Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley brief the media at the Pentagon, May 6, 2021.

Transcript

Okay. Yeah. Afternoon, everybody. Thanks for coming today. Uh, just a couple of ground rules and sitting here, uh, we’ll have statements by both the secretary and the chairman and then we’ll open up for questions. I will moderate. I’ll call on you please identify who you are and your outlet when you when you ask and if you can limit follow ups, uh, we don’t have a whole heck of a lot of time today. Uh, both gentlemen have busy schedules, so we’re going to try to keep this thing moving. Um Thanks again. And with that Mr Secretary, thanks john, first of all, let me start by uh, thanking all of you for coming today. And let me also tell you just how much I appreciate the work that you do are free and independent press is one of America’s greatest strengths. And when you hold us accountable, it makes us better and it makes our country stronger. So thanks for what you do. Um It’s been a very busy 100 days. We’ve been focused on my top three priorities Quickly review what our team has accomplished thus far. Clearly we have a lot more to do but I’m very proud of the progress that we have made to this point. As you saw in my initial message to the force. Our top priority is to defend this nation and to protect our interests. And today The most urgent challenge that we face is COVID-19 and so the department has stepped up to save american lives through vaccination. We’ve been a part of a whole of government effort to get shots in the arms And active duty and national guard troops have administered more than 14 million total shots to the american people. We’ve also been moving out quickly to vaccinate the force in our broader, broader D. O. D. Family. We’ve administered more than three million shots to d. o. d. personnel And that’s more than 550,000 fully vaccinated service members And more than 644,000 fully vaccinated civilians, contractors and beneficiaries at home and overseas. We’re also working on the global challenge of controlling this pandemic once and for all in that regard, I should say just a word about the crisis facing our friends in India. We’re moving urgently to support India’s frontline healthcare workers and three U. S. Air Force C. Five M. Super Galaxies and a C. 17 Globemaster three have already delivered many tons of critical supplies for a sense of some of the wider strategic changes in the works. Let me point you to the remarks that I made in Hawaii last week at the Change of Command for indo pacific Command. The department is working together on what I what I call integrated deterrence the new vision of how we defend the nation and in all domains of conflict in a time when technology is changing the nature of warfare and that’s especially important for our priority theater of operations. The indo pacific we started a global force posture review to make sure we’re positioned well for the challenges that we face around the globe, but certainly there in the region as well. And the china task force which is ably led by DR Ely Ratner, is developing an important set of recommendations. Further a field, we’ve condemned Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine and underscored our commitment to helping Ukraine’s forces better defend their country and we’re moving to tackle the very if you are one of the very few truly existential threats that we face and that’s the climate crisis. Our second key priority is taken care of our people, all of our people. And towards that end, Deputy Deputy Secretary Hicks has convened the deputies workforce council which is a new senior leadership forum that addresses the most pressing people management and personnel policy in total force requirements. And as you all know, my first directive was on sexual assault and that was on my second day in office, we established an Independent Review commission and I’m going to have an open mind about what they come up with the recommendations that they make. You’ve heard me say this before, but sexual assault is a problem that plagues us. It is a readiness issue. It is a leadership issue and we’re going to lead real change for real results. We’re also tackling the problem of violent extremists in our work and our ranks and our workforce. And since ordering a stand down on this issue, we established the countering extremism working group and clearly we got a lot, we have a lot of work to do and I want to be blunt. There is no place for hatred or bigotry or extremist behavior in this department or in the military. This department has an open door to any qualified american who wants to serve. And that’s a matter of both national principal and national security diversity throughout the force is a source of strength so we can’t afford to deprive ourselves of the talents and the voices of the full range of the nation that we defend. Third, we brought a renewed focus on teamwork on several levels. In part that’s about outreach to our allies and partners who multiply our strength and make the world more stable and secure. As you know, my first trips, we’re all about investing in those relationships, including important business that we’ve already conducted with the leaders of Japan in the republic of Korea in Germany, the U. K. India Israel and NATO. But this is also about how the department fits into the inter agency and works with our teammates across the U. S. Government. There is no daylight between this department and the State department on a basic principle and that principle is that