WEBVTT 00:00.140 --> 00:02.950 So the American forces press service 00:02.950 --> 00:04.820 off the army of course recently 00:04.830 --> 00:07.740 extended tourists . 15 months in 00:07.740 --> 00:09.990 Afghanistan . What do you have from 00:09.990 --> 00:12.450 your papers about that ? What are they 00:12.460 --> 00:13.460 saying ? 00:16.040 --> 00:18.318 Well , uh , well , you know , soldiers , 00:18.318 --> 00:20.960 our soldiers , our soldiers and uh no , 00:20.970 --> 00:23.137 nobody wants to , nobody wants to stay 00:23.137 --> 00:25.810 any longer than they are required to 00:25.810 --> 00:28.920 stay here in Afghanistan . But uh that 00:28.920 --> 00:30.920 said , you know , we are relatively 00:30.920 --> 00:33.031 early on in our our deployment here . 00:33.031 --> 00:35.990 It was not unexpected completely that 00:35.990 --> 00:38.101 we might be we might be extended . We 00:38.101 --> 00:41.120 certainly have seen that occur uh with 00:41.130 --> 00:43.370 the third brigade that was here and we 00:43.380 --> 00:45.658 we've seen it occur in other locations . 00:45.658 --> 00:47.824 So it's it's not a phenomenon that was 00:47.824 --> 00:50.010 completely unexpected . Uh with that I 00:50.010 --> 00:52.121 think in talking to most soldiers out 00:52.121 --> 00:54.780 there . Uh and I do have a have a 00:54.790 --> 00:56.901 pretty good opportunity to get around 00:56.901 --> 00:59.068 and visit with them and talk to them . 00:59.068 --> 01:00.734 Uh , they are glad to be here 01:00.734 --> 01:02.790 participating in this mission . Uh , 01:02.790 --> 01:04.901 they believe in it . Uh , and I think 01:04.901 --> 01:06.846 they're committed to the state and 01:06.846 --> 01:08.957 accomplish the mission uh and we will 01:08.957 --> 01:11.068 trust that our leaders will be taking 01:11.068 --> 01:13.068 care of our families and and get us 01:13.068 --> 01:15.401 back as as uh as soon as soon as we can . 01:15.401 --> 01:17.568 Uh and when we , when we completed our 01:17.568 --> 01:21.390 portion of the mission general fixing 01:21.390 --> 01:24.230 in the park General Pace of course 01:24.230 --> 01:26.340 mentioned that um , weapons made in 01:26.340 --> 01:28.451 Iran have been found in Afghanistan . 01:28.451 --> 01:30.510 What to you , does this say about 01:30.510 --> 01:32.830 Iran's intentions in Afghanistan ? And 01:32.830 --> 01:36.060 do you see um , Iran trying to 01:36.060 --> 01:38.540 behave similar to the way they're 01:38.540 --> 01:41.060 accused of behaving in Iraq . 01:42.440 --> 01:44.660 Mm . Yeah , I'm not sure . I really 01:44.660 --> 01:46.920 have the visibility to address that 01:46.920 --> 01:49.270 particular uh , that particular problem , 01:49.270 --> 01:51.610 that particular issue there , uh , 01:51.620 --> 01:54.000 being in Regional Command East . Uh , 01:54.010 --> 01:56.232 you know , our focus is moreover on the 01:56.232 --> 01:58.454 Pakistan border . So we certainly don't 01:58.454 --> 02:01.800 see anything direct uh influence from 02:01.800 --> 02:04.290 Iran . Uh , and I and I , and I think 02:04.290 --> 02:06.179 the situation in Afghanistan is a 02:06.179 --> 02:08.290 little bit different than it probably 02:08.290 --> 02:11.230 is in uh in Iraq . We don't really have 02:11.230 --> 02:14.780 a very good , a very good feel for what 02:14.780 --> 02:16.891 those influences might be right now . 02:16.891 --> 02:19.510 Uh , and as general Pace said , I think 02:19.510 --> 02:22.580 it's relatively uh relatively unknown 02:22.580 --> 02:25.380 at this time . What what those exact uh , 02:25.390 --> 02:28.270 languages are back to Iran , Iran other 02:28.270 --> 02:30.381 than the fact that maybe some Iranian 02:30.381 --> 02:32.159 materials have been found in in 02:32.159 --> 02:34.381 Afghanistan right now . It's not having 02:34.381 --> 02:37.100 an impact uh , here in Regional Command 02:37.100 --> 02:38.100 East . 