WEBVTT 00:02.500 --> 00:04.680 - Throughout the years, the Reagan Defense Forum 00:04.680 --> 00:07.710 has probably welcomed secretaries of defense 00:07.710 --> 00:09.210 past and present. 00:09.210 --> 00:10.900 This year, we are honored to be joined 00:10.900 --> 00:15.505 by former secretaries Madison Panetta at Table 10. 00:15.505 --> 00:18.588 (audience clapping) 00:24.160 --> 00:26.720 And our special guest today is a 27th 00:26.720 --> 00:31.100 U.S. Secretary of Defense, Dr. Mark T. Esper. 00:31.100 --> 00:32.850 Let me set the scene. 00:32.850 --> 00:35.110 It was 1991. 00:35.110 --> 00:37.830 The 101st Airborne was preparing to deploy 00:37.830 --> 00:40.593 for Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm. 00:41.430 --> 00:44.418 Major General Pa, commander of 101st 00:44.418 --> 00:47.153 had a question for Colonel Tom Greco. 00:48.010 --> 00:49.560 Is there anyone you want to recall 00:49.560 --> 00:51.253 to your unit for deployment? 00:52.090 --> 00:53.710 Absolutely, said Greco. 00:53.710 --> 00:56.520 That man is Lieutenant Mark Esper. 00:56.520 --> 00:59.100 He is the man I want to come back. 00:59.100 --> 01:01.800 Of course, Esper answered the call. 01:01.800 --> 01:04.470 Mark served as an officer with the Screaming Eagles 01:04.470 --> 01:08.430 of 101st Airborne, and in recognition of his leadership 01:10.668 --> 01:14.210 and ensuring the defeat of the Iraqi regime, 01:14.210 --> 01:17.770 Greco recommended Mark for the Bronze Star. 01:17.770 --> 01:19.570 That was just one of many commendations 01:19.570 --> 01:22.150 he earned during his service. 01:22.150 --> 01:27.150 Greco saw now Secretary Esper's leadership up close 01:27.180 --> 01:29.310 and under the most trying conditions. 01:29.310 --> 01:31.970 And nearly three decades later, 01:31.970 --> 01:35.680 on the eve of his Senate confirmation as defense secretary, 01:35.680 --> 01:38.420 Greco was still singing his praises. 01:38.420 --> 01:40.430 In interview, he said, quote, 01:40.430 --> 01:43.560 Esper served in all three military components. 01:43.560 --> 01:47.620 He served in large corporations in support of defense. 01:47.620 --> 01:51.520 He's walked into the boardrooms and on the frontlines. 01:51.520 --> 01:53.660 The Retired Colonel said, 01:53.660 --> 01:56.703 hard to imagine anyone with any more experience. 01:58.050 --> 02:01.550 And that is a backdrop that enabled Secretary Esper 02:01.550 --> 02:05.851 to earn one increasingly rare accolade earlier this year. 02:05.851 --> 02:10.380 And that is the Senate confirmation vote of 90 to eight. 02:10.380 --> 02:11.630 Let me repeat that. 02:11.630 --> 02:16.630 94 and eight against, doesn't seem to happen in this era. 02:16.880 --> 02:19.850 But I think Karl Rove is keeping track of the eight. 02:19.850 --> 02:21.203 So you're in good stead. 02:23.090 --> 02:26.860 Now, Secretary Esper faces his most difficult mission yet, 02:26.860 --> 02:29.720 navigating the complex threats that we've explored 02:29.720 --> 02:32.130 and will continue explore today from the comforts 02:32.130 --> 02:34.260 of the Reagan Library. 02:34.260 --> 02:36.390 Deterring aggression and defending freedom 02:36.390 --> 02:38.480 is the focus of our forum. 02:38.480 --> 02:42.150 Yet for Secretary Esper, it is his job description. 02:42.150 --> 02:44.113 His team is on the frontlines. 02:45.070 --> 02:48.330 According to Colonel Greco, during his years 02:48.330 --> 02:52.170 as an Army officer, Secretary X Esper was, quote, 02:52.170 --> 02:56.070 always listening, always taking in as much as he could. 02:56.070 --> 02:58.300 Listening is the strongest asset of a leader, 02:58.300 --> 02:59.640 as we all know. 02:59.640 --> 03:03.580 Yet this afternoon, it is our job to listen up. 03:03.580 --> 03:07.030 On behalf of my fellow Reagan Library trustees it's an honor 03:07.030 --> 03:08.840 to welcome to the stage for this year's 03:08.840 --> 03:11.690 National Reagan Defense Forum keynote address. 03:11.690 --> 03:15.633 The 27th U.S. Secretary of Defense, Dr. Mark Esper. 03:16.510 --> 03:19.510 (audience clapping) 03:27.040 --> 03:30.330 - Well, thanks, Michael, for that kind introduction. 03:30.330 --> 03:32.487 And I guess I'm gonna have to double up 03:32.487 --> 03:36.093 on my Christmas gift to Tom Greco for his kind words. 03:38.049 --> 03:39.200 But I also want to thank the Reagan Institute 03:39.200 --> 03:40.490 for inviting me here today. 03:40.490 --> 03:42.090 It's a true privilege and an honor. 03:42.090 --> 03:43.880 As many of you know, because there's a lot of friends 03:43.880 --> 03:45.460 of mine out there in the audience. 03:45.460 --> 03:48.410 I've attended this forum every year since 03:48.410 --> 03:50.600 its inception in 2012. 03:50.600 --> 03:53.780 And I found this to be an incredibly important venue 03:53.780 --> 03:56.183 to discuss the state of our national defense. 03:57.110 --> 03:58.940 It's quite fitting to have this discussion here 03:58.940 --> 04:02.307 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library to pay tribute 04:02.307 --> 04:05.750 to a leader who did so much to enhance our military 04:05.750 --> 04:08.400 strength and our nation's security during 04:08.400 --> 04:13.400 a time of profound consequence and change, just like today. 04:13.610 --> 04:16.690 And on a personal note, I always enjoyed walking through 04:16.690 --> 04:19.140 the halls and looking at the photos. 04:19.140 --> 04:21.260 That some of my closer friends know, 04:21.260 --> 04:25.130 my mother's side of the family or Reagans from County Cork. 04:25.130 --> 04:27.240 And over the years, my mom has claimed 04:27.240 --> 04:29.770 that we have a relationship with President Reagan. 04:29.770 --> 04:32.580 I've often pressed her for evidence. 04:32.580 --> 04:34.570 None has been forthcoming. 04:34.570 --> 04:37.340 And so my only other request to the library is this. 04:37.340 --> 04:38.660 As you go through your files, 04:38.660 --> 04:42.360 if you find that relationship, call me. 04:42.360 --> 04:45.006 If you don't, I'll give you her cell phone number 04:45.006 --> 04:46.800 (audience laughing) 04:46.800 --> 04:48.660 I don't want to make mom mad. 04:48.660 --> 04:51.360 When President Reagan took office, he faced a Herculean 04:51.360 --> 04:55.030 task building a military capable of defeating 04:55.030 --> 04:56.900 the Soviet Union. 04:56.900 --> 04:59.970 He got to work, highlighting the dangers of insufficient 04:59.970 --> 05:02.160 defense spending and the readiness shortfalls 05:02.160 --> 05:03.780 that plague the force. 05:03.780 --> 05:06.600 He secured substantial budget increases from Congress 05:06.600 --> 05:09.600 and advocated reforms that cut the costs of defense 05:09.600 --> 05:13.300 programs and delivered savings back to the department. 05:13.300 --> 05:16.070 He spoke fiercely about peace through strength 05:16.070 --> 05:18.270 and launched a major effort to modernize 05:18.270 --> 05:20.210 our nuclear arsenal. 05:20.210 --> 05:23.120 He held innovation R&D funding is the key 05:23.120 --> 05:26.010 to American advantage over our adversaries. 05:26.010 --> 05:28.950 He articulate this vision of American strength 05:28.950 --> 05:32.110 and global engagement in our nation's first ever 05:32.110 --> 05:34.250 national security strategy. 05:34.250 --> 05:37.270 And most importantly, he inspired us. 05:37.270 --> 05:38.453 He gave us confidence. 05:39.780 --> 05:41.550 Reagan brought to the forefront a commitment 05:41.550 --> 05:45.440 to American values, values such as freedom, human rights 05:45.440 --> 05:47.130 and the rule of law. 05:47.130 --> 05:49.826 He embodied these ideas as he rallied 05:49.826 --> 05:52.060 against the threat of communism. 05:52.060 --> 05:55.590 He stood for peace during nuclear weapons negotiations 05:55.590 --> 05:59.310 with the Soviet Union, and he championed liberty 05:59.310 --> 06:01.870 and opportunity in Berlin when he called on Gorbachev 06:01.870 --> 06:03.923 to tear down this wall. 06:04.840 --> 06:06.370 To say the world has changed since then 06:06.370 --> 06:08.150 would be an understatement. 06:08.150 --> 06:10.410 But President Reagan's vision and strategies to secure 06:10.410 --> 06:14.200 peace for America and for the world remain as relevant 06:14.200 --> 06:16.323 today as they were in his time. 06:17.415 --> 06:19.890 And this new era of great power competition, 06:19.890 --> 06:22.240 our war fighting advantages over strategic competitors 06:22.240 --> 06:24.110 are being challenged. 06:24.110 --> 06:25.820 The international rules based order 06:25.820 --> 06:28.310 is increasingly under attack. 06:28.310 --> 06:29.890 China and Russia. 06:29.890 --> 06:33.290 Today's revisionist powers are modernizing their militaries 06:33.290 --> 06:36.470 while seeking veto power over the economic and security 06:36.470 --> 06:38.283 decisions of other nations. 06:39.340 --> 06:42.890 China's economic rise has allowed it to triple its annual 06:42.890 --> 06:47.310 military spending since 2002, with estimates reaching close 06:47.310 --> 06:49.453 to $250 billion last year. 06:50.430 --> 06:53.000 Beijing continues to violate the sovereignty 06:53.000 --> 06:56.990 of Indo-Pacific nations and expand its control abroad under 06:56.990 --> 07:00.813 the pretense of belt and road infrastructure investments. 