WEBVTT 00:00.909 --> 00:02.326 - Good afternoon. 00:03.109 --> 00:04.693 The Secretary will depart this weekend 00:04.693 --> 00:07.899 to attend the Asean Summit in the Philippines. 00:07.899 --> 00:09.402 You may have seen the news 00:09.402 --> 00:12.335 in the Philippines in the past few days. 00:12.335 --> 00:14.933 The purported Emir of ISIS in Southeast Asia 00:14.933 --> 00:19.100 was killed October 16 along with several other militant 00:19.366 --> 00:23.389 in a firefight with the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 00:23.389 --> 00:25.788 We congratulate our Filipino partners 00:25.788 --> 00:27.895 for their success in eliminating the leaders 00:27.895 --> 00:30.812 of the months-long siege of Marawi. 00:31.475 --> 00:33.951 We will continue to stand with our Philippine partners, 00:33.951 --> 00:35.903 providing intelligence, surveillance, 00:35.903 --> 00:38.750 and reconnaissance capabilities as well as advice 00:38.750 --> 00:42.040 in training, as they combat terrors in Mindanao, 00:42.040 --> 00:44.315 and we will remain vigilant should ISIS 00:44.315 --> 00:47.732 and affiliate groups attempt to reemerge. 00:47.970 --> 00:50.815 The aspirations of ISIS to have a physical caliphate 00:50.815 --> 00:54.232 are crumbling rapidly from Mosul to Raqqa 00:54.313 --> 00:58.157 where 90% of the caliphate-claimed capitol 00:58.157 --> 00:59.701 has been liberated. 00:59.701 --> 01:01.529 To the Philippines and to Yemen, 01:01.529 --> 01:05.139 where a U.S. strike against ISIS earlier this week, 01:05.139 --> 01:07.670 decimated many of its senior leaders. 01:07.670 --> 01:10.882 These events show that our fight against ISIS is global, 01:10.882 --> 01:13.201 and that other groups who align with them 01:13.201 --> 01:17.368 or adopt their brand, will face the same dead end. 01:17.630 --> 01:19.014 ISIS is on the run. 01:19.014 --> 01:21.292 It is losing credibility, resources, 01:21.292 --> 01:23.292 and influence every day. 01:23.690 --> 01:25.603 Our fight is not limited to ISIS. 01:25.603 --> 01:27.757 In Somalia, we are assisting local forces 01:27.757 --> 01:30.931 in fighting Al-Shabaab, an Al Qaeda affiliate. 01:30.931 --> 01:34.386 Earlier this week, October 16, U.S. Forces conducted 01:34.386 --> 01:37.969 an airstrike in Somalia against Al-Shabaab. 01:38.083 --> 01:41.639 U.S. Forces will continue to use all authorized 01:41.639 --> 01:43.997 and appropriate measures to protect Americans 01:43.997 --> 01:46.356 and disrupt terrorist threats. 01:46.356 --> 01:49.080 But even as we are fighting and winning against ISIS 01:49.080 --> 01:52.781 and other terrorist groups, the threat remains very real. 01:52.781 --> 01:54.980 We offer our deepest sympathies to the families 01:54.980 --> 01:58.432 of those valiant Afghan Soldiers and police officers 01:58.432 --> 02:01.608 who died in the defense of their nation this week 02:01.608 --> 02:04.608 in cowardly Taliban suicide attacks. 02:05.768 --> 02:09.849 The attacks against the U.S. Service Members in Niger 02:09.849 --> 02:12.778 earlier this month is a reminder of that threat. 02:12.778 --> 02:15.830 Four U.S. Service Members were killed in Niger 02:15.830 --> 02:18.067 during an advise and assist mission. 02:18.067 --> 02:20.628 Additionally, two U.S. Service Members were injured 02:20.628 --> 02:23.108 and evacuated in stable condition 02:23.108 --> 02:26.685 to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. 02:26.685 --> 02:29.163 The wounded have since been moved to the U.S. 02:29.163 --> 02:30.875 and are being treated. 02:30.875 --> 02:34.213 These Service Members were providing advice and assistance 02:34.213 --> 02:38.380 to Nigerien Security Forces Counter-Terrorism Operations 02:38.622 --> 02:41.835 when they came under fire from hostile fighters. 02:41.835 --> 02:44.527 The Secretary is committed to gathering all the facts 02:44.527 --> 02:47.787 about this tragedy, and to learning from it. 02:47.787 --> 02:48.925 He wants to ensure 02:48.925 --> 02:52.231 that our Forces are postured to prevail always. 02:52.231 --> 02:53.739 We are committed to a thorough 02:53.739 --> 02:57.402 and rigorous investigation without speculation. 02:57.402 --> 03:00.572 We owe that to the fallen and their families. 03:00.572 --> 03:04.739 We will not be rushed because we have to be right. 03:05.330 --> 03:06.874 While we are still gathering facts 03:06.874 --> 03:09.028 and await the final investigation, we do know 03:09.028 --> 03:12.565 that the team came under fire, and French helos 03:12.565 --> 03:16.065 and fixed-wing aircraft arrived to assist. 03:16.348 --> 03:18.869 The wounded were airlifted out by the French, 03:18.869 --> 03:21.065 and the Service Members killed in action 03:21.065 --> 03:23.565 were evacuated by ContractAir. 03:24.403 --> 03:26.317 When the investigation is finished, 03:26.317 --> 03:28.311 Africom will provide more details. 03:28.311 --> 03:30.348 As always, we'll be as transparent 03:30.348 --> 03:32.953 when we know exactly what happened. 