02:40.890 --> 02:43.720 There's fantastic with U . P . I could 02:43.720 --> 02:45.980 you talk to us about the incident in 02:45.980 --> 02:48.180 Jalalabad with the Marine Special 02:48.180 --> 02:50.236 Operations Force ? I think that's in 02:50.236 --> 02:52.347 your a o what measures have you taken 02:52.347 --> 02:54.402 since they were pulled out ? How are 02:54.402 --> 02:56.513 you all keeping security there ? Have 02:56.513 --> 02:58.513 you compensated ? Uh , the apparent 02:58.513 --> 03:00.513 victims of it is , and what are you 03:00.513 --> 03:02.700 doing to prevent something like this 03:02.700 --> 03:06.490 from happening again . Okay , 03:06.490 --> 03:09.320 thanks . Uh , good question . Um , 03:09.330 --> 03:11.510 certainly that incident remains is 03:11.510 --> 03:13.621 you're well aware remains under under 03:13.621 --> 03:15.800 investigation . So I won't talk about 03:15.800 --> 03:18.590 any specifics with that . Um , you know , 03:18.600 --> 03:20.600 I think it's important to recognize 03:20.600 --> 03:22.720 that uh , that that incident started 03:22.730 --> 03:25.980 with with with the terrorist attack on 03:25.980 --> 03:28.450 a marine convoy that was conducted in 03:28.450 --> 03:31.290 the very close proximity of a of a 03:31.290 --> 03:34.420 civilian marketplace . Uh and uh , and 03:34.420 --> 03:36.940 so by by virtue of doing that that 03:36.940 --> 03:39.430 attack the insurgents , the terrorists 03:39.430 --> 03:42.790 exposed uh exposed not only our marines , 03:42.790 --> 03:45.640 but but civilians to harm as well . 03:45.650 --> 03:47.770 What we have done with that is , uh , 03:47.780 --> 03:49.240 we through our provincial 03:49.240 --> 03:51.460 reconstruction teams . We have a very 03:51.460 --> 03:53.627 good relationship with the governor of 03:53.627 --> 03:55.849 Nangarhar province . We were very quick 03:55.849 --> 03:58.071 to get out and link up with him and get 03:58.071 --> 04:00.950 out and talk with the tribal elders and 04:00.950 --> 04:03.172 other government officials that operate 04:03.172 --> 04:05.283 in that area . We worked very closely 04:05.283 --> 04:07.610 with them to identify the victims and 04:07.610 --> 04:09.666 the family and the families of these 04:09.666 --> 04:11.388 victims and arrange for uh for 04:11.388 --> 04:13.960 compensation and uh , that has taken 04:13.960 --> 04:16.016 place and it continues to take place 04:16.016 --> 04:19.340 even as we speak . Um , certainly these 04:19.340 --> 04:21.507 types of incidents always causes to go 04:21.507 --> 04:23.618 back and look at our procedures . And 04:23.618 --> 04:25.850 so we have done that as well . Uh , and 04:25.860 --> 04:28.140 uh , what we have done specifically is 04:28.140 --> 04:31.780 look at uh , at how units respond when 04:31.780 --> 04:33.970 they're in close proximity to uh to 04:33.970 --> 04:36.010 civilian areas . Uh , and we try to 04:36.010 --> 04:38.060 emphasize the various escalation of 04:38.060 --> 04:40.830 force measures that are approved for 04:40.830 --> 04:43.520 use here in uh in Regional Command East , 04:43.530 --> 04:46.750 uh and uh and try to emphasize those 04:46.750 --> 04:48.917 those techniques and we've essentially 04:48.917 --> 04:50.917 done some retraining throughout our 04:50.917 --> 04:53.139 entire force to make sure that everyone 04:53.139 --> 04:54.861 is is fully aware of that . We 04:54.861 --> 04:57.380 obviously regret the loss of any life 04:57.390 --> 04:59.870 and we're committed to protecting the 04:59.880 --> 05:00.860 afghan people . 