Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby and Army Maj. Gen. William D. “Hank” Taylor, deputy director for regional operations and force management for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, brief the media at the Pentagon.

Transcript

Good morning everybody. I’m gonna turn it over real quickly to general Taylor, who you all know. And the general is going to give you uh an operational update of where things sit in Kabul as well as uh an operational update on our support to the people of Haiti after the earthquake. Then I’ll come back, I’ve got a couple of schedule items to talk to and then we’ll take questions general. Thank you. Good morning everybody. It’s good to be here to uh continue to give you an operational update as you know, we’re getting into a rhythm here. So I’ll continue to try to focus on the key operational highlights our focus on our priorities. We’ve been providing details through the past in 24-hour snapshots and I’ll provide those details with respect to a few areas today. Further, I’m prepared to give a cumulative update on the total number of people evacuated from Afghanistan so far. First The US military footprint in Kabul is now more than 5200 total troops on the ground. Kabul airport remains secure and open for flight operations. There are now multiple gates that have access for entry into the airfield which will help expedite processing in a safe and orderly manner In the past 24 hours, 13 C- 17’s arrived with additional troops and equipment. Also 12 C 17’s departed. These flights contain more than 2000 passengers. These flights left Kabul and arrived at designated safe havens and staging ours in the centcom area of operation Since the start of evacuation operations on August 14. We have airlifted approximately 7000 total evacuees. This increase is reflective of both a ramp up of aircraft and airlift capability, faster processing of evacuees and greater information and fidelity in reporting. If we go back to when the Department of Defense began supporting the State Department with movement of S. I. V. S at the end of July, The cumulative number of people moved out of Afghanistan is somewhere near 12,000. That number includes American citizens, us embassy personnel, individuals designated by the State Department as S. I. B. Applicants and other evacuees in coordination with the State Department. We’re ready to increase throughput and have scheduled aircraft departures accordingly. We intend to maximize each planes capacity. We’re prioritizing people above all else and we’re focused on doing this as safely as possible with absolute urgency. We have not experienced any security incidents nor interference since my last update, we continue to recognize the inherent danger of operating in this environment but our service members in Kabul remain agile, professional and our posture to continue mission and to respond if required on this topic. As we look at the last 24 hours F eighteens from the Ronald Reagan carrier strike group flew armed over watch flights over Kabul to ensure enhance security. We maintain a watchful eye and are continuously conducting in depth assessments to protect the safety of Americans. We will use all of the tools in our arsenal to achieve this goal. I want to reinforce reinforce that. We are absolutely focused on this mission of national importance. We are committed to the safe evacuation of as many people as quickly and as safely as possible in Haiti yesterday, eight United States Army helicopters, three CH 47 chinooks and five U 8 60 black hawks from south calms, Jtf bravo out of Honduras repositioned to launch and support operations in support of Haiti earthquake operations. Those assets have already started moving disaster relief personnel and supplies and supported JTF Hades assessment of airfields and roads throughout the area. A CH 47 completed a partial move of about 60 of a field hospital, which we believe the rest of the field hospital will be airlifted today. The U. S. Coast Guard continues its lights lifesaving missions and again all of the helicopters involved will be on airlift missions to ease the suffering and to get people and capabilities where they need to be. As you know, the USs Arlington is now underway and expected to arrive later this week to provide additional lift and medical capabilities and serve as another resource for the people of Haiti. Finally, special tactics airmen assigned to the Special Operations Wing are currently augmenting the lifesaving and humanitarian aid efforts in Haiti and are responsible for conducting various airfield surveys to determine suitability for bringing in follow on humanitarian aid via airlift. Thank you very much got a couple of schedule items too to go over. Mhm. So uh here in Washington Secretary Austin did have a phone conversation this morning with his counterpart in Bahrain, his royal highness Prince Salman bin Hamad al Khalifa, Deputy Supreme Commander and Prime Minister. Uh and this afternoon the Secretary will be welcoming, welcoming them, welcoming his excellency dr Khalid bin Mohammad al Attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister, State of Defense Affairs for the State of Qatar uh here in the building. Uh that will issue a readout for each of those events later today and with that will start taking questions. I think bob you’re on the phone. Yeah, Yes, thank you, john. General Taylor said that there were 12 C17 Aircraft departed with evacuees over the past 24 hours, Which is a smaller number than the previous 24 hours. I believe My question is regarding with the clock running