WEBVTT 00:04.350 --> 00:05.820 - Hey, good morning, everybody. 00:05.820 --> 00:07.110 Thank you for being here today 00:07.110 --> 00:08.440 and thank you to all those who made 00:08.440 --> 00:11.370 it out to our holiday event yesterday, 00:11.370 --> 00:13.450 good to talk to many of you. 00:13.450 --> 00:15.320 Tomorrow, Secretary Esper will be in New York City, 00:15.320 --> 00:17.260 where he will participate in a moderated discussion 00:17.260 --> 00:18.958 at the Council on Foreign Relations, 00:18.958 --> 00:20.460 visit a recruiting center, 00:20.460 --> 00:21.660 and participate in a luncheon with 00:21.660 --> 00:24.410 the Business Executives of National Security. 00:24.410 --> 00:26.021 On Saturday, the Secretary will join the President 00:26.021 --> 00:29.060 in Philadelphia at the 120th Army-Navy game. 00:29.060 --> 00:32.210 The two teams first faced off in 1890, 00:32.210 --> 00:34.520 and it has become a storied rivalry. 00:34.520 --> 00:36.500 The game is a tradition that celebrates our cadets 00:36.500 --> 00:39.440 and midshipmen in the spirit of America's Armed Forces. 00:39.440 --> 00:41.160 The Department wishes both teams luck 00:41.160 --> 00:43.530 and looks forward to an exciting game. 00:43.530 --> 00:45.360 On Monday, Secretary Esper will participate 00:45.360 --> 00:48.216 in the 101st Airborne Division's 75th commemoration 00:48.216 --> 00:51.040 of the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. 00:51.040 --> 00:52.810 Winston Churchill called the Battle of the Bulge 00:52.810 --> 00:55.000 the greatest American battle of the war. 00:55.000 --> 00:56.840 In frigid weather and against an onslaught 00:56.840 --> 00:58.490 of over 30 German divisions, 00:58.490 --> 00:59.850 American troops spread along 00:59.850 --> 01:02.310 85 miles of the Ardennes Forest, 01:02.310 --> 01:03.590 thwarted Hitler's last major 01:03.590 --> 01:05.920 offensive attack in the war. 01:05.920 --> 01:07.400 Through fatigue and challenging conditions, 01:07.400 --> 01:08.700 American troops persevered 01:08.700 --> 01:10.950 and paved the way for the Allied victory. 01:10.950 --> 01:13.110 Secretary Esper looks forward to commemorating 01:13.110 --> 01:16.536 this occasion with our allies and partners in Europe. 01:16.536 --> 01:18.255 The Department is encouraged by 01:18.255 --> 01:19.870 the House of Representatives passing 01:19.870 --> 01:21.789 the National Defense Authorization Act yesterday, 01:21.789 --> 01:25.020 which includes authorization for United States Space Force. 01:25.020 --> 01:27.590 Our adversaries are making considerable gains in space, 01:27.590 --> 01:29.355 and our operational advantage is shrinking. 01:29.355 --> 01:32.198 A branch of the Armed Forces focused on space is necessary 01:32.198 --> 01:36.430 and DOD appreciates the support Congress has shown thus far. 01:36.430 --> 01:38.110 The Department urges the Senate to follow suit 01:38.110 --> 01:41.133 by passing the NDAA and authorize the Space Force. 01:41.980 --> 01:43.460 And although the NDAA has been passed, 01:43.460 --> 01:46.260 without a budget, we cannot implement its changes. 01:46.260 --> 01:47.640 We cannot implement Space Force, 01:47.640 --> 01:48.990 we cannot give raises to troops, 01:48.990 --> 01:50.860 we cannot begin new programs. 01:50.860 --> 01:53.171 CRs continue to negatively impact readiness, lethality, 01:53.171 --> 01:56.730 maintenance efforts, training, acquisitions and more. 01:56.730 --> 01:58.250 It is unacceptable to go a quarter 01:58.250 --> 01:59.970 of the fiscal year on a CR. 01:59.970 --> 02:01.620 China and Russia have budgets 02:01.620 --> 02:03.230 that they can plan and execute against, 02:03.230 --> 02:05.800 and are moving forward with modernizing their militaries 02:05.800 --> 02:09.030 while we are being held back by these disagreements. 02:09.030 --> 02:10.310 The Department urges Congress 02:10.310 --> 02:11.520 to pass a budget next week 02:11.520 --> 02:13.230 so we can continue the progress made 02:13.230 --> 02:14.870 under the previous budget deal 02:14.870 --> 02:16.590 along with the National Defense Strategy's 02:16.590 --> 02:18.050 three lines of effort. 02:18.050 --> 02:19.850 It is imperative that the Department 02:19.850 --> 02:21.450 has steady, predictable funding 02:21.450 --> 02:23.750 at the requested topline to best complete, 02:23.750 --> 02:27.687 compete in this era of great power competition. 02:27.687 --> 02:29.229 Finally, I want to discuss 02:29.229 --> 02:32.590 the recent shootings on Pearl Harbor and Pensacola. 02:32.590 --> 02:33.950 The entire Department of Defense 02:33.950 --> 02:35.507 is devastated by these attacks. 02:35.507 --> 02:37.670 The number one priority, as always, 02:37.670 --> 02:41.696 is the safety and security of our people and their families. 02:41.696 --> 02:43.370 Our thoughts are with the families 02:43.370 --> 02:45.440 of those lost and those injured. 02:45.440 --> 02:47.150 We greatly appreciate the outpouring of support 02:47.150 --> 02:49.760 from all corners of the country and the globe. 02:49.760 --> 02:51.500 In Pensacola, we are encouraged 02:51.500 --> 02:53.330 by the dedication and professionalism 02:53.330 --> 02:55.360 of the Department of Justice and FBI teams 02:55.360 --> 02:57.110 and local law enforcement that are leading 02:57.110 --> 02:59.190 the investigation into the shooting, 02:59.190 --> 03:01.661 and look forward to continuing to support their efforts. 03:01.661 --> 03:03.840 With that, Rear Admiral Byrne and I 03:03.840 --> 03:05.490 are happy to take your questions. 03:08.230 --> 03:10.740 - For both of you, can you bring us up 03:10.740 --> 03:14.308 to date a little bit more on the Pensacola issue? 03:14.308 --> 03:16.353 The Secretary was asked yesterday 03:16.353 --> 03:20.150 whether or not any students coming, 03:20.150 --> 03:21.810 there are additional students coming in, 03:21.810 --> 03:23.680 either Saudi or other. 03:23.680 --> 03:25.840 Can you answer whether or not any new students, 03:25.840 --> 03:27.210 any international new students 03:27.210 --> 03:30.900 are actually coming in to programs currently? 03:30.900 --> 03:33.318 And can you also say whether or not 03:33.318 --> 03:35.540 this has affected any other 03:35.540 --> 03:39.190 U.S. training programs worldwide, 03:39.190 --> 03:40.960 and any other updates you might 03:40.960 --> 03:42.500 have on the investigation as far as 03:42.500 --> 03:44.970 the dozen students that are currently being. 03:44.970 --> 03:46.711 - So, I'll start with initially 03:46.711 --> 03:48.320 on the training aspect of it. 03:48.320 --> 03:52.240 So, the stand-down, to classroom training, 03:52.240 --> 03:54.390 is restricted to the Saudi students 03:54.390 --> 03:56.240 that are in the country at this time, 03:58.724 --> 04:01.224 not applying to students from other nationalities. 