03:32.953 --> 03:34.943 On a separate note, earlier this week, 03:34.943 --> 03:37.062 Secretary Mattis sent a letter to the Chairs 03:37.062 --> 03:40.362 and ranking members of the SASC and the HASC 03:40.362 --> 03:44.195 outlining his key concerns with the FY18 NDAA. 03:45.281 --> 03:46.621 The Secretary focused on issues 03:46.621 --> 03:48.414 that would impact his priorities 03:48.414 --> 03:50.977 of restoring military readiness, 03:50.977 --> 03:54.110 strengthening alliances, and implementing business reforms. 03:54.110 --> 03:58.277 The key items are eliminating the BCA Defense Caps, 03:58.579 --> 04:01.996 concern with proposed cyber organization, 04:05.695 --> 04:07.195 I missed my place, 04:08.990 --> 04:10.952 and support for a BRAC ground, 04:10.952 --> 04:14.513 and concern with premature efforts to reorganize. 04:14.513 --> 04:16.954 He also weighed in on a handful of other issues 04:16.954 --> 04:20.778 including Space Corps, Tricare, Military Health System, 04:20.778 --> 04:24.945 relocation of Marines to Guam, and military construction. 04:25.500 --> 04:27.942 We'll make his letter available to you at the end 04:27.942 --> 04:31.596 of the briefing, and with that, open up to your question. 04:31.596 --> 04:32.929 Way in the back. 04:35.579 --> 04:38.143 (stating name quickly) 04:38.143 --> 04:39.728 - I have two questions. 04:39.728 --> 04:41.315 One would be more for, 04:41.315 --> 04:44.528 well both of them are for General Mackenzie. 04:44.528 --> 04:48.396 First of all, I want to know if by now the Army knows 04:48.396 --> 04:52.396 why one Sergeant Jones was left behind in Niger. 04:53.975 --> 04:57.308 The corpse was found the following day. 04:57.631 --> 04:59.744 And secondly, I would like to ask you 04:59.744 --> 05:02.307 as representing the people of the Army, 05:02.307 --> 05:04.965 how did you feel when you heard President Trump 05:04.965 --> 05:07.564 the other day, saying that everything has changed 05:07.564 --> 05:10.564 in Iraq well because of his command. 05:10.982 --> 05:14.394 I mean you have been fighting there for years now, 05:14.394 --> 05:17.690 and well, maybe, the Army's not very pleased 05:17.690 --> 05:20.190 with that kind of information. 05:21.855 --> 05:23.968 - Well, first I would say that we don't leave 05:23.968 --> 05:26.814 anyone behind as the Secretary said earlier. 05:26.814 --> 05:28.231 He was separated. 05:29.006 --> 05:33.148 And to your second question, 90% of Raqqa has been cleared, 05:33.148 --> 05:34.981 and it's been liberated, 05:34.981 --> 05:37.544 but it's important to remember that the fight continues. 05:37.544 --> 05:39.536 We are fighting ISIS around the world 05:39.536 --> 05:41.690 as well as other affiliated groups, 05:41.690 --> 05:45.773 so we will continue to fight, but ISIS is losing. 05:45.797 --> 05:47.707 General, if you'd like to expound. 05:47.707 --> 05:50.306 - I'll just amplify a little bit the comment 05:50.306 --> 05:51.810 about leaving someone behind. 05:51.810 --> 05:53.192 The Secretary talked a little bit 05:53.192 --> 05:54.853 about it earlier this afternoon, 05:54.853 --> 05:57.015 and expressed our position pretty clearly on it. 05:57.015 --> 05:58.645 But let me just give you a little bit of detail, 05:58.645 --> 06:00.188 and this is about as much detail 06:00.188 --> 06:02.076 as I'm going to be able to give you, given the fact 06:02.076 --> 06:04.196 that there's an investigation ongoing first, 06:04.196 --> 06:05.860 and second, we never want to share our tactics, 06:05.860 --> 06:07.975 techniques, and procedures where the enemy can learn 06:07.975 --> 06:10.460 about the way we approach these problems. 06:10.460 --> 06:12.330 But I'll tell you categorically that from the moment 06:12.330 --> 06:15.247 of contact, no one was left behind. 06:15.667 --> 06:19.084 Either U.S., our partner Nigerien Forces, 06:19.371 --> 06:21.118 or French Forces were on the ground, 06:21.118 --> 06:23.153 actively searching for this Soldier. 06:23.153 --> 06:25.429 Now the fact of the matter is, it's a battlefield. 06:25.429 --> 06:27.016 We just had a significant engagement. 06:27.016 --> 06:29.294 It's tough country, it's out in the middle of nowhere. 06:29.294 --> 06:31.535 So, it's not perhaps as clear as it might appear 06:31.535 --> 06:33.501 in bright lights of this briefing room, 06:33.501 --> 06:35.762 but a lot of men and a lot of women 06:35.762 --> 06:37.345 searched very hard to find him. 06:37.345 --> 06:38.695 It took us a little while to do that. 06:38.695 --> 06:39.995 We didn't leave him behind, 06:39.995 --> 06:44.162 and we searched until we found him, and we brought him home. 06:46.185 --> 06:50.352 - Let me get someone else, and we'll come back to you, Bob. 06:50.364 --> 06:54.531 - I'll open that point about your explanation, General. 06:54.885 --> 06:57.077 Miss White said he was separated. 06:57.077 --> 07:00.660 I'm just wondering what that means exactly. 07:01.711 --> 07:03.458 - That's a distinction without a difference. 07:03.458 --> 07:05.128 It's a complex situation on the ground. 07:05.128 --> 07:06.711 It was a firefight. 07:06.754 --> 07:08.912 It took a little bit of time to recover the Soldier. 