down on toward August 31. The Secretary Austin believed that it will be necessary to extend the deadline. I know that it’s not his call, but has he recommended that the deadline of August 31 be extended bob. You heard the Secretary yesterday uh say that we’re very focused on making sure we get as many people out as possible and as fast as possible. Um And uh and we’re working on that very diligently as you heard the general’s update. Um uh and you also heard that the President say that that that if he believes that there is a need to alter the timeline that uh you know that that he would revisit that at the appropriate time we’re focused on right now, bob is head down shoulder to the wheel trying to get as many people out as possible as quickly as possible. Uh And I think uh I think I’ll leave it at that. Tara. Thank you. Follow up to Bob’s question. Um since the president has left the door open to troops possibly staying past August 31 has admiral basically begun conversations with his Taliban counterpart to make sure that if troops do stay they will not come under attack. I don’t know with that level of detail what conversations Admiral basically is having with his counterpart out in town. Um Again our focus right now there has been no decision to change the deadline and we are focused on doing everything we can inside that deadline to move as many people out as possible. Um And if and when there’s a decision to change that uh then obviously that would require additional conversations with the Taliban as well. But I don’t believe that those conversations have happened at this point and as a follow up on the low past flights by the F eighteens um do they have authorization to uh fire if U. S. Troops or allies come under attack? These are not low pass flights, Tara there at altitude as the general brief there over watch and and in this case the general briefed F 18 flights but there are other aircraft that gentle Mackenzie and Admiral basically have at their disposal to provide this kind of Overwatch. So they’re not low passes. Um And I would only to your second question, I would simply say as always we have the right to defend ourselves, our people and our operations. How many F18s are there? And I guess was were they was there a specific reason or did you see something that led you to move them or was it just well we have them. So why not? No good question. Just going back, these were not Lopez said these are providing air support and this isn’t anything new. The as we know, the Ronald Reagan has been there providing support. So these F18s are flying more than just yesterday’s were continuously in support and part of the assets that I briefed early on that we’re always available to the centcom commander. We’ve been trying Overwatch since always you mentioned them today because just to give an update of specifically the type of capability that the commanders on the ground continue to have to do just Mr. Kirby to ensure that we can provide that self-defense uh and assets to the commander. Also injuries uh there have been some reporting out there that there were low passes and that and that there was some sort of shows of force and I think we felt it was important for the general to provide some context about what is happening in the air and why and that’s why we mentioned it today. I don’t think you’re going to get a daily update from us about every aircraft and every flight plan. But we felt that given the context of some of the erroneous reporting out there yesterday that we wanted to clear that up, john are you receiving credible threats against U. S. Forces at the airport that if you don’t leave by a certain date that al Qaeda or other groups will begin attacking the airport, I won’t speak to intelligence assessments one way or the other gen obviously force protection is a high priority. You heard that in the generals opening comments as well. Uh we’re always evaluating the threat. It’s a it’s not only a day by day thing, it’s an hour by hour thing. We know that this is a still a perilous environment. Um and all I can tell you is that we’re going to do everything that we can uh to make sure that we can protect our force, protect the people that were trying to move on to the airport and protect their movement out of Kabul as well as protect the entire operation at the Air force. You heard the secretary talk about the need to be able to defend the airport. So it’s something we’re looking at literally hour by hour. General Taylor British paratroopers are leaving the airport going into Kabul to rescue and evacuate some of their citizens who are trapped, can’t get to the airport because of the Taliban. Why isn’t the U. S. Doing that at this time? As I said, our main mission continues to be to secure HK to allow those American citizens and others I’ve to come and be processed at the airfield and just to follow up, how are you fueling your planes, the C seventeen’s that are going out, Are you now in a position that you have to buy fuel from the Taliban? Um, the assets on HK on the airfield are what we need to maintain the operations, all operations to support the mission. So that’s a no, you’re not buying fuel from the Taliban. There’s there’s uh plenty of fuel sustainment capability at how many cars are airport. And as you know, Jenn we also have the ability of our on our own, our logistics ability to to fuel our aircraft as needed, Kourtney? I’m still a little unclear about the F eighteens and why do you have armed F 18. What can you explain a little bit more about about what Overwatch means, what exactly it is that they’re doing or