to hold the line. >> when they are capable of handling this threat on their own without our assistance, that will be another key criteria indicating to me that we have accomplished our mission of defeat of isis. >> and as you sit here today? >> we're not there, no. we're not there on terms of that. they still require our enablement and our assistance. >> reporter: nonetheless, he emphasized he is carrying out the president's orders. the decision to pull out of syria, the same order that led secretary mattis to resign last year, made without votel's input. >> certainly we're aware that he expressed a desire in the past to depart iraq. >> so you weren't consulted before that decision was announced? >> i was not consulted. >> reporter: now as votel prepares for the drawdown, he acknowledges that russia may