Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby and Army Maj. Gen. William D. “Hank” Taylor, Joint Staff deputy director for regional operations, brief the media at the Pentagon, August 25, 2021.

Transcript

Mhm. Good morning everyone. Thank you for being here this morning. Um Like yesterday I’ll provide an update on the Afghan operation and then followed with a short operational update on our operations in Haiti US and coalition troops maintain security at the Kabul airport and the security continues to allow for the evacuation operations and allowing to us to remain to process people in to become ready to fly. Our focus is continuing to get as many people out as efficiently and safely as possible. In the past 24 hours. We exceeded the previous 24-hour flight departures and evacuated number of passengers nearing the previous day’s record. Yesterday, 42 U. S. military aircraft of which were 37 C seventeen’s and five C. One thirties departed with approximately 11,200 personnel Combined with our 48 coalition uh and Allied partners with those departures. An additional 7800 personnel left Kabul. That is 90 flights total. Yesterday that left the Kabul Airport. That is counted for 19,000 evacuate now safely out of Afghanistan within a 24-hour period. Since the U. S. And coalition forces began the evacuation to date, approximately 88,000 have safely departed from Afghanistan Every 39 minutes yesterday, a plane departed Kabul Airport. These numbers are a testament to the hardworking and brave service members carrying out this mission. In cooperation with the State Department, I can also tell you that there are more than 10,000 people currently at this time at the airport awaiting departure. This is a snapshot in time and as we said yesterday will continue to change as more people are able to come onto the airfield and as flights depart. As I said yesterday, in order for this throughput to remain steady. We depend on capacity and efficiency of our intermediate staging bases and safe havens. We are appreciative of the support and rely on our allies and partners in this global endeavor in the UK. Um, K O. R six flights will transport about 1800 vulnerable afghans from Germany to the United States today, In addiction in addition, approximately 2000 more will arrive in this case, Ramstein Air Base Germany is scheduled to receive approximately 13 flights Since August 20th has assisted approximately 10,000 vulnerable Afghans and evacuees for transit to onward locations. You will likely hear more details today. It planned press scheduled with Mr. Kirby and plan for general Walters later today, several 1000 evacuees have arrived in the United States so far and we’ll continue to do so In the past 24 hours five flights landed at Dulles International Airport with approximately 1200 passengers. As part of this process, these individuals completed biometric vetting and screening in accordance with the F B I N C T. C and customs and border control standards. All directed by the Department of Homeland Security. We are working around the clock to provide safe sanitary and appropriate receptions at processing at all of our locations throughout the world. We know you have questions about our current timeline and intent for departure. Our mission remains unchanged for each day of this operation. We have carried out the direction of the president and the Secretary of Defense. Until that mission changes, we will continue to put forth our maximum effort to safely evacuate as many people as possible and we will keep you updated. Lastly, I want to give you a short update on Haiti, the Department of Defense and U. S. Southern Command are continue to be in full support of U. S. A. I. D. As the lead federal agency. The U. S. A. I. D. Bureau for humanitarian assistant team has been on the ground since the beginning and we’ve been supporting them since then as have a lot of our allies and partners working with international community to identify points of need. This life saving aid and assistance mission is where diodes unique capability specifically in airlift and logistics are engaged each day to get that lifesaving aid where it needs to be rapidly. As of late last evening, Jtf Haiti has conducted over 364 full spectrum missions, both with the D. O. D. Assets in the United States Coast Guard Which have assisted or saved over 436 lives and delivered over 163 lb of vital aid as of late yesterday. Thank you. Four. Okay, good morning, everybody. Just one more note and then we’ll we’ll get the questions I think you may have seen now we have release the secretary’s memo with respect of mandatory vaccinations for Covid 19. He is determined after careful consultation with medical experts and military leadership and of course with the support of the president that mandatory vaccination against the coronavirus disease. Covid 19 is necessary to protect the safety of our service members. And our force mandatory vaccination will only use Covid 19 vaccines that received full licensure from the Food and Drug Administration. In accordance with FDA approved labeling and guidance, mandatory vaccination requirements will be implemented consistent with the ODM and an immunization program instructions, 65 62 oh five point oh two. In other words, the existing structure and regulations that govern uh policies and procedures for managing mandatory vaccination across the force. This is consistent with the department’s efforts to ensure the safety of our service members and again to maintain the readiness of the force. With that we’ll take questions, bob, john, thank you. Um with regard to Afghanistan, I wonder if you could give us a sense of what the evacuation Endgame is likely to look like. Are expected to look like in terms of The