1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,710 she was an all America swimmer in high 2 00:00:02,710 --> 00:00:05,640 school . She joined the army after 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:09,290 college . She ah was a helicopter 4 00:00:09,290 --> 00:00:11,810 pilot deployed to Iraq . She commanded 5 00:00:11,820 --> 00:00:14,880 I believe an air assault battalion for 6 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:17,380 the 101st airborne . She is a 7 00:00:17,380 --> 00:00:20,500 parachutist and if you're wondering 8 00:00:20,500 --> 00:00:23,230 about work life balance , general 9 00:00:23,230 --> 00:00:25,680 Richardson's husband is a lieutenant 10 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:28,780 general and they were both deployed to 11 00:00:28,780 --> 00:00:31,690 Iraq at the same time as their daughter 12 00:00:31,690 --> 00:00:35,630 was becoming a teenager . So uh she 13 00:00:35,630 --> 00:00:37,630 managed to figure that out on a lot 14 00:00:37,630 --> 00:00:41,540 else . Generalist in um your command 15 00:00:41,550 --> 00:00:44,850 South com uh covering latin America is 16 00:00:44,850 --> 00:00:47,020 in some ways the most overlooked 17 00:00:47,030 --> 00:00:49,180 combatant command I think . And that 18 00:00:49,180 --> 00:00:51,770 reflects a general problem for our 19 00:00:51,770 --> 00:00:54,010 country , which is that we just don't 20 00:00:54,010 --> 00:00:56,066 spend enough time thinking about our 21 00:00:56,066 --> 00:00:58,740 backyard . So I want to ask you to open 22 00:00:58,740 --> 00:01:02,470 our conversation by giving us a basic 23 00:01:02,470 --> 00:01:06,280 south com 101 . What concerns you in 24 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,340 your area of responsibility ? What are 25 00:01:09,340 --> 00:01:11,340 the problems that are on your to do 26 00:01:11,340 --> 00:01:13,610 list ? And how would you define this 27 00:01:13,610 --> 00:01:16,160 part of the world and what matters 28 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:18,420 there in terms of national security 29 00:01:18,420 --> 00:01:21,070 interests of the country ? Okay well 30 00:01:21,070 --> 00:01:23,400 thank you . It's really good to be here 31 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,560 and see everybody here . So uh and 32 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:27,449 thank you for being here for this 33 00:01:27,449 --> 00:01:30,610 presentation . I call the I call them 34 00:01:30,620 --> 00:01:34,330 our region uh that uh consists of the 35 00:01:34,330 --> 00:01:36,330 Caribbean south America and central 36 00:01:36,330 --> 00:01:38,497 America . But we tend to look east and 37 00:01:38,497 --> 00:01:42,270 west a lot and not so much south and I 38 00:01:42,270 --> 00:01:45,270 call it south blindness . You know the 39 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:48,290 we just get wrapped up in east west and 40 00:01:48,290 --> 00:01:50,401 really this is our neighborhood . And 41 00:01:50,401 --> 00:01:52,512 when you really think about what that 42 00:01:52,512 --> 00:01:54,660 means , uh , in a neighborhood , what 43 00:01:54,660 --> 00:01:57,050 does it mean to you ? And it means that 44 00:01:57,050 --> 00:01:59,830 you have friends and neighbors very 45 00:01:59,830 --> 00:02:02,400 close by . You have neighbors that you 46 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:04,960 rely on . You have neighbors that you 47 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,690 rely on for security for safety of the 48 00:02:07,690 --> 00:02:09,860 neighborhood , right ? You're in it 49 00:02:09,860 --> 00:02:12,730 together . And that's how I look at the 50 00:02:12,730 --> 00:02:15,440 south com area of responsibility and 51 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:17,990 this very , very important region . I 52 00:02:17,990 --> 00:02:20,101 look at it like the 20 yard line . If 53 00:02:20,101 --> 00:02:22,268 you want to talk about sports and do a 54 00:02:22,268 --> 00:02:24,830 sports analogy , We are on the 20 yard 55 00:02:24,830 --> 00:02:27,110 line to the Homeland and to the United 56 00:02:27,110 --> 00:02:30,430 States and our competitors know that 57 00:02:30,570 --> 00:02:33,570 our adversaries know that this region 58 00:02:33,570 --> 00:02:37,460 is so rich and resources . It's 59 00:02:37,470 --> 00:02:40,890 off the charts rich and they have a 60 00:02:40,890 --> 00:02:44,830 lot to be proud of And our competitors 61 00:02:44,830 --> 00:02:47,310 and adversaries also know how rich in 62 00:02:47,310 --> 00:02:50,050 the resources that this region is , 63 00:02:50,540 --> 00:02:53,510 60% of the world's lithium is in the 64 00:02:53,510 --> 00:02:56,340 region . You have heavy crude , you 65 00:02:56,340 --> 00:02:59,000 have light sweet crude , you have rare 66 00:02:59,010 --> 00:03:02,160 earth elements . You have the amazon , 67 00:03:02,180 --> 00:03:04,458 which is called the lungs of the world . 68 00:03:04,740 --> 00:03:06,950 You have the 31% of the world's fresh 69 00:03:06,950 --> 00:03:09,680 water here in this region . Uh , and 70 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:11,791 there are adversaries that are taking 71 00:03:11,791 --> 00:03:14,380 advantage of this region every single 72 00:03:14,380 --> 00:03:17,210 day , right in our neighborhood . And I 73 00:03:17,210 --> 00:03:19,099 just look at what happens in this 74 00:03:19,099 --> 00:03:22,240 region in terms of security impacts our 75 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:25,380 security , our national security in the 76 00:03:25,380 --> 00:03:27,870 homeland and in the United States . And 77 00:03:27,870 --> 00:03:29,648 so we have to be as part of the 78 00:03:29,648 --> 00:03:32,430 neighborhood . We need to strengthen 79 00:03:32,430 --> 00:03:35,970 our partnerships . Uh , and Secretary 80 00:03:35,970 --> 00:03:37,637 Austin talks about this , the 81 00:03:37,637 --> 00:03:39,859 integrated deterrence . And I know it's 82 00:03:39,859 --> 00:03:42,026 been talked about a little bit earlier 83 00:03:42,026 --> 00:03:44,192 today , but I can expound upon that as 84 00:03:44,192 --> 00:03:46,303 well as we go forward because I think 85 00:03:46,303 --> 00:03:48,414 it's really important . And everybody 86 00:03:48,414 --> 00:03:51,260 in this in this room is a part of that . 87 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:54,060 You're a part of this call to action 88 00:03:54,610 --> 00:03:56,760 that we need to strengthen our 89 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:00,050 neighborhood and we need to realize how 90 00:04:00,060 --> 00:04:03,030 resource rich this neighborhood is and 91 00:04:03,030 --> 00:04:04,950 how close our competitors and our 92 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,960 adversaries are in the region . 93 00:04:08,540 --> 00:04:12,000 So we may not be focused on our 94 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,670 neighborhood , but another country is 95 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:19,480 and that's china . I noted 96 00:04:19,490 --> 00:04:23,080 recently that I believe 21 countries in 97 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:25,820 your A . O . R . Are members of the 98 00:04:25,820 --> 00:04:28,840 belt and road initiative , which is 99 00:04:28,840 --> 00:04:31,590 extraordinary . And I want to ask you 100 00:04:31,590 --> 00:04:33,646 to first to describe what that looks 101 00:04:33,646 --> 00:04:36,010 like um , what you see as you travel 102 00:04:36,010 --> 00:04:38,430 around the region in terms of china's 103 00:04:38,430 --> 00:04:42,110 efforts to expand its influence , uh 104 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:44,880 make , make friendships , make ties and 105 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:47,102 then what as south com commander you're 106 00:04:47,102 --> 00:04:50,680 trying to do about it . So I say the 107 00:04:50,690 --> 00:04:54,110 china is playing chess . They have a 108 00:04:54,110 --> 00:04:56,570 long term view . They are setting the 109 00:04:56,570 --> 00:04:58,570 theater , which is what we use as a 110 00:04:58,570 --> 00:05:01,590 doctrinal term or a way I can say it in 111 00:05:01,590 --> 00:05:04,750 layman's terms setting the table When I 112 00:05:04,750 --> 00:05:07,780 show a map of the region and the 21 of 113 00:05:07,780 --> 00:05:10,610 31 countries that have , have signed on 114 00:05:10,610 --> 00:05:12,610 as signatories to the belt and road 115 00:05:12,610 --> 00:05:14,900 initiative . It covers almost the 116 00:05:14,900 --> 00:05:18,900 entire region . 25 of the 21 countries . 117 00:05:18,900 --> 00:05:20,956 There are 25 countries that actually 118 00:05:20,956 --> 00:05:24,530 have projects , uh , uh , inside of 119 00:05:24,530 --> 00:05:27,140 their country , a metro station , a 120 00:05:27,140 --> 00:05:29,270 railway , a highway telling 121 00:05:29,270 --> 00:05:33,260 communications a very 122 00:05:33,270 --> 00:05:36,290 uh , projects under the guise of 123 00:05:36,300 --> 00:05:38,710 economics , right . It looks like 124 00:05:38,710 --> 00:05:40,710 there's investment in this region . 