US offers help to #Indonesia in search for lost submarine
"Indonesia is a strong friend & strategic partner" per @DeptofDefense spokesperson John Supple "We have reached out to our Indonesian counterparts & asked them how we can be of assistance.”
More: "We were deeply saddened to see the reports about their lost submarine" per Supple "Our thoughts are with the Indonesian sailors and their families"
UPDATE: US sending help to #Indonesia in search for lost submarine
"At the invitation of the Indonesian government, we are sending airborne assets to assist in the search for the missing submarine" per @PentagonPresSec
“Our thoughts are w/the Indonesian sailors & their families" per @PentagonPresSec
@SecDef to speak w/DefMin Prabowo Subianto Friday "to convey our sorrow & to discuss how else the #UnitedStates can be of assistance”
re lost submarine
US readout of call between @SecDef Lloyd Austin & #Indonesia DefMin Prabowo Subianto
Spoke about US P-8 #Poseidon aircraft helping now in search for the missing #submarine, US offer of additional, undersea assets to help w/search
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Happening now: @CENTCOM Commander Gen. Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie briefs Pentagon reports on #Afghanistan withdrawal
"I would advise the #Taliban we will be prepared to defend ourselves" he says
"We do plan to continue support to the Afghan military...it will just be more difficult" per @CENTCOM's Gen. McKenzie
"We intend to continue to support them" he adds "It will be a tough fight for the Afghans"
"It is our intention to bring the contractors out, the US contractors will come out" per @CENTCOM's Gen. McKenzie, saying planner looking at other options to support Afghan air force
"We may be able to work some remote, televised way to do that"
"We will lose the abilities we have now to see completely into #Afghanistan" per @CENTCOM's Gen McKenzie, asked by @SenJackReed about impact of withdrawal on intel collection vs #alQaida#ISIS
@SecDef "has made clear that we will execute the drawdown in Afghanistan in a safe, orderly & deliberate manner & that we will do everything possible to protect our troops..."
More: "We do not speak about his private communication with combatant commanders or force posture decisions under consideration" per @PentagonPresSec "For operational security reasons, we will also not preview specific force protection measures being planned”
Happening now: @CENTCOM Commander Gen Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie, @USAfricaCommand Commander Gen Stephen Townsend & @DeptofDefense Acting UnderSec Amanda Dory testify at the House Armed Services Committee
"In #Afghanistan, our mission has been preventing terrorist groups from using the country to threaten the interests & security of the UnitedStates, our allies & partners" acting Deputy UnderSec Dory tells lawmakers "After 2 decades...we have accomplished that mission"
"We are focused on working closely w/the Afghan gvt & our @NATO allies to responsibly conclude Operation resolute Support in #Afghanistan" per @CENTCOM Commander Gen McKenzie "This is my main effort, at present"
US reaction to reported death of #Chad President Idriss Deby
"We would like to express our condolences to the people of Chad for their loss" per @USAfricaCommand spox Col. Chris Karns "The United States is closely monitoring the rebel incursion in Chad..."
"#Chad plays a vital role in efforts to counter regional transnational threats" per @USAfricaCommand's Col Karns "Chad's ability to contribute to regional security initiatives helps reduce instability in the region"
"We continue to remain encouraged by #Chad|ian participation in regional counter violent extremist
organization efforts such as the Multinational Joint Task Force, G5 #Sahel Joint Force & the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in #Mali" per Col Karns
"Every operational plan in the department and every other capability we possess rests on an assumption that strategic deterrence and in particular nuclear deterrence is holding" per @US_Stratcom's Adm Richard "If that fails, nothing else in the Dep. of Defense works as planned"
US "facing two nuclear capable strategic peer adversaries at the same time, both of whom have to be deterred differently" per @US_Stratcom's Adm Richard "#Chinese & #Russia|n advances are eroding our conventional and strategic deterrence"
"#China in particular, I submit, cannot be considered anymore a lesser included case in this context" per @US_Stratcom's Adm Richard
"In the very near term, China will possess a credible nuclear triad..."