sequence of events over the last say three or 4 or five days. Will the US. Need to have sort of exclusive use of the fields in the apparatus to execute the final place. I’ll ask the general to probably be more specific than me bob. But uh huh what we anticipate have happening uh in the last couple of days, uh we will so first of all we will continue to evacuate needed populations all the way to the end. If we have to and we need to if if you’re an evacuee that we can get out, we’re going to continue to get get you out right up until the end. But in those last couple of days uh we’re going to try to preserve as much capability as we can on the on the at the airport as you might imagine. So in those last couple of days uh we will begin to prioritize military capabilities and military resources to to move out. Uh That doesn’t mean that uh that if if you’re evacuate and and uh and you need to get out that we’re just we’re not gonna try to get you out but that we will have to reserve some capacity in those last couple of days to prioritize the military footprint leaving because we want to be able to keep it there as long as possible to do the job that it’s intended to do. So the charter flights for example would be finished earlier. And when you refer to military resources, you’re talking about American only, I’m talking about primarily U. S. Military troops and equipment. We are now and have been working with our allies and partners to help them uh withdrawal there people um and will help them withdraw their forces as well? Right to the very end or you have to do that earlier? Well look, I mean obviously we want to preserve as much capability as possible and that some of that capability is not ours, some of it is our allies and partners. So there’ll be a balance there and it’ll be up to Admiral basically to determine how he strikes that balance uh in terms of making sure he has the maximum capability uh for as long as possible. So there will be uh there will be a transition more towards getting military assets out as we get closer to the end. But again, um we’re going to continue to work the evacuation mission right up until the last day. Just I think what I would add for the great answer Mr. Kirby gave there is as you’ve seen in the last three days, the complexity and the amount of aircraft moving in and out. So the capability to continue to sequence and plan for the actual requirements that leave on a daily basis is going to be made, you know, on the ground. But as you’ve seen, we have that capability to manage uh quite a lot of throughput and be able to put the right, you know, things on those aircraft as they come in and as they leave. Yeah. Um john who is guarding the U. S. Embassy right now who will guard after the U. S. Military pulls out, Are there any contingencies? Do you have an agreement with the Taliban. And in terms of the airport do you have an agreement with any uh NATO allies to keep like the Turks to keep the airport open after the U. S. Military pulls out. So as I understand I know there’s no military assets guarding the embassy compound. The U. S. Embassy is operating out of Hamid Karzai international airport. As for the Turks they are still on the ground at the airport assisting in this uh security mission that we have there. I won’t speak for their intentions one way or another going forward. Uh But there’s not going to be a when the mission is over and when we are leaving uh the airport the airport will not not not be uh the United States our responsibility anymore. So how it gets managed going forward will be something that that uh you know the Taliban who are now in Kabul uh we’ll have to manage them on their own with and and I assume with you know with the international community but that won’t be an American responsibility. And just one more. How many individuals on terror watch lists have been screened or found at any of the screening points either in Qatar Ramstein or in the U. S. I don’t know uh we’ll have to take that question and uh get back to you. The zero. Thank you john thank you general uh be off of afghan people. Thank you very much for your hard job and good job actually and uh afghan people, they are happy but some of them that they are not eligible for S. I. V. Visa P. One P. Two. But still they have a serious problem and they are not in the Kabul, they are hiding, they move from one place to the other place and they contact with me like more than 100 people contacted with me today that what can we do? And I say I’m nobody to do something. Uh there’s any plan from the State Department are from the pentagon because they’re under target of the Taliban. But as Taliban yesterday the spokesperson and with your head said that’s why United States make a problem for us. We are not allowed the people to leave Afghanistan now they are like a jail. On the other hand, Taliban is not one group, there are different group like five groups and more than a lot of people there under problem but they are not eligible for those visa, there’s a possibility and any other option for them to be safe. 90, I can’t speak for each and every afghan who wants to leave and uh and uh is dealing with their own individual circumstances to get out. We we know there are a lot of desperate people who want to leave. Uh and that’s why we are working as fast as we can and you you saw the numbers that we continue to be able to get out. We’re working as fast as we can to get out American citizens, uh, special immigrant visa applicants and vulnerable afghans. Uh, and we continue to, to work at this. Um, I can’t uh, I can’t begin to try to give you specific advice on what these individuals ought to do. I certainly would encourage them to reach out to the State Department. But from the pentagon’s