125 00:05:41,020 --> 00:05:43,850 These countries are starving for 126 00:05:43,850 --> 00:05:47,650 investment . They are starving for 127 00:05:47,650 --> 00:05:49,872 having , uh , and showing that they are 128 00:05:49,872 --> 00:05:53,060 delivering for their people . Covid has 129 00:05:53,060 --> 00:05:56,530 really made a tremendous impact and had 130 00:05:56,530 --> 00:05:59,620 a tremendous impact negatively On this 131 00:05:59,620 --> 00:06:03,120 region . 22 million people into 132 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,760 poverty . As a result , they've 133 00:06:05,770 --> 00:06:09,090 suffered an , um , huge , uh , 134 00:06:09,100 --> 00:06:11,230 proportion of the deaths , the world 135 00:06:11,230 --> 00:06:13,650 Covid deaths . And so these , uh , 136 00:06:13,660 --> 00:06:15,882 these governments are trying to deliver 137 00:06:15,882 --> 00:06:17,993 for their people . People are getting 138 00:06:17,993 --> 00:06:20,216 impatient . And so these projects are , 139 00:06:20,216 --> 00:06:22,382 you know , when they have nothing else 140 00:06:22,382 --> 00:06:24,549 to choose from , you know , their dire 141 00:06:24,549 --> 00:06:26,327 to show some progress for their 142 00:06:26,327 --> 00:06:28,549 countries , then they sign up for these 143 00:06:28,549 --> 00:06:30,660 projects . And as we know , that gets 144 00:06:30,660 --> 00:06:32,827 into a debt trap , loans are taken out 145 00:06:32,827 --> 00:06:34,938 multiple loans in some cases for some 146 00:06:34,938 --> 00:06:38,180 of these projects that eventually they 147 00:06:38,180 --> 00:06:40,800 either have to pay back or other things 148 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:42,967 they have to give up in terms of their 149 00:06:42,967 --> 00:06:45,910 sovereignty . And so it's , it's just , 150 00:06:45,910 --> 00:06:49,090 it's a spiraling trap that we see a lot 151 00:06:49,090 --> 00:06:51,380 of these nations that get into as a 152 00:06:51,380 --> 00:06:55,200 result of this . And yet that's not how 153 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:57,760 the countries often described their 154 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:01,610 relationships with china brazil . 155 00:07:01,620 --> 00:07:04,630 The biggest economy in the region , its 156 00:07:04,630 --> 00:07:07,440 biggest trading partner is china . And 157 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,600 president bolsonaro was asked recently 158 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:12,822 about china and he said china is a good 159 00:07:12,822 --> 00:07:14,920 partner . We don't see china as a 160 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,890 threat . And I'm I'm curious um what 161 00:07:18,900 --> 00:07:22,490 you see as a combatant commander that 162 00:07:22,490 --> 00:07:24,670 may not be obvious to President 163 00:07:24,670 --> 00:07:26,559 bolsonaro or other leaders in the 164 00:07:26,559 --> 00:07:28,559 region that you'd want to warn them 165 00:07:28,559 --> 00:07:30,770 about ? Specifically talked about the 166 00:07:30,780 --> 00:07:33,113 problem of indebtedness . But what else ? 167 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:36,510 Well , as I see the investment in the 168 00:07:36,510 --> 00:07:39,360 critical infrastructure in the region , 169 00:07:40,140 --> 00:07:43,420 deep water ports , telecommunications , 170 00:07:43,570 --> 00:07:47,340 space Sigint these infrastructure 171 00:07:47,340 --> 00:07:49,810 projects often under the guise of 172 00:07:49,810 --> 00:07:53,710 economic and for research Countries 173 00:07:53,710 --> 00:07:57,460 giving up 50 year leases to put up a 174 00:07:57,460 --> 00:08:00,810 space facility . Why do we have the 175 00:08:00,810 --> 00:08:02,977 most space facilities from the P . R . 176 00:08:02,977 --> 00:08:04,350 C . In this region ? 177 00:08:07,340 --> 00:08:09,340 In the homeland in china ? What are 178 00:08:09,340 --> 00:08:11,680 they going through right now ? The 179 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,050 largest military build up in history ? 180 00:08:14,740 --> 00:08:17,470 So one should ask themselves why when 181 00:08:17,470 --> 00:08:19,860 they have this very capable military , 182 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:24,520 are they putting and trying to gain 183 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:28,100 access to critical infrastructure in 184 00:08:28,100 --> 00:08:31,410 other countries across the planet ? So 185 00:08:31,410 --> 00:08:33,830 just to take this 11 more step and then 186 00:08:33,830 --> 00:08:37,020 we'll turn to other parts of your other 187 00:08:37,020 --> 00:08:39,610 issues in your a r 188 00:08:40,290 --> 00:08:43,690 be interested in your assessment of 189 00:08:43,700 --> 00:08:47,030 what you see China's long term military 190 00:08:47,030 --> 00:08:50,940 ambitions in latin America 191 00:08:50,950 --> 00:08:53,190 for example , should the United States 192 00:08:53,190 --> 00:08:55,246 be worried about the security of the 193 00:08:55,246 --> 00:08:58,500 Panama canal . Uh , in , in in 194 00:08:58,510 --> 00:09:00,454 immediate we gotta get ready for a 195 00:09:00,454 --> 00:09:04,040 challenge terms . I think so . I think 196 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:06,710 that I was just in Panama about a month 197 00:09:06,710 --> 00:09:10,620 ago , uh , and the flying along 198 00:09:10,620 --> 00:09:13,350 the Panama Canal and looking at all the 199 00:09:13,350 --> 00:09:16,210 state owned enterprises from the PRC on 200 00:09:16,210 --> 00:09:19,190 each side of the Panama Canal , I worry 201 00:09:19,190 --> 00:09:21,301 about the , you know , they look like 202 00:09:21,301 --> 00:09:23,190 civilian companies or state owned 203 00:09:23,190 --> 00:09:25,470 enterprises that could be used for dual 204 00:09:25,470 --> 00:09:29,100 use and could be quickly changed over 205 00:09:29,100 --> 00:09:31,580 to a military capability if they needed 206 00:09:31,580 --> 00:09:34,720 that too . And so as I look at this , 207 00:09:34,730 --> 00:09:38,250 uh , the investment that they make , it 208 00:09:38,250 --> 00:09:40,528 looks like , again , they're investing . 209 00:09:40,528 --> 00:09:43,220 I look at it as extracting and so , uh , 210 00:09:43,220 --> 00:09:45,276 I think we should be concerned . But 211 00:09:45,276 --> 00:09:47,276 this is a global problem . It's not 212 00:09:47,276 --> 00:09:49,331 just in my region . It's not just in 213 00:09:49,331 --> 00:09:52,410 the end of pacific this is a global 214 00:09:52,420 --> 00:09:54,920 issue . This is the same playbook that 215 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,740 they've used in africa . Asia , europe . 216 00:09:57,750 --> 00:10:00,930 It's not new . We're about 5-10 years 217 00:10:00,930 --> 00:10:04,080 in this region behind Africa . But I 218 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:06,830 think that again , I talk about , we 219 00:10:06,830 --> 00:10:08,997 know what's going on east west a lot , 220 00:10:09,740 --> 00:10:12,090 But not right in our own neighborhood . 221 00:10:12,410 --> 00:10:16,090 I can fly to 80% of this region From 222 00:10:16,090 --> 00:10:19,330 Miami in 2 to 3 hours . That's pretty 223 00:10:19,330 --> 00:10:22,570 close . That's really close . If you 224 00:10:22,570 --> 00:10:25,090 really think about that same time zone , 225 00:10:25,100 --> 00:10:28,860 give or take maybe an hour . It 226 00:10:28,870 --> 00:10:31,190 it is . You know , if we just think 227 00:10:31,190 --> 00:10:33,357 about all the things that we've talked 228 00:10:33,357 --> 00:10:35,760 about , it's very concerning and then 229 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,420 you just ask yourself why when you talk 230 00:10:38,420 --> 00:10:40,420 about the rules based international 231 00:10:40,420 --> 00:10:43,480 order , I think the uh the PRC china 232 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:45,702 would like to replace the United States 233 00:10:45,702 --> 00:10:48,130 that is our goal and they're well on 234 00:10:48,130 --> 00:10:50,440 their way to try to do that . But I'll 235 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:52,551 tell you the power of partnerships in 236 00:10:52,551 --> 00:10:54,930 this region . When I travel and I meet 237 00:10:54,930 --> 00:10:57,097 with these leaders , I look at them in 238 00:10:57,097 --> 00:10:59,490 their eyes . I try to understand their 239 00:10:59,490 --> 00:11:02,600 challenges through their lens . How do 240 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:04,767 they see it ? Because I know how I see 241 00:11:04,767 --> 00:11:06,933 it and we know how we see things . But 242 00:11:06,933 --> 00:11:09,100 if you're really gonna get after their 243 00:11:09,100 --> 00:11:11,320 challenges and help them , you have to 244 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:13,520 look , you have to look at it and 245 00:11:13,530 --> 00:11:16,720 understand their perspective . I went 246 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,840 in um one of the Ministers of Defense 247 00:11:19,850 --> 00:11:22,810 that I was meeting with and um he had a 248 00:11:22,810 --> 00:11:25,990 map on the wall , a big map , a lot of 249 00:11:25,990 --> 00:11:28,046 us in the military have maps all the 250 00:11:28,046 --> 00:11:30,157 time that we that we showcase and put 251 00:11:30,157 --> 00:11:32,379 him nice pretty frames and everything . 