Next discussion of the progress of defeating are isis in iraq and syria. Well hear about Coalition Forces have made gains in the region and the role that they will play in combatting terrorism. Held by the middle east institute, this is an hour. Good morning everyone. Good afternoon depending on where you are. For the next hour or so ill be talking to major general, Deputy Commander resolve, which is the u. S. Led campaign against isis in iraq, and syria. Todays event is the ninth episode of the defense leadership series. Its a highlevel platform that we traded back in june, of this year. And it is a platform where current and former military in defense leaders from both the United States and the region are able to discuss some of the most important policy issues facing the two sides. We were extremely fortunate to integrate the series on june 10th, with a conversation, frank mckenzie. Since then weve had the honor of hosting some of the most seasoned leaders in the defensive space including michelle, the current director. The current Deputy Commander, who just recently transition into the rule having served earlier as the commander. We also hosted the former u. S. Dp miller. Former commander, mike the god. Oh also the operations chief, duke. They work chalet. And of course, the former Lebanese Armed forces commander or i should say rear admiral. Let me just take this opportunity to think centcom and the leadership for their partnership with us. We are especially honored and proud of working with you. I recognize we need to bring more officials and officers from the region to the show. Believe me its not from a lack of trying. Its not an easy thing to do for all sorts of reasons. But that said, im committed to this endeavor. And will keep trying. Today we have the privilege of having with this major general, kevin cups, eat who holds the position of general commander. A strategy for joint task force resolve. I will be talking to him but the status of the anti isis campaign and iraq and syria. And the future of that effort. Anchored you to check out our guests bio on our website. Let me just introduce him and general kevin was commission to the royals in 1990. Hes hady in europe, but also in afghanistan. He worked for the ministry of defense in london for nato. Two years ago he became the british armys head. Responsible for developing a new army concept which isnt an easy thing to do. General, welcome to the in the is defense leadership series. I recognize that we may be facing some technical issues today. But we will be patient with that. And we recognize also that at some point you may have to remove the videos that we can probably get better quality sound from you. But let me just once again we welcome you, and thank you for. Its a important conversation. For those of you less familiar with aor and sent calm. How does it work to have someone like you serve in command like . Thats great, the rest of the team in the middle institute thank you so much for inviting me. Giving me the opportunity to talk about what has been a successful military campaign, and how we actually made that journey from where we are now, and the opportunities as we reflect on what the opportunities could look like now and in northern syria. We have a deputy, i am actually sat inside the away ours corridors. Theres only a couple of us that touch the iraqi headquarters, its predominantly based in kuwait, its actually made up of 27 different nations. That stake within the coalition of haiti. Within the headquarters itself, one has a u. S. Lieutenant general and the force. Myself as the deputy. The low is a whole mixture of International Offices from various different nations. Each one bringing a unique uptick that together blends eight wonderful way in which we can approach the international challenges. And working with the iraqi forces and getting them to the feet. Its a helpful place to, be insightful, and uncertain as well. All that can blend together, to make for a very challenging position as well. I heard you liked mountaineering and pine skiing. Where did that come from . A lot of my earlier time in the army was spent in germany. The British Military put a greek premium and meddle a, terri not just in operations, high up in altitude. In areas that you are uncomfortable with. So thats really how it started. We pursued with the British Military a semi professional approach to the sports. In particular, alpine skiing. I started to race for the army for a number of seasons until one just gets a little bit too old in the toilet of the skiing. Career noah spent my time as the president of the winter sports. Put in what i know and i provided from the british monetary back into the soldiers. And develop accordantly. So it is a really good opportunity. Lets make a deal. General before we start the conversation. If i sense you sense that im about to ask a question that is pelosi based throw at me a yellow card because i understand that you guys dont do policy . It implements policy coming from the pentagon and state department but i just cant help myself. If you see anything there thats really more of a policy question tell me that theres no unanswered. Absolutely fine. Absolutely fine. Thanks. Let me start this broad question. Six years ago, this organization, isis, controlled land mass roughly the size of britain. Subjugating the lives of eight to 9 million people. But today it lost all of that territory, or at least nearly all of it. And a lot of its resources. Thanks to