04:04.309 --> 04:06.040 With regard to new students coming into the country, 04:06.040 --> 04:08.732 at this time, we haven't had any new students come in. 04:08.732 --> 04:11.840 There is not a prohibition so far on that taking place. 04:11.840 --> 04:13.741 State Department still has to issue visas. 04:13.741 --> 04:16.120 But at this time, any new students 04:16.120 --> 04:18.013 that would be brought into the program 04:18.013 --> 04:20.040 would go through the new vetting 04:20.040 --> 04:22.760 that we're looking to implement in the coming days. 04:22.760 --> 04:24.670 So, until that process is complete, 04:24.670 --> 04:27.574 we will not see any new students come into the program. 04:27.574 --> 04:29.130 - And just one quick follow-up. 04:29.130 --> 04:32.270 There is a report about Randy Schriver resigning, 04:32.270 --> 04:33.880 is that accurate? 04:33.880 --> 04:34.890 - So, I just actually got off the phone with Randy, 04:34.890 --> 04:37.330 and Randy let me know that he 04:37.330 --> 04:39.473 is planning on leaving the Department. 04:40.640 --> 04:42.210 He has a young family, 04:42.210 --> 04:46.830 has been here for two years in a very intense, 04:46.830 --> 04:48.500 I know a number of you, an intense role. 04:48.500 --> 04:50.471 A number of you have gotten to travel with Randy. 04:50.471 --> 04:54.863 His area of expertise in the Indo-Pacific region 04:54.863 --> 04:57.070 is unmatched in the Department. 04:57.070 --> 04:59.900 And also given the demands of the job, 04:59.900 --> 05:01.460 it requires a significant amount 05:01.460 --> 05:03.833 of international travel and, as you guys know, 05:03.833 --> 05:07.470 going back and forth to Mongolia, Japan, Korea, 05:07.470 --> 05:11.420 Australia, China on a near-biweekly basis. 05:11.420 --> 05:12.390 It takes a toll on a family, 05:12.390 --> 05:17.380 and so Randy is looking to move on to another position. 05:17.380 --> 05:19.840 So, appreciate everything he's offered the Department, 05:19.840 --> 05:22.033 and look forward to seeing what he does next. 05:23.457 --> 05:24.461 - Can I just follow up? 05:24.461 --> 05:25.294 You talked about the new vetting procedures. 05:25.294 --> 05:26.880 Could you explain what those specifically are 05:26.880 --> 05:28.430 and how they're different from? 05:30.318 --> 05:31.400 - So, I'm not going to get into too much 05:31.400 --> 05:33.338 detail on that because as you guys know 05:33.338 --> 05:35.610 from the direction from the Deputy Secretary 05:35.610 --> 05:36.610 that we've given guidance 05:36.610 --> 05:38.660 to develop what those procedures will be. 05:40.460 --> 05:42.590 In the, traditionally, with the students coming in, 05:42.590 --> 05:45.965 they go through the home country vetting process, 05:45.965 --> 05:47.350 where a number of these countries, 05:47.350 --> 05:49.736 they're looking to send their best students here 05:49.736 --> 05:51.675 to brush up on their skills 05:51.675 --> 05:54.450 and to then come back and be able 05:54.450 --> 05:57.660 to excel in their own militaries. 05:57.660 --> 05:59.210 And just to remember, the visa program, 05:59.210 --> 06:01.970 we've had, I think the numbers I've gotten is that over, 06:01.970 --> 06:05.550 since 2000, we've had more than a million foreign students 06:05.550 --> 06:07.890 go through training programs in the United States 06:07.890 --> 06:10.670 and for programs that we've conducted overseas. 06:10.670 --> 06:14.180 This is considered a vital tool in our ability 06:14.180 --> 06:17.542 to one, help our partners increase their capabilities 06:17.542 --> 06:19.884 and their defensive capabilities. 06:19.884 --> 06:22.410 Two, to help them increase their ability 06:22.410 --> 06:24.000 to interact with us and joint measures 06:24.000 --> 06:25.950 so that they understand our processes, 06:25.950 --> 06:28.010 so that if we end up having to go to war together, 06:28.010 --> 06:29.040 that we have that capability. 06:29.040 --> 06:30.120 And three, to help build up 06:30.120 --> 06:33.370 the cultural understanding of our partners. 06:33.370 --> 06:34.910 The trip we just went on in Asia, 06:34.910 --> 06:36.330 I think there were a number of different leaders 06:36.330 --> 06:37.230 that we met with who had actually 06:37.230 --> 06:39.870 gone through the training programs in the U.S. 06:39.870 --> 06:41.610 and had gone to the same training programs 06:41.610 --> 06:44.260 at Fort Bragg or Pensacola or in Texas 06:44.260 --> 06:45.640 and had an understanding of the military 06:45.640 --> 06:48.250 and had built relationships with U.S. personnel. 06:48.250 --> 06:50.390 So, these are vital programs. 06:50.390 --> 06:52.650 But traditionally, the training, 06:52.650 --> 06:53.850 the vetting has gone through 06:53.850 --> 06:55.920 State Department and DHS making a vetting, 06:55.920 --> 06:59.770 with DOD doing a little bit of a touch, as well. 06:59.770 --> 07:01.570 What we're looking to do is to increase that. 07:01.570 --> 07:03.030 So, we're looking to take the information 07:03.030 --> 07:04.770 we can get from Department of State, 07:04.770 --> 07:05.810 from the host countries, 07:05.810 --> 07:08.674 and then take it and then run it through systems we have. 07:08.674 --> 07:10.450 What that system's going to look like, 07:10.450 --> 07:12.160 what that vetting is going to look like, 07:12.160 --> 07:13.090 is being developed right now. 07:13.090 --> 07:14.040 That's part of the review. 07:14.040 --> 07:15.545 - And on a separate topic, 07:15.545 --> 07:18.130 obviously I'm sure you're aware of the U.S. drone 07:18.130 --> 07:20.477 that was brought down in Libya a few weeks ago. 07:20.477 --> 07:22.100 Does the U.S. believe that Russia 07:22.100 --> 07:24.410 was indirectly or directly responsible 07:24.410 --> 07:26.900 for that shoot-down and has Secretary Esper spoken with 07:26.900 --> 07:28.970 or anyone at the Pentagon spoken 07:28.970 --> 07:31.465 with their Russian counterparts about that? 07:31.465 --> 07:32.298 - Admiral, if you want to take that. 07:32.298 --> 07:33.590 - No, we're not ready to make 07:33.590 --> 07:36.140 any attribution on that incident, 07:36.140 --> 07:39.338 and we continue to review our force posture 07:39.338 --> 07:42.350 in the theater with the combatant commander 07:42.350 --> 07:44.190 and make those allocation 07:44.190 --> 07:47.358 and reallocation decisions as appropriate. 07:47.358 --> 07:48.400 - Alright. 07:48.400 --> 07:49.770 Lucas? 07:49.770 --> 07:52.400 - [Lucas] A number of instructor pilots at NAS Pensacola 07:52.400 --> 07:54.530 have requested the ability to be armed. 07:54.530 --> 07:56.720 Is that something the Pentagon is considering? 