07:01.770 --> 07:05.720 Meanwhile, it is pursuing competitive advantages, 07:05.720 --> 07:09.340 often in illicit ways in emerging technologies like 07:09.340 --> 07:12.990 artificial intelligence and 5G, while exploiting other 07:12.990 --> 07:15.723 nations intellectual property for its own gain. 07:16.800 --> 07:19.670 Russia is another nation intent on upending 07:19.670 --> 07:21.670 the international norms through its aggressive 07:21.670 --> 07:24.830 foreign policy, broken treaty obligations, 07:24.830 --> 07:28.630 nuclear intimidation and cyber operations. 07:28.630 --> 07:30.960 It has violated the borders of its neighbors in the pursuit 07:30.960 --> 07:33.910 of regional dominance and turned to coercion and hybrid 07:33.910 --> 07:37.640 tactics as a means to regain strategic advantage. 07:37.640 --> 07:41.070 Elsewhere, we face ongoing threats from rogue regimes, 07:41.070 --> 07:44.550 including North Korea's nuclear weapons program and Iran's 07:44.550 --> 07:47.740 continued efforts to destabilize the Middle East. 07:47.740 --> 07:51.100 And around the world, terrorist organizations such as ISIS 07:51.100 --> 07:53.980 continue to pose a threat to the United States 07:53.980 --> 07:55.860 and our allies. 07:55.860 --> 07:58.860 This environment presents us with a host of challenges 07:58.860 --> 08:03.360 we must overcome to compete, deter and if necessary, 08:03.360 --> 08:05.543 to fight and win tomorrow's wars. 08:07.650 --> 08:09.250 Winning future battles requires us to contend 08:09.250 --> 08:11.900 with our competitors growing anti-access, 08:11.900 --> 08:15.010 aerial denial capabilities, hypersonic weapons, 08:15.010 --> 08:18.420 anti-satellite systems and other emerging technologies. 08:18.420 --> 08:21.680 We must develop and deploy new warfighting doctrine, 08:21.680 --> 08:24.880 including multi demand operations and command and control. 08:24.880 --> 08:27.240 To be prepared to fight not just in the air, 08:27.240 --> 08:32.100 on land and at sea, but also in space and cyberspace. 08:32.100 --> 08:34.780 This requires a robust defense budget and continued 08:34.780 --> 08:37.963 investments in our readiness and our modernization. 08:38.920 --> 08:41.430 It requires us to make tough choices to ensure our 08:41.430 --> 08:44.020 resources go to the right priorities. 08:44.020 --> 08:47.140 It requires an emphasis on innovation and cutting edge 08:47.140 --> 08:50.740 technologies, and it requires us to leverage our growing 08:50.740 --> 08:52.983 network of allies and partners. 08:54.380 --> 08:56.400 The National Defense Strategy remains our guiding 08:56.400 --> 08:58.880 beacon to meet these needs. 08:58.880 --> 09:01.750 Our focus is on three major lines of effort. 09:01.750 --> 09:04.650 Enhancing our military's readiness and lethality, 09:04.650 --> 09:07.940 strengthening our alliances and attracting new partners, 09:07.940 --> 09:10.040 and reforming the department to make sure our finite 09:10.040 --> 09:12.823 resources are directed toward our highest priorities. 09:13.720 --> 09:16.680 Alongside the NDS, we're also placing renewed emphasis 09:16.680 --> 09:19.410 on taking care of our service members and their families 09:19.410 --> 09:24.410 because we know that people are a most valuable resource. 09:25.530 --> 09:28.530 Since releasing the NDS, we have invested in new equipment, 09:28.530 --> 09:31.670 improved operational readiness and continue to modernize 09:31.670 --> 09:33.840 our nuclear deterrent forces. 09:33.840 --> 09:35.960 For example, we're developing next generation smart 09:35.960 --> 09:38.122 munitions and across our services. 09:38.122 --> 09:40.770 We're procuring advanced fighter jets. 09:40.770 --> 09:43.410 We're modernizing all three legs, the nuclear triad 09:43.410 --> 09:45.490 and investing in our missile defense program 09:45.490 --> 09:47.270 to protect the homeland. 09:47.270 --> 09:50.314 We're developing unmanned naval vessels and improving 09:50.314 --> 09:51.360 the readiness of our fleet. 09:51.360 --> 09:52.890 And we're developing a new generation 09:52.890 --> 09:54.293 of ground fighting vehicles. 09:55.180 --> 09:58.050 The department continues to invest in advanced technologies 09:58.050 --> 10:00.560 that will help us maintain our tactical advantage, 10:00.560 --> 10:02.800 such as artificial intelligence, directed energy, 10:02.800 --> 10:05.003 robotics and hypersonic weapons. 10:05.900 --> 10:08.270 Our current research and development budget is the largest 10:08.270 --> 10:13.060 it's been in 70 years, growing funding for space by 15% 10:13.060 --> 10:14.983 and cyber by 10%. 10:15.830 --> 10:18.040 While our adversaries seek to surpass us in developing 10:18.040 --> 10:20.720 this cutting edge technologies, we must press ahead 10:20.720 --> 10:23.610 to preserve our long held battlefield overmatch. 10:23.610 --> 10:26.540 We're well aware to doing so, 10:26.540 --> 10:27.520 on our way to doing so. 10:27.520 --> 10:30.740 For example, we established the United States Space Command 10:30.740 --> 10:33.400 and our modernizing our space capabilities. 10:33.400 --> 10:35.410 We increased our investments in both offensive 10:35.410 --> 10:38.170 and defensive cyber space to boost 10:38.170 --> 10:40.660 resiliency against adversaries. 10:40.660 --> 10:43.660 We stood up the joint Artificial Intelligence Center to get 10:43.660 --> 10:45.970 ahead of the curve in machine learning 10:45.970 --> 10:48.440 and we are identifying ways to leverage big data 10:48.440 --> 10:51.370 to gain efficiencies across the department. 10:51.370 --> 10:53.642 Meanwhile, we are working to reallocate our forces 10:53.642 --> 10:56.190 and equipment to property theaters that enable us to better 10:56.190 --> 10:58.223 compete with China and Russia. 10:59.151 --> 11:02.140 As part of our dynamic force employment, 11:02.140 --> 11:04.500 will deter aggression by becoming more operationally 11:04.500 --> 11:09.460 unpredictable to complicate adversary decision making. 11:09.460 --> 11:11.540 This will require us to adjust our force posture 11:11.540 --> 11:14.237 around the world to become more responsive to 11:14.237 --> 11:17.540 and more prepared for future threats. 11:17.540 --> 11:19.540 It also requires us to maintain a robust 11:19.540 --> 11:21.573 network of allies and partners. 11:22.550 --> 11:25.810 We recognize that they are an inherent strategic advantage 11:25.810 --> 11:28.230 our opponents do not possess. 11:28.230 --> 11:29.980 To bolster our collective security, 11:29.980 --> 11:33.620 we continue to emphasize burden sharing and it's working. 11:33.620 --> 11:36.997 Since 2016, our NATO allies have invested an additional 11:36.997 --> 11:40.930 $130 billion annually in defense. 11:40.930 --> 11:45.254 Nine NATO member states currently meet the 2% GDP commitment 11:45.254 --> 11:49.233 and many more on their path to reaching that goal by 2024. 11:50.370 --> 11:52.620 We continue to add more partners to global efforts to deter 11:52.620 --> 11:55.620 aggression such as the International Maritime Security 11:55.620 --> 11:59.530 Construct in the Strait of Hormuz and the more nascent 11:59.530 --> 12:02.020 integrated air missile defense effort to protect 12:02.020 --> 12:04.850 critical infrastructure in the Middle East. 12:04.850 --> 12:06.800 And we have secured greater host nation support 12:06.800 --> 12:09.503 in countries where U.S. troops are stationed abroad. 12:10.410 --> 12:13.000 Full implementation of the NDS, however, 12:13.000 --> 12:16.350 relies on more than just new concepts, smart investments 12:16.350 --> 12:17.863 and robust relationships. 12:18.810 --> 12:21.620 To be effective in an era of great power competition, 12:21.620 --> 12:24.110 it also requires us to reform. 12:24.110 --> 12:28.180 This means re revisiting our industrial era management 12:28.180 --> 12:32.090 structures and processes that were born during the Cold War. 12:32.090 --> 12:36.190 The leadership team across the department, OSD, Joint Staff, 12:36.190 --> 12:39.730 the services and combat commands must achieve a new level 12:39.730 --> 12:41.920 of integration and results with far greater 12:41.920 --> 12:44.210 speed than the Pentagon bureaucracy 12:44.210 --> 12:46.320 has traditionally accommodated. 12:46.320 --> 12:48.710 We need shared goals management based on data 12:48.710 --> 12:51.660 and accountability for NDS outcomes. 12:51.660 --> 12:54.030 To align our efforts, we have made major changes 12:54.030 --> 12:55.670 to our battle rhythm. 12:55.670 --> 12:58.730 Every week, all the department's senior leaders, uniformed 12:58.730 --> 13:01.410 and civilian, now meet as a leadership team to measure 13:01.410 --> 13:03.913 progress toward implementing the NDS. 13:04.810 --> 13:07.760 This is a significant management shift inside the Pentagon. 13:07.760 --> 13:09.740 But we are committed to fully implementing 13:09.740 --> 13:11.300 the strategy at every level. 13:11.300 --> 13:13.120 And I'm proud to report we have already 13:13.120 --> 13:14.483 made solid progress. 13:15.490 --> 13:17.480 However, to keep up this momentum, 13:17.480 --> 13:21.690 we depend on a predictable, sufficient and timely budget. 13:21.690 --> 13:23.660 Under President Trump's leadership and with the support 13:23.660 --> 13:26.100 of Congress, the department's recent budgets have allowed 13:26.100 --> 13:28.400 us to rebuild our warfighting readiness, 13:28.400 --> 13:31.310 which had been depleted due to several years of insufficient 13:31.310 --> 13:35.320 funding and numerous, numerous continuing resolutions. 