WEBVTT 00:01.279 --> 00:03.880 Alright hello , uh , good afternoon . 00:04.000 --> 00:06.222 Happy New Year , everyone . Nice to see 00:06.222 --> 00:08.389 everyone back . um , just a few things 00:08.389 --> 00:10.444 at the top and then happy to jump in 00:10.444 --> 00:12.500 and take your questions . So first , 00:12.500 --> 00:14.722 let me acknowledge the horrific attacks 00:14.722 --> 00:16.889 that took place in New Orleans and Las 00:16.889 --> 00:19.056 Vegas earlier this week . On behalf of 00:19.056 --> 00:21.278 the department , we are thinking of the 00:21.278 --> 00:21.129 families of those who were killed , 00:21.399 --> 00:23.621 those who were injured , and the people 00:23.621 --> 00:25.510 in New Orleans after the horrific 00:25.510 --> 00:27.399 attack there that occurred on New 00:27.399 --> 00:29.288 Year's Day . Additionally , we're 00:29.288 --> 00:31.510 tracking the explosion of a cyber truck 00:31.510 --> 00:33.677 outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas . 00:33.677 --> 00:35.566 Secretary Austin has been closely 00:35.566 --> 00:37.510 monitoring both situations and has 00:37.510 --> 00:39.621 actively engaged in providing updates 00:39.621 --> 00:41.788 to the president and Homeland Security 00:41.788 --> 00:43.843 leaders as needed . To date , no DOD 00:43.843 --> 00:46.010 support has been requested in response 00:46.010 --> 00:47.843 to either incident in either New 00:47.843 --> 00:50.066 Orleans or Las Vegas . On January 1st , 00:50.099 --> 00:51.932 the Louisiana National Guard was 00:51.932 --> 00:54.155 activated to provide support to the New 00:54.155 --> 00:56.377 Orleans Office of Homeland Security and 00:56.377 --> 00:58.599 emergency preparedness . For additional 00:58.599 --> 01:00.655 information on this support , please 01:00.655 --> 01:02.655 reach out to the Louisiana National 01:02.655 --> 01:04.877 Guard , and we will continue to closely 01:04.877 --> 01:07.043 monitor the situations and stand ready 01:07.043 --> 01:09.155 to assist our interagency partners if 01:09.155 --> 01:11.419 needed . Looking ahead throughout the 01:11.419 --> 01:13.586 month of January , the department will 01:13.586 --> 01:15.752 support our interagency partners for 3 01:15.752 --> 01:18.059 high profile national special security 01:18.059 --> 01:20.900 events . 500 National Guardsmen will 01:20.900 --> 01:22.789 play a key role in supporting the 01:22.789 --> 01:25.011 counting and certification of electoral 01:25.011 --> 01:27.870 votes on January 6th . The request for 01:27.870 --> 01:29.981 assistance expected to be approved in 01:29.981 --> 01:32.037 the coming days for the presidential 01:32.037 --> 01:34.989 inauguration activities includes 7800 01:34.989 --> 01:37.309 National Guardsmen supporting security 01:37.309 --> 01:39.709 operations . It also includes some 01:39.709 --> 01:42.470 Title 10 forces coming through USOCOM 01:42.750 --> 01:44.917 to provide supplemental support to our 01:44.917 --> 01:46.972 our interagency partners as needed . 01:47.779 --> 01:49.889 Additionally , the Joint Task Force 01:49.889 --> 01:51.778 National Capital Region will lead 01:51.778 --> 01:54.000 ceremonial honors for the state funeral 01:54.000 --> 01:55.833 of President Carter , ensuring a 01:55.833 --> 01:57.611 dignified tribute to the former 01:57.611 --> 01:59.849 president . For more information on 02:00.250 --> 02:02.361 each of these events , please contact 02:02.361 --> 02:04.528 the Department of Homeland Security or 02:04.528 --> 02:06.639 US Secret Service , which is the lead 02:06.639 --> 02:08.972 partner agency for each of these events . 02:08.972 --> 02:10.694 And finally , on January 7th , 02:10.694 --> 02:12.472 Secretary Austin will travel to 02:12.472 --> 02:14.694 Ramstein , Germany for the 25th meeting 02:14.694 --> 02:16.919 of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to 02:16.919 --> 02:18.919 reaffirm our enduring commitment to 02:18.919 --> 02:21.279 Ukraine . Together with defense 02:21.279 --> 02:23.279 ministers and military leaders from 02:23.279 --> 02:25.279 around the globe , Secretary Austin 02:25.279 --> 02:27.446 will focus on delivering practical and 02:27.446 --> 02:29.501 coordinating support that reinforces 02:29.501 --> 02:31.446 Ukraine's ability to defend itself 02:31.446 --> 02:33.335 today and deter aggression in the 02:33.335 --> 02:35.335 future . We'll have more details to 02:35.335 --> 02:37.223 share on the secretary's official 02:37.223 --> 02:39.335 engagements at Ramstein in the coming 02:39.335 --> 02:41.335 days , but with that , I'm happy to 02:41.335 --> 02:43.335 take your questions . Tara . If you 02:43.335 --> 02:45.501 wanna start us off , yes , thank you . 