providing, I’ll let the general talk to that. But um, the ability to provide close air support is something that needs to be immediate if a condition on the ground ever required that. So as prudent military operations. We ensure there are always assets available so that the commander if required, Can ensure the time and space of reaction is as little as possible. So prepare if you need to do airstrikes in over Kabul were there to there to ensure that they can support the commander on the ground. And then also you mentioned that there have been about 7000 people taken out since the 14th. Um and you’re hoping to increase that, I’m sorry, 12,000 total out since the end of July. How many more do you anticipate having to move? Uh So as I said, the military capacity, it continues to be uh 5 to 9000 day and we are ready to do that. And and as Mr. Kirby said um or increased interactions with Department of State will allow that to that. As you’ve seen the ability to increase more flights a day. And Kirby, can I ask you just one quick one, is there, is there any update to any efforts or talks with the Taliban about allowing afghans to get through some of these checkpoints and get to the airport safely? There’s no update court. I think you heard the secretary talked about this yesterday were in communication obviously with the local Taliban commander about um making sure um that uh those at-risk afghans uh special immigrant visa applicants uh you know, additional afghan citizens that we want to move through are able to move through and um uh and it comes down a lot to the credentialing and and making sure that they can prove and we can prove that that these are appropriate people to move through. And and we have indications this morning that that process is working. Yeah, Barbara, I’m still confused about the F- 18s as well. First of all, this is the first time I recall you telling us of Overwatch flights since us troops arrived. So are these the first armed flights over Kabul since us troops arrived? No, No. And Barb, I think what you have to remember is before we began a noncombatant evacuation operation. Uh We had been in the midst of drawing down our forces. I’m asking I’m sorry I’m asking specifically since operations with U. S. Forces began at the airport since the noncombatant evacuations began at the airport, are these the first armed over watch over couple? They are not. And you say close air support. But to be clear what you are saying is you are prepared now to conduct air strikes over Kabul Barbara. I’m not going to talk about potential future operations. So I do think it’s important to level set here that even throughout the drawdown, we had Overwatch capabilities. Um throughout throughout the drawdown we had Overwatch capabilities. Uh So the fact that we are flying Overwatch missions now and have been since the 14th, we were actually doing it before the 14th, as you would think we would and and to my previous answer force protection is a high priority um and we’re going to have at our disposal all the assets and resources necessary to make sure we can accomplish this mission safely and efficiently. Just like we were accomplishing the previous mission of drawdown safely and efficiently. So this is a continuum. It’s not something new. The reason we decided to talk about it today and I don’t think you’re gonna expect to see us talk about it every day, but we felt it was important today given that there had been some reporting out there that we were, you know, flying low passes over the city or some kind of shows of force. That’s not what this is. This is just an added layer of force protection. It’s the prudent and responsible thing to do. Can I just follow up on another on your discussions with the Taliban now that the potential is in public for stain. Does the US military, does the Defense Department feel it would it need at least need Taliban acquiescence if you were to stay beyond the 15th do you want if not their agreement at least their acquiescence to stay. I think it is just a fundamental fact of the reality of where we are that communications um and a certain measure of agreement With the Taliban on what we’re trying to accomplish has to continue to occur. And again, I’m not going to speculate past August 31, I haven’t gotten to anybody on the phone. So if you’ll just forgive me uh Carla Bob. Hey thanks for doing this, john can you just briefly kind of update us on the policy of nationals were trying to get into the airport for evacuations by other countries. I know they mentioned what they were doing, but we also heard from Sylvia about that Dutch plane that left without any afghan nationals. How exactly is that process um being done? And how are the U. S. Troops helping with that process? And then one other question quickly, if I may, there’s been reports of resistance outside in the past year and possibly in parwan, is the us doing anything to support these afghan troops that are trying to make a resistance and trying to push back uh Carlo on your first question. We obviously are. And you heard the Secretary talked about this yesterday uh willing to support the movement uh safe movement of uh citizens of our allies and partners. In fact, we we have already done that. And some of the numbers that the general briefed that got out of the country were obviously uh citizens of other countries, allies and partners. So we are doing that. We’ll continue to do that. As for the exact process. I’m afraid I’m not qualified to speak to that. That’s really a better question put to our State Department colleagues in terms of how how it