05:03.240 --> 05:06.610 Kristin roberts with Reuters . Um 05:06.620 --> 05:09.150 we've seen I believe yesterday 05:09.160 --> 05:12.270 coordinated attacks on police post and 05:12.270 --> 05:14.070 a government headquarters just 05:14.080 --> 05:16.800 northeast of Kabul , um which led the 05:16.800 --> 05:18.800 provincial government to calling us 05:18.800 --> 05:20.856 military reinforcements . I'm hoping 05:20.856 --> 05:23.078 you can give us some additional details 05:23.078 --> 05:25.244 about those attacks by the Taliban and 05:25.244 --> 05:27.022 what , and tell us what is your 05:27.022 --> 05:29.130 thinking on how far the provincial 05:29.130 --> 05:31.710 government is from being able to 05:31.710 --> 05:34.410 protect its own police post without us 05:34.420 --> 05:36.650 assistance . Yeah , 05:39.040 --> 05:41.380 well , with those with those tax 05:41.380 --> 05:44.590 yesterday , uh those occurred in 05:44.600 --> 05:47.520 uh in an area just I think actually to 05:47.520 --> 05:50.560 the to the east of us here , uh and in 05:50.560 --> 05:53.460 that case , uh the local local 05:53.460 --> 05:55.571 authorities felt like they were under 05:55.571 --> 05:57.627 some threat . Obviously , I think it 05:57.627 --> 05:59.793 demonstrates a close relationship that 05:59.793 --> 06:01.849 they have with both uh with both the 06:01.849 --> 06:03.960 the coalition forces we have here and 06:03.960 --> 06:05.849 what the Afghan national Security 06:05.849 --> 06:08.071 forces . And so we quickly responded to 06:08.071 --> 06:10.238 that . We were very uh we were able to 06:10.238 --> 06:12.300 get some close air support on to 06:12.300 --> 06:15.960 station very quickly um and get some of 06:15.970 --> 06:18.081 our forces as well as Afghan national 06:18.081 --> 06:20.290 security forces down into the area as 06:20.290 --> 06:23.260 quickly as we can . Um and uh secure 06:23.260 --> 06:26.820 the situation . So uh that uh that is 06:26.820 --> 06:28.710 not something that we're on a 06:28.720 --> 06:31.620 accustomed to doing . Uh huh . And it's 06:31.630 --> 06:34.860 it's just the nature of business uh 06:34.870 --> 06:37.110 here that that we're dealing with with 06:37.110 --> 06:39.221 with respect to the the other part of 06:39.221 --> 06:41.221 your question there relating to the 06:41.221 --> 06:43.332 provincial government . Um This is an 06:43.332 --> 06:45.499 area that we watch very , very closely 06:45.499 --> 06:47.332 and through our provisions , our 06:47.332 --> 06:49.332 provincial reconstruction teams . I 06:49.332 --> 06:51.332 think we have a very good handle on 06:51.332 --> 06:53.388 where we are with the development of 06:53.388 --> 06:55.499 our provincial governments here in in 06:55.499 --> 06:57.610 regional command . These , I think we 06:57.610 --> 06:59.832 are we are very happy to have some very 06:59.832 --> 07:01.943 good governors throughout our our our 07:01.943 --> 07:03.888 regional command here who are very 07:03.888 --> 07:06.640 actively involved with the people who 07:06.640 --> 07:08.862 have no problem getting out and meeting 07:08.862 --> 07:10.918 with them and who maintain excellent 07:10.918 --> 07:12.973 relationships . Uh not only with our 07:12.973 --> 07:15.084 forces , but more importantly with uh 07:15.084 --> 07:16.973 with the Afghan National Security 07:16.973 --> 07:18.973 Forces out there . So I think we're 07:18.973 --> 07:21.251 making real progress in this direction . 