13:35.320 --> 13:37.790 Last year's budget allowed us to really begin modernizing 13:37.790 --> 13:39.840 the force and increasingly lethality 13:39.840 --> 13:41.973 to meet future warfighting demands. 13:43.027 --> 13:45.040 Out 2020 budget and beyond will drive 13:45.040 --> 13:47.000 those modernization efforts and ensure 13:47.000 --> 13:49.130 their long term success. 13:49.130 --> 13:52.840 We understand that the nation's resources are limited. 13:52.840 --> 13:54.810 To enable sustained investment in critical 13:54.810 --> 13:58.290 next generation capabilities, our future budgets must free 13:58.290 --> 14:01.400 up those resources by divesting from legacy systems 14:01.400 --> 14:03.730 and low priority activities. 14:03.730 --> 14:06.730 We need your support to get this done. 14:06.730 --> 14:09.160 After all, great power competition is not solely 14:09.160 --> 14:12.520 the concern of the Department of Defense. 14:12.520 --> 14:15.840 The rising theft of intellectual property, cyber intrusions 14:15.840 --> 14:19.300 into public and private networks and state backed met market 14:19.300 --> 14:22.713 manipulation are consequences of China's growing power. 14:23.800 --> 14:26.280 These activities erode our industrial base and make 14:26.280 --> 14:29.730 American innovation vulnerable to exploitation. 14:29.730 --> 14:34.033 Everyone, everyone in this room is impacted by this reality. 14:35.000 --> 14:37.250 To further complicate matters, the Department of Defense 14:37.250 --> 14:41.280 remains hamstrung by the ongoing continuing resolution. 14:41.280 --> 14:45.100 For every day under a CR, is a day we're competing 14:45.100 --> 14:49.690 with Russia and China with one hand tied behind our back. 14:49.690 --> 14:52.270 This summer's budget agreement showed great promise, 14:52.270 --> 14:54.737 but unfortunately we are still operating at a level 14:54.737 --> 14:58.110 $19 billion below the top line. 14:58.110 --> 15:02.030 In fact, we continue to lose nearly $5 billion in buying 15:02.030 --> 15:05.730 power for every quarter we remain in a CR. 15:05.730 --> 15:07.540 This must end. 15:07.540 --> 15:09.880 That is why I continue to call on Congress to pass 15:09.880 --> 15:13.140 an appropriations bill that provides our service members 15:13.140 --> 15:16.010 the support they deserve and allows the department to fully 15:16.010 --> 15:18.193 implement the National Defense Strategy. 15:20.288 --> 15:23.288 (audience clapping) 15:28.370 --> 15:29.223 Let me repeat. 15:30.290 --> 15:33.250 Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines 15:33.250 --> 15:37.070 and civilians need a defense appropriations bill, now. 15:37.070 --> 15:37.993 Let's get it done. 15:40.910 --> 15:43.250 In addition, we need Congress to grant us the authorities 15:43.250 --> 15:45.500 required to maintain an edge over our adversaries 15:45.500 --> 15:49.000 in every war fighting domain to include space. 15:49.000 --> 15:51.680 It was also essential that this year's NDA fully authorize 15:51.680 --> 15:54.390 the creation of the space force as the sixth branch 15:54.390 --> 15:55.760 of the armed forces. 15:55.760 --> 15:57.410 And I want to thank Congress for doing that, 15:57.410 --> 15:59.370 and I want to specifically thank, 15:59.370 --> 16:01.860 where's Chairman Smith? 16:01.860 --> 16:04.110 And Congressman Thornberry, thank you both, 16:04.110 --> 16:06.843 as well as your counterparts in the Senate for doing that. 16:06.843 --> 16:09.843 (audience clapping) 16:12.790 --> 16:14.690 Within the department, we are implementing aggressive 16:14.690 --> 16:17.620 reforms to free up the time, money and manpower to put back 16:17.620 --> 16:19.680 into our highest priorities. 16:19.680 --> 16:22.020 The week after I was confirmed, we launched a defense wide 16:22.020 --> 16:24.600 review to begin reforming the Fourth Estate. 16:24.600 --> 16:28.193 In just four months of work, we have saved over $5 billion. 16:29.260 --> 16:31.650 By decreasing overhead, divesting legacy activities 16:31.650 --> 16:33.670 and reducing lower party programs, 16:33.670 --> 16:35.510 we are able to invest more in the warfighting 16:35.510 --> 16:37.560 requirements of the services. 16:37.560 --> 16:40.480 However, we can't do this without the backing of Congress. 16:40.480 --> 16:42.290 When our budget comes to the Hill next year, 16:42.290 --> 16:44.540 I ask you to support our proposals 16:44.540 --> 16:47.470 and enact the legislative changes needed to get 16:47.470 --> 16:50.470 these reforms across the finish line. 16:50.470 --> 16:53.390 And to be clear, this is just the beginning. 16:53.390 --> 16:56.500 I expect every leader and each military service and OSD 16:56.500 --> 16:59.730 and the joint staff and in the combatant commands to review 16:59.730 --> 17:03.350 their budgets with the same rigour and to pre-prioritize 17:03.350 --> 17:05.330 to support the NDS. 17:05.330 --> 17:08.420 We will continue the defense wide review process early next 17:08.420 --> 17:11.980 year from a clean sheet as we start looking at the 2021 17:11.980 --> 17:16.023 budget to ensure we make the most of every taxpayer dollar. 17:17.400 --> 17:19.750 The security, the United States of America, 17:19.750 --> 17:22.100 and in fact the world, depends on our willingness 17:22.100 --> 17:23.850 to prepare for an uncertain future. 17:24.770 --> 17:26.850 As I meet my counterparts throughout my travels, 17:26.850 --> 17:30.060 I'm reminded just how much other nations desire America's 17:30.060 --> 17:32.120 presence and our leadership. 17:32.120 --> 17:36.220 They look to us to deter aggression, to help build their 17:36.220 --> 17:39.020 military capacity and to promote American values 17:39.020 --> 17:42.110 like freedom and respect for the rule of law. 17:42.110 --> 17:44.750 The United States plays a unique role in the world 17:44.750 --> 17:46.523 as a beacon of those principles. 17:47.440 --> 17:50.350 In his farewell address, President Reagan recounted a story 17:50.350 --> 17:54.540 from the early 1980s about an American sailor on the carrier 17:54.540 --> 17:56.433 Midway in the South China Sea. 17:57.470 --> 18:01.250 As his crews save the boat for refugees escaping communist 18:01.250 --> 18:04.190 control of Southeast Asia, one of those refugees 18:04.190 --> 18:05.940 called out to the sailor. 18:05.940 --> 18:07.830 Hello, American sailor. 18:07.830 --> 18:10.310 Hello, freedom man. 18:10.310 --> 18:12.570 And as the president recounted the time in his own words, 18:12.570 --> 18:16.720 he said, quote, a small amount with a big meaning. 18:16.720 --> 18:20.090 A moment the sailor who wrote it in a letter couldn't 18:20.090 --> 18:21.670 get it out of his mind. 18:21.670 --> 18:24.430 And when I saw it, neither could I. 18:24.430 --> 18:28.000 Because that's what was to be an American in the 1980s. 18:28.000 --> 18:29.593 We stood again for freedom. 18:31.210 --> 18:34.260 America was synonymous with freedom then, 18:34.260 --> 18:35.513 and it still is today. 18:36.500 --> 18:38.600 Our service members were seen across the world 18:38.600 --> 18:42.680 as sentinels of that freedom then as they are today, 18:42.680 --> 18:44.970 and Reagan understood that American military power 18:44.970 --> 18:47.960 was the key to security and prosperity, then, 18:47.960 --> 18:49.243 just as it is today. 18:50.220 --> 18:52.480 The United States military will continue to demonstrate 18:52.480 --> 18:54.450 leadership across the globe. 18:54.450 --> 18:57.754 We will continue to uphold America's values. 18:57.754 --> 19:00.030 And as President Reagan championed, 19:00.030 --> 19:03.700 we will continue to promote peace through strength. 19:03.700 --> 19:06.375 Thank you all, and I look forward to our discussion. 19:06.375 --> 19:09.375 (audience clapping) 19:16.040 --> 19:17.583 - Thank you, Mr. Secretary. 19:18.460 --> 19:19.900 Wonderful remarks. 19:19.900 --> 19:20.733 We now, 19:20.733 --> 19:22.730 I mentioned earlier we have a number of friends 19:22.730 --> 19:26.010 in the media and it's a real honor to present somebody 19:26.010 --> 19:28.360 who's been with us for several years now and comes regularly 19:28.360 --> 19:31.380 and a big friend of the Reagan Defense Forum, 19:31.380 --> 19:32.860 and that's Bret Baier. 19:32.860 --> 19:36.563 Bret is serving as the Fox News Channel chief political 19:36.563 --> 19:39.860 correspondent and the anchor of the "Special Report". 19:39.860 --> 19:43.166 So with no further ado, welcome, Bret Baier to the stage. 19:43.166 --> 19:44.933 (audience clapping) 19:44.933 --> 19:48.116 - Thank you very much. 19:48.116 --> 19:48.949 Thank you very much. 19:48.949 --> 19:50.050 I'm going to trade seats with you 19:50.050 --> 19:52.670 because my microphone's on this side. 19:52.670 --> 19:54.160 Thank you, Mr. Secretary. 19:54.160 --> 19:56.213 - [Man] Always knew you wanted to be on the left. 19:56.213 --> 19:57.200 - Yeah. 19:57.200 --> 19:58.173 There you go. 19:59.270 --> 20:00.103 So. 20:01.770 --> 20:03.350 Good afternoon. 20:03.350 --> 20:07.000 I've done this for the past two years. 20:07.000 --> 20:08.870 I did it. 20:08.870 --> 20:11.453 Interviewed, H.R. McMaster, 20:13.560 --> 20:16.302 and a few weeks later, he resigned. 20:16.302 --> 20:17.280 (audience laughing) 20:17.280 --> 20:20.050 I interviewed, Secretary Matus 20:20.050 --> 20:21.883 and a few weeks later, he resigned. 