WEBVTT 00:00.340 --> 00:04.180 afternoon . Um As you 00:04.180 --> 00:06.520 know we have a special guest briefer 00:06.520 --> 00:08.742 today . General steve Lyons , Commander 00:08.742 --> 00:10.853 of U . S . Transportation Command and 00:10.853 --> 00:12.687 I'm going to turn it over to the 00:12.687 --> 00:14.798 general in just a minute uh to update 00:14.798 --> 00:17.020 you on the incredible effort that Trans 00:17.020 --> 00:19.540 Transportation command uh and all their 00:19.540 --> 00:22.250 suborn commands and and air crews are 00:22.640 --> 00:26.140 expending on trying to get as many 00:26.140 --> 00:28.362 people out of Afghanistan as possible . 00:28.362 --> 00:30.584 So he'll have his uh he'll have a brief 00:30.584 --> 00:32.640 set of comments and then we'll start 00:32.640 --> 00:34.862 taking questions . But before I do that 00:34.862 --> 00:36.862 I do want to give just an update on 00:36.862 --> 00:39.084 Haiti . If you don't mind , life saving 00:39.084 --> 00:41.196 aid and assistance continues arriving 00:41.196 --> 00:43.529 as our Joint Task Force , Haiti under U . 00:43.529 --> 00:45.696 S . Southern Command continues to move 00:45.696 --> 00:47.696 people and equipment uh to ease the 00:47.696 --> 00:49.696 suffering of the people of Haiti to 00:49.696 --> 00:51.900 date . Joint Task Force Haiti has 00:51.900 --> 00:54.067 conducted more than 200 missions saved 00:54.067 --> 00:57.420 more than 300 people and delivered over 00:57.430 --> 01:00.550 £88,000 of vital aid as Department of 01:00.550 --> 01:02.717 Defense capabilities and U . S . Coast 01:02.717 --> 01:04.828 Guard assets which are now underneath 01:04.828 --> 01:07.050 the JTF . The joint task force continue 01:07.050 --> 01:10.530 to rapidly respond uh by delivering aid 01:10.530 --> 01:12.810 assistance where it's most needed . Um 01:12.820 --> 01:14.680 Just to give you a sense , US 01:14.680 --> 01:17.020 government assets are providing unique 01:17.030 --> 01:19.252 air medical and logistical capabilities 01:19.252 --> 01:21.490 under the G . D . F include 19 01:21.490 --> 01:23.712 helicopters , both U . S . Military and 01:23.712 --> 01:26.370 Coast Guard A U . S . Coast Guard C 1 01:26.370 --> 01:30.130 30 an H . C 1 40 for two U . S . Navy p 01:30.130 --> 01:33.180 eight maritime reconnaissance aircraft , 01:33.190 --> 01:35.412 the U . S . Naval ship Burlington which 01:35.412 --> 01:38.980 is providing scan eagle so more eyes on 01:38.980 --> 01:41.410 overhead ? Uh the USs billings 01:41.410 --> 01:43.577 providing a refueling station afloat ? 01:43.577 --> 01:45.743 The USs Arlington providing refuelling 01:45.743 --> 01:47.743 and logistics and two U . S . Coast 01:47.743 --> 01:50.270 Guard cutters , the Coast Guard cutters 01:50.280 --> 01:53.040 Tampa and reliance . We are of course 01:53.040 --> 01:55.040 working with allies and partners as 01:55.040 --> 01:57.320 well in this whole of government effort 01:57.330 --> 01:59.530 in support of us I . D . So there are 01:59.540 --> 02:01.818 many nations like great Britain France , 02:01.818 --> 02:03.790 Netherlands contributions from 02:03.800 --> 02:05.633 neighboring nations . Colombia , 02:05.633 --> 02:07.633 Dominican republic , chile Panama , 02:07.633 --> 02:09.689 Argentina . The Dominican republic . 02:09.689 --> 02:11.967 I'm sorry I mentioned that one already , 02:11.967 --> 02:14.189 Costa rica , Mexico and spain . We know 02:14.189 --> 02:16.411 there is much , much more work to do in 02:16.411 --> 02:18.910 Haiti to help the Haitian people and 02:18.910 --> 02:20.910 we're committed to being there into 02:20.910 --> 02:23.090 doing that for as long as possible . 02:23.100 --> 02:25.100 We're very proud of all the men and 02:25.100 --> 02:26.933 women of the department that are 02:26.933 --> 02:29.044 assisting in this effort uh and truly 02:29.044 --> 02:31.267 making a difference on the ground . And 02:31.267 --> 02:33.433 speaking of making a difference on the 02:33.433 --> 02:35.600 ground and making a difference through 02:35.600 --> 02:37.822 US military capabilities . I do want to 02:37.822 --> 02:40.050 know , turn the microphone over to 02:40.060 --> 02:42.282 General steve Lyons again Commander U . 02:42.282 --> 02:44.504 S . Transportation Command . He'll have 02:44.504 --> 02:46.560 some opening comments and then we'll 02:46.560 --> 02:46.540 get the Q . And A . I will come back to 02:46.540 --> 02:48.707 the podium and monitor the Q . And a . 02:48.707 --> 02:51.210 Uh we have a limited amount of time 02:51.210 --> 02:53.432 with the general obviously got a lot on 02:53.432 --> 02:55.599 his plate today . So we'll try to keep 02:55.599 --> 02:57.710 it moving And with that general sir , 02:57.710 --> 02:59.877 can you hear me ? And are you ready to 02:59.877 --> 03:02.154 go john I got you . Can you hear me ok ? 03:02.154 --> 03:04.154 Yes sir , loud and clear . It's the 03:04.154 --> 03:07.980 floor is yours sir . Uh You sure ? I 03:07.990 --> 03:10.740 am pleased to join you today as well as 03:10.740 --> 03:12.573 the press to talk about Transcom 03:12.573 --> 03:14.760 payroll in this monumental logistics 03:14.760 --> 03:16.871 efforts of 40 noncombatant evacuation 03:16.871 --> 03:19.590 operations . I just would say that from 03:19.590 --> 03:21.646 the time Transcom received orders to 03:21.646 --> 03:23.812 commence deployment , initial elements 03:23.812 --> 03:26.090 were airborne in less than three hours . 