07:08.912 --> 07:12.005 More details will become out as the investigation proceeds, 07:12.005 --> 07:13.114 and I'm really not gonna be able to give you 07:13.114 --> 07:14.703 any more information about it. 07:14.703 --> 07:16.493 But I do just want to emphasize 07:16.493 --> 07:19.102 that the search continued until he was found. 07:19.102 --> 07:21.602 We never left the battlefield. 07:21.906 --> 07:24.307 We never stopped looking for him until he was found. 07:24.307 --> 07:26.177 - U.S. Forces never left? 07:26.177 --> 07:28.594 - U.S. or Nigerien or French. 07:28.997 --> 07:31.109 - Could you give us a little better intel picture 07:31.109 --> 07:34.215 of what you saw on the ground at the time to help, maybe, 07:34.215 --> 07:37.713 illuminate why this was a successful ambush, 07:37.713 --> 07:39.619 why you didn't know more 07:39.619 --> 07:43.036 about what they would encounter that day? 07:43.983 --> 07:46.586 - Well, I'm not gonna be able to go into much detail at all 07:46.586 --> 07:48.841 on that because we're still looking at it very hard, 07:48.841 --> 07:50.879 and if in fact, we had a problem there, 07:50.879 --> 07:53.578 we want to make sure we investigate it and understand it 07:53.578 --> 07:55.612 so that whatever advantage the enemy may have gained 07:55.612 --> 07:58.004 in this particular situation, isn't able to learn 07:58.004 --> 08:00.440 and profit from the experience whereas we can, 08:00.440 --> 08:01.273 so I'm not gonna be able 08:01.273 --> 08:02.323 to give you any more information on that. 08:02.323 --> 08:03.156 - Lucas. 08:03.226 --> 08:06.194 - [Lucas] General, when did the attack start? 08:06.194 --> 08:08.474 - We're not going to get into details. 08:08.474 --> 08:09.908 It's an active investigation. 08:09.908 --> 08:11.779 - [Lucas] Do you know when it started? 08:11.779 --> 08:13.981 - Again, it's all under investigation, 08:13.981 --> 08:17.107 and we'll give you details when we have more. 08:17.107 --> 08:18.166 - When did you tell the White House 08:18.166 --> 08:20.520 that an attack was underway or had been started? 08:20.520 --> 08:22.231 - Again, our communications 08:22.231 --> 08:24.182 with the White House are confidential. 08:24.182 --> 08:26.539 The White House was briefed and understood .. 08:26.539 --> 08:28.044 - This is very basic information. 08:28.044 --> 08:29.831 Don't you think you should tell the American people 08:29.831 --> 08:31.317 what happened to those Soldiers out there? 08:31.317 --> 08:32.534 - I think it's important 08:32.534 --> 08:34.373 that we tell the American people the right information, 08:34.373 --> 08:38.290 and when we have it all, we will let them know. 08:38.321 --> 08:40.988 - Laurie Mylroie , Kurdistan 24. 08:41.823 --> 08:45.156 Is it still the position of the Pentagon 08:45.161 --> 08:48.743 that you have no information about the involvement 08:48.743 --> 08:51.628 of Iranian-backed Shia militias in Iraq's capture 08:51.628 --> 08:55.545 of Kirkuk as Colonel Dillon told us on Tuesday? 08:56.018 --> 08:59.558 Is that still your position, or you have new information? 08:59.558 --> 09:03.502 - At this time, I would have to refer you to OIR. 09:03.502 --> 09:04.654 General, if you'd like to give some more information. 09:04.654 --> 09:07.353 - No, I think we'll send Pat with that. 09:07.353 --> 09:08.936 - Okay, if I could. 09:09.753 --> 09:12.922 Zalmay Khalilzad, who once held the senior position 09:12.922 --> 09:16.422 in this building, in an interview with us, 09:16.460 --> 09:19.545 said that it was important for the United States 09:19.545 --> 09:23.128 to disable the tanks that these IRGC-backed 09:24.545 --> 09:27.515 Shiite militias have got from the Iraqi government. 09:27.515 --> 09:30.355 They're U.S. tanks, they were used in Kirkuk, 09:30.355 --> 09:32.383 and he said it's important to disable them. 09:32.383 --> 09:34.130 Are you considering doing that? 09:34.130 --> 09:36.328 - I will have to take that, and I'll come back to you. 09:36.328 --> 09:37.161 Barbara? 09:37.327 --> 09:39.361 - General MacKenzie, I'd like to ask two questions. 09:39.361 --> 09:41.438 I want to make sure I get both questions in, 09:41.438 --> 09:44.888 and get answers to both of them before you move on. 09:44.888 --> 09:47.816 So my first question is, when you talked 09:47.816 --> 09:51.983 about what happened, you said if we had a problem, 09:52.450 --> 09:53.994 again on the issue, 09:53.994 --> 09:56.147 if we had a problem, you want to know what it is, 09:56.147 --> 09:58.397 and you want to address it. 09:59.113 --> 10:00.862 So two questions sir. 10:00.862 --> 10:02.445 This was an ambush. 10:02.488 --> 10:05.213 It seems self-evident that you did have a problem. 10:05.213 --> 10:08.197 I don't think there's any question about that 10:08.197 --> 10:10.780 since the troops were ambushed. 10:11.542 --> 10:15.009 So my first question is, you had last time referenced 10:15.009 --> 10:17.772 it was ISIS to the best of your knowledge. 10:17.772 --> 10:21.710 First question is how was this not an intelligence failure? 