works from a process perspective we are in full support of that. But again, our main mission at the airport is security safe operation of the airfield and continuing to get people out um on your second question, we’ve seen reports uh the same as you of uh of potential pockets of resistance. But I would just again stress that our military mission in Afghanistan right now is to conduct this noncombatant evacuation in a safe and orderly way and that’s what we’re doing. Yeah, Thank you. So you mentioned the phone call between the secretary today and his Bahraini counterpart and he’s going to meet the Qatari defense Minister later today. Can you talk about the role these nations, Gulf nations in general are playing in uh facilitating this this operation and um are they putting assets in this operation to evacuate some of the Afghanis or U. S. Citizens. Um I think that the those nation states speak for themselves and what they’re doing. And as I said, we’ll have a readout of both both conversations later today. So I don’t want to get ahead of that. Um but obviously both countries are our key partners in the region um as you know, Bahrain hosts the US fifth fleet headquarters um and as a key partner, maritime partner, particularly in the gulf region and and Qatar as well uh in many different ways. And we’re always always interested in having good conversations with these key partners in the region. But I don’t think I’m gonna speak to specifics with respect to Afghanistan. I let those nations states speak for themselves. Thank you so much. Mr. Kirby Kelly Mirer. Next. Our media group. Question is there any behavior by the Taliban towards us citizens or afghans trying to reach the airport? That would mean us troops would have to protect them. Have any red lines been communicated to the Taliban? Uh we’ve made it very clear to the Taliban that any attack upon our people in our operations at the airport will be met with a forceful response. There has been, as the general noted in his opening statement, there’s been no hostile interactions between the Taliban and our forces or of American citizens getting through. Now we have seen reports of the Taliban harassing um, and physically so some afghans that we’re trying to move to the airport, We are in constant communication with them. As my answer to Courtney indicated uh, to make sure that that they have the same visibility on the people that we want to see get through as we do. And some of that has to do with a common sight picture on the credentialing and so that those conversations continue. What about Americans outside the airport? No, I said we haven’t seen any any hostile interactions between the Taliban and our people. And we certainly and we haven’t seen them impede or harass or obstruct the movement of American citizens from the environs into the airport and obviously we want to see that continue. Yeah, I do things when general Taylor could you discuss the non-American flights going in and out of the airport how many how many people have been evacuated and what countries are still seeking to take people out and have a follow up on the Taliban? Okay I’ll let the general. So what I what I will say is that when we talk about all flights going in and out of Kabul airport are being synchronized and work through uh Through centcom there. So that coordination is being done and so when I talk as the numbers we are starting to include those numbers of everybody that is leaving from other countries they don’t have the details right now of which countries left within the last 24 but all of those type of flights anything coming in and out of Kabul airport is being coordinated through the controlling piece there with the centcom. Can we get any details of who and later and then I have a follow up on the Taliban. So um is there anything the Taliban is in in this this cooperation is there is there anything they aren’t doing? Is there anything the U. S. Is not happy with in terms of how they are involved in the airport operations? And have they asked or demanded access to the airport? I know of no requests or interest by uh Taliban commanders to access the airport. Now it’s our understanding that they understand why we’re there and what we’re doing. Um and uh and again as the Secretary said, we’ve been able to um to have that kind of communication with them. Uh I won’t detail um every conversation that we’re having with the Taliban again, I I think it’s important to to let the results speak for themselves and as you and I are talking here today, uh we uh we have an understanding and uh and they are helping to facilitate safe passage for those that were trying to get into the airport. I think I just uh leave it at that. Let me go back to the phones again. Um Paul, Shenkman, us news. I am hi john has us confidence in the ability to carry out counterterrorism strikes in Afghanistan either now or in the future changed at all since the fall of Kabul. Um particularly given the apparent coordination between the Taliban and Pakistan whose airspace, presumably the U. S. Needs to access No, the short answer to your answer, short answer to your question, Paul is no, we still maintain robust over the horizon counterterrorism capability uh in the region and we will still have the authority and capability to use that uh counterterrorism capability. Should we need it. Uh Megan Verify that the evacuation capacity has reached the 5000 to 9000 goal. And I wanted to ask whether the limiting factor is the State Department’s ability to process people or the ability of people to physically get inside the airport as we understand