DOD Update : Transcript Pentagon Press Secretary Updates Reporters on DOD Operations FEB. 12, 2021

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[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

That depends on the areas of Q you are interested in...

example on the Border Wall :

On your Southern border question, if you're asking about reprogramming and maybe I'm wrong, that's not what you meant, I know of no reprogramming decisions that we are considering at this time but I'm not sure that that was your question, Lita, so I'm going to throw it back over to you to see if I missed it.

Q: Well yeah, so reprogramming is part of it. I think there's just been a number of questions over the last couple of weeks about where the department stands on the Southern border mission, considering the White House has ended the – formerly ended the mission. And I think we're just trying to figure out what exactly that means including the reprogramming which you said you – as far as you know right now there's no money. Are you saying no money can be reprogrammed or no money is currently being reprogrammed?

MR. KIRBY: What I'm saying is I don't of any –

Q: I think there was some indication early on that some could be reprogrammed but –

MR. KIRBY: I don't know of any reprogramming decisions that are being made right now with respect to the decisions that were made by the previous administration to move money out of military construction and other infrastructure support to building the wall. So, if we have something to announce in that regard or a decision that has been made we'll certainly keep you apprised. But I'm not aware, and I did ask about this this morning, I'm not aware of any reprogramming decision that's in the works right now.

on " Extremism in military " :

MR. KIRBY: Go ahead. Go ahead.

Q: Thank you. A little more in depth question would be, looked at the Pentagon's taking on extremism in the ranks. How much is the Pentagon concerned about some of the extremist groups who are targeting either current military members or soon-to-be former military members, soon-to-be veterans, those groups having links to foreign groups or foreign governments. Is that something that the Pentagon is taking a look at?

MR. KIRBY: I don't know of any particular study here in the building to look at that linkage between some of these extremist groups and foreign entities, but as I've said before we are certainly mindful of the fact that some of these groups, you know, actively try to recruit soon-to-be veterans, to bring them in, and that is of concern.

And one of the things that the secretary and the chiefs have talked about is – and I suspect they'll continue to explore is the degree to which we need to do a better job educating future veterans as they get ready to leave the service as to what's waiting for them and who's waiting for them on the other side of that. Does that answer your question?

Q: On the joint – I have another question. Just wanted to ask is there any update on the Joint Andrews incident and the security breach that occurred?

MR. KIRBY: I don't have one for you. I'd refer you to the Air Force on that.

Q: Okay. And then would the secretary be open to the idea that's been proposed in Congress that we create a new criminal offense in the military code where if you advocated violent extremism that would be kind of a particular offense. Is that something that's being looked at?

MR. KIRBY: I'm not aware of an active effort to look at that, but I will say and the secretary's made it clear that, you know, that he wants to conduct a review. He wants to learn more about the depth of the problem and potential solutions. And I wouldn't rule anything in and out of that. I mean – and I would not be surprised if they – if they take a look at whether other accountability measures need to be in place.

Now again, wouldn't speculate about changes to the UCMJ. As you well know the kinds – many of the kinds of conduct and behavior that some extremist ideology inspirers want to do, to conduct is already punishable by the uniform code of military justice. So again, I think it's a fair question for which I don't have a very specific answer other than to say the secretary wants to be open-minded as we begin to explore this problem and to get our arms around it.

Q: Yes. Thank you.

On Burma ( this one is interesting ) :

Q: Thank you, John. I have two questions for you. One on the burden share and the other one for Burma issues. It is reported that there's a 13 percent increase of defense cost sharing between the United States and South–

MR. KIRBY: You should pull your mask up.

Q: Okay, thank you. You do –

MR. KIRBY: I have a waiver right here.

Q: All right, thank you. That's a good point. Thank you.

MR. KIRBY: Go ahead. What's your question?

Q: Okay, that the 13 percent increase of defense cost sharing between U.S. and South Korea we reach an agreement. Do you have anything on that?

MR. KIRBY: I don't, and I would refer you to the State Department for that.