10:21.710 --> 10:23.460 My second question is 10:23.618 --> 10:26.785 when you were asked by Bob Burns about 10:26.795 --> 10:29.966 what's the distinction between being separated 10:29.966 --> 10:32.616 and left behind, I believe you said, 10:32.616 --> 10:35.875 it was a distinction without a difference. 10:35.875 --> 10:39.792 So, it's still very unclear to me what happened 10:40.216 --> 10:44.383 to this young Soldier if you know he was separated. 10:45.193 --> 10:46.980 Tell us how you know that. 10:46.980 --> 10:50.492 Tell us what you know then about what happened to him 10:50.492 --> 10:54.409 because the Department is stating a conclusion, 10:54.692 --> 10:57.018 he was separated, so you must know something 10:57.018 --> 10:59.414 about what happened to him, so that, 10:59.414 --> 11:01.988 and how is it not an intelligence failure. 11:01.988 --> 11:03.369 - So Barbara, of course we do know a lot 11:03.369 --> 11:05.279 about what happened to him, and I'm not gonna be able 11:05.279 --> 11:07.356 to share that information with you. 11:07.356 --> 11:09.548 At some point, when the investigation is complete, 11:09.548 --> 11:10.851 conclusions have been reached, 11:10.851 --> 11:12.479 I'll be happy to share that information with you. 11:12.479 --> 11:15.079 I'm not gonna be able to share it with you right now. 11:15.079 --> 11:16.785 - [Barbara] I'd like my other question answered. 11:16.785 --> 11:19.389 I specifically was asking two questions. 11:19.389 --> 11:22.436 - Every tactical engagement doesn't necessarily proceed 11:22.436 --> 11:24.146 from an intelligence failure. 11:24.146 --> 11:26.306 We'll look at it, and we'll come to conclusions 11:26.306 --> 11:28.503 about how intelligence could have supported 11:28.503 --> 11:31.103 adequately or inadequately the engagement that occurred. 11:31.103 --> 11:33.417 But on the battlefield, the enemy gets a vote. 11:33.417 --> 11:35.044 The opposition gets a vote. 11:35.044 --> 11:36.430 Let me just finish please. 11:36.430 --> 11:38.102 We don't live in a perfect environment 11:38.102 --> 11:40.591 where everything is available, invisible all the time. 11:40.591 --> 11:43.008 It's a difficult environment. 11:43.273 --> 11:46.039 Sub-Saharan Africa is a very difficult place to operate. 11:46.039 --> 11:47.949 So, we'll investigate this. 11:47.949 --> 11:49.248 We'll have conclusions, 11:49.248 --> 11:51.117 and those conclusions will be presented. 11:51.117 --> 11:52.669 I'm not prepared to go further. 11:52.669 --> 11:54.545 - Barbara, we're gonna move on. 11:54.545 --> 11:55.545 Dan Lamothe. 11:58.040 --> 11:59.664 - Sir, a question for you as well. 11:59.664 --> 12:01.497 Related but different. 12:02.513 --> 12:04.390 You elaborated a bit on the search, 12:04.390 --> 12:06.826 and said that it never stopped. 12:06.826 --> 12:08.897 There's reports out that would suggest 12:08.897 --> 12:11.257 that additional resources were brought in. 12:11.257 --> 12:13.418 Can you share with the American people at all 12:13.418 --> 12:15.571 what that search looked like, 12:15.571 --> 12:17.930 what sort of things were involved, 12:17.930 --> 12:19.518 and what the troops on the ground did 12:19.518 --> 12:20.863 to find this young man? 12:20.863 --> 12:21.696 - Sure. 12:21.960 --> 12:24.684 Recovery of personnel is one of our most sensitive 12:24.684 --> 12:26.922 operational areas, so we never share tactics, techniques, 12:26.922 --> 12:28.872 and procedures that are associated with that. 12:28.872 --> 12:31.350 I will tell you that additional resources were brought in, 12:31.350 --> 12:32.978 and that we searched very hard, and that 12:32.978 --> 12:35.268 that search never stopped until we recovered the Soldier. 12:35.268 --> 12:37.426 I think probably that's the most important thing 12:37.426 --> 12:39.009 the American people want to know. 12:39.009 --> 12:39.842 - Hans. 12:39.842 --> 12:43.231 - Sir, if I could follow on the American, Nigerien, 12:43.231 --> 12:45.510 or French troops never leaving the battlefield. 12:45.510 --> 12:48.239 Did I hear you correctly that American troops 12:48.239 --> 12:51.087 stayed on the battlefield the entire time 12:51.087 --> 12:54.181 until Sergeant Johnson's body was recovered? 12:54.181 --> 12:56.250 - American troops might have been repositioned 12:56.250 --> 12:59.015 to do operations in the immediate area, 12:59.015 --> 13:02.512 but I would tell you that within the battle space, 13:02.512 --> 13:04.992 either American or Nigerien or French, 13:04.992 --> 13:07.311 and in some cases all three at the same time 13:07.311 --> 13:09.097 were engaged in active searches. 13:09.097 --> 13:10.521 Once the investigation's complete, 13:10.521 --> 13:13.697 I'll be able to give you a more descriptive timeline. 13:13.697 --> 13:16.338 But the sense that somehow it was a desolate site, 13:16.338 --> 13:18.982 we went back, didn't search for this Soldier. 13:18.982 --> 13:20.615 Nothing could be further from the truth, 13:20.615 --> 13:22.162 and that's an important myth 13:22.162 --> 13:24.561 that needs to be corrected now I think. 