guest: you know, this is a question that has been in the courts since aviation was created. when aviation was created, and wright brothers broader reform the faa -- in and the faa was don't own from u the ground to the heavens. the law will have to be done. and they'll have to and court decisions that go down. i think you have words like "reasonable" for your domicile, what you own. is that ten feet above your house or 100 feet above your house? it will depend on the cases we have, and we have numerous lawyers that are asking these questions and determining what that could be. >> host: robert is in sacramento. hi robert. >> caller: hello. this is a great conversation.

i'd like to ask a question regarding private citizens purchasing a high-quality drones and who happens to have some evil intent out there regardless of rules or regulations. armed with a chemical agent, and flies it over populations, targeted populations, with intent to create massive havoc. what rules or regulations are out there from permitting -- for permitting that situation to develop? >> guest: well, robert, again, if someone wants to do or has bad intentions or has the intent to do something of harm, this is a technology that, if misused, can cause ill effects. but that is true with anything that we have from a technology standpoint. that's why i say you have to hold people accountable for that. you can do that with a

maintained system just as well or easy. but that opportunity prevent it. we have seen incidents happen in this country, hacked numerous times and we have to hold those people accountable. this technology well also help -- will also help us to protect ourselves by being able to in some cases utilize it in a way that could be used for either some sort of situational awareness, or the delivery of capabilities to men and women involved in this. as i said to you, as system, there's a human being involved in this capable and this technology. and that human being will utilize the technology to their advantage. it's just a tool. the operator is not physically inside the cockpit. he or she is operating from a distance that allows them to do it in a much more effective and efficient way. >> host: tom is in red bank, new jersey. republican line.

>> caller: hi, mr. toscano. you talked about the consumer but i didn't hear anything about the manufacturers. do they have to put any prescriptions on their boxes? >> guest: actually that's one of the things we're doing along with the academy of modelers association with amazon, and every package, if bogey going to use this for wreckation purposes negotiating to the ama site and understand what the dos and don't's senior and if you're going to use it as a consumer or business, then go to auvsi site and understand the dos and don'ts and those sites refer you back to the faa with the rules. so you touch upon a really good point. a lot of this is about education on what you can and cannot do some what it is appropriate to use this technology for and inappropriately. it basically comes down to safety. where you can't use these things, obviously where there's human beings or populated areas, and where you can use it for, those areas where you can

operate in a safe manner. >> host: wayne in san diego. >> caller: hi. i saw a short takeoff and landing aircraft. i land at backcountry strips and take off from backcountry strips, and i fly low, not below 500 feet, but i'm concerned that what we have here is a technology that is highly premature at this point regardless of how technically amazing it is, and that people are out there now, using these things off backcountry strips and small private air strips that are for public use, that defy any suggestion that they could operate more safely elsewhere. so, you not only have well-intentioned people in addition to the ill-intentioned people, who can misuse these things, but just because you

have -- you can do something does not mean that it makes sense to do it, and under the current level of technology, and the system of regulation and outside that system of regulation, you have a disaster looking for thousands and thousands of places to happen. >> host: wayne, have you ever experienced a drone in the air while you're flying your airplane? >> caller: i have not but friends of mine have. locally here. and one man just the other day politely suggested to a drone operator that it wasn't safe for him to be operating around an airport. the fellow just argued with him and then, finally told him to mind his own business. we have no regulations in effect, local regulations in particular, where the sheriffs know what to do with these people if they can find them. there's no way to find the people that are operating these

things. like the gentleman here, i think these are neat machines, but with thousands and thousands of them in the air, they'll be running into each other and regular aircraft are and just because thousands of people are killed in cars every year, this is a bit specious to suggest you can compare that and with vehicles that are operated on roads without drivers. that's an entirely different environment. they're not comparable at all. >> guest: wayne, you highlighted an excellent point, in that there's the unaware people that are out there of what these systems should be -- how these systems should be used in a safe and responsible way. i think you're exactly right. we need to educate people of the dangers if you misuse this technology.

you're right, we're at an early stage of this technology. wheat why i believe the technology should be used in those operational environments for which we know we can have a higher risk -- a higher assurance it will beadmen a proper way. i make -- will be done in a proper way. the early cell phones were the size of a loaf of bread and hear veriy but it matured to where they are today and that's why 80% of the world has one. we have rep lick indicated the ol' factors of a dog, the sonar of a dolphin. it's within the realm of understanding we'll come to the point where we want to see how birds fly in the sky and fish swim in the sea and don't bump into each oomph so your point is well taken. it's about safety. we have to make sure that these systems are being introduced in a safe and responsible way. and that is the essence of what this technology will be. don't believe that you're going to stop this utilization of this

technology because it's a safer and more efficient way to do things. companies will form, businesses flourish, jobs created. you can do those things, the dirty, dangerous, difficult -- dirty, difficult, dangerous, and dull missions we do. sorry about that. and that's what you're going to see more and more of. you're spot on, wayne. it has to be utilized and had to be introduced in an appropriate way so that we don't have incidents with things that are undesirable. >> host: when people -- some people think about these drones, we remember reading about amazon wanting to deliver with the drones. would those be operated locally, operated from seattle? all over the country? >> guest: well, jeff bazos, what he artic lated on "60 minutes," they want to have these full