07:21.251 --> 07:23.251 I will tell you that our number one 07:23.251 --> 07:25.251 priority for development here is to 07:25.251 --> 07:27.196 ensure that we have our provincial 07:27.196 --> 07:29.307 coordination centers and our district 07:29.307 --> 07:31.418 coordination centres up and operating 07:31.418 --> 07:33.140 uh and that means that we have 07:33.140 --> 07:35.430 facilities that are built and and 07:35.430 --> 07:38.460 capable to handle the these uh these uh 07:38.470 --> 07:40.359 representatives from the from the 07:40.359 --> 07:42.192 security forces that we have the 07:42.192 --> 07:44.359 communications in place , that we have 07:44.359 --> 07:46.192 the procedures in place and more 07:46.192 --> 07:48.137 importantly that we're starting to 07:48.137 --> 07:50.750 build the trust in the people that they 07:50.750 --> 07:52.972 can go to their provincial coordination 07:52.972 --> 07:54.750 center , they can contact their 07:54.750 --> 07:57.580 district centers and and get help . I 07:57.580 --> 07:59.747 had an opportunity last week to go and 07:59.747 --> 08:01.636 visit the provincial coordination 08:01.636 --> 08:03.747 center out in Khost province , out in 08:03.747 --> 08:05.960 the extreme eastern part of our area . 08:05.960 --> 08:08.720 And I will tell you it was it was uh it 08:08.720 --> 08:10.442 was very refreshing to see the 08:10.442 --> 08:12.664 cooperation , the coordination that was 08:12.664 --> 08:14.609 taking place uh in that provincial 08:14.609 --> 08:16.387 coordination center . Very good 08:16.387 --> 08:18.553 communications , very good cooperation 08:18.553 --> 08:21.370 represent representation by all the 08:21.370 --> 08:23.420 elements of the Afghan National 08:23.420 --> 08:26.310 Security Forces , Army police , border 08:26.310 --> 08:28.630 police as well as the coalition forces . 08:28.640 --> 08:30.751 So I think we're definitely moving in 08:30.751 --> 08:34.500 the right direction with that follow up 08:34.500 --> 08:36.667 there . I mean , we just heard you say 08:36.667 --> 08:38.500 that the increased forces you've 08:38.500 --> 08:40.778 received , you hope will be maintained . 08:40.778 --> 08:42.990 I'm just trying to get an idea of the 08:42.990 --> 08:45.101 time frame here on this . How long do 08:45.101 --> 08:47.080 you expect you're going to need to 08:47.080 --> 08:49.136 provide protection to the provincial 08:49.136 --> 08:51.520 government or in other words , when are 08:51.520 --> 08:53.720 they going to be stood up and in a 08:53.720 --> 08:56.470 position to not need to call in U . S . 08:56.480 --> 08:59.450 Military reinforcement when the Taliban 08:59.460 --> 09:01.360 attacks ? 09:03.240 --> 09:05.730 Well , uh let me let me just clarify 09:05.730 --> 09:07.841 for a second at the example that I've 09:07.841 --> 09:09.952 decided to do in Khost province , the 09:09.952 --> 09:12.360 security for that provincial uh 09:12.370 --> 09:14.537 provincial coordination center for two 09:14.537 --> 09:16.481 other district centers that that I 09:16.481 --> 09:18.481 visited that same day was not being 09:18.481 --> 09:20.537 provided by co by coalition forces , 09:20.537 --> 09:22.537 but it was being provided by Afghan 09:22.537 --> 09:24.790 National Security Forces . So in many 09:24.790 --> 09:27.160 cases they have taken on responsibility 09:27.160 --> 09:29.960 for uh for doing this . Uh , the Afghan 09:29.960 --> 09:31.460 army is uh , you know , is 09:31.460 --> 09:34.810 approximately uh 30 30,000 strong , 09:34.810 --> 09:38.640 growing to about 70,000 . The Afghan uh 09:38.650 --> 09:41.670 police , National Police are about 55 09:41.670 --> 09:43.670 to 60,000 strong , growing to about 09:43.670 --> 09:45.940 82,000 . So there's still growth that 09:45.940 --> 09:47.662 has to occur in that , in that 09:47.662 --> 09:49.829 particularly those particular forces . 09:49.829 --> 09:51.496 But they're , they're they're 09:51.496 --> 09:53.218 definitely moving in the right 09:53.218 --> 09:55.496 direction with respect to the timeline . 