We have a minute or two before we go to the pentagon for a briefing. Go ahead, kelly in oregon. Caller the trouble with Public Policy makers is that they are out of touch with the vast majority of the regular people. There are a few good persons out there. Barry sanders, our beloved peter defazio. But policy which makes sense to , they are out of touch. Do not know with the needs and the concerns of the regular individual are. Host this is marjorie in washington dc. Caller hello. I apologize, im going to have to let you go. You have 15 seconds. Axeser property tas assessments have no control. Ont when you get through washington journal, turned out a television, because you will hear everything three telephone and you will not have any delay. Pentagon briefing begins now. General breedlove good morning. He thank you again for the opportunity to provide you with an update on the things that are keeping us busy and u. S. European command. My last visit with you was back in april. Im confident we will have some updates. On many lines ever since that time. One intervening conference with you scheduled, which was canceled for some tough things happening downrange. I will begin with a brief Opening Statement and that i will answer questions. Since i was last year, a lot has transpired across the yukon theater of operations. European security challenges continue to grow and become more complex. In fact, it will not be an overstatement to say that we are changing on almost a daily basis. Therefore my key focus is to remain constant. First, russias continued aggressive actions and malign influence remain a top concern at high priority. Although the ceasefire and Eastern Ukraine is holding im still concerned about russias lack of effort to end its occupations and honor its commitment in ukraine. In syria, russias intervention continues to make more questions than answers. Russias actions prolong the conditions creating massive scale emigration of refugees that is further worrying our southern allies. And the eastern allies continue to be concerned about russian and mansion. Russian expansion. These concerns are a strategic challenge for all of europe. As i stated five months ago we cannot fully be certain of what russia will do next. We still cannot fully discern mr. Putins intent. But i can observe the capabilities and capacities that russia is creating across our area. I continue believe that we must strengthen our deterrence and that our nato allies must continue to adapt by improving readiness and responsiveness. One example of how we continue is theove our Readiness Exercise triton to ensure going on today. Exercise inbiggest more than a decade. It represents a clear devastation of natos resolve and capability. Demonstration of natos resolve and capability. A High Readiness and technologically advanced force air, maritimeand, and special force units are capable of being deployed quickly to support our operations wherever needed. This exercise is enhancing our ability to work with our allies, partners, and other International Organizations with response to crisis situations. We also believe that expanding our Training Mission in ukraine, from the ministry of interiors National Guard forces to the ministry of defense active military component will grow the capability capacity to address the challenges it faces. From the outset has been pursuing a diplomatic solution that respects ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. We continue to russia to fully destabilizing actions in Eastern Ukraine, to end its occupation of crimea, and to fully honor its commitments. Turkey, one of our oldest allies. The situation continues to become more complex around them. Now a critical partner integrating at feeding iso in degrading and defeating isolate, they continue to support has across many lines of effort. The u. S. Air force continues to be a important force more employer force multiplier. As you know, most of the forces we have in europe are also will have to do to africa coming in. While they are stationed in europe they are focused on African Missions on the cognitive. In this way they are supporting across the scene into african. Building up to congressional testimony, if you cannot tell. Obviously, i do not want to continue to bang the drum about the centrality of european command to the Global NationalSecurity Issues we face. I do want to bang the drum. Is not what it was 18 months ago, or even six months ago. New threats and challenges seemingly emerge every day. We stand ready to meet them, and the supporting commands of and theand afrikaans supporting test command every day. Finally, our commitment to our article five obligation in europe is ironclad. Giving the complexity of challenges we face globally, it remains critical that we continue to Work Together with our allies and partners. This has been true for 60 years, and it is true today. With that, im ready to take your questions. General, the army chief just returned from ukraine. On the way home he said he is recommending a search of army forces into europe. What does that mean . And if i could, have you seen havence that the russians russian cargo flights are ferrying weapons into syria . There has been some reporting that there were 10 days, twice a day flights in breach of Un Security Council resolutions. Let me answerove the second was first, it is fairly easy prey i am not personally seen any confirmation of that. I read the same things you have read. I cannot give you any other definition on that. The generals remarks, he is a good friend and a great chief. He had i have been talking from the very beginning about how we would address force concerns in europe. Our force structure in europe now is not adequate to the larger rustler russian task that we see. How do we address that . That our current permanent force structure will probably not change. How do we address the need for increased force posture . What we see is working to gather of increased prepositioning of equipment