fulfillment centers and within ten miles of the center they can deliver a five-pound package or less within 30 minutes and. 80% of theirs deliveries are -- of their deliveries are less than five pounds. jeff is very serious about the technology and understands undee challenges that exist. there's regulatory ones and technical ones as well. so we have to make sure we do this in a safe manner, and many of the things that jeff has touched have been efficient and a great business savvy individual. i got believe that he understands the challenges that face this technology. and will not be able to utilize this technology in such time it's going to be done in a safe way. so i look at even delivery in itself, the hard part of any delivery is usually the last leg, getting from the major highways to the offroads to the house itself. so you may see in the future, ups or delivery trucks that have these on the top of them and get

within a certain distance and then the fly off, drop the package and comes back. save time, money, roads, and gas. there's ways we have not thought of how to utilize this technology but it's a great opportunity. >> host: michael, toscano what do you suspect legislativewise in the upcoming congress. >> guest: i think you'll see a positiveness or a interest in fielding this technology sooner than later. the faa has granted 12 exemptions to utilize this commercially. one in the movie industry. they found it's much more effective and efficient to replace a platform with a human being with a history of incidentses that have taken place with something that weighs less than 25 pounds, much more cost effective, much safer, there's less downwar, less noise, and they can do more and better things in a safe manner. >> host: evil bastard tweets in,

you don't need to be a pilot, fly a drone, just good at video games. >> guest: again, the capabilities that you're going to need for this technology will vary, depending on what asset your using, and as long as you're properly trained and the platform is certified to do the job you want, you are probably trained to operate in the operational environment in a safe manner and you understand that you're operating operatingn environment where you're not going to cause danger to human beings, it's a great career. >> host: rc enthusiast tweets have quietly used uavs for decades. rules and regulations to control commercial and warfare use will just ruin it for them? the ama has been in existence for 77 years. the academy for modelers and air not ticks and they have a code of conduct and a training mechanism where people that involved the technology help the younger people. they have over 175,000 people

that belong to that organization. we have been using recreational remote controlled or drones for over 75 years and have done it safely. one of the safest applications of the technology. it can be done right if people understand the rules and hole people accountable if they misuse is. >> host: michael toscano, head of the association for unmanned vehicles association international. >> guest: thank you, it's been a pleasure. >> on the next "washington gorgeous" gregory cording discuss president obama's use of presidential memoranda. he'll talk about the legal power it holds and how often it's been used by the obama administration. michael calhoun of the center for responsible lending will take about payday lending and regulation of the industry. and then a look at some of the changes that are expected to occur at the u.s. postal service. american postal workers union president joins us. we'll also take your phone calls and look for your comments on

facebook and twitter. beginning live at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. >> c-span 2 providing live coverage of the u.s. senate floor proceedings and key public policy events, and every weekend, booktv, now for 15 years, the only television network devoted to nonfiction books and authors. c-span2, created by the cable tv industry and brought to you as a public service by your cable or satellite provider. >> coming up next, the annual lighting of the national menorah in washington, dc. then a pentagon briefing with rear admiral john kirby, and later, the head of the air national guard talks about the ewan's role and operations. tuesday marked the first night

hanukkah, and the national menorah was lit on the ellipse. the ceremony included ranks by vice president biden. >> you know, the word "hanukkah" relates in think view to ceremonies and celebrations like this one. but the word "hanukkah pay has roots in hebrew and the same word as education. we dedicate, we educate, we live, we celebrate. as part of these celebrations, we in american friends of lab lubavitch have started an essay contest where we have children from across the country explain what hanukkah means to them. so i would like to call simi from pennsylvania to read her winning entry for us today. [applause]

>> what hanukkah means to me. hanukkah is a special meaningful holiday for me. it is a great way to remind us of great miracle's. hanukkah in english means dedication. i think dedication, beautifully describes the jews. we are dedicated to judaism. we fear and love our leader and he creates all of our great miracles. hanukkah is one of those amazing miracles. just seeing a beautiful menorah by my window makes he truly appreciate the amazing greatness. one of my favorite thinks to do on hanukkah is spin the -- and as die so i think about children my age, thousands of years ago.

who are also spinning -- just imagine they would risk their lives for judaism. hanukkah is a holiday that is really fun, and holds a special meaning for me and all jews. [applause] >> our second winner -- we are now going to hear from our first winner. >> hanukkah means different things to different people. to little kids hanukkah means presents. to adults hanukkah means spending time with family. to me hanukkah means going outism might ask what does that mean? the second night of hanukkah is salvation for going out because every night you add more light by lighting another kane.

so, too, does a ju by doing there is important mitzvah. this leads to more and one good deed leads to another. we should try to do more good deeds every day. it's important me to add more light in honor of my grandmother, who passed away on the second night of hanukkah many years ago. my favorite -- i -- i know i not only elevating myself but my grandmother's soul, too. [applause] >> now, with those wonderful essays or what? when we hear children speak in this way, we know that we have a future as our people. [applause]

>> now, as you know, the menorah is lit towards nighttime, and the reason for that is that the essence of hanukkah, its core traditions, is to spread the message of the miracle. we cannot do that if nobody knows about it. so even though all year we spread the message and the miracle in our hearts, in our homes, in our synagogues, in our communities, our community centers and schools, this is the time of year when we bring our message to the public. there's never been a time in history where jews and the diaspora have been afforded the freedom we have in america today. and we -- let's hear it for the great old united states. [applause]

