot uh , 12:32.640 --> 12:35.430 possibly commit the crimes they are 12:35.430 --> 12:38.350 alleged to have done again . So it's 12:38.350 --> 12:40.350 not , he is , I think you have it a 12:40.350 --> 12:42.517 little backwards , I think you have it 12:42.517 --> 12:44.406 that he is being held for his own 12:44.406 --> 12:46.628 protection in the manner in which he is 12:46.628 --> 12:48.850 being held . That may be that there are 12:48.850 --> 12:51.017 reasons that they think that it is for 12:51.017 --> 12:53.128 his own benefit that he beheld . So , 12:53.340 --> 12:55.562 but it can also be that he's being held 12:55.562 --> 12:58.390 behind bars because he is a deemed a 12:58.390 --> 13:01.510 threat that he has been alleged to have 13:01.510 --> 13:03.940 committed a very serious crime that 13:03.940 --> 13:05.940 potentially undermines our nation's 13:05.940 --> 13:08.051 security and therefore he needs to be 13:08.051 --> 13:10.384 confined during the course of the trial . 13:10.384 --> 13:12.440 But I would just what I come back to 13:12.440 --> 13:14.384 time and time again . Chris is the 13:14.384 --> 13:16.051 notion that the manner of his 13:16.051 --> 13:18.140 confinement is not in the least 13:18.150 --> 13:20.094 different from the manner in which 13:20.094 --> 13:22.206 anyone else at the brig is being held 13:22.440 --> 13:26.250 under that protective order . You keep 13:26.250 --> 13:28.417 coming back to this protective order . 13:28.417 --> 13:30.361 I'm not so sure I know what you're 13:30.361 --> 13:32.472 talking about . I describe conditions 13:32.472 --> 13:34.583 to you , the manner in which is being 13:34.583 --> 13:36.750 held . And my understanding is that is 13:36.750 --> 13:38.917 consistent with how every other person 13:38.917 --> 13:41.028 in the brig is being held . Now , the 13:41.028 --> 13:42.972 one exception to that could be the 13:42.972 --> 13:45.139 suicide watch issue . He was placed on 13:45.139 --> 13:47.194 suicide watch as I understand it for 13:47.194 --> 13:49.361 two days . So that can be a difference 13:49.361 --> 13:51.306 between how others in the brig are 13:51.306 --> 13:54.370 being held . Um but my understanding is 13:54.370 --> 13:56.426 that the manner in which he is being 13:56.426 --> 13:58.759 held is not punishment for any behavior . 13:58.759 --> 14:00.870 But this is the standard protocol for 14:00.870 --> 14:02.759 how people at the brig are held , 14:02.759 --> 14:04.870 especially people with the gravity of 14:04.870 --> 14:07.960 the charges he is facing nick . 14:08.540 --> 14:10.651 Well , since you mentioned me by name 14:10.651 --> 14:13.800 and through implication tied me to 14:13.810 --> 14:17.110 incorrect recording , which would be 14:17.120 --> 14:19.009 incorrect , I do have a couple of 14:19.009 --> 14:22.330 questions . Fire away . Was the brig 14:22.330 --> 14:25.400 commander at Quantico in error 14:26.340 --> 14:29.970 and putting private manning on suicide 14:29.970 --> 14:32.081 watch for two days last week . Did he 14:32.081 --> 14:34.460 violate protocol ? My under my 14:34.460 --> 14:36.516 understanding is that he did not and 14:36.516 --> 14:38.404 that despite your reporting would 14:38.404 --> 14:40.238 suggest that only doctors at the 14:40.238 --> 14:42.571 facility can make a call of that nature . 14:42.940 --> 14:44.996 What I've been told is that the brig 14:44.996 --> 14:47.218 commander is ultimately responsible for 14:47.218 --> 14:49.107 the well being and confinement of 14:49.107 --> 14:51.273 everyone in his charge . And so he has 14:51.273 --> 14:53.540 the wherewithal to make decisions based 14:53.540 --> 14:55.484 upon input from others , including 14:55.484 --> 14:59.440 doctors about how it is best to uh to 14:59.450 --> 15:01.420 treat people given the current 15:01.420 --> 15:03.753 circumstances . He made a judgment call . 15:03.753 --> 15:07.730 Uh it sounds like uh that he put him 15:07.740 --> 15:09.851 under a suicide watch for a period of 15:09.851 --> 15:12.073 two days . But as I understand , he was 15:12.073 --> 15:14.240 well within his rights to do so as the 15:14.240 --> 15:16.560 Commander of the brig , is it with 15:16.570 --> 15:18.792 within his authority to put somebody on 15:18.792 --> 15:21.960 suicide watch for disciplinary purposes . 15:22.540 --> 15:26.030 Uh frankly , I'm not aware of all 15:26.040 --> 15:29.600 the regulations that he operates 15:29.600 --> 15:31.822 under , but I would imagine that is the 15:31.822 --> 15:33.933 brig commander . He has extraordinary 15:33.933 --> 15:36.100 discretion in terms of how best to run 15:36.100 --> 15:38.322 that facility , how best to protect the 15:38.322 --> 15:40.489 well being of the people he , who he's 15:40.489 --> 15:42.656 charged with , uh , with safekeeping . 