07:56.720 --> 07:58.187 - I'm not familiar with that request 07:58.187 --> 07:59.300 and I'm not familiar with anybody 07:59.300 --> 08:00.790 considering that at this time. 08:00.790 --> 08:02.310 I would point out that both 08:02.310 --> 08:05.250 in Pearl Harbor and in Pensacola, 08:05.250 --> 08:08.510 that our armed law enforcement on the bases 08:08.510 --> 08:10.704 both were able to respond to the shootings 08:10.704 --> 08:12.730 in a very rapid manner 08:12.730 --> 08:16.000 and engage with and address the shootings. 08:16.000 --> 08:18.530 So, obviously, our number one concern 08:18.530 --> 08:21.790 is the safety of our personnel and their families, 08:21.790 --> 08:23.480 and we're going to take a look at this 08:23.480 --> 08:25.725 and try and take some lessons learned from the shootings, 08:25.725 --> 08:28.208 but it's, so I'm not familiar with those requests. 08:28.208 --> 08:30.340 - North Korea, are you seeing any signs 08:30.340 --> 08:31.880 that North Korea is preparing 08:31.880 --> 08:35.400 any kind of nuclear or any kind of missile test? 08:35.400 --> 08:37.170 - Well, in an open forum, 08:37.170 --> 08:38.040 I'm not going to share 08:38.040 --> 08:40.900 any classified information, obviously, 08:40.900 --> 08:44.570 and we don't talk about specific indications and warnings, 08:44.570 --> 08:45.598 but more generally, 08:45.598 --> 08:48.760 the North Koreans have made a commitment to denuclearize 08:48.760 --> 08:51.240 and to cease their missile, 08:51.240 --> 08:52.510 long-range missile testing 08:52.510 --> 08:54.820 and their nuclear weapons testing. 08:54.820 --> 08:58.520 And we would hope that they would abide by those words, 08:58.520 --> 09:01.020 but hope is not a strategy. 09:01.020 --> 09:03.250 As the Secretary said up on Capitol Hill yesterday, 09:03.250 --> 09:05.740 we hope for the best and we plan for the worst. 09:05.740 --> 09:08.320 And so we take that rhetoric seriously, 09:08.320 --> 09:09.770 and with our ROK partners, 09:09.770 --> 09:11.975 we're putting the appropriate defenses in place 09:11.975 --> 09:14.780 to meet that threat. 09:14.780 --> 09:16.070 - North Koreans put out a statement today 09:16.070 --> 09:17.190 saying if the United States 09:17.190 --> 09:19.320 can test intermediate range ballistic missiles, 09:19.320 --> 09:20.829 why can't they? 09:20.829 --> 09:22.680 Can you answer that, gentlemen? 09:22.680 --> 09:24.120 - I'm not familiar with that statement. 09:24.120 --> 09:25.370 I haven't seen that. 09:25.370 --> 09:26.690 - I think that the United Nations 09:26.690 --> 09:29.630 Security Council has made a decision on that. 09:29.630 --> 09:30.910 - Alright, Carla? 09:30.910 --> 09:31.743 - Thank you. 09:31.743 --> 09:33.330 The Afghanistan Papers were published 09:33.330 --> 09:35.130 by the Washington Post earlier this week. 09:35.130 --> 09:37.070 So, in light of that, 09:37.070 --> 09:38.428 can either of you tell us 09:38.428 --> 09:40.410 what has been the progress, 09:40.410 --> 09:42.790 the military progress in Afghanistan 09:42.790 --> 09:43.650 over the course of the year? 09:43.650 --> 09:46.580 And if so, could you get specific and give examples, 09:46.580 --> 09:51.130 such as have they been able to take additional ground, 09:51.130 --> 09:55.362 or have they been able to get their casualties 09:55.362 --> 09:57.270 into check so they can have a sustainable 09:57.270 --> 10:00.400 casualty numbers for the future, something like that? 10:00.400 --> 10:01.980 - Okay, I'll take that first crack at that 10:01.980 --> 10:05.093 and then if the admiral has some operational views on that. 10:06.910 --> 10:07.960 With regard to Afghanistan, 10:07.960 --> 10:10.390 I think the topline view from the Department, 10:10.390 --> 10:11.223 from the administration, 10:11.223 --> 10:12.960 has been that the future in Afghanistan 10:12.960 --> 10:14.120 is one that is going to be through 10:14.120 --> 10:17.040 a diplomatic solution with all parties. 10:17.040 --> 10:18.360 And so we've continued to look 10:18.360 --> 10:20.247 into that and to work toward that. 10:20.247 --> 10:23.160 To do so, we've been working with the Afghan Security Forces 10:23.160 --> 10:25.700 and able to build up their capabilities, 10:25.700 --> 10:27.590 and we have seen that increase over the last year, 10:27.590 --> 10:28.770 we've seen the number of students 10:28.770 --> 10:29.790 that go through those programs, 10:29.790 --> 10:31.763 we've seen the success of, 10:33.654 --> 10:34.730 the safety of the elections 10:34.730 --> 10:37.120 and how those elections were conducted, 10:37.120 --> 10:39.430 and the number of major attacks was minimal 10:39.430 --> 10:41.362 and that's a great credit 10:41.362 --> 10:44.676 to the Afghan Security Forces in doing that. 10:44.676 --> 10:48.040 And what we've also seen is a continuing commitment 10:48.040 --> 10:49.530 from our partners and allies to support 10:49.530 --> 10:51.450 the Afghans as we go through this process. 10:51.450 --> 10:55.020 So, we've seen that happen over the last year, 10:55.020 --> 10:57.450 but we're still looking and focusing on trying 10:57.450 --> 11:01.170 to get to a diplomatic solution in a timely manner. 11:01.170 --> 11:02.892 - Yeah, I'm not going to get into specifics 11:02.892 --> 11:05.850 with respect to metrics, but General Miller, 11:05.850 --> 11:06.970 the commander on the ground, 11:06.970 --> 11:09.170 is satisfied with the force posture 11:09.170 --> 11:11.880 that he has currently in order to meet the mission, 11:11.880 --> 11:12.984 which is counterterrorism, 11:12.984 --> 11:17.770 and training, advising and assisting our Afghan partners. 11:17.770 --> 11:19.752 - Well to follow up, with all due respect, 11:19.752 --> 11:22.640 I wasn't asking about the goal of the diplomatic solution, 11:22.640 --> 11:24.510 I was ask, I would like to hear 11:24.510 --> 11:26.897 a snapshot of the military progress that we've seen, 11:26.897 --> 11:27.990 and I would love to hear 11:27.990 --> 11:30.460 from General Miller but he hasn't spoken to us recently. 11:30.460 --> 11:33.245 So, could somebody talk about just a review of the year, 11:33.245 --> 11:37.380 militarily what has our, what have our allies done 11:37.380 --> 11:39.500 to progress in Afghanistan or have they not? 11:39.500 --> 11:42.350 Have they lost ground, have they lost numbers? 11:42.350 --> 11:43.330 - Well, I mean, 11:43.330 --> 11:45.350 I would just point you back to the Afghan Security Force. 11:45.350 --> 11:46.790 I think the fact that they're able 11:46.790 --> 11:50.540 to conduct a relatively violence-free election 11:50.540 --> 11:52.970 was one of the major goals and major accomplishments 11:52.970 --> 11:55.600 of the year for our allies, for partners, 11:55.600 --> 11:57.100 that we've been able to train, I don't, 11:57.100 --> 11:58.230 I can get you the training numbers, 11:58.230 --> 12:00.020 but the amount of training 12:00.020 --> 12:01.175 that we've done with them is obviously one 12:01.175 --> 12:03.960 of the major goals and major things 12:03.960 --> 12:05.070 that we've been working on, 12:05.070 --> 12:06.160 that they've been able to increase 12:06.160 --> 12:07.550 that training and that they've been able 12:07.550 --> 12:09.970 to deploy a force that had the capability 12:09.970 --> 12:11.484 to protect their population 12:11.484 --> 12:15.360 and have a relatively violence-free election, 12:15.360 --> 12:17.810 I think that's one of the major accomplishments. 