252 00:11:32,379 --> 00:11:34,379 And he had this map of the southern 253 00:11:34,379 --> 00:11:37,460 cone in Antarctica and he flipped it 254 00:11:37,460 --> 00:11:40,080 around . It was upside down the way how 255 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:42,160 we normally look at the globe and 256 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:44,390 articles at the bottom , right ? It was 257 00:11:44,390 --> 00:11:47,210 at the top and the southern cone came 258 00:11:47,210 --> 00:11:50,710 up in a , in a point and that's how he 259 00:11:50,710 --> 00:11:53,720 looks at the region . So if we really 260 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:55,776 want to understand our partners , we 261 00:11:55,776 --> 00:11:57,998 gotta understand their challenges . But 262 00:11:57,998 --> 00:12:00,164 they want to partner with us , make no 263 00:12:00,164 --> 00:12:02,270 mistake , they are hungry to partner 264 00:12:02,270 --> 00:12:04,210 with us . And when you talk about 265 00:12:04,210 --> 00:12:06,154 integrated deterrence and you talk 266 00:12:06,154 --> 00:12:08,930 about everybody here , it is not just 267 00:12:08,930 --> 00:12:11,152 Department of defense , it is the inter 268 00:12:11,152 --> 00:12:13,480 agency , it is academia , it is 269 00:12:13,490 --> 00:12:16,130 industry , it is non governmental 270 00:12:16,130 --> 00:12:18,660 organizations . And I meet with all of 271 00:12:18,660 --> 00:12:21,940 them and I try to put all of the , I 272 00:12:21,940 --> 00:12:25,460 use them and look at them as levers . 273 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:27,896 You know , what levers do we have to 274 00:12:27,896 --> 00:12:31,310 succeed and put this all together ? one 275 00:12:31,310 --> 00:12:33,640 minister told me , um , you know , 276 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:37,060 saying alone we're we're strong 277 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:41,050 but together we are invincible and he's 278 00:12:41,050 --> 00:12:43,990 exactly right . But just like what we 279 00:12:43,990 --> 00:12:45,990 have and we've seen the strength of 280 00:12:45,990 --> 00:12:49,020 what of NATO as a result of what's 281 00:12:49,020 --> 00:12:51,350 going on in Ukraine and we see that 282 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:53,860 power . But I'll tell you that our 283 00:12:53,860 --> 00:12:56,082 neighborhood and what I've described so 284 00:12:56,082 --> 00:12:58,240 far is we really have to be careful 285 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,350 about our adversaries and our 286 00:13:00,350 --> 00:13:02,790 competitors creating that same type of 287 00:13:02,790 --> 00:13:05,970 situation right in our neighborhood and 288 00:13:05,970 --> 00:13:08,580 very close to our homeland . So let's 289 00:13:08,580 --> 00:13:10,490 talk about the feelings of our 290 00:13:10,490 --> 00:13:13,200 neighbors about the United States 291 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:15,970 because they're complicated to put it 292 00:13:15,970 --> 00:13:19,840 mildly and that was evident most 293 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,060 recently in june when President biden 294 00:13:22,060 --> 00:13:25,320 hosted the summit of the Americas and 295 00:13:25,330 --> 00:13:28,800 Mexico a dominant power in the region , 296 00:13:28,810 --> 00:13:32,220 significant player was absent along 297 00:13:32,220 --> 00:13:35,420 with some other key countries because 298 00:13:35,420 --> 00:13:38,300 they were upset that cuba Venezuela and 299 00:13:38,300 --> 00:13:40,760 others hadn't been invited , but it 300 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:44,730 surfaced this longstanding decades 301 00:13:44,730 --> 00:13:48,230 old century old , um , tension 302 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:51,660 between the United States , this big 303 00:13:51,670 --> 00:13:54,380 power to the north and , and our , and 304 00:13:54,380 --> 00:13:57,040 our neighbors . And I'm curious about 305 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:59,420 how you deal with that , um , 306 00:13:59,430 --> 00:14:02,140 underlying tension , sometimes 307 00:14:02,140 --> 00:14:04,450 resentment , uh , and how you think we 308 00:14:04,450 --> 00:14:07,050 can begin to , to , to make that better . 309 00:14:08,940 --> 00:14:11,780 So I'll give you Richardson's for 310 00:14:11,790 --> 00:14:14,660 perspective . And as I travel around 311 00:14:14,660 --> 00:14:17,760 and I meet with , meet with leaders and 312 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:22,270 one , I'm very , um , respectful 313 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:23,891 when I go in their country , 314 00:14:24,130 --> 00:14:27,310 sovereignty is extremely important for 315 00:14:27,310 --> 00:14:29,540 our latin America friends and our 316 00:14:29,550 --> 00:14:32,820 friends in the caribbean , I respect 317 00:14:32,820 --> 00:14:36,150 their positions , I approach my visit 318 00:14:36,150 --> 00:14:38,150 and my meetings with them from that 319 00:14:38,150 --> 00:14:41,670 perspective . I've had a couple of 320 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,690 countries that I've visited and as 321 00:14:44,690 --> 00:14:46,857 we've had meetings through the day and 322 00:14:46,857 --> 00:14:48,857 then we might have a reception that 323 00:14:48,857 --> 00:14:51,650 evening or some sort of social 324 00:14:51,650 --> 00:14:54,530 gathering . I've had a Chief of Defense 325 00:14:54,530 --> 00:14:57,980 say , wow , you're really nice 326 00:14:58,540 --> 00:15:01,450 sir . And I was like , hmm , 327 00:15:02,540 --> 00:15:04,596 okay , you should tell him you're an 328 00:15:04,596 --> 00:15:07,860 all american swimmer too . So it makes 329 00:15:07,860 --> 00:15:10,770 me think , what did he expect , what 330 00:15:10,770 --> 00:15:13,100 did he expect ? I was gonna do and and 331 00:15:13,100 --> 00:15:15,500 how I was gonna be like , I want to be 332 00:15:15,500 --> 00:15:17,500 there , you know , I wanna be there 333 00:15:17,500 --> 00:15:19,722 partner . I want to partner with them . 334 00:15:19,722 --> 00:15:21,889 They want to partner with us . I don't 335 00:15:21,889 --> 00:15:24,111 know what he , you know , expected that 336 00:15:24,111 --> 00:15:26,222 I was gonna be um , you know , like I 337 00:15:26,222 --> 00:15:28,111 was a big brother coming from the 338 00:15:28,111 --> 00:15:31,360 United States that you know , uh , yeah , 339 00:15:31,940 --> 00:15:33,940 again it's a partnership . It's our 340 00:15:33,940 --> 00:15:35,996 neighborhood . You don't expect that 341 00:15:35,996 --> 00:15:38,218 from a neighbor , right ? You expect an 342 00:15:38,218 --> 00:15:40,940 understanding , you expect to work with 343 00:15:40,940 --> 00:15:42,996 them , understand their challenges . 344 00:15:42,996 --> 00:15:45,162 And so I think when you talk about the 345 00:15:45,162 --> 00:15:47,410 tension , uh , and how you have to 346 00:15:47,410 --> 00:15:49,700 approach things , it's not that that we 347 00:15:49,700 --> 00:15:51,780 are a big brother . We're a partner 348 00:15:53,330 --> 00:15:56,610 and we have respect for them and we 349 00:15:56,610 --> 00:15:58,700 need to show that . And I think that 350 00:15:58,710 --> 00:16:01,590 just as a premise . Um , and then 351 00:16:01,590 --> 00:16:03,812 that's how you build the relationship . 352 00:16:03,812 --> 00:16:06,040 I think that our visits and our key 353 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:08,990 leader engagements as I call them are 354 00:16:08,990 --> 00:16:11,180 really important . And when we have 355 00:16:11,180 --> 00:16:13,402 visitors that come to Washington , they 356 00:16:13,402 --> 00:16:15,530 come all the time . Then we need to 357 00:16:15,530 --> 00:16:17,697 meet with them and we need to have the 358 00:16:17,697 --> 00:16:19,641 right leaders meet with them . Our 359 00:16:19,641 --> 00:16:21,808 competitors are picking up the phone , 360 00:16:21,808 --> 00:16:24,030 she Jinping is picking up the phone and 361 00:16:24,030 --> 00:16:26,197 calling these leaders and meeting with 362 00:16:26,197 --> 00:16:28,252 them and corresponding with them all 363 00:16:28,252 --> 00:16:31,910 the time . And we need to do the same 364 00:16:31,910 --> 00:16:33,966 and I think we can do better in that 365 00:16:33,966 --> 00:16:36,280 respect . So to , to ask a heretical 366 00:16:36,290 --> 00:16:39,900 question of the south com commander . 367 00:16:39,910 --> 00:16:42,800 Um , should we try to learn a little 368 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:46,610 bit from china , you're commanding a 369 00:16:46,620 --> 00:16:49,630 substantial military presence in effect 370 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:52,920 this great fleet backed by aircraft . 371 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:55,510 All these amazing military assets and 372 00:16:55,510 --> 00:16:58,280 the chinese are out investing . It may 373 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:00,850 be a Pake , it may have dangers . But 374 00:17:00,850 --> 00:17:03,500 as you say , they're engaged in the 375 00:17:03,500 --> 00:17:07,030 process of economic development , uh , 376 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:10,220 in a way that arguably we could do a 377 00:17:10,220 --> 00:17:12,331 lot better . I'm just curious because 378 00:17:12,331 --> 00:17:14,442 you see this region in a way that few 379 00:17:14,442 --> 00:17:16,553 us officials do . What do you think ? 