13:24.561 --> 13:26.360 - Just a quick follow-up on because you talk a lot 13:26.360 --> 13:29.007 about fighting ISIS across the globe, 13:29.007 --> 13:32.984 this hell as well, what you're doing with Al-Shabaab. 13:32.984 --> 13:34.649 Obviously, American troops came under ambush. 13:34.649 --> 13:36.358 You have assets in the region. 13:36.358 --> 13:38.358 Will you be retaliating? 13:38.514 --> 13:40.748 - We're not gonna talk about future operations. 13:40.748 --> 13:41.581 In the back. 13:41.581 --> 13:42.998 - Thank you Dana. 13:43.078 --> 13:46.582 On those current issues, North Korean Deputy Ambassador 13:46.582 --> 13:49.582 to United Nations said that recently 13:51.506 --> 13:55.673 talking about nuclear war may break out any moment. 13:57.475 --> 14:00.642 In this regard, North Korea preparing? 14:02.469 --> 14:06.281 Are you taking actions to U.S. and South Korea? 14:06.281 --> 14:07.907 What is your comment? 14:07.907 --> 14:10.027 - The United States is always prepared to address 14:10.027 --> 14:12.751 any threat to us from North Korea or anyone else. 14:12.751 --> 14:13.584 Right here. 14:13.584 --> 14:15.598 (stating name quickly) 14:15.598 --> 14:17.664 - I'm an independent journalist. 14:17.664 --> 14:19.862 As you mentioned, Afghanistan situation 14:19.862 --> 14:21.612 day by day get worse. 14:21.774 --> 14:25.327 Last week, for three port of Afghanistans decided 14:25.327 --> 14:27.726 attack by the Taliban happen. 14:27.726 --> 14:30.775 Do you think after President of France announced 14:30.775 --> 14:34.113 the new strategy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan, 14:34.113 --> 14:36.430 the Taliban attack, it increased. 14:36.430 --> 14:38.013 What is the reason? 14:38.135 --> 14:41.052 - I think the Taliban is desperate. 14:41.190 --> 14:43.386 I think you've also seen and the Secretary's mentioned 14:43.386 --> 14:45.100 that they've been trying 14:45.100 --> 14:48.189 to pull off a major offensive and they've failed. 14:48.189 --> 14:51.929 So again, the Taliban is on the run, and I think the fact 14:51.929 --> 14:56.096 that we've announced a strategy has them on notice. 14:56.808 --> 14:57.725 Right here. 14:58.676 --> 14:59.953 (stating name quickly) 14:59.953 --> 15:01.461 - Do you have anything to say 15:01.461 --> 15:04.461 about the situation in Kirkuk, Iraq, 15:04.713 --> 15:08.713 and earlier today, CIA Director Mike Pompeo said 15:09.103 --> 15:13.270 that they are aware of Qasem Soleimani, the leader 15:13.967 --> 15:17.967 of the Quds force that was present in that city. 15:18.237 --> 15:21.592 Do you also share what the CIA Director had to say? 15:21.592 --> 15:24.758 - I understand that there are reports of negotiations, 15:24.758 --> 15:28.591 and again, we encourage everyone, all parties, 15:28.992 --> 15:30.828 to have a political solution, 15:30.828 --> 15:33.745 and again, focus on defeating ISIS. 15:34.525 --> 15:36.790 - What CIA director have to say about this? 15:36.790 --> 15:38.536 - I'll refer you to the CIA. 15:38.536 --> 15:39.369 Christina. 15:39.369 --> 15:40.231 - [Christine] Thank you. 15:40.231 --> 15:41.775 Two questions for General MacKenzie. 15:41.775 --> 15:45.392 In general, what are U.S. Special Operations Forces doing 15:45.392 --> 15:48.241 to combat terrorism on the African continent, 15:48.241 --> 15:50.355 and are any of them acting as advisors 15:50.355 --> 15:52.522 on direct combat missions? 15:54.532 --> 15:56.725 - On the African continent, 15:56.725 --> 15:57.989 we're engaged with a variety 15:57.989 --> 16:00.183 of partner nations building CT capacity, 16:00.183 --> 16:01.891 counter-terrorist capacity. 16:01.891 --> 16:03.888 Niger is an excellent example of that. 16:03.888 --> 16:05.471 We've had a long relationship with them. 16:05.471 --> 16:07.662 There're a variety of nations there that we do that. 16:07.662 --> 16:09.451 Our missions are advise and assist. 16:09.451 --> 16:12.496 We're not directly involved in combat operations. 16:12.496 --> 16:15.626 - Are any advising on direct action missions? 16:15.626 --> 16:17.126 By partner forces? 16:17.905 --> 16:21.162 - No, we're not involved in direct action missions 16:21.162 --> 16:22.829 with partner forces. 16:23.035 --> 16:25.888 - Okay, and then secondly, have you seen 16:25.888 --> 16:30.055 that ISIS is trying to reconstitute itself in Africa 16:30.321 --> 16:33.336 because they're losing their caliphate in Iraq and Syria? 16:33.336 --> 16:35.005 - So that's a very difficult question. 16:35.005 --> 16:37.199 We believe, and we've talked a little bit about this before, 16:37.199 --> 16:39.032 that we're having great success against 16:39.032 --> 16:42.408 what was once known as the core caliphate, Iraq and Syria. 16:42.408 --> 16:44.836 Now we're actually beginning, I think, 16:44.836 --> 16:48.336 the end stage in the life of the caliphate 16:48.458 --> 16:49.810 as we complete the reduction of Raqqa as we move 16:49.810 --> 16:52.656 down the Euphrates River Valley and operate on both sides. 