03:26.140 --> 03:28.251 These forces were critical to quickly 03:28.251 --> 03:30.473 secure the Kabul International airfield 03:30.473 --> 03:32.696 simultaneously . We commence support to 03:32.696 --> 03:34.862 neo operations and continue around the 03:34.862 --> 03:36.862 clock operations to ensure the safe 03:36.862 --> 03:38.973 evacuation of american citizens , our 03:38.973 --> 03:41.196 afghan friends and those cleared by the 03:41.196 --> 03:43.251 State Department . I'm just reminded 03:43.251 --> 03:45.196 that the United States is the only 03:45.196 --> 03:47.196 nation capable of rapidly deploying 03:47.196 --> 03:49.307 forces and providing non stop airlift 03:49.307 --> 03:51.473 operations at this scale . I'd like to 03:51.473 --> 03:53.640 specifically highlight the role of our 03:53.640 --> 03:55.640 outstanding air component , the Air 03:55.640 --> 03:57.807 Mobility Command led by General Jackie 03:57.807 --> 03:59.751 Van overdosed Air mobility command 03:59.751 --> 04:02.029 continues to operate the C seventeen's . 04:02.029 --> 04:04.084 You senior news footage less visible 04:04.084 --> 04:05.807 but equally important is their 04:05.807 --> 04:08.029 Contingency Response group operating at 04:08.029 --> 04:10.084 the Kabul airport and a multitude of 04:10.084 --> 04:12.418 other forces providing en route support . 04:12.418 --> 04:14.529 This incredibly dedicated team of air 04:14.529 --> 04:16.696 force professionals is the best in the 04:16.696 --> 04:18.918 world . I did have the opportunity this 04:18.918 --> 04:20.973 week to speak with the crew callsign 04:20.973 --> 04:24.020 reached 871 the C17 flight that carried 04:24.030 --> 04:26.760 the 823 Afghans from Kabul to safety . 04:27.540 --> 04:29.830 The iconic photo of hundreds of Afghans 04:29.830 --> 04:32.430 on the floor of the C17 illustrates the 04:32.430 --> 04:34.541 desperation , fear and uncertainty of 04:34.541 --> 04:36.610 the afghan people but also the life 04:36.610 --> 04:39.370 saving capability and compassion of our 04:39.370 --> 04:41.540 military members . These herculean 04:41.540 --> 04:43.596 efforts underscore the United States 04:43.596 --> 04:45.596 commitment to our afghan allies and 04:45.596 --> 04:47.707 provide them an opportunity for a new 04:47.707 --> 04:49.818 beginning , a safer life and a better 04:49.818 --> 04:52.040 future . To be clear . This is a global 04:52.040 --> 04:54.040 effort . I want to thank our many , 04:54.040 --> 04:56.300 many coalition partners . We could not 04:56.300 --> 04:58.522 be successful without the more than two 04:58.522 --> 05:00.633 dozen like minded nations that expand 05:00.633 --> 05:02.411 our global logistics network by 05:02.411 --> 05:04.578 providing important access and transit 05:04.578 --> 05:06.356 centers . And finally I want to 05:06.356 --> 05:08.300 acknowledge and thank our industry 05:08.300 --> 05:10.467 partners who routinely provide airlift 05:10.467 --> 05:12.689 and supported defense needs Many of you 05:12.689 --> 05:14.911 reported on the secretary's decision to 05:14.911 --> 05:17.133 activate stage one of the Civil Reserve 05:17.133 --> 05:19.356 Air fleet and we greatly appreciate the 05:19.356 --> 05:21.244 teamwork and contributions of our 05:21.244 --> 05:23.356 commercial aviation partners . Let me 05:23.356 --> 05:25.578 just close by saying that for me , like 05:25.578 --> 05:27.467 all of our veterans who served in 05:27.467 --> 05:29.411 Afghanistan , this mission is very 05:29.411 --> 05:31.467 personal . I assure you that we will 05:31.467 --> 05:33.860 not rest until the military is complete . 05:33.860 --> 05:35.920 The mission is complete and we have 05:35.920 --> 05:38.087 evacuated americans who are seeking to 05:38.087 --> 05:40.309 be evacuated as many afghan partners as 05:40.309 --> 05:42.860 humanly possible . I could not be more 05:42.860 --> 05:44.693 proud of the Transcom team . Our 05:44.693 --> 05:46.804 relationship with the U . S . Central 05:46.804 --> 05:48.860 Command and our contribution to this 05:48.860 --> 05:51.027 vitally important effort and john will 05:51.027 --> 05:52.971 be happy to take any questions the 05:52.971 --> 05:55.138 press may have . Thank you . Thank you 05:55.138 --> 05:55.100 general . We'll start with the bob 05:55.100 --> 05:57.510 Burns associated Press thank you 05:57.520 --> 05:59.690 general . This bob burns with a P . 05:59.700 --> 06:02.390 Thank you very much couple of questions 06:03.540 --> 06:05.530 currently . What is what is your 06:05.540 --> 06:08.260 maximum capacity for airlifting out of 06:08.270 --> 06:10.560 Kabul airport ? In terms of the number 06:10.560 --> 06:12.671 of people you can get out in a single 06:12.671 --> 06:15.350 day based on the aircraft and crews and 06:15.350 --> 06:17.572 so forth that you have available to you 06:17.640 --> 06:19.751 as of today . And the second question 06:19.751 --> 06:22.040 is regarding fuel . I'm wondering if 06:22.040 --> 06:24.262 you could describe how are you managing 06:24.262 --> 06:26.429 to keep sufficient fuel on hand at the 06:26.429 --> 06:29.380 airport given the limitations of that 06:29.380 --> 06:33.250 facility ? Thanks . Mhm . Yeah bob . 