Q: Okay, but also another one. I think you better know about this because this is the defense sharing, cost sharing, Why you –

MR. KIRBY: It's an issue for – it's an issue for our colleagues at the State Department to speak to.

Q: I hopeful you have a right answer to me today. A lot of things that you just ask there, ask there ... Anyway, second question –

MR. KIRBY: I'm very sorry I'm disappointing you.

Q: Okay, second question for you. I think this one you can answer for me.

MR. KIRBY: Well we'll see.

Q: President Biden signed an executive order for Burma last Wednesday. What military sanctions were included in this executive order?

MR. KIRBY: Again, that is a better question for our colleagues at the State Department, but just to reiterate that U.S. military interactions with Burma are heavily constrained by law, including statutory restrictions on military assistance due to Burma's human rights record. The United States does not have foreign assistance programs that directly benefit the Burmese military as an institution, and our minimal interactions have supported humanitarian response capability and human rights.

And as President Biden made clear the reversal of Burma's democratic transition will necessitate an immediate review of our sanctions – our sanction laws and authorities followed by appropriate action.

Q: Yes, well do you have individual military sanctions, like, so I mean, chief of commander in Burma, they got, against –

MR. KIRBY: For specific sanctions you're going to have to go to my colleagues at the State Department.

Q: Thank you.

MR. KIRBY: Was that an acceptable answer? (Laughter.)

Q: A little bit. Not quite, like, this is like –

MR. KIRBY: In my – in my book a little bit's okay. That's a success for me.

Q: You don’t tell me about it–

MR. KIRBY: If I can get halfway there I win. I win. (Laughter.)

Q: That’s your job, you ask for military for –

MR. KIRBY: And I answered you on military issues.

Q: All right. Thank you very much.

MR. KIRBY: But there are some things that's not appropriate for me to talk to you here.

Q: 60 percent –

MR. KIRBY: 60 percent.

Q: All right.

MR. KIRBY: For me that's an A. (Laughter.)

I'm graded on – I am graded on a curve.

Q: Maybe the next time I–

There is Much much more...