02:45.501 --> 02:48.210 um , so on the New Orleans attack , you 02:48.210 --> 02:50.321 said that DOD is not working with law 02:50.321 --> 02:52.377 enforcement agencies right now , but 02:52.377 --> 02:54.488 what about making , um , Army veteran 02:54.488 --> 02:56.599 Jabbar's personnel records completely 02:56.599 --> 02:58.821 available ? any mental health records ? 02:58.821 --> 03:00.932 Has there been any sort of indication 03:00.932 --> 03:02.877 that he was radicalized in any way 03:02.877 --> 03:05.099 during his military service ? So that's 03:05.099 --> 03:04.600 something that the investigation is , 03:04.610 --> 03:06.721 of course , going to , um , unearth . 03:06.721 --> 03:08.777 We're not the lead um department for 03:08.777 --> 03:10.666 that . That'd be the FBI . But of 03:10.666 --> 03:12.800 course the FBI is going to over the 03:12.800 --> 03:14.633 course of the investigation comb 03:14.633 --> 03:16.300 through , you know , how this 03:16.300 --> 03:18.578 individual did become radicalized , um , 03:18.578 --> 03:21.309 in terms of his , um , personnel 03:21.309 --> 03:23.365 information information while he was 03:23.365 --> 03:25.642 serving in the army and as a reservist , 03:25.642 --> 03:27.809 you know , I'd refer you to the army . 03:27.809 --> 03:27.800 I believe they did release some of his 03:27.800 --> 03:30.229 medical personnel , um , information , 03:30.240 --> 03:32.479 so you know , I don't have more than 03:32.479 --> 03:34.479 what they've already provided . Did 03:34.479 --> 03:36.757 released to the FBI or , or I mean how , 03:36.757 --> 03:38.923 how did they access those records ? So 03:38.923 --> 03:40.979 Army CID is working with the FBI and 03:40.979 --> 03:43.440 local law enforcement um for the Las 03:43.440 --> 03:45.607 Vegas event that occurred earlier this 03:45.607 --> 03:47.329 week , um , assisting with the 03:47.329 --> 03:49.440 investigation but again we're not the 03:49.440 --> 03:51.662 lead but of course , um , Army is going 03:51.662 --> 03:53.773 to be providing medical records , you 03:53.773 --> 03:55.996 know , any other assistance that we can 03:55.996 --> 03:58.162 or that's requested , uh , we're gonna 03:58.162 --> 04:00.218 of course support the investigations 04:00.218 --> 04:02.273 that are happening either by the FBI 04:02.273 --> 04:04.440 when it comes to the New Orleans event 04:04.440 --> 04:06.720 or um with the Las Vegas incident . OK , 04:07.039 --> 04:10.929 2 more on the Las Vegas , um . Uh , CNN 04:10.929 --> 04:13.210 is reporting that Matthew Labelsberger 04:13.210 --> 04:15.880 may have been diagnosed with depression 04:16.250 --> 04:18.320 and may have sought treatment . Um , 04:18.489 --> 04:20.489 has DOD started to look through his 04:20.489 --> 04:22.267 medical records for any sort of 04:22.267 --> 04:24.211 indication of maybe a problem that 04:24.211 --> 04:26.378 wasn't treated ? I can confirm that we 04:26.378 --> 04:28.489 have turned over the we , meaning the 04:28.489 --> 04:30.656 department has turned over all medical 04:30.656 --> 04:32.767 records to local law enforcement . At 04:32.767 --> 04:34.600 this time I just don't have more 04:34.600 --> 04:36.933 details to share . That being said , um , 04:36.933 --> 04:39.100 since you referenced it . Um , when it 04:39.100 --> 04:41.320 comes to our service members , um , in 04:41.320 --> 04:43.320 active duty , there are a number of 04:43.320 --> 04:45.480 different ways to seek mental health 04:45.480 --> 04:47.640 and mental health treatment . Um , it 04:47.640 --> 04:49.807 can be through your chain of command , 04:49.807 --> 04:52.084 it can be through the chaplain on base , 04:52.084 --> 04:54.179 um , it can be through