12:17.810 --> 12:19.140 So, all right, we'll go right. 12:19.140 --> 12:21.400 - Question on the National Defense Strategy. 12:21.400 --> 12:23.220 On December 6th, in Roll Call, 12:23.220 --> 12:25.238 Chairman Inhofe, Ranking Member Thornberry, 12:25.238 --> 12:27.100 wrote an op-ed saying that they were 12:27.100 --> 12:28.500 concerned the Defense Department 12:28.500 --> 12:30.418 isn't really going to transform, 12:30.418 --> 12:32.710 to do what has to be done to carry out 12:32.710 --> 12:33.860 the National Defense Strategy. 12:33.860 --> 12:36.060 They say as evidence, there'd be voices 12:36.060 --> 12:37.690 of discontentment about this. 12:37.690 --> 12:39.780 Instead, it's eerily quiet. 12:39.780 --> 12:42.750 Can you assure them a winter of discontent is coming, 12:42.750 --> 12:45.130 with the FY '21 budget that you're going to break glass, 12:45.130 --> 12:46.880 you're going to move forces, 12:46.880 --> 12:49.040 cancel programs and do something 12:49.040 --> 12:51.803 to convince them that the NDS is real? 12:52.737 --> 12:55.770 - I haven't heard anyone who doesn't think the NDS is real. 12:55.770 --> 12:57.548 I know the commitment from the Secretary on down 12:57.548 --> 13:02.548 has been a forceful focus on implementing the NDS. 13:04.370 --> 13:06.230 I think those of you who have interacted 13:06.230 --> 13:08.390 with the Secretary know it's one of his prime concerns, 13:08.390 --> 13:09.771 as well as with the Chairman. 13:09.771 --> 13:12.579 The fact that there has not been voices of discontent, 13:12.579 --> 13:14.557 I don't think that that is a good measure 13:14.557 --> 13:17.439 for whether it's been implemented, 13:17.439 --> 13:19.040 because I think one of the things you look 13:19.040 --> 13:22.300 at as the NDS was developed in a, 13:22.300 --> 13:23.460 how it was developed. 13:23.460 --> 13:26.204 It wasn't a plan that came on down from high. 13:26.204 --> 13:28.160 It was a plan that was developed 13:28.160 --> 13:31.450 through significant interaction and review 13:31.450 --> 13:34.250 and consultation of members 13:34.250 --> 13:38.730 of the Defense Department, the interagency. 13:38.730 --> 13:40.190 And I think that it's more, 13:40.190 --> 13:41.370 the lack of discontent is more 13:41.370 --> 13:43.190 of an indication of the fact 13:43.190 --> 13:45.460 that you had a collaborative process that came together, 13:45.460 --> 13:47.360 and the fact that people agree with the goals. 13:47.360 --> 13:49.070 There are very few people, I think, 13:49.070 --> 13:50.360 that would challenge the fact 13:50.360 --> 13:54.350 that our future adversaries are China and Russia, 13:54.350 --> 13:56.250 and that we need to be adjusting 13:56.250 --> 13:58.727 our force posture to confront them. 13:58.727 --> 13:59.560 - [Reporter] Admiral? 13:59.560 --> 14:02.641 - Yeah, I would agree that the focus 14:02.641 --> 14:04.680 is on those three lines of effort, 14:04.680 --> 14:05.805 improving our lethality, 14:05.805 --> 14:08.550 enhancing our network of partners and allies, 14:08.550 --> 14:09.910 and reforming the Department. 14:09.910 --> 14:11.940 Now, the lethality piece, 14:11.940 --> 14:14.673 the partner and allies piece 14:14.673 --> 14:18.170 is what we are in consultation with, 14:18.170 --> 14:21.940 with the combatant commands, every single day, 24/7. 14:21.940 --> 14:23.540 The reforming of the Department, 14:23.540 --> 14:27.070 we tend to think of the budget process, 14:27.070 --> 14:28.480 as the Pentagon as the center 14:28.480 --> 14:30.140 of the universe of the budget process, 14:30.140 --> 14:35.140 but I would assure you that the reform measures 14:37.020 --> 14:40.100 that we are undertaking are felt globally. 14:40.100 --> 14:42.070 And I say that in a good way, 14:42.070 --> 14:43.870 I don't mean to say that there are cuts 14:43.870 --> 14:46.180 being taken in every corner of the globe. 14:46.180 --> 14:48.007 There are efficiencies being gained 14:48.007 --> 14:50.587 in order to make us more lethal. 14:50.587 --> 14:51.880 - Okay, Lara? 14:51.880 --> 14:54.280 - So, with the departure of ASD Schriver, 14:54.280 --> 14:55.910 I'm just wondering if you can tell us, 14:55.910 --> 14:57.860 update us on how many vacancies OSD has now 14:57.860 --> 14:59.580 among its senior leadership. 14:59.580 --> 15:02.584 And, I think it was 14 as of September 5th, 15:02.584 --> 15:04.499 some people have been confirmed 15:04.499 --> 15:06.800 but there have been a few more resignations. 15:06.800 --> 15:07.910 So, can you update on that 15:07.910 --> 15:11.150 and tell us how that is impacting the Department? 15:11.150 --> 15:11.983 - I can get you a number, 15:11.983 --> 15:13.670 I don't have it in front of me right now. 15:13.670 --> 15:16.647 I think that's probably close to it, the number. 15:16.647 --> 15:19.970 We've actually had additional people come on board. 15:19.970 --> 15:22.660 I was, we have swearing-ins every week of new, 15:22.660 --> 15:24.920 we've got a couple new DASs coming on board next week, 15:24.920 --> 15:28.273 we've got additional people coming on in the weeks to come. 15:29.910 --> 15:31.520 It's a large department. 15:31.520 --> 15:33.380 We have people who have been here 15:33.380 --> 15:36.227 for a long period and have been working incredibly hard. 15:36.227 --> 15:38.690 As you can imagine, it's a stressful 15:40.592 --> 15:43.292 and it's a job here that takes up a lot 15:43.292 --> 15:45.270 of your bandwidth and time, 15:45.270 --> 15:47.320 and so it's not unusual for people to look to move. 15:47.320 --> 15:48.820 But I can get you an update on numbers, 15:48.820 --> 15:50.330 I know that we're looking to bring on 15:50.330 --> 15:51.720 and we'll have some personnel announcements 15:51.720 --> 15:55.022 in the coming weeks, likely possibly after the holiday, 15:55.022 --> 15:57.253 as we look to bring on some new people. 15:57.253 --> 15:59.632 - There was also, just to follow up, 15:59.632 --> 16:01.510 there was just a report that Guy Roberts, 16:01.510 --> 16:03.340 the former ASD for nuclear, chemical, 16:03.340 --> 16:04.844 and biological programs, 16:04.844 --> 16:06.994 when he resigned, he was being investigated 16:07.968 --> 16:09.730 for allegations of sexual harassment. 16:09.730 --> 16:10.750 Can you comment on those? 16:10.750 --> 16:12.566 - Not familiar with that at all. 16:12.566 --> 16:13.601 - [Lara] That report just came out. 16:13.601 --> 16:15.283 - Not familiar with it at all. 16:16.610 --> 16:18.910 - [Reporter] In light of the North Korea developments, 16:18.910 --> 16:20.929 is the Pentagon reconsidering the suspension 16:20.929 --> 16:24.323 of large-scale exercises with South Korea? 