15:42.656 --> 15:44.980 Um , and I don't know all that goes 15:44.990 --> 15:47.430 into frankly Mick making a decision 15:47.430 --> 15:49.800 about one about when one needs to be 15:49.800 --> 15:52.080 watched more carefully in the event 15:52.080 --> 15:54.340 they may be considering , uh , doing 15:54.340 --> 15:57.720 harm to themselves and was manning 15:57.720 --> 16:01.110 taken off suicide watch at the urging 16:01.120 --> 16:04.670 of army lawyer . I don't know . I don't 16:04.670 --> 16:06.781 know . But even if it were the urging 16:06.781 --> 16:08.837 of army lawyers who would ultimately 16:08.837 --> 16:10.837 have to be the judgment of the brig 16:10.837 --> 16:13.059 commander that that was the appropriate 16:13.059 --> 16:15.226 course of action and he would not have 16:15.226 --> 16:14.890 done it unless he thought that was the 16:14.890 --> 16:16.850 best way to proceed , both for his 16:16.850 --> 16:18.961 facility and the well being of people 16:18.961 --> 16:20.739 there and of course for private 16:20.739 --> 16:22.739 manning's wellbeing . Okay , well , 16:23.840 --> 16:26.860 okay . Can you tell us today if in fact 16:27.340 --> 16:30.140 there is evidence that private manning 16:30.150 --> 16:33.830 was ever in direct contact with 16:33.840 --> 16:36.760 wikileaks founder during the , I think 16:36.770 --> 16:39.500 I've answered this question , uh , when 16:39.500 --> 16:42.300 it was put to me by jennifer , I'm 16:42.300 --> 16:44.522 happy to repeat it if you like . But as 16:44.522 --> 16:46.522 much as I would like to answer that 16:46.522 --> 16:48.633 more directly , I'm not in a position 16:48.633 --> 16:50.550 to . Um , and I'm not going to 16:50.550 --> 16:52.772 elaborate on why I'm not in position to 16:52.772 --> 16:54.717 other than to say that it would be 16:54.717 --> 16:56.883 inappropriate given the fact that this 16:56.883 --> 16:58.994 is an ongoing investigation for me to 16:58.994 --> 17:01.106 answer that with the specificity that 17:01.106 --> 17:04.830 I'd like to . And I once again urge you 17:04.830 --> 17:07.190 and all to be very careful given the 17:07.190 --> 17:08.801 fact that this is an ongoing 17:08.801 --> 17:11.023 investigation . It's being , you know , 17:11.023 --> 17:13.134 this is this has received the highest 17:13.134 --> 17:15.301 level attention in this department and 17:15.301 --> 17:17.468 the Department of Justice . Uh , there 17:17.468 --> 17:20.410 are many , many resources devoted to 17:20.420 --> 17:22.309 investigating this and ultimately 17:22.309 --> 17:23.976 bringing a case against those 17:23.976 --> 17:26.198 responsible for this breach of national 17:26.198 --> 17:28.420 Security . So , I think it is way too 17:28.420 --> 17:31.860 soon to make pronouncements uh , with 17:31.860 --> 17:35.740 the kind of definitiveness that I've 17:35.740 --> 17:37.980 seen in some of the reporting . Uh , 17:37.990 --> 17:39.823 given where we still are in this 17:39.823 --> 17:42.550 investigation , are you implying that 17:42.550 --> 17:46.060 you have information that in fact 17:46.070 --> 17:48.290 manning was in direct contact with 17:48.300 --> 17:51.170 Julian assange . I am not Mick . Mick . 17:51.180 --> 17:54.130 I am not implying Mick . I'm not going 17:54.130 --> 17:56.130 to reveal the specific . I'm not in 17:56.130 --> 17:58.408 that . That's the implication you made . 17:58.408 --> 18:00.519 You can infer what you Mick , respond 18:00.519 --> 18:02.686 with the specimen , You can infer what 18:02.686 --> 18:04.519 you like . But I am not implying 18:04.519 --> 18:06.741 anything other than what I said , which 18:06.741 --> 18:08.820 was very clear . I'm not gonna wait 18:08.820 --> 18:10.987 into the ongoing investigation . But I 18:10.987 --> 18:13.209 urge you all to be very careful because 18:13.209 --> 18:15.320 it is still very much in progress and 18:15.320 --> 18:17.209 it would be premature to draw any 18:17.209 --> 18:19.320 definitive conclusions about where we 18:19.320 --> 18:21.264 are vis a vis direct connections . 18:21.264 --> 18:24.530 A web of 18:24.530 --> 18:27.940 connections found , not found any of 18:27.940 --> 18:30.890 that . We're not and you are not . No 18:30.890 --> 18:33.270 one is in a position yet to draw those 18:33.270 --> 18:36.560 conclusions . Part of being 18:36.660 --> 18:39.080 investigated this investigation is 18:39.080 --> 18:41.330 broad . Uh I think it's the best , the 18:41.330 --> 18:43.560 best question is best directed at the 18:43.560 --> 18:45.116 Justice Department . But my 18:45.116 --> 18:47.171 understanding is that this is a very 18:47.171 --> 18:49.227 broad very robust investigation that 18:49.227 --> 18:52.380 will look any and every place to find 18:52.390 --> 18:55.990 all those who may or may not have been 18:55.990 --> 18:58.710 involved in the leak of this , of this 18:58.720 --> 19:02.030 classified information . Yeah that's 19:02.040 --> 19:05.570 are you on this ? Okay , let me let me 19:05.570 --> 19:07.792 finish this up and then we'll come over 19:07.792 --> 19:10.014 to you . Thank you . We're making first 19:10.014 --> 19:12.780 time happy New Year . A question is 19:12.780 --> 19:15.890 that because of wikileaks disconnect 19:15.900 --> 19:18.067 this connection and he's behind bars . 