military one 04:54.179 --> 04:56.179 source , and we encourage that . We 04:56.179 --> 04:58.679 encourage our service members , um , if 04:58.679 --> 05:00.735 you need help , if you feel that you 05:00.735 --> 05:02.901 need . Um , to seek any type of mental 05:02.901 --> 05:04.901 health treatment or just to talk to 05:04.901 --> 05:07.012 someone to seek the services that are 05:07.012 --> 05:09.179 available either on base or online and 05:09.179 --> 05:11.415 just one last , um , is the secretary 05:11.415 --> 05:13.744 planning to file an appeal for Khalid 05:13.744 --> 05:16.274 Sheikh Mohammed's , uh , plea agreement 05:16.274 --> 05:18.441 before the end of the administration ? 05:18.480 --> 05:20.702 Um , so , Tara , I don't know if you're 05:20.702 --> 05:22.813 tracking the latest developments if , 05:22.813 --> 05:25.036 if that's what you're referencing , but 05:25.036 --> 05:27.202 this morning a judge denied our motion 05:27.202 --> 05:29.290 to , yeah , going to pursue that 05:29.290 --> 05:31.369 further . So we're in in conjunction 05:31.369 --> 05:33.425 with the Department of Justice . The 05:33.425 --> 05:35.647 department is considering our options , 05:35.647 --> 05:37.536 but since this just happened this 05:37.536 --> 05:37.290 morning , I just don't have more to 05:37.290 --> 05:40.059 provide at this time . Um , just to 05:40.059 --> 05:41.615 follow up on Matthew , uh , 05:41.615 --> 05:43.726 Libelsberger , were there any warning 05:43.726 --> 05:45.837 signs that , you know , his commander 05:45.837 --> 05:47.837 would have been aware of , um , you 05:47.837 --> 05:50.059 know , was there any like doubt that he 05:50.059 --> 05:52.003 should be able to take this , this 05:52.003 --> 05:54.337 leave to the US ? That's something that , 05:54.337 --> 05:55.948 you know , it's , it's under 05:55.948 --> 05:58.226 investigation by local law enforcement . 05:58.226 --> 06:00.115 I just don't have more details to 06:00.115 --> 06:02.281 provide , um , with you at this time . 06:02.281 --> 06:04.226 If I'm able to at a later date , I 06:04.226 --> 06:06.448 certainly will . And then separately um 06:06.448 --> 06:08.559 there were videos showing US military 06:08.559 --> 06:10.615 vehicles heading into northern Syria 06:10.615 --> 06:12.855 near Kobani are US forces building a 06:12.855 --> 06:15.022 base there or what's going on ? Yeah , 06:15.022 --> 06:17.133 I've seen some of the reports and and 06:17.133 --> 06:19.077 have gotten questions about that . 06:19.077 --> 06:21.188 There's no , um , plans to build a US 06:21.188 --> 06:23.355 base in Kobani , so I'm not sure where 06:23.355 --> 06:25.466 that's that's coming from . OK , um , 06:25.466 --> 06:27.633 do you know , is it anything regarding 06:27.633 --> 06:29.688 um US partner forces in the region ? 06:29.920 --> 06:32.142 That , that I can't speak to you , um , 06:32.559 --> 06:34.670 as you know , there , you know , we , 06:34.670 --> 06:36.837 there's , we certainly have encouraged 06:36.837 --> 06:39.929 and um , welcomed the , um , you know , 06:40.160 --> 06:43.480 um , cessation of violence between um 06:43.480 --> 06:45.591 SDF and other forces in that region . 06:45.779 --> 06:47.946 You know , we're continuing to work um 06:47.946 --> 06:50.001 and focus on our mission , which you 06:50.001 --> 06:52.223 know while we're in Syria to ensure the 06:52.223 --> 06:54.335 enduring defeat of ISIS , but when it 06:54.335 --> 06:56.501 comes to US forces in Kobani , there's 06:56.501 --> 06:58.557 no um plan or intent right now to to 06:58.557 --> 07:00.612 set up any base . I'm not sure where 07:00.612 --> 07:00.320 those reports are coming from . 