in securing America’s interest, Diplomacy Always Comes 1st. And lastly, teamwork means a new spirit within this building. And so we it’s time to get back to professionalism and normal normal order and good process. And finally let me in with Afghanistan. The president has decided to end America’s involvement in our longest war and we’re going to do just that. And so far less than one weekend, the drawdown is going according to plan. At the same time, we are shifting to a new bilateral relationship with our Afghan security partners. Well, we’ll work towards our common goals in some new and different ways and I’m grateful for the effort that generals Mackenzie and Miller have put into planning for all of this. And of course, I am enormously proud of the men and women of the military Who are now and who have for the past 20 years dedicated themselves to an important mission. That mission is now changing. But they are meeting the challenge with the same professionalism with which they have met every task assigned to them. And as I said, in brussels standing side by side with our allies, we’re going to do everything that we can to make this drawdown, deliver it orderly and safe and to protect our people and our partners. And so with that, I’m going to hand it over to the chairman to offer some specifics on a drawback, john Miller. Thanks secretary. and uh I want to take first a moment. Thank the men and women of the Joint Force Active Duty Reserve National Guard for their incredible work day in and day out in defense of our nation. I’d like to highlight that in addition to Afghanistan were engaged in training exercises, contingency operations and humanitarian efforts throughout the world. And the joint forces committed to global stability and security, Defense of the United States and our service members stand ready at all times to protect our security with respect to Afghanistan. Our primary military objective at this point is a change of mission to conduct a safe, responsible, coordinated and deliberate retrograde of U. S. Forces from Afghanistan. In good order, we will do this in a synchronized fashion, shoulder to shoulder with our allies and NATO partners and we’ve been steadily reducing our presence for almost a decade and we are now in the final phase of that strategic retrograde. As you know, we’ve been transferring steadily functions and responsibilities to the Afghan security forces for considerable amount of time. The President of the United States has given us a window to be complete. No later than september. I don’t want to hear put precise dates in public on our exact milestones because there are many variables that will factor in to the ultimate outcome. I’m confident however, that our ability to meet the objective in the time frame that the president has directed with respect to the taliban. There continue to be sustained levels of violent attacks primarily against the NSF. There have been about 80 to 120 enemy initiated attacks a day For the past year and that has also been sustained since one May. There have been no attacks against us and coalition forces since the retrograde began are about one May and that is also consistent for the past year. The NSF, the Afghan National Security forces and the government of Afghanistan at this time remain cohesive. And the president’s intent, the President, United States intent is to continue to sport both the NSF and the government of Afghanistan. To date, we have closed one base in Helmand. Approximately 60 C17 equivalents have departed with various equipment rolling stock And over 1300 pieces of equipment have been transferred either to the Defense Logistics Agency for destruction or to the NSF for their use to maximize force protection. We have bolstered our security with additional firepower. The SEC DEF is directed six additional B 52 long range strike bombers And a package of 12 fighter bombers, F 18s postured to offer continually sport. In addition to that, the SEc def has extended the Eisenhower carrier strike group. We came in with our allies and we will depart with our allies shoulder to shoulder and together we are all going to execute a fully coordinated synchronized retrograde in good order and thank you. And I’ll be happy to answer your questions bob. Thank you. Have a question for each of you, if I may on on Afghanistan, Mr Secretary Oh, General Milley just referred to the high level of violence in Afghanistan and they’re, in some respects, the violence has increased in recent days. Even as you’ve begun the drawdown, my question really is um what’s to stop the Taliban from overwhelming the Afghan forces, particularly in the south, if not in the whole country, creating instability and additional instability even in Pakistan? Is there something you can do during the summer to stop that from happening? If I may ask a quick question of General Milley. Uh The secretary referred a minute ago in his opening statement, two different ways in which the U. S. Will interact with the Afghan forces to support the Afghan forces in the future. He used the phrase different ways. I’m wondering if one of those different ways has to do with training afghan forces in third countries outside of Afghanistan. Is that an option? Thank you. So, thanks bob. I think the first part of the question is what’s to stop the Taliban. Um We’re hopeful that the Afghan security forces will play the major role in stopping the taliban. And I know we what we’re seeing unfold is what we expected to unfold increased pressure. And we’ve seen an instance of down in