00:00I want to provide an update on the department's operations against narco-terrorists in the
00:04Western Hemisphere. To date, there have been a total of 21 kinetic strikes on drug boats in
00:09our hemisphere, with 82 narco-terrorists killed. Each strike conducted against these designated
00:15terrorist organizations is taken in defense of vital U.S. national interests and to protect
00:21the homeland. Our operations in the Southcom region are lawful under both U.S. and international
00:28law with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict. These actions have also been
00:34approved by the best military and civilian lawyers up and down the chain of command. A completely fake
00:40story in the Washington Post, now discredited by the New York Times, tried to mischaracterize these
00:46successful strikes in bad faith. It was an attempt to damage the secretary and the president, and the
00:52people saw through it. The phony Washington Post story even attributed statements to the secretary
00:58that were totally fabricated. He never said them. That is the epitome of fake news. As the White
01:05House confirmed yesterday, the decision to re-strike the narco-terrorist vessel was made by Admiral
01:10Bradley, operating under clear and long-standing authorities to ensure the boat was destroyed
01:16and the threat to the United States was eliminated. Secretary Hegseth stands behind Admiral Bradley 100%.
01:22Admiral Bradley made the right call, and unlike the previous administration, we have our warfighters back
01:29at this department. This department will defend our homeland. This is not a catchphrase. It is a
01:35commitment, and as the secretary said, when it comes to killing narco-terrorists, we have only just begun.
01:41Lastly, I would like to announce that the War Department has created a new division for strategic marketing
01:46that will be led by Abby Lower, who will hold the title of deputy assistant to the Secretary of War
01:52for strategic marketing. The division will be a new core function within public affairs and will
01:58complement our media and strategic engagement teams. The purpose of this new division is to create
02:03marketing campaigns that support the War Department's military recruitment efforts, providing a halo effect
02:09to the great work the military services are already doing to recruit our nation's warfighters.
02:14And with that, I'd be happy to take your questions.
02:19Yes, Caitlin.
02:21Thanks, Kingsley. Can you talk about the autonomy that's given to the commanders who are carrying
02:27out these operations, like Admiral Bradley, to make decisions? Like in this case, I'm assuming
02:33the first strike took out the boat and any actions that followed. Can you talk about the autonomy they're given?
02:39Absolutely. So the Secretary has been very clear in every statement that we've released about these
02:44strikes that they are presidentially directed. And the chain of command functions as it should. And
02:49we make sure that commanders on the ground are taken, their positions are taken into account and
02:53they are able to tell us and make decisions if they see things that need to be flagged. But at the end
02:59of the day, the Secretary and the President are the ones directing these strikes. And any follow-on strikes,
03:06like those which were directed by Admiral Bradley, the Secretary 100 percent agrees with.
03:11Yes, Matt.
03:12Kingsley, if Nicolas Maduro leaves Venezuela today, what role will the Department of War have in a
03:19post-Maduro Venezuela? And describe the process the administration will use to determine whether or
03:26not current members of the Venezuelan military or Venezuelan government have a role in a post-Maduro
03:31Venezuela. Thanks for the question. So the department has a contingency plan for everything.
03:36We are a planning organization. If anything were to happen around the world, we have a response
03:41planned and ready. So we stand at the president's beck and call, our commander-in-chief, to do what
03:47is needed if called upon. And that will be what this department continues to focus on and continues
03:52to prepare for in regards to our ongoing operations in the Southcom region. Again, our focus is taking
03:58out narco-terrorists and rooting out that threat that is poisoning the American people. Every single
04:04boat that we strike saves 25,000 American lives. That is a crucial mission to protecting the homeland,
04:11and we're proud to be a part of it.
04:12Just as a follow-up, quickly. So, you know, following the departure of Saddam Hussein, there
04:17was this desire to name every Baathist a terrorist. Does the administration take the view that any
04:24person who served in the Venezuelan military or Venezuelan government is definitionally a
04:29narco-terrorist? That would be a determination for the president to make, but I can tell you that
04:32every single person who we have hit thus far who is in a drug boat carrying narcotics to the United
04:38States is a narco-terrorist. Our intelligence has confirmed that, and we stand by it.
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