06:33.250 --> 06:35.417 Thanks for the questions . Let me take 06:35.417 --> 06:38.000 fuel first . Uh We do manage fuel and 06:38.010 --> 06:40.310 uh we are we we intentionally do not 06:40.310 --> 06:43.200 take fuel on on the ground . So we we 06:43.200 --> 06:45.810 make sure we have enough fuel to go in 06:45.810 --> 06:47.977 and go out without taking fuel on . So 06:47.977 --> 06:50.050 we don't stress the logistic posture 06:50.440 --> 06:52.496 there and and if the legs are longer 06:52.496 --> 06:55.740 coming out uh well area , you know , 06:55.740 --> 06:58.080 will provide area refuel and route uh 06:58.090 --> 07:01.770 if necessary . We had The last 07:01.770 --> 07:03.826 24 hours as you saw on the news more 07:03.826 --> 07:05.826 than 10,000 , well more than 10,000 07:05.826 --> 07:07.840 evacuees moved . I'm very very 07:07.840 --> 07:09.951 confident that will will sustain that 07:09.951 --> 07:12.118 effort and improve that effort . To be 07:12.118 --> 07:14.229 honest with you . My commitment is to 07:14.229 --> 07:16.062 ensure that airlift is never the 07:16.062 --> 07:18.320 constraint in this operation and and as 07:18.320 --> 07:20.431 you know and appreciate and I've seen 07:20.431 --> 07:22.376 your reporting ? I mean airlift is 07:22.376 --> 07:24.598 extremely important but critical to the 07:24.598 --> 07:26.820 throughput is also ground operation and 07:26.820 --> 07:28.987 we're trying to synchronize that as we 07:28.987 --> 07:31.042 go . But we are we are clearly razor 07:31.042 --> 07:32.709 focused on clearing the Kabul 07:32.709 --> 07:34.431 International Airport of every 07:34.431 --> 07:38.010 evacuated that can move dark . Thank 07:38.010 --> 07:40.232 you for doing Mr Lyons . Could you talk 07:40.232 --> 07:43.700 a little bit about the threat that your 07:43.700 --> 07:46.040 aircraft are facing as they fly into 07:46.040 --> 07:48.110 and fly out of Kabul ? We've seen a 07:48.120 --> 07:50.770 french cargo plane have to shoot out 07:50.770 --> 07:53.090 flares as it was taking off . What are 07:53.090 --> 07:56.190 your crews preparing for ? And can you 07:56.190 --> 07:58.190 put this in context of other threat 07:58.190 --> 08:00.430 environments that your cargo aircraft 08:00.430 --> 08:02.486 had to fly into over the last couple 08:02.486 --> 08:06.150 years ? Yeah , thank you . I mean , the 08:06.150 --> 08:08.317 threat is significant as as you know , 08:08.317 --> 08:10.428 I won't get into details were closely 08:10.428 --> 08:12.539 aligned to centcom and other agencies 08:12.539 --> 08:14.706 on threat reporting a potential threat 08:14.706 --> 08:17.070 to airlift operations . I would just 08:17.070 --> 08:20.000 say as we watch that , you know , our 08:20.010 --> 08:23.040 our crews are the best in the world Uh 08:23.050 --> 08:25.220 that that machine , the C- 17 is the 08:25.220 --> 08:27.830 best in the world . And and and I'm 08:27.830 --> 08:29.941 confident that we're taking the right 08:29.941 --> 08:31.941 measures to mitigate the threat and 08:31.941 --> 08:33.997 we're connected to the right sources 08:33.997 --> 08:36.108 and taking the right kind of measures 08:36.108 --> 08:38.219 and I'll probably leave it at that uh 08:38.219 --> 08:40.360 for reasons for good reasons . Uh huh 08:40.740 --> 08:43.350 ground operations . We were discussing 08:43.350 --> 08:45.670 earlier today , the briefing about just 08:45.680 --> 08:47.513 the one hour on the ground quick 08:47.513 --> 08:49.402 rotation . Can you talk about how 08:49.402 --> 08:51.513 you're managing that , How the planes 08:51.513 --> 08:54.670 and the crews are managing that ? Yeah , 08:54.680 --> 08:57.200 it's uh it's quite remarkable . Um you 08:57.200 --> 08:59.367 know , we've got a number of planes in 08:59.367 --> 09:01.422 the system but we have twice as many 09:01.422 --> 09:03.530 crews and the idea is to keep those 09:03.530 --> 09:06.410 planes moving all the time . Either by 09:06.410 --> 09:08.700 extending the crew day or preferably by 09:08.700 --> 09:10.922 swapping cruise and keeping the iron in 09:10.922 --> 09:13.144 motion . And so there's a very uh , you 09:13.144 --> 09:15.033 know , it's a very tight detailed 09:15.033 --> 09:17.256 management system to do that . Critical 09:17.256 --> 09:19.033 to that of course , is what you 09:19.033 --> 09:21.200 mentioned , which is ground time . The 09:21.200 --> 09:23.200 faster we can turn either loaded or 09:23.200 --> 09:25.200 discharged , the faster we can turn 09:25.200 --> 09:27.311 that aircraft and we're razor focused 09:27.311 --> 09:28.978 on bringing down and I really 09:28.978 --> 09:30.922 appreciate the work ongoing and in 09:30.922 --> 09:33.060 Afghanistan to bring down the time on 09:33.060 --> 09:34.660 ground to under an hour 09:37.240 --> 09:41.180 nancy . Can you give us a sense how you 09:41.190 --> 09:44.890 foresee the mission ? Um changing as 09:44.890 --> 09:47.057 the US draws down the number of ground 09:47.057 --> 09:49.279 forces in Afghanistan in the final days 09:49.279 --> 09:51.446 of the month and what the mission will 09:51.446 --> 09:53.557 look like if there is one post august 09:53.557 --> 09:57.390 31st . Yeah , I mean every day we take 09:57.390 --> 10:01.100 as the day comes um we are we are 10:01.100 --> 10:04.780 razor focused on Neo . We know and are 10:04.780 --> 10:06.613 linked very closely with central 10:06.613 --> 10:08.558 command on potential operations to 10:08.558 --> 10:10.558 close out the mission by the 31st . 10:10.558 --> 10:12.558 That was the direction given by the 10:12.558 --> 10:14.836 president . We're committed to do that . 10:14.836 --> 10:16.836 And my commitment is to ensure that 10:16.836 --> 10:18.780 airlift is never the constraint to 10:18.780 --> 10:20.947 execute those operations and were well 10:20.947 --> 10:23.870 sync with with Central Command have a 10:23.870 --> 10:25.981 great relationship , great teamwork . 10:26.240 --> 10:30.070 And so I think we're we we we are we 10:30.070 --> 10:32.830 are we are pushing the limits uh to do 10:32.830 --> 10:35.490 everything we can to get every single 10:35.490 --> 10:38.910 evacuate out of Kabul . Do 10:38.920 --> 10:42.100 you foresee fewer flights in the , say 10:42.100 --> 10:44.890 the 28 , 29 , 30 31st of the month as 10:44.890 --> 10:46.557 there are fewer ground forces 10:46.557 --> 10:48.050 presumably in Kabul ? 