Lashkar Gar over the the Afghan security forces conducting a counterattack and performing fairly well. Uh We will continue to support them after we retrograde with, with funding, with over the horizon logistics. Uh, we will remain partners with uh, with the Afghan government, with the Afghan military. And certainly we hope through our continued support, the, the Afghan security forces can, can be effective. But uh, you know, it’s uh, they have a pretty significant capability, but it’s gonna, you know, we expect that this will be a, a challenge for. So, uh, I mean, there’s 300 plus 1000 afghan army afghan police, it’s their country. They’ve been leading the fight for several years now. We’ve been supporting them for sure, but they’ve been leading the fight and I’m personal witness as well as many of us, uh, that the Afghan security forces can fight and they’re fighting for their own country now. So, um, it’s not a foregone conclusion in my professional military estimate the Taliban automatically win a couple of falls or any of those kind of dire predictions. That’s not a foregone conclusion. There’s a significant military capability in the Afghan government. Uh, and, and we have to see how this plays out with respect to our support in different ways. The secretary just mentioned over the horizon, we’re gonna, uh, the intent is to keep an embassy open and to keep supporting the Afghan government, the Afghan security forces with financial aid money. Uh, we’ll also continue to take a look at training, uh, them and perhaps other locations wouldn’t know. We haven’t figured that out 100 yet, but also things like maintenance support and perhaps seti support from over the horizon. There’s a lot of ways to do that. We’re very capable of doing it. We’re working on those plans right now. So the training in other countries is an option here. It’s possible. I mean there’s a lot of different options out there and we haven’t settled on one of them yet. When we get some finalized plans put together, we’ll brief those as secretary for approval. Halloween. Thank you. This is for both of you. I’d like to address the issue of air support in Afghanistan Afghan commanders as we both know are pleading for more air support now in key regions that are under attack. At what point do we turn off the spigot? Do we wean them off or do we make them you know uh are we going to make them go cold Turkey once all of our troops are out and I have a follow up for General Milley. Thank Celine again. Our focus currently is on the task that the president has assigned us and that is to retro gate safely and orderly air our troops and those of our allies and protect them all doing so I think General Miller has uh adequate Cape resources and capabilities to protect themselves and he has the authorities to protect himself and and uh and our troops and he has the authorities uh to protect our allies as well, the afghans. Uh So in terms of when he does what uh there’s a reason that he’s a four star commander uh and and certainly he’ll make he’ll make the call on the ground of what he needs to do and when he needs to do it. Uh My focus is just to make sure he he has the resources. Uh Once we’ve left again our focus is on providing uh are maintaining a ct capability over the horizon in supporting the afghans with with monetary support and over the horizon. Uh logistics were possible. and Elaine priority. No, this the afghan Air Force Does 80-90 of all airstrikes in support of the Afghan ground forces were actually doing very a few years. We do some, but very few relative to the afghan Air Force. The key will be the afghan Air Force and their ability to continue providing close air support for the afghan. I mean you have to follow on, you said yes, that is exactly my follow up is how are we, are we planning then on turning the contracts? Are contractors over to the afghan military to the afghan Air Force in the afghan afghan government than to provide the maintenance on the planes and stuff for the afghan Air Force. How are we going to do that? Well, that that’s one of the key questions and I will tell you that the final a crossing of teas and dining of eyes of that plan has not yet settled. But uh maintaining logistic support to the afghan Air Force is a is a key task that we have to uh sort out doing it over the horizon. But also in country it could be done by contractors. A lot of that’s going to be dependent on the conditions of the security conditions on the ground. But the intent is to keep the afghan Air Force in the air and to provide them with continued maintenance support, David. Um This is for both of you, what is the latest estimate of when and where there’s chinese rocket will come down? Do you consider it a potential threat to the U. S. And do you have a plan for shooting it down if necessary? Thanks, David. Um The latest estimates estimates that I’ve seen is somewhere between the 8th and 9th. Uh, you know, and the experts are still working on that at this point, we don’t have a plan to shoot the rocket down. We’re hopeful that that it will land in a place where it won’t won’t harm anyone, hopefully in the ocean or someplace like that. I think this speaks to the fact that, uh, for those of us who operate in the space domain, uh, there is a requirement, there should be a requirement to, to operate in a safe, uh, and uh, and thoughtful mode and make sure that we take those kinds of things into into consideration as we plan and conduct operations. Do you even have the capability to shoot again, David? We have, as you know, we