>> and for all those who are watching, in your homes, or via the live broadcast, know that you can light a candle, too, even if you're not celebrating hanukkah, go warm up somebody's life. go do another good deed. go make the world brighter than it would be without you, and in that way you're celebrating hanukkah, too. obviously in the jewish community we light menorahs, but spreading light, good, and warmth in the world, is a universal opportunity and message. we're going to be lighting the menorah at this point in the program. we're close enough to the dark, sun is getting ready to set, and want too start spreading the message across america as quickly as we possibly can. so what we're going to do at this point is we're going to do the menorah righting in a moment, we are then going to hear from the vice president. i'm going to ask that everyone please remain seated until the end of the program, even though

we will be rising for the lighting of the menorah itself. after the cantors conclude, i'll ask that everyone return to your seats and remain seated until the end of the program. at this time i'd like to ask the conductor of the united states army band to present the torch with which we're going to light the menorah to the vice president. >> i'm going to light this on behalf of the vice president. elements and lightning and things so i cannot light it here with all of these electronics but i will light its as soon as i possibly can. we'll light the national menorah with this torch and then have those two lights lit for all of the world to see. the reason we light the first one tonight, and only one, is

because we're at the beginning of the process. tonight we light one, tomorrow we light two, until we finish and have all eight lift at the end of handattempt middle one, as you will see, is a bit above the other eight, because it represents the shamash, the public servantses, the utilities, the one who goes above and beyond their own needs into that others will benefit from what they are going to do. so i'm actually honored to take this torch from the vice president and go up and light the menorah while he will join my father, our national director, who founded this effort of public menorahs in philadelphia, in 1974, and to have our little children here who won the essay contest and two of my own sons are going to join my father and watch this, and there's some significance actually, mr. vice president. now that i think about it, of you passing me this torch because vice president biden was involved in public men nor razz before the community and the public were involved on such a

large scale and public menorahs. we have didn't doing this now for 45 years. 35 years at the white house, with president carter starting this in 1979, together with the great friend of ours who is here tonight, stuart -- who started all this. he was the domestic policy adviser at the time and every year comes and sees the greater and greater attention that this event deserves and receives. but vice president biden was then a senator. and there was a rabbi who needed some help in obtaining permission to put up a large public menorah, and since he was right across the border from philadelphia and delware, he afforded the help necessary to make it happen. so, in a sense, this is your celebration, too, mr. vice president. so, passing the torch to me is very symbolic in more ways than one. i'm going to ask you to all bear

with me while we get this done as the cantors are welcomed back to the stage. after the diet pat tour of the vice president -- departure of the president, following his remarks, i ask you all remain seated. thank you. [inaudible conversations] ♪

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♪ ♪ ♪ [applause] >> mr. vice president, mission accomplished.

>> i just want to go back a few years and introduce a person who i first met on an amtrak train. i was here helping my father with american friends ofhubba victim. and the senator sat down in his seat and my father says, watch this man. learn from him how to act. about five, ten minutes into the ride, this important senator's jacket is off, he is talking to all the people who are working on the train. they're like his family. and i remembered that at a child, and now i'm here introducing that senator as the vice president of the united states. and, yes, we did learn from him how to act. he went home to his family as

often as he could. and he cared about every individual, and i saw it then, and i remember it now. so i guess it's my humble privilege to introduce the vice president of the united states. the honorable joseph biden. [applause] >> thank you very much, rabbi. thank you very, very much. ...

i'm not sure. i don't see him, but i but i was told it was going to be here. it's watching human honor to be here. tonight is about miracles:

america courageous warriors overcoming great owns the culture, identity, culture, identity, and freedom of the people. a miracle of rededicated when burning for eight nights is only enough oil for one, the miracle was sustained a faith community through time of the 3 ounces and judaism is alive and well, many five communities and nations, that the people of israel alone the ongoing

miracle, the same freedom spot for. tonight we stand on the front lawn of the nation founded on the book of micah versus george washington called. which of the abraham's continued continue to merit enjoy the goodwill of the other inhabitants should and make the central jewish notion which, safety and him

being being treated with dignity and respect your community that only led to the creation of modern state of israel but also for the united states of america. he is captured in the word of a young jewish give me your tired, your. at these words captured forever and the in the statue of liberty are among the same that are and grained in your dna and have become ingrained in the dna of america. not only did millions of jews escape but millions of

all other faiths and cultures all of us saw them as well and continue to see the. the truth is that jewish heritage jewish culture, jewish values are an essential, such an essential part of who you are. it is fair to say that jewish heritage is american heritage. that is who we are as a people. to me that that is part of a miracle that we also operate together as you celebrate your families tonight. on behalf of my children and my wife and president of the united states, me just say happy hanukkah to everyone.

thank you for having me. [applauding] >> on this weekend georgia congressman tom price is our guest. as incoming chair of the house budget committee talks about the process, the $1.1 trillion spending bill and and what will happen with the republican-led congress begins in january. watch the interview sunday. >> is a look at some of the programs you will find christmas day. holiday festivities start at the lighting of the national christmas tree fallen to the

white house christmas decorations with first lady michelle obama at the lighting of the capitol christmas tree. just after 12:30 pm celebrity activists talk about their causes. supreme court justice and former florida governor on the bill of rights of the founding fathers. as

>> good afternoon. i do want to announce that this week the secretary authorized of the 1300 us troops of the poor to iraq. approximately 1,000 the soldiers from the 83rd combat division with that we will take questions. >> the secretary authorize authorized a 1300. there are only 1,000 coming from the airborne.