380 00:17:16,553 --> 00:17:18,553 Is there anything we can learn from 381 00:17:18,553 --> 00:17:20,776 what we're seeing the chinese doing ? I 382 00:17:20,776 --> 00:17:24,700 think the , um , the investment that 383 00:17:24,700 --> 00:17:27,480 they have made , one of the levers that 384 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:29,890 I use is the , that I found very 385 00:17:29,890 --> 00:17:32,270 helpful is the business executives for 386 00:17:32,270 --> 00:17:34,530 national security that will bring 387 00:17:34,530 --> 00:17:38,160 together Ceos from 388 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,430 companies and , uh , put together a 389 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:44,360 trip into the region . I have one , um , 390 00:17:44,370 --> 00:17:46,790 that I've worked with with Ben's on 391 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:50,580 going into Guyana and why is Guyana 392 00:17:50,580 --> 00:17:52,469 very important . Well , they just 393 00:17:52,469 --> 00:17:55,180 discovered , uh , light , sweet crude , 394 00:17:55,190 --> 00:17:58,120 um , right off the shores of their 395 00:17:58,120 --> 00:18:01,150 country . And so , you know , that kind 396 00:18:01,150 --> 00:18:03,970 of changes the dynamics for them And 397 00:18:03,970 --> 00:18:06,026 you want to make sure that they have 398 00:18:06,026 --> 00:18:08,248 honest investment . The thing about the 399 00:18:08,248 --> 00:18:10,081 United States is , we don't have 400 00:18:10,081 --> 00:18:12,081 strings attached to what we do . We 401 00:18:12,081 --> 00:18:14,580 don't have fine print . We don't 402 00:18:14,580 --> 00:18:16,990 require loans . We don't require . If 403 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,167 we'll do this for you . If you do this 404 00:18:19,167 --> 00:18:21,710 for us , we don't require that . We are 405 00:18:21,710 --> 00:18:24,520 trusted partners . And that's why folks 406 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:26,798 want to partner with the United States . 407 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:30,140 And so that investment , I think 408 00:18:30,150 --> 00:18:32,483 industry and getting those partnerships , 409 00:18:32,483 --> 00:18:34,560 we've already , we've already had a 410 00:18:34,570 --> 00:18:38,430 another visit in the fall last year to 411 00:18:38,430 --> 00:18:40,780 Panama , you know , to help these 412 00:18:40,780 --> 00:18:42,891 countries understand where they are , 413 00:18:42,891 --> 00:18:45,450 what they need to do its transparency 414 00:18:45,540 --> 00:18:48,200 and being able to advise them with no 415 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:50,256 fine print and no strings attached . 416 00:18:50,256 --> 00:18:52,790 And I think that um you know , that's 417 00:18:52,790 --> 00:18:55,012 why I say it's a call to action for all 418 00:18:55,012 --> 00:18:57,179 of us in the room because we've got to 419 00:18:57,179 --> 00:19:00,060 bring it together . And again , it's on 420 00:19:00,060 --> 00:19:01,949 the 20 yard line . We are in this 421 00:19:01,949 --> 00:19:04,100 neighborhood together and we got to 422 00:19:04,100 --> 00:19:06,490 have good partners , trusted partners 423 00:19:06,500 --> 00:19:08,730 were already a trusted partner . We 424 00:19:08,730 --> 00:19:10,350 just got to show it more 425 00:19:11,940 --> 00:19:14,960 helpful answer plug for bends 426 00:19:15,340 --> 00:19:19,220 headed by former combatant Commander 427 00:19:19,220 --> 00:19:23,000 joe votel and an organization that does 428 00:19:23,010 --> 00:19:25,850 a lot of good . So something that's on 429 00:19:25,850 --> 00:19:27,961 everybody's mind this week as we read 430 00:19:27,961 --> 00:19:30,890 the news , especially from europe is 431 00:19:30,900 --> 00:19:34,890 global climate change . The news of 432 00:19:34,900 --> 00:19:38,880 record , historic temperature highs 433 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:42,300 in in Britain . I think God , 434 00:19:42,300 --> 00:19:45,580 everybody's notice , I want to ask you 435 00:19:45,580 --> 00:19:49,220 about your dialogue with leaders 436 00:19:49,230 --> 00:19:53,070 in in your region about the effects 437 00:19:53,070 --> 00:19:55,770 that climate change will have in latin 438 00:19:55,770 --> 00:19:58,100 America in south and central America 439 00:19:58,110 --> 00:20:01,490 are are people beginning to see um 440 00:20:01,500 --> 00:20:04,720 evidence of impact . 441 00:20:04,730 --> 00:20:08,190 Uh , and obviously a huge issue that we 442 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:12,170 we focus on episodically I'm afraid is 443 00:20:12,170 --> 00:20:15,180 the rainforests in the amazon . 444 00:20:16,540 --> 00:20:20,420 So climate change is 445 00:20:20,420 --> 00:20:22,698 very much alive and well in the region . 446 00:20:22,698 --> 00:20:25,100 Obviously the what impacts the United 447 00:20:25,100 --> 00:20:27,211 States will generally come up through 448 00:20:27,211 --> 00:20:29,770 the caribbean . Uh , and so those 449 00:20:30,220 --> 00:20:32,850 caribbean , I'm used to saying 450 00:20:32,850 --> 00:20:34,990 caribbean before I got this job , but 451 00:20:34,990 --> 00:20:37,180 our partners say caribbean . So I 452 00:20:37,180 --> 00:20:39,236 always , sometimes I have to correct 453 00:20:39,236 --> 00:20:42,310 myself . But uh in the caribbean they 454 00:20:42,310 --> 00:20:45,760 are um worried very , very much 455 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:48,270 concerned about the storms , what 456 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:50,169 capabilities that each one of the 457 00:20:50,169 --> 00:20:54,080 nations has to provide . Uh , we had a 458 00:20:54,090 --> 00:20:56,170 uh , caribbean national Security 459 00:20:56,170 --> 00:20:59,690 conference about six months ago and 460 00:20:59,700 --> 00:21:03,580 talked about getting , uh , you know 461 00:21:03,580 --> 00:21:07,020 what each country has to respond last 462 00:21:07,020 --> 00:21:08,964 year in the earthquake , the Haiti 463 00:21:08,964 --> 00:21:10,798 earthquake , there were multiple 464 00:21:10,798 --> 00:21:13,080 countries that had capabilities . They 465 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:15,136 don't have a lot of capability , but 466 00:21:15,136 --> 00:21:17,358 they have some capability . And again , 467 00:21:17,358 --> 00:21:20,020 uh , you put all that together and then 468 00:21:20,020 --> 00:21:21,780 you have a , you have a strong 469 00:21:21,780 --> 00:21:24,240 capability , nobody has enough to be 470 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:27,260 able to respond . And Uh , in order to 471 00:21:27,260 --> 00:21:29,204 withstand uh , you know , a strong 472 00:21:29,204 --> 00:21:31,316 storm . I could talk about Eta and ι 473 00:21:31,316 --> 00:21:35,020 in 2020 crushed the south America in 474 00:21:35,030 --> 00:21:38,470 Honduras for example , still 475 00:21:38,510 --> 00:21:40,566 have tarps on the roof . Things like 476 00:21:40,566 --> 00:21:42,788 that . They still haven't recovered for 477 00:21:42,788 --> 00:21:44,899 that . You had Covid on top of that . 478 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:47,860 You talk about the uh , the drought 479 00:21:47,870 --> 00:21:51,250 corridor that we have that's in Mexico 480 00:21:51,250 --> 00:21:53,680 down through Central America provides , 481 00:21:53,690 --> 00:21:57,580 not provides Causes food insecurity 482 00:21:57,580 --> 00:22:00,120 for about eight million people . So 483 00:22:00,120 --> 00:22:02,342 this is very , very much a part of this 484 00:22:02,342 --> 00:22:04,398 region when you can't get food . You 485 00:22:04,398 --> 00:22:06,570 can't get healthcare . You have , you 486 00:22:06,570 --> 00:22:09,230 don't feel safe , you feel insecure . I 487 00:22:09,230 --> 00:22:11,063 could add transnational criminal 488 00:22:11,063 --> 00:22:13,480 organizations in there that provide 489 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:15,647 insecurity and instability . It causes 490 00:22:15,647 --> 00:22:18,040 people to move , they're gonna go 491 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:20,040 somewhere where they can get food , 492 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:22,207 where they can get health care , where 493 00:22:22,207 --> 00:22:24,373 they can feel safe and live and thrive 494 00:22:24,373 --> 00:22:26,550 with their kids and their family . And 495 00:22:26,550 --> 00:22:28,850 this causes this irregular migration . 496 00:22:28,850 --> 00:22:32,370 So very much a part of what our region 497 00:22:32,380 --> 00:22:35,180 faces and faces every single day . And 498 00:22:35,180 --> 00:22:37,410 we're trying to help them be stronger 499 00:22:37,410 --> 00:22:40,080 encounter that . So as I listen to you 500 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:43,180 talk about those threats , I'm 501 00:22:43,180 --> 00:22:46,730 wondering if South com and other 502 00:22:46,730 --> 00:22:48,897 combatant commands need to have as one 503 00:22:48,897 --> 00:22:51,860 of their uh mission priorities in terms 504 00:22:51,860 --> 00:22:54,350 of our national security , engaging 505 00:22:54,350 --> 00:22:57,160 these climate change issues on the 506 00:22:57,160 --> 00:22:59,382 ground ? I mean , the thing about about 507 00:22:59,382 --> 00:23:01,620 a cocom is uh you have resources , you 508 00:23:01,620 --> 00:23:03,620 can get places in a hurry , you can 509 00:23:03,620 --> 00:23:06,650 connect um our government as a whole 510 00:23:06,650 --> 00:23:08,890 often isn't as as flexible should 511 00:23:08,890 --> 00:23:11,070 should should we bump climate change 512 00:23:11,070 --> 00:23:13,600 and its impact up on our list of 513 00:23:13,660 --> 00:23:16,180 national security priorities in your in 514 00:23:16,180 --> 00:23:18,124 your region and around the world . 