07:00.950 --> 07:03.061 Constantine . Thanks , Sabrina . Um , 07:03.079 --> 07:06.429 going back to uh the , the two , the 07:06.429 --> 07:08.989 New Orleans attack and Las Vegas , can 07:08.989 --> 07:11.709 you definitively say whether 07:11.709 --> 07:14.950 Labelsberger and Jabbar ever served at 07:14.950 --> 07:16.839 the same base or in the same unit 07:16.839 --> 07:19.061 together ? Well , Army has , you know , 07:19.061 --> 07:21.283 their records and I'd refer you to Army 07:21.283 --> 07:23.540 to , um , You know , further clarify , 07:23.640 --> 07:25.751 well , where , where they serve , you 07:25.751 --> 07:27.751 know , I'm not tracking and , and I 07:27.751 --> 07:29.918 think the FBI said this that there's a 07:29.918 --> 07:32.196 connection between the two events . Um , 07:32.196 --> 07:34.029 I'm not tracking that there's an 07:34.029 --> 07:36.196 overlap in their service record . That 07:36.196 --> 07:38.362 being said , I would refer you to Army 07:38.362 --> 07:37.950 just to speak more to that , but at 07:37.950 --> 07:40.117 this moment I'm not tracking that they 07:40.117 --> 07:42.394 had an overlap at any time , of course . 07:42.394 --> 07:44.394 I'm gonna go to the phones and then 07:44.394 --> 07:46.283 come back in the room . uh , Jeff 07:46.283 --> 07:48.506 Schogle , task and purpose . Uh , thank 07:48.506 --> 07:50.730 you . Just two quick questions . Are US 07:50.730 --> 07:53.450 troops in Kobani ? And then , do you 07:53.450 --> 07:55.679 have any information about an army 07:55.679 --> 07:58.160 soldier who was arrested allegedly for 07:58.160 --> 08:00.216 stealing telephone information ? His 08:00.216 --> 08:02.920 name is Cameron Wegenius . Uh , Jeff , 08:02.959 --> 08:05.160 on your latter question , I don't have 08:05.160 --> 08:07.519 any information on that . Um , on your 08:07.519 --> 08:09.463 first question on Kobani , I'm not 08:09.463 --> 08:12.220 aware of US forces . Um , again , I , 08:12.279 --> 08:14.390 I've seen those reports and as , as , 08:14.390 --> 08:16.557 uh , Liz had asked me earlier about US 08:16.557 --> 08:18.668 forces establishing some type of base 08:18.668 --> 08:20.446 or presence in Kobani , I'm not 08:20.446 --> 08:22.612 tracking that that is accurate or that 08:22.612 --> 08:24.890 we have plans to do so in any way . Uh , 08:24.890 --> 08:27.057 moving on to the phones , Mike Glenn , 08:27.057 --> 08:28.890 Washington Times . Yeah , thanks 08:28.890 --> 08:31.049 Sabrina . Can you confirm if the 08:31.049 --> 08:32.882 chairman has met with any of the 08:32.882 --> 08:34.771 transition , the Trump transition 08:34.771 --> 08:37.210 people so far ? Is he , is he expecting 08:37.210 --> 08:39.570 to make his pitch for why he should 08:39.570 --> 08:41.289 stay in a position in the new 08:41.289 --> 08:43.510 administration ? Yeah , uh , thanks 08:43.510 --> 08:45.510 Mike , for the question . For , for 08:45.510 --> 08:47.788 questions about the chairman , I think , 08:47.788 --> 08:49.954 uh , as you know , I'm gonna refer you 08:49.954 --> 08:52.121 to joint staff to speak to that . Um , 08:52.121 --> 08:54.288 as of today , January 3rd , I can tell 08:54.288 --> 08:56.454 you that , um , the transition members 08:56.454 --> 08:59.900 have met with , um , 79 DOD officials . 09:00.190 --> 09:02.590 Um , we are committed to a responsible 09:02.590 --> 09:04.590 and smooth transition , but when it 09:04.590 --> 09:06.646 comes to the joint staff , I'd refer 09:06.646 --> 09:08.701 you to them , um , to speak to their 09:08.701 --> 09:10.868 engagements with the transition team . 09:10.868 --> 09:13.146 Um , I'll come back in the room . Yeah , 09:13.146 --> 09:15.423 Chris . Thanks . Um , without speaking , 09:15.423 --> 09:17.646 um , to the case in New Orleans and any 09:17.646 --> 09:19.757 motivations there , um , how does the 09:19.757 --> 09:22.349 Pentagon , uh , assess , uh , ISIS 09:22.349 --> 09:24.750 core's ability to conduct external 09:24.750 --> 09:28.030 operations ? Well , I , I mean , ISIS 09:28.030 --> 09:30.789 retains capabilities as we've seen in 09:30.789 --> 09:33.011 Iraq and Syria , and that's why we have 09:33.011 --> 09:35.590 our forces in both of those countries 09:35.590 --> 09:37.479 to ensure that ISIS can never 09:37.789 --> 09:40.989 reconstitute or resurge or surge back 09:40.989 --> 09:42.989 to what it was , you know , just a 09:42.989 --> 09:44.822 decade ago . I mean , the entire 09:44.822 --> 09:47.830 mission of our force presence there is 09:47.830 --> 09:50.052 to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS , 09:50.052 --> 09:52.274 and that's why we've partnered with the 09:52.274 --> 09:54.274 Syrian Democratic Forces , um . You 09:54.274 --> 09:56.330 know , over the past few years , and 09:56.330 --> 09:58.219 that's why we continue to conduct 09:58.219 --> 10:00.052 strikes against ISIS positions , 10:00.070 --> 10:02.320 whether it be in as recently as in the 10:02.320 --> 10:04.260 Badea Desert or elsewhere , um , 10:04.270 --> 10:07.059 because of course ISIS remains a threat , 10:07.349 --> 10:09.349 um , but they certainly are not the 10:09.349 --> 10:11.682 same threat that they were a decade ago . 