19:18.240 --> 19:21.260 One many high level indian 19:21.270 --> 19:25.010 uh military officers are under 19:25.020 --> 19:27.360 investigation but they are in jail now 19:27.740 --> 19:29.518 because of wikileaks . Now . My 19:29.518 --> 19:31.790 question is and Wikileaks is concerned 19:31.790 --> 19:34.060 this management behind us here . Have 19:34.060 --> 19:36.116 you stopped ? As far as Wikileaks is 19:36.116 --> 19:38.660 concerned for the future ? What have 19:38.660 --> 19:40.990 you done ? Because many other countries 19:40.990 --> 19:43.323 also involved as far as wikileaks and U . 19:43.323 --> 19:46.690 S . Defense center of what have you 19:46.690 --> 19:48.912 stopped the wikileaks in the future for 19:48.912 --> 19:51.040 the future ? A lot more wikileaks are 19:51.040 --> 19:53.373 coming or have you done something ? Why ? 19:53.373 --> 19:55.540 Listen , you'd have you'd have to talk 19:55.540 --> 19:58.780 to to mr assange and his cronies . I 19:58.790 --> 20:00.734 don't know what they have still up 20:00.734 --> 20:02.957 their sleeve . You'd have to you'd have 20:02.957 --> 20:04.901 to talk to them . What My question 20:04.901 --> 20:06.734 papers really , as far as us and 20:07.140 --> 20:09.410 international global military to 20:09.410 --> 20:11.243 military relations are concerned 20:11.243 --> 20:13.299 especially with India now because of 20:13.299 --> 20:15.521 this wikileaks Many high level military 20:15.521 --> 20:17.410 officers are behind bars or under 20:17.410 --> 20:19.460 investigation . Do you have any if 20:19.460 --> 20:21.682 anybody has approached this building in 20:21.682 --> 20:23.849 connection with the Felix with the U . 20:23.849 --> 20:26.016 S . And India military military . I am 20:26.240 --> 20:28.120 I am not aware of any specific 20:28.120 --> 20:29.898 engagements with regards to our 20:29.898 --> 20:32.720 conversations with regards to fallout 20:32.730 --> 20:34.897 from anything that's been disclosed by 20:34.897 --> 20:37.220 wikileaks in the US India military to 20:37.220 --> 20:39.710 military relationship . We have gone to 20:39.710 --> 20:42.100 great lengths in all of our bilateral 20:42.100 --> 20:44.870 relationships to give advanced warning 20:44.870 --> 20:46.926 to our friends and allies around the 20:46.926 --> 20:49.037 world about what we're potentially in 20:49.037 --> 20:51.259 these documents . I know our colleagues 20:51.259 --> 20:53.259 state have done the same thing on a 20:53.259 --> 20:55.259 diplomatic basis . Um So we've been 20:55.259 --> 20:57.910 very forthright about this And uh and 20:57.910 --> 20:59.466 obviously it's it's been an 20:59.466 --> 21:01.960 embarrassing and I think I think people 21:01.960 --> 21:04.127 have lost sight a little bit about how 21:04.127 --> 21:06.990 damaging uh this has been uh in terms 21:06.990 --> 21:10.190 of diplomatic relations in terms of 21:10.200 --> 21:14.090 potential harm uh to those named in 21:14.090 --> 21:16.201 these documents . And in terms of the 21:16.201 --> 21:18.070 fallout in terms of intelligence 21:18.080 --> 21:20.710 sharing relationships . These are very 21:20.710 --> 21:22.760 real consequences that have not 21:22.770 --> 21:24.937 received it probably as much attention 21:24.937 --> 21:27.103 as they deserve to receive . Yeah , go 21:27.103 --> 21:29.580 ahead on the trip to the secretary is 21:29.580 --> 21:31.747 taking starting today . There's been a 21:31.747 --> 21:33.858 lot of controversy in Canada over the 21:33.858 --> 21:35.969 past few months about the F- 35 costs 21:35.969 --> 21:38.247 of it , whether they can afford it etc . 21:38.247 --> 21:40.130 To what degree is the secretary 21:40.130 --> 21:42.660 concerned about Canadian wavering on 21:42.660 --> 21:45.860 the F- 35 . And how much a part of it 21:45.870 --> 21:48.310 will he make his discussions with his 21:48.310 --> 21:50.590 counterparts ? I think it is clearly I 21:50.590 --> 21:52.757 understand the politics are up , there 21:52.757 --> 21:54.701 are such that this is a hot button 21:54.701 --> 21:57.190 issue . I understand that the that the 21:57.190 --> 21:59.730 opposition party is making a great deal 21:59.730 --> 22:01.990 of it . I am sure it will be a matter 22:02.000 --> 22:04.840 for discussion between Secretary Gates 22:04.840 --> 22:07.007 and Minister Mackay . I'm sure it will 22:07.007 --> 22:09.173 be a matter that will come up when the 22:09.173 --> 22:11.340 two of them conduct a press conference 22:11.340 --> 22:13.290 uh tomorrow afternoon . So I think 22:13.290 --> 22:16.820 he'll be able to speak uh more directly 22:16.820 --> 22:18.987 to this issue tomorrow . I mean if you 22:18.987 --> 22:21.209 have a more specific question for me in 22:21.209 --> 22:23.153 terms of the program and how we're 22:23.153 --> 22:25.320 administering in it and our commitment 22:25.320 --> 22:27.542 to it . I'm happy to answer it . Um but 22:27.542 --> 22:29.320 obviously our our international 22:29.320 --> 22:31.940 partners are crucial to this uh to 22:31.940 --> 22:34.990 keeping this program cost effective . 