16:52.656 --> 16:54.198 I think that the physical core 16:54.198 --> 16:56.317 of the caliphate is gonna go away. 16:56.317 --> 16:59.045 I think that, however, through the internet, 16:59.045 --> 17:02.667 through cyber, through broad information exchange, 17:02.667 --> 17:05.801 we're always recognize the possibility 17:05.801 --> 17:08.843 of self-radicalization across the globe, 17:08.843 --> 17:11.727 and ISIS has been pursuing that very aggressively. 17:11.727 --> 17:14.407 I think we're gonna continue to see pockets pop up 17:14.407 --> 17:16.196 in different places across the globe. 17:16.196 --> 17:18.071 I would tell you to wrap the question back 17:18.071 --> 17:19.451 and come back to Africa. 17:19.451 --> 17:21.485 What we actually seek, and we recognize, 17:21.485 --> 17:22.666 we're never gonna be able 17:22.666 --> 17:24.172 to completely do away with this problem. 17:24.172 --> 17:25.962 It's always gonna bubble a little bit, 17:25.962 --> 17:28.890 but we want to get to a point where local nations, 17:28.890 --> 17:31.086 and Niger is an excellent example, 17:31.086 --> 17:32.755 local nations are gonna be able to deal 17:32.755 --> 17:35.844 with the problem themselves without large deployments 17:35.844 --> 17:38.492 of American Forces, perhaps with enabler support, 17:38.492 --> 17:41.081 perhaps with other niche support that we would give them. 17:41.081 --> 17:42.632 But that's an excellent example of what we're trying 17:42.632 --> 17:45.519 to do in Niger and other places across the world as well. 17:45.519 --> 17:46.352 - Ben. 17:47.143 --> 17:50.726 - General, question about the Niger troops. 17:50.962 --> 17:55.073 Were all the troops that were involved in that patrol, 17:55.073 --> 17:59.240 had they all completed their requisite qualifications 17:59.868 --> 18:02.067 and gone through the training pipeline? 18:02.067 --> 18:06.234 Were they fully qualified to be out on the mission 18:06.300 --> 18:10.217 that they're on and the billets that they held? 18:11.920 --> 18:14.683 - I'll have to get back to you on the specific details. 18:14.683 --> 18:16.187 That'll be obviously a matter 18:16.187 --> 18:17.528 the investigation will look at. 18:17.528 --> 18:19.213 I have no reason to believe that isn't the case. 18:19.213 --> 18:21.041 No reason at all to believe that isn't the case, 18:21.041 --> 18:22.873 but I just don't have that level of detail 18:22.873 --> 18:24.318 right now as I talk to ya. 18:24.318 --> 18:25.235 - One more. 18:25.905 --> 18:28.178 Senator McCain has said that he expects to see 18:28.178 --> 18:31.261 more transparency out of the Pentagon 18:32.087 --> 18:35.587 following all this, so has Senator Graham. 18:36.137 --> 18:40.304 Senator McCain said he'd be willing to hold up nominees, 18:40.384 --> 18:43.338 to do sort of whatever he needs to do 18:43.338 --> 18:45.975 in order to get more information out of the Pentagon. 18:45.975 --> 18:47.438 Do you have any response to that? 18:47.438 --> 18:49.230 - So what I can tell you is 18:49.230 --> 18:51.790 that the Pentagon did notify the staffs 18:51.790 --> 18:54.207 of both the SASC and the HASC 18:54.604 --> 18:57.437 regarding the Niger tragic events, 18:58.568 --> 19:00.685 and we have kept them up to date. 19:00.685 --> 19:03.169 Of course we will work with Senator McCain and his staff 19:03.169 --> 19:05.851 to ensure they get everything that they need. 19:05.851 --> 19:07.928 It is very important to the Secretary, 19:07.928 --> 19:10.163 and he is personally dedicated to that. 19:10.163 --> 19:12.315 - [Ben] Does it feel like it has the adequate level 19:12.315 --> 19:15.166 of transparency with the HASC and the SASC? 19:15.166 --> 19:17.431 - Well, I would say that we have done all we can, 19:17.431 --> 19:19.586 and we will continue to strive to do as much 19:19.586 --> 19:21.498 as we can to ensure that Senator McCain 19:21.498 --> 19:23.571 and all the members of the SASC and the HASC 19:23.571 --> 19:25.974 have exactly what they need when they need it. 19:25.974 --> 19:28.139 Right in the back, blue tie. 19:28.139 --> 19:31.032 - Yeah, Carlo Munoz with The Washington Times. 19:31.032 --> 19:33.472 Going back to the situation in Iraq and Kurdistan, 19:33.472 --> 19:35.909 former Ambassador Jeffrey said yesterday 19:35.909 --> 19:38.635 that the ongoing events in Kirkuk and Sinjar prove 19:38.635 --> 19:41.006 that the coalition is really unable 19:41.006 --> 19:43.324 to keep all the partners sort of in line 19:43.324 --> 19:44.844 with the mission to defeat ISIS, 19:44.844 --> 19:47.244 and the Department sort of repeated statements 19:47.244 --> 19:50.900 that the coalition is cohesive is "dangerous." 19:50.900 --> 19:53.945 Is there any response from the Department to those comments? 19:53.945 --> 19:57.652 - The coalition is very strong, and again, I think the fact 19:57.652 --> 20:01.517 that we've worked very closely in Niger with the French 20:01.517 --> 20:05.184 to ensure the rescue of our Service Members, 20:05.950 --> 20:09.068 I think the relationship is very strong. 20:09.068 --> 20:09.901 General? 20:10.205 --> 20:13.012 - No, I think we support a unified Iraq. 20:13.012 --> 20:14.151 That's been our position. 