Thread by @JJSchroden

Comments on #Afghanistan from yesterday's #DOD presser w/@PentagonPresSec in this THREAD. 1/n defense.gov/Newsroom/Trans…

@PentagonPresSec Q: The air strikes that the U.S. has done thus far over the past three or four weeks with some regularity, how much difference have those air strikes made on the ground, in terms of the battlefield? 2/n

@PentagonPresSec & secondly, I'd like to ask you about @SecDef's thinking on this question about the utility of limited air strikes in #Afghanistan. So as you get to Aug 31st, what is his view about, do air strikes alone by the U.S. make a decisive – can they make a decisive difference? 3/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef MR. KIRBY: What I would tell you is – let me reset this again, and I want to be very deliberate here, and I know you've probably heard me say it three times yesterday, but I'm going to say it again today because it's an important framing... 4/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...We have the authorities to continue to conduct air strikes in support of #ANDSF through the end of the drawdown, which ends on the 31st of August. I won't speculate about authorities beyond that, but we have the authorities to do it now, and we are, and we have flown... 5/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...airstrikes in just the last several days. We have every confidence, without getting into details on every individual strike, which I won't do – we have every confidence that we hit what we're aiming at, and that the strikes are absolutely having a kinetic effect... 6/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...if you don't mind the Pentagon-ese there – a kinetic effect on the #Taliban on the ground. Obviously, as I said yesterday, we're watching with deep concern the Taliban advances throughout the country. They continue to make advances. As I've said, we will conduct... 7/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...these strikes where and when feasible with the full understanding that as we continue the drawdown which in many facets, is all but complete. The where and the when, in terms of feasibility, of these strikes is going to be different, and it's going to decline... 8/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...So we do it where and when feasible with the understanding that it's not always going to be feasible. But when we strike, we have every confidence that those strikes are hitting what we're aiming at and are having an effect on the #Taliban in that place and in that time... 9/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...Nobody has suggested here at the Pentagon that air strikes are a panacea that will solve all the problems, all of the conditions on the ground. We've never said that. What we have said is that the Afghan forces have the capability, they have the capacity... 10/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...they have numerical advantage, they have an Air Force, & that Air Force is engaged. I mean, they are also flying strikes, many more than we are. So they have the capabilities at hand & it's really going to come down to the leadership & the will to use those capabilities...11/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...As for @SecDef, I think the way I've just summarized it summarizes very well his thinking about this. I don't think I can elaborate any any more. He he understands the authorities that he has. He certainly understands the need to use those authorities and capabilities... 12/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...as appropriate in support of Afghan forces. & he also recognizes he has got a drawdown to complete & a new relationship with the Afghan forces that he wants to pursue. I would also add we're focused on airstrikes, and I understand that. I understand the interest in that...13/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...But I would ask you not to forget the other things that we continue to do and have done since the president's decision for Afghan national security forces. We continue to be committed to helping their air force. Just last month we delivered three refurbished Black Hawk... 14/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...helicopters at the Hamid Karzai International Airport. There are 37, so another 34 in the pipeline that will get delivered to the Afghan air force over time. We have agreed to purchase three A-29s, the propeller-driven strike aircraft, to the Afghan air force... 15/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...We are helping with the financial aspect of refurbishing, not the actual overhaul, but helping with the financial aspect of overhauling their fleet in MI-17s. We have continued to pursue contract and maintenance support options for them over-the-horizon... 16/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...There are contractors on the ground that are still supporting the Afghan air force, in particular. I mean, so there is still a lot that we're doing. And the relationship is going to be different going forward. We've talked about that because we aren't going to be... 17/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...on the ground in numbers. But it's not like we're walking away from the #ANDSF, either now, as the #Taliban continues to make moves on the ground, or later when our drawdown is complete. That's a long answer, but I appreciate the chance to let me filibuster a little bit. 18/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef Q: You keep talking about doing strikes that are feasible. Can you tell us what the use – what is meant by that? What makes a strike feasible? 19/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef MR. KIRBY: The availability of aircraft, enough time to reach the target, enough knowledge that it's a valid target and a target that could be hit with the ordinance that you have on the – I mean, it goes on and on and on... 20/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...It's no different than the kind of calculation we use when we conduct airstrikes anywhere else in the world.
21/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef Q: Can you talk to me about the President – or the Secretary's authority to – he doesn't have to approve every airstrike in #Afghanistan, right? Isn't the – General McKenzie have that authority?

MR. KIRBY: He does not approve every airstrike. 22/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef Q: But he doesn't have to – whether it's CT or #Taliban, the Secretary does not have to get authority, right?