perspective, you know, we were doing the best we can as fast as we can to move as many people as we can out on any given day. And but I’m not able to and I know my answer is unsatisfying and I apologize for that, but I’m not able to speak to our ability to reach out and touch every single afghan that that wants to get out. And we were believe me, we’re very mindful of the plight here and we’re trying the best we can to alleviate that Carla, thank you. I just want to follow up to what Jenn was asking about. You said that there won’t be a military presence guarding an embassy. So post august, the embassy compound. She specifically asked about the The embassy compound which were not operating out for post August 31 after that date. Are you, can you just explicitly say there will be no diplomatic presence, us diplomatic presence post august 31st we will not, I can’t speak for that. that’s a State Department issue. And then to follow up, there’s uh there’s been reports that an ISIS that somebody who is affiliated with ISIS got on one of the flights. What’s going on with that? Um I mean I’ve seen I’ve seen uh similar press reporting on this. I just don’t have anything uh to update you on that. I don’t have any information. And what I should have said to Jenn was that’s really a better question for the Department of Homeland Security. Uh but we’ll see if we can track down something for you. I’m not trying to evade it. I just don’t know. We’re doing the best we can to manifest people on these plates and get them out as fast as possible. There is screening being done not by D. O. D. But by DHS immigration intelligence officials are doing the screening for people as they as they go on. For onward onward flights were really focused on trying to get as many of these uh these individuals out. And then one last one, just the same question I had yesterday, have there been any air extractions in Kabul? Any additional ones since the two that you guys have told us about? And have there been any efforts outside of Kabul to extract Americans and at-risk afghans. So last night during the period of darkness uh there was an operation to be able to go out and safely evacuate uh evacuees back into Kabul there at H kaya and uh they’re safely they’re preparing to be evacuated. So when you said was it in Kabul and then they brought them into the airport or whether it’s outside of the airfield outside of the airfield in a way that and we were able to bring them back to Kabul safely and they’re preparing for evacuation, bring back to the airport to the airport, it was inside Kabul David American helicopter. It was, can you tell us how many, We’re not going to provide specific details? Less than 20 American. Less than 20. Less than 20. I’m not gonna provide additional details. So can I ask that wasn’t the question. Oh, yesterday it was reported that the withdrawal had already begun in several 100 groups that already come out and you push back on that saying that these were people who functions work were no longer needed. But you know, all withdrawals sort of begin with pulling out non-essential personnel first. Why shouldn’t we view that as clearing the decks for the hard-core withdrawal that is going to come here? Yeah, it’s a great question and I wasn’t pushing back on headlines that said withdrawal. Um I was simply trying to describe what happened uh without hyperbole. Um So what I what, let me let me just back up, what happened was the commander on the ground, Admiral vastly uh in trying to manage time and space at the airport uh determined that it was the prudent thing to do to let several 100 uh troops leave the airport, some of these troops did come in with the troops that were added for the noncombatant evacuation. The 5800, some of them were troops that were already there at Hamid Karzai International Airport before any additional troops float in for the noncombatant evacuation. And as you know, David, uh we were still in the process before there was a need to go in and do a noncombatant evacuation. We were still in the process of a drawdown at the airport under the previous plan by the end of the month. And so some of the troops that flew home yesterday were in that trench. And so they were very much part of the original drawdown plan. Uh And Admiral basically saw fit that there was some others that he believed that he didn’t need there at the airport anymore. Even though they had flown in with the with the plus up for the for the Neo and these are uh headquarters staff personnel, uh some maintainers and some other enabling forces who either had completed their mission and we’re already scheduled to go, as I said, even before there was a noncombatant evacuation and others who Admiral basically determined that their mission was complete. He didn’t need them anymore. And again, time and space are premium at the airport, he has the authority to make that decision. So I wasn’t pushing back on the fact that the with the withdrawal has been going on since April 14th when the president announced it, I wasn’t pushing back. I just wanted to make it clear that uh that that we hadn’t pushed some button and said go retrograde now We still have on the ground about 50 400 Of the 50 800 that we reached at the maximum. And I’m obviously has the authorities to to uh to manage uh in a prudent way his his force management on the ground. I haven’t gone to the phones and I want to make sure I don’t forget that Jeff showgirl, thank you very much from talking to military groups. It is evident that the Taliban are still blocking afghans from gaining entrance to uh Hamid Karzai international airport. And even when afghans make it onto the airport, there have been instances when they have been escorted off due to paperwork issues. So