forward, as you know we have just now finished the full deployment of one heavy brigade of the positions which forward. Were now looking at what further reposition material we need to address. We had worked on this before he left. We have to take up into the next administration for the chief of staff of the army. We have highlighted what is important. The ability to rapidly reinforce europe will rely first on fastmoving troops following it on prepositioning materials. We need to have the appropriate composition and type of position materials forward. Both generals before and after and i have very similar visions of what that will take. To address the force posture that full said, what you have seen already in our forceion is a rotating into these most former nations most former nations of the balkans, and romania and bulgaria. We are talking about the appropriate size and composition of that future horse that marys with a nato rotation into the same nation to develop assurance and deterrence into the future. These are the things that were talking about. General, you talk about turkey has little bit. Last week secretary carter said that there were going to be lower more airstrikes going forward. What rules does inservice play in that . We have seen platforms going in there. What kind of missions with a be doing . What is the future for turkey . I will be aedlove good unsatisfying. I will not share the details because we are still discussing this. But yes, we are looking at some increases to the capabilities. We are looking at it in two venues. One venue, to provide some increases support as you mentioned. Secondarily, to show in the nato sites, support to our turkish ally as we continue to address their concerns about their airspace. In the venue of the nato mission we might be making some contributions as well. But details are set to follow. I cannot confirm that we are looking at all of these options. Ground you look at the at not more, when you seeing in terms of the turks unwilling at this point to let the forces, the kurdish, then are they in syria, Northern Rock northern and advanceound to the west the many sins of the turks are basically one of the factors keeping those forces bottled up. What would you like to see borderon that warner so they can carry out the president strategy of more progress . General breedlove i will answer more so that most of that. A lot of the question is best addressed to a different officer. About the me talk yukon side of the border. We see, as you know, and you seen reported, and a lot of improvement in the turkish control of that border. Turkishe put a Brigadier General who has been given the mission of stopping the flow of especially foreign fighters across the border. We have all seen a marked improvement. There are still work to be done, but we have seen an of a marked improvement. They did position to try to address that issue. A good progression on the north side of the border. On the south side of the border, as you described, this is a complicated area. People in these areas are seeing by different nations in the area. What i would tell you is that we are committed to work very closely with our turkish allies to address their concerns about but to forward the mission on the south side of that border. Are the specific concerns you are hearing from the turks about the south side of the border . ,eneral breedlove as you know our turkish allies see some of the kurdish factions in a way that threatens them. They have been defined as terrorists and others in some cases. The turks are very concerned that we are working appropriately with all the groups on the south side of that order. That is what i mentioned earlier. That we will work with turkey to address their concerns closely on that side of the border. As we work toward advancing the mission of moving i sold to the south. Isil to the south. You sent that russian action in syria provides more questions than answers. They are popping up and saw a going after any ruggles of threatened this. What questions do you have . General breedlove they have been clear in the very recent past about what theyre doing. They started off saying we are all about isil and what we saw happening on the ground was very different. Their approach is beginning to clarify now, and theyre pretty forward about the fact that they are bombing the moderate Syrian Opposition and other groups. That raises questions about what is our future path in syria. We need a political transition in syria. The moderate opposition is a part of forcing that political decision. The actions we see the russians taking now prolonged this conflict which prolongs the conflict prolongs the oslo. Eople outflow of people the idea of allowing political transition in syria opposition, some of which are treated supported by the u. S. , should the u. S. Do anything about it . General breedlove i think i would just refer you to the comments of both the secretary and killed him for and dunford. We need to support our moderate opposition. My question is about the imf treaty. It is reported that russia conducted a test of a new launch missile which is said to be a violation that was identified a year ago. Are you concerned about this new threat to europe, and what are you doing to ensure the allies . Russians also said they would withdraw from the treaty if the u. S. Went ahead with plans to play additional Tactical Nuclear weapons and can you address those . Iferal breedlove you said we deploy additional tactical weapons . They sure that is what said. Theyre questioning what were talking about in the upgrade of our practical nuclear weapons, yes. Not to trivialize your first question, but this is not the first time we have seen testing that looks like it violates the imf. We have been discussing this with them for some time now. Both in the u. S. Bilateral sense and also nato is equally concerned about it. The violation is not new, and yes we are concerned. You have heard our secretary talk as long as she can go about