MR. KIRBY: When we're talking about supporting the #ANDSF, he does not have to – he's not involved in the specific decision-making process for each airstrike. 23/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef Q: You said yesterday, and you kind of inferred it again today, that the Afghan government and the military, they have the capability. They have the capacity, and they really needed to show leadership. Are you seeing any indications, as we're getting word today that... 24/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...another provincial capital appears to have fallen to the #Taliban. Are you seeing any indications that #Afghanistan's leadership is starting to show, "exude", I think was the word you used yesterday, the leadership that you want? 25/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef And is the fact that you're all publicly saying that they need to show leadership, what does that say about the plan and the confidence the U.S. has in the plan that President Ghani offered, where he said that it would stabilize #Afghanistan over the next six months... 26/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...if they're not showing leadership and they need to show more? Does that mean the plan that he's putting out there is not going to work? 27/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef MR. KIRBY: I want to be careful. What I said yesterday was when we look back at the outcome, whatever the outcome is, we're going to be able to say that a lot of it had to do with leadership, both political and military. That's how I phrased it, and I stand by that today... 28/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...I'm not going to assess on a day-to-day basis Afghan progress, meeting their responsibilities to defend their country and their people. That's for them to speak to. What I can tell you is that we will continue to support them where and when feasible from the air... 29/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...& we are still working to complete our drawdown. But I do not want to – & it wouldn't be appropriate for the Department of Defense every day to be getting up here and talking about what is or what isn't going right on the battlefield when we aren't on the battlefield. .. 30/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...This is an Afghan strategy that they have to execute & we are going to cont to support them as best we can. It's not just through air strikes, although I understand that's the interest item. We are cont'ing to spt them in other longer-term strategic ways & that will cont. 31/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef Q: From the ~650 troops who are expected to remain past the deadline to support the diplomatic mission, can you give any detail, without giving too much, about how those troops are comprised as the Joint Force across services? 32/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef What type of support are they expected to have from over-the-horizon, the situation? 33/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef MR. KIRBY: So without getting into too much of the granularity, I think there'll be a portion of them on the embassy compound – yes, it's a Joint Force, so that's one – the portion of them, not the majority, at the embassy compound, and then the remainder will largely be...34/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...based at the airport. So there'll be physical security provided for the embassy compound & for our diplomats, and then there'll be a range of security, as well as enabling functions that will be maintained at the airport, to include some air logistics & that kind of thing.35/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef Q: What is it that we don't want #Pakistan to do and what is it – what we want Pakistan to do to help the situation? 36/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef MR. KIRBY: I'm not going to, you know, message Pakistani leaders here from the podium here. As I said yesterday – and @SecDef talked to his counterpart just yesterday from #Pakistan. We clearly want to see the safe havens that are still afforded members of the #Taliban... 37/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...along the border between #Afghanistan & #Pakistan – we want to see those safe havens shut down & that free flow of access across that border. And where – we're mindful that the Pakistani people themselves fall victim to terrorist attacks that emanate from that region... 38/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...So we all have a common interest here. And without speaking to #Pakistan or any one country, as I said yesterday, we want to see all of the neighboring countries, all the nations that believe they have or want to have a stake in #Afghanistan to pursue those stakes... 39/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...in such a manner that the security of #Afghanistan is not impaired, stability is ensured & the Afghan people have a voice in their future, & that whatever any nation neighboring #Pakistan does, they contribute to trying to find a pol, negotiated settlement to the war. 40/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef Q: Do you think the #Taliban could be making these battlefield gains in #Afghanistan without Pakistan's help?

MR. KIRBY: I'm not going to – I can't assess the #Taliban order of battle... 41/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...I won't speculate about what manner of support they're getting from any other nation state or any other source. Clearly, the security situation is not moving in the right direction, they continue to make advances, it's deeply concerning to us...42/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef ...and to the international community, but I'm not going to speculate about motivations or resources.

Q: Are #Pakistan's intelligence services helping the #Taliban right now?

MR. KIRBY: I'm not going to get into intelligence assessments here. 43/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef Q: Did @SecDef address specifically – with his call yesterday, did he specifically – oh, it was General Bajwa, right, that he spoke with?

MR. KIRBY: Correct.

44/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef Q: Did he ask him specifically if the Pakistani military or intelligence services or anyone is aiding the #Taliban right now? I mean, was it addressed directly in the call? 45/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef MR. KIRBY: Look, it was a very frank discussion. I'm not going to get into details beyond what the readout was. But I – I ..

(CROSSTALK)

46/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef Q: ... there is a lot of – I mean, it's beyond just press reporting. There are people who have – there's photos on Twitter and video and people who are saying that the Pakistani military is helping them, and that it goes to more senior levels of the Pakistani government. 47/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef So if they had a conversation yesterday where they were talking about the security situation in #Afghanistan, it'd stand to reason that he would address it – especially in a frank conversation, that he would address it specifically and ask him "are they helping" 48/n

@PentagonPresSec @SecDef MR. KIRBY: I think we've been nothing but frank and honest about our concerns for the safe haven that – that continue to exist along that border. I think I'd leave it at that. END. 49/49