Lawrence DiRita
Lawrence DiRita
along planning underlying
It's still classified, ... along with a lot of the underlying planning.
best understanding
It's not known, to the best of my understanding.
focused learn trying ways
They're trying different ways to place these things, they're trying to keep focused on US activities, ... We're always trying to learn off of them, they're always trying to learn off of us.
attempting defense department desired directly fit operations post secretary suggested unit washington
There is no unit that is directly reportable to the Secretary of Defense for clandestine operations as is described in the Washington Post article. ... Further, the department is not attempting to 'bend' statutes to fit desired activities, as is suggested in this article.
based next puts surprised takes
For the next election, I wouldn't be surprised to see it go right back up to 160,000 based on puts and takes and in-place rotations and relief, and everything else,
last number relief saw start
The last number I saw was 161,000, but you're going to start to see that come down pretty dramatically because that was in-place relief and holdovers,
agencies committees community congress department including intelligence regular relevant remains within
The department remains in regular consultation with the relevant committees in Congress and with other agencies within the intelligence community, including the CIA.
adversary continues deadly develop precise
an adversary that continues to develop some sophistication on very deadly and increasingly precise standoff weapons.
agreement central commitment component countries developing free identify identity joint maybe secretary strengthen system themselves trade troops work
These are countries that are starting, together, themselves to identify as a region, as the Central American region. The Central American Free Trade Agreement is one example. Countries in that region, for example, have contributed troops to Iraq, and they've contributed at least a commitment to work on maybe joint peacekeeping activities, things of that nature. So, it's developing an identity as a component of the inter-American system and I think the Secretary would very much like to strengthen that.