they’re lined up outside. So the let’s talk first about the The movement, the air capacity is set as I briefed a couple times for so that ability to air move up to 5000 to 9000 a day has been set and continues as I think you’ve seen in the report today of the increased numbers. Uh we continue to see um the ability to build those ready to fly on Kabul airport can to increase to allow us to fly those out with uh the ability to continue obviously as Mr. curry said we want that to continue to increase as we continue to bring more people more American citizens SUVs and those onto the airfield so that they can be processed and ready to fly. Have there been any requests from D. O. D. Officials to maybe expand the perimeter around the airport so that there’s more of a safe zone for people while they’re waiting in line. And if there have been, what was the Taliban’s response. So the commander on the ground I think you’ve seen is the airfield is secure and every day in secure security operations commanders are always what we can improving the security environment. So as the commander on the ground at every level finds those things that need to be improved to increase the security to allow mission success they’re going to do those things that they have those authorities to do on a daily basis. So I think as you saw today, the ability to continue State Department’s ability to bring more people on and to continue those, that’s what we will continue to look at over the next few days. Do they have the ability to expand the perimeter around the airport? There’s been, I don’t want to get ahead of where we are. The mission remains security at the airport and inside the perimeter of the airport and that’s what we’re doing. Um uh there are uh as we speak, there’s there’s no plans to expand beyond that and I think we leave it at that. The other thing I want to just touch on your first question. Um what the generals talking about his capacity and as I said from very early on, what we want to make sure is that airlift is not a limiting factor and it and it hasn’t been, that doesn’t mean that um at this point in time, uh every single seat on every single plane is going to be filled. We are working hard to get there, but we want to build out to that capacity and we continue to do that. There are lots of factors that go into the throughput um including the situation out in town, including the checkpoints that the Taliban have set up, including processing at the gates where we have set up and the general mentioned, we’ve got our additional gates that are available to us. So that’s helping flesh out some of this capacity whether is a factor and of course security at the airport is a factor and we are not taking either of those last two and actually not taking any of them. But we’re certainly not taking whether or security at the airport for granted it changes, you know, every day, the insecurity environment changes and of course the weather. So there’s lots of there’s lots of uh checkpoints on the way to the getting to throughput. What we want to make sure is that that one limiting factor is not airlift capacity. And as the general said, we’re confident that that it is not now and going forward, it will not be, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t going to be. Um that doesn’t mean that you can I mean just because you have 5000 seats that you can automatically fill 5000 seats every day. Now, that’s what we want to get too. We want, as the secretary said, move as many people as fast and as safely as possible. But there’s lots of steps in the process, not all of them do we control? And we understand that that’s one clarification on that. So you are you saying that you’re at that capacity right now that with these flights of these 13 17 that have come in, You would have the capacity to take 5000 people out in 24 hours right now, but you but you’re only you’ve only taken 2000 out. So like I said within the centcom commanders capabilities and assets available. We have uh the appropriate air assets to fly the 5000 to 9000 a day depending upon the ability meaning the queue, right those ready to fly. Uh We bring in assets uh to fly them out. So yes we have assets available Throughout sent common available to reach those numbers today. And we have had those what’s physically flying in right now, at least 24 hours. Is that enough? I guess we can do the math and see how many people can get on 13. It’s not about the math, it’s about what’s ready to fly. Who’s on the airfield, ready to leave a holding area and get on the aircraft. And as those numbers increase which you’ve seen, they have in the last 24 48 the centcom command team will continue to bring in the airflow required to fly out those people sure. A factor in this among your many other factors as the U. S. Now dependent upon the Taliban to keep those terrorist groups in check during this operation. ISIS and Al Qaeda is absolutely a planning factor. You wouldn’t expect it to be otherwise. Um And um I’m not going to talk about specific force protection measures against terrorist threats I think I think but clearly were mindful that that threat could persist. Is that part of the reason for the the overhead flights, the Overwatch flights again have been in the air since before the noncombatant evacuation operation? It’s prudent force protection measures in the air um to make sure that we can protect our people in our operations against any threat Tara any threat or can I just, I still want to be clear you’re nowhere near, you’re nowhere near the the demand for getting people out is nowhere near the 5 