10:11.682 --> 10:14.090 Great , Cheney , thank you very much , 10:14.239 --> 10:16.572 Alina . Happy New Year . Happy New Year . 10:16.572 --> 10:19.820 Thank you . I have two occasions and uh 10:19.820 --> 10:22.760 the President Biden signed the National 10:22.760 --> 10:26.679 Defense Authorization Act regarding the 10:26.679 --> 10:27.710 stationing of 10:27.710 --> 10:31.520 28,500 US troops 10:31.520 --> 10:34.030 in South Korea . Do you think that 10:34.030 --> 10:36.900 there will be a change in the role of 10:36.900 --> 10:40.229 the US troops in South Korea ? Any 10:40.229 --> 10:43.380 changes ? Janie , I think the short 10:43.380 --> 10:46.929 answer is , is no . Um , we have a , uh , 10:46.940 --> 10:49.700 an ironclad commitment with um Rock 10:49.700 --> 10:51.589 when it comes to our mill to mill 10:51.589 --> 10:53.756 cooperation , those channels and those 10:53.756 --> 10:56.700 lines of communication , um . Uh , you 10:56.700 --> 10:59.059 know , are , are still good and are the 10:59.059 --> 11:01.226 rock is a valued partner of the United 11:01.226 --> 11:03.448 States when it comes to our presence in 11:03.448 --> 11:05.781 the Indo-Pacific . Um , so I'm not . Uh , 11:06.510 --> 11:08.677 you know , anticipating any changes to 11:08.677 --> 11:10.750 that . In South Korea , there is 11:10.750 --> 11:14.419 currently a war between anti-South 11:14.419 --> 11:18.299 anti-United States poor Chinese 11:18.299 --> 11:22.190 forces and the poor US anti-Chinese 11:22.190 --> 11:25.270 forces in South Korea . What impact do 11:25.270 --> 11:28.419 you think South Korea's security vacuum 11:28.750 --> 11:32.030 will have on the security of the Korean 11:32.030 --> 11:34.780 Peninsula and the the in the Pacific . 11:35.750 --> 11:38.369 And will this affect 11:39.000 --> 11:42.989 any other US alliance ? So 11:42.989 --> 11:44.822 just to get at the heart of your 11:44.822 --> 11:46.989 question , there's no change to the US 11:46.989 --> 11:49.700 alliance when it comes to our mill to 11:49.700 --> 11:51.989 mill cooperation . When it comes to the 11:51.989 --> 11:54.349 domestic , um , issues and forces 11:54.349 --> 11:56.619 happening in in the Republic of Korea , 11:56.789 --> 11:58.956 obviously it's something that we're in 11:58.956 --> 12:01.067 a monitor , um , but you know those , 12:01.067 --> 12:03.989 those , those are things that the um . 12:04.599 --> 12:06.599 People of the Republic of Korea are 12:06.599 --> 12:08.932 gonna have to chart for themselves . Um , 12:08.932 --> 12:10.821 I can only speak on behalf of the 12:10.821 --> 12:12.877 military cooperation between our two 12:12.877 --> 12:14.877 militaries , and that still remains 12:14.877 --> 12:16.877 strong , um , and it's , you know , 12:16.877 --> 12:18.710 going to continue on beyond this 12:18.710 --> 12:20.821 administration as well . I'm gonna go 12:20.821 --> 12:20.789 to the phones and then happy to come 12:20.789 --> 12:23.011 back in the room . um , Howard Altman , 12:23.011 --> 12:26.729 the war zone . Thanks Sabrina . Can you , 12:26.820 --> 12:30.250 uh , talk about the status of , um , 12:30.260 --> 12:32.093 the , the , the , uh , so-called 12:32.093 --> 12:34.840 ceasefire between SDF and , and the 12:34.840 --> 12:37.539 Turkish backed forces and , and what 12:37.539 --> 12:39.690 level of support is the US providing 12:39.690 --> 12:43.619 SDF in uh the Kobani area or in , in 12:43.619 --> 12:46.400 that particular part of uh Syria ? Uh , 12:46.479 --> 12:48.701 thanks , Howard , for the question . So 12:48.701 --> 12:50.979 as you heard me say earlier , you know , 12:50.979 --> 12:52.923 we do support the cessation of all 12:52.923 --> 12:55.146 violence in parts of Syria . Um , right 12:55.146 --> 12:57.257 now this is a time to um focus on and 12:57.257 --> 12:59.479 increase stability in the region , um . 