the campaign of a league general that is a resolve. And of course a lot of the work of the local and regional farmers that have been quite helpful. Lets start with this. Described as the Main Elements of the campaign. You pursued all these years to achieve what you described in beginning as a military success. And to significantly degrade the capabilities of this organization. Yes, thanks. During the twilight of what has been a successful military campaign, and lets reflect that when isis became a sub state, governing almost under 10,000 square kilometers, alongside the iraqis 17 of the nations came together to form a coalition. Arguably the largest collection thats come together since the second world war. A unity of approach to defeat daesh. We can talk later on about how terrorism that is sizes around the globe here Respective National borders. And they are coming together that brought together about 27 nations with various types of military capability but the keep it was and still is is to enable the Iraqi Security apparatus, the peshmerga, the conventional forces down in the south or even the Syrian Democratic force [inaudible] over 120,000 have been trained over the four years and it was that force, the Partner Forces that once took the fight, they are the ones that fought through the streets. They were the one that liberated and dismantled. And the coalition was there to provide that enabling support. The artillery, the air power that was needed, the intelligence, the surveillance and to a degree some of that is provided now. So, you know, we have actually gone past what has been the high intensity part of the conflict and we have dismantled the physical part of daesh. That is where we have defeated them and that is objectively easier to measure. What we have work to do is undermined our finances a narrative. When we talk about that a little later on but whats really changed was two things. One was with last year which sees us go from high intensity to this final chapter of our military campaign and a bizarre early covid as well. The covid pandemic when it hit the middle east, caused a lot of nations because we could not be that close to our iraqi partners during the training to go back home to the host nations. And two things happen. The first of which was realizing that the iraqis actually we are not good enough. They are strong, professional, have the pillory to defeat daesh. We have entered a new part of the campaign from this high intensity into the final chapter or face for as we will call it. And as we hollowed out our force, we started to recalibrate ourselves intellectually from doing the tactical level the training up into mentoring an advisory at the higher operational level. So where i said today, in central baghdad, is i am in a camp that is colocated with the joint Operational Command with and that joint Operational Command deploys we and ends daesh. We sit back and we monitor and we help them in the planning tools needed for them to get off of that final peace. Without forces, well cities operational focus . We still die best equipment to make sure that we [inaudible] can go through modernization program. That allows them to over match daesh. We to fund particular streams off salary to make sure those soldiers as they are going down and risking their lives are appropriately pay. So that has been about five billion over the course of the campaign that has been given in divestments or stipend says we will call it. We have also had to rebalance our force. As covid hit, we realize we are in too many bases that were not needed anymore. So we transition many of those across the Iraqi Service forces. The last one we did was camp taraji which was in Early September of this year. In doing so you have now got the Iraqi Security forces that have the footprint that allows them to be balanced across the country to get after the defeat of daesh. So we have done high intensity, we have recalibrated intellectually for the support that they need and we have rebalance our force to actually support the iraqis and what they need rather than the wants and desires that were needed in phase three. Happy. General, i do not know if you are able to hear me just fine but i think the sound was fine on your end but maybe the video was a little bit freezing. So maybe for the next few minutes we will turn off the video on your end and we will see if that gets any better. Is that ok . Yeah, that is absolutely fine. All right. So i think you said it yourself and this is really no secret. The organization is not defeated, its really on the ropes, i hope at least, militarily speaking. Its capability is severely degraded but not defeated. That of course requires, yes im going to use that word, a government approach, right . It requires, you know, the involvement of much more than centcom but many other elements of Natural Power but just tell us, what kind of threat to this Organization Still pose today . Yeah, that is a good question. So for what i would say is daesh is definitely down but not out. We have dismantled the physical but there are areas. It seems geographically where they can still operate. They do not operate in a joint well lead fashion at all. That they have resorted to life as a criminal. They are in survival mode. That it is all about theft, extortion and kidnapping. They are operating in a rural areas where we are easy enough to be targeted by the Iraqi Security forces. And there is probably for areas that we have of concern. One is river