20:23.380 --> 20:24.619 Everything okay? 20:24.619 --> 20:26.540 (audience laughing) 20:26.540 --> 20:28.460 - I guess I'll have an easy Christmas. 20:28.460 --> 20:30.593 - Okay, just checking. 20:32.180 --> 20:33.013 Thanks for the time. 20:33.013 --> 20:34.410 First, I want to talk about this, 20:34.410 --> 20:37.003 this horrible story out of Pensacola. 20:38.140 --> 20:41.890 You can definitively say it's terrorism today. 20:41.890 --> 20:44.400 - Well, first of all, it's a very tragic incident. 20:44.400 --> 20:46.640 Three lives lost, eight injured. 20:46.640 --> 20:48.780 And, of course, we extend our condolences 20:48.780 --> 20:51.330 to all the families affected by it and touched by it, 20:51.330 --> 20:53.690 in our military community down there. 20:53.690 --> 20:55.930 But no, I can't say it's terrorism at this time. 20:55.930 --> 20:58.410 I think we need to let the investigators, the FBI, 20:58.410 --> 21:01.110 do its work and tell us get us the facts 21:01.110 --> 21:02.560 and we'll move up from there. 21:03.660 --> 21:06.890 - It's reported that he posted a will on Twitter 21:06.890 --> 21:09.350 praising Osama bin Laden. 21:09.350 --> 21:11.430 There have been multiple arrests. 21:11.430 --> 21:14.380 Any other light you can shed on this investigation? 21:14.380 --> 21:15.430 - You know, not at this time. 21:15.430 --> 21:17.380 Like I said, my view is to let the investigators 21:17.380 --> 21:18.500 do their work. 21:18.500 --> 21:21.710 In the meantime, we have taken precautions. 21:21.710 --> 21:24.810 Yesterday, I directed that we look at our security 21:24.810 --> 21:27.540 precautions across the services and all of our installations 21:27.540 --> 21:30.000 and bases and facilities to make sure that we're, 21:30.000 --> 21:32.820 get the appropriate degree of security to protect 21:32.820 --> 21:35.810 our service members and our families and our communities. 21:35.810 --> 21:36.940 And that's underway. 21:36.940 --> 21:39.410 And at the same time, I also directed that we look 21:39.410 --> 21:41.690 at our vetting procedures within within DOD 21:41.690 --> 21:44.740 for all the many foreign nationals to come for good reason 21:44.740 --> 21:45.730 to our country to train. 21:45.730 --> 21:48.790 And as as you may or may not know, anybody that comes 21:48.790 --> 21:51.430 to United States to train is or should be, 21:51.430 --> 21:52.870 is vetted by the Department of State, 21:52.870 --> 21:55.100 the Department of Homeland Security, and then ultimately us. 21:55.100 --> 21:56.670 So we need to relook all that. 21:56.670 --> 21:59.170 But again, I think what we need to do is make sure 21:59.170 --> 22:01.600 we understand the what's in wise and hows of this 22:01.600 --> 22:04.540 and not jump to any conclusions before that happens. 22:04.540 --> 22:07.700 - Is there any doubt or concern in your mind 22:07.700 --> 22:12.700 deploying troops to Saudi Arabia in the wake of all of this? 22:12.790 --> 22:14.370 - No, not at all. 22:14.370 --> 22:16.760 I think, you know, Saudi Arabia's longstanding partner 22:16.760 --> 22:17.593 of ours in the region. 22:17.593 --> 22:19.810 We share mutual security interests, 22:19.810 --> 22:21.630 primarily with regard to Iran. 22:21.630 --> 22:24.850 And the importance of there is reassuring our neighbors 22:24.850 --> 22:26.580 and partners and allies throughout the region 22:26.580 --> 22:28.690 that we're were there to assist them, 22:28.690 --> 22:31.500 we're there to defend the international rules-based order. 22:31.500 --> 22:32.333 And we want. 22:32.333 --> 22:34.890 We need to deter Iran from its malign behavior. 22:34.890 --> 22:37.501 - You mentioned Iran, the multiple reports 22:37.501 --> 22:40.250 out there about additional forces heading 22:40.250 --> 22:43.830 to the Middle East to counter Iran. 22:43.830 --> 22:45.090 Is that happening? 22:45.090 --> 22:46.940 - No, those are false reports. 22:46.940 --> 22:48.900 I don't know where they came from. 22:48.900 --> 22:52.080 We've deployed 14,000 troops 22:52.080 --> 22:53.620 since May of this year. 22:53.620 --> 22:56.220 But right now, I'm not looking at any major deployments 22:56.220 --> 22:57.420 coming up in the region. 22:57.420 --> 22:59.040 That said, on a day to day basis, 22:59.040 --> 23:01.340 we monitor what's happening in the Middle East, 23:01.340 --> 23:03.950 on the Korean Peninsula, in the European theater, 23:03.950 --> 23:04.783 all over the world. 23:04.783 --> 23:07.720 And we make adjustments, tuning our forces up or down 23:07.720 --> 23:09.240 based on what the needs of the commander are. 23:09.240 --> 23:10.960 And that happens again, routinely. 23:10.960 --> 23:11.793 That's just what we do. 23:11.793 --> 23:13.420 - Is the president open to that? 23:13.420 --> 23:14.253 - Yes. 23:17.390 --> 23:20.140 - Has the 14,000 been affected? 23:20.140 --> 23:22.110 - Well, the 14,000 since May. 23:22.110 --> 23:25.360 Not this mysterious other 14,000. 23:25.360 --> 23:26.193 Yes. 23:26.193 --> 23:29.180 I think the degree if you go back in time to June or July, 23:29.180 --> 23:31.700 when we had the shoot down of the drone. 23:31.700 --> 23:35.280 We had the Iranians seizing 23:35.280 --> 23:38.450 or trying to disable ships in the Strait. 23:38.450 --> 23:39.980 We we took some actions. 23:39.980 --> 23:41.800 I eventually deployed some additional forces 23:41.800 --> 23:43.120 a month or so later. 23:43.120 --> 23:46.290 And since that time, in terms of overt actions directed 23:46.290 --> 23:49.770 to us or our allies, and that was following the wake 23:49.770 --> 23:51.480 of the Aramco incident. 23:51.480 --> 23:53.310 We haven't seen that level of activity. 23:53.310 --> 23:54.420 So that's a good thing. 23:54.420 --> 23:56.730 But again, what I need to do is to continually assess 23:56.730 --> 23:59.040 the situation and make sure we have the right degree 23:59.040 --> 24:03.130 of forces in position to deter Iranian bad behavior 24:03.130 --> 24:07.000 and if necessary, to respond and respond forcefully 24:07.000 --> 24:09.520 in a way that they understand that we're serious about 24:09.520 --> 24:12.600 defending our friends, reassuring our allies and preventing 24:12.600 --> 24:13.810 them from misbehaving. 24:13.810 --> 24:15.690 - Knowing what you know, do you expect Iran 24:15.690 --> 24:17.720 to launch another attack? 24:17.720 --> 24:19.580 - I don't necessarily expect them, 24:19.580 --> 24:21.090 but I have to plan and prepare for it. 24:21.090 --> 24:24.270 And again, that's something we try and watch very carefully 24:24.270 --> 24:25.780 and adjust our forces and our readiness 24:25.780 --> 24:27.080 posture to do something. 24:27.080 --> 24:29.820 And by the way, part of our strategy out there is to, 24:29.820 --> 24:32.770 and I mentioned in my remarks, is the multilateralize us. 24:32.770 --> 24:35.090 And I've had phone conversations with many of our NATO 24:35.090 --> 24:38.990 allies about providing additional forces into the Saudi, 24:38.990 --> 24:42.390 the Arabian Peninsula, air defense assets in particular. 24:42.390 --> 24:45.140 Now, we all recognize the challenge presented by Iran. 24:45.140 --> 24:49.260 Again, whether it's their direct operations or more likely, 24:49.260 --> 24:51.810 most likely through proxies, either from the south 24:51.810 --> 24:55.220 or from proxies in Iraq that could 24:55.220 --> 24:56.690 threaten us or our interests. 24:56.690 --> 24:58.800 - Is it your estimation that Iran, 24:58.800 --> 25:00.550 the threat from Iran is increasing? 25:01.840 --> 25:04.520 - I think you could make that assessment, 25:04.520 --> 25:07.440 given the effectiveness of the maximum pressure campaign, 25:07.440 --> 25:09.730 given what's happening in the streets of Iran these days, 25:09.730 --> 25:12.230 you see a regime under stress. 25:12.230 --> 25:15.170 It's a good thing that the Iranian people are also seeking 25:15.170 --> 25:17.540 the prosperity, the liberty, the freedoms 25:17.540 --> 25:18.800 that we enjoy in this country. 25:18.800 --> 25:21.780 That's something that we believe is, as I talked about 25:21.780 --> 25:23.110 promoting American values abroad. 25:23.110 --> 25:23.943 That's what we do. 25:23.943 --> 25:26.790 So you see a regime increasingly under stress. 25:26.790 --> 25:29.190 I think we need to be prepared for any contingency. 25:29.190 --> 25:32.500 - Are you seeing evidence of missiles going into Iraq 25:32.500 --> 25:35.950 from Iran that could threaten U.S. troops in Iraq? 25:35.950 --> 25:37.870 - Well, I'm not going to comment on anything like that 25:37.870 --> 25:38.870 in terms of intelligence. 25:38.870 --> 25:41.750 But, you know, there have been reports in the public space 25:41.750 --> 25:45.240 about rockets being fired at American forces 25:45.240 --> 25:46.700 on bases in Iraq. 25:46.700 --> 25:48.160 So we've seen a little bit of an uptick there. 25:48.160 --> 25:49.700 And that's, again, another indicator 25:49.700 --> 25:51.670 for us of Iran reaching out. 25:51.670 --> 25:53.770 I mean, you'd look right now in the Arabian Peninsula, 25:53.770 --> 25:55.410 you see some type of rapprochement 25:55.410 --> 25:57.240 between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. 25:57.240 --> 25:58.730 That's a good thing, right, 25:58.730 --> 26:01.216 because the Iranians have been trying to, 26:01.216 --> 26:04.155 One way by which they've been creating turmoil 26:04.155 --> 26:05.860 in the theater is through Yemen 26:05.860 --> 26:07.090 and through its proxies in Yemen. 