13:00.010 --> 13:02.010 As we've said before from from this 13:02.010 --> 13:03.843 podium , the US supports Syria's 13:03.843 --> 13:06.000 territorial integrity , um , and our 13:06.000 --> 13:07.960 focus is on promoting an inclusive 13:07.960 --> 13:10.760 Syrian-led . Uh , political process 13:10.760 --> 13:13.330 while remaining focused on our mission 13:13.330 --> 13:15.441 there which is to ensure the enduring 13:15.441 --> 13:17.663 defeat of ISIS and any terrorism , uh , 13:17.690 --> 13:20.530 coming out of Syria . Um , we know that 13:20.530 --> 13:22.697 ISIS uses moments like this to try and 13:22.697 --> 13:25.159 exploit instability , um , which is why 13:25.330 --> 13:27.441 we are continuing our mission there , 13:27.441 --> 13:29.386 um , to ensure that ISIS can never 13:29.386 --> 13:31.497 reconstitute or surge back to what we 13:31.497 --> 13:33.497 saw , um , just a decade ago . I'll 13:33.497 --> 13:35.774 leave it at that , um , oh stop uh VOA . 13:36.969 --> 13:39.080 Thank you , Sabrina . Uh , I have two 13:39.080 --> 13:41.025 questions here . First , could you 13:41.025 --> 13:42.913 clarify the date of the next UDCG 13:42.913 --> 13:45.136 meeting ? Is it gonna be on January 7th 13:45.136 --> 13:47.191 or later ? And will there be another 13:47.191 --> 13:49.302 leader level meeting led by President 13:49.302 --> 13:51.358 Biden as planned before , or is this 13:51.358 --> 13:52.969 the last meeting during this 13:52.969 --> 13:55.136 administration ? And second question , 13:55.136 --> 13:55.000 should we expect more PDA announcements 13:55.000 --> 13:57.222 for Ukraine in the coming weeks ? Thank 13:57.222 --> 13:59.333 you . Thanks for the question . So in 13:59.333 --> 14:01.444 terms of PDA announcements , um , I'm 14:01.444 --> 14:03.556 not gonna get ahead of anything and I 14:03.556 --> 14:03.119 have no announcements to make today . 14:03.400 --> 14:05.859 Um , what I had , uh , said at the 14:05.859 --> 14:07.859 beginning of the press briefing was 14:07.859 --> 14:09.859 that on January 7th , the secretary 14:09.859 --> 14:12.140 will be leaving for Ramstein , uh , for 14:12.140 --> 14:14.196 the UDCG , and that will be the 25th 14:14.196 --> 14:16.307 meeting , um , of the Ukraine Defense 14:16.307 --> 14:18.362 Contact Group , um , in terms of the 14:18.362 --> 14:20.473 president's schedule , you know , I'm 14:20.473 --> 14:20.140 not gonna speak for that . I'd refer 14:20.140 --> 14:22.140 you to the White House for anything 14:22.140 --> 14:24.196 that involves , um , uh , travel for 14:24.196 --> 14:26.362 the president . Uh , and last question 14:26.362 --> 14:28.473 from the phone and then happy to come 14:28.473 --> 14:30.696 in the room , uh , Heather , US and I . 14:30.696 --> 14:32.862 Great , thank you so much . I was just 14:32.862 --> 14:32.679 wondering , um , is there anything that 14:32.679 --> 14:35.299 you can say about the incident over in 14:35.299 --> 14:37.500 the Red Sea with the Gettysburg 14:37.500 --> 14:40.390 shooting down one of uh the planes 14:40.390 --> 14:42.501 assigned to Harry S Truman ? Is there 14:42.501 --> 14:44.270 any stand down ? What kind of 14:44.270 --> 14:46.326 discussions were held between the US 14:46.326 --> 14:48.437 and our partners and allies to assure 14:48.437 --> 14:50.548 that they would not also face similar 14:50.548 --> 14:53.429 situations with our ships . Uh , thanks , 14:53.479 --> 14:55.590 Heather for the question . So I don't 14:55.590 --> 14:57.701 have more to provide than what um has 14:57.701 --> 14:59.812 been put out by by CECOM previously . 15:00.030 --> 15:02.590 Um , what happened with our F-18 , you 15:02.590 --> 15:04.940 know , that that is under investigation , 15:05.260 --> 15:07.316 um , I think you saw that , um , the 15:07.316 --> 15:09.427 Gettysburg did , uh , mistakenly fire 15:09.427 --> 15:11.649 and hit one of our F-18s . um , again , 15:11.710 --> 15:13.877 it's an ongoing investigation . I just 15:13.877 --> 15:16.210 don't have more to provide at this time . 