valley with the daesh operating there and obviously trying to exploit the inter Tribal Dynamics and the geography of that area. There is also the disputed territories between differences of baghdad and that gap that changes distance right along of what is known as the kurdish correlation line. And then also that border between iraq and into syria. Now certainly the latitude we work alongside Syrian Democratic forces and the Iraqi Security forces and their leadership level to try anti operations that mutually support each other to try and tie down anyway which daesh could exploit the border. And similarly with the kurdish correlation line is to encourage both in the north and the kurds force in the south have joint operations. To be fair, both parties have actually made huge influence in starting to get after that and i can they squeeze into daesh. It is the fourth area that is probably the biggest concern that is the idea of the detain accounts. Particularly those in northeast syria. Syrian Defense Force has done a fantastic job of administering and containing and running those particular institutions. But its whats happening inside them that oh ar has no mandate for in one volume in. But we do both encourage and provide equipment for the fcf for doing their job and looking after them. When i do fear is without there being an international, political my skirt microscope placed on these locations that the threat of daesh 2. 0 could be realized. You have come under control and you also have the ability to permeate their murderous narrative. As well as also finance and finance networks. There were other organizations that were involved in dismantling those parts but that is the one bit that would be my worry is those two particular institutions. Perfect segue, general. Why dont we try to have you back on video and see if that works a little bit . Okay. Perfect segue because i think this merits a sort of an indepth conversation about this whole issue of resurgence because there has been a good bit of analysis coming out of washington by reasonable seasoned analysts regarding this issue of resurgence. So how to send calm review resurgence . How do you understand it . Do you by the fact that it really is, you know, returning to what it was before . How are you addressing this and how concerned are you about it . You already started, you know, talking about it but tell me a little bit more about this issue . So the issue is a lot of observers would say, well there has been a slight increase in daesh activity and therefore its resurging. Is it resurging in a Cohesive Group that is able to seize territory to try and regain one abilities . No it is not. What it is doing of course is having an allergic reaction to the amount of pressure that has been put on them on a daily basis and every domain, land, air and the narrative by the iraq street forces, and the we stf. That is bound to create a reaction as you push a line in a corner. Royal illuminates more networks and intelligence for the iraqis and our other partners to exploit and work upon. So theres that cause and effect. On one hand when you have that forward leaning Security Apparatus, and it pushes into a chapter action. But it has to be exerted over a period of time because they could become progressively easier to target. They become more geographically fragmented. There are other parts of the that would assist iraq in ensuring that we would actually help ensure the narrative, its arguably just as important if not more important than the physical to maine. We talk about the detainees. Its a big issue that could probably be described as a ticking time bomb. The United States government believes that there is a high impact risk of, at least those back in may, but enough its still an issue today. But high risk of a mass breakout. There are about 20 of them, in northeastern syria. There are 2000 foreign fighters, iraqi syrian fighters. How concerned are you about that . You already started addressing it. This could aid any ridge surgeons that may happen. Whats the capacity of the sdf to really sustain it . Over to you. Thats a fair question. I cant answer for some of the institutions that are outside of the area that we operate in. Certainly the essay, those detainees camps that are administered so well is we are very alive to any potential of breakdown. There couldve been numerous attempts that happened over the months. But were used to the divestment of equipment as part of our campaign, is to provide non lethal apparatus to govern the detention center. As well as cctv cameras. And to upgrade the sanitation, the security within it as well. This way they could feel more comfortable and confident in dealing with. That there are numerous areas where the coalition has created Infrastructure Projects to also aid that. For example, the husk a person is having a extension thats funded by a coalition that will allow the detainees to be counted into areas that would allow them to sort of spread out, and allows easier access by sdf. Weve enhanced the womens prison. They can have their extended families with them. Maybe for the youth rehabilitation center. The two point oh is going to be focused on the children, but the as they were once known as at some of the ig camps. And by actually taking them into this rehabilitation camps. And facilities. Its been able to actually expose them to a alternative to the narrative. That has been a wonderful initiative and were trying to expand that with the sdf in due course. So