>> deploying in various capacities from multiple services, largely enabling my counterintelligence, logistics signal companies. it is multis service army air force marine corps and in smaller numbers but in specific enabler capacities quite a good chunk of the troops that we will be included in this 1500 to 1500 devoted to those enabling capabilities. i don't have every unit. the solutions have been arrived at. small groups, and groups, and i just don't have that level of detail. >> has the secretary received the recommendations from the army on those recommendations complete it is the report complete.

>> the sec. has not been briefed on the results of the bergdahl investigation. i suspect he we will be. "the work is done, but i work for utah army, and just to be clear i won't be eating out the briefing. this is an army investigation. we will refer to the already speak to it. >> who will ultimately decide his great? >> who will ultimately the five -- decide his fate. >> recommendations, but who is the final -- who makes the final decision? >> without getting ahead of findings and conclusions or any process issues the question if i could challenge the prelates,

premise of the premise of the question is there an albert decision that needs to be made. it would be done by army leaders, and i could not begin to tell you at what level that would be or a certain name of an individual might. it is an army organizational is to. >> is anyone going to make any portion of these findings public. >> no. >> you don't expect people hear anything about this report until next year. in other words, while the secretary be briefed? our reports that this is scheduled to come out before the break. >> again, i cannot get ahead of a process that does not belong to ost. it is for the army to decide what the next steps are. i cannot get out of that.

let let me just put that aside. it is a fact that you have seen this before, separate and distinct from any discussion,, you have seen this before, investigations or use and follow on judicial processes and therefore are not released until those judicial processes are complete. i cannot speak to the timing of a release of the report but can tell you that we as a department that they won't kill any faster in terms of process. you are not going to see it today. i can tell you that for a fact. >> the secretary will

respect to the findings of the army or he has the ability to overrule. >> to be briefed this afternoon, and army investigation. >> the secretary has no input. >> if you we will change it in some regard will modify it, i don't expect so. >> this is an army investigation. >> i will be very clear, he is getting briefed on the findings of the investigation. there is no expectation that there is going to be -- that people have any change. my goodness, he has not even gotten it yet.

>> i am not a military lawyer. it is an army investigation, and army decision to determine what if anything they we will do as a result of the investigation. the secretary is being briefed. >> an application that he does have some authority on my even do a little arm-twisting. >> the secretary is not going to do any arm-twisting he has not been buried. i cannot characterize what his reaction would be, but there is no role in the process to modify the investigation. >> if it is not subject to change wireless holding him.

>> i have answered the question. >> but we don't get it. the secretary gets to see it we have waiting for a while now. >> at the appropriate time the army will make the investigation public. it is not going to be today. >> why exactly. >> is looking forward to taking a look at the findings. >> the next step for the army. >> you would have to talk to the army. i don't know. this is an army investigation. investigation. i will get ahead of the. >> would you expect the secretary to briefed the white house? >> no. >> yesterday, a strategy

with 5,000 men. give us more clarification. >> i'm pretty sure the gigolo covered this yesterday. let me just go back and remind you where we are. designed around getting 12 brigades through the training,, and we're in the process now (the sites for that training and trainers. the focus initially will be on those 12 brigades. i have also said and will continue to say that as part of this plan eventually there could be training given to trials. tribesmen.

we are not at that stage. whatever training would occur would be done through, by car and with iraqi security force trainers. this is this is something that we have talked to them about and they very much need to own. we are simply not at that stage right now. getting the trainers over there,, getting the sites completed and ready to retrieve trainees and focusing on those brigades. >> of private data medics and wondering if it is common for president following a court-martial proceeding. >> i do not no the answer to either of your questions. i will not speak to the

president's decision-making process. the second president, we can look and see. i just cannot help you with that. >> the reports that have focused on syria, personnel. are you planning on sending additional personnel. >> you have seen the reports about the additional kidnappings. we kidnappings. we do not have any application developer operational reporting. it it remains a threat to the people of the region and we have continued to partner and offer assistance to the nigerian government with their counterterrorism effort. i do not have anything to announce. >> a question about north korea. speculation, further attacks

i'm curious, from a military perspective that the us military, cyber capabilities and further threats, from military spirit. >> without speaking to anything specific with regard to sunni pictures come as you no we take cyber threats very seriously committed to any number of state and nonstate actors. i won't get into a laundry list are today, today, but this is something the secretary takes seriously and why he has devoted so much of his energy to the main and is something we are constantly mindful of. it is also a domain where you have to be circumspect about the degree, the specificity to which you talk about the thread, challenges, and whatever responses are available.