26:07.090 --> 26:09.121 So those things are all challenging 26:09.121 --> 26:10.670 their strategy right now. 26:10.670 --> 26:13.490 And we watch it carefully. 26:13.490 --> 26:16.600 - The resignation of the Iraqi prime minister, 26:16.600 --> 26:17.600 how do you see that? 26:18.760 --> 26:20.820 - Well, you know, I was in Iraq in the Middle East 26:20.820 --> 26:21.880 about four weeks ago. 26:21.880 --> 26:22.713 I met with him. 26:22.713 --> 26:23.650 I met with the defense minister. 26:23.650 --> 26:25.850 We discussed that at the time. 26:25.850 --> 26:27.630 I, of course, assured him that we respect 26:27.630 --> 26:30.120 Iraq's sovereignty, that we're there to assist Iraq, 26:30.120 --> 26:32.600 to help them in terms of the train, advise, assist, 26:32.600 --> 26:36.960 mission, to deter Iran and to deter Shia militia groups 26:36.960 --> 26:38.090 in that country. 26:38.090 --> 26:39.990 So what you see, what's happening in the streets now, 26:39.990 --> 26:43.840 are people coming out across Iraq protesting 26:43.840 --> 26:47.120 any number of issues, whether it's a job opportunity, 26:47.120 --> 26:50.230 economic pressures, but also saying we want Iran 26:50.230 --> 26:51.203 out of our country. 26:52.420 --> 26:54.230 So that's a telltale sign, 26:54.230 --> 26:56.760 particularly among two Shia nations. 26:56.760 --> 26:59.950 And so it's not good to see the destabilization 26:59.950 --> 27:02.810 in the government, but they're trying to work a way forward. 27:02.810 --> 27:04.990 What we don't want is that country to collapse. 27:04.990 --> 27:07.010 They've been good partners of ours, and we need to continue 27:07.010 --> 27:09.430 to support them in the way we do currently. 27:09.430 --> 27:10.870 - Gonna bounce around the world here. 27:10.870 --> 27:13.840 Are you concerned about this Christmas gift? 27:13.840 --> 27:17.580 North Korea says it will deliver if no deal is reached. 27:17.580 --> 27:19.130 - Well, look, we keep a close eye 27:19.130 --> 27:20.990 on North Korea all the time. 27:20.990 --> 27:22.230 My job is twofold. 27:22.230 --> 27:24.020 One is to ensure we're ready to fight 27:24.020 --> 27:25.310 and win tonight if called upon. 27:25.310 --> 27:27.080 And I'm confident that we are. 27:27.080 --> 27:29.560 I was just in Korea a few weeks ago and meeting with our 27:29.560 --> 27:33.650 commanders on the ground, reviewing our operations together. 27:33.650 --> 27:36.560 Number two is my job is to enable our diplomats to make 27:36.560 --> 27:39.410 sure that they have the support of the Defense Department 27:39.410 --> 27:40.360 as a move forward. 27:40.360 --> 27:42.260 So our position remains the same. 27:42.260 --> 27:45.250 The best path forward with regard to North Korea 27:45.250 --> 27:48.060 is a diplomatic solution, a political agreement that gets 27:48.060 --> 27:50.200 us to a denuclearized peninsula. 27:50.200 --> 27:51.720 That's all in everybody's interests. 27:51.720 --> 27:53.500 National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien 27:53.500 --> 27:55.850 was on my show Thursday. 27:55.850 --> 27:57.050 - He did pretty well, didn't he? 27:57.050 --> 27:57.883 - [Bret] Did he? 27:57.883 --> 27:59.100 Okay. 27:59.100 --> 28:02.920 And he said that the administration is hopeful 28:02.920 --> 28:05.720 that a deal can come together. 28:05.720 --> 28:08.160 Where is that hope coming from? 28:08.160 --> 28:11.120 Because you look at what's happening, 28:11.120 --> 28:12.790 you just don't see it. 28:12.790 --> 28:13.910 - Well, look, you prepare for the worst, 28:13.910 --> 28:15.070 but you work for the best. 28:15.070 --> 28:17.110 And in this case, you know, we have a very capable 28:17.110 --> 28:19.020 state department team that's out there engaging 28:19.020 --> 28:20.410 with the North Koreans. 28:20.410 --> 28:24.250 And the best path forward is through a political agreement. 28:24.250 --> 28:25.730 And that is our hope. 28:25.730 --> 28:27.660 If you don't have hope and then what, 28:27.660 --> 28:30.200 you fall back into a war footing. 28:30.200 --> 28:33.130 I will tell you that when I came into office in the fall 28:33.130 --> 28:35.800 of 2017 and Secretary Mattis was there, 28:35.800 --> 28:37.565 we were on a war footing. 28:37.565 --> 28:39.450 We were getting ready to possibly 28:39.450 --> 28:41.570 go to war against the DPRK. 28:41.570 --> 28:43.680 And it was the president's intervention, his outreach, 28:43.680 --> 28:46.910 his leadership that began the dialogue with Kim Jong-un 28:46.910 --> 28:48.870 directly that got us off that path. 28:48.870 --> 28:51.260 In two years now, we haven't had nuclear tests 28:51.260 --> 28:53.040 and we haven't had ICBM launches. 28:53.040 --> 28:54.340 Those are good things. 28:54.340 --> 28:57.180 And again, what we've got to continue to do is push 28:57.180 --> 28:59.170 and talk to the North Koreans about getting back 28:59.170 --> 29:02.400 to the diplomatic table and try and find a way forward. 29:02.400 --> 29:04.030 - [Bret] How concerned are you about North Korea's 29:04.030 --> 29:05.880 solid fuel rockets? 29:05.880 --> 29:07.410 Does it change the equation? 29:07.410 --> 29:10.020 - Well, solid fuel boosters do provide you a degree 29:10.020 --> 29:14.160 of efficiency and mobility and gives you less warning 29:14.160 --> 29:16.090 than do a liquid fueled rockets. 29:16.090 --> 29:17.940 but that they've been moving in this direction for years. 29:17.940 --> 29:19.980 Again, it's another thing that we watch, 29:19.980 --> 29:24.030 because it reduces our warnings, if you will. 29:24.030 --> 29:26.900 But we have very good intelligence on North Korea. 29:26.900 --> 29:28.430 We work closely with our partners. 29:28.430 --> 29:31.640 The South Koreans, we're very capable allies as well. 29:31.640 --> 29:34.280 And these are all things that it's my responsibility 29:34.280 --> 29:36.020 as long with the intelligence community, 29:36.020 --> 29:37.450 keep a close eye on. 29:37.450 --> 29:39.630 - [Bret] Do you think that this is just a cycle 29:39.630 --> 29:42.840 that Kim Jong-un goes through the saber-rattling 29:42.840 --> 29:46.683 and it's kind of what happens every Christmas? 29:48.020 --> 29:50.250 - Look, I've been watching North Korea since 1994, 29:50.250 --> 29:52.190 when I was a war planner for the Pacific 29:52.190 --> 29:53.440 on the Army staff. 29:53.440 --> 29:57.560 So I've seen these these these efforts, these plays, 29:57.560 --> 29:59.200 if you will, how North Korea acts, 29:59.200 --> 30:00.700 whether it was him or his father. 30:00.700 --> 30:03.053 So the important thing is to pay attention, 30:04.410 --> 30:05.700 don't discount everything. 30:05.700 --> 30:08.950 But you also can't react everything they say and do. 30:08.950 --> 30:09.930 - [Bret] Syria. 30:09.930 --> 30:13.660 What is the administration policy when it comes to Syria? 30:13.660 --> 30:15.910 - Policy is to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS 30:15.910 --> 30:18.910 and for the troops position in Syria, 30:18.910 --> 30:20.670 that is our mission right now. 30:20.670 --> 30:23.420 We're working very closely with our SDF partners 30:23.420 --> 30:25.420 to do just that. 30:25.420 --> 30:27.070 - [Blade] And that's what you're trying to achieve. 30:27.070 --> 30:28.550 ISIS solely. 30:28.550 --> 30:30.300 - Enduring defeat of ISIS. 30:30.300 --> 30:32.500 - [Bret] Nothing to do with Bashar al-Assad. 30:33.430 --> 30:35.320 - In what regard? 30:35.320 --> 30:36.490 In terms of the broader? 30:36.490 --> 30:39.290 We have a broader effort there in Syria that involves 30:39.290 --> 30:42.410 the UN. process by which several countries are underway 30:42.410 --> 30:44.510 to find a political resolution of that. 30:44.510 --> 30:46.210 Again, that's the State Department has a lead 30:46.210 --> 30:47.610 on that and we support them in that manner. 30:47.610 --> 30:51.410 - [Bret] Has the administration put Turkey in a position 30:51.410 --> 30:54.323 that has disadvantage the U.S. military in any way? 30:55.650 --> 30:56.960 - I don't think so. 30:56.960 --> 30:59.170 I think Turkey's put itself in a position 30:59.170 --> 31:00.680 where it's disadvantage itself. 31:00.680 --> 31:04.010 I mean, at the time of their incursion into northern Syria, 31:04.010 --> 31:06.490 we thought it was a mistake to do so. 31:06.490 --> 31:10.040 We thought it would lead to the release of ISIS prisoners, 31:10.040 --> 31:12.400 that would lead to greater instability in the region. 31:12.400 --> 31:13.590 We saw some of that. 31:13.590 --> 31:18.390 But it really once again puts in a contrast our concerns 31:18.390 --> 31:21.180 about Turkey's direction that they may be spinning 31:21.180 --> 31:22.510 out of the NATO orbit. 31:22.510 --> 31:24.600 I've spoken publicly about this. 31:24.600 --> 31:26.000 On the other hand, NATO is. 31:26.000 --> 31:26.833 I'm sorry. 31:26.833 --> 31:28.020 Turkey is a longstanding NATO ally. 31:28.020 --> 31:30.160 They fought with us from Korea to Afghanistan. 31:30.160 --> 31:32.110 And I think it's in all of our interest to make sure 31:32.110 --> 31:36.370 that we pull 'em in closer to NATO and we preserve 31:36.370 --> 31:40.310 what is now a, or will soon be a 30 nation alliance, 31:40.310 --> 31:42.473 a very long standing and capable alliance. 