am i concerned . Its always a worry. Are we doing your best to mitigate it . Yes through the training and divestments to the democratic forces. Did they feel confident in delivering the security thats required . Absolutely. I think we are in a very good place at the moment for the areas that we are deployed in. Copy. I really feel bad that we cant have your video on. You can keep alternating. Leave it up to you general. I dont want to bother you too much. Let me ask you a cup or law questions about the operation, and then reflect more broadly about the campaign. And maybe borderline violating the agreement i have with the terms of policy. Its not a policy question. Its more about the consequences of policy. Weve done a lot to enhance the capabilities of our iraqi partners. Counterterrorism policies. What will happen to those efforts if we do leave or significantly reduce our military footprint in iraq . Trying to tie it back to everything in terms of resurgence, defeat the organization. What would happen if we link to those efforts at least . Ill try the video. Well see how we get on. Thats a fair comment because one is always fearful of a dependency culture of what is on the brink for our culture. When i think we have to be very mindful of is exactly how good those partners are, and how little we do as the and result. The day to day operations are done by the iraqis. We followed up. Youve seen the recent announcements of every particular u. S. Troops going down and down, caused by covid, recalibration of advising that i spoke about earlier. And we sit alongside them. That is that. They take the terms. They plan on it. They exploit the operation. Judicial process. So that momentum is there. Now theyre still probably work to do, that still needed, but the day today operations has such a strong momentum behind it that as we see the twilights of our mission out here, i have no doubt that they have the belittles to keep on going. That said, when it diminishes, it could be replaced by and you apparatus. Here in baghdad, youve got that nato mission, thats looking at the institutional [inaudible] lost to their general. Offering their key skills into the apparatus to fulfill any gaps. As one leaves, it will be gently replaced into other areas. Sorry general. Probably best to discontinue the video. Did you miss some of that . Just a little. Okay how much of that did you get . A good bit. But just the last bit of it. Inherent resolve. We have a Complimentary Mission with iran. Its set up here. That will be focused on the institutional level. So when observers think that things will go south with the demise of l. A. Are, the support that the partners will receive changes form into different style of delivery into another organization. Let me ask you another tactical question and will talk about a new significant challenge that you face. The militias in baghdad. Has the appointment of bradleys vehicles, and other equipment into northeastern syria had any effect on russias on your controls. The deployment of the bradley is a interesting Inflection Point for your operation. We launched the interface for we recalibrated into new space. When we needed to do was sent a very clear message to the daesh. That we still have the ability to demonstrate our capability and our capacity to move around, both iraq and northeast syria that are choosing. So the point of the bradleys to reinforce was a demonstration of fact to show that unannounced we can flex our capability around that to just reinforce that even though we may lack numbers we still have the ability and the commitment to get after that defeat. As far as the russians are concerned, we dont coordinate with, them we do deacon flicked our priorities in time and space. I think its reflective of the wider nation states involve that here. From our perspective particularly northeast syria the focus is along the sdf and focus very much on that place where we dont and the river valley. The risk of getting in trouble, general, let me take you to utopia and you could have your christmas list of things that you want. What other capabilities would you love to have that could really aid your mission recognizing that size is not whats most important right now at this point especially if the numbers keep dwindling. But what other capabilities do you like to have to support your mission . Its going to have to be the Iraqi Government being able to manage and take the batter of success from the mission to its rightful conclusion. That is what we need. Do we need military capabilities out here . Absolutely not at all. We do need Nato Missions out here to do the reform. As this campaign winds down, what you need is the right ability for the Security Apparatus to hand over to the judicial apparatus. And that needs to go hand in hand with trying to resolve all of the other security challenges that the government faces. The sources of instability of which the oar has done and deal with symptoms. And that is the key thing that we need to get after, not the military anymore. Copy. Okay. On a confidence level, one to ten, ten being the highest of the ability of the iraqi partners to sustain some of the equipment and the advice that we give them. Should we continue to draw down . I think its i got to be the optimist actually. I think its between seven and eight and the reason why i say that and what would get them higher. For its that institutional reform that nato will offer. So the ability if the economy could be more robust and