515 00:23:18,540 --> 00:23:21,060 Absolutely . And so Climate Defense is 516 00:23:21,060 --> 00:23:23,480 already a program that Department of 517 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:26,120 Defense has South com has it as a 518 00:23:26,120 --> 00:23:28,850 priority . And uh and working with our 519 00:23:28,850 --> 00:23:31,010 partner nations uh making our own 520 00:23:31,010 --> 00:23:34,240 forces uh stronger and withstand being 521 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:36,800 able to withstand uh stronger storms . 522 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:39,400 How do you respond ? Uh and and make 523 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:41,456 sure you're strong and can withstand 524 00:23:41,456 --> 00:23:43,400 the harsh environment that some of 525 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:45,810 these storms bring . Um all of those 526 00:23:45,810 --> 00:23:48,010 things . We wrap up in their illegal , 527 00:23:48,010 --> 00:23:50,350 unregulated and unreported fishing , 528 00:23:50,350 --> 00:23:52,630 for example , all of those things that 529 00:23:52,630 --> 00:23:56,460 go into um uh and I find 530 00:23:56,460 --> 00:23:58,682 quite honestly that some of these other 531 00:23:58,682 --> 00:24:00,550 topics really resonate with our 532 00:24:00,550 --> 00:24:03,100 partners because it takes away revenue 533 00:24:03,100 --> 00:24:05,322 that they have , but it's absolutely at 534 00:24:05,322 --> 00:24:07,489 the top of the list . I was very , you 535 00:24:07,489 --> 00:24:09,600 know , I wasn't able to uh Department 536 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,711 of Defense wasn't part of some of the 537 00:24:11,711 --> 00:24:13,720 Americas , but we were able to 538 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:17,010 participate in a climate climate change 539 00:24:17,010 --> 00:24:19,400 forum the week prior and I got to be 540 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:22,210 the keynote speaker amongst a lot of 541 00:24:22,220 --> 00:24:25,400 scientists and experts on climate and 542 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:27,511 these kinds of things . And I was the 543 00:24:27,511 --> 00:24:29,733 only general speaking to this group and 544 00:24:29,733 --> 00:24:31,678 I told him , I said , I bet you're 545 00:24:31,678 --> 00:24:33,567 wondering why there's a four star 546 00:24:33,567 --> 00:24:35,622 general talking to you today . But I 547 00:24:35,622 --> 00:24:37,622 got to share all of the things that 548 00:24:37,622 --> 00:24:37,610 we're doing in South com and the 549 00:24:37,610 --> 00:24:40,870 Department of Defense does to help our 550 00:24:40,870 --> 00:24:43,510 partners withstand all of these things . 551 00:24:43,510 --> 00:24:45,566 And uh it was a great opportunity to 552 00:24:45,566 --> 00:24:47,566 talk about it . But just then , you 553 00:24:47,566 --> 00:24:49,621 know , educate and inform again , it 554 00:24:49,621 --> 00:24:51,843 goes back to all of us working together 555 00:24:51,843 --> 00:24:54,050 as part of the integrated deterrence . 556 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:57,220 I want to take advantage of general 557 00:24:57,220 --> 00:25:00,290 Richardson's being with us to ask about 558 00:25:00,290 --> 00:25:03,390 a couple of specific countries that 559 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:06,550 matter . But don't often get discussed 560 00:25:06,550 --> 00:25:09,320 in the foreign policy gatherings that I 561 00:25:09,330 --> 00:25:11,300 attend And I want to start with 562 00:25:11,300 --> 00:25:13,770 Colombia Colombia is a country where 563 00:25:13,770 --> 00:25:15,937 we've had a significant engagement for 564 00:25:15,937 --> 00:25:18,810 a long time . Colombia just elected its 565 00:25:18,810 --> 00:25:22,710 most left wing president in a 566 00:25:22,710 --> 00:25:26,000 long time . I'm going to say decades at 567 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:29,950 least . Um Gustavo Petro will take 568 00:25:29,950 --> 00:25:32,060 office next month . He's already 569 00:25:32,060 --> 00:25:34,220 talking about improving Colombia's 570 00:25:34,220 --> 00:25:37,430 relations with Venezuela . So I'm 571 00:25:37,430 --> 00:25:40,770 wondering as this new political figure 572 00:25:40,780 --> 00:25:42,880 enters on the horizon , you don't do 573 00:25:42,890 --> 00:25:45,500 policy obviously , but I'm wondering 574 00:25:45,500 --> 00:25:47,667 whether from your perspective as South 575 00:25:47,667 --> 00:25:49,500 com commander , these changes in 576 00:25:49,500 --> 00:25:52,370 Colombia make you look at , at Columbia 577 00:25:52,370 --> 00:25:55,530 and the challenges in a new way . I 578 00:25:55,540 --> 00:25:59,140 think if we're um , in terms of looking 579 00:25:59,140 --> 00:26:01,390 at Colombia , Colombia is a great news 580 00:26:01,390 --> 00:26:04,860 story . Oh my gosh , off the charts , 581 00:26:04,860 --> 00:26:08,240 the capabilities of their military , uh , 582 00:26:08,250 --> 00:26:11,280 they are an exporter of security . They 583 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:14,040 train other partner nation militaries 584 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:16,630 to be strong . They run , I mean , I'm 585 00:26:16,630 --> 00:26:18,686 a helicopter pilot . We used to have 586 00:26:18,686 --> 00:26:20,686 the Spanish speaking part of flight 587 00:26:20,686 --> 00:26:22,750 school uh , in the United States at 588 00:26:22,750 --> 00:26:25,240 Fort Rucker Alabama . Um , Columbia 589 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:28,720 took that on in 2019 . They train all 590 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:30,720 of our helicopter pilots . That's a 591 00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:34,340 huge great story again , you know , as 592 00:26:34,340 --> 00:26:36,562 we work with our partner nations , it's 593 00:26:36,562 --> 00:26:39,120 about being sincere . We will work with 594 00:26:39,120 --> 00:26:41,620 our partner nations . We have a strong 595 00:26:41,620 --> 00:26:43,860 relationship . We just celebrated the 596 00:26:43,860 --> 00:26:47,220 200th anniversary of Colombia and the 597 00:26:47,220 --> 00:26:50,840 United States as this year . And so you 598 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:53,270 talk about the ties that that we have , 599 00:26:53,270 --> 00:26:55,810 we fought side by side with them in war 600 00:26:55,820 --> 00:26:58,930 already , this is a huge country , it's 601 00:26:58,930 --> 00:27:01,750 an opportunity , a call to action , a 602 00:27:01,750 --> 00:27:04,720 call to opportunity . And we will be 603 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:06,887 there to work with this partner nation 604 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:09,400 regardless of what administration is 605 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:12,020 there . And so I have , we , I think we 606 00:27:12,020 --> 00:27:14,340 have a lot to offer . And again , it's 607 00:27:14,340 --> 00:27:16,562 with no strings attached , it's with no 608 00:27:16,562 --> 00:27:19,740 fine print and we already have a well 609 00:27:19,740 --> 00:27:22,810 established relationship with them . So 610 00:27:22,820 --> 00:27:26,310 the other key actor in the region , um , 611 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:29,310 that we worry about from a national 612 00:27:29,310 --> 00:27:32,190 security standpoint is Venezuela . And 613 00:27:32,190 --> 00:27:35,660 I want to ask you about how you assess , 614 00:27:36,140 --> 00:27:38,460 uh , in in strict national security 615 00:27:38,460 --> 00:27:42,450 terms , the danger that Venezuela 616 00:27:42,450 --> 00:27:46,180 poses . Uh , and , and and if 617 00:27:46,180 --> 00:27:49,430 that's a less dramatic danger than 618 00:27:49,430 --> 00:27:51,652 sometimes portrayed , I'd be interested 619 00:27:51,652 --> 00:27:54,230 in hearing that as well . We just had 620 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:56,610 several months ago decision by the 621 00:27:56,620 --> 00:27:59,510 biden administration to allow encourage 622 00:27:59,510 --> 00:28:03,190 chevron to extend an oil lease um , in 623 00:28:03,190 --> 00:28:05,079 Venezuela , which which made some 624 00:28:05,079 --> 00:28:07,010 people wonder if maybe a slightly 625 00:28:07,010 --> 00:28:09,480 different shape to , to policy might be 626 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:11,147 ahead . But again , from your 627 00:28:11,147 --> 00:28:13,258 perspective as our , as our combatant 628 00:28:13,258 --> 00:28:15,480 commander , how do you assess Venezuela 629 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:19,240 right now , I would say the Venezuela 630 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:21,407 