31:43.330 --> 31:45.220 - [Bret] A recent Pentagon IG report said 31:45.220 --> 31:48.010 President Trump's partial withdrawal from Syria 31:48.010 --> 31:51.710 has allowed ISIS to, quote, reconstitute capabilities 31:51.710 --> 31:54.660 and resources within Syria and strengthen 31:54.660 --> 31:58.370 its ability to plan attacks abroad. 31:58.370 --> 31:59.220 Do you agree with that? 31:59.220 --> 32:00.670 - I have not seen evidence of that. 32:00.670 --> 32:04.340 I think given our operations together with the SDF, 32:04.340 --> 32:06.800 given the operations undertaken by Turkey, 32:06.800 --> 32:09.860 given the very successful operation we conducted 32:09.860 --> 32:13.770 to kill ISIS leader al-Baghdadi and his number two, 32:13.770 --> 32:15.200 I think we've set them back. 32:15.200 --> 32:18.480 Now, that said, that doesn't mean that ISIS from Africa 32:18.480 --> 32:22.130 to Afghanistan and in Syria isn't trying to reconstitute. 32:22.130 --> 32:23.610 Of course they will. 32:23.610 --> 32:25.810 They have a very strong ideology. 32:25.810 --> 32:28.360 So it's incumbent upon us to maintain that presence 32:29.471 --> 32:33.220 and stay on our toes so we can continue to tap 32:33.220 --> 32:35.647 those things down as they arise. 32:35.647 --> 32:37.783 - [Bret] So do you have enough troops in Syria? 32:37.783 --> 32:38.616 - I think we do. 32:38.616 --> 32:39.449 I think we have enough troops. 32:39.449 --> 32:41.140 And if we don't, then that's something 32:41.140 --> 32:42.520 we would deploy additional troops. 32:42.520 --> 32:44.870 That's one of the things I keep in close contact 32:44.870 --> 32:47.030 with the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, 32:47.030 --> 32:48.890 and specifically my commander, General Mackenzie, 32:48.890 --> 32:50.210 to make sure that he has what he needs 32:50.210 --> 32:51.690 to accomplish his mission. 32:51.690 --> 32:53.700 - [Bret] Just to be clear on the first 32:53.700 --> 32:55.280 question about deployment. 32:55.280 --> 32:57.063 You're saying it's not true. 32:58.050 --> 32:59.170 You're not considering it. 32:59.170 --> 33:00.540 - I'm not considering. 33:00.540 --> 33:02.320 Nor is there anything in the system that says we're gonna 33:02.320 --> 33:04.100 put 14,000 additional troops 33:04.100 --> 33:05.890 in the Middle East before Christmas. 33:05.890 --> 33:06.723 - [Bret] How about seven? 33:06.723 --> 33:07.690 - It's flat out wrong. 33:07.690 --> 33:10.290 We're not considering putting 7000 additional troops. 33:10.290 --> 33:12.593 And I'm not going to walk down from there. 33:13.494 --> 33:14.710 - [Bret] How about five? 33:14.710 --> 33:17.040 - Sure, I'm gonna put five more soldiers. 33:17.040 --> 33:17.873 Sure, five. 33:17.873 --> 33:19.020 Just five. 33:19.020 --> 33:22.170 Look, at any day of the week, we are moving forces 33:22.170 --> 33:24.130 in and out of these regions. 33:24.130 --> 33:25.540 And it's not just there. 33:25.540 --> 33:27.550 You could go to the Korean Peninsula. 33:27.550 --> 33:30.840 We're rotating ABCTs Armor Brigade Combat Teams 33:30.840 --> 33:34.810 to Europe and Saudi Arabia and the Middle East all the time. 33:34.810 --> 33:36.550 This is the normal flow of forces. 33:36.550 --> 33:38.770 And if the commander needs additional resources, 33:38.770 --> 33:40.240 that will come up to the joint staff. 33:40.240 --> 33:42.640 We will considered and we will we will provide him 33:42.640 --> 33:44.290 what he needs as appropriate. 33:44.290 --> 33:46.440 And that could happen today, it could happen next week. 33:46.440 --> 33:48.250 It could happen a month or two or three from now. 33:48.250 --> 33:50.280 But right now, there's no major deployment 33:50.280 --> 33:52.060 of additional forces to the region. 33:52.060 --> 33:53.390 It's just a false report. 33:53.390 --> 33:56.070 And I wish I could figure out why people don't try 33:56.070 --> 33:58.350 and confirm those things with with the DOD 33:58.350 --> 34:00.600 before they put those reports out. 34:00.600 --> 34:02.220 - [Bret] You're saying it's fake news. 34:02.220 --> 34:03.053 - Yes. 34:04.560 --> 34:05.744 - [Bret] Ok. 34:05.744 --> 34:09.370 What are you telling the Kurds in regards to Syria who feel 34:09.370 --> 34:12.930 that they've been abandoned by the U.S. 34:12.930 --> 34:14.992 decision to pull back there? 34:14.992 --> 34:17.390 What are the conversations you have? 34:17.390 --> 34:19.757 - Well, look, I certainly understand 34:19.757 --> 34:21.170 that that feeling at the tactical level. 34:21.170 --> 34:22.080 I've been there, right. 34:22.080 --> 34:25.160 When you're on the ground with with your friends 34:25.160 --> 34:28.580 and partners, brothers you shed blood with to defeat ISIS. 34:28.580 --> 34:29.810 But when you step back, you know, 34:29.810 --> 34:32.170 we went into this with mutual interest, 34:32.170 --> 34:34.860 mutual interests being the defeat of ISIS. 34:34.860 --> 34:38.920 Certainly ISIS had taken a lot of ground and territory, 34:38.920 --> 34:42.160 that was the SDF, the Kurds were owned. 34:42.160 --> 34:43.610 They inflicted great harm. 34:43.610 --> 34:44.443 We came in. 34:44.443 --> 34:47.500 It was a great marriage that led to the physical 34:47.500 --> 34:48.730 defeat of the caliphate. 34:48.730 --> 34:52.100 But at no point time do we say we're here to help you 34:52.100 --> 34:54.260 establish an autonomous Turkish state. 34:54.260 --> 34:55.940 At no time did we say we're gonna defend 34:55.940 --> 34:58.460 you against Turkey, a Kurdish state. 34:58.460 --> 35:00.760 At no time did we say we're going to defend you against 35:00.760 --> 35:03.310 Turkey, a NATO ally of 70 years. 35:03.310 --> 35:04.450 And I've talked to the commanders. 35:04.450 --> 35:07.470 They have conveyed the same to me as well, our commanders. 35:07.470 --> 35:09.010 Where we are today is we're on the ground 35:09.010 --> 35:11.250 working closely with them and we still 35:11.250 --> 35:12.650 retain that partnership. 35:12.650 --> 35:14.900 But I think we far better understand today the limits 35:14.900 --> 35:18.030 of that partnership and the scope of how far we'll go. 35:18.030 --> 35:20.240 - [Bret] During the president's trip to Afghanistan, 35:20.240 --> 35:23.910 Thanksgiving, he said that the U.S military has been 35:23.910 --> 35:27.280 able to substantially reduce the number of troops there. 35:27.280 --> 35:28.990 How many U.S. troops are there? 35:28.990 --> 35:30.590 - We've got about 13,000 or so. 35:30.590 --> 35:32.570 Between 12 and 13,000. 35:32.570 --> 35:35.080 And, the commander feels confident we can go down 35:35.080 --> 35:38.490 to a lower level without jeopardizing our ability to ensure 35:38.490 --> 35:41.890 that Afghanistan doesn't become a safe haven for terrorism. 35:41.890 --> 35:42.723 But the best path-- 35:42.723 --> 35:45.670 - [Bret] So, even if a Taliban deal doesn't come forward, 35:45.670 --> 35:47.840 if it doesn't get negotiated, 35:47.840 --> 35:50.310 that reduction is still gonna happen? 35:50.310 --> 35:52.130 - I would like to do that, because what I want to do 35:52.130 --> 35:55.620 is reallocate forces to the Indo-PACOM on theater. 35:55.620 --> 35:56.930 That's my priority theater. 35:56.930 --> 36:00.210 That's what the NDS tells me is our priority theater. 36:00.210 --> 36:02.550 That's why in my six months on the job now, 36:02.550 --> 36:05.620 my first two trips were extended trips to Asia 36:05.620 --> 36:08.010 to visit all of our allies and partners out there. 36:08.010 --> 36:09.040 So that's my focus. 36:09.040 --> 36:12.670 And I'm not just looking at Afghanistan. 36:12.670 --> 36:13.630 I'm looking at CENTCOM. 36:13.630 --> 36:14.590 I'm looking at AFRICOM. 36:14.590 --> 36:16.260 I'm looking at SOUTHCOM. 36:16.260 --> 36:17.093 I'm looking at EUCOM. 36:17.093 --> 36:19.250 All these places where I can free up troops, 36:19.250 --> 36:21.830 where I can either bring them home, to allowed them to rest 36:21.830 --> 36:24.487 and refit and retrain or, and then reallocate them 36:24.487 --> 36:27.250 to the Indo-Pacific to compete with the Chinese, 36:27.250 --> 36:30.270 to reassure our allies, to conduct exercises and training. 36:30.270 --> 36:32.040 - [Bret] You often say that the Pentagon's 36:32.040 --> 36:34.580 top priorities are China and Russia. 36:34.580 --> 36:37.620 But is there a point at which the continued deployment 36:37.620 --> 36:41.113 of forces to the Middle East prevents that pivot? 36:42.230 --> 36:43.063 - Well, sure. 36:43.063 --> 36:44.560 I mean, I face that. 36:44.560 --> 36:46.443 My predecessors have faced that. 36:47.350 --> 36:48.280 You know, we have a strategy. 36:48.280 --> 36:49.700 But you have to do what the world you live in, 36:49.700 --> 36:51.580 not the world you want. 36:51.580 --> 36:55.224 And the world we live in right now shows that Iran 36:55.224 --> 36:56.920 is a country increasingly under stress thanks 36:56.920 --> 36:59.930 to a successful strategy by the president. 36:59.930 --> 37:04.830 And as they experience more stress, I need be ensure 37:04.830 --> 37:07.920 that we have sufficient force on the ground, again, 37:07.920 --> 37:10.110 to reassure our allies, help defend them, 37:10.110 --> 37:11.190 defend the international order 37:11.190 --> 37:12.843 and deter Iranian bad behavior. 37:15.288 --> 37:17.213 - [Bret] What do you see from Pakistan? 37:18.320 --> 37:21.733 Are they still harboring the Taliban? 