it is now, the ability to do fiscal planning, to do Career Planning for its soldiers across the board, the ability to properly man and train and do Capability Development of their own forces, effectively to run a peacetime army, to manage readiness and have a readiness cycle, that is what they need. That is a thing that will help sell sustain at any threat to international security. Unfortunately, for oar want be there to deliver it but there are other organizations. And nato will be the start of that journey and introducing policies, introducing the ability to sustain and maintain the plethora of vehicles and platforms that they have. If it starts at the very top and percolates down, then we will have that selfsustaining force that i just described. I do not have a problem with nato delivering those services but isnt the United States government also helping on the institutional front . Yeah, as are many other nations as well. For example, you got the economic that was set up that was with the some scandinavian nations that got involved in the judicial process. You have other european nations that have signed up to support the un request for electoral support as well for next year. So anybody who had this Global Coalition has shown the commitment that the Iraqi Government needs to help and clearly the u. S. Is playing a big part in that but its also being matched by other nations as well. How do you long do we are keeping the authority to combat isis . Heres the thing, the reason why im asking you, general, the moment we transitional that in start developing more normal quote unquote relations with iraqis is probably when we are going to be best able to use other funds to engage in Institutional Capacity availability. So as long as there is the tap, i dont think we are in a very strong position at least visavis congress to request other funds to do the Institutional Capacity building. So ctef has been passed by Congress Certainly by the immediate future or slightly less rate. But that being said, it is the one fund that gives us our freedom of action and helps change behaviors as well in the way it is administered. So its a really important lever that we have with the iraqis as well and its one that has managed quite judiciously and how its actually implemented. So everything that we do, this operational advising mission at the moment is ctef and ultimately helps unable them and certainly in the immediate term for some time to come. Copy. Lets talk with the other challenges that you are facing and you would probably agree with me that you are more worried about it then isis, at least at this stage, which is the militia in baghdad. I mean i dont see isis trying to instill institutionalize its implement at least again. Those militias are loyal to iran. You know iran is really good at that, whether its lebanon, to some extent, yemen, i guess. So lack of a better word, what is the strategy for that other cuttlefish . Now i find it a real shame that the iraqis have gone through so much in the last six years. And have shown extraordinary commitment in defeating daesh and yet we are now face with a threat that also could rip the country apart. These Militia Groups, they say that they target the coalition and that they target our logistic convoys. Well since november of last year, they have only targeted 1. 6 of our convoys. And even that has not hurt how we have rebalance the force. They fire rockets in union three, the base that is a center for oar and yet we are nothing more than a tenant here. We are in the minority here. Surrounded by lots of flats, marketplaces and there are the impact side for these missiles. As youve seen recently, everything the Militia Groups do, its the iraqi civilians have become the victims and the death in losing their work because they targeted vehicle companies, or destroying the homes of infrastructure in their vehicles that they rely on for the businesses. So its almost heartbreaking to see the self interested these groups operating and self interest saying its for the iraqi people one actually what its doing is targeting them. Look excuse me. Are you finished with the intervention, general . Yeah, i think so. What i hope is over time there will be more and more by the Iraqi Government. Its not within our mandate, but well we are starting to see in some of these Militia Groups is factor even more and more because of their self interest. As a fracture, they become vulnerable. They get their narrative undermined and as we will see recently was the last missile attack that we endured only a few weeks ago here is that in the media, it was all about them targeting the international zone. It was not the embassy, it was not Coalition Forces and its because they try to undermine the government, the very thing that is trying to give stability to the population. Over. Copy. Let me ask you a broader question as i mentioned to you before, general. You have been in this will now for some time, right . You had a front row seat to oar and able to observe a lot of evolution. How are you i guess i will ask you as a scholar, as a practitioner as well, how are you looking at the next wave of International Terrorism . How is the united kingdom, right . Perhaps they may have a different view than the United States government. How are you looking at the next wave of International Terrorism . What is the next isis going to be like . Have you observed anything in oar that gives you concerned about future efforts to groups like isis . I will