16:25.360 --> 16:27.470 - Well, the Secretary made very clear 16:27.470 --> 16:31.590 that the cancellation of this year's combined flying event 16:31.590 --> 16:34.880 was made as a sign of good faith. 16:34.880 --> 16:39.540 And that is in order to allow room for negotiations to. 16:39.540 --> 16:42.090 There are a lot of negotiations 16:42.090 --> 16:44.930 and discussions taking place with respect 16:44.930 --> 16:47.190 to the Republic of Korea, 16:47.190 --> 16:49.630 whether it's GSOMIA or, 16:49.630 --> 16:52.229 but from the military-to-military perspective, 16:52.229 --> 16:55.865 General Abrams and his Republic of Korea counterpart 16:55.865 --> 17:00.865 are tasked with maintaining the readiness to fight tonight. 17:00.891 --> 17:04.790 The fact that large-scale exercises have been scaled back 17:04.790 --> 17:06.213 does not mean that training has stopped. 17:06.213 --> 17:09.890 Unit-level training, squadron-level training, 17:09.890 --> 17:12.100 staff-to-staff-level training continues 17:12.100 --> 17:14.154 and it continues 24/7 because 17:14.154 --> 17:17.245 it is a combined force out there. 17:17.245 --> 17:18.300 - Will you be reconsidering 17:18.300 --> 17:20.960 the suspension in the coming weeks, or? 17:20.960 --> 17:22.802 - We're always considering what's next 17:22.802 --> 17:24.920 with respect to maintaining readiness, 17:24.920 --> 17:26.878 with respect to training events, 17:26.878 --> 17:29.300 and what's happening day-to-day. 17:29.300 --> 17:31.190 - I have a question on Iran. 17:31.190 --> 17:33.843 Have you seen any more signs of hostilities, 17:33.843 --> 17:37.980 in the Persian Gulf since the drone, 17:37.980 --> 17:40.003 since the downing of the drone? 17:41.500 --> 17:42.380 - Sorry, can you repeat that? 17:42.380 --> 17:43.496 I couldn't. 17:43.496 --> 17:44.329 - [Reporter] Have you seen any more signs 17:44.329 --> 17:47.460 of hostilities in the Persian Gulf from Iran? 17:47.460 --> 17:49.202 - I mean, I can just speak generally to Iran 17:49.202 --> 17:51.043 and the fact that, you know, 17:51.043 --> 17:53.530 our goal with Iran remains the same. 17:53.530 --> 17:55.760 We would like to see them full, 17:55.760 --> 17:57.425 end their nuclear program, 17:57.425 --> 18:00.960 limit their ballistic missile program, 18:00.960 --> 18:03.640 and also stop their support for malign actors. 18:03.640 --> 18:05.530 So, whether we've seen them 18:05.530 --> 18:08.130 with direct attributable action 18:08.130 --> 18:10.680 or their continued support for malign actors, 18:10.680 --> 18:13.270 they've been continuing to support those efforts 18:13.270 --> 18:16.370 and their proxies throughout the region, 18:16.370 --> 18:18.540 and we'd like to see that continue, that stop. 18:18.540 --> 18:19.420 Jeff? 18:19.420 --> 18:20.253 - Thank you. 18:20.253 --> 18:23.180 The Washington Post also reported that for 20 years, 18:23.180 --> 18:26.040 defense officials have altered statistics 18:26.040 --> 18:29.480 to give a sense of false progress in Afghanistan. 18:29.480 --> 18:31.390 What assurances can you give 18:31.390 --> 18:33.010 that this Department will provide 18:33.010 --> 18:36.880 accurate information about Afghanistan, going forward? 18:36.880 --> 18:38.690 - So, one, I would quibble with the idea 18:38.690 --> 18:40.680 that we weren't providing it in the past. 18:40.680 --> 18:42.501 I think what we see from the report 18:42.501 --> 18:43.987 from The Washington Post is, 18:43.987 --> 18:48.987 looking at individuals giving retrospectives years later 18:49.060 --> 18:51.797 on what they may have believed at the time. 18:51.797 --> 18:53.097 This Department has attempted 18:53.097 --> 18:55.567 to be honest, open, transparent 18:55.567 --> 18:59.550 in all of its actions with the American people. 18:59.550 --> 19:00.790 And I think that you can see 19:00.790 --> 19:03.432 is the fact that these interviews 19:03.432 --> 19:06.540 that make up the basis of this report, 19:06.540 --> 19:07.896 the Washington Post report, 19:07.896 --> 19:09.580 were interviews that were given 19:09.580 --> 19:12.650 to Congress' special investigator on this, 19:12.650 --> 19:14.140 with the intention of being public. 19:14.140 --> 19:17.580 So, I don't follow that interviews given 19:17.580 --> 19:20.480 with the purpose of going to Congress 19:20.480 --> 19:21.767 and going to the American people, 19:21.767 --> 19:25.520 show any sign of being dishonest. 19:25.520 --> 19:27.610 I know from this administration, 19:27.610 --> 19:28.577 from this Secretary, 19:28.577 --> 19:30.390 that we will always endeavor 19:30.390 --> 19:33.266 to be as open and transparent with the American people, 19:33.266 --> 19:37.493 and to show our work and be honest about it. 19:37.493 --> 19:41.160 The number of, the American people have a right 19:41.160 --> 19:43.990 to understand what's going on overseas, 19:43.990 --> 19:45.420 and what our military is doing. 19:45.420 --> 19:48.310 And our forces and our military men and women 19:48.310 --> 19:52.738 deserve to have that transparency as well. 19:52.738 --> 19:54.380 - If I could follow up, in the reporting, 19:54.380 --> 19:56.310 which as far as I know no one has disputed 19:56.310 --> 19:59.280 the accuracy of the statements, 19:59.280 --> 20:01.793 public officials have said one thing in private 20:01.793 --> 20:04.710 and a very different thing in public. 20:04.710 --> 20:08.950 Given these were the Obama and Bush administrations. 20:08.950 --> 20:13.050 But given this difference between 20:13.050 --> 20:14.638 what they're saying in public and private, 20:14.638 --> 20:17.533 why should the American public trust anything 20:17.533 --> 20:20.880 that the military says about Afghanistan? 20:20.880 --> 20:22.020 - So, once again, 20:22.020 --> 20:24.060 I can just speak for this administration 20:24.060 --> 20:25.772 and this department today. 20:25.772 --> 20:27.760 And the fact that we're going to continue 20:27.760 --> 20:30.300 to be open, transparent, and honest 20:30.300 --> 20:31.760 with the American people. 20:31.760 --> 20:33.820 That's the direction that I have from the Secretary, 20:33.820 --> 20:35.549 and that's the direction that all of us have. 20:35.549 --> 20:37.991 And also, I'd point out, once again, 20:37.991 --> 20:40.920 those statements appeared for the most part 20:40.920 --> 20:42.820 to be people looking back retrospectively 20:42.820 --> 20:44.785 on things that they had said previously 20:44.785 --> 20:46.810 and using hindsight to speak 20:46.810 --> 20:49.603 to comments they had made. 20:52.120 --> 20:54.556 - You just said that transparency and open 20:54.556 --> 20:56.650 about what's happening overseas, 20:56.650 --> 20:58.700 and that it's the right of the American people to hear it. 20:58.700 --> 21:01.990 However, ever since General Miller has assumed command, 21:01.990 --> 21:04.370 he's never given a Pentagon press briefing. 