I’d like to know what steps is the U. S. Government taking to make sure that afghans do have safe passage to the airport. And under what circumstances are afghans with valid visas who are admitted to the airport ultimately escorted off of the airport grounds, Jeff it’s difficult for us to answer that here at the pentagon when we’re not at the gates and on the ground at the airport what I would tell you is is a couple of things and I recognize that uh you know no process is perfect. Uh and that the that there are, I’m not disputing at all the accounts that you’re that you’re relaying here today that there that there may be hiccups and problems. Uh we certainly recognize that. But let me just take a couple of steps back and tell you how this is working. And we talked about this before. We have consular officers. Now there’s more than 30 at the airport uh stationed at the gates uh with American troops who are helping them do their job of of processing individuals as they come in checking credentials, making sure that they are who they say they are and that they are in a valid group that we’re trying to move on onto the onto the airport grounds outside of that. The Taliban have set up checkpoints. We’ve talked about this before and we are in daily communication with Taliban commanders about who we want to see get in and what the credentials are, what they look like, what’s valid. Uh And that that that communication happens literally every day. We have been nothing but open with the Taliban about who we expect them to let in again fully recognized that that that that not every step of this process is in our firm control and that there are going to be incidences where it doesn’t work as advertised. But I can tell you that there isn’t a single day that goes by where uh Admiral basically and General Donahue aren’t working this in a very personal way with the Taliban authorities outside the airport. Um Let me go another one on the phone. Uh Tara mhm Thank you for doing this john. Um yesterday the president mentioned also that he was calling upon the department to create contingency plans in case uh the number of Americans and afghans that still need to get out have not gotten out by the 31st. Um Can you just explain kind of what the department is thinking about What options might be to continue to get Americans out after the 31st if they haven’t made it to the airport by then. And then just to follow on Jeff’s question with Afghans that aren’t getting through um For the have discussions gone on with the Taliban to maybe uh find some negotiation space for. They’ve said, you know, no more Afghans can leave. But clearly, you know, there’s 10,000 at the airport. So something is happening behind the scenes that’s helping some people get through. Can you talk about that to some extent? Turn it over to the general? Yes, I’ll start with that last question 1st. It kind of comes off of some things that Mr. Kirby just said with that constant communication uh you know, I know the most senior commanders on the ground are out and discussing with the Taliban leaders that are manning these checkpoints exactly what the documentation needs to look like, you know, times and coordination? Uh I mean details of that as we know though, there are reports of that, some that aren’t able to get through there and I can tell you that the Department of State, the Consular Affairs officers that are there are working with our commanders there to ensure that documentation, names and those things as often as required are being communicated to the Taliban that are out those checkpoints to allow uh transition in there to get into into the gates and then uh on contingency plans. Obviously uh I’m not going to get ahead of the planning process. We are planning organization are uh one of our main jobs is to make sure that that the president has options uh and as he made clear yesterday, uh he wants to see this mission complete by the end of the month, we are still working towards that goal, but uh we will be drafting up uh potential what we call in the military branches and Sequels uh if in fact we believe a conversation needs to be had later on in the month that uh that uh that the the timeline might need to be extended for what purpose to uh for what number uh for how long all of that is baked into the planning process and I’m just not going to get ahead of what the planners are doing Courtney uh john so I’m still unclear about at the very end of this, the 30th 31st, Who’s going to be doing security at the airport as the last U. S. Troops are leaving? Is there an agreement? Or is it sounded as if you were saying that the Taliban will be responsible for security as the last Americans are leaving? No, I said the Taliban responsible for running an airport that’s in a city that they are now the titular heads of government there airport security. Right. What I Kourtney they when we are gone, the airport will no longer be secured by American forces. How what that security looks like after we’re gone. I can’t speak to that before the US leaves though you will be doing it as the U. S. Is let’s say the last couple of aircraft leave with Americans who’s running security keeping those aircraft on the runway safe. So you’re asking a very good tactical question. Right, so you know, security which we would call, you know, uh commanders inherent responsibility throughout every phase of the operation. Uh we are continuing to secure ourselves to the very last requirement of that. So when you say who’s securing the, you know, the last flight and all those things and we will have that ability to secure ourselves through multiple means to ensure flights are able to take off. And then while I have you up there, I just want to clear one thing that you just