22:35.220 --> 22:38.550 It is obviously ballooned in cost 22:38.940 --> 22:42.450 Uh at upwards of $90 million . A 22:42.450 --> 22:45.110 copyright not right now , that is too 22:45.110 --> 22:47.221 high . And we are determined to drive 22:47.221 --> 22:49.221 those calls down . Our partners are 22:49.221 --> 22:51.830 needed obviously because more quantity 22:51.830 --> 22:55.070 you buy the price per copy uh will drop . 22:55.080 --> 22:58.730 So um we are obviously always trying to 22:58.730 --> 23:00.674 work with those countries that are 23:00.674 --> 23:02.410 committed to this to keep them 23:02.410 --> 23:04.577 committed because it's for the overall 23:04.577 --> 23:06.688 good , not just of the program but of 23:06.688 --> 23:08.966 our A defense posture around the world . 23:08.966 --> 23:11.570 This is going to be the backbone of our 23:11.570 --> 23:14.020 tactical air fleet for decades to come . 23:14.020 --> 23:16.242 And it will be hopefully for our allies 23:16.242 --> 23:18.464 as well . And there will not be a plane 23:18.464 --> 23:20.560 in the sky that can match its 23:20.560 --> 23:24.530 capabilities save for uh the F- 22 . So 23:24.540 --> 23:27.050 uh we are still firmly committed to 23:27.050 --> 23:29.050 this program . The question is , is 23:29.050 --> 23:31.106 Canada or is the secretary I have to 23:31.106 --> 23:33.106 talk about it . We're gonna have to 23:33.106 --> 23:35.272 talk about it . We certainly hope they 23:35.272 --> 23:37.439 are . I've never heard any wavering on 23:37.439 --> 23:39.439 the part of Minister Mackay on this 23:39.439 --> 23:41.480 issue . Um but there are domestic 23:41.480 --> 23:43.702 politics at work in Canada . Like there 23:43.702 --> 23:45.647 are many of the countries where we 23:45.647 --> 23:47.147 visit and we have to be uh 23:47.147 --> 23:49.258 understanding and respectful of those 23:49.258 --> 23:51.369 concerns . But ultimately , there are 23:51.369 --> 23:53.590 national security considerations that 23:53.590 --> 23:55.701 the Canadian government needs to take 23:55.701 --> 23:57.812 into consideration just as we and our 23:57.812 --> 24:01.580 other allies have . Yeah , uh some of 24:01.590 --> 24:03.534 the reports were removing also the 24:03.534 --> 24:05.590 Mexican military . Do you think it's 24:05.590 --> 24:08.590 gonna be hard to uh to have a good 24:08.590 --> 24:10.757 relationship with the Mexican military 24:10.757 --> 24:13.020 that have been increased in the latest 24:13.030 --> 24:15.810 years after the release of the 24:15.810 --> 24:18.630 documents in wikileaks . I don't know 24:18.630 --> 24:20.574 why it will be any harder with the 24:20.574 --> 24:22.630 Mexican military than with any other 24:22.630 --> 24:25.170 military that's been named in in in 24:25.170 --> 24:28.060 this security breach . Um you know , we 24:28.060 --> 24:31.510 are having to work double time um to 24:31.520 --> 24:34.760 um reassure our allies that we are 24:34.760 --> 24:37.910 trustworthy that we can we can protect 24:37.910 --> 24:39.854 classified information that we can 24:39.854 --> 24:43.760 guard secrets and that uh they 24:43.760 --> 24:47.600 can trust us . Um That is an ongoing 24:47.600 --> 24:49.822 process . It's gonna take probably many 24:49.822 --> 24:52.170 months if not years to uh to rebuild 24:52.170 --> 24:54.770 that credibility . Um but at the end of 24:54.770 --> 24:56.937 the day , as the secretary said here a 24:56.937 --> 24:58.960 few months ago , countries don't do 24:58.960 --> 25:01.016 business with us necessarily because 25:01.016 --> 25:03.238 they like us or even trust us , they do 25:03.238 --> 25:06.070 business with us because it is in their 25:06.070 --> 25:08.470 national interests and particularly the 25:08.470 --> 25:10.470 national security interest to do so 25:10.470 --> 25:12.303 that's why more countries , more 25:12.303 --> 25:15.560 militaries than I think ever before are 25:15.570 --> 25:17.681 partnering with us exercising with us 25:17.681 --> 25:20.100 planning with us cooperating with us . 25:20.640 --> 25:23.930 Okay , very Clinton mentioned on monday 25:23.930 --> 25:25.986 that the U . S . Is going to provide 25:26.440 --> 25:30.320 $500 million dollars to Mexico as part 25:30.320 --> 25:32.098 of the continuation of the very 25:32.098 --> 25:34.550 initiative . What is how dependable 25:34.960 --> 25:37.410 participate ? I don't have any new for 25:37.410 --> 25:40.710 you on that . Uh We have seen lately 25:40.720 --> 25:43.810 major changes in Tunisia Lebanon and 25:43.810 --> 25:45.643 what you are seeing now in Egypt 25:45.643 --> 25:47.588 massive protest is Secretary Gates 25:47.588 --> 25:50.300 concerned about these changes and put 25:50.310 --> 25:53.450 these changes affect us relationship 25:53.450 --> 25:56.200 with its partner partners in the region . 