10:50.840 --> 10:53.370 Well , I prefer not to get into numbers 10:53.370 --> 10:56.450 of flights by day . I would not say 10:56.450 --> 10:59.220 that uh , we're gonna let up , we're 10:59.220 --> 11:02.400 not gonna let up uh , you know , full 11:02.400 --> 11:05.280 accelerator . We're not gonna let up as 11:05.280 --> 11:07.058 long as there's a mission to be 11:07.058 --> 11:09.336 accomplished . Uh , we'll be out there . 11:09.840 --> 11:11.673 I forgot to ask you to introduce 11:11.673 --> 11:13.840 yourself because the general can't see 11:13.840 --> 11:15.784 you . So Courtney . Okay . General 11:15.784 --> 11:17.896 Lines , this is Courtney QB Calling , 11:17.896 --> 11:20.173 calling this Courtney QB from NBC News , 11:20.173 --> 11:22.507 you said that you're pushing the limits . 11:22.507 --> 11:24.673 Um , can you just explain a little bit 11:24.673 --> 11:26.896 more what you mean by that when you say 11:26.896 --> 11:26.520 you're pushing the limits to get as 11:26.520 --> 11:28.631 many people out and then are you able 11:28.631 --> 11:30.853 to kind of give us like a big picture . 11:30.853 --> 11:33.620 Look at how many um , C . 17 and C . 11:33.620 --> 11:35.860 One thirties out of the total Air Force 11:35.860 --> 11:37.860 fleet are dedicated to this mission 11:37.860 --> 11:39.860 right now out of the entire U . S . 11:39.860 --> 11:43.690 Military fleet . Well it's , 11:43.700 --> 11:46.980 you know , it's all mobility resources 11:46.990 --> 11:49.550 are focused on this , on this effort . 11:50.040 --> 11:52.262 Uh There's a number of ways I could cut 11:52.262 --> 11:54.373 the numbers that might not be helpful 11:54.373 --> 11:56.596 to you to be honest . Um You know right 11:56.596 --> 11:59.430 now the air component has uh uh well 11:59.430 --> 12:02.310 over 200 aircraft committed operations . 12:02.310 --> 12:05.110 Some some of these are even Casey tens 12:05.120 --> 12:07.287 are committed to the operation in some 12:07.287 --> 12:10.580 way or some fashion . So when I say , 12:10.580 --> 12:13.970 when I say we're all in uh I mean to to 12:13.970 --> 12:15.990 present to meet the President and 12:15.990 --> 12:18.101 secretary is directive to ensure that 12:18.101 --> 12:20.210 every evacuee that is cleared and 12:20.220 --> 12:23.780 cleared to move can move and uh and and 12:23.780 --> 12:26.002 our crews are absolutely incredible . I 12:26.002 --> 12:28.540 won't lie to you . They're tired . Uh 12:28.550 --> 12:30.494 They're probably exhausted in some 12:30.494 --> 12:32.550 cases . I know that the leaders from 12:32.550 --> 12:34.661 time to time are pulling crews out to 12:34.661 --> 12:36.883 make sure we don't have safety issues . 12:36.883 --> 12:39.106 But they are motivated . They are fired 12:39.106 --> 12:41.217 up and they are committed to complete 12:41.217 --> 12:45.190 this mission . One more about any 12:45.190 --> 12:47.810 covid mitigation efforts that you're 12:47.810 --> 12:49.930 taking ? Are you doing anything to 12:49.930 --> 12:53.700 ensure that your crews are safe from 12:53.700 --> 12:55.756 covid ? And can you give us a little 12:55.756 --> 12:57.922 bit of the detail of what that that is 12:57.922 --> 13:00.150 that looks like ? Well all the it's a 13:00.150 --> 13:01.872 great question . You know , we 13:01.872 --> 13:04.039 shouldn't forget that we're doing this 13:04.039 --> 13:06.261 operation in the middle of a pandemic . 13:06.261 --> 13:08.539 So all the crews are obviously masking . 13:08.539 --> 13:12.510 Uh , but , but the afghans that are , 13:12.520 --> 13:14.631 that are , you know , on the aircraft 13:14.631 --> 13:16.600 are not masked . So that's one of 13:16.600 --> 13:18.767 mitigation . There is some , uh , some 13:18.767 --> 13:21.160 screening that occurs before they load . 13:21.540 --> 13:23.762 And then as we reach the temporary safe 13:23.762 --> 13:26.690 havens , these other hubs and lily pads , 13:26.700 --> 13:29.790 uh , there are , there are resources 13:29.790 --> 13:32.580 being applied to further test the 13:32.580 --> 13:35.100 evacuees upon arrival to these various 13:35.110 --> 13:37.480 temporary safe havens . Are you all of 13:37.480 --> 13:39.424 your cruise vaccinated or are they 13:39.424 --> 13:42.410 getting tested periodically to ensure 13:42.410 --> 13:46.010 that they're safe ? You know , the vast 13:46.010 --> 13:48.280 majority are certainly tested . I can't 13:48.280 --> 13:50.750 say conclusively that they all are . 13:51.140 --> 13:53.490 Although great news today from the , 13:53.500 --> 13:55.611 from the FDA . So pretty soon they'll 13:55.611 --> 13:59.390 be vaccinated jennifer General Lyon , 13:59.400 --> 14:01.780 Jennifer Griffin from Fox News . Can 14:01.780 --> 14:03.891 you talk a little bit more about some 14:03.891 --> 14:05.947 of the constraints you faced and how 14:05.947 --> 14:08.510 you resolve them ? And also in the last 14:08.510 --> 14:12.360 24 hours you've gotten 18,000 or 11,000 14:12.390 --> 14:14.470 passengers out of Kabul clearing the 14:14.470 --> 14:17.130 backlog ? Are you concerned that there 14:17.140 --> 14:19.251 are not enough people cleared through 14:19.440 --> 14:21.551 into the airport that you may have to 14:21.551 --> 14:23.662 take off with empty planes . Is there 14:23.662 --> 14:25.884 any sign that you're having to take off 14:25.884 --> 14:27.829 because that quick turnaround with 14:27.829 --> 14:30.700 empty planes . Great question . Uh , 14:30.710 --> 14:32.890 not , not at this time . And uh , you 14:32.890 --> 