said. You said that the most senior commanders on the ground are out and discussing things with the Taliban. Do you mean the Admiral basically in general Donahue are actually going to the checkpoints. I don’t want to give you names and and the things that I would just tell you commanders that have authority uh, at echelon to be able to communicate. Because as we said, the most important thing is to be able to coordinate with the Taliban to get um the right people through. We’ve seen that there has been, you know, reports of not the right folks being able to get through. So every day we are ensuring that we can get as many people in as possible so that we can fly them to safety. And then if I could just ask you one more on the equipment that you were talking about earlier. So when you talk about transitioning towards getting military assets out, so obviously getting the people out American military out. But will there be a point where you will have a decision or general, whomever it is Mackenzie? I’m basically, we’ll have a decision about putting people on these aircraft are putting some of the equipment, artillery, see rams, all the equipment that’s still at the airport there. And has there been a decision made to prioritize lives over military equipment, lives are always going to be the priority court period. But as we get closer to the end, there will be some equipment and systems that we will probably uh take with us as we leave. Um and the disposition of what we aren’t taking with us. That will be up to Admiral basically determine how how that stuff is handled. But lives will always be the chief priority throughout this entire process. Nationalities. Lives will always be the priority throughout this process. Um Let me go over here uh injuries. Two quick questions. I think you did put out a statement thing. About 4000 Americans have been evacuated? That’s correct. Is there an updated number? And do you have the base number? How many have to be evacuated now? It’s right now today, north of 40 400. Um And I don’t I don’t I don’t have a specific uh number of total Americans that uh that are still in need of of uh of leaving. Just a quick follow up the secretary and I guess the department at large find it helpful for two lawmakers to come to Kabul an announcer where you guys aware of it. And do you find it very helpful for them to be there? We were not aware of this visit. Uh And we are obviously not encouraging VIP visits to a very tense, dangerous and dynamic situation at that airport and inside Kabul’s generally uh and the secretary I think would have appreciated the opportunity to have had a conversation before the visit took place having them there. They got a chance to uh to talk to uh commanders. As I understand, I got a chance to talk to troops. Uh but to say that there wasn’t a need to flex and to um to alter the day the days flow, including including, you know, the need to have protection for these members of Congress. That would uh you know, that that wouldn’t be a that would be a genuine thing for me to to assert. I mean, there was there was certainly um there was certainly a pull off of the kinds of missions we were trying to do to be able to accommodate that visit just to be clear, Congressman moulton and Congressman Meyer, They took seats that would have been for refugees leaving and they took time away from the mission. They certainly took time away from what we had been planning to do that day. Um and uh, I don’t know on the aircraft, they did fly out on a military aircraft. I honestly don’t know um what the seat capacity was on that aircraft, but they are but they are out of the country now. Barb just one more question on withdrawal in the coming days Since the president has said, setting contingency planning aside that everyone will be out by August 31. My question is, do you have in hand all the authorities approvals signed orders, whatever is necessary to just move ahead and carry that out or uh does the President, the Secretary General Mackenzie, does somebody’s General Milley, does somebody still have to sign an order to have that formal withdrawal begin barb, without making it sound like I’m trying to gloss over your question, obviously we are tracking the end of the mission at the end of the month and so of course, General Mackenzie has retrograde plans in uh you know, in on the shelf and ready to go, but I can assure you that uh that but before that effort is undertaken in earnest, uh there will be a conversation with the Secretary of Defense uh and Secretary Austin will have a chance to uh provide his guidance and direction with respect to retrograde and I think I’ll leave it. So I’m sorry, I guess I don’t understand because the President made the decision To stick to the deadline of August 31 for all intention. That’s right. And you have that from the Commander in Chief. So what is it that I just don’t get it? What is it that still has to happen to have the formal official withdrawal began. The President also said that that he wanted the pentagon to come up with contingency plans. Should there be a need to have a conversation about altering the timeline? So, we are tracking towards the 31st, there are retrograde plans that have been drafted up uh and the secretary has seen them and is aware of them, but I think you would expect that uh in these final days, the secretary will want to have the opportunity to issue specific direction to General Mackenzie about going forward with those retrograde plans were going to try. As I said we are focused on that date but we’re also focused keenly on making sure we get as many people out as fast as we can for as long as we can. And if there has to be alterations to that then obviously Secretary Austin’s gonna want to be a