be very interested in your view. So i think like all terrorist group, they continue to medicine is into something new and unique. Their ability to exploit novel methods to get off the funding. Bitcoin, other similar sort of apparatus to the business. The ability to transcend time zones and International Borders will become a more common place. So no longer will terrorism, in my view, be constrained to one particular area. It will percolate very quickly and transmit as well through a narrative back into any of the nations that we have within the coalition. And that happens over time. And so we need to be really cognizant of when terrorism is being bred or at least the sources of instability that could breed back terrorism. Is that we do all we can with our engagement abroad to make sure that those countries that are struggling, that if left unchecked, that they would end up perhaps accidentally breathing that terrorism is that we can deal with the source of instability together. And it only doing so, you then stop the symptoms from being created and that is where the military comes in. As far as the military goes in how we deal with terrorism now, i am seeing a far more different approach to how the military lever of National Powers are used. Its used just in the land but in the narrative and information space. Its used in the finance, its used far more discreetly rather than mass. Far more dispersed. And so i think what i would say is isis, i think a lot of people have learned a lot from that and therefore its not surprising that the Global Coalition remains committed and it isnt just in iraq, its also the instability that is breeding across the sahara and how it could be addressed across there as well. As i say, it permeates times incontinence quite readily. And also a better way in which we gain access control. Funding routes to control kidnapping networks and kidnapping routes, to work out particularly in iraq at the moment, where a stronger economy would also breach security. How to give or encourage the youth that they do have a future that the Public Sector does not become too overinflated. That they have an opportunity for education in a job at the end of it. And more importantly, to have more compromise between the tensions at often playoff from which the scenes of terrorism connects. So there is a lot to try and digest there and i think the international coalition, i think academic and i think militaries, are looking at exactly how you would towards the source of instability rather than leaving it too late and deal with the symptoms, which takes time, money, and ultimately loses lives as well. Over. Nice thing to worry about in terms of capability. Kinetic wise. For a while we have struggled massively with full iev. Mattis used to be unmanned systems. Is that the next threat to worry about as far as organizations having access to that system . Absolutely. You could buy them from shop. You could argue that they are relatively easy to bomb and deliver on to any particular target, not just the target but anything. Putting on cameras to surveillance. So you have the extremists that could resources accessibilities but we, the military, have the capability to overmatched those, to deny them the berry advantage that we are seeking. I feel very confident as we go forward. That just is not the military. This is key civilian National Infrastructure as well and will face challenges like this as well. So i know Security Apparatus for many Different Countries are wrestling with how to actually deal with systems and whatever shape or form they may be from a domestic for policy level as well as the look galaxies as well. Its going to be common in the future. Absolutely. Over. What are some of the Counter Measures that we are developing . Its obvious i dont want to deny them access, right . I get thats the best way to deal with that. If you cannot, its obviously extremely difficult to do so given that, you know, its a very globalized market and some of that stuff is just very easily can be picked up off the shelves, right . What are some of the Counter Measures that we are developing . Are we talking about, i dont know, short range missile defenses or what . Yeah, its probably more novel than that. A lot of companies now, certainly in my previous job when i was a hedge force for the government, the british army, is we were looking i defending civilian airfield or other bits of National Infrastructure and the first thing is to actually have the right equipment that can detect. They are very small, very agile, and how they are being controlled by the nation. The ground station or have they had roots preplanned within it so we can be set off and there is no ground station. Someone with a sort of transmitting device as you would do with a Remote Control car. Clearly if its the latter then often within the site of the system anyway. And then once you have decided that it is friends or foes, then you decide as whats known as a hard or soft curve. You can almost take over the radio frequencies and take control of yourself and landed safely or in extremist, you could reprogram it so it goes back to where it was sent from or a heart kill, which there are numerous different technologies that we are all exploring from radios, lasers, radio frequencies where you would almost scrabble the actual electronics and falls out of the sky. And i think Many Companies are equally developing their companies and also the military as well. I mean as you describe these