14:35.001 know , I'm in , we're in contact with 14:35.001 --> 14:37.112 centcom constantly . I talked to john 14:37.112 --> 14:39.112 McKenzie on a continuous basis . So 14:39.112 --> 14:41.360 we're sync up . And the idea is we 14:41.360 --> 14:43.750 never want to leave Kabul Airport on an 14:43.750 --> 14:45.806 empty plane or even a partially full 14:45.806 --> 14:47.972 plane if we can avoid it . So we are , 14:47.972 --> 14:50.139 we are not doing that . As a matter of 14:50.139 --> 14:52.306 fact , we're filling the aircraft Uh , 14:52.306 --> 14:56.160 to about 400 , uh , passengers 14:56.170 --> 14:59.380 in the floor load configuration . I 14:59.390 --> 15:01.334 just say to the , to the , to your 15:01.334 --> 15:03.279 first question . It's an excellent 15:03.279 --> 15:05.334 question . You know , any , any time 15:05.334 --> 15:07.612 that we move this fast in an operation , 15:07.612 --> 15:09.779 there's going to be fog and friction . 15:09.779 --> 15:11.668 And it's , you know , it's , it's 15:11.668 --> 15:13.890 trying to achieve equilibrium in a very 15:13.890 --> 15:16.001 large network of not just airplanes , 15:16.001 --> 15:18.223 but ground operations and multiple uh , 15:18.223 --> 15:20.334 nodes throughout the network . And so 15:20.334 --> 15:22.557 there's a , you know , initially it's , 15:22.557 --> 15:24.612 it's moving quick . You're trying to 15:24.612 --> 15:26.834 grow capacity or they're moving as fast 15:26.834 --> 15:29.057 as you can . Sometimes you get ahead of 15:29.057 --> 15:28.660 yourself and then it's trying to 15:28.660 --> 15:30.870 equalize out and making sure you got a 15:30.870 --> 15:34.230 critical path open . But again , right 15:34.230 --> 15:37.390 now we'll sacrifice the back end of the 15:37.400 --> 15:39.567 uh , of all of all the architecture in 15:39.567 --> 15:41.789 the notes to make sure that we're clear 15:41.789 --> 15:43.956 in Kabul International and that's what 15:43.956 --> 15:46.178 we're doing . Now , I need to go to the 15:46.178 --> 15:48.233 phones . You haven't done that yet . 15:48.233 --> 15:51.710 Stephen Lucey Hi , yes , thanks very 15:51.710 --> 15:54.430 much . Uh , so there are the reports 15:54.430 --> 15:56.710 about the some of the threats that ISIS 15:56.710 --> 15:58.877 is made and I know you're not to speak 15:58.877 --> 16:01.180 about a specific threat environment , 16:01.180 --> 16:03.180 but can you talk to us a little bit 16:03.180 --> 16:04.902 more about how the military is 16:04.902 --> 16:07.124 communicated with the taliban regarding 16:07.124 --> 16:09.124 these threats ? Are you telling the 16:09.124 --> 16:11.180 taliban it's their responsibility to 16:11.180 --> 16:13.291 keep ISIS away from the airport . And 16:13.291 --> 16:15.069 what happens if ISIS decided to 16:15.069 --> 16:17.080 embarrass the taliban by launching 16:17.090 --> 16:19.480 terrorist attacks on the perimeter or 16:19.480 --> 16:21.536 the civilians trying to get into the 16:21.536 --> 16:23.424 airport steven ? I'll take that . 16:23.424 --> 16:25.647 That's that's more appropriate for me . 16:25.647 --> 16:27.813 I think then for General Lions . Um as 16:27.813 --> 16:29.980 we've talked about many times over the 16:29.980 --> 16:33.310 last several days , we are in uh daily 16:33.310 --> 16:35.254 communication with taliban leaders 16:35.254 --> 16:37.032 outside the airport , sometimes 16:37.032 --> 16:39.560 multiple times a day , uh , to again 16:39.570 --> 16:43.360 deconflict as best as we can and 16:43.360 --> 16:46.740 to help ensure healthy access to the 16:46.750 --> 16:49.150 airfield for american citizens in 16:49.150 --> 16:51.200 particular . Uh and that that 16:51.200 --> 16:54.340 communication continues to happen . We 16:54.340 --> 16:56.900 are also mindful of the threat that 16:56.910 --> 16:59.021 ISIS poses . And without speaking for 16:59.021 --> 17:01.132 the taliban . And I think it's a safe 17:01.132 --> 17:03.354 assumption to assume that that they too 17:03.354 --> 17:05.410 are mindful of that threat . I won't 17:05.410 --> 17:09.230 begin to hypothesize uh 17:09.240 --> 17:11.870 what could or could not happen . And I 17:11.870 --> 17:13.926 think you can understand that at the 17:13.926 --> 17:16.092 podium , we wouldn't get into specific 17:16.092 --> 17:18.380 intelligence streams or what we're 17:18.380 --> 17:21.410 watching . Nobody wants to see um 17:21.420 --> 17:23.890 anybody else hurt . And and certainly 17:23.890 --> 17:26.112 nobody wants to see anything that could 17:26.112 --> 17:28.001 impact our ability to continue to 17:28.001 --> 17:30.223 conduct this evacuation operation . All 17:30.223 --> 17:32.279 I would tell you is we're focused on 17:32.279 --> 17:34.446 this every single day , hour by hour . 17:34.446 --> 17:36.668 We're monitoring the threat environment 17:36.668 --> 17:38.834 very very carefully . Um And as I said 17:38.834 --> 17:40.779 the communication with the taliban 17:40.779 --> 17:42.980 continues so . Uh huh . Thank you . 17:42.990 --> 17:45.212 This is Lauren Seligman with politico . 17:45.212 --> 17:47.320 First of all . Can you tell us the 17:47.330 --> 17:50.270 total estimated cost of the evacuation ? 17:50.640 --> 17:53.370 And then also can you explain the 17:53.370 --> 17:56.030 discrepancy between the state and D . O . 