the defense department is certainly on a routine basis separate and distinct from the sony pictures issue on a routine basis part and parcel, broad us government approach. >> is the us cyber command. >> this is an fbi investigation. that said, we we have been part of the interagency discussions about this incident. >> to follow on, the fbi is blaming north korea for the attack. at what.is it an act of war and that what.does us cyber command react? >> i know of no official

determination about the source of the attacks. as i said, we are a part of the interagency discussion about the incident. i am also not able to lay out what would be all would not be an act of war. it is not like there is a demarcation line that exists cyber domain remains challenging, fluid, part of the reason why is because

their are not internationally accepted norms and protocols which is something that we have been certainly arguing for. >> been informed. >> i don't know. >> if it is not the secretary, who will ultimately sign off? >> i would refer you to the army. they really they really are better prepared to speak to process. >> i wonder if you no what type of ships and the comment on this. >> i do not have any specifics on this transfer. this is not an atypical type

of transfer. nothing has nothing has changed about the fact that we very much want to continue to pursue a constructive relationship, and there have been positive signs just this past year. participating in the rim of the pacific exercise, and we we will continue to look, the incoming pacific cmdr. talk publicly about that that their are opportunities. there is no need to look at the military relationship with china as adversarial. >> excess vessels as opposed to newly built ships. explain a little bit about the, access to inventory. >> i don't have that detail.

i can try to look it up. i don't have it available. >> can you say specifically where these troops are going? >> i would refer you to specifics. >> still being appointed. going to some or maybe all.

i i do not no how you can abortion. >> your assessment and also the training going on. >> an update on training. training. i know it is ongoing. and the airstrikes, there has been an act's purse interest. more activity from the air. what i tell you is that we are conducting airstrikes at an appropriate piece and with an appropriate sense of precision and urgency to meet the threats inside, both the threats posed by iis il and our ability to support iraqi security forces on the ground.

you see a big spike in this week, but that was to help prepare the passmark and for the operations they conducted which while still ongoing have proven to be promising so for. there was a spike. again, in keeping with the exact way we are approaching the business of her strikes. it is twofold. go after them where we no we can we appreciate but to support iraqi security forces on the ground. you will see the numbers fluctuate, and that is what -- that is the measure we are using to determine how many are done where and with what frequency. it is not a matter of more or less. it less. it has to be appropriate to threaten the operation on the ground. >> the level of confidence on the iraqi participation on some of these strikes. how can they inspire

confidence. >> they have a limited a limited airstrike capability right now. we know that. they have in recent weeks conducted a few sporadic kinetic airstrikes of there own, but it is -- they have a limited capability command the other thing -- and a capability the capability that we are trying to help them develop and improve. it is not just about the united states aircraft. there are coalition partners with everyday you see the press releases that are participating. it is not just us doing this for them. third-party of other nations that are contributing. everyone wants to see the iraqi government and military improve their capabilities to do this eventually. >> the normalization of relations and tail the return of one time obey to

cuba. >> i am not prepared to rule anything in or out. the the beginning of this process of more normal relations with cuba. i suspect i suspect that just like every other agency their will be a defense department aspect and a defense relationship at some.on some level. it is too soon to make any determinations about what that would look like a what a what the impact would be with respect to the base. that said, nothing has changed about our support as an institution for the policy of closing the detention facility and that policy we will continue. as for the base itself, it is too soon to tell.

>> i don't have any direct knowledge of the discussions. i cannot say one way or the other. it is way too soon in the process for decisions specific initiatives to be discussed. [inaudible conversations] >> their advise and assist mission will be exactly the same as ever is in terms of level of command as it is right now. what makes this different is simply the geography because we are now advising teams.

they will be out of place and advising and assisting at the same higher headquarters level. >> at the troop level. >> going out in partnership. >> training iraqi troops. >> there are two missions. advise and assist. it is troops that are going to be advisors will be advising at the same level, the division and brigade level. that is advising, giving advice and counsel. there are a their are a great number of these troops that we will be involved and hands-on training of the iraqi brigades, and so they we will be involved with troop interaction of iraqi security force personnel

once those iraqi brigades have been identified. there are two components. some troop on troop contact in the training environment on those facilities but not out in the field. does that answer your question? >> it leads you to believe that those iraqi forces are not capable or equipped to conduct combat -- combat operations. >> these forces have to go back and then teach them basic training. >> we train our own troops all the time. thinking through various months of training not just at the beginning of the endless mental tories but all throughout. we constantly -- it is one of the things the us military does well his train and develop and improve the capabilities of our own troops. this does not mean that they are incapable. we have talked about this.

some units are more competent and capable than others. the iraqi government will choose those days that they want to focus on for the first implementation of the training program, and, and i suspect that the train is working with them will find that they are at varying degrees of competence and skill. training is something you never stop doing or trying to improve and the fact that someone is going through additional training does not mean that they are not competent all caps off. >> of personal question. back surgery just this week. is there any potential that his recovery time might delay his nomination hearing?

>> i am not able to speak to dr. carter's doctor carter's health situation and it would be inappropriate for me to do that. i can tell you the secretary wishes him well on his recovery as well. i have nothing -- i have no information and would not speak to his recovery time for. >> is the pentagon at all concerned that they may be in danger of being cyber attack or? >> i did not no we had one. it is funny you should ask because i did get an update this morning from norad. bear with me. they have broken this down.

they verified the loadbearing capacity. --dash a column written to track. [inaudible conversations] >> landscapes into a level of classification am not prepared for. >> @did not have it at the time.

>> a radar to detect any and all objects. in this space domain domain are infrared detecting satellites are calibrated to see. >> again, you are asking me for a level of detail i i am not able to get into. they report that they are ready to escort santa through our coordination. we can confirm that north american airspace is safe. >> delegated to a patrol mission. >> it sounds like they are ready. >> that would be nice. anything else? i wish you all a happy holiday season.