21:04.370 --> 21:05.500 There's been no information. 21:05.500 --> 21:06.840 I've asked for over a year, 21:06.840 --> 21:08.748 when this briefing's going to happen. 21:08.748 --> 21:10.350 I've sent e-mails saying, 21:10.350 --> 21:11.660 when are you going to do a briefing? 21:11.660 --> 21:13.160 Gotten silence. 21:13.160 --> 21:15.210 When is the Pentagon press corps going 21:15.210 --> 21:17.050 to hear from the commander of Resolute Support 21:17.050 --> 21:19.311 about the Afghanistan war? 21:19.311 --> 21:20.290 - Okay, I can take that for action. 21:20.290 --> 21:22.640 I was not familiar that you had that request in. 21:22.640 --> 21:25.910 I'll be happy to take it and talk to the general. 21:28.420 --> 21:29.940 I will note that yesterday he was on 21:29.940 --> 21:31.590 the Hill briefing Congress on this. 21:31.590 --> 21:32.767 - [Reporter] In a closed hearing, though. 21:32.767 --> 21:35.810 - He was briefing the American people's representatives 21:35.810 --> 21:37.520 on what's going on in Afghanistan. 21:37.520 --> 21:39.140 So, but I understand your point 21:39.140 --> 21:42.660 and it's a fair question and I'll be happy to take that. 21:42.660 --> 21:44.224 - [Reporter] So, I have two questions. 21:44.224 --> 21:45.220 First, on a follow up on Afghanistan. 21:45.220 --> 21:49.400 You said the future of Afghanistan is a diplomatic solution. 21:49.400 --> 21:52.690 After 19 years of war fighting against Taliban, 21:52.690 --> 21:54.130 millions of dollars of spending 21:54.130 --> 21:56.000 and thousands of casualties, 21:56.000 --> 21:58.518 is that the conclusion that you ended up with, 21:58.518 --> 22:01.707 a diplomatic solution with Taliban? 22:01.707 --> 22:02.960 - I think right now, what we've, 22:02.960 --> 22:05.520 in Afghanistan, we have worked to a position 22:05.520 --> 22:08.680 where we've been helping the Afghan Security Forces 22:08.680 --> 22:10.973 reach to where they have, 22:13.246 --> 22:16.674 and capabilities to handle their defensive needs 22:16.674 --> 22:19.650 and we're going to continue to help them to grow that, 22:19.650 --> 22:22.957 but they need to work with the other parties 22:22.957 --> 22:25.670 in the country to come to a diplomatic solution. 22:25.670 --> 22:27.410 That's the path that we've set out, 22:27.410 --> 22:29.910 that we're helping the Department of State pursue, 22:30.790 --> 22:32.440 and that's the stated goals 22:32.440 --> 22:33.620 of this administration right now. 22:33.620 --> 22:34.980 - And on a separate question, 22:34.980 --> 22:37.958 yesterday Secretary Esper expressed concerns about Turkey 22:37.958 --> 22:39.856 and said that it's a challenge 22:39.856 --> 22:42.580 to figure how to bring Turkey back 22:42.580 --> 22:44.820 closer to the NATO alliance. 22:44.820 --> 22:45.880 At the very same time, 22:45.880 --> 22:47.413 the Senate committee passed 22:47.413 --> 22:51.470 the brand new large sanctions bill against Turkey. 22:51.470 --> 22:54.150 So, do you think that the trade of sanctions 22:54.150 --> 22:55.627 can help to bring Turkey 22:55.627 --> 22:58.620 and help bringing Turkey closer to the NATO alliance? 22:58.620 --> 23:00.280 - I'm not going to get into the sanctions piece. 23:00.280 --> 23:02.653 That's the, Congress has a purvey of, 23:02.653 --> 23:04.890 they're able to make those decisions 23:04.890 --> 23:06.190 and then State Department actually 23:06.190 --> 23:08.470 has the role in implementing sanctions. 23:08.470 --> 23:10.900 That's not a role for the Department of Defense. 23:10.900 --> 23:13.763 But I will say that we've expressed concern about 23:13.763 --> 23:17.994 Turkey's role right now and where they've moved. 23:17.994 --> 23:20.900 The S-400 issue and the F-35 issue 23:20.900 --> 23:22.640 is obviously of great concern 23:22.640 --> 23:24.339 and the incursion into Syria 23:24.339 --> 23:28.560 in the face of public condemnation, 23:28.560 --> 23:29.570 both from the United States 23:29.570 --> 23:31.441 and from our NATO allies, is of concern. 23:31.441 --> 23:33.572 But we are hoping to encourage 23:33.572 --> 23:35.490 and to make it clear to them 23:35.490 --> 23:37.640 that the path forward for them, 23:37.640 --> 23:40.010 they are better off working with the U.S. 23:40.010 --> 23:41.230 and working through NATO 23:41.230 --> 23:43.250 than going in a different direction. 23:43.250 --> 23:44.660 So, sir? 23:44.660 --> 23:47.050 - One on Turkey and one on Iran, 23:47.050 --> 23:48.950 just because you guys just did Turkey. 23:48.950 --> 23:51.490 Can you just give us a status of the S-400s? 23:51.490 --> 23:52.726 Are they turned on? 23:52.726 --> 23:55.150 And is there anything that Turkey can do 23:55.150 --> 23:57.420 to keep them in a box, so to speak, 23:57.420 --> 24:00.030 and would that be acceptable to the Pentagon? 24:00.030 --> 24:02.250 And on Iran, State Department officials, 24:02.250 --> 24:03.590 including Brian Hook this morning, 24:03.590 --> 24:07.540 talked about restoring deterrence on Iran. 24:07.540 --> 24:08.780 The implication of that phrase 24:08.780 --> 24:10.720 is that obviously deterrence hasn't always worked 24:10.720 --> 24:12.670 or hasn't been working to the extent 24:12.670 --> 24:14.460 that people have wanted to with Iran. 24:14.460 --> 24:16.480 What's the military's assessment right now, 24:16.480 --> 24:19.106 what military assets need to be 24:19.106 --> 24:20.750 either deployed in addition 24:20.750 --> 24:24.170 to what you have in order to restore that deterrence? 24:24.170 --> 24:26.430 - So, I don't have an update on the S-400 24:26.430 --> 24:27.848 or what's going on right now. 24:27.848 --> 24:28.681 I don't know if you do? 24:28.681 --> 24:30.300 - We're aware that there was some testing going on. 24:30.300 --> 24:31.310 We have no indications that 24:31.310 --> 24:33.330 it is actually employed in the field. 24:33.330 --> 24:36.037 - Regardless, our position with the S-400 24:36.037 --> 24:40.750 has been that if Turkey wants to come back into the fold, 24:40.750 --> 24:42.840 the path forward is to get rid of the S-400. 24:42.840 --> 24:45.730 So, it's not a keep it in a warehouse and lock it up. 24:45.730 --> 24:48.910 It is they need to divest themselves of that weapons system. 24:48.910 --> 24:50.970 - And the indication is that they are just continuing 24:50.970 --> 24:52.720 on with the process that they started, right? 24:52.720 --> 24:54.104 - Yes. 24:54.104 --> 24:54.937 We have no indication that they have reversed course 24:54.937 --> 24:57.293 and are seeking to go in a different direction. 