17:56.030 --> 17:58.030 D . Numbers on the number of people 17:58.030 --> 18:00.880 evacuated state is saying 25,000 since 18:00.880 --> 18:03.230 the operation began . But Major General 18:03.230 --> 18:05.452 taylor earlier today I believe you said 18:05.452 --> 18:08.310 37,000 . So what is that discrepancy 18:08.320 --> 18:10.920 the numbers question I mean I can't 18:10.930 --> 18:14.150 speak for I don't know uh I don't know 18:14.160 --> 18:16.216 where the the other number came from 18:16.216 --> 18:18.720 but um but I think we're all in the 18:18.720 --> 18:20.776 inter agency were all tracking these 18:20.776 --> 18:22.887 numbers . The numbers that we put out 18:22.887 --> 18:25.053 this morning . You I think you saw the 18:25.053 --> 18:26.998 the White House actually put those 18:26.998 --> 18:28.887 numbers out before we did so that 18:28.887 --> 18:31.800 37,000 since the 14th is is what we're 18:31.800 --> 18:35.030 counting on . Um And I'll turn it over 18:35.030 --> 18:38.080 to the general on your first question 18:38.090 --> 18:40.560 but it's whatever the costs are gonna 18:40.560 --> 18:43.130 be laura are bigger than just the 18:43.140 --> 18:46.980 airlift . Um And I can tell you that we 18:46.980 --> 18:49.430 don't have an estimate right now . Our 18:49.430 --> 18:51.970 focus and the focus of the entire inter 18:51.970 --> 18:54.690 agency is to get as many people out as 18:54.690 --> 18:57.110 fast as we can and as safely as we can . 18:57.240 --> 19:00.990 Um And we're not uh letting cost 19:01.000 --> 19:04.670 drive the factor here cost drive the 19:04.670 --> 19:06.990 operation . Uh The operation is driving 19:06.990 --> 19:09.101 the operation and the need to do this 19:09.101 --> 19:11.268 in a very urgent and orderly way . But 19:11.268 --> 19:13.434 I'll turn it over to the general if he 19:13.434 --> 19:15.546 has any more data for you in terms of 19:15.546 --> 19:19.050 the cost from his perspective . Yeah I 19:19.050 --> 19:21.272 I couldn't have said it any better than 19:21.272 --> 19:23.328 Mr Kirby just said it . I mean we're 19:23.328 --> 19:25.272 aware and we're tracking costs but 19:25.272 --> 19:27.439 we're nowhere close to accumulating uh 19:27.439 --> 19:29.772 that that data for public dissemination . 19:29.772 --> 19:31.883 And I'm sure laura that when when all 19:31.883 --> 19:33.883 is said and done . I mean uh at the 19:33.883 --> 19:36.106 appropriate time will certainly be able 19:36.106 --> 19:38.328 to provide an overall sense of what the 19:38.328 --> 19:40.328 cost is . I just would add that the 19:40.328 --> 19:43.670 real costs that were Focused on now is 19:43.670 --> 19:45.892 human life . That's the cost that we're 19:45.892 --> 19:48.680 focused on . Just follow up during 19:48.680 --> 19:50.900 Lions . Are you concerned about the 19:50.900 --> 19:53.220 Taliban's ultimatum that they issued if 19:53.230 --> 19:55.610 the US has to stay past August 31 to 19:55.610 --> 19:57.832 complete the evacuation and what is the 19:57.832 --> 20:00.260 plan to protect our forces and the 20:00.260 --> 20:04.160 evacuees in that case ? Well , again , 20:04.160 --> 20:06.340 as I said , you know , we watched the 20:06.350 --> 20:09.770 all risks and threats very closely 20:10.140 --> 20:12.820 and you know , I I would defer to us , 20:12.820 --> 20:15.042 Central command on most of the parts of 20:15.042 --> 20:17.400 those questions were in direct contact 20:17.400 --> 20:20.070 with them regularly continuously . And 20:20.070 --> 20:22.450 then uh we you know , we have our own 20:22.840 --> 20:24.900 processes and defensive measures and 20:24.900 --> 20:27.360 techniques , tactics and procedures to 20:27.740 --> 20:30.080 to take uh you know , to protect our 20:30.080 --> 20:32.302 crews and to protect our aircraft going 20:32.302 --> 20:34.524 in and out . We got time for two more . 20:34.524 --> 20:36.747 I'm gonna go to Sylvia and then Therese 20:36.747 --> 20:39.070 go ahead Sylvie . Um you know , General 20:39.080 --> 20:41.980 Sylvie , long term from a F . P . Can 20:41.980 --> 20:44.840 you speak to us about the cooperation 20:44.850 --> 20:48.210 with the Turkish forces at the airport ? 20:48.220 --> 20:50.540 Uh What kind of relationship do you 20:50.540 --> 20:51.540 have with them ? 20:56.440 --> 20:59.850 Yeah , I would defer to us Central 20:59.850 --> 21:03.490 Command for that question . Um I would 21:03.490 --> 21:05.268 not be able to characterize the 21:05.268 --> 21:07.268 relationship on the ground . I know 21:07.268 --> 21:09.490 there is a relationship but I would not 21:09.490 --> 21:11.657 be able to characterize that for you . 21:11.657 --> 21:13.879 So if you remember the Turks are on the 21:13.879 --> 21:15.823 ground , really more of a security 21:15.823 --> 21:17.990 perspective . And so it is really more 21:17.990 --> 21:20.157 of a central command relationship that 21:20.157 --> 21:22.323 they're that they're managing with the 21:22.323 --> 21:24.434 Turks every day . The Turks are still 21:24.434 --> 21:26.546 there . And of course , you know , at 21:26.546 --> 21:28.768 what scale that were there to race . Uh 21:28.768 --> 21:30.823 Thank you john , I'm curious Garnier 21:30.823 --> 21:32.990 with newsy um General Lions are medics 21:32.990 --> 21:35.212 being provided for each flight . I know 21:35.212 --> 21:37.046 there's a concern about capacity 21:37.046 --> 21:39.101 because you're trying to get as many 21:39.101 --> 21:40.934 people on . But our medics being 21:40.934 --> 21:40.720 provided . And the reason why I ask 21:40.720 --> 21:42.887 that is because there are reports that 21:42.887 --> 21:44.942 a woman had a baby during one of the 21:44.942 --> 21:46.942 flights . And so do you have medics 21:46.942 --> 21:49.164 that will be on board that will be able 21:49.164 --> 21:50.942 to handle any sort of emergency 21:50.942 --> 21:53.109 situations that may come up if someone 21:53.109 --> 21:53.020 has a baby or you know , falls and gets 21:53.020 --> 21:55.076 sick or something in that instance . 