>> president obama held his year end is conference about a range of issues question first. sony is a corporation. it suffered significant damage. there were threats against its employees. i am sympathetic to the concerns .hey faced having said all that, yes, i think they made a mistake. interconnected, digital

, there are going to be toortunities for hackers engage in cyber attacks in the public sector am the private sector. business isder of -- theset these tax attacks from taking place. when i first came into office, i security team to do what we could at the government level. but a lot more needs to be done. i hopethe things that congress will work on in the new year is stronger cyber security laws that allow for information sharing across private vector as well as the public sector so that we are

incorporating best practices and preventing these attacks from happening in the first place. as we get better, the hackers are going to get better to. be stategoing to actors. some are going to be nonstate actors. all are going to be sophisticated and many will do some damage. a society ine which some dictator someplace starts imposing censorship here in the united states. somebody is able to intimidate folks out of releasing a satirical movie, imagine what they start doing when they see a documentary they don't like or news reports they don't like. or even worse, imagine if

producers and distributors and starting to aging and self-censorship because they don't want to offend the somebody who of sensibilities probably need to be offended. that's not who we are. that's not what america is about. again, i am sympathetic that sony has worries about liability . i wish they had spoken to me first. do not gettold them

>> good morning. on behalf of our chairman of the board recently elected as a pleasure to have you. if we say that now because we dedicated this building to the history of the legacy it was an interesting event that created that. is a great privilege and pleasure to introduce our guest speaker. it is somebody i have known

for a lot of years and highly respect him and what he has done in his life and career. he will talk to the tune its general said clark. he is he is the consummate total force airmen, united states air force components that blends together seamlessly. gen. clark has had jobs of increasing responsibility not only in washington but all over the world having been a deputy a eight, my commander in the air national guard and the commander at the air force base in florida. amazing life, career, great family, and i welcome all of you to hear share his remarks. over to you. welcome to the association.

>> appreciated to a timeout to come over here and listen to me talk about the air national guard and air force it is a great opportunity. alcohol, cholesterol, tylenol, sometimes an hour. talk about our balance strategy. for all of you he did a great job of introducing the people like myself never get anywhere without the assistance of others.

a swift kick in the you no what. he has been their time and time again. i appreciate the invitation to be here. the speech today i will kind of breakdown for you a little bit about the air national guard in terms of what we do not so much about who we are or how many units behalf. a little bit about the things and activities that we do and my vision of how we utilize the air national guard on behalf of the governors and the air force in the nation and our partners. with that i will get into what i call our balance strategy. the national guard at large and actually talk about how

important it is. it is responsible for things in the homeland. error national guard, we guard, we are a obviously involved in war fighting operations, homeland operations. it was it was not that obvious until i became the director of rationalizing and the security operation rome which is beyond just ensuring operations. i talked about that more. when he comes to work fighting involved in operations going back to 1991 we have been engaged during a variety of things higher tempo. i was a part of counter drug

operations, something that reflects what we were doing, how engage we have been. about the same time that we had the attack of the nation at the level that it was and the magnitude of what happened we were transitioning more to an operational reserve concept. that got us busy and put us on the first train. we were equipped, trained, and our, and our focus on what we do as a component had moved us in a big way. i have had an opportunity in my career to watch that happened.

the air national guard is a prudent choice. make sure that the entry national guard and air force reserve or able to deploy on moments notice and support of things that were the air force requested a mission regardless of where it was we train to the same standards, inspections, ensuring that we are reliable war fighting department. the air the air force does not hesitate mobilizing our

people for any task, and they do that on a regular basis. if we we will be heavily engaged. i i do not think you will see a slowdown. as a proven choice. let me give you a quick example as a director of combat operations working for the lieutenant general. he called me as they are starting to dustup and told me i heard about your

capabilities that you have and i want you to be a wing commander. in addition there might be other things. he was right. the national regard that allowed us to be a selected the unit to lead an effort against our important mission that is the counters that the commission. we were able to modify our airplanes, train our aircrew and then mobilize in support of operations iraqi freedom

and international guard unit and other units to join together to like to probably arguably a very important mission across the greater middle east. we were trained to do that. the expectations were high. we had the equipment. i will come back. the.that we were trained at a high level to do these operations. we were trained to level to not only do the operations but to stand up ourselves

will we had to build the taxiways to make sure that we were capable of doing robust 24 hour operations and do it without causing fratricide. a high expectation and international guard unit will did this. that is the. it continues on today. it is unique. i am proud of how we do that

and having the vision to push forward 11 years 11 years ago. time flies. this year i think about some of the war fighters. the presentations i have had an opportunity to be a part of. in march 1 of the most unique months in my career. two different presentation ceremonies. the first one was the 105th airlift wing based defense squadron which had been deployed to afghanistan for six months which engaged in activities of supporting outside the wire of the base defending the base limiting

the rocket attacks, making sure that the approach is to end from the runway were clear and they were heavily engaged. the ceremony again i have never had an opportunity to do something like this before, but at this ceremony half percent have presented five bronze stars, 12 purple hearts and 12 combat action metals, senior airman, two purple hearts in the combat action metal and one thing that struck me, about this tall and working on her second college degree. proud of people as a mammon,