how he sees a framework for addressing. Those violations. What we have here are threats that are being made in the case upgrade, our Extension Program to our Tactical Nuclear weapons in europe. Were not bringing new weapons, we are not bringing more weapons. Were ensuring the safety and functionality of the weapons that are there. We actually believe this is something that is another way to create dialogue and bring pressure on our alliance. There is nothing new about these weapons as far as numbers, etc. We have a long program and we are continuing with the upgrade of our weapons and this is about reliability. These are things that you want to have a nuclear weapons. Concern at the concern. Take it back for a second. You have the russian buildup inside syria, and this is what should happen. The fact that back in june or july a few people would have guessed that russia would double down in syria in some of the side. Ofyou think there is a lack this capability to anticipate decisions by russia . How does that affect your decisionmaking and your role right now in need of . In nato . General breedlove i have answered this question several times in the past. I have for example find we have a lack of ability to see into russia, especially at the operational tactical level. We have conducted and focus on the strategic level across the years. Why has this happened . I do not fall for the relation has done. Remember that over the last few decades we have been trying to make a partner out of russia. Decades as much as to of 18 years, 14 years, it does not matter exactly what it is great but for almost two decades , since the fall of the wall, weve been trying to bring russia into a family of norms and values that ally with the western world. We see a lot of reaching out to them in economics, energy, etc. , in europeans and americans at this time. A verbal where they charge you. That was concerning. But the world went back to trying to make a partner out of russia after 2008. Recently they evaded crimea. During that time, when we are trying to make a partner out of russia, and we were having these issues and iraq and afghanistan in other places, we have taken our limited bucket of Intelligence Surveillance and work on a hints capabilities and focus them at the operational and deck will level in the world. Russia. Ken the view off a strong focus on their strategic level so we could keep after those things that worried us most in their strategic forces. The capability to include analysts that we needed on has been shifted to the pressing concerns that we saw. We are not where we need to be now. And eic is addressing it has already made some fairly dramatic changes in the last several months. Analyst and use our they are beginning to look at we f reprioritizing assets as. Ell were gently turning the nose of this ship to get back to what we need to be looking at. Our to recap, i think nation made decisions over the last two decades that were congruent with our approach to russia. We didsee that possibly not have that partner that we thought we had the last two decades. Ime having to readjust and thankful for it. Follow up. Ld data think you can do business with the russians at this point in time . Right now i do not see them as a partner. I would ask you to greet their paper across the last 18 months. The lets get this on the table as well. If we are going to have a europe , at someand prosperous point in the future when they have changed their behavior on thatround, we need to find relationship in the future. Other russians still based at nato headquarters in brussels . Partthink that the largest of the russian delegation has departed brussels. I do believe there is a small contact point there. I do not have the exact numbers but my characterization is there is a big mission that has gone down. Love to speak about Intelligence Matters from the podium. Aboutu talk reprioritizing . General breedlove can i ask you to talk to them about it . I will be extremely honest. I know the details, but im not willing to talk to them at this podium. To talk to them about them. The Intelligence Community has seen they need, and make adjustments that are appropriate. But it will take time. Youre seeing better intelligence on russian activities . General breedlove id rather avoid that right now. Do you see the need for the International Body to investigate the Doctors Without Borders . The strides at the hospital strikes at the hospital . General breedlove there is an International Body looking into it right now. A natoknow, we have investigation that is ongoing and i think it will report out sooner rather than later. I think it is approaching a time when it can report out. I think that our u. S. Investigation is ongoing. I think that our leadership has been extremely clear in this. Full, transparent, open investigation. That is what is happening first and foremost in this case. We are all saddened by the loss of life and our hearts and minds, to the families of the that are lost. We need to learn. You have heard the commanders say that this was a mistake and that we are looking at everything from personnel toions to procedural actions equipment issues to determine how and what happens so we can address them in the future. You support an International Body investigating this . There was a recent report that you would look favorably upon that, having an International Body. It is that correct . General breedlove i am in favor of whatever it takes to get to a full of open, transparent investigation. Including an International Body . Iteral breedlove anything takes to get to a full, open, and transparent investigation. Thank you for being with us. Good to see you again. I want to ask about two things you talk about. About the you talked United States is going to start training the ministry to ministry of defense troops. Can you give us an idea of the training that will be going on . Also in syria, some critics have crisis thatugee russia was filling a vacuum that european nati