has caused a lot of instability in the 631 00:28:21,407 --> 00:28:24,620 region , it's caused a lot of migration , 632 00:28:24,620 --> 00:28:26,560 It has caused the other countries 633 00:28:26,940 --> 00:28:29,051 around it that our neighbors and some 634 00:28:29,051 --> 00:28:32,170 that aren't even neighbors , Uh , to 635 00:28:32,170 --> 00:28:36,160 have take on the migration issue as a 636 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:38,160 result of Venezuela , when you talk 637 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:40,420 about six million coming out of 638 00:28:40,420 --> 00:28:43,240 Venezuela , and then the countries in 639 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:46,880 brazil and Colombia , uh in chile and 640 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:49,080 the other countries in South America 641 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:51,247 and Central America , taking this on , 642 00:28:51,247 --> 00:28:53,358 that's again , I go back to the covid 643 00:28:53,358 --> 00:28:55,780 impacts already and they're struggling 644 00:28:55,780 --> 00:28:58,460 being able to provide . And so this is 645 00:28:58,460 --> 00:29:02,330 just an added uh , added , um , 646 00:29:02,340 --> 00:29:05,250 you know , but they're doing it and 647 00:29:05,250 --> 00:29:07,472 they're doing it and they know that the 648 00:29:07,472 --> 00:29:09,417 reason that they have to do it and 649 00:29:09,417 --> 00:29:09,370 they're taking , they're trying to take 650 00:29:09,370 --> 00:29:11,426 care of the neighborhood and they're 651 00:29:11,426 --> 00:29:13,537 doing the best they can . But this is 652 00:29:13,537 --> 00:29:15,703 an additional challenge that they have 653 00:29:15,703 --> 00:29:17,759 to take on . And the other countries 654 00:29:17,759 --> 00:29:19,926 are doing a great job of this , having 655 00:29:19,926 --> 00:29:21,537 this resolved peacefully and 656 00:29:21,537 --> 00:29:23,592 democratically is obviously where we 657 00:29:23,592 --> 00:29:26,820 want to go with Venezuela . And um I 658 00:29:26,820 --> 00:29:30,150 meet in Venezuela in uh , in Miami , a 659 00:29:30,150 --> 00:29:33,090 lot of the different diasporas in Miami , 660 00:29:33,100 --> 00:29:36,400 there are a lot of folks from Venezuela 661 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:38,960 and Miami and a lot of them still have 662 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:42,610 family in Venezuela . And if 663 00:29:42,610 --> 00:29:44,970 that uh , situation could be resolved 664 00:29:44,970 --> 00:29:47,250 democratically , that's what we would 665 00:29:47,250 --> 00:29:49,620 all strive and hope that actually 666 00:29:49,620 --> 00:29:52,560 happens . But I will tell you that just 667 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:54,671 on the , you know , again , I go back 668 00:29:54,671 --> 00:29:56,782 to when people don't feel safe , they 669 00:29:56,782 --> 00:29:58,893 can't get healthcare , they can't get 670 00:29:58,893 --> 00:30:00,949 basic needs , they leave the country 671 00:30:00,949 --> 00:30:02,782 and they're on the move . And it 672 00:30:02,782 --> 00:30:05,004 absolutely contributes to their regular 673 00:30:05,004 --> 00:30:06,782 migration , I'm gonna go to the 674 00:30:06,782 --> 00:30:08,838 audience in just a minute or two for 675 00:30:08,838 --> 00:30:11,060 your questions . So be thinking this is 676 00:30:11,060 --> 00:30:13,830 a chance to ask about about a region we 677 00:30:13,830 --> 00:30:15,719 don't get to talk about off often 678 00:30:15,719 --> 00:30:17,886 enough . But before I do that , I want 679 00:30:17,886 --> 00:30:19,910 to piggyback on a question that 680 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:23,700 Courtney QB asked a few minutes ago of 681 00:30:23,700 --> 00:30:26,750 General Brown uh talking about the 682 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:28,960 Dobbs decision by the Supreme Court . 683 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:33,520 And uh General Brown is Air Force 684 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:36,000 Chief of Staff . You have in a sense of 685 00:30:36,010 --> 00:30:39,460 more direct immediate relationship with 686 00:30:39,470 --> 00:30:41,630 thousands of people who are part of 687 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:45,590 South common , including some uh women 688 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:48,430 in service who who may be concerned 689 00:30:48,430 --> 00:30:51,480 about the impact of that decision . Um 690 00:30:51,490 --> 00:30:54,380 South based in in florida , but it's a 691 00:30:54,380 --> 00:30:57,670 raid across the south and then 692 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:01,580 in your A . O . R what what can you 693 00:31:01,580 --> 00:31:04,290 tell us about the kind of guidance that 694 00:31:04,290 --> 00:31:06,900 you're giving to your colleagues , if 695 00:31:06,900 --> 00:31:10,840 any , about how to deal with this . The 696 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:13,090 concerns you have going forward about , 697 00:31:13,100 --> 00:31:15,780 about taking care of all of your 698 00:31:15,780 --> 00:31:18,800 personnel , um and and their health 699 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:22,110 needs . Yeah . So the , taking care of 700 00:31:22,110 --> 00:31:24,360 people obviously in the in the army 701 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:26,471 anyway , the , you know , we're not , 702 00:31:26,471 --> 00:31:30,320 we're about people , the people in our 703 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:32,542 service are really our weapons system . 704 00:31:32,542 --> 00:31:34,430 And so taking care of people is 705 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:37,980 extremely important . Uh , 706 00:31:37,990 --> 00:31:40,570 CQ said the , you know , he's a service 707 00:31:40,570 --> 00:31:43,050 chief and those service chiefs , uh 708 00:31:43,060 --> 00:31:45,360 they train and equip our forces and 709 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:48,290 then the combat commanders are the are 710 00:31:48,290 --> 00:31:50,512 the customers of the service chiefs and 711 00:31:50,512 --> 00:31:52,830 things like that . And so we have to 712 00:31:52,830 --> 00:31:54,941 just do the best that we can based on 713 00:31:54,941 --> 00:31:56,886 the decisions that are made by our 714 00:31:56,886 --> 00:31:58,941 country to take care of our people . 715 00:31:58,941 --> 00:32:01,390 And bottom line , the services have to 716 00:32:01,390 --> 00:32:03,279 put the policies in place and the 717 00:32:03,279 --> 00:32:06,360 department and then we will follow in 718 00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:10,130 line with that as we receive personnel 719 00:32:10,130 --> 00:32:13,260 in our region and take care of them and 720 00:32:13,270 --> 00:32:16,320 just just take this a step further . 721 00:32:16,330 --> 00:32:19,220 I'm sure you've gotten questions from 722 00:32:19,220 --> 00:32:22,050 your from your staff about this . It's 723 00:32:22,050 --> 00:32:24,106 something the whole country has been 724 00:32:24,106 --> 00:32:26,217 asking about . What do you tell him ? 725 00:32:27,940 --> 00:32:30,730 Well , I think that the we watched the 726 00:32:30,730 --> 00:32:32,780 debates on the news , we see the 727 00:32:32,780 --> 00:32:35,690 different arguments that happen . And 728 00:32:35,700 --> 00:32:38,890 um and I think that the as the decision 729 00:32:38,890 --> 00:32:41,410 is made , uh the policies will put in 730 00:32:41,410 --> 00:32:44,460 place and uh and we've got to trust in 731 00:32:44,460 --> 00:32:46,516 our leaders and the policies for our 732 00:32:46,516 --> 00:32:48,349 Department of Defense as we move 733 00:32:48,349 --> 00:32:50,404 forward and then we take care of our 734 00:32:50,404 --> 00:32:53,360 people . So I hope people have been 735 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:55,249 thinking about questions and have 736 00:32:55,249 --> 00:32:57,249 somebody see jane harman and let me 737 00:32:57,249 --> 00:33:00,370 start with jane . Well , thank you very 738 00:33:00,370 --> 00:33:02,259 much . That was very interested , 739 00:33:02,259 --> 00:33:04,537 interesting . Glad you made it , David . 740 00:33:04,537 --> 00:33:06,370 1st , I hope you'll tell us what 741 00:33:06,370 --> 00:33:08,592 happened to your teenage daughter , how 742 00:33:08,592 --> 00:33:11,990 she turned out . But um , I'm really 743 00:33:11,990 --> 00:33:14,670 asking about the southern border of the 744 00:33:14,670 --> 00:33:17,170 United States . Uh Secretary Mayorkas 745 00:33:17,170 --> 00:33:19,490 wasn't asked about that much yesterday 746 00:33:19,490 --> 00:33:21,601 when he was questioned . I understand 747 00:33:21,601 --> 00:33:23,657 that's much more of a of of an issue 748 00:33:23,657 --> 00:33:25,990 for the Department of Homeland Security . 749 00:33:25,990 --> 00:33:28,210 But the pictures and the stories are 750 00:33:28,210 --> 00:33:30,432 everywhere . And I have to believe that 751 00:33:30,432 --> 00:33:32,432 people in your A . O . R . Are very 752 00:33:32,432 --> 00:33:35,170 aware of our border policies and some 753 00:33:35,170 --> 00:33:38,170 of the confusion and some of the 754 00:33:38,180 --> 00:33:40,830 uh personal tragedies and the rest . 