to 9000 that you’re you have established and maintained its capacity to do right. One question two is what’s the best estimate of American citizens are the first priority? What’s the best estimate that you guys have that? You’ll work through those and then you can turn kind of full time as it were to S. I. V. S afghans or whatever. Absolutely not thinking about. So a couple of points on this, as the general said, we have the capacity now there’s certainly enough airframes to me The capacity we’d like to have a 5-9 but that doesn’t mean that that that number of airframes are just landing at Kabul and then we’re just taking them off empty. We’re trying to make maximum use of the ramp space of the aircraft and of the queue. Um and we’re going to adjust that every day. The demand will drive the demand and the queue will drive what kind of how many stories we fly? Um I’m sorry your second question was like what’s the best estimate of when you uh yeah and you asked about American citizens? So I think as the general briefed, I mean just in just in the last 24 hours of the 2000, uh that got out. It was it was a mix of American citizens and family members as well as special immigrant visa applicants and other at-risk afghans. And I think you’re gonna see that every day. Gordon? I mean, uh obviously we want to but take care of our fellow Americans and and the secretary and the chairman, we’re clear about that, but we also want to take care of at-risk afghans and special immigrant visa applicants. And so we’re not um you know, we’re not holding up a plane just to fill it with Americans and then sending it off. We are we are processing people as fast as we can uh and getting them onto their onward stations. It’s it’s a balance and we’re trying to strike that balance every single day. What proportion of the 2000 are American citizens versus lives? What proportion are women As well? I don’t have a gender breakdown gen of the 2000. Uh over the last 24 hours, I think nearly 300 of them were Americans. And that includes legal permanent residents. It includes uh includes obviously American citizens as well as family members. Um and that’s gonna every day it’s going to change, but I don’t have a gender breakdown of what the manifests are on a daily basis. And does the U. S. Government recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. Now that’s a question for the State Department. The Defense Department is focused on conducting this noncombatant evacuation question application. Um are you seeing more throughput of individuals who are able to access the airport? Are you seeing more people being able to access the airport over the last 24 hours? We have seen by opening up another gate by adding consular officers. Now uh we believe that we will soon begin to see an opening up of the aperture And we’re hopeful that that means more consistent increase in the flow. But I I can’t tell you right as we speak here louis that there’s been some dramatic rise. I mean we’ve got additional consular officers now at the additional gates with additional troops helping the consular officers. Um And so I think we’re poised to see an increase. But I want to be careful before I make predictions. What we’re trying to do. What we want to drive Is an increase. That’s very much on everybody’s minds. And the clarification is you’re talking about American citizens about Afghans and the 7000 number that was presented earlier. Um the general had said that you’re now including other countries um evacuations and in those numbers. Is that accurate? Or is the 7000 exclusively us? It’s others. It has always every every time since the 14th when we’ve given you numbers they have included some measure of third country nationals U. S. Flights At least one at a time. Just confusing. How many people Has the US government flown out on us military planes? Because 7000 if you’re including other countries if you’re including civilian flights that seems like we’re giving you the total number of people that we have helped evacuate since the 14th. And it’s not all just Americans. There have been some of our allies and partners that have gone out and we’re giving you U. S. Government flights. I’m not even that’s not counting people who are still getting out commercially or on charter flights. Okay. Is that clear that we get and understandably. So here at the pentagon were fixated on uh the tales that that we own but it’s not the only way Out of Kabul right now. As the general brief the commercial side is open there’s limited it’s not as it’s not as robust as what we can do on the military side but people are still getting out that way breakdown of those numbers 7000 saying this is us this is Afghan. I do not have, I do not have a breakdown. I suspect that over time as are manifesting process gets more refined. We may be able to be that be there but we don’t have that specific breakdown. How many Americans American citizens remain in in the afghan. I don’t know. So so you’re I mean you’re planning for these operations and you should be, you know, have some kind of a count of how many Americans are whether in harm’s way or need to be evacuated. Right. I think as you probably know uh first of all, the State Department would be a better place to go for an estimate of how many Americans are Afghanistan or in and around Kabul. That is not a figure that the United States military would would know. And I think as you also know not every American citizen in another country. Uh there’s no obligation that they register their presence. Uh and and that we and that you can have a perfect accurate count but I