things, that cannot help but think about the latest incident where the Iranian Nuclear scientists was assassinated. It seems like it was a lot of Automated Systems that were used. Im not saying that everyone would have access to the same stuff but who knows, down the road, those things might be more available. Lets talk about the diplomatic element, general. Obviously thats a key component of success of oar now moving forward. I asked jim jeffries as you know has left the state department. Describe to us the level of coordination that has been going on between you guys and foggy bottom. Tell us now what is the future of that effort with the ambassador having left . Sure. So that is very you essentials. I would have to turn it sideways for my own experience. The real challenges once you have high intensity conflict, in which you have gained unique success that we have of the last six years, is how you then passed that to the other leaders of national power, particularly economic and diplomatic. We have currently done that with the government of iraq but with the Nation Coalition is each of those nations, either as part of forming alliances like the eu for example, or nato, or as bilateral or informal groups such as the European EconomicContact Group that was formed up recently when Prime Minister visited london. Also providing diplomatic support such as a u. S. Its firstly to make sure there is unity of effort between them and secondly its to ensure that all those operations that have been fought so hard to realize are handed over extremely well. And this is part of a campaign that i would say to many people, its not taught in our war coverages on how to end the campaign. You only get taught how to start or how to manage them. So intellectually, we are in a different space at the moment which goes back to that recalibration point. Within our headquarters, we do have policy advisers both from u. S. And from uk and other countries as well that just helped us navigate where they have to have that unity and to make sure that the ascendancy and privacy of the civil actors actually stays in the right place and that we just stay in that supporting lever until we are no longer needed or indeed invited by the government of iraq. Now lets take it even further, more broadly talk about this campaign and look at it from a geopolitical point of view. And get to the core priority of the nds. Obviously we know china is not involved militarily in iraq, nor in syria, but russias in syria. How would you assess the role in influence of russia today and how is oar leadership looking at another actor, a turkish policy moving forward . Is that going to complicate matters or do you have more confidence that it could be managed . So i think respect to russia you and the region, its a huge complex that we operate in. Its not the political military balancing act that i was talking about to make sure its done in the right way. Its also you manage the nations as well. What i would say is if i go back to my earlier point there that we do not collaborate or collaborate corroborate with the russians or even the turks and what they are doing but we do the conflicts particularly with the russians all the time to make sure there is no miscalculation at the lowest tactical level when we have troops that are operating in quite close proximity to each other just to make sure that no one certainly has a misstep. When we do try to do is acknowledge that there are other nations that hovered interests as well. To our partners, the iraqi, sdf and the pashminas, they look up at different nations and look favourably at the coalition and indeed from your perspective, the u. S. As well as being the partner of choice. Because we are the ones that have actually shared that pain over the last six sixyear journey. We are the ones that were alongside, then we are the ones who have sacrificed our own lives a Coalition Members to make sure that we can have conversations today talking about the successes of the rockies. And it is not lost on them, that commitment, that previous commitment and therefore we do see ourselves as being a partner of choice and that they would not have a need to look elsewhere for support. Over. Copy that. I think i should have asked to read from the start but how has covid dramatically affected your operation . I mean i know training a quid has struggled because of that because you cannot see people as frequently and engage with leadership. But just briefly tell us how covid has affected your operation . So surprisingly the iraqis have not missed a beat with covid. It has been absolutely humbling. I go to their updates every night and i see their operational planning as they are looking forward to a sustained temple to get after the deployment theyre going to go on. And its not and yet they still adhere to the right protocols with covid but i suppose when they can get on to the ground, its all about administering security and making sure that its implemented in an appropriate way that is sustainable. As far as oar goes, yes, you know, we do more vtc amongst each other. That said, we still do the physical contact as go and physically see the Iraqi Government representatives and also the representatives spent a lot of time traveling just to give the equipment, the assurance, but also when you are having these sorts of conversations, human contact is important its the body language. You have to have that mutual trust and relationship to be upon. At least we go some way to try to