Pentagon Press Briefing

At a press briefing held with Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell, he said that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates believes there needs to be a bigger education budget for the military, and there needs to be an improved GI Bill. It is known, Morrell said, that families determine whether or not military personnel become career, and therefore there is fear that lack of good education benefits will create incentive to leave. It is important to hold on to battle tested troops, which Morrell said Secretary Gates feels is the key in our conflicts.

Morrell said it has been made clear that we are going to be increasing pressure on Iran, to get them to change their ways. All military options, he said, are on the table. The pressure is being increased by military, economic, and diplomatic forces, so that Iran will say they’re ready to talk in a reasonable and productive way. To increase pressure on Iran, military pressure is being applied within the confines of Iraq, and also outside of Iraq, such as with our carrier groups in the Persian Gulf.

Pentagon: If Congress doesn't act, soldiers will go unpaid

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell briefed the press, starting with a statement about the Global War on Terror budget supplemental request, which is slated to go before the House this week. He said that currently the military is borrowing form Army payroll accounts in order to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and that if the Congress does not act the the Defense Department will not be able to pay soldier, including those in Iraq and Afghanistan after June 15, 2008. He said the only options available if Congress does not pass $108 billion in war supplementals would be for the Defense Department to petition Congress to allow certain "re-programming" of other funds so that soldiers don't' go without pay.


The subject of Myanmar came up and Morrell said that there are several U.S. military assets in the region, which if requested could aid in disaster relief. These assets include 23 helicopters and a carrier with 1800 Marines aboard. Morrell said that these forces are only awaiting the request for help from the Burmese government.

The subject of the revised GI bill came up. Morrell wouldn't comment on any of the draft legislation in the Senate, but said that the Defense Department's priorities are to make education benefits transferable to military spouses and children and to have those education benefits become available after 6 years of service, which Morrell said would encourage a higher rate of retention in the force.

Morrell said that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said that the command structure in Afghanistan is something that is worth taking a look at, but only in consultation with the NATO allies. He also said that while gen. McNeil has requested 3 additional brigades, the general doesn't expect that request to be fulfilled anytime soon. There is an expectation based on assurances made by President bush at the NATO summit in Bucharest, Hungary that there will be a plussing up of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. But Morrell said that the military will have to evaluate that plussing up of forces after the period of evaluation in Iraq after the last surge force brigade combat team is withdrawn. He also said that the Department must strive to meet the renewed limit of 12-month tours and increased time at home for soldiers first. He said that the Secretary of Defense doesn't think more troops in Afghanistan is unnecessary but that the draw down in Iraq must be completed before those additional brigades to Afghanistan will be considered. He also reiterated that the tour of the 3,400 Marines now serving in the Regional Command South will end in a finite way in December and the Department does not expect that tour to be extended beyond the standard 7 months for Marines.

Morell said that he has heard that there will be confirmation hearings on the Hill confirming Gen. David Petraeus as the combatant commander of Central Command later in the month of May. The Senate Armed Services Committee could not confirm that a date has been set for these hearings.

Pentagon Morning Report: Iraq is the news in Mexico

Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell gave a quick availability after a ceremony with the Secretary of Defense laying a wreath on a memorial for Mexican WWII veterans. Despite the desire from Pentagon public affairs that emphasis be placed on the trip to Mexico, the subject stayed squarely on the Middle East.

Morell said that everyone from the Secretary of Defense to the Chairman if the Joint Chiefs of Staff has acknowledged what a problem Iranian involvement in Iraq is and is determined to deal with it inside Iraq.

Morrell said that he is not aware of ramping up or revision of war plans for Iran. The focus of U.S. efforts is that Iranian arms and training of terrorists by Iran be dealt with within the confines of Iraq, Morrell said. He warned against the perception of an uptick in Iranian actions in Iraq, though he said, "We are seeing evidence that it continues."

He also said that since the Basra incursion the Iraqi military has made great strides since the fighting a few weeks ago. One example of progress was the development of a concerned local citizens group called "sons of Basra," paid by the Iraqi government to protect their neighborhoods.

Pentagon estimates $527 billion spent on war on terror since 2001

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell held a press briefing today. Among issues being discussed was the Boeing/Airbus deal. Morrell stated that the Pentagon feels there is no indication that Boeing will protest Airbus’s victory over the contract. He further stated that he believed this to be a fair and transparent deal, and that the war fighters will be getting the best planes available.

Another topic briefly touched upon was the dirty water provided by KBR to US troops. Morrell commented that the bottled water provided had no issues in testing and that the other water may have been solely meant for washing. He also mentioned that there had been no widespread illness amongst the troops, and since 2006, all water has met health standards.

Morrell then proceeded to discuss the situation in Iraq. He stated that Secretary Gates has recommended pausing to determine the impact of the last four surge brigades to identify possible later courses of action. He stated that there has been a line of improvement in security conditions in Iraq.

In answering a question about estimates of the cost of the war, Morrell stated that since September 11, 2001, $527 billion has been spent on the war on terror: $406.2 billion on Operation Iraqi Freedom, 92.9 billion on Operation Enduring Freedom, and 27.8 billion on Noble Eagle, or homeland defense. When told that outside estimates of the cost of the war were $3 trillion, Morrell said that that seems to be way out there, and that the department has tried to be as transparent as possible.

Morrell reported that as we near the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq, 3,974 have regrettably been killed serving the US. In addition to this, there are 16,011 soldiers wounded-in-action whom have returned to duty, and 13,009 soldiers wounded-in-action whom have not returned to duty.

Pentagon PM Report

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell held a press briefing. His opening statement concerned the defense authorization act which allows for an increase in pay raises for military personnel of 3.5 percent. He said that the Defense Department reiterates the president's request that Congress fully fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also commented on some new proposals that come out of the State of the Union address, particularly a preferential hiring option for military spouses across the government. Right now only the Department of Defense has preferential hiring for military spouses.

He announced a two day conference with the eight combatant commanders from Iraq, senior civilian leaders, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice was expected to speak to the conference group, which is also expected to meet with President Bush. Morrell answered a question about the president's figure of 20,000 troops to be withdrawn from Iraq, admitting that this is not the full surge force when support troops are considered. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said that the rate of troop withdrawal will be conditions-based.



On Pakistan Morrell said that the U.S. stands ready to aid Pakistan militarily to fight terrorism, particularly in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas of northern Pakistan. "But they have not asked at this point," he said.

Morrell said that the 2009 budget request was approximated at $70 billion dollars for the first quarter to cover the beginning of the Department of Defense fiscal year in October through the inauguration of a new president. After which Morrell said that the Defense Department will go back to request what will be needed at that time. He did emphasize that full funding had not been achieved for the fiscal 2008, "We're still about $102 billion short of what we need to do the job."

About an Army investigation into allegations that Iraqi detainees were killed after being captured on the battlefield last year Morrell was very cautious saying only that he could not comment very much on an ongoing investigation and that the military "takes all credible allegations seriously."