part of that conversation and to be able to issue his guidance and direction to the commanders on the ground. Christina. Thank you. Can you confirm that? No Americans have been killed since August 14 and If there is any American killed through August 31 how would that be announced? Are you talking about American soldiers, troops? Any any American know there have been no US troops killed since the 14th and we only know of one minor injury. Um I know of no American citizens who have been killed on this. Uh so I don’t know of any. Uh now we don’t have perfect visibility into everything going on in Kabul but we know of no American casualties and just one more question. Um when exactly does the August 31 deadline take effect? Is that august 31st midnight, was that September 1st midnight august 31st Nancy clarify a couple points that you made earlier for me, You mentioned that at some point the U. S. Will prioritize getting military personnel out of common cars? International airport And I’m curious given that is there a point where afghan nationals and us citizens will not be allowed to get into the airport compound? The supposition being that you would have to have some sort of cut off before you can then fly everyone the final troops out. And if so, what is that? So I just want to go back to something I said earlier about airflow right? And as you’ve seen the capability over the last three days, You know over 90 aircraft total yesterday, so and lot focused on evacuation. So the way to answer that question is is the commanders who will go forward with their plan of rhetoric will have options, you know, to make decisions on a daily, sometimes hourly basis of what loads are ready. What aircraft already can I put something else on that bird? I mean that that’s how fluid and we are able to do at that level planning and it goes back to the overall missionaries continue to be able to get as many out as possible. So I appreciate that. I think one reason I’m a little confused is it seems part of this is contingent on the Taliban and how they secure the area around the airport, who they lead and when they let them in. So I think one thing that would help me understand it better. Who makes the final determination of security outside the airport. You mentioned that their communications happening. But for example if the U. S. Wanted some kind of national and and the Taliban did not want to let them know who makes that determination. How is it sorted out right now? Uh The airfield is secure to allow full operations and do not assess that that that is going to change right now. So that is our our current planning and we’ll continue to go forward with that. Yes. I think uh two sort of revisit what I said before. I mean we are uh we’ve been very clear with Taliban leaders about what credentials we want them to accept. Remember it’s American citizens, it’s s ivy applicants and it’s vulnerable afghans. Uh and we have shared what the proper credentials are. Uh and by and large, not saying it’s been perfect but by and large the people that we have made clear to the Taliban that we want to have access through the checkpoints have been able to get through by and large again with caveats. Um So it hasn’t been a big problem to date. And as the general said earlier, we also have other means to go out and get people in if we need to. We’ve done three rotary wing lifts that. So we have that option available to us as well. Did that answer your question? I don’t I don’t mean to be think about this. I’m just trying to understand how that communication happens. Let’s say they are not letting in a certain credential that you believe should be let in. How is that? Good question. And what would happen is the commanders on the ground would if they were if that was brought to their attention and this has actually happened. I’m not, this isn’t notional uh when we have reports that somebody who is properly credentialed is not being let in uh or maybe there family members, what they have proper credentials. We are making that clear to the Taliban leaders that, nope, they are appropriate, you do need to let them in. And again, there’s been a little give and take and it’s uh, I think it was no zero who mentioned this earlier. I mean, not every checkpoint is uh is manned uh in the same way and by the same individuals as every other one. And so there’s variances at some of these checkpoints in terms of how the word has gotten down and how much the Taliban manning the checkpoint are following the dictates of their commanders. So that’s why it’s a constant communication on the ground with them to keep that flow going as much as possible. But yes, there are stops and starts. There are hurdles that have to be overcome almost on any given day, but really it’s uh it’s a credit to the commanders on the ground there that they are they are continuing to have these conversations now. Did that get it better? Okay, All right jenny. Thank you. Thank you very much. The South Korean government is operating a military aircraft transfer operation to receive the Afghanistan refugees in South Korea will arrive tomorrow. Okay. As you know that the North Korea’s supporters, Taliban and we know that in the past the North Korea and Taliban, they conducted a spacer training together then. What kind of United States monitoring about North Korea, which you know, is the poses a security threat do you want? First of all, as we talk about the Republic of Korea support to airlift? Obviously, we, as I said earlier, extremely grateful for their contribution to increase our outflow. Uh, you know, throughout the world, as you know, we talk about North Korea and all that. You know, all of our combat commands, you know, specifically pay com are always uh diligent in, you