24:58.130 --> 24:59.666 With regard to Iran, 24:59.666 --> 25:00.890 I'm not familiar 25:00.890 --> 25:03.242 with Representative Hook's comments on that. 25:03.242 --> 25:06.630 I'll say that we believe we have forces in place 25:06.630 --> 25:08.140 and we're continuing to increase, 25:08.140 --> 25:09.010 or, sorry, not to increase, 25:09.010 --> 25:12.800 but to address threats from the region. 25:12.800 --> 25:15.870 And so, we've put forces in the region 25:15.870 --> 25:17.639 in the last few months 25:17.639 --> 25:22.232 to address Iranian malign activity 25:22.232 --> 25:23.590 in an effort to deter them. 25:23.590 --> 25:26.022 I'm not familiar with the specific comments 25:26.022 --> 25:27.820 and whether he is talking about going forward 25:27.820 --> 25:30.908 or just generally what we have been looking to do. 25:30.908 --> 25:31.741 Don't know if you have anything. 25:31.741 --> 25:33.414 - No, those discussions are taking place, again, 25:33.414 --> 25:35.520 around the clock with the commander, 25:35.520 --> 25:38.262 with General McKenzie and his component commanders. 25:38.262 --> 25:40.900 We are all rather comfortable right now 25:40.900 --> 25:42.860 with the force posture that we have in place. 25:42.860 --> 25:44.877 There are no active plans 25:44.877 --> 25:49.050 to drastically increase or decrease, 25:49.050 --> 25:50.700 though having said that, 25:50.700 --> 25:55.150 we're the U.S. military and what we do is we plan 25:55.150 --> 25:59.350 and we're planning for those contingencies all of the time. 25:59.350 --> 26:01.030 That's frankly what we do the best. 26:01.030 --> 26:01.990 - And I would just point out that 26:01.990 --> 26:04.220 a lot of our efforts with regard 26:04.220 --> 26:05.722 to planning our force deployments, 26:05.722 --> 26:08.212 they're obviously dictated 26:08.212 --> 26:12.410 or they're implicated by the actions of our adversaries. 26:12.410 --> 26:13.440 And so we would look to see 26:13.440 --> 26:15.360 what Iran is doing in the region, 26:15.360 --> 26:16.950 and if they do something that we may end up having 26:16.950 --> 26:19.510 to react to make a change to our plans or currently. 26:19.510 --> 26:21.720 - You said no plans to drastically increase or decrease, 26:21.720 --> 26:25.083 any plans to increase or decrease without the adverb? 26:26.310 --> 26:27.143 - I think what I would say on that 26:27.143 --> 26:30.820 is we always have forces going in and out of theater. 26:30.820 --> 26:33.577 So, if one ship goes in and one ship comes out, 26:33.577 --> 26:35.534 some may read that as an increase 26:35.534 --> 26:38.070 or some may read that as steady state, 26:38.070 --> 26:40.218 but at any day we have hundreds 26:40.218 --> 26:43.320 of forces traveling around and redeploying. 26:43.320 --> 26:44.153 I was looking at the numbers. 26:44.153 --> 26:45.650 - [Admiral] Coming and going every day. 26:45.650 --> 26:47.207 - Yeah, so? 26:47.207 --> 26:49.672 - [Reporter] Can I ask again about Pensacola? 26:49.672 --> 26:53.572 Can you clarify something the Secretary said yesterday? 26:53.572 --> 26:54.580 - Sure. 26:54.580 --> 26:56.755 - He said about a dozen of the Saudi students 26:56.755 --> 27:00.370 who were friends or acquaintances of the shooter 27:01.440 --> 27:04.210 were under the control of the FBI. 27:04.210 --> 27:05.704 What does that specifically mean? 27:05.704 --> 27:07.100 Are they segregated to a certain 27:07.100 --> 27:09.280 portion of the Pensacola. 27:09.280 --> 27:10.240 - So, sir, I'll be happy to clarify that. 27:10.240 --> 27:12.530 So, what the Secretary is referring to 27:12.530 --> 27:14.410 is there are a number of Saudi students 27:14.410 --> 27:16.800 that were acquaintances of the shooter 27:16.800 --> 27:18.803 and as part of the investigation, 27:20.093 --> 27:21.614 the Saudi commander, 27:21.614 --> 27:23.640 the training commander on the ground there, 27:23.640 --> 27:25.030 their commanding officer, 27:25.030 --> 27:28.880 has ordered them to be restricted to quarters. 27:28.880 --> 27:30.351 So, they are restricted 27:30.351 --> 27:33.730 in where they can go on the base. 27:33.730 --> 27:35.960 That's been done in coordination 27:35.960 --> 27:37.781 with the Saudi government and at our request 27:37.781 --> 27:41.560 so that they are available to law enforcement 27:41.560 --> 27:44.070 who are continuing the investigation. 27:44.070 --> 27:46.540 So, they have been given orders to be restricted 27:46.540 --> 27:48.020 and we're working with them 27:48.020 --> 27:49.470 to ensure that they follow 27:49.470 --> 27:52.010 that guidance as we work through the investigation. 27:52.010 --> 27:54.901 - And about all of the Saudi students, 27:54.901 --> 27:58.350 I believe it's something like 152 at Pensacola, 27:58.350 --> 28:01.066 are they allowed to leave the base 28:01.066 --> 28:02.950 or are they restricted to the base, as of now? 28:02.950 --> 28:04.133 - At this time, I'm not familiar 28:04.133 --> 28:07.400 with any restrictions to base for all other the students. 28:07.400 --> 28:08.940 The only change has been so far 28:08.940 --> 28:13.920 that they are a stand-down in operational training 28:13.920 --> 28:16.165 and that they are conducting only 28:16.165 --> 28:17.300 classroom training at this time. 28:17.300 --> 28:18.360 So, Phil? 28:18.360 --> 28:20.740 - [Phil] Just a quick clarification and then a question. 28:20.740 --> 28:22.670 So, they're restricted to quarters 28:22.670 --> 28:25.480 or they're restricted to certain parts of the base? 28:25.480 --> 28:26.350 - My understanding, 28:26.350 --> 28:27.600 and I can get a clarification for you, 28:27.600 --> 28:28.560 but a restriction to quarters. 28:28.560 --> 28:31.390 I'm sure that they still have access, obviously, 28:31.390 --> 28:35.934 to food and medical care and all of those. 28:35.934 --> 28:39.110 I can get you a better definition of what quarters means, 28:39.110 --> 28:43.960 but they're not free to move about. 28:43.960 --> 28:45.399 - Yeah, that would be great 28:45.399 --> 28:46.550 because I'm sure everybody would like to know. 28:46.550 --> 28:48.920 And then on Libya, just to clarify, 28:48.920 --> 28:50.110 so the combatant commander 28:50.110 --> 28:51.760 was quite clear that he thought 28:51.760 --> 28:53.460 that the drones was either 28:53.460 --> 28:57.918 in the custody of the LNA or of the Russian mercenaries. 28:57.918 --> 28:59.848 What do you believe happened? 28:59.848 --> 29:00.681 You said you weren't ready 29:00.681 --> 29:02.509 to make attributions at this point. 29:02.509 --> 29:03.610 Could you just explain what do you 29:03.610 --> 29:05.960 think happened to the drone that was shot down? 29:11.010 --> 29:12.730 - I'm not prepared to discuss in this forum. 29:12.730 --> 29:13.563 - [Phil] Okay. 29:13.563 --> 29:14.396 - Yes, ma'am? 29:15.680 --> 29:19.110 - [Kristina] So, the defense, Kristina Anderson, AWPS News. 29:20.000 --> 29:21.880 Thank you for doing this by the way. 29:23.660 --> 29:24.668 A couple of days ago, 29:24.668 --> 29:27.680 the defense secretaries from Finland and Sweden were here, 29:27.680 --> 29:29.609 and they had a discussion. 