have the capability to do a lot of things, but we don’t have a plan to to shoot it down as we speak. Uh, jen Secretary Austin, you said that COVID-19 is your priority. It’s your greatest threat right now. Given the amount of vaccine hesitancy in the military and among military families, why won’t you order troops and their families to get vaccinated? Isen’t this a readiness issue? And General Milley, there was recently a dia report suggesting that Al Qaeda’s top leaders are in Iran who is in Iran and where is Zawahiri? I was quite a swing of uh of subject matter there. Jan thanks regarding the covid uh vaccine. As you know, Janet still under emergency use authorization. Uh, we’ve been constantly reviewing our performance and our and our options. We look at the data every day. We still believe that the right focus uh, is to provide the best information available uh and uh and this will help our troops to make informed decisions. It’s certainly, you know, the approach I took when I elected to take the vaccine very early on when it was available. Um, I think armed with the with the right information accurate information, troops will make, we’ll make good choices. Um, and so our plan currently is to continue on the path that we’re on. Um, you know, we have, we’re using about 80 of the vaccines that were provided. We’ve been provided going vaccines are going into arms at a, at a at a good rate. So, uh, I think, uh, you know, the wise thing to do is to continue to evaluate and and follow the course that we’re on right now. And gen uh, I’m not gonna obviously comment on intelligence reports on who was in Iran, not in Iran etcetera. With respect as our harry, if I knew where he was, he would be the first one to know that. Yeah. Yeah. I would probably be the first one to know if he knows. But then certainly you after that. My dad. My dad. Yeah. There’s a president that Yeah, absolutely. The president would be the first of everybody direction. Maybe Secretary Austin, your independent Review Commission has recommended taking sexual assault out of the military chain of command. General Milley has weighed in and said that he agrees with that idea. And the Senate has said they think they have enough votes to get that passed legally. So have you formed an opinion on the matter? And if you haven’t, what is holding you back from forming an opinion? Giving, given all of that advice that you’ve got? Well, first, I think, you know that the commission is still doing its work. Uh There’s several lines of effort that it’s it’s focused on the accountability line of effort was the very first. And so they provided me an initial read out of of uh their work on on that line of effort. Um And of course, you know, I’m taking that into consideration, but what I want to do is provide the Service Chiefs secretaries and opportunity to also review it. And I want to engage in a dialogue with them and make sure that, you know, I have their input, their thoughts. I’ve always found in uh short period of time that I’ve been associated with uh with the military. That that’s that’s the best path to follow to make sure that uh that you have a good dialogue with the with the stakeholders. Because at the end of the day, we’re all whatever is decided, we’re all going to have to execute it quick follow up. Has that never come up? That issue? Never come up in any of the meetings that you had with the service secretaries or the chiefs in the time that you’ve been in your position. I’ve given them specific guidance in terms of, you know, my uh my desire to have them review the recommendation and then I want there uh their feedback on that and then we’re gonna we’re gonna discuss it. So Yeah, Tony. Certainly in Afghanistan, the US. has been spending about $40 billion dollars a year for the last three or four years on the conflict. Do you expect a budget? I gain a real reallocation from those dollars that you won’t be spending out after September 11? And for General Milley, Has that been a discussion in the tank at all among the Chiefs that we’re going to have extra dollars because we’re not going to be in Afghanistan. How do we handle the extra money? Mr Secretary, thanks as you know, a great deal of the the funds that we used to to fund our efforts, not only there, but in Iraq was funded with Yoko uh rather than based budget. Uh certainly anytime you stop doing something that’s uh that’s this important and this this big, it creates opportunities and uh and so we’ll look at, you know, what the possibilities are uh going forward as as opportunities are created, certainly will be cited in on uh our overall strategy And making sure that we prioritize our resources to match the strategy. Uh and uh and so, um, you know, more to follow. But we’re in the middle of uh of uh the final stages of really outlining the budget for 22. And then we’ll get busy on the on the 23 budget. And beyond 22 budget reflects some of these reallocations from Afghanistan to other areas. Again, I don’t want to try to get ahead of the budget process and this is I’m not making a budget announcement from the podium today. But you know, again, the basic logic is, and I think you would agree with this that any time you stop doing something that’s that large and it creates opportunities to for other areas and we will have to define what those opportunities are and prioritizing the opportunities. So does that become a discussion in the tank? No, we’re not really focused on the budget. Part of that for the Joint Chiefs were focused on the execution and fulfilling the president’s