a citizen of this country, people we have that we will step forward time and time again to do what is right and defend our nation and do it as a part of a team. later in march i went out that same month to our special tactics squadron,, the air piece special operations that goes out with the units, green berets, seals, and does not make a difference, but they embed themselves. a special tactics squadron with a truly makes a difference in the battlefields in afghanistan and iraq. at this ceremony had the opportunity to present a

silver star and three bronze stars -- sorry, five bronze stars. one of our outstanding airmen of the year. also. also a college student, same question, go back. i cannot wait. wounded, protected his and basically has part of his leg blown off, engaged the enemy, called an app power at the same time, time, remarkable individual but trained to air force standards and expectations. when i talk about being a proven choice i can back that up and am proud. i consider the separate part

of domestic operations. i believe that we are first choice, structured constitutionally, we will respond to the governor's request inside the country indeed 93% of the equipment at the air national guard that supports the war fight can also support domestic operations. a natural map -- matchup of capabilities. the war fight and homeland operations commission and everybody understands as a member of the national guard , it is an important thing to remember we talk about the uniqueness of components. inside of the homeland operations mission the airspace control operation that we do 247 ever since 911 day today is 100 percent

error national guard and the fighters on alert around the nation are also tanker units on alert providing air sovereignty over the nation is an important part to remember that we defend this nation day in and day out and largely the command and control structure for the air national guard. they get me going back to the air force expectations of the components expect the air national guard to do that mission. our nation expects the air national guard without fail, without hesitation day and and day out. you do not here much about that mission, but it is there. it there. it is always there. it is the life insurance policy, something that we do day in and day out.

the other homeland operations missions that we support, 15 or 20 different varieties. ..

>> >> but with the capabilities of equipment into that air men as well. not ro only kirby daschle guard but somehow the air national guard and sent to be calling out the eric lin to do the to put the one stay active duty if it gets to be a bigger problem or issue it has to be contained in the region have funding for the manpower also but he's even today with members of the southwest border to

support those that are important to the governor. we believe we our first choice because of our capabilities. two weeks ago if you remember portsmouth was hit with devastating tornadoes. in the same treaty was hit in 2011. in the last 11 of the earvin put the family into the hallway but when the tornado hit the house found itself over his children and was killed when a beam hits him in the back i was there to present to his family their

mettle. in their previous to that as rector of the international guard dash watched the presentation to the year mitt and metal in search of lansbury was the teacher at the middle school who when the gunshots happened went down to where the student was shooting other students to put himself between the student in the shooter to talk him into stopping what he was doing and try to disarm him but in that event you were shot as well. the international guard earvin did not run away from the gunfire but to it. and knew that was the right thing to do. we're very proud of somebody like that. so if i returned to is the third part of the homeland

balanced strategy to talk to us security cooperation it is part of a triad of missions that i did not have a lot of knowledge of and teller was director of national guard. is familiar with the state governorship program we have 74 states partnerships. with the institution of our military. we had no idea how that would grow into what became idea -- today. the program has been highly successful. and with those long interrelationships end our relationship 20 years pays

multiple dividends it even to date looking at the mission because of the f-16 mission in we have partnered with them in the platform. so greasy benefits we have not even counted on in years prior. also the partnership program to have bilateral relationships in a when people talk about the iraqis do you know, you train them? rhode island and national guard. in to do maintain? if you go to the 162nd

fighter wing you will find people being trained and how to operate by a - - f-16s and multiple other countries. if you go to saint john misery you'll go to the tactic center to train other rivers. i had no idea and tell a decade to this job and still learning things today how involved we are. it is a great program. our opportunity to continue to do that it does take some funding but it is all long-term relationships it with the national guard we

stay with units for a long time. so we will continue to the same idea is that america us does on behalf of the commanders with the embassy country teams anybody he thinks it is the right thing to do henry to make this strategy a bigger piece. i gave you three missionaries. 70% part-time leveraging a skill sets out there very passionate people. it might be a second job. but as people create their

civilian life around the guard life as opposed to creating the card life around the civilian life is the natural change. and how much you can do with that i say we will take on what we can but if we have done too many deployments are too much of anything. have had employers complain about what we do. i think a lot of the credit goes to the fact that when i walk thru airport with my uniform people will buy up to meet and shake my hand to say thank you for serving the nation. it happens multiple times to buy coffee in an ice-cream people save you want to ride in first-class which i cannot do but it is the gratitude of the nation.

not just the pay in the benefits that the opportunity to serve the nation and i am proud to wear the uniform in the credit goes back to the airforce that people are prodded the air national guard. en huckabee talk about but then how we do things with sexual assault prevention there is always up front. it in the commander rich eliot more than 50 percent of the time is on personal issues. if this time his budget and maintenance and facilities. but that my priority is to

make sure we are a seamless never going forward. there is more opportunity to do that in the future sarah will work with the secretary of their force which by the way our outstanding members of the air force in their own right but outstanding as well. including the match, the commanders. >> also want to make sure the equipment that we have today will be recapitalized and modernized as we go forward. of all the things we just told you on behalf of the air force in the nation it is only appropriate recapitalized to the united states air force provide will stand on the ground in

testimony tuesday that is keystone fact to be value-added allow them to feel the airplanes are safe in reliable that they can do anything. sometimes lights out. in to feel confident. so going full circle it is the important part of what we do and we don't solicit that money from congress but they give it to west because they observe how they're serving where we have a gap they will put money back into support the air force

such as spent on domestic things to make sure the dual purpose programs that i find most interesting in history is the data link. but to make sure there is a war fighting component that the targeting pods it was the very reason that general mosley said the u.s. are big in this effort is not that never would have been written. today we find those cells in

the unique situation it has to be modernized and so we can recapitalize the repair ties to make sure the air force is on board. then we have a test center to take commercial off-the-shelf equipment without spending money on research or development to incorporate quickly into the airplanes and has worked to time and time again this very same unit i took 11 years ago just returned from a six month deployment in afghanistan.