755 00:33:40,830 --> 00:33:42,830 And I just wonder , what do you say 756 00:33:42,830 --> 00:33:45,480 about that and what activities do you 757 00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:49,290 undertake uh to if if you do to 758 00:33:49,300 --> 00:33:53,210 uh explain our policies to the the 759 00:33:53,220 --> 00:33:56,890 countries that you deal with . So 760 00:33:56,900 --> 00:33:59,960 the in terms of that's um right . 761 00:34:00,340 --> 00:34:02,650 And some of the things that I described 762 00:34:02,650 --> 00:34:05,190 about their regular migration uh and 763 00:34:05,190 --> 00:34:07,301 certainly when I was in North calm in 764 00:34:07,301 --> 00:34:10,520 my previous job uh and uh being 765 00:34:10,530 --> 00:34:13,310 uh up front close and personal with the 766 00:34:13,310 --> 00:34:15,690 Southwest border uh and seeing the 767 00:34:15,690 --> 00:34:17,840 challenges that we have and then 768 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:20,410 realizing that a lot of that comes from 769 00:34:20,410 --> 00:34:24,280 now , the South com region uh up to up 770 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:27,620 to the Southwest border . And so again , 771 00:34:27,630 --> 00:34:29,852 what we try to do in South commons , we 772 00:34:29,852 --> 00:34:32,600 work with our partner nations right as 773 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:35,510 they handle the migration problem and 774 00:34:35,510 --> 00:34:38,400 they handle insert uh internal security 775 00:34:38,400 --> 00:34:41,320 problems is to make them stronger and 776 00:34:41,330 --> 00:34:43,552 uh to work with them . Talk about human 777 00:34:43,552 --> 00:34:46,230 rights , the rule of law . Uh 778 00:34:46,240 --> 00:34:48,710 everything that we talk about , train 779 00:34:48,720 --> 00:34:50,680 train advise assist the security 780 00:34:50,680 --> 00:34:53,600 cooperation , the exercises that we do 781 00:34:53,610 --> 00:34:55,777 makes them stronger to deal with these 782 00:34:55,777 --> 00:34:58,010 problems , Deal with their borders , 783 00:34:58,020 --> 00:35:01,830 deal with their other neighbors as uh 784 00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:04,400 as the uh as we know , going through 785 00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:06,520 South America if we have migration up 786 00:35:06,520 --> 00:35:09,070 through Colombia into Panama and over 787 00:35:09,070 --> 00:35:11,060 they all have a very 788 00:35:11,070 --> 00:35:15,010 uh good perspective in terms of how 789 00:35:15,010 --> 00:35:17,177 that translates and how it happens and 790 00:35:17,177 --> 00:35:20,320 then how it impacts them specifically 791 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:22,431 in each one of those countries . It's 792 00:35:22,431 --> 00:35:25,280 different . And um so as I meet with 793 00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:27,930 them , I talk to them about that . But 794 00:35:27,930 --> 00:35:29,763 then we also it's not just about 795 00:35:29,763 --> 00:35:31,763 talking about it . It's about , you 796 00:35:31,763 --> 00:35:33,930 know , how do we make them stronger to 797 00:35:33,930 --> 00:35:36,152 handle their own problems ? So we don't 798 00:35:36,152 --> 00:35:38,208 have to help them even more . And so 799 00:35:38,208 --> 00:35:40,319 that's really what we try to do in uh 800 00:35:40,319 --> 00:35:42,541 in South com . Let's take a couple more 801 00:35:42,541 --> 00:35:44,374 questions before lunch . I saw a 802 00:35:44,374 --> 00:35:46,600 gentleman in the first row . Sorry . So 803 00:35:46,610 --> 00:35:50,160 yes , over by the window . Yeah . 804 00:35:53,940 --> 00:35:56,051 Got to see two of you there first and 805 00:35:56,051 --> 00:35:58,162 then the gentleman behind you . Thank 806 00:35:58,162 --> 00:36:00,273 you Marcus Oliver from the government 807 00:36:00,273 --> 00:36:02,218 accountability office . And I just 808 00:36:02,218 --> 00:36:04,440 wanted to ask General Richardson just I 809 00:36:04,440 --> 00:36:06,551 guess what are some of the challenges 810 00:36:06,551 --> 00:36:08,662 that sort of you face in managing the 811 00:36:08,662 --> 00:36:10,718 sort of Gitmo mission set um sort of 812 00:36:10,718 --> 00:36:12,829 given the sort of lack of maybe clear 813 00:36:12,829 --> 00:36:15,140 direction from the president on that 814 00:36:15,140 --> 00:36:17,307 mission as well as a lack of consensus 815 00:36:17,307 --> 00:36:19,084 on that mission from the hill . 816 00:36:21,530 --> 00:36:23,641 Okay . I think I heard most of that . 817 00:36:23,641 --> 00:36:27,560 But um I think in terms of the uh 818 00:36:27,570 --> 00:36:30,630 JTf Gitmo or the Gitmo question , um , 819 00:36:30,640 --> 00:36:33,090 the thing is , is that our mission is 820 00:36:33,090 --> 00:36:35,146 to provide the safe legal and humane 821 00:36:35,146 --> 00:36:38,060 treatment of the detainees that are 822 00:36:38,060 --> 00:36:40,510 there . And so that's what our mission 823 00:36:40,510 --> 00:36:42,510 revolves around . And all the other 824 00:36:42,510 --> 00:36:44,890 decisions that are policy decisions . 825 00:36:44,890 --> 00:36:47,650 We just execute that mission and we 826 00:36:47,650 --> 00:36:49,890 execute it to the best of our ability 827 00:36:49,900 --> 00:36:52,270 and uh , make sure that it's the safe , 828 00:36:52,270 --> 00:36:55,450 humane and legal treatment of of those 829 00:36:55,670 --> 00:36:57,640 of those detainees and those other 830 00:36:57,640 --> 00:37:01,320 decisions and and discussions 831 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:04,040 and arguments and things like that . 832 00:37:04,430 --> 00:37:06,950 Uh , that is at the policy level . 833 00:37:08,430 --> 00:37:10,708 And yes , gentleman , right behind you . 834 00:37:16,830 --> 00:37:18,941 Thanks , David . Thanks General kevin 835 00:37:18,941 --> 00:37:21,108 Baron from Defense one . I wanna going 836 00:37:21,108 --> 00:37:22,997 back to the immigration migration 837 00:37:22,997 --> 00:37:25,170 border security question walk us 838 00:37:25,170 --> 00:37:27,030 through some of the myths versus 839 00:37:27,030 --> 00:37:29,197 realities of the security threats that 840 00:37:29,197 --> 00:37:32,270 you see from the entire chain of 841 00:37:32,270 --> 00:37:34,214 migration , as we hear them in the 842 00:37:34,214 --> 00:37:36,326 public discourse versus as a security 843 00:37:36,326 --> 00:37:38,492 professional cocom commander . How you 844 00:37:38,492 --> 00:37:40,492 view them . And when you talk about 845 00:37:40,492 --> 00:37:42,659 also , you talked about a lot today of 846 00:37:42,659 --> 00:37:44,770 the non military ways and investments 847 00:37:44,770 --> 00:37:46,826 that that you can alleviate security 848 00:37:46,826 --> 00:37:48,937 concerns in south in the south . I've 849 00:37:48,937 --> 00:37:51,103 heard that for many years for 20 years 850 00:37:51,103 --> 00:37:53,214 from all of your predecessors in this 851 00:37:53,214 --> 00:37:55,437 that same role , but it doesn't seem to 852 00:37:55,437 --> 00:37:57,603 resonate at least in Congress or maybe 853 00:37:57,603 --> 00:37:59,826 with american people . How do you think 854 00:37:59,826 --> 00:38:01,937 you can maybe move the ball more than 855 00:38:01,937 --> 00:38:03,992 in the past to really push for , you 856 00:38:03,992 --> 00:38:05,881 know , for other kinds of foreign 857 00:38:05,881 --> 00:38:05,700 investment or U . S . Government 858 00:38:05,700 --> 00:38:07,811 investment that's non military to get 859 00:38:07,811 --> 00:38:09,922 to the same goals you're mentioning . 860 00:38:09,922 --> 00:38:11,811 Yeah . So thanks for that . Great 861 00:38:11,811 --> 00:38:15,490 question . And so um I like to uh just 862 00:38:15,500 --> 00:38:17,760 in terms of the , when I talk about the 863 00:38:17,760 --> 00:38:19,871 integrated deterrents , it's really I 864 00:38:19,871 --> 00:38:21,982 look at that as all of the levers out 865 00:38:21,982 --> 00:38:25,310 there , all of the elements of national 866 00:38:25,310 --> 00:38:27,620 power that we have in the United States 867 00:38:27,620 --> 00:38:29,620 to bring to bear . And that when we 868 00:38:29,620 --> 00:38:32,940 talk about um you know how we can help 869 00:38:32,950 --> 00:38:35,680 different countries for example we have 870 00:38:35,690 --> 00:38:38,670 agreements with academia And you're 871 00:38:38,670 --> 00:38:40,781 like Okay what does that mean ? South 872 00:38:40,910 --> 00:38:43,910 has agreements with academia but uh 873 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:46,142 global fishing watch for example , if I 874 00:38:46,142 --> 00:38:48,210 talk about illegal and regulated on 875 00:38:48,210 --> 00:38:51,040 reported fishing right takes 33 billion 876 00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:52,873 in revenue away from our partner 877 00:38:52,873 --> 00:38:55,270 nations . So if we have if we're able 878 00:38:55,270 --> 00:38:57,790 to see something from the domain 879 00:38:57,790 --> 00:39:00,030 awareness that we do have as a co com 880 00:39:00,220 --> 00:39:02,780 and working with our academia and 881 00:39:02,780 --> 00:39:05,130 working with Global Fishing watch . So 882 00:39:05,130 --> 00:39:07,074 we have the in the academia part , 883 00:39:07,074 --> 00:39:08,852 University of Miami and florida 884 00:39:08,852 --> 00:39:10,963 International University of Agreement 885 00:39:10,963 --> 00:39:13,740 and we can expose this malign activity 886 00:39:13,750 --> 00:39:15,972 right ? Because people don't like to be 887 00:39:15,972 --> 00:39:17,861 exposed when they're when they're 888 00:39:17,861 --> 00:39:19,972 behaving in ways they're not supposed 889 00:39:19,972 --> 00:39:22,110 to right ? I don't we don't need the 890 00:39:22,110 --> 00:39:23,888 credit in South Com but we will 891 00:39:23,888 --> 00:39:26,054 certainly give that information either 892 00:39:26,054 --> 00:39:28,110 to our partner nations or to ngos or 893 00:39:28,110 --> 00:39:30,570 through our academia uh to get that 894 00:39:30,570 --> 00:39:33,130 message out there when you talk about 895 00:39:33,140 --> 00:39:35,350 insecurity and instability , right , 896 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:38,750 $310 billion dollar revenue 897 00:39:38,750 --> 00:39:42,190 business a year . It's off the charts . 