21:56.940 --> 21:59.107 Yeah , that's a great question . We do 21:59.107 --> 22:01.162 not have medics on every flight . Uh 22:01.162 --> 22:04.430 There is a medical screen as part of 22:04.430 --> 22:06.597 the screening and boarding process and 22:06.597 --> 22:08.486 but I'll confess to you that many 22:08.486 --> 22:10.652 people would have to self identify any 22:10.652 --> 22:13.050 kind of medical issue . Uh Really 22:13.050 --> 22:15.272 exciting . I mean , I really appreciate 22:15.272 --> 22:17.328 the news reporting on the baby being 22:17.328 --> 22:19.790 born as that flight came into Ramstein . 22:19.790 --> 22:21.870 Matter of fact , uh There's actually 22:21.870 --> 22:23.981 been more than that . So it's just uh 22:23.981 --> 22:26.930 just an incredible incredible operation 22:26.940 --> 22:30.830 ongoing . Uh You know , just just 22:30.830 --> 22:32.941 impressive work by our great airman . 22:33.340 --> 22:37.320 Alright , Chicago . Yeah , I'm sorry . 22:37.330 --> 22:38.441 What did you mean ? 22:40.690 --> 22:44.260 More than one baby ? 22:48.540 --> 22:52.180 Yeah . My my my my well my last data 22:52.180 --> 22:54.500 point was three . I don't have a formal 22:54.500 --> 22:56.950 tracker but those were , you know , so 22:56.950 --> 22:59.172 we'll keep you posted . All right sir . 22:59.172 --> 23:01.283 All right , we'll follow we'll follow 23:01.283 --> 23:03.339 up and try to get you information on 23:03.339 --> 23:05.506 the other to listen . We gotta let the 23:05.506 --> 23:07.672 general we have to let the general get 23:07.672 --> 23:11.590 supplies at General Lions . We've 23:11.590 --> 23:13.534 had heard some concerns that there 23:13.534 --> 23:15.757 wasn't enough food or water for all the 23:15.757 --> 23:17.757 evacuees at the airport . Could you 23:17.757 --> 23:19.979 just talk about the efforts to fly in ? 23:19.979 --> 23:22.090 More sanitation , More cameras . More 23:22.090 --> 23:24.312 water for those that are trying to flee 23:24.312 --> 23:26.490 cobble . Sure . Uh Well you see all 23:26.490 --> 23:28.546 those aircraft going in there and we 23:28.546 --> 23:30.768 never want to send an aircraft empty if 23:30.768 --> 23:32.823 we can't if we don't have to . So uh 23:32.823 --> 23:34.879 centcom is managing that . We've got 23:34.879 --> 23:36.990 plenty of capacity going in there and 23:36.990 --> 23:39.212 there and there is sustainment on those 23:39.212 --> 23:41.212 flights coming in that we're taking 23:41.212 --> 23:43.620 evacuees out . So uh you know , centcom 23:43.620 --> 23:45.676 is addressing that issue . Thank you 23:46.140 --> 23:48.362 general . We're gonna let you go unless 23:48.362 --> 23:50.140 you have any closing thoughts . 23:50.140 --> 23:52.196 Anything that you might want to just 23:52.196 --> 23:54.362 hit at the end here . Well john I just 23:54.362 --> 23:56.362 again thanks for being part of this 23:56.362 --> 23:58.529 today . But I you know again how proud 23:58.529 --> 24:00.362 I am of our mobility airmen just 24:00.362 --> 24:02.529 operating around the globe . It's just 24:02.529 --> 24:04.670 impressive to see . And uh you know 24:04.680 --> 24:08.270 everybody is just in this all 24:08.270 --> 24:10.780 in uh rowing as hard as we can and 24:10.780 --> 24:12.891 we're going to make this happen . I'm 24:12.891 --> 24:15.002 absolutely confident that . Thank you 24:15.002 --> 24:17.169 general . Thanks for your time today . 24:17.169 --> 24:16.910 Thanks everybody . We'll see you back 24:16.910 --> 24:19.140 here mid morning tomorrow . Thanks very 24:19.140 --> 24:23.080 much . I 24:23.090 --> 24:25.460 don't know I please and asking 24:26.940 --> 24:28.760 sure you want , yeah , 25:00.240 --> 25:03.290 could be evacuated from Kabul 25:03.300 --> 25:06.190 after the U . S . Military leave the 25:06.190 --> 25:10.050 airport . So who would be uh 25:10.640 --> 25:13.900 secure who would secure the apart the 25:13.910 --> 25:17.430 Turks ? How would it work ? I don't 25:17.430 --> 25:20.360 know . So my point was simply that 25:20.940 --> 25:24.380 that it's certainly 25:24.380 --> 25:26.330 possible that the airport would 25:26.340 --> 25:28.820 maintain operations going forward . I 25:28.820 --> 25:30.820 mean that would be for local 25:30.820 --> 25:34.500 authorities to figure out but that um 25:34.510 --> 25:36.490 but it is certainly possible that 25:36.500 --> 25:39.090 commercial traffic and charter traffic 25:39.090 --> 25:40.868 can still flow once the U . S . 25:40.868 --> 25:42.979 Military mission is over . I couldn't 25:42.979 --> 25:45.146 speak to that with you know with great 25:45.146 --> 25:47.034 specificity because that would be 25:47.034 --> 25:49.120 beyond what we're doing . But I just 25:49.120 --> 25:51.990 was making the point that just by 25:51.990 --> 25:54.330 virtue of the United States military 25:54.330 --> 25:56.600 leaving doesn't mean that everybody 25:56.600 --> 25:59.610 else is going to leave and not and not 25:59.610 --> 26:01.832 continue to fly aircraft out of there . 