but it quickly turns them for word after six months in afghanistan returned home. that money is very well spent. extremely well spent. it is defendable and repeatable in something that we think is key with the legacy airplanes railways have the capabilities. we abide by the explosive ordinance. things that we think are important on america's worst night reaching guarantee he will be out the door or across the state because of that strategy is and we will be there.

i always tell people that you are always on a mission. you could have somebody return from afghanistan and the next day tornado, flood, fire, earthq uake you can bet there would be called out the next day and put to work. with that bilateral event we're very proud of that. so in conclusion soon to become a part of a different airforce. but also from three domains air and space and cyber.

we are involved with all of those activities with every mission said there is not a single one we cannot do. in doing that operations engaged. with all the planets overseas we find ourselves very proud of the international guard and air force. with that i will give you a chance to ask me questions. thank-you. [applause] >> because of our great friends that c-span it will be televised throughout the holidays breaded -- brigitte has a microphone. as we get ready for questions i can only thank you again for your message that the consistency over time from leadership like

bruce baker or james taylor from today are the same words that pepos go back to the 1980's with their thanks to the united states air force for the seamless this day and this is a tremendous to be part of the air force the secretary and chief are doing a great job to keep that together like the air force association. so who has a question for general clark? >> faq for coming out to talk to us today. the other we have a national defense bill can a new share thoughts on the future of modernization to the global

air traffic management system? student to have the of lion's share of c-130 is the and one thing that we recognize the with operations over the past 12 years but was is pressing with us is in the of the mandates where the faa has told us with their space management where they provide the information with the separation between the aircraft that we have to figure at away to modernize the airplanes. is there not compliant they are still flying it should be but you have to comply with any think it is provided for the minister

and authorities. we're at a point now where we believe it is appropriate there planes get mitt imam modernization when people ask about modernization efforts i tell them airplanes have to be safe and reliable and compatible how they serve, and commanders in the aerospace management issue. there are many things with the efforts that can be accomplished with that is the first one. so we have an opportunity to explore ways where we get that piece done first and then instruments or other things that we have got to do this first by the way

this is not just the c-130 issue but affects the whole united states air force paid modifications to be compliant with those instructions from the faa. >> please wait for the microphone. >> good morning. i with a sergeant's association thinks for putting this on it taking time to speak to us with us moving forward with a fly 16 in the military compensation will come up with a report to affect personnel.

in those impact procurement or a mission in set it aside from concerns in general is there anything specific you could share moving forward with personnel procurement? >> with that weapon system that we have it will be remarkably brazilian to so not all the air force but said good news is to take 980 mission with multiple platforms in the day doing very quickly.

for what you do a ungloved but by and large to just be a part of the air national guard in date will forgo something else to complete the transition. when it comes to pay it compensation they do get questions about the future. and of the questions i do get asked the most is one like it a chance to be deployed again? secretary james said the other -- the same thing that is one of the most thrilling thing cycad asked time id time again. is the environment where

people feel they are used because it is value added during the cold war we had a lot of training but we never thought we would use our capabilities. it is like sharpening a knife aha all the time but never getting to use it. , but it is sharpened all the time. id used all the time. that is the future of the personal for procure mitt. obviously working and their sequestration that will be a difficult and fire mitt -- and fired mitt. environment. but we have to find a way to be reliable and compatible and never ask eric to do something for anything that

is the reliable i love my 61 corvette. it turns on a dime. but i don't trust it beyond 10 miles. but to that point asking your men to fly the 61 model airplanes through thousands of miles of open ocean at night into combat areas without hesitation. that is all important to help that legacy but at some point we have to recapitalize. that 61 corvette will be a relic so with some point we have to move onto something else. with the overall recapitalization efforts

they are including us in the program we will get some casey 46. we would get those in the international guard. to invite to in the active association with the air national guard we think that is important and it truly makes us a seamless force. so that is why he vision as we go forward. it will be tough. >> i appreciate the opportunity i hope everybody has a holidays and travels well and good luck on i-95.

[laughter] [applause] >> on behalf of the deep of the mitchell institute. we are proud to have you speak to us with the last session of 2014 this is the last event of the first full year which has seen as travel with the chief to be your city or the undersecretary to boston to a large contingent working in loss into the sea and we are very proud of what the mitchell institute is doing. so would not happen without your support budget is high time that air power gets covered at the same rate as other services.

we will give you this book air commanders of the nation's history. but there is some great leaders there and we appreciate it very much. with my executive vice president who by the way committed the first fighter wing at langley we decided that size matters with the size of your colleagues. [laughter] so we will use dash of the largest point in the world so you better have it with few the next time we see. [laughter] [applause] that does wrap up the program today. id working closely with you. industry partners or members of the card in the civilian

work force have a wonderful holiday and come back this will be equally exciting next year. god bless. [applause] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]

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