15:16.210 --> 15:18.210 Uh , come back in the room . Or two 15:18.210 --> 15:20.432 questions related to Ukraine . Is there 15:20.432 --> 15:23.619 any planning underway for another UDCG 15:23.619 --> 15:26.299 if the next administration chooses to 15:26.299 --> 15:28.419 continue ? Or do you believe this is 15:28.419 --> 15:30.419 the last one ? I can only speak for 15:30.419 --> 15:32.641 this administration right now . There's 15:32.641 --> 15:34.641 only planning for , uh , I can only 15:34.641 --> 15:36.863 speak for the planning that is involved 15:36.863 --> 15:39.086 in this . Coming UDCG , uh , which will 15:39.086 --> 15:41.363 be the , the secretary is leaving , um , 15:41.363 --> 15:43.197 on January 7th , um , should the 15:43.197 --> 15:45.141 incoming administration , incoming 15:45.141 --> 15:47.469 secretary choose to host more UDCGs , 15:47.479 --> 15:49.646 that's a determination made for them . 15:49.646 --> 15:51.812 I just can't speak to that . And the , 15:51.812 --> 15:55.150 the 1.2.25 billion PDA announced on 15:55.150 --> 15:57.372 December 30th , will that all get there 15:57.372 --> 16:01.020 by the 20th ? That one package , 16:01.710 --> 16:04.270 that that one announcement . No , so 16:04.270 --> 16:06.359 PDAs , because it's announced does , 16:06.450 --> 16:08.617 does not , and I think we've said this 16:08.617 --> 16:10.590 pretty publicly as well , um . 16:11.950 --> 16:14.849 PDAs as they get announced , uh , 16:14.859 --> 16:17.059 capability and equipment flows off our 16:17.059 --> 16:19.609 shelves as it's available . So , um , 16:19.619 --> 16:21.820 it is very likely that there you are 16:21.820 --> 16:24.042 gonna see more capabilities continue to 16:24.042 --> 16:26.210 flow to Ukraine , uh , post this 16:26.210 --> 16:28.321 administration . That's very normal . 16:28.321 --> 16:30.654 Um , when PDAs get announced , you know , 16:30.654 --> 16:32.932 we've had PDAs announced from November , 16:32.932 --> 16:35.154 December , that capability continues to 16:35.154 --> 16:37.099 flow . That doesn't mean that that 16:37.099 --> 16:39.266 package is necessarily closed out . It 16:39.266 --> 16:41.432 does take , uh , some , some equipment 16:41.432 --> 16:43.266 can get there within days . Some 16:43.266 --> 16:45.488 equipment , uh , as you know , can take 16:45.488 --> 16:47.432 much longer . OK . Try . Sabrina , 16:47.432 --> 16:49.543 regardless if there is a relationship 16:49.543 --> 16:51.599 between what happened in New Orleans 16:51.599 --> 16:53.821 and Las Vegas , you have two US service 16:53.821 --> 16:55.654 members who went rogue , one who 16:55.654 --> 16:57.543 actually killed other Americans , 16:57.543 --> 16:59.849 another one who's an active service 16:59.849 --> 17:03.250 member , highly decorated . Is the 17:03.250 --> 17:05.417 department doing enough to monitor the 17:05.417 --> 17:07.694 mental well-being of these individuals , 17:07.694 --> 17:09.917 specifically in the case in Las Vegas ? 17:09.917 --> 17:11.917 Well , Charlie , what I will say is 17:11.917 --> 17:13.917 that we have a variety of resources 17:13.917 --> 17:15.972 available to our service members and 17:15.972 --> 17:18.194 you know , we're not speaking on behalf 17:18.194 --> 17:20.361 of the VA , but of course the VA has a 17:20.361 --> 17:22.472 variety of um mental health resources 17:22.472 --> 17:24.806 available to those who have served , um . 17:25.079 --> 17:27.599 That , you know , I mean from our 17:27.599 --> 17:29.550 department include those available 17:29.550 --> 17:31.550 within the chain of command , those 17:31.550 --> 17:33.606 available on base , and of course we 17:33.606 --> 17:35.550 have um military one source that's 17:35.550 --> 17:37.439 available online . I think what's 17:37.439 --> 17:39.550 important with these two incidents is 17:39.550 --> 17:41.661 that um you have to remember that the 17:41.661 --> 17:43.606 vast majority of men and women who 17:43.606 --> 17:45.772 serve in uniform um do so every single 17:45.772 --> 17:47.717 day with the honor , integrity and 17:47.717 --> 17:50.520 character um while upholding their oath 17:50.520 --> 17:52.798 to protect and defend the Constitution . 