37:22.740 --> 37:24.980 - Well, look, that's a tough border 37:24.980 --> 37:26.150 to control in first place. 37:26.150 --> 37:29.023 But, yes, you see reports of Taliban moving, 37:30.180 --> 37:32.850 taking some degree of sanctuary across that border. 37:32.850 --> 37:33.730 That's something we deal with. 37:33.730 --> 37:38.280 But the bigger story coming out of Afghanistan is this, 37:38.280 --> 37:41.810 is that the Afghan security forces have really stepped up. 37:41.810 --> 37:44.800 We've seen a market improvement in their performance 37:44.800 --> 37:46.830 when it comes to actions against them. 37:46.830 --> 37:49.400 The Afghans are leading the way with our support 37:49.400 --> 37:50.720 and they're doing a pretty good job. 37:50.720 --> 37:52.330 And it was reported just a week ago 37:52.330 --> 37:57.030 that we had a substantial impact on ISIS in Afghanistan, 37:57.030 --> 37:58.740 devastating with regard to their action. 37:58.740 --> 38:01.490 So the bigger story is Afghanistan, 38:01.490 --> 38:03.540 what's happened with the Afghan security forces. 38:03.540 --> 38:05.570 - [Bret] China recently announced it was canceling 38:05.570 --> 38:09.680 port calls in Hong Kong for U.S. Navy warships, 38:09.680 --> 38:13.320 a practice Beijing actually began six months ago. 38:13.320 --> 38:18.320 So are relations between U.S. and China deteriorating? 38:18.660 --> 38:19.610 - I don't think so. 38:19.610 --> 38:21.780 You know, we engaged them on a number of levels 38:21.780 --> 38:23.840 across a number of areas. 38:23.840 --> 38:27.610 I made it a priority of mine to reach out to my Chinese 38:27.610 --> 38:30.120 counterpart, Minister Wei, and engage with him. 38:30.120 --> 38:31.490 I've had a few phone calls with him. 38:31.490 --> 38:34.570 I met with him in Bangkok just a week or so ago, 38:34.570 --> 38:36.090 two weeks ago now, I guess, 38:36.090 --> 38:37.930 to make sure we have open lines of communication. 38:37.930 --> 38:40.020 we have a very professional relationship. 38:40.020 --> 38:43.010 We're able to talk issues between us and to share thing. 38:43.010 --> 38:45.920 But I want to make sure I have somebody to call in a crisis 38:45.920 --> 38:48.130 that there's no misunderstanding or no miscalculation. 38:48.130 --> 38:50.120 I think it's vitally important that we always maintain 38:50.120 --> 38:51.960 open lines of communication. 38:51.960 --> 38:52.793 - [Bret] Russia. 38:52.793 --> 38:54.730 How concerned are you about Russia's development 38:54.730 --> 38:57.580 of hypersonic missiles and other technology? 38:57.580 --> 38:59.630 Is the U.S. falling behind in that front? 39:02.078 --> 39:04.480 - You know, we took a pause on on this technology 39:04.480 --> 39:07.270 some years ago when we had a clear lead. 39:07.270 --> 39:09.540 And what we're doing now is playing catch up. 39:09.540 --> 39:11.750 So the department is investing every dollar we can, 39:11.750 --> 39:15.263 every dollar that we can physically use to ensure 39:15.263 --> 39:16.530 that we have an advantage, 39:16.530 --> 39:18.500 that we gain and advance on hypersonics. 39:18.500 --> 39:20.640 With regard to Russia, what I'm concerned about, 39:20.640 --> 39:23.240 and this gets into other issues, is their pursuit 39:23.240 --> 39:25.420 and development of a variety of weapons, 39:25.420 --> 39:27.480 strategic weapons that are out there outside 39:27.480 --> 39:29.220 of the current START Treaty. 39:29.220 --> 39:30.510 Things that are unaccountable for 39:30.510 --> 39:33.000 that aren't being verified. 39:33.000 --> 39:35.140 We've seen them over the years. 39:35.140 --> 39:36.850 The previous administration saw this. 39:36.850 --> 39:39.770 We saw it where they were cheating on the INF Treaty 39:39.770 --> 39:41.970 and now they have a capability that we don't have, 39:41.970 --> 39:44.610 with regard to intermediate range weapons. 39:44.610 --> 39:47.420 So we watch very carefully what the Russians do, 39:47.420 --> 39:49.343 and we're conscious of their behavior. 39:50.490 --> 39:54.370 - [Bret] When you hear criticisms about 39:54.370 --> 39:58.460 this administration in Russia, how do you pushback? 39:58.460 --> 40:01.360 - I think from my perch where I sit, I think we've been 40:01.360 --> 40:03.400 very aggressive with regard to Russia. 40:03.400 --> 40:06.780 I've called them out time after time and any number for it, 40:06.780 --> 40:09.520 just as I did today with regard to their bad behavior. 40:09.520 --> 40:12.570 Their invasion of Georgia, their seizure of Crimea, 40:12.570 --> 40:14.350 their actions in Ukraine. 40:14.350 --> 40:15.890 We've support our friends and allies. 40:15.890 --> 40:18.330 - [Bret] Is it different from the previous administration? 40:18.330 --> 40:19.850 - I think we've upped our game. 40:19.850 --> 40:22.320 If you look at Ukraine, the provision of lethal aid. 40:22.320 --> 40:25.680 If you look at the present success with regard to increased 40:25.680 --> 40:28.000 burden-sharing by our allies. 40:28.000 --> 40:31.560 By 2024, the increased annual spending by our NATO allies 40:31.560 --> 40:33.460 will be nearly $400 billion. 40:33.460 --> 40:35.120 That's all going into capabilities. 40:35.120 --> 40:37.820 We developed what's called the NATO readiness initiative, 40:37.820 --> 40:42.820 where as of just Tuesday we now have 30 battalions, 40:43.160 --> 40:46.670 30 squadrons, 30 capital ships ready within 30 days, 40:46.670 --> 40:47.900 all identified. 40:47.900 --> 40:49.860 That's a big change for NATO. 40:49.860 --> 40:52.070 We now have NATO focused on China, 40:52.070 --> 40:53.710 something that hasn't happened many years. 40:53.710 --> 40:56.558 So we had a very successful NATO meeting. 40:56.558 --> 40:58.650 But in NATO, it's also reinvigorated 40:58.650 --> 40:59.860 by what Russia is doing. 40:59.860 --> 41:02.290 And again, we compete with them all over. 41:02.290 --> 41:04.380 We compete with them in Syria, if you will. 41:04.380 --> 41:06.380 And I think we're pushing back pretty strongly against 41:06.380 --> 41:07.213 Russian bad behavior. 41:07.213 --> 41:09.743 - [Bret] Are you considering more aid to Ukraine? 41:10.890 --> 41:13.440 - We have another tranche coming up at this time. 41:13.440 --> 41:15.020 I think it's around $250 million 41:15.020 --> 41:17.750 and the DOD supported it last time around. 41:17.750 --> 41:19.310 I imagine we'll support it next time around. 41:19.310 --> 41:21.350 But there's always checks we have to do. 41:21.350 --> 41:23.850 We always look for, you know, how is it being used 41:23.850 --> 41:25.750 and are they addressing corruption? 41:25.750 --> 41:27.510 - [Bret] Isn't there $35 million 41:27.510 --> 41:28.880 that hasn't been deployed yet. 41:28.880 --> 41:32.367 - I think it's actually less than $10 million to this point. 41:32.367 --> 41:34.420 But most of the aid went out on time. 41:34.420 --> 41:37.130 - [Bret] Does this impeachment process affect you? 41:37.130 --> 41:39.680 - Well, look, my I stay out of politics. 41:39.680 --> 41:42.160 I want to keep DOD out of politics. 41:42.160 --> 41:43.630 There's a reason why. 41:43.630 --> 41:45.170 - [Bret] Well, you have your people testify. 41:45.170 --> 41:47.170 - There's there's a reason why the Department of Defense 41:47.170 --> 41:49.360 and the military are held in the highest regard 41:49.360 --> 41:50.210 by the American people. 41:50.210 --> 41:51.760 And that's because they know they can trust us. 41:51.760 --> 41:54.300 We're competent and we stay out of politics. 41:54.300 --> 41:56.300 - [Bret] So it doesn't affect you? 41:56.300 --> 41:58.130 - No, because I think we're doing a pretty good 41:58.130 --> 41:59.230 job staying out of it. 42:00.530 --> 42:02.026 I'm not gonna let you drag me into it. 42:02.026 --> 42:04.760 (Bret laughing) 42:04.760 --> 42:05.593 - [Bret] Ok. 42:07.690 --> 42:10.690 Last summer, the administration withheld. 42:10.690 --> 42:11.523 - Here we go. 42:13.790 --> 42:18.290 - [Bret] The aid in order to get this investigation. 42:18.290 --> 42:21.453 Can you rule out taking similar actions in the future? 42:22.950 --> 42:25.120 - I actually don't understand the question. 42:25.120 --> 42:26.430 Can you say it again? 42:26.430 --> 42:29.333 - [Bret] There was a hold on the on the money, right? 42:30.217 --> 42:32.147 - It was not a hold by DOD. 42:32.147 --> 42:35.210 DOD looked at the provision of lethal aid to Ukraine. 42:35.210 --> 42:37.110 We assessed it and I've said this publicly. 42:37.110 --> 42:38.680 We looked at three things. 42:38.680 --> 42:42.013 Is it important to Ukraine with regard to their ability 42:42.013 --> 42:44.520 to engage the Russians? 42:44.520 --> 42:47.500 Have the Ukrainians sufficiently addressed corruption? 42:47.500 --> 42:50.430 And number three, are our allies in the region also 42:50.430 --> 42:53.530 providing security assistance to the Ukrainians, the system? 42:53.530 --> 42:54.710 The answer at all three was yes, 42:54.710 --> 42:56.873 so we supported the provision of that aid. 42:58.220 --> 43:00.770 - [Bret] What keeps you up at night? 43:00.770 --> 43:02.410 - Nothing, because I know that we are well, 43:02.410 --> 43:05.160 we are well defended by the best military in the world. 43:06.806 --> 43:09.520 (audience clapping) 43:09.520 --> 43:14.520 - [Bret] I want to use this end time to talk about your-- 43:14.667 --> 43:16.124 - You got three minutes, Bret. 43:16.124 --> 43:16.957 - [Bret] Yeah, yeah. 43:16.957 --> 43:18.490 I see you looking at that clock Mr. Secretary . 