25:56.210 --> 25:58.154 Is that for example , the military 25:58.154 --> 26:00.770 aides ? Well let me um 26:02.040 --> 26:03.984 That's a lot and I think these are 26:03.984 --> 26:07.470 three separate fast moving 26:07.480 --> 26:09.730 situations that the secretary and 26:09.730 --> 26:11.674 others here in this department and 26:11.674 --> 26:13.508 frankly obviously throughout the 26:13.508 --> 26:15.563 government are monitoring closely as 26:15.563 --> 26:18.180 they evolve . Let me remind you , we 26:18.180 --> 26:19.791 have no military to military 26:19.791 --> 26:23.260 relationship with Tunisia . We have a 26:23.260 --> 26:25.740 long standing military to military 26:25.740 --> 26:29.670 relationship um with Egypt , 26:30.440 --> 26:34.430 and we have um An evolving 26:34.440 --> 26:36.660 military military relationship with 26:36.670 --> 26:39.200 Lebanon . I think , since since 2006 , 26:39.200 --> 26:42.130 since the Syrians pull their forces out 26:42.140 --> 26:45.830 of out of Lebanon , we've We've 26:45.830 --> 26:48.290 pursued a closer military to military 26:48.290 --> 26:50.401 relationship , I think , investing or 26:50.401 --> 26:52.457 providing assistance upwards of $600 26:52.457 --> 26:56.170 million 2006 . Um 26:56.740 --> 27:00.130 so , I think if your question deals 27:00.130 --> 27:03.280 with , where do we go from here in 27:03.280 --> 27:06.490 light of developments in Lebanon and 27:06.500 --> 27:09.760 Egypt vis a vis our military assistance . 27:10.440 --> 27:13.010 Um I would probably urge you to first 27:13.010 --> 27:15.450 and foremost talk to state because aid 27:15.450 --> 27:18.520 and assistance is run out of there . Um 27:18.530 --> 27:21.630 but uh we're looking at this closely . 27:21.640 --> 27:23.862 I mean , in the case of Lebanon , we're 27:23.862 --> 27:25.640 monitoring the situation as the 27:25.640 --> 27:27.751 constitutional process plays out . We 27:27.751 --> 27:30.070 will need to see what the final makeup 27:30.070 --> 27:32.181 of the Lebanese government looks like 27:32.181 --> 27:34.348 before we make any decisions regarding 27:34.348 --> 27:36.459 our relationship , including military 27:36.459 --> 27:38.630 assistance to Hezbollah uh controlled 27:38.630 --> 27:40.574 government would obviously have an 27:40.574 --> 27:42.630 effect on our bilateral relationship 27:42.630 --> 27:45.560 with Lebanon . But I think the state 27:45.570 --> 27:47.730 should take it from here in terms of 27:47.730 --> 27:50.380 the ultimate impact that that may or 27:50.380 --> 27:54.030 may not have on our military to 27:54.030 --> 27:56.300 military relationship and and financial 27:56.300 --> 28:00.200 assistance with regards uh to Egypt . 28:00.210 --> 28:04.170 Um just just this point of fact , 28:04.640 --> 28:06.807 I mean , these protests that have that 28:06.807 --> 28:09.020 have that have sprung up in the last 28:09.020 --> 28:10.964 couple of days . I think the White 28:10.964 --> 28:12.853 House has spoken to at length the 28:12.853 --> 28:15.840 president last night um robert Gibbs 28:15.840 --> 28:17.951 today . There's a transcript out that 28:17.951 --> 28:20.520 you should take a look at . Um But we 28:20.520 --> 28:22.650 actually this week are hosting uh 28:22.660 --> 28:24.882 senior Egyptian military leaders at the 28:24.882 --> 28:26.993 pentagon for annual bilateral defence 28:26.993 --> 28:28.940 talks referred to as the Military 28:28.940 --> 28:31.107 Cooperation Committee which is chaired 28:31.107 --> 28:33.510 jointly by Assistant Secretary Defense 28:34.240 --> 28:36.820 uh Sandy verse Ball and Lieutenant 28:36.820 --> 28:40.370 General Sami Anan , the Chief of Staff 28:40.370 --> 28:43.160 of the Egyptian Armed Forces . So 28:43.640 --> 28:46.730 that's just an example of how engaged 28:46.730 --> 28:50.210 we are with the Egyptians . Uh even as 28:50.220 --> 28:52.580 um these developments have taken place 28:52.580 --> 28:54.802 on the streets in Cairo and elsewhere , 28:54.802 --> 28:57.024 which I think state and the White House 28:57.024 --> 28:59.136 is speaking has spoken to in terms of 28:59.136 --> 29:02.560 um our concerns about how 29:02.570 --> 29:04.403 how they proceed in terms of non 29:04.403 --> 29:07.330 violence and and how they reacted to by 29:07.340 --> 29:09.562 by the government and so forth . Yeah , 29:09.562 --> 29:11.590 Tony I got about seven minutes 29:11.590 --> 29:13.534 desperate questions tomorrow . The 29:13.534 --> 29:15.479 Senate Armed Services Committee is 29:15.479 --> 29:17.701 going to be looking at the leak of data 29:17.701 --> 29:19.590 in the tanker competition to both 29:19.590 --> 29:21.701 competitors back in november when the 29:21.701 --> 29:24.110 Air Force discloses your Colonel lapan 29:24.110 --> 29:26.530 said the department agrees it was a 29:26.530 --> 29:28.586 clerical error with no impact on the 29:28.586 --> 29:30.760 source selection . Fast forward a 29:30.760 --> 29:32.927 couple of months . Does the department 29:32.927 --> 29:35.149 still hold that view that this clerical 29:35.149 --> 29:37.710 error did not will not have an impact 29:37.720 --> 29:41.210 on the source selection ? Yeah . Um 29:41.220 --> 29:43.387 Well , I I don't think our position on 29:43.387 --> 29:45.498 this matter has changed . I mean , it 29:45.498 --> 29:49.410 was unfortunate it was a mistake . Uh 29:49.420 --> 29:51.860 but ultimately , the forensics that 29:51.860 --> 29:55.790 we're done have assured us 29:55.790 --> 29:59.740 that it did not result in any um 29:59.750 --> 30:01.550 proprietary or consequential 30:01.550 --> 30:05.110 information being unfairly shared . Um 30:05.120 --> 30:08.560 So I think um oh 30:08.940 --> 30:12.020 well , let me put it this way , we have 30:12.030 --> 30:14.580 subsequent to that taken measures just 30:14.580 --> 30:18.160 to be safe to ensure that if indeed 30:18.170 --> 30:20.980 either party or both parties had seen 30:20.980 --> 30:23.091 what was inadvertently sent to them , 30:23.091 --> 30:25.740 that they both had equal access to the 30:25.740 --> 30:29.730 same information . Um So we've 30:29.730 --> 30:32.610 also taken measures in terms of an 30:32.610 --> 30:34.870 after action to figure out how the heck 30:34.870 --> 30:37.920 this error occurred . Obviously , it is 30:37.930 --> 30:41.270 our hope it is our expectation um 30:41.280 --> 30:43.980 that this would not affect either the 30:43.980 --> 30:45.813 awarding of the contract , which 30:45.813 --> 30:48.060 there's no reason for it to or anyone's 30:48.060 --> 30:50.500 decision uh in the wake of that award 30:50.510 --> 30:53.950 to protest . Uh So 30:54.040 --> 30:55.873 anyway , but there's going to be 30:55.873 --> 30:58.900 hearing on this matter that you should 30:58.910 --> 31:01.021 given your interest in this subject ? 31:01.021 --> 31:04.490 Tune into Rumsfeld's memoirs are coming 31:04.490 --> 31:06.712 out of the week of February eight . Has 31:06.712 --> 31:08.601 this business building vetted his 31:08.601 --> 31:10.870 memoirs for done a security review of 31:10.870 --> 31:13.037 them at all ? Do you know that one way 31:13.037 --> 31:15.092 or the other ? I'm sure whatever the 31:15.092 --> 31:17.037 protocols are that appropriate for 31:17.037 --> 31:19.148 former Secretary of Defense have been 31:19.148 --> 31:20.814 taken . I'm not privy to what 31:20.814 --> 31:22.981 specifically was done in , in the case 31:22.981 --> 31:25.037 of Secretary Rumsfeld , but I'm sure 31:25.340 --> 31:27.590 the appropriate protocols were followed 31:28.060 --> 31:30.004 foods when the book is going to be 31:30.004 --> 31:32.060 publishing . Might have some of your 31:32.060 --> 31:34.227 guys check into that because there may 31:34.227 --> 31:34.070 be a question of you're welcome to 31:34.070 --> 31:37.220 speak to my guys to my colleagues . 31:37.230 --> 31:39.063 They're not my guys , they're my 31:39.063 --> 31:41.119 colleagues , august colleagues . All 31:41.119 --> 31:43.341 right . We don't have much time because 31:43.341 --> 31:45.619 I got Iran Mick . You've had your shot . 31:45.619 --> 31:45.510 Yeah , go ahead . Wait a minute . No , 31:45.590 --> 31:48.100 you wait a minute . Go ahead . Could 31:48.100 --> 31:50.267 you elaborate on the decision to grant 31:50.267 --> 31:52.433 Laki permission to speak with Japanese 31:52.433 --> 31:55.860 companies On the 35 ? Well , I mean 31:56.340 --> 31:58.507 when we were in Japan and you guys are 31:58.507 --> 32:00.720 all aware of this , uh , we spoke to 32:00.730 --> 32:02.841 our Japanese counterparts about their 32:02.841 --> 32:05.840 desire to upgrade their , their 32:05.850 --> 32:08.430 tactical air fleet . We think there are 32:08.430 --> 32:10.541 at least three american made products 32:10.541 --> 32:12.708 that they should strongly consider and 32:12.708 --> 32:14.874 we offer to provide them with the kind 32:14.874 --> 32:16.874 of technical information they would 32:16.874 --> 32:18.986 need to ultimately make a decision as 32:18.986 --> 32:21.208 to which aircraft they want to pursue . 32:21.208 --> 32:23.374 I mean the F 35 is one of three , Uh , 32:23.374 --> 32:27.230 the FA 18 as well as the F 15 . I 32:27.230 --> 32:29.610 think we're the , we're the others was 32:29.610 --> 32:31.721 the other anyway , but we'll get , we 32:31.721 --> 32:34.960 can get you that if not . Um , but 32:35.340 --> 32:38.570 that's where that stands on a similar 32:38.580 --> 32:42.150 uh , if I may sort of divert to to an 32:42.160 --> 32:45.820 unrelated but somewhat related topic , 32:45.830 --> 32:48.980 the J 20 stories , frankly , that I've 32:48.980 --> 32:52.040 seen over the past a couple weeks since 32:52.040 --> 32:54.151 we've been back , I think have been a 32:54.151 --> 32:56.530 little um , have been a little over the 32:56.530 --> 33:00.170 top . I read these things and people 33:00.170 --> 33:03.580 state sort of definitively that there 33:03.580 --> 33:07.250 was a successful test of the J . 20 . 