don’t have that figure. And I’d refer you to my State Department colleagues for the best estimate on that. Does the president have the uh does the pentagon have the authorization at this point in time to expand the perimeter at the airport or to go? It’s a Kabul if necessary from the President of the mission Helen is to provide safe and secure operations at the airport. If you the pentagon has the authorization from the President, I’m not going to talk. I’m not going to talk about uh the potential of any future decisions one way or another. Uh That would be a policy decision. We are focused on security at the airport. My question is do you have the authorization Now at this point. Who makes that decision? Is that Biden or is it awesome? We are authorized to provide safe and secure operations at the airport lane. Can you talk a little bit about the logistics regarding the human needs of the people at the airport, There’s a lot of civilians, a lot of troops, there’s food, there’s uh sleeping arrangements, water, sanitation. Are you handling both military and civilian? And how is that? How are you doing that? So when you look at when whoever comes into the gated h kaya and is processed for ready fly. All human needs, you know, all of those things, basic needs to ensure their their welfare, their care to ensure the medical, all those things to ensure they can go forward and and fly are being done. And that is a combination of State Department support and military support working hand in hand, the Commander and State Department to ensure eating sleeping well taken care of. You know, out of the elements are being done. Absolutely. You’ve got like two more weeks almost of this. Um are there concerns about maintaining the uh the input of supplies? Uh the cleanliness over time is uh military planners. We always ensure that we have the proper supplies on days for uh you know, to conduct missions and those are assessed on a daily basis. And those commanders are always assessing what do we have now, what do I need to do in the short term and so forth. And so we are always continuing to and that’s why you see other planes continuing to arrive as required? Uh to continue to ensure commander has everything they need to do to execute the mission that we have right now. I need to get to somebody on the phone to um tom tom Squitieri. Hi john, thanks. Good morning. Hey, I wanted this check on something uh in regard to the pentagon policy that existed to provide air support and other assistance to the Afghan government that was in place this summer. Has that policy ended with the fall of Kabul? Or is it still alive for elements of the government that’s still functioning in places like the Panjshir Valley? Thanks tom um as I think you can uh see by by events, um it’s theirs. Um there aren’t operations out in the, the rest of the country to support and our focus um in terms of air power is as the general described and that is providing appropriate Overwatch for our operation and that operation right now is at the airport farmer back on the question of gates at the airport, can you tell us this new gate that you open? Are the Taliban outside of that gate? Are they letting people both afghans and you people with us documentation? Us citizens through that new gate. And have you been able to keep very specifically all of your gates including Camp Sullivan on your side. Have you been able to keep them open or have you had to close Camp Sullivan at various points. Have you had to close any of the gates? So the gates at the Kabul airport are secure. Uh and as we continue to flow more forces in that gives the commander greater capability to provide security at those gates and as we said open more gates and allow for greater input into Kabul airport, I’ll follow up with Kirby all respect. The question is are all of the gates continuously open? If you had to clue of the marines had to close Sullivan at various points, do you have the Taliban letting people through this new gate that you’re talking about? Have you been able to keep them all continuously open? Barbara? The as the general said we have additional gates now and they and reporting this morning is that they are open. Um but I can’t tell you with perfect clarity that there haven’t been times over the last 72 hours when temporarily because of maybe security incidents that they’ve had to close. I suspect that that’s true. I don’t have a firm answer for you on that. Our goal is obviously to keep them as open. as possible and to increase the flow as much as we can. Just sure the record has any of the U. S. Troops been involved in any additional crowd control measures that included them having to fire? I’m not aware of any over the last 24 hours. Thank you. Um I think that’s probably good. That’s a good place to stop, so thanks very much. Um my plan is to count Jim just get a Haiti question. There are reports that American military medical teams are going into the area. Do you have anything on that? That’s what I said earlier. So uh first uh we do have Air Force uh medical personnel there helping assist. And the first thing I said, well, you know, the flights of those helicopters are bringing in one of our medical hospital capabilities and more to come today to be able to help and assist in a medical hospital, first aid type care. So they’re setting up a field hospital that will be manned by American military person. That is correct. Great, thank you. Thanks everybody. My plan is to update you again this afternoon, but it’ll be off camera, so we’ll see about 2 15 least. That’s the plan right now. Thank you. Mhm.