29:29.609 --> 29:31.875 And there's been reports about rising tensions, 29:31.875 --> 29:34.450 asymmetric threats, that sort of thing 29:34.450 --> 29:37.910 in the North Sea area as well as the Black Sea. 29:37.910 --> 29:39.790 So, I'm wondering if there's any thought 29:39.790 --> 29:41.970 about changing force posture 29:41.970 --> 29:45.700 in that area beyond NATO, our commitment to NATO. 29:45.700 --> 29:47.414 - I'm not familiar with any of those. 29:47.414 --> 29:48.247 And I think with asymmetric threats, 29:48.247 --> 29:51.200 I don't know that that would be, you know, 29:51.200 --> 29:53.150 deploying additional assets into the area, 29:53.150 --> 29:55.820 would be the path we would take. 29:55.820 --> 29:57.680 What I would say is that we do, 29:57.680 --> 30:01.223 one of our concerns, particularly in Europe, 30:03.352 --> 30:06.530 is that the Russians are developing asymmetric weapons, 30:06.530 --> 30:08.280 and that we've got to look to challenges 30:08.280 --> 30:09.310 whether it's hypersonics, 30:09.310 --> 30:12.930 whether they are cyber-weapons. 30:12.930 --> 30:15.270 And so we've been taking measures to develop those, 30:15.270 --> 30:17.310 and countermeasures to them as well. 30:17.310 --> 30:20.570 - But your point to force posture in that region 30:20.570 --> 30:22.210 goes back to the discussion 30:22.210 --> 30:24.731 of the force posture in the Middle East as well. 30:24.731 --> 30:28.200 The Chairman's responsibility, he is the global integrator. 30:28.200 --> 30:32.730 So, he takes a look at the threats around the world, 30:32.730 --> 30:34.260 our current force posture 30:34.260 --> 30:36.080 and any changes in order to meet 30:36.080 --> 30:38.450 the requirements of the combatant commanders. 30:38.450 --> 30:41.210 And the High North is part of that, 30:41.210 --> 30:43.300 the Indo-Pacific is part of that, 30:43.300 --> 30:44.510 as is the Middle East. 30:44.510 --> 30:46.630 And we're making that global view 30:46.630 --> 30:49.440 and taking that global perspective every day. 30:49.440 --> 30:50.280 - All right, last question, here. 30:50.280 --> 30:51.570 - [Reporter] Can I ask one more on Pensacola? 30:51.570 --> 30:54.160 Jonathan, you said that the people are, 30:54.160 --> 30:56.070 a number of them were acquaintances of the shooter. 30:56.070 --> 30:57.730 I mean, there are only so many of them there. 30:57.730 --> 30:59.290 Aren't they all acquaintances of one another? 30:59.290 --> 31:02.165 So, what is the actual, are they, is there a concern? 31:02.165 --> 31:03.312 - I'd have to refer you to the FBI on that. 31:03.312 --> 31:05.445 That's the phraseology I've been given by them. 31:05.445 --> 31:07.617 They've got the lead in the investigation. 31:07.617 --> 31:09.060 - But do you have any early indication 31:09.060 --> 31:10.260 that there might have been some sort 31:10.260 --> 31:12.190 of a ring or they might have been supporting him? 31:12.190 --> 31:13.831 I mean, the one thing I've had 31:13.831 --> 31:15.260 a hard time understanding through this stand-down 31:15.260 --> 31:18.130 is why if there was one individual who, 31:18.130 --> 31:20.189 there may be a link to terrorism, 31:20.189 --> 31:25.060 why all the Saudi students would be impacted by that 31:25.060 --> 31:26.260 unless there was some belief 31:26.260 --> 31:29.220 that it was a ring, for lack of a better term. 31:29.220 --> 31:31.966 - So, I would refer you to the FBI on the investigation. 31:31.966 --> 31:34.362 They have the lead, we're supporting, 31:34.362 --> 31:36.680 we're encouraged by the work they're doing, 31:36.680 --> 31:37.670 we appreciate the work that 31:37.670 --> 31:41.283 they're doing down there to get to conclusions. 31:43.030 --> 31:44.615 I think what I would say, 31:44.615 --> 31:45.448 and what the Secretary would say 31:45.448 --> 31:46.890 with regard to why a stand-down 31:46.890 --> 31:48.870 that affects a large population, 31:48.870 --> 31:50.310 is it just seemed prudent. 31:50.310 --> 31:51.986 I mean, going back to our guidance 31:51.986 --> 31:56.141 that we need to look after our people and their families, 31:56.141 --> 31:59.307 that if something else were to happen 31:59.307 --> 32:03.320 and we had not taken steps to address 32:03.320 --> 32:05.904 and enhance our vetting and screening, 32:05.904 --> 32:08.830 that that would unacceptable to the American people, 32:08.830 --> 32:09.950 we should be held to account for that. 32:09.950 --> 32:12.920 And so, the Secretary took the prudent measure 32:12.920 --> 32:16.770 to give direction that those steps should be taken. 32:16.770 --> 32:20.429 We're starting it with the Saudi student population. 32:20.429 --> 32:22.613 But we're going to expand it to all the students 32:22.613 --> 32:25.975 as soon as we go through this initial round of, 32:25.975 --> 32:28.420 I think it was a 10-day effort 32:28.420 --> 32:29.870 by the Deputy Secretary 32:29.870 --> 32:32.040 and the Under Secretary for Intelligence, 32:32.040 --> 32:34.200 to come up with what those new standards will be, 32:34.200 --> 32:35.760 and to implement them for all 32:35.760 --> 32:37.730 of the students that come to the U.S. 32:37.730 --> 32:40.040 - The expansion is new standards for everyone? 32:40.040 --> 32:41.450 - Yes. 32:41.450 --> 32:42.283 - Okay. 32:42.283 --> 32:43.116 And then did the FBI recommend that, 32:43.116 --> 32:45.550 did they have any part in recommending that there be 32:45.550 --> 32:47.850 a stand-down for the Saudi students specifically? 32:47.850 --> 32:48.910 - I'm not familiar with that. 32:48.910 --> 32:51.280 I don't believe that that was a recommendation of the FBI, 32:51.280 --> 32:52.935 I believe that was an internal 32:52.935 --> 32:54.450 recommendation from the Secretary, 32:54.450 --> 32:56.220 the Under Secretary of Intelligence, 32:56.220 --> 32:58.965 General O'Shaughnessy, the head of NORTHCOM, 32:58.965 --> 33:00.663 making that decision jointly. 33:01.510 --> 33:02.343 - Okay, guys. 33:02.343 --> 33:03.176 Thank you very much. 33:03.176 --> 33:04.730 - [Reporter] Admiral, who's going to win Saturday? 33:04.730 --> 33:06.470 - Oh, hey, Lucas. 33:06.470 --> 33:08.200 Hey, I'm here as the Joint Staff rep, 33:08.200 --> 33:10.890 so by definition, I'm supposed to bleed purple, 33:10.890 --> 33:12.690 but not this week. 33:12.690 --> 33:13.670 I bleed blue and gold. 33:13.670 --> 33:18.670 So, this weekend, the 120th meeting of America's game, 33:19.450 --> 33:22.380 and I am going to end this press conference, if I may, 33:22.380 --> 33:24.520 with the first two words I learned in Annapolis 33:24.520 --> 33:28.253 when I showed up, three decades ago, beat Army. 33:30.041 --> 33:30.874 Thanks.