That depends on the areas of Q you are interested in... example on the Border Wall : On your Southern border question, if you're asking about reprogramming and maybe I'm wrong, that's not what you meant, I know of no reprogramming decisions that we are considering at this time but I'm not sure that that was your question, Lita, so I'm going to throw it back over to you to see if I missed it. Q: Well yeah, so reprogramming is part of it. I think there's just been a number of questions over the last couple of weeks about where the department stands on the Southern border mission, considering the White House has ended the – formerly ended the mission. And I think we're just trying to figure out what exactly that means including the reprogramming which you said you – as far as you know right now there's no money. Are you saying no money can be reprogrammed or no money is currently being reprogrammed? MR. KIRBY: What I'm saying is I don't of any – Q: I think there was some indication early on that some could be reprogrammed but – MR. KIRBY: I don't know of any reprogramming decisions that are being made right now with respect to the decisions that were made by the previous administration to move money out of military construction and other infrastructure support to building the wall. So, if we have something to announce in that regard or a decision that has been made we'll certainly keep you apprised. But I'm not aware, and I did ask about this this morning, I'm not aware of any reprogramming decision that's in the works right now. on " Extremism in military " : MR. KIRBY: Go ahead. Go ahead. Q: Thank you. A little more in depth question would be, looked at the Pentagon's taking on extremism in the ranks. How much is the Pentagon concerned about some of the extremist groups who are targeting either current military members or soon-to-be former military members, soon-to-be veterans, those groups having links to foreign groups or foreign governments. Is that something that the Pentagon is taking a look at? MR. KIRBY: I don't know of any particular study here in the building to look at that linkage between some of these extremist groups and foreign entities, but as I've said before we are certainly mindful of the fact that some of these groups, you know, actively try to recruit soon-to-be veterans, to bring them in, and that is of concern. And one of the things that the secretary and the chiefs have talked about is – and I suspect they'll continue to explore is the degree to which we need to do a better job educating future veterans as they get ready to leave the service as to what's waiting for them and who's waiting for them on the other side of that. Does that answer your question? Q: On the joint – I have another question. Just wanted to ask is there any update on the Joint Andrews incident and the security breach that occurred? MR. KIRBY: I don't have one for you. I'd refer you to the Air Force on that. Q: Okay. And then would the secretary be open to the idea that's been proposed in Congress that we create a new criminal offense in the military code where if you advocated violent extremism that would be kind of a particular offense. Is that something that's being looked at? MR. KIRBY: I'm not aware of an active effort to look at that, but I will say and the secretary's made it clear that, you know, that he wants to conduct a review. He wants to learn more about the depth of the problem and potential solutions. And I wouldn't rule anything in and out of that. I mean – and I would not be surprised if they – if they take a look at whether other accountability measures need to be in place. Now again, wouldn't speculate about changes to the UCMJ. As you well know the kinds – many of the kinds of conduct and behavior that some extremist ideology inspirers want to do, to conduct is already punishable by the uniform code of military justice. So again, I think it's a fair question for which I don't have a very specific answer other than to say the secretary wants to be open-minded as we begin to explore this problem and to get our arms around it. Q: Yes. Thank you. On Burma ( this one is interesting ) : Q: Thank you, John. I have two questions for you. One on the burden share and the other one for Burma issues. It is reported that there's a 13 percent increase of defense cost sharing between the United States and South– MR. KIRBY: You should pull your mask up. Q: Okay, thank you. You do – MR. KIRBY: I have a waiver right here. Q: All right, thank you. That's a good point. Thank you. MR. KIRBY: Go ahead. What's your question? Q: Okay, that the 13 percent increase of defense cost sharing between U.S. and South Korea we reach an agreement. Do you have anything on that? MR. KIRBY: I don't, and I would refer you to the State Department for that. Q: Okay, but also another one. I think you better know about this because this is the defense sharing, cost sharing, Why you – MR. KIRBY: It's an issue for – it's an issue for our colleagues at the State Department to speak to. Q: I hopeful you have a right answer to me today. A lot of things that you just ask there, ask there ... Anyway, second question – MR. KIRBY: I'm very sorry I'm disappointing you. Q: Okay, second question for you. I think this one you can answer for me. MR. KIRBY: Well we'll see. Q: President Biden signed an executive order for Burma last Wednesday. What military sanctions were included in this executive order? MR. KIRBY: Again, that is a better question for our colleagues at the State Department, but just to reiterate that U.S. military interactions with Burma are heavily constrained by law, including statutory restrictions on military assistance due to Burma's human rights record. The United States does not have foreign assistance programs that directly benefit the Burmese military as an institution, and our minimal interactions have supported humanitarian response capability and human rights. And as President Biden made clear the reversal of Burma's democratic transition will necessitate an immediate review of our sanctions – our sanction laws and authorities followed by appropriate action. Q: Yes, well do you have individual military sanctions, like, so I mean, chief of commander in Burma, they got, against – MR. KIRBY: For specific sanctions you're going to have to go to my colleagues at the State Department. Q: Thank you. MR. KIRBY: Was that an acceptable answer? (Laughter.) Q: A little bit. Not quite, like, this is like – MR. KIRBY: In my – in my book a little bit's okay. That's a success for me. Q: You don’t tell me about it– MR. KIRBY: If I can get halfway there I win. I win. (Laughter.) Q: That’s your job, you ask for military for – MR. KIRBY: And I answered you on military issues. Q: All right. Thank you very much. MR. KIRBY: But there are some things that's not appropriate for me to talk to you here. Q: 60 percent – MR. KIRBY: 60 percent. Q: All right. MR. KIRBY: For me that's an A. (Laughter.) I'm graded on – I am graded on a curve. Q: Maybe the next time I– There is Much much more...

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[–] • 0 pt

Thank you very much.

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