43:18.490 --> 43:20.700 - I'm surviving so far. 43:20.700 --> 43:22.659 I may have a job through Christmas. 43:22.659 --> 43:24.300 (Bret and audience laughing) 43:24.300 --> 43:26.910 - [Bret] I am not the black widow of interviewers. 43:26.910 --> 43:28.370 I promise you. 43:28.370 --> 43:29.720 - I hope not. - All right. 43:33.300 --> 43:37.300 I want you to talk about capabilities, readiness, 43:37.300 --> 43:42.300 where the US is today as compared to where we were 43:43.250 --> 43:45.200 when the president took office. 43:45.200 --> 43:46.880 - Look, we've made significant strides 43:46.880 --> 43:48.060 with regard to readiness. 43:48.060 --> 43:52.430 The president has made funding our military a top priority. 43:52.430 --> 43:55.460 He has given me specific guidance with regard to making 43:55.460 --> 43:57.330 sure we have advanced weapons so we modernize 43:57.330 --> 43:58.850 our strategic deterrent. 43:58.850 --> 44:01.430 Are all of our efforts have been enabled by Congress, 44:01.430 --> 44:02.690 has been very supportive. 44:02.690 --> 44:05.360 Bipartisan support from the House 44:05.360 --> 44:07.380 and Senate in both the authorization committees 44:07.380 --> 44:09.050 and the appropriation committees. 44:09.050 --> 44:11.050 So I think we're all focused on the right things. 44:11.050 --> 44:13.302 What holds us off, and I talked about it in my remarks 44:13.302 --> 44:16.910 and all the committee members, all the members of Congress 44:16.910 --> 44:18.400 here know this and appreciate it. 44:18.400 --> 44:21.240 The continuing resolutions are killers for us 44:21.240 --> 44:24.050 because you're not able to conduct training. 44:24.050 --> 44:25.663 First of all, we're operating at $19 billion less 44:25.663 --> 44:27.370 than what we would have. 44:27.370 --> 44:31.480 Right now, we currently cannot conduct near over nearly 200 44:31.480 --> 44:34.530 new start programs, nearly 100 production increases 44:34.530 --> 44:37.460 with regard to items and munitions. 44:37.460 --> 44:40.110 I'm missing training seats we cannot fill, 44:40.110 --> 44:41.870 exercise that we cannot conduct. 44:41.870 --> 44:43.810 I mean, the list goes on and on and on. 44:43.810 --> 44:45.440 So as that CR continues, 44:45.440 --> 44:47.500 our readiness goes down and down and down. 44:47.500 --> 44:49.120 Our maintenance goes, 44:49.120 --> 44:51.820 We were unable to perform some maintenance, that goes down. 44:51.820 --> 44:54.620 And look, I just can't surge at the end. 44:54.620 --> 44:56.790 So continuing resolutions are devastating 44:56.790 --> 45:00.090 and that's why we need this appropriations bill passed. 45:00.090 --> 45:03.210 Otherwise, strategically, we've seen an uptick in readiness 45:03.210 --> 45:05.750 across all elements of the force. 45:05.750 --> 45:07.830 These major investments we're making from robotics 45:07.830 --> 45:11.590 and hypersonics to AI and autonomous systems 45:11.590 --> 45:13.053 are gonna be a game changer. 45:13.910 --> 45:15.830 The challenge for us is to break old habits, 45:15.830 --> 45:19.720 to brush away bureaucracy, to give up legacy systems 45:19.720 --> 45:22.570 and low priority programs and move forward. 45:22.570 --> 45:25.227 The American people through the Congress will give us 45:25.227 --> 45:27.600 $738 billion dollars. 45:27.600 --> 45:28.590 That's a lot of money. 45:28.590 --> 45:30.440 We've got to deliver more for what we're getting. 45:30.440 --> 45:32.770 - [Bret] When you tell the American public 45:32.770 --> 45:35.980 about the threats ahead and you talk about Russia and China, 45:35.980 --> 45:40.033 and you talk about space, what is the message? 45:41.300 --> 45:44.030 - You know, the message is that the world is constantly 45:44.030 --> 45:45.900 becoming more dangerous and more complicated. 45:45.900 --> 45:49.300 You know, in my day as a young officer in 101st, 45:49.300 --> 45:50.410 I didn't worry about cyber. 45:50.410 --> 45:51.243 What was cyber? 45:51.243 --> 45:52.340 Nobody knew, right. 45:52.340 --> 45:55.000 But now we fight and cyber on a daily basis, 45:55.000 --> 45:56.563 offensively, defensively. 45:57.460 --> 45:59.690 Space was never war-fighting domain, right? 45:59.690 --> 46:02.220 It was the place by which we play satellites to communicate 46:02.220 --> 46:04.920 with one another, but which we watched weather systems, 46:04.920 --> 46:07.000 by which we did other things. 46:07.000 --> 46:08.460 Now it's become a war-fighting domain 46:08.460 --> 46:10.600 that we have to defend because not just does 46:10.600 --> 46:13.080 our military depend on it, but our economy depends on it. 46:13.080 --> 46:14.990 Our way of life depends on it. 46:14.990 --> 46:16.120 So you have these new threats 46:16.120 --> 46:17.240 and they'll constantly change. 46:17.240 --> 46:19.080 Who knows what will be 10 years from now when 46:19.080 --> 46:22.754 my successor's, successor, successor, is sitting in the seat 46:22.754 --> 46:25.910 answering your questions again. 46:25.910 --> 46:27.680 It's an ever changing world. 46:27.680 --> 46:29.300 I will tell the American people this much. 46:29.300 --> 46:30.740 And I said it again in my remarks. 46:30.740 --> 46:32.913 Our most valuable resource is our people. 46:33.870 --> 46:35.420 The ability to fill our ranks. 46:35.420 --> 46:38.870 The ability to recruit young Americans, men and women alike 46:38.870 --> 46:42.920 to our service academies, to bring them into ROTC, to OCS. 46:42.920 --> 46:44.670 They are the critical element. 46:44.670 --> 46:47.116 And we've got to continue to remind them, 46:47.116 --> 46:49.160 as President Reagan reminded all of us, 46:49.160 --> 46:51.610 the importance of peace through strength, 46:51.610 --> 46:54.580 how much our country depends on a strong national defense, 46:54.580 --> 46:57.200 how vital it is that we reward our people. 46:57.200 --> 46:59.270 We forget that in his first year in office, 46:59.270 --> 47:01.620 I recall first two years, President Reagan increased 47:01.620 --> 47:04.540 the pay of our service members by 13%. 47:04.540 --> 47:06.470 By the time he was finished in eight years, 47:06.470 --> 47:08.040 it was over 38%. 47:08.040 --> 47:10.690 President Reagan recognized the importance 47:10.690 --> 47:13.940 of human capital, of how critical our people are. 47:13.940 --> 47:15.330 It was President Reagan's vision 47:15.330 --> 47:17.450 that brought me into the service. 47:17.450 --> 47:20.660 I went to the military academy at 1982. 47:20.660 --> 47:22.930 You think back, I remember 1979. 47:22.930 --> 47:26.200 Many of us remember when Desert One failed in Iran. 47:26.200 --> 47:27.690 Remember that disastrous rate? 47:27.690 --> 47:31.070 Here we are 40 years later, 47:31.070 --> 47:33.380 we're able to pull off a al-Baghdadi raid. 47:33.380 --> 47:37.260 We're able to kill the head of ISIS with seeming ease 47:37.260 --> 47:39.120 because of how far our country has come 47:39.120 --> 47:40.620 since the days of Reagan. 47:40.620 --> 47:42.510 Now, through the air of President Trump, 47:42.510 --> 47:46.640 ensuring we had highly capable, highly lethal ready forces 47:46.640 --> 47:48.050 with cutting edge technology. 47:48.050 --> 47:48.883 That's what we're about. 47:48.883 --> 47:51.420 - [Bret] Mr. Secretary, very last question. 47:51.420 --> 47:54.070 What's it like working for President Trump? 47:54.070 --> 47:56.040 I have a very good relationship with President Trump. 47:56.040 --> 47:57.530 We have a great national security team. 47:57.530 --> 47:59.770 You called out Robert O'Brien there. 47:59.770 --> 48:01.540 You know, my classmate, Secretary Pompei 48:01.540 --> 48:02.670 and I have a good relationship. 48:02.670 --> 48:04.760 It's a good, strong team. 48:04.760 --> 48:06.700 The president is always open to good ideas. 48:06.700 --> 48:08.920 He lets you have your say, your word. 48:08.920 --> 48:11.650 We're constantly kicking ideas around within the team. 48:11.650 --> 48:14.093 So it's good and it's. 48:14.093 --> 48:16.500 He's just another one of many bosses I've had, 48:16.500 --> 48:18.750 you've had your time, that you'd learned to work with. 48:18.750 --> 48:20.540 And again, I think he really. 48:20.540 --> 48:23.427 What's reassuring, he really believes in America's military 48:23.427 --> 48:25.250 and our young service men and women. 48:25.250 --> 48:28.150 I mean, I've been out there when he's regrettably welcomed 48:29.160 --> 48:32.070 young men and women home from Dover, right, 48:32.070 --> 48:34.560 in a great tail underneath the flag. 48:34.560 --> 48:37.524 And I've been with him when he's with the troops 48:37.524 --> 48:38.357 talking to him. 48:38.357 --> 48:40.150 And he just has a great love of them 48:40.150 --> 48:42.610 and really believes in our military and understands 48:42.610 --> 48:43.930 what President Reagan understood, 48:43.930 --> 48:45.750 and that is peace through strength. 48:45.750 --> 48:47.457 - Mr. Secretary, I appreciate the time. 48:47.457 --> 48:50.321 And I think you're gonna be fine for the rest of your. 48:50.321 --> 48:51.742 (audience laughing) 48:51.742 --> 48:54.160 (audience clapping) 48:54.160 --> 48:54.993 Thank you. 48:57.118 --> 48:57.951 - I hope you're right. 48:57.951 --> 49:00.618 (Bret laughing) 49:01.495 --> 49:04.077 (upbeat music)