17:52.839 --> 17:54.890 Um , these are tragic events that 17:54.890 --> 17:57.560 happened in Las Vegas and New Orleans , 17:57.729 --> 18:00.520 um , and , you know , the department 18:00.719 --> 18:02.775 and under the Secretary's tenure has 18:02.775 --> 18:06.689 taken action to address whether it be 18:06.689 --> 18:10.444 extremism or um Um , you know , uh , 18:10.574 --> 18:12.685 other extremist activities within the 18:12.685 --> 18:14.852 department , that was something that , 18:14.852 --> 18:17.018 um , the secretary took very seriously 18:17.018 --> 18:19.074 when he came into office . So , um , 18:19.074 --> 18:21.241 there are these resources available to 18:21.241 --> 18:23.018 our service members . There are 18:23.018 --> 18:25.185 resources to those who served . um , I 18:25.185 --> 18:27.296 think what's important to remember is 18:27.296 --> 18:29.241 that again , the vast majority who 18:29.241 --> 18:31.407 serve in our military do so with honor 18:31.407 --> 18:33.574 and integrity every single day . Yes , 18:36.689 --> 18:38.911 in the back regarding lasted 24 hours , 18:38.911 --> 18:40.880 there is , there have been like 77 18:40.890 --> 18:44.599 civilians have been killed and 45 have 18:44.599 --> 18:47.849 been injured because of the IDF strikes , 18:47.939 --> 18:50.209 um , even inside the safe zone inside 18:50.209 --> 18:52.810 Gaza . So that's come even after the 18:52.810 --> 18:54.866 letter that we sent by the Secretary 18:54.866 --> 18:57.410 Austin with the Secretary Blinken asked 18:57.410 --> 18:59.609 Israel to do more to prevent civilians 18:59.609 --> 19:01.887 there from any impact of these strikes . 19:01.964 --> 19:04.025 So do you have concerns about the 19:04.025 --> 19:07.785 civilians casualties inside Gaza and do 19:07.785 --> 19:09.952 you believe that Israel has to do more 19:10.145 --> 19:12.312 to prevent the civilians or avoid them 19:12.312 --> 19:14.464 from these strikes ? Thank you . So 19:14.464 --> 19:16.464 nothing has changed in terms of our 19:16.464 --> 19:20.255 position on um what we have said about . 19:21.319 --> 19:23.739 The mitigation of civilian harm , um , 19:23.790 --> 19:27.400 the secretary in . You know his 19:27.400 --> 19:30.359 calls uh with uh the previous Minister 19:30.359 --> 19:32.599 of Defense Minister Galant um to 19:32.599 --> 19:34.488 Minister Katz , you know , always 19:34.488 --> 19:37.079 impresses upon and has impressed upon 19:37.079 --> 19:40.109 each of them , um , that civilians need 19:40.109 --> 19:42.165 to be protected and moved out of the 19:42.165 --> 19:44.387 battle space . Um , there have been far 19:44.387 --> 19:46.498 too many innocent civilians that have 19:46.498 --> 19:48.665 been killed . Um , it's also important 19:48.665 --> 19:50.800 to remember that Hamas uses civilians 19:50.800 --> 19:52.300 and embeds in the civilian 19:52.300 --> 19:55.280 infrastructures , um , that . You know , 19:55.430 --> 19:58.050 puts people's lives at risk . Um , but 19:58.050 --> 20:00.410 absolutely , absolutely more needs to 20:00.410 --> 20:02.632 be done to protect innocent civilians . 20:02.632 --> 20:04.829 Um , and you've seen such a concerted 20:04.829 --> 20:07.051 effort by this department and from from 20:07.051 --> 20:09.489 others , um , in this administration . 20:09.839 --> 20:13.599 Um , to get humanitarian aid into the 20:13.599 --> 20:15.829 people that need it most in Gaza . Um , 20:15.880 --> 20:17.936 I mean , as you will all remember in 20:17.936 --> 20:19.769 this room , we set up a maritime 20:19.769 --> 20:22.750 corridor to , um , inject aid into Gaza , 20:23.069 --> 20:26.160 um , as quickly as possible , um , you 20:26.160 --> 20:28.216 know , we're gonna keep having those 20:28.216 --> 20:30.327 conversations for as long as we're in 20:30.327 --> 20:32.049 office , um , with our Israeli 20:32.049 --> 20:33.993 counterparts to , to do more , but 20:33.993 --> 20:36.369 again , um . Things could change 20:36.369 --> 20:38.591 tomorrow if Hamas also accepted the the 20:38.591 --> 20:40.591 ceasefire deal that's in place that 20:40.591 --> 20:42.650 would end these , the violence that 20:42.650 --> 20:44.872 we're continuing to see in the region . 20:44.872 --> 20:47.319 Yeah , of course . OK . All right . 20:47.569 --> 20:49.513 Short briefing . Thanks everyone . 20:49.513 --> 20:49.479 Happy New Year .