intent right now. Thank you. Let me go to somebody on the phone here. I’ve done that missy Ryan. Hi, thanks for doing this. Um, I have a question, a follow up question regarding Afghanistan and then a question for you, General Milley. So my follow up on Afghanistan is building on the earlier questions about air support. If I understood correctly that the U. S. Post withdrawal will re providing funding and over the horizon logistical support but not routine air support to the NSF. Does that mean that um if there was a scenario where, you know, cities are uh being advanced upon by Taliban forces that the United States will not provide over the horizon air support in some way, um to the Afghan forces. And then my question for you, General Milley is regarding the uh, interpreters who have worked with the United States in Afghanistan. And there’s been a discussion about the special immigrant visas and the backlog of applicants who are waiting as the United States prepares to withdrawal. I know that this is a state led question. But given your own service in Afghanistan and that of the men and women that you command in uniform, What is your perspective on the fate of the Afghans who are hoping to get visas to come to the United States through that program? Thanks. Hi, missy. I I think you heard me say earlier, that that again, our focus is on making sure that we can retrograde our resources, our troops, our allies in a safe and orderly and responsible fashion. Beyond that. You know, we look to establish some over the horizon CT capability and some old horizon uh, logistical support, uh, capabilities will continue to support uh, the Afghan government and the Afghan military with financial support uh with the help of Congress? Um in terms of what we would do on in anyone given situation uh, to respond to to something that was unanticipated or may have been anticipated. But I don’t think it’s helpful to me for me to get engaged in any kind of hypotheticals today. Uh But uh but I certainly appreciate your question and don’t really over to you on the missy on the interpreters and others that have worked closely with the U. S. Government. The intent is what State Department elite is to make sure that it’s a really a moral imperative that we take care of those that have worked closely with us if their lives are in danger etcetera. But I would also uh cautions and focus on some speculation here. It’s a bit early to tell what the outcomes are gonna be. Um There are some obviously bad outcomes that have been discussed but that none of that is uh preordained, none of it is absolutely inevitable. Again, this is a this is a significant size, military and police force. Uh The government under President Ghani is still a cohesive organization. There are a lot of factors at play here and I think it’s uh we’re working through the S. I. V. Process through the State Department, but I think it’s a bit early uh to really sound the alarm on getting everybody out just yet. That’s my own personal opinion. But I think that’s based on some pretty good knowledge of what’s going on right now. Major General Austin and Colonel Millie were in Afghanistan together when we stood up when Colonel Millie helped to stand up the first battalion of Afghan forces. And so as he mentioned today, There’s over 300,000 Afghan security forces now, which is which speaks to the great work that your soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines have done over the years. Uh and for and that’s larger than the military of a number of countries. But uh but it’s uh uh they have been operating principally uh you know, providing much of their support on our own uh in recent months. So we’re hopeful we all want to see the afghans succeed. Uh And again once our roles change here a bit will continue to provide support uh you know, in terms of logistics and and uh and financial support and will focus on are over the horizon. CT capabilities. Time for just a couple more. I’ll go back to the phones Phil Stewart. Thanks. Um just a clarification, uh Secretary Austin were their orders to withdraw all U. S. Contractors. I know those orders to withdraw all U. S. Troops and and uh for General Milley. Um do you have any estimates on what will happen to NSF Attrition rates following the US withdrawal. Thanks. Yeah. So we’re gonna responsibly retrograde all of our capabilities that that we are responsible for the contractors fall in that in that uh in that realm as well. So, I mean, as, you know, contractors have the ability to to renegotiate contracts if if they so choose going forward in the future, but uh but yeah, we’re gonna account for all the people and the and the resources that are that are working with us. Your question on the attrition rates has to go with the uh, can the Afghan security forces sustained a fight at current attrition rates or attrition rates that have been an average over the last a year or so? Uh Again, I would say that we have to wait and see in the coming months. Uh We know what their attrition rates are and killed and wounded. We know what the desertion rates are. We also know that the taliban have suffered significant attrition rates as well. Uh, I would also remind folks that there’s still an active Department of State led negotiation effort ongoing. Uh, so that is also another avenue that is being actively pursued by the US government to come up with a negotiated settlement between the government, uh, and the taliban. Uh, that is also not that door is not closed yet. So, uh, there’s a lot of possible outcomes here. Last