know, watching in their mission of ensuring, you know, keeping awareness of any type of thing. North Korea is doing so once again, we’re very grateful and thankful for the Republic of Korea support and helping us have any contingency plan for anything happening in the Korean peninsula. During this, you know, indo pak calms mission remains unchanged and uh, and steadfast. Thank you. I need to go to the phones again, some more Tony Cappuccio. Hey, john two quick questions. Uh, Jenn Psaki yesterday said that this evacuation is on track to be the largest in U. S. History. The large airlift in U. S. History. The numbers you applied so far, it’s 88,000 I think you’ve said have been evacuated. So are you pretty confident that you will be able to best the operation frequent wind 1975. Saigon evacuation where 131,000 people were evacuated by Aaron C. We’re not competing with history, Tony, we’re trying to get as many people as we can as fast as we can and uh and when it’s all said and done uh we’ll take a look at what we were able to accomplish. But this isn’t about Trying to beat some sort of historical record. Um I will only add that, you know at 88,000 in the course of uh you know just a week, week and a half. Um is no small feat and you’ve seen us over the last three days alone uh exceed what we thought was going to be a maximum capacity. We certainly would like to keep that going for as long as possible. Let me go back to the phones and then Sylvia, I’ll get to you. I promise. Stephen Lucey yes. Thank you. Uh Can you tell me if all S. I. V. Holders who have made it onto the airport grounds with valid papers are going to be able to make it onto flights? I asked because an interpreter with an S. I. V. I’ve been in contact with just made it onto the grounds? Was almost put out of the gate. That appears to have been now corrected. But will uh will this interpreter and other s ivy holders who are on the ground be able to fly out before the deadline is gone is over. So we, mm. Thank you. I have two small questions. Um First about the numbers you said that 88,000 departed since the fucking of August. Is it Only us flight? So if it’s not only us flight, how many were evacuated by us flights? That’s the total number. Yes. Right. At around 58,060,000. Okay, thank you. And the second question was about the president mentioned the ISIS K. Threat and I wanted to know if you receive new threats. If if you if there was there was an immediate danger at the gates or if it’s a a threat in general that you have known for a long time. So as we talk about we won’t go into specific intelligence collection those speeds. But there we know as previously reported there is a threat. This has been a dangerous place that has had threats by ISIS. And we continue to ensure that we collect and keep the force protection to the highest level as possible to ensure that we’re able to continue evacuation operations. So you won’t confirm new threats. We’re not going to talk about the intelligence farmer soviet, you know that these are as the general said these are credible threats and uh we’re mindful of that but we’re not gonna talk about it in great detail. Megan just want to clarify your remarks about the vaccine. Memo, is this to say that the secretary is not going to request a waiver from the president and D. O. D. Will just give vaccines on a mandatory basis as they become. No, that’s not at all. I mean, uh we’ll have to see where the other vaccines end up. That’s not that’s not at all. What I meant to say. It’s just that the only ones that will be made mandatory right now are the uh are ones that are licensed by the FDA. So by mid-September, he may ask for the other. I won’t rule anything in or out. But we’re But as you but uh as the memo says, we’re only going to make mandatory those that have FDA licensure and press reporting alone would indicate that uh you know, that the other vaccines are getting close. So yeah, sure. Yeah. I was the relationship between us and Taliban. Do you think that Pakistan should played rule to make a good relationship? Because as long as I heard from a Taliban spokesperson, you guys have no good relationship because they prevented uh civilians to leave Afghanistan. Do you think that’s still Pakistan’s role, which rule play Pakistan all afghan. Oh, all of Afghanistan’s neighbors can play a role here. And we hope that they do a constructive role uh in Afghanistan’s future in Pakistan certainly uh I would think would figure largely into that calculus as we talked about, there’s safe havens across the, along that border remain a problem. We’ve been very honest and candid with Pakistani leaders about the importance of not allowing that. And you would want to believe that they also share that sense of urgency because they too are the victims of terrorist attacks that emanate from there. So they should. And I suspect that they will want to play a significant role going forward. And we would just ask for them and for any country, any neighboring country to make that as constructive as possible in the back there. What percent of the forces aren’t vaccinated yet? And when will they have to be vaccinated by? Okay, so on the active-duty force, 68% is fully vaccinated. And we estimate that just over 76% have at least one dose. I can break this down by the services and this would include guard and reserves in these figures For the Army, fully vaccinated. uh with 57% with one dose for the Marine Corps, 53 Fully vaccinated, 60% with one dose for the Navy, Fully vaccinated, 79% with at least one dose. And for the air force, uh which includes space Force, uh That’s 57% fully vaccinated, 64% with one dose. The secretary has made clear his expectation to the military departments that he wants them to move with