also, the associated press pentagon correspondent discusses potential changes in the defense departmente next trump administration. c-span's "washington journal,", join in the composition of light at 7:00 eastern to the morning on c-span, c-span now. c-span is your unfiltered view of government. we are funded by these television companies and more, including sparklight. >> what is great internet? is that strong? fast? is it reliable? at sparklight, we know connection goes beyond technology. from monday morning meetings to friday nights with friends, and everything in between. but the best connections are always there right when you need them. how do you know it's great internet? because it works. we are sparklight, and are always working for you. announcer: sparklight supports c-span as a public service along with these other television providers, giving you a front-row seat for democracy. ♪ announcer: defense secretary lloyd austin talked about the fall of bashar al-assad in syria. the secretary of defense made his remarks during the 13th and final trip to the indo-pacific region as pe

. >> joining us of the associated press she covers the pentagon here to talk about the incoming trump administration with the defense department might face good morning. >> before we start click about syria or the defense department lies going forth what's happening in the country. >> the countries in a state of a people there's a lot of questions as to what final state will look like. whether it be sectioned into different projects or interests. there is 900 u.s. forces there. a lot of them are in the south for the sum and the north in the oil fields. they are not on the northern western area. but there's a question will that missionsi be able to continue? the defense department has said troops need to stay there because the counter isis mission. particularly in the southeastern quadrant is where a lot of munitions seem to move her my runback militias to israel for example. so when you lose control of that territory you open ams can of words. >> okay we asked about the trump administration coming in. a if i'm an average person inside the defense department what my expecting within gr

. >> covering the pentagon for the associated press, let's hear from gary, a former military in clevelandare on. caller: good morning. i wanted to check in with regards to the hoop law and regards to pete hegseth. he has been accused, but was never prosecuted. i do not believe they have anything on this guy. host: you are still on, go ahead. caller: yeah, he is x military and i think he will do an excellent job. i'm looking at the current administration and lloyd austin and the way he's conducted himself and i'm awfully disappointed in that man. host: how so? caller: how so? he took a week off and never notified nobody when he was in the hospital. host: ok. guest: that's one week in a 41 year career for lloyd austin who served 41 years, retired a four-star general and came back to be secretary of defense has multiple combats, has led into combat. that was probably one of his biggest mistakes during the 10 year, to not inform not only the public but the president and the press that he had been diagnosed with cancer and was seeking treatment and then when he got into those complications and