one. Terror. Yes. Thank you. These questions for both of you. General Milley. Last week, we shared a bit of how you’re thinking is evolved on taking sexual assault out of the chain of command. And I was wondering if you could elaborate on that, what prompted that change, if it thought for you and General Austin? As you have. I’m sorry, Secretary, have it again? Secretary Austin, you’ll get me in trouble if you say that myself in trouble probably. Um, you know, as you view this recommendation, I guess the question is why not take sexual assault investigations outside of the chain of command? At this point, it seems like nothing else has worked. And there have been a number of military sexual assault victims who have been failed by the current system. Yeah, you should know that, as I heard I as I’ve said before, that this is very important to me and it’s very important to this entire department and we’re gonna stay cited on this until until we find ways to improve. I think, you know, the the the accountability piece of it is a very important piece, but it’s not the only piece, you know, they’re they’re climate issues there there, how we take care of victims issues. There are a number of things that the Independent Review Commission are looking at that, that will add to this, this entire picture here. I think it’s the combination of those things that will cause us to begin to move forward on this. So, um, if yeah, you know, as we look at what’s been presented, you know, it could be perfect, a perfect recommendation, or it may be, you know, there may be a recommendation that that we would choose to, we may choose to go another path. But I think, I think it’s worth having. My leaders are leaders uh engage in discussion on this now. I think, you know, we’ve done done things a certain way for a while and I think uh you know, we really need to kind of broaden our horizons and begin to look at things differently and and be willing to take different paths to uh to improve things. So does that mean that you’re thinking also might have evolved on this and that you’re open to taking it out of the chain of command? You know, I said when we started down this path, that all options are on the table and uh and I want to hear from the Review Commission uh good recommendations that we think that can make a difference. And again, I think we have to let the review commission do its work. Uh And then I would like to do uh our work in terms of engaging our leaders and making sure that that we have outline a good effective path for the department going forward. Okay. And for me, I’m going to wait until we see the final results of the review commission, but I was the Chief of the Army for four years, been the chairman for coming up on two. And um frankly, what you asked me, what what has caused me to have a change, and I get a lot of hard thought. We haven’t moved the needle, that’s the bottom line, we haven’t resolved this issue. According to some pretty solid data. We think we estimate based on some surveys, That there are probably 20,000 men and women who was sexually assaulted the United States military last year. That’s one of the force. If we had 20,000 killed or wounded in Afghanistan or Iraq, those are casualties. Uh that’s huge, that’s significant. And that number hasn’t significantly been reduced over time. Uh And we keep saying, people like me keep going behind a microphone in front of committee saying uh we’re gonna do this when you do that, we need to this and to do that and hasn’t changed. So we need to take a hard look and I welcome uh the Independent Review Commission in their views and I want to take a hard look at them. Uh They’re gonna be evidence based, uh and we’re gonna move in directions that are going to fundamentally change this, try to solve it. Uh every one of us wants it solved. But 20,000 is a huge number. Um and and it’s just not, we can’t tolerate that. We can’t tolerate that level of divisiveness in our force. These are assaults, these are blue on blue assaults. It cannot stand, has to be resolved. So, yes, my mind is very open to it. Uh and and and the other thing that changed, or that influenced me significantly is the data that I saw over the last several months about the confidence in the chain of command by junior soldiers, men and women alike in their ability to deal successfully with sexual assault. Uh, and we the chain of command, we the generals, the colonels, the captains, and so on. Uh, We have lost the trust and confidence of those subordinates in our ability to deal with sexual assault. So we need to make a change what that changes. Uh We’ll see what the Independent Media Commission comes up with in terms of the recommendations and well take a hard look at it and we’ll have discussions with the secretary uh and so on. But absolutely, my mind is completely open to all kinds of opportunities to change here. And once we make decisions and head down a path, that’s not the end of the day. You know, we will continue to work this until we we we we improve and then we’ll stay cited on it to make sure that we have the right things in the in the environment that we’re taking care of our our troops, men and women and that we’re, you know, we’re doing the right things. So that’s all we got time for, folks. Thank you so much appreciate it. Former Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher, basically admitting to murder. I’m sure that I know that, uh, that maybe is looking into that issue. And so I don’t have a comment on for you this afternoon. Thank you. Thank you.