26:01.832 --> 26:03.999 That's all that's all that's all I was 26:03.999 --> 26:05.999 saying . So it means that you would 26:05.999 --> 26:08.120 count on the taliban to accept that 26:08.130 --> 26:09.990 people would live . It's not us 26:09.990 --> 26:12.800 counting on the taliban sylvie . Uh We 26:12.800 --> 26:15.920 have a mandate to continue to conduct 26:15.920 --> 26:17.976 this evacuation until the end of the 26:17.976 --> 26:19.976 month . You heard the general we're 26:19.976 --> 26:22.031 focused on that . Uh that's the goal 26:22.031 --> 26:24.031 we're shooting for . Uh Beyond that 26:24.031 --> 26:25.864 when there's no U . S . Military 26:25.864 --> 26:27.920 mission there , it's I'm not I'm not 26:27.920 --> 26:29.920 able to speculate or hypothesize of 26:29.920 --> 26:32.087 what that would look like . I'm just , 26:32.087 --> 26:34.253 all I was saying to Courtney's earlier 26:34.253 --> 26:36.364 question was it's possible that other 26:36.364 --> 26:38.420 carriers and other aircraft would be 26:38.420 --> 26:41.560 able to take off and land out of Hamid 26:41.560 --> 26:43.282 Karzai international airport , 26:45.140 --> 26:47.560 recording the incident outside the 26:47.560 --> 26:50.760 North gate . The at the airport . We've 26:50.770 --> 26:54.140 heard reports that actually american 26:54.140 --> 26:56.870 gunfire caused the injuries of the 26:56.870 --> 27:00.850 afghans . Can you confirm that I 27:00.850 --> 27:04.600 cannot uh I've seen similar reports . I 27:04.600 --> 27:06.711 think it's really important wafa that 27:06.711 --> 27:10.560 we uh that we let the that we let the 27:10.570 --> 27:13.620 people on the ground uh get their best 27:13.620 --> 27:16.180 estimate an idea of what happened and 27:16.190 --> 27:18.750 that we don't try to do the forensics 27:18.750 --> 27:22.570 here at the pentagon um fluid situation , 27:22.580 --> 27:24.870 dynamic situation , serious threat 27:24.870 --> 27:27.092 environment . Our troops have the right 27:27.092 --> 27:29.092 to defend themselves . They believe 27:29.092 --> 27:31.790 they were under threat and they reacted 27:31.800 --> 27:34.340 accordingly . I don't want to get into 27:34.340 --> 27:36.430 a second guessing that right now and 27:36.430 --> 27:38.830 certainly in such a short span of time 27:38.830 --> 27:41.540 after the event . And those ones that 27:41.540 --> 27:44.710 were civilians or armed do you have it 27:44.710 --> 27:47.240 is my understanding and I caveat this 27:47.240 --> 27:50.450 with all reports coming out originally 27:50.460 --> 27:52.349 usually are not always completely 27:52.349 --> 27:54.830 accurate but it's my understanding that 27:54.840 --> 27:56.784 the wounds were sustained by other 27:56.784 --> 28:00.310 afghan forces . When you said one 28:00.310 --> 28:03.160 member of the Afghan forces was killed 28:03.740 --> 28:06.230 during this incident . How did you 28:06.310 --> 28:09.940 identify that he was like the 28:10.220 --> 28:12.190 commanders on the ground ? He in 28:12.190 --> 28:14.510 uniform ? How you can you couldn't tell 28:14.520 --> 28:17.000 if he's Taliban or ? Well if I don't 28:17.000 --> 28:19.222 know what what clothes he was wearing . 28:19.222 --> 28:21.333 Our commanders on the ground reported 28:21.333 --> 28:23.278 that it was a member of the Afghan 28:23.278 --> 28:25.333 forces who was killed in action . We 28:25.333 --> 28:27.444 have no reason to doubt that . Report 28:27.444 --> 28:29.667 anything else . Laura . Yeah . Just you 28:29.667 --> 28:31.556 mentioned earlier today , I can't 28:31.556 --> 28:33.722 remember if it was your general taylor 28:33.722 --> 28:36.380 that there was a second rotary airlift 28:36.380 --> 28:38.840 evacuation mission out of Kabul . Can 28:38.840 --> 28:41.118 you talk a little bit about what U . S . 28:41.118 --> 28:43.340 S . Is the threat to these missions and 28:43.340 --> 28:45.451 these aircraft from ISIS K . From the 28:45.451 --> 28:48.500 Taliban . Um Are there issues with RPGS ? 28:48.740 --> 28:51.018 How do you make sure that these , Yeah , 28:51.018 --> 28:53.184 I think you can understand , I want to 28:53.184 --> 28:55.129 be a little careful here laura , I 28:55.129 --> 28:57.240 would just say that commanders on the 28:57.240 --> 28:59.296 ground have the authority to conduct 28:59.296 --> 29:01.518 local missions as they deem appropriate 29:01.518 --> 29:04.730 to the need and we charge them with 29:04.740 --> 29:07.270 assessing the risk with anything that 29:07.270 --> 29:09.326 they're doing . Um And the secretary 29:09.326 --> 29:12.200 trusts that they understand what the 29:12.200 --> 29:14.340 risks are and are appropriately 29:14.340 --> 29:16.062 factoring in whatever the risk 29:16.062 --> 29:18.640 environment is before they actually 29:18.640 --> 29:21.260 before they do anything . So while I 29:21.260 --> 29:24.090 can't speak and won't speak to a 29:24.590 --> 29:27.210 specific threat streams around the 29:27.210 --> 29:30.010 airport . I can tell you that our 29:30.010 --> 29:32.960 commanders are factoring in all all 29:32.960 --> 29:35.016 manner of potential risk before they 29:35.016 --> 29:37.127 conduct any operation , Jake Sullivan 29:37.127 --> 29:39.127 earlier and talked about the threat 29:39.127 --> 29:41.349 from ISIS K . To the airport . Is there 29:41.349 --> 29:43.127 a threat from ISIS K . To these 29:43.127 --> 29:45.238 operations as well ? I won't speak to 29:45.238 --> 29:47.580 specifics of the threat but uh we know 29:47.580 --> 29:51.440 that ISIS uh is uh is certainly in 29:51.440 --> 29:54.360 Afghanistan . Um And uh and we're 29:54.360 --> 29:56.416 mindful of the potential threat that 29:56.416 --> 29:58.638 they compose to security at the airport 29:58.638 --> 30:00.749 and to the safe movement of of people 30:00.749 --> 30:02.940 or has the US paid the taliban for the 30:02.950 --> 30:05.172 freedom of movement or transport of any 30:05.172 --> 30:07.790 U . S . Citizens ? Yeah . Has there 30:07.790 --> 30:10.012 been any financial consideration to pay 30:10.012 --> 30:12.346 to the Taliban ? Over that I'm aware of ? 30:12.640 --> 30:15.160 Okay , you bet . Thanks guys .