09:55.496 --> 09:57.718 I'm not sure I could , I could tell you 09:57.718 --> 09:59.773 that . I I think we will continue to 09:59.773 --> 10:02.240 provide uh , the levels of of forces 10:02.240 --> 10:04.900 here and and assistance . As long as 10:04.900 --> 10:07.740 the , as the Islamic Republic of 10:07.740 --> 10:09.950 Afghans government wants us to be here 10:09.960 --> 10:12.380 and as long as it's required . Um as I 10:12.380 --> 10:14.547 mentioned to you , we're gonna , we're 10:14.547 --> 10:16.658 gonna replace the second brigade here 10:16.658 --> 10:18.658 very shortly and maintain that that 10:18.658 --> 10:20.824 level of force , I think it's making a 10:20.824 --> 10:22.713 big difference right now and it's 10:22.713 --> 10:24.880 helping to create the conditions where 10:24.880 --> 10:27.102 the Afghan National Security forces and 10:27.102 --> 10:28.880 the government can really start 10:28.880 --> 10:31.060 developing some capacity and extending 10:31.060 --> 10:34.660 their reach and influence beyond Kabul 10:34.660 --> 10:37.580 and the provincial uh capitals out into 10:37.580 --> 10:39.850 the out into the villages where the 10:39.860 --> 10:41.350 people live and work . 10:43.940 --> 10:47.900 I can 10:47.900 --> 10:50.122 be with the news . I just want to get a 10:50.122 --> 10:52.233 little bit more information about the 10:52.233 --> 10:54.122 marines that were involved in the 10:54.122 --> 10:56.344 civilians who were killed several weeks 10:56.344 --> 10:58.567 ago . Can you just give us a uh an idea 10:58.567 --> 11:00.880 of number one , the final answer on how 11:00.880 --> 11:03.102 many civilians were killed and how many 11:03.102 --> 11:07.050 were wounded , um and also by the U . S . 11:07.050 --> 11:08.994 Military providing payments to the 11:08.994 --> 11:11.106 families of those killed . Is that an 11:11.106 --> 11:13.106 admission that they were killed but 11:13.106 --> 11:15.272 there were innocent that were killed . 11:15.272 --> 11:17.383 And then finally , if you can give us 11:17.383 --> 11:19.550 an idea of why it was that the marines 11:19.550 --> 11:21.660 left Afghanistan ? 11:26.640 --> 11:27.750 Yeah . Mhm . 11:31.240 --> 11:33.580 Okay . Um I think you might I think you 11:33.580 --> 11:35.636 might have dropped off there , but I 11:35.636 --> 11:37.636 but I think I have the gist of your 11:37.636 --> 11:39.802 question . I think you were interested 11:39.802 --> 11:39.130 in me providing a little more 11:39.130 --> 11:41.620 information on on the unit that was 11:41.620 --> 11:44.760 involved in that incident , uh up in 11:44.770 --> 11:47.570 Nangahar province . Uh and then a 11:47.580 --> 11:49.802 little bit more detail on the number of 11:49.840 --> 11:52.070 of civilian casualties that may have 11:52.070 --> 11:55.230 taken taken place or may have occurred . 11:55.240 --> 11:58.840 Is that correct ? Mhm . And then also , 11:58.840 --> 12:00.784 if you tell us why it was that the 12:00.784 --> 12:03.760 marines left Afghanistan so early into 12:03.760 --> 12:05.250 their tour . 12:07.140 --> 12:10.460 Okay . Okay . Thanks . Um well , let me , 12:10.470 --> 12:13.830 let me just say this . I think the the 12:13.840 --> 12:16.180 numbers uh as as I mentioned earlier , 12:16.180 --> 12:18.610 there is an investigation ongoing . Uh 12:18.620 --> 12:20.453 we know that there was somewhere 12:20.453 --> 12:22.676 between eight and 12 civilians who were 12:22.676 --> 12:24.509 killed in that incident . Uh and 12:24.509 --> 12:27.350 probably somewhere between uh I think 12:27.360 --> 12:30.840 uh 22 25 that were injured . I don't 12:30.840 --> 12:33.280 know the exact the exact numbers 12:33.290 --> 12:35.179 because that the investigation is 12:35.179 --> 12:37.179 actually being conducted outside of 12:37.179 --> 12:39.290 this headquarters . But those are the 12:39.290 --> 12:41.401 approximate initial reports that that 12:41.401 --> 12:45.130 we had . Um uh So that that's what 12:45.140 --> 12:47.362 that's what that's what I think that it 12:47.362 --> 12:51.010 was the uh the unit that was here was a 12:51.020 --> 12:53.242 