20:14.151 --> 20:15.370 We'll continue to support that. 20:15.370 --> 20:16.792 We don't think the recent election 20:16.792 --> 20:18.592 in Kurdistan was helpful toward that end, 20:18.592 --> 20:20.420 but we believe there are still avenues ahead of us 20:20.420 --> 20:23.671 that will allow us to resolve this situation. 20:23.671 --> 20:24.504 - Tara. 20:25.743 --> 20:29.109 - A follow-up on a question about the Senate. 20:29.109 --> 20:30.369 A couple of the lawmakers have said 20:30.369 --> 20:32.280 they did not know about these operations 20:32.280 --> 20:35.447 in Niger until this incident happened. 20:38.238 --> 20:40.307 Had the Pentagon provided outreach in advance 20:40.307 --> 20:43.927 of this to notify lawmakers that this was going on, 20:43.927 --> 20:44.800 and then I have a follow. 20:44.800 --> 20:45.633 - We did. 20:46.343 --> 20:49.435 We notified both the HASC and the SASC leadership, 20:49.435 --> 20:52.972 their staffs, on the afternoon that we knew 20:52.972 --> 20:56.392 of this incident, and we also updated them 20:56.392 --> 20:59.969 both via phone calls and emails throughout the situation. 20:59.969 --> 21:03.025 We also had a General who briefed today 21:03.025 --> 21:05.465 in a closed session to both the HASC and the SASC. 21:05.465 --> 21:07.055 - Sure, but I think their point was 21:07.055 --> 21:08.678 that they did not know these operations were going on 21:08.678 --> 21:11.095 until this incident occurred. 21:11.163 --> 21:14.094 Thus, the push for more transparency from the Pentagon. 21:14.094 --> 21:17.427 - Again, we stay in pretty close contact 21:17.511 --> 21:19.426 with both our authorizing committees 21:19.426 --> 21:21.545 as well as our appropriators. 21:21.545 --> 21:24.351 Again, again I don't know necessarily at what level, 21:24.351 --> 21:27.287 sometimes it's staff, sometimes it's members, 21:27.287 --> 21:30.336 but again, we will always stay in touch with them, 21:30.336 --> 21:32.903 and if members have any sort of questions, 21:32.903 --> 21:34.775 we'll always be available to them. 21:34.775 --> 21:37.842 - General MacKenzie, one on the accountability 21:37.842 --> 21:40.890 for personnel, did the Forces on the ground realize 21:40.890 --> 21:43.451 immediately that one Soldier had been separated, 21:43.451 --> 21:46.300 or was it something that became clear. 21:46.300 --> 21:47.886 You mentioned that there were U.S. Forces 21:47.886 --> 21:50.181 or French Forces on station throughout the entire time, 21:50.181 --> 21:51.731 but at what point did they realize 21:51.731 --> 21:53.084 someone had been separated? 21:53.084 --> 21:55.648 - I'm not gonna go into any details on that. 21:55.648 --> 21:57.723 I'll add onto the little comment I made earlier. 21:57.723 --> 22:00.493 The difficult fight, it's very confusing being 22:00.493 --> 22:01.998 in an engagement like that, 22:01.998 --> 22:03.749 but I'm not gonna be able to give you any more details. 22:03.749 --> 22:04.749 - Stephanie. 22:05.007 --> 22:05.840 - Hi Dana. 22:05.946 --> 22:07.897 I'm Stephanie Ramos with ABC. 22:07.897 --> 22:09.319 We know there's an ongoing investigation, 22:09.319 --> 22:12.129 but does Secretary Mattis has a tick tock 22:12.129 --> 22:14.165 of the events of the ambush that took place 22:14.165 --> 22:15.956 in Niger now two weeks ago? 22:15.956 --> 22:20.123 - Again, we are gathering information from Africom. 22:20.590 --> 22:23.109 He has every confidence in the leadership of Africom 22:23.109 --> 22:25.304 that we will get all the answers we need, 22:25.304 --> 22:27.554 and that is ongoing, so ... 22:28.068 --> 22:29.532 - He doesn't have a tick tock 22:29.532 --> 22:31.400 of what Africom has gathered so far? 22:31.400 --> 22:33.920 - I'm not going to talk about what he has or doesn't have, 22:33.920 --> 22:35.955 but I will tell you that the team is working very hard 22:35.955 --> 22:38.112 to get him all the information that he needs, 22:38.112 --> 22:40.964 and all the accurate information that they can provide. 22:40.964 --> 22:44.662 - How soon after the ambush did Secretary Mattis 22:44.662 --> 22:47.869 receive the details that have been gathered? 22:47.869 --> 22:49.822 - Again, I'm not gonna get into the timelines 22:49.822 --> 22:52.012 of when he gets information, but I can tell you 22:52.012 --> 22:54.938 that the Secretary is in consistent communication 22:54.938 --> 22:56.038 with his commanders. 22:56.038 --> 22:56.871 Sin. 22:57.678 --> 22:59.928 - On Raqqa for both of you. 23:00.486 --> 23:03.209 Raqqa was liberated at the cost of millions of dollars 23:03.209 --> 23:05.485 of American taxpayers, and also dedication 23:05.485 --> 23:09.652 of the U.S. Service Members who trained the local forces, 23:09.852 --> 23:14.019 but today, the YPG orders so-called SDF on a live video, 23:14.812 --> 23:17.783 dedicated the victory of Raqqa to the leader 23:17.783 --> 23:21.950 of the PKK, another brutal terrorist organization. 23:22.134 --> 23:25.673 For you, is it acceptable for you that a victory 23:25.673 --> 23:28.599 enabled by the U.S. is dedicated to a terrorist group 23:28.599 --> 23:32.102 that is designated by the Washington as well, 23:32.102 --> 23:34.421 and what's your reaction to this? 23:34.421 --> 23:36.742 - We work with the SDF, and we work 23:36.742 --> 23:39.889 to help them to focus on fighting ISIS. 23:39.889 --> 23:42.250 That is our sole responsibility. 