some alacrity here uh and get the force fully vaccinated as fast as possible. If you look in his memo, you also see that he tasked them to regularly update the Deputy secretary on a very frequent basis on how they’re moving out to achieve those goals right now. This mandatory vaccine will just be fighter and then we’ll see where it goes with the other license hers john will you be mandating vaccines for any of the afghan refugees who come into the United States and are brought here by the U. S. Military? I’m gonna leave that question to uh to the State Department but there is, there’s covid screening being done at each stop along the way. Um And again I think that’s a better question for the State Department has just said that nes ivy holders that come to the gate would be let onto a flight. But we’re just getting real time reports from Abbey gate that marines are turning away s ivy holders and turning them away. Can you clarify our marines supposed to be turning away those with S. I. V. Papers or with authorization to come onto the airport? Have they closed down Abbey Gate? I’m going to let the general take that question the question that was posed to me by um I think it was Stephen was if you’re if you have S. I. V. Credentials and you’re at the field. If you’re on the airport, will you be able to get off? And the answer is yes but I’ll let the general take so obviously I can’t speak to that knee, you know absolute real time to the second report. Um The guidance still remains is those that have the proper paperwork uh and are safely at the gates is to bring them in and to process them so I can’t speak to that specific, you know report there. But what I do know is that uh whether it’s our marines or soldiers that are at those gates working with the consular officers that are there is as people are there and present the proper s ivy paperwork. We are to get them as quickly as possible in process them for evacuation flights to make sure that that message gets down to the marines that Abigail because this is a legitimate report. That just you know and I think we appreciate those reports right. Uh and I just know as I have talked the commanders uh they’re using a lot of time and it’s good well report to ensure they get this information and put it out throughout the entire force. The other thing. I mean again without speaking to this case, sometimes gates traffic is halted at the gates to manage flow on on the airport. It’s a it’s a it’s a physics issue. But again I appreciate that if you share with us after the briefing the details of this we will certainly pass it on. Absolutely. Can I ask one more vaccine? Is what now that there’s been several weeks since the decision to make this mandatory? What is the secretary’s policy or decision on any troops who refused to get the vaccine? Great question what the secretary has communicated to the military departments is to execute this mandatory vaccination program with obviously skill and professionalism which we always do but also with a measure of compassion and so for a member who uh still objects. Now obviously there’s you can you can ask for an exemption on religious grounds and you certainly could be exempt if you have a preexisting condition that your doctor advises you not to get it obviously. But if it’s an objection outside those two frameworks uh the individual will be offered a chance to sit down with a physician and have that physician communicate to them. Uh the risks that they’re taken by continuing to not want to take the vaccine, they will also be offered a chance to sit down with their chain of command and their leadership to talk about the risk that their objection will impose on the unit and on the force and on their teammates. Um And the point is a court that uh the commanders have a wide range of tools available to them to help their teammates make the right decision for themselves for their families and for their units. And we expect that the secretary expects that the commanders will use those tools short of having to use the U. C. M. J. If the service member goes to the counseling does not have a religious objection and still objects and refuses to get the vaccine. The individual will will be begin to be processed in Museum commanders have a wide range of tools available to them short of using the U. C. M. J. And I think we’re going to trust the commanders are gonna are gonna make the right decision going forward. We’ll get like an N. J. P. Basically court. I can’t I can’t give you an exact answer to every hypothetical situation. There are it is a once you may indicate once you mandate it as we’ve done. It’s a lawful order. It’s a lawful owner. Um and we fully anticipate that uh that our troops are gonna follow lawful orders when you raise your right hand and and you take that oath. That’s what you agreed to do. And it hasn’t been a problem in the past with other vaccines. Now, I recognize Covid has a a different history to it and a different cultural uh description to it. Um, but it’s a lawful order and it’s our expectation that troops will obey lawful orders. Um and we also expect that commanders will have plenty of other tools available to them to get the vaccination rates up and to get these individuals to make the right decision short of having to use disciplinary action. Okay. I think that’s almost a full hour. So we’re gonna call it for right now. As the general mentioned in his opening statement, we will shoot for an afternoon briefing. Uh, this one will be with general Walters from, um, specifically to address issues of the evacuation of what um is doing to help us move these people on, uh, to their to their new lives. And so we’ll see you at three o’clock this afternoon. Thank you. I beg your pardon? 3:30 3 33 30.