company that from the Marine Corps that 12:53.242 --> 12:55.650 was operating as part of the Special 12:55.650 --> 12:58.970 Operations Forces here . Uh And I think 12:58.970 --> 13:01.960 as that command said in their press 13:01.960 --> 13:04.080 release regarding this that this 13:04.080 --> 13:07.760 incident uh really uh created 13:07.760 --> 13:09.982 conditions here that would have made it 13:09.982 --> 13:12.038 very very difficult for that unit to 13:12.038 --> 13:14.204 continue to operate in this area . And 13:14.204 --> 13:16.427 so the decision was made to to withdraw 13:16.427 --> 13:18.427 them . Uh I think any more specific 13:18.427 --> 13:20.649 questions in that particular area would 13:20.649 --> 13:22.538 really need to be directed to the 13:22.538 --> 13:24.760 command who was doing the investigation 13:24.760 --> 13:28.410 uh who actually made that decision . It 13:28.410 --> 13:30.632 makes the local tribal leaders who from 13:30.632 --> 13:32.460 the U . S . Military . 13:35.240 --> 13:37.460 I'm sorry you're a little bit broken 13:37.460 --> 13:39.410 that I I caught the local tribal 13:39.410 --> 13:43.170 leaders who from the U . S . Military 13:43.170 --> 13:45.337 met with the tribal leaders to discuss 13:45.337 --> 13:48.050 all this after the incident . 13:48.740 --> 13:52.050 Well first of all uh as I mentioned we 13:52.050 --> 13:53.494 use we use our provincial 13:53.494 --> 13:55.550 reconstruction teams to help help do 13:55.550 --> 13:58.900 this . Um What in this case it's not 13:58.900 --> 14:01.011 necessarily the U . S . Military that 14:01.011 --> 14:03.310 is out there addressing their uh their 14:03.310 --> 14:05.254 their concerns although we are our 14:05.254 --> 14:06.977 provincial reconstruction team 14:06.977 --> 14:09.330 commander uh and the and the brigade 14:09.330 --> 14:11.330 commander who operates in that area 14:11.330 --> 14:13.386 were out there and available and and 14:13.386 --> 14:15.640 actually met . But for the most part , 14:15.640 --> 14:17.960 most of this was handled by by the 14:17.960 --> 14:20.182 governor of the provincial governor and 14:20.182 --> 14:22.950 other leadership there . They could 14:22.960 --> 14:25.100 were quickly in contact with them . 14:25.110 --> 14:27.110 They were quickly involved with the 14:27.110 --> 14:28.832 tribal leaders , went down and 14:28.832 --> 14:30.721 conducted a series of meetings or 14:30.721 --> 14:32.666 assure us with them to discuss the 14:32.666 --> 14:35.660 incident and uh and make sure that uh 14:35.670 --> 14:37.940 they understood what what occurred in 14:37.950 --> 14:41.610 uh from from their perspective and then 14:41.610 --> 14:43.940 and we continue to use that mechanism 14:43.940 --> 14:47.770 to uh to uh work the salacious payments 14:47.780 --> 14:50.330 to the families of those who were 14:50.340 --> 14:51.950 killed or wounded . 14:53.940 --> 14:57.320 Last question , you mentioned several 14:57.320 --> 15:00.230 times a decrease in attacks or 15:00.230 --> 15:02.290 incidents that you attributed to the 15:02.290 --> 15:04.346 work that you guys are doing . Would 15:04.346 --> 15:06.123 you put numbers on that place ? 15:07.840 --> 15:11.830 Um Mhm . Yeah , 15:11.830 --> 15:14.680 the numbers , um well , I think , I'm 15:14.680 --> 15:16.736 not sure I would tell you that there 15:16.736 --> 15:18.958 any any particular number here and here 15:18.958 --> 15:22.110 in Afghanistan , if ebbs and flows a 15:22.110 --> 15:24.880 little bit over time . Uh For example , 15:24.880 --> 15:26.920 as we look at suicide i . E . D . 