23:42.250 --> 23:44.164 That's our sole commitment, and we'll continue 23:44.164 --> 23:46.593 to work by, with and through the SDF 23:46.593 --> 23:48.069 to ensure that we defeat ISIS. 23:48.069 --> 23:50.672 - [Man] Ma'am, we have time for a few more questions. 23:50.672 --> 23:52.172 - Way in the back. 23:52.594 --> 23:56.413 - [Reporter] General, can you say why did you have to rely 23:56.413 --> 23:59.093 on a contractor for medevac in Niger, 23:59.093 --> 24:01.902 and if you can, who was the contractor? 24:01.902 --> 24:03.608 - I'm not gonna be able to share the details 24:03.608 --> 24:04.989 of who the contractor was. 24:04.989 --> 24:06.941 We rely on contract support in a variety of places 24:06.941 --> 24:08.564 around the world, and I'm not gonna go 24:08.564 --> 24:10.599 into any more detail on it than that. 24:10.599 --> 24:11.432 - Adreese. 24:11.522 --> 24:13.772 - Has there been any patrol 24:14.796 --> 24:18.713 in Niger with U.S. Soldiers since the incident? 24:19.020 --> 24:20.688 - I don't have any details on that. 24:20.688 --> 24:22.000 - That's an operational matter. 24:22.000 --> 24:23.437 We're not gonna be able to discuss that. 24:23.437 --> 24:25.468 - Have any changes been made to patrols 24:25.468 --> 24:28.885 in the region with U.S. Soldiers in them? 24:28.920 --> 24:30.748 - For the reasons that we sort of talked about 24:30.748 --> 24:32.338 at the beginning, I'm not gonna give details 24:32.338 --> 24:33.883 on how we might change our tactics, techniques, 24:33.883 --> 24:36.203 and procedures as we approach an enemy 24:36.203 --> 24:37.789 who's obviously out there to kill us. 24:37.789 --> 24:38.622 - Tony. 24:39.989 --> 24:43.248 - The Secretary, being at his press scrum today, 24:43.248 --> 24:46.171 said contact was considered unlikely. 24:46.171 --> 24:48.121 General, can you flesh that out a little bit, 24:48.121 --> 24:50.191 the backdrop of that comment? 24:50.191 --> 24:52.431 It applies in many of these operations, 24:52.431 --> 24:55.411 these have been going on, on a routine basis, 24:55.411 --> 24:57.971 and this was kind of a bolt out of the blue. 24:57.971 --> 25:00.491 And for Dana, one of the nagging, 25:00.491 --> 25:02.279 although less significant issues 25:02.279 --> 25:05.362 with Congress today, is base closure. 25:05.825 --> 25:09.117 Earlier this week, the Pentagon sent out a report 25:09.117 --> 25:13.284 to Congress saying the military had 19% excess capacity. 25:13.681 --> 25:16.079 This is based on 2012 figures. 25:16.079 --> 25:18.233 A lot of members want to know, 25:18.233 --> 25:21.038 what's the confidence level you have in that number, 25:21.038 --> 25:25.205 80% confidence, 50, 10, maybe you're 100% confident 25:25.263 --> 25:28.443 that you have 19% excess capacity, 25:28.443 --> 25:30.356 but General, can you field my first? 25:30.356 --> 25:32.839 - Sure, so I think I stook here a couple weeks ago 25:32.839 --> 25:36.172 and noted that over the last six months, 25:36.175 --> 25:38.372 we've conducted 29 partnered patrols 25:38.372 --> 25:41.219 in this general area without contact of any kind. 25:41.219 --> 25:43.659 So that would lead you to reasonably believe 25:43.659 --> 25:46.138 that probability of contact was unlikely. 25:46.138 --> 25:48.535 Now, we will go back, and we're in the process 25:48.535 --> 25:50.572 of doing a thorough examination to see 25:50.572 --> 25:51.996 if we could've done something better, 25:51.996 --> 25:53.383 if we could have foreseen something, 25:53.383 --> 25:57.125 and that will all come out when we have that information. 25:57.125 --> 26:00.057 - And regarding BRAC, in the Secretary's letter 26:00.057 --> 26:03.026 to Congress, to the HASC and the SASC leadership, 26:03.026 --> 26:07.090 he says that we could save as much as two billion annually 26:07.090 --> 26:08.689 with a new BRAC ground, 26:08.689 --> 26:10.760 so I would say we're fairly confident 26:10.760 --> 26:14.083 that we could save the taxpayer a great deal of money. 26:14.083 --> 26:17.423 For more details, I'll have to refer you to my budget guy, 26:17.423 --> 26:21.287 but we're confident that another BRAC ground would save 26:21.287 --> 26:22.956 the Department a great deal of money. 26:22.956 --> 26:24.745 - Yeah, but the GAO in the last two 26:24.745 --> 26:26.735 or three years has seriously questioned a lot 26:26.735 --> 26:29.134 of your estimates about excess inventory. 26:29.134 --> 26:31.775 This is 2012 figures, so I'm just asking you, 26:31.775 --> 26:35.942 are you fairly confident that 19% is in the ballpark, 26:36.004 --> 26:37.876 or it could be a lot less? 26:37.876 --> 26:40.233 - I'm not willing to give you a certain number, 26:40.233 --> 26:42.088 but I will take it, and I will come back to you. 26:42.088 --> 26:42.921 - [Reporter] Thanks. 26:42.921 --> 26:44.010 - Okay, thank you all. 26:44.010 --> 26:44.843 - [Reporter] Thank you.