898 00:39:42,190 --> 00:39:44,301 It's not just counternarcotics , it's 899 00:39:44,301 --> 00:39:46,134 human trafficking , it's illegal 900 00:39:46,134 --> 00:39:49,340 logging , illegal mining , uh you you 901 00:39:49,340 --> 00:39:52,640 fishing uh it is a whole host of things . 902 00:39:53,110 --> 00:39:57,060 And so um this is uh in my mind , 903 00:39:57,060 --> 00:39:59,171 it creates the wedge , the insecurity 904 00:39:59,171 --> 00:40:01,227 and the instability that our partner 905 00:40:01,227 --> 00:40:03,338 nations , not our partner nations but 906 00:40:03,338 --> 00:40:06,410 our adversaries capitalize upon and um 907 00:40:06,410 --> 00:40:09,680 and then they flourish right ? And make 908 00:40:09,680 --> 00:40:12,080 that even a bigger wedge for them to be 909 00:40:12,080 --> 00:40:15,560 able to undermine us objectives , 910 00:40:15,570 --> 00:40:18,420 undermine our relationships , undermine 911 00:40:18,430 --> 00:40:20,830 uh the objectives that we have in the 912 00:40:20,830 --> 00:40:22,886 region . You know , I talked earlier 913 00:40:22,886 --> 00:40:25,070 about the PRC is playing chess while 914 00:40:25,070 --> 00:40:27,630 Russia is playing checkers , right ? 915 00:40:27,640 --> 00:40:30,150 And they have short term goals in terms 916 00:40:30,150 --> 00:40:33,210 of undermining our democracy Uh causing 917 00:40:33,210 --> 00:40:36,350 destabilization through the information 918 00:40:36,350 --> 00:40:38,630 environment . Off the charts in this 919 00:40:38,630 --> 00:40:41,090 region , over 30 million followers in 920 00:40:41,090 --> 00:40:44,630 social media , Sputnik mundo Russia 921 00:40:44,630 --> 00:40:48,570 today espanol very very 922 00:40:48,570 --> 00:40:50,681 prevalent . We are not in competition 923 00:40:50,681 --> 00:40:52,792 in that space . We are in conflict in 924 00:40:52,792 --> 00:40:54,959 the information environment . And when 925 00:40:54,959 --> 00:40:56,903 I bring this up some , most of the 926 00:40:56,903 --> 00:40:59,560 countries are very , very aware of this 927 00:40:59,570 --> 00:41:02,140 but making them stronger in order to be 928 00:41:02,140 --> 00:41:04,370 able to counter this . When I bring up 929 00:41:04,380 --> 00:41:06,547 disinformation , they'll say , oh fake 930 00:41:06,547 --> 00:41:09,030 news and I'm like yeah , you could say 931 00:41:09,030 --> 00:41:11,141 that , but the , you know , how do we 932 00:41:11,141 --> 00:41:14,340 band together in terms of all domains 933 00:41:14,350 --> 00:41:16,560 um with our partner nations being 934 00:41:16,560 --> 00:41:18,510 stronger . It's not just in the 935 00:41:18,510 --> 00:41:20,940 information space , it's not just in 936 00:41:20,940 --> 00:41:23,940 the air domain or the C domain . In 937 00:41:23,940 --> 00:41:26,140 terms of counter narcotics . I mean it 938 00:41:26,140 --> 00:41:28,084 is the whole gamut is cyber , it's 939 00:41:28,084 --> 00:41:31,560 space . It's we have a lot of things to 940 00:41:31,560 --> 00:41:33,970 get after and we have to work together 941 00:41:33,970 --> 00:41:37,880 as a team for our neighborhood um to 942 00:41:37,880 --> 00:41:39,850 take away from me . We are not in 943 00:41:39,860 --> 00:41:42,800 competition . We are in conflict in the 944 00:41:42,800 --> 00:41:45,220 information space . I've been signaled 945 00:41:45,220 --> 00:41:46,942 that we've run out of time . I 946 00:41:46,942 --> 00:41:49,109 recognized a woman who was standing in 947 00:41:49,109 --> 00:41:51,220 the back next to the pillar . Can you 948 00:41:51,220 --> 00:41:53,164 ask a brief question and we'll ask 949 00:41:53,164 --> 00:41:55,109 General Richardson to give a brief 950 00:41:55,109 --> 00:41:57,109 answer . And then it's lunch time . 951 00:41:57,109 --> 00:41:59,220 Thank you . Thanks for your awareness 952 00:41:59,220 --> 00:42:01,387 and your your so informative , general 953 00:42:01,800 --> 00:42:04,000 and good questions , David . But my 954 00:42:04,000 --> 00:42:06,170 question is , is there a way to get a 955 00:42:06,170 --> 00:42:08,710 general honore kind of guy in latin 956 00:42:08,710 --> 00:42:12,500 America Central America where we can 957 00:42:12,500 --> 00:42:14,850 give more security ? And there was a 958 00:42:14,850 --> 00:42:17,620 time american business . Got tax 959 00:42:17,620 --> 00:42:20,640 deductions to go to china . Well , is 960 00:42:20,640 --> 00:42:23,000 there a way to work something out like 961 00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:25,500 that and we can be less dependent on 962 00:42:25,500 --> 00:42:29,230 china last word . 963 00:42:30,400 --> 00:42:32,622 Can you raise your hand where you are ? 964 00:42:32,622 --> 00:42:34,622 There we go . Okay . I thought that 965 00:42:34,622 --> 00:42:37,420 might be you . Okay . Uh so in terms of 966 00:42:37,420 --> 00:42:39,700 working with the inter agency , I would 967 00:42:39,700 --> 00:42:42,870 like to just um let you know that we're 968 00:42:42,880 --> 00:42:44,824 we are very much involved with the 969 00:42:44,824 --> 00:42:46,936 inter agency , I think that we can do 970 00:42:46,936 --> 00:42:48,936 better , but we have to continue to 971 00:42:48,936 --> 00:42:51,158 provide forums where we can collaborate 972 00:42:51,500 --> 00:42:54,350 and so in May at South com we hosted 973 00:42:54,350 --> 00:42:56,461 the all of the Chiefs of Mission from 974 00:42:56,461 --> 00:43:00,310 this region Uh at South Com . So we had 975 00:43:00,310 --> 00:43:03,010 the ambassadors and the charges . Oh by 976 00:43:03,010 --> 00:43:05,121 the way , we have 12 ambassadors that 977 00:43:05,121 --> 00:43:07,177 still need to get in the seat . So I 978 00:43:07,177 --> 00:43:09,010 would appreciate your integrated 979 00:43:09,010 --> 00:43:11,232 deterrence and helping to reinforce the 980 00:43:11,232 --> 00:43:13,399 priority of getting our ambassadors in 981 00:43:13,399 --> 00:43:15,566 their seats . It's kind of like me not 982 00:43:15,566 --> 00:43:17,732 being here for South com and having an 983 00:43:17,732 --> 00:43:20,970 acting or a deputy that's in my seat . 984 00:43:20,980 --> 00:43:23,640 Very , very important . But go back to 985 00:43:23,640 --> 00:43:25,862 the interagency . We host , we had over 986 00:43:25,862 --> 00:43:28,030 60 inter asian inter agency that were 987 00:43:28,030 --> 00:43:30,450 there at this , at this conference that 988 00:43:30,450 --> 00:43:34,270 we held and we had commerce , we had 989 00:43:34,270 --> 00:43:37,810 Treasury , we had justice , um and we 990 00:43:37,810 --> 00:43:40,032 hold a law enforcement working group as 991 00:43:40,032 --> 00:43:42,330 well . I have , I think about 15 992 00:43:42,330 --> 00:43:44,552 interagency . Ellen knows that work out 993 00:43:44,552 --> 00:43:46,774 of the South com headquarters already . 994 00:43:46,774 --> 00:43:48,960 And but when you're talking about the 995 00:43:48,960 --> 00:43:52,010 uh village illegitimate or the 996 00:43:52,700 --> 00:43:55,330 Uh money laundering , um that takes 997 00:43:55,330 --> 00:43:57,441 place in our region as well . If I go 998 00:43:57,441 --> 00:43:59,219 back to the $310 billion dollar 999 00:43:59,219 --> 00:44:01,441 business and money laundering and those 1000 00:44:01,441 --> 00:44:04,020 kinds of really complex challenges . We 1001 00:44:04,020 --> 00:44:05,490 have to continue to work 1002 00:44:05,500 --> 00:44:08,310 collaboratively with the interagency to 1003 00:44:08,310 --> 00:44:10,310 move the ball down the field . So I 1004 00:44:10,310 --> 00:44:13,340 appreciate your question . Um , and uh , 1005 00:44:13,340 --> 00:44:15,562 and we'll continue to work all of those 1006 00:44:15,562 --> 00:44:19,220 angles and issues . So it is 1007 00:44:19,220 --> 00:44:21,610 lunchtime thanks to General Laura 1008 00:44:21,610 --> 00:44:23,777 Richardson , for a wonderful chance to 1009 00:44:23,777 --> 00:44:25,777 talk about what we don't talk about 1010 00:44:25,777 --> 00:44:25,220 enough . 1011 00:49:52,170 --> 00:49:52,700 Okay . 1012 00:50:01,060 --> 00:50:04,100 Yeah . Yeah . 1013 00:50:13,460 --> 00:50:14,460 Right . 1014 00:50:17,260 --> 00:50:20,670 Yeah . 1015 00:50:21,060 --> 00:50:22,280 Yeah . 1016 00:51:08,960 --> 00:51:09,960 Okay . 1017 00:51:12,960 --> 00:51:13,960 Thanks . 1018 00:51:18,760 --> 00:51:19,760 Yeah . 1019 00:51:24,760 --> 00:51:25,760 Yeah . 1020 00:51:32,660 --> 00:51:33,660 Yeah . 1021 00:51:39,260 --> 00:51:39,970 Yeah . 1022 00:51:48,460 --> 00:51:49,460 You sure ? 1023 00:51:58,060 --> 00:51:58,390 Okay .