15:26.920 --> 15:28.980 Attacks , we we've seen a we saw a 15:28.980 --> 15:32.070 little spike in the in the In the fall 15:32.070 --> 15:34.730 here . We've seen some here this uh 15:34.740 --> 15:37.010 this spring , but in general , the 15:37.010 --> 15:40.020 numbers are trending in the downward 15:40.020 --> 15:42.430 fashion with respect to those type of 15:42.430 --> 15:45.580 attacks . We were having relatively 15:45.590 --> 15:48.620 frequent contact along the border 15:48.630 --> 15:52.330 probably uh 3-4 times a week 15:52.340 --> 15:55.480 with with attempts to make contact with 15:55.480 --> 15:58.120 our forces . We've seen that drop off 15:58.130 --> 16:01.020 probably to about half of that on on a 16:01.020 --> 16:03.930 regular basis . So uh that's that's 16:03.930 --> 16:05.930 probably how I would I would try to 16:05.930 --> 16:09.780 quantify that . Okay , so we have come 16:09.780 --> 16:11.947 to the end of our time . We appreciate 16:11.947 --> 16:14.058 you being with us today and we'd like 16:14.058 --> 16:16.224 to turn it back to you for any closing 16:16.224 --> 16:19.580 comments . Okay , well thank you . I 16:19.590 --> 16:21.590 appreciate , appreciate all of your 16:21.590 --> 16:23.646 questions today and I appreciate the 16:23.646 --> 16:25.840 opportunity to address you . I just 16:25.840 --> 16:28.007 like to say thank you to all those who 16:28.007 --> 16:30.118 are continuing to support our mission 16:30.118 --> 16:32.062 here . We're very grateful for the 16:32.062 --> 16:34.229 support that we get from the people of 16:34.229 --> 16:33.750 the United States as well as the 16:33.750 --> 16:36.000 international community , our NATO 16:36.000 --> 16:38.410 partners and the other coalition uh 16:38.420 --> 16:40.620 countries who contribute forces and 16:40.620 --> 16:43.040 resources uh here from the future of 16:43.040 --> 16:45.690 Afghanistan . The Afghanistan National 16:45.690 --> 16:47.840 Security Forces also deserve an 16:47.840 --> 16:50.062 enormous amount of credit for the valor 16:50.062 --> 16:52.229 and patriotism that they bring to this 16:52.229 --> 16:54.451 mission . Uh I feel privileged to serve 16:54.451 --> 16:56.470 alongside them as do our soul , 16:56.470 --> 16:58.930 soldiers , sailors , airmen and marines . 16:58.940 --> 17:00.829 And I will just tell you that our 17:00.829 --> 17:02.440 troops , all of them here in 17:02.440 --> 17:04.718 Afghanistan are doing a tremendous job . 17:04.718 --> 17:07.750 Uh not only for Afghanistan but for the 17:07.750 --> 17:09.861 United States and and the world . And 17:09.861 --> 17:11.806 they truly deserve our respect and 17:11.806 --> 17:14.610 admiration . Uh Their dedication and 17:14.610 --> 17:16.832 devotion to duty is extraordinary . And 17:16.832 --> 17:18.832 every american should be very proud 17:18.832 --> 17:20.943 that our sons and daughters are doing 17:20.943 --> 17:22.690 this noble work here in uh in 17:22.690 --> 17:25.360 Afghanistan . I firmly believe we are 17:25.360 --> 17:27.082 making steady progress here in 17:27.082 --> 17:29.304 Afghanistan and we're going to continue 17:29.304 --> 17:31.527 to do so . There is a lot of work to do 17:31.527 --> 17:34.840 here , but we are undaunted together 17:34.840 --> 17:37.240 with our NATO And coalition partners 17:37.240 --> 17:38.796 and with the support of the 17:38.796 --> 17:40.962 international community and the Afghan 17:40.962 --> 17:42.851 people were going to overcome the 17:42.851 --> 17:44.740 devastation that this country has 17:44.740 --> 17:46.907 endured for 25 or 30 years of war . Uh 17:46.907 --> 17:49.018 we will overcome all these challenges 17:49.018 --> 17:51.690 and and bring peace and stability and 17:51.690 --> 17:53.357 development for the future of 17:53.357 --> 17:55.412 Afghanistan . Thank you all for your 17:55.412 --> 17:57.301 time today and for your continued 17:57.301 --> 18:00.630 support . Thank you again sir , We hope 18:00.630 --> 18:02.463 to see you again down the road . 18:04.540 --> 18:06.130 Thank you very much .