33:07.260 --> 33:11.230 Um , and I think that is another 33:11.230 --> 33:13.452 case of us all being a little premature 33:13.452 --> 33:16.070 here . What we know is that a plane 33:16.080 --> 33:18.080 that looks different than any other 33:18.080 --> 33:20.191 they've produced , that they claim to 33:20.191 --> 33:22.550 be their J-20 um , had a short test 33:22.550 --> 33:26.440 flight when we were in Beijing . But we 33:26.440 --> 33:28.329 don't know frankly much about the 33:28.329 --> 33:30.496 capabilities of that plane , which you 33:30.496 --> 33:32.662 saw photographs and some video of , we 33:32.662 --> 33:35.190 don't know yet what the capabilities 33:35.190 --> 33:37.412 are , of the engine that propelled that 33:37.412 --> 33:39.670 plane . We don't know if it's 1/5 gen 33:40.040 --> 33:43.420 engine . We don't know if indeed it is 33:43.420 --> 33:47.250 as stealthy as they claim it to be . Um , 33:47.260 --> 33:49.340 it is too early for us to have made 33:49.340 --> 33:51.562 those determinations , but I think it's 33:51.562 --> 33:53.930 equally early for you all To be making 33:53.930 --> 33:57.210 pronouncements about the success of or 33:57.210 --> 34:00.760 the achievement of fifth gen capability . 34:00.770 --> 34:03.450 And are , you know , and furthermore 34:03.450 --> 34:05.561 these notions that we've been sort of 34:05.561 --> 34:07.783 caught by surprise on this are also off 34:07.783 --> 34:10.100 base . We've talked about their pursuit 34:10.100 --> 34:12.720 of the J-20 for a long time . And 34:12.720 --> 34:15.220 that's why we have pursued , not just 34:15.220 --> 34:17.580 the F 22 which we have in more than 34:17.580 --> 34:19.358 enough numbers to deal with any 34:19.358 --> 34:21.790 scenario involving involving china , 34:21.800 --> 34:25.670 but also the F 35 in to the tune of 34:25.670 --> 34:28.840 nearly 2500 planes and still is the 34:28.840 --> 34:31.780 program of record . So we were well 34:31.780 --> 34:34.250 aware of this evolving capability . And 34:34.540 --> 34:36.860 what we saw last week has not changed 34:36.860 --> 34:40.850 the strategic calculus at all because 34:41.540 --> 34:44.660 uh , we don't yet , 34:45.440 --> 34:47.551 The strategic gates had always talked 34:47.551 --> 34:50.200 about on this issue was that by the 34:50.200 --> 34:52.020 time they have operationally 34:52.020 --> 34:54.620 significant numbers of this aircraft , 34:54.630 --> 34:58.460 we will not just have 187 F22s , which 34:58.460 --> 35:00.880 will be unmatched , but we will also 35:00.880 --> 35:04.770 have , Um , an abundance of F 35:04.770 --> 35:08.760 35 , uh , in addition to all the other , 35:08.770 --> 35:10.590 you know , F a eighteen's and F 35:10.590 --> 35:13.130 sixteen's , uh , that are , you know , 35:13.130 --> 35:17.040 fourth or 4.5 gen quality . So I would 35:17.040 --> 35:19.710 just urge everybody to be , um , to 35:19.710 --> 35:21.377 slow down a little bit on our 35:21.377 --> 35:23.543 characterizations of the f 20 of the J 35:23.543 --> 35:26.630 20 at this point , given what little we 35:26.630 --> 35:30.410 know of it . It wasn't china report 35:30.420 --> 35:32.642 this year or last year . So how can you 35:32.642 --> 35:34.920 say we've been warning about this year , 35:34.920 --> 35:36.976 J 20 was not mentioned in this china 35:36.976 --> 35:39.031 report was , I'd have to go back and 35:39.031 --> 35:41.198 look at the report . Okay , okay , I'd 35:41.198 --> 35:43.476 have to go back and look at the report . 35:43.476 --> 35:45.850 Once I finish , my thought , I'd have 35:45.850 --> 35:48.072 to go back and look at the report , but 35:48.072 --> 35:49.961 I would find it hard to believe . 35:49.961 --> 35:52.950 Excuse me , let me finish . I find it 35:52.950 --> 35:55.310 hard to believe that china's pursuit of 35:55.320 --> 35:58.590 1/5 gen aircraft would not have been 35:58.590 --> 36:00.740 noted in the report , but we can go 36:00.740 --> 36:02.962 back and take a look and we can provide 36:02.962 --> 36:04.962 you with an answer if you like from 36:04.962 --> 36:07.296 policy on why it wasn't in there . Okay . 36:07.296 --> 36:09.780 All right evidence that there was 36:09.780 --> 36:12.113 stolen U . S . Technology in that plane . 36:13.330 --> 36:16.650 Listen , not as far as I know , but as 36:16.650 --> 36:18.872 I'm telling you , we don't know a whole 36:18.872 --> 36:21.160 lot about where what's in this plane 36:21.160 --> 36:24.840 right now . Um , that's why I'm urging 36:24.840 --> 36:27.470 you to be cautious and uh , as for , 36:27.480 --> 36:29.647 you know , listen here are the chinese 36:29.647 --> 36:31.869 who have not spoken a great previous to 36:31.869 --> 36:33.924 our visit and previous to the public 36:33.924 --> 36:36.147 testing this aircraft have never really 36:36.147 --> 36:37.869 as far as I know publicly even 36:37.869 --> 36:40.091 acknowledged the program . Now , all of 36:40.091 --> 36:42.340 a sudden you've seen people speak uh , 36:42.350 --> 36:44.128 you know , at length about it , 36:44.128 --> 36:46.294 including a report I noticed yesterday 36:46.294 --> 36:48.128 from somebody within the Chinese 36:48.128 --> 36:50.183 military stating that it's insulting 36:50.183 --> 36:52.294 for for people to insinuate that they 36:52.294 --> 36:56.020 got this by um , by procuring , you 36:56.020 --> 36:59.870 know , parts of an old US aircraft that 36:59.870 --> 37:02.570 may have gone down in Kosovo and 37:02.580 --> 37:06.080 reverse engineered it uh , to come up 37:06.090 --> 37:08.423 with their own state stealth capability . 