do it as best we can. So its not slow down. It did provide the opportunities that i mentioned to force us to recalibrate and ultimately with the operational tempo in the rockies have not missed a beat. I am glad you are saying that. They have adhered to the necessary safety protocols but not missed a beat. Let me just apologize one more time to the audience about you, general, we do not have good quality of the video but you are perfectly fine as far as sound. I am sorry to keep turning off your video but maybe for the next, i guess, three or four minutes as we are wrapping up here i will ask you to turn it on and have a final question for you. In the next few weeks, right, it will be quite critical and as we have a major transition here in washington, what do you guys tracking the most . What are you most worried about . I dont expect you to share with me any different Contingency Planning that you guys are doing but you definitely will be on a more higher alert, i guess, in terms of kinetic activities that might be coming from whether its isis or the shiite malicious. How are you tracking this transition . What are you most worried about . Thanks, i think theres going to be a number of things that we are going to be focusing on over the next four or five weeks. I think we are in a period of potential miscalculation and it goes back to my earlier comments on the Militia Group as they, in my view, continue to fracture some elements becoming more and more self interested, is that they could incite a violent act which would force a retaliation from the coalition or elsewhere. And also i think a period of reflection as well is we have a lot of soldiers that are going to be here over the festive period away from their families for another year. And i think an overall shoulder will be looking back at that and realizing they will be separated from their families again. They also believe what we are doing here is a Righteous Mission. Earlier on i mentioned how humble i am to see the proficiency in the commitment of the Iraqi Security forces. If you were around the international zone, you would see many different flavors off that Security Apparatus and they are here because they have a commitment for our security, for inherited results security. So that we can give them the grant and enabling what they need to provide security to the iraqi civilians for their operations. So if you were to take the Militia Groups out of that equation and i think we would be there too [inaudible] and stable at the moment. But the big pointers is of concern at the moment. Over. Copy. I want to give you the final opportunity, general, to share with us any thoughts before we close. This has been extremely rich and insightful. We are so appreciative of your time and certainly for your service as well. I threw out you all sorts of different questions and you handled them effectively. I will give you an opportunity for final word to maybe some advice for us researchers here, whether its our peers, what are some of the things you think we should be more focused on writing about, researching on that could be of help to you guys . That is really kind. Well first i would say with researchers, one of the things is really keen general. To allow the military to engage for whats actually taking place on the ground and dynamics. Go ahead. From an academic perspective, i think it isnt so much what we want from you, it you actually getting more from us. I think its fascinating to actually engage in that academic institution. Both for two reasons. One is Operation Resolve but secondly from an academic perspective is how we are now starting to see the changing nature of how militaries deployed and employed in a period of constant competition and the way in which you calibrate the use before armed conflict. So i think that is a really useful thing to discuss and explore in the future. I think as you look out here in iraq as academics, is to try to explore the appetite and the ambitions to get after the sources of instability but we do not see ourselves back you mentioned the climbing scheme in the sort of career that we all go to in the military and its sort of prepares you throughout your time, throughout your jobs to be right here, right at this moment in bringing all that experience to gather and hopefully wisdom that can help train in part of that along with our partners with the support you get from above to make sure that we all have this unity of purpose in the final defeat of daesh that i described. Knowing full well that we also have to know where we are in that kurd, meta size if not daesh then indeed globally how terrorism could also morph and threaten our freedoms wherever they may be. So i find myself extremely privileged to be part of this coalition and it is a Righteous Mission that is filled by many, many nations and i will leave it there. Thank you very much. We appreciate you general. Thanks for your service. I know you miss your kids. You miss your wife. Hopefully get to see them very soon. Stay safe. We will be in touch with, you and good luck with everything you do. Next on the presidency. Margaret leslie davis reveals first Lady Jacqueline kennedys political and diplomatic coup in bringing the mona lisa to the United States. Despite opposition on both sides of the atlantic. Leonardo defend his fame painting was seen as a symbol of the free world at the height of cold war tensions. And president kennedy used its exhibition to promote American Relations with france and