37:08.423 --> 37:11.130 They say that's not the case . Um , I 37:11.130 --> 37:14.020 have no reason to , to uh , to 37:14.020 --> 37:16.630 disbelieve them . Um , but I also don't 37:16.630 --> 37:18.519 know yet whether there is stealth 37:18.519 --> 37:20.519 capability on that aircraft or that 37:20.519 --> 37:23.000 there is a new engine on that aircraft . 37:23.010 --> 37:25.121 We don't know yet . So that's why I'm 37:25.121 --> 37:27.288 urging you guys to just be careful and 37:27.288 --> 37:29.610 perhaps a little skeptical as you are 37:29.620 --> 37:31.509 in your questioning of us and our 37:31.509 --> 37:34.300 capabilities . Okay . I I really gotta 37:34.300 --> 37:36.630 go , but if there's these two and then 37:36.630 --> 37:38.750 I got to go , Yeah thank you . 37:38.760 --> 37:42.140 President Obama and hu jintao had a 37:42.140 --> 37:44.530 meeting last week . Then president 37:44.540 --> 37:47.280 mentioned has mentioned about on the 37:47.280 --> 37:50.660 issue of the li deployed troops , 37:51.330 --> 37:54.280 you know what is uh redeploy the U . S . 37:54.290 --> 37:57.260 Troops , What areas that will the U . S . 37:57.270 --> 38:00.030 Troops redeployed in korean peninsula ? 38:01.220 --> 38:03.010 Yeah , I think I'm getting your 38:03.010 --> 38:05.370 question . The issue was in in light of 38:05.370 --> 38:07.620 the threat that that we see emanating 38:07.620 --> 38:10.780 from the peninsula from Pyongyang . I 38:10.780 --> 38:12.947 think that you think you're suggesting 38:12.947 --> 38:15.113 that we have said that we will do what 38:15.113 --> 38:17.950 is necessary uh to protect ourselves 38:17.950 --> 38:19.894 here as well as our forward report 38:19.894 --> 38:23.510 deployed forces uh as well as our 38:23.520 --> 38:25.742 allies who we have security commitments 38:25.742 --> 38:29.530 to um and uh so you know obviously we 38:29.530 --> 38:33.440 have 28,500 troops in in On the 38:33.440 --> 38:35.820 Korean peninsula . We've got I think 38:35.820 --> 38:39.290 north of 50,000 troops in Japan . So we 38:39.290 --> 38:41.470 have significant assets already there 38:41.480 --> 38:43.710 and over the long term lay down of our 38:43.710 --> 38:45.877 forces in the Pacific , we are looking 38:45.877 --> 38:48.330 at ways to even bolster that but not 38:48.330 --> 38:51.780 not necessarily in Korea and Japan but 38:51.790 --> 38:54.500 along the pacific rim particularly in 38:54.500 --> 38:56.722 Southeast Asia . We , you know when you 38:56.722 --> 38:58.889 guys were with us in in Australia , we 38:58.889 --> 39:01.111 talked about you know having access not 39:01.111 --> 39:03.000 permanent deployment of troops in 39:03.000 --> 39:05.270 Australia but having access to certain 39:05.270 --> 39:07.492 facilities . You know obviously we have 39:07.492 --> 39:09.048 a we have access and a good 39:09.048 --> 39:11.159 relationship in Singapore . There are 39:11.159 --> 39:13.381 there are think Guam obviously would be 39:13.381 --> 39:15.603 the best example of us changing our lay 39:15.603 --> 39:17.770 down in our footprint uh in the region 39:17.770 --> 39:19.770 enhancing it in Southeast Asia . So 39:19.770 --> 39:21.770 that's that . I got to go quickly . 39:21.770 --> 39:25.610 What is it ? Uh reporters in two weeks 39:25.610 --> 39:27.200 ago I was there 39:29.560 --> 39:32.440 immediately but not with the next . How 39:32.450 --> 39:35.310 are you ? It evaluates their current 39:35.310 --> 39:37.950 ability of weaponizing the warhead . 39:38.320 --> 39:40.042 Yeah . I don't think I care to 39:40.042 --> 39:42.098 elaborate anything he said . I think 39:42.098 --> 39:44.042 what he said is they're becoming a 39:44.042 --> 39:46.153 direct threat to the United States by 39:46.153 --> 39:46.020 that . He doesn't mean at this very 39:46.020 --> 39:48.790 moment but given their pursuit of both 39:48.800 --> 39:51.022 the nuclear weapons and their ballistic 39:51.022 --> 39:54.900 missile uh capabilities um that he sees 39:54.900 --> 39:57.011 them being a direct threat not within 39:57.011 --> 39:59.122 five years but sooner than that . And 39:59.122 --> 40:01.178 that's a real concern to us . That's 40:01.178 --> 40:03.400 why we worked with the chinese with the 40:03.400 --> 40:05.567 Japanese with others to try to impress 40:05.567 --> 40:09.560 upon um uh the north that they've 40:09.560 --> 40:11.449 got , they've got to cut out this 40:11.449 --> 40:12.949 provocative behavior . The 40:12.949 --> 40:15.116 destabilizing behavior and they've got 40:15.116 --> 40:17.282 to seriously re evaluate their pursuit 40:17.282 --> 40:19.060 of nuclear weapons and delivery 40:19.060 --> 40:22.140 vehicles . Um Okay thank you