Good morning, everybody. Time to givee some you a quick update about the situation in iraq. Meetingy, i convened a with my National Security discuss the situation there and this morning i received an update from my team. Days wevest several seen significant gains made by organizationrist that operates in both iraq and in syria. A terroristof offensive, Iraqi Security forces have proven unable to defend a which hascities allowed the terrorists to overrun part of iraqs territory danger to iraqa and its people, and, given the of these terrorists, it could pose a threat eventually to american interests, as well. Is not brand new. Over the last year, we have been up our Security Assistance to the Iraqi Government with increased equipping and intelligence. Now, iraq needs additional momentum ofreak the Extremist Groups and bolster the capabilities of Iraqi Security forces. Will not be sending u. S. Troops back into combat in iraq but i have asked my National Security team to prepare a range helpher options that could support iraq Security Forces and ill be reviewing those options the days ahead. I do want to be clear, though, this is not solely or even primarily a military challenge. Over the past decade, american have made extraordinary sacrifices to give iraqis an ownrtunity to claim their future. Leadersately, iraqi have been unable to overcome, too often, the mistrust and differences that has and been simmering there thats created vulnerabilities within the Iraqi Government as well as their Security Forces so we may take to provide assistance to iraqi be joinedorces has to by a serious and sincere effort asideqs leaders to set sectarian differences, to accountstability and for the legitimate interests of iraqs communities and continue to build the capacity of an Effective Security force. We cant do it for them. And in the absence of this type of political effort, shortterm military action, including any provide,e we might wont succeed so this should be a wakeup call. Demonstrate have to a willingness to make hard decisions and compromises on the iraqi people in order to bring the country together. In that effort, they will have support of the United States and our friends and our allies. Somes neighbors also have responsibilities to support this process. Nobody has an interest in seeing gain a foothold and nobody will benefit from seeing iraq descend into chaos so the United States will do our part but understand that ultimately its up to the iraqis as a sovereign nation to problems. R indeed, across region, we have efforts to help build more capable Counterterrorism Forces so that like isil cant establish safe haven and well continue supportrt through the of our moderate opposition in anda, our support for iraq its Security Forces and our partnership with other countries across the region. Pursuelso going to intensive diplomacy throughout and period both inside iraq across the region because theres never going to be stability in iraq and the region unless there are political processes that allow differencess solve peacefully without resorting to relying on the military. Be remainiority will being vigilant to any threats to our personnel serving overseas. Will consult closely with congress as we make about theions appropriate action and will keep the American People fully make decisions about the way forward. Ill take a question. Recent u. S. History there, you reluctant to get involved with iraq . Should look at the situation carefully. We have an interest in making a group like isil, which is a vicious organization and has been able to take advantage of the chaos in syria, a broaderdont get foothold. I think there are dangerous of sectarian fighting if, for example, the terrorist organizations try to overrun sacred shia sites which could trigger shiasunni conflicts that could be very hard to stamp out so we have enormous interests there and obviously the americand people and the american taxpayers made huge investments order to give in iraqis the opportunity to chart course, a better destiny. But ultimately theyre going to to seize it. As i said before, we are not going to be able to do it for them and given the very difficult history that weve in iraq, i think that any objective observer would ofognize that in the absence accommodation among the various factions inside of iraq, various military actions by the United States, by any outside nation, are not going to solve those problems over the long term and deliver the stability that we need. Anybody else . Mr. President , is the Syrian Civil War spilling over the iraq border . Been happenings for some time. Isil has been able to gain a foothold in syria. Thats part of the reason why we have been so concerned about it. Thats part of the reason why we supporting the Syrian Opposition there but its a problem. Ng in iraq, the Iraqi Government, toch was initially resistant some of our offers of help, has recognized now to that cooperation with us on some be useful. Sues can obviously thats not the case in assad hase president no interest in seeing us and where some of the governments that are supporting aside have been able block, for example, u. N. Efforts even at humanitarian aid is a regional problem and it is going to be a longterm problem. Have to were going to do is combine selective actions by our military to make sure were going after terrorists who could harm our eventuallyverseas or hit the homeland. Were going to have to combine is a verywhat Challenging International effort to rebuild countries and communities that have been shattered by sectarian war. Task. Ats not an easy willing to doey were in contact with them now. Well have a better sense by the weekend after those consultations and we will be sense from them of how they might support an to bring bring about unitynd of political inside of iraq that bolsters Security Forces. Poured ad states has lot of money into these iraqi devoted aorces and we lot of training to Iraqi Security forces. The fact that they are not to stand and fight and againstheir posts admittedly hardened terrorists who areterrorists overwhelming in numbers, problems that theres a with morale, theres a problem in terms of commitment, and ultimately thats rooted in the political problems that have veryed the country for a long time. Last question. Last one. Thank you. Can you talk a little bit about u. S. Concern of the disruption potential disruption of oil supplies . Far, at least, we have not major disruptions in oil supplies. Obviously, if, in fact, isil was able to obtain control over significant, refineries, that could be a source of concern. Might expect, world oil markets react to any kind of instability in the middle east. One of our goals should be to in cooping cooperation with other countries only are wen, not creating a backstop in terms of whats happening inside of iraq, but if there do end up being thatptions inside of iraq, some of the other producers in the gulf be able to pick up the slack so that will be part of consultations taking place during the course of this week. To give people a sense of timing here, although events on the ground in iraq have been quickly, oury ability to plan, whether its work with then or Iraqi Government on some of these political issues, is going so peopleveral days should not anticipate that this is something that is going to happen overnight. We want to make sure that we eyes on the situation there. We want to make sure that weve intelligencethe its necessary so that if, in fact, i do direct and order any actions there that theyre targeted, theyre precise and theyre going to have an effect as i indicated before and i want to make sure everybody understands this message, the is not simply going to involve itself in a absence action in the of a political plan by the iraqis that gives us some assurance that theyre prepared to work together. Were not going to allow backlves to be dragged into a situation in which, while were keeping a lid on things and after enormous sacrifices by us, as soon as were not there, suddenly people acting in ways that are not conducive to the longterm and prosperity of the country. Thank you very much, everybody. Some republican reaction now. Says Speaker John Boehner its long pastime for the president to lay out a plan to andto reverse the spread momentum of terrorism in iraq and a region thats critical to interests. Al the House Foreign AffairsCommittee Chair says this is a chaos. In the president and his team need to be acting urgently, not reviewing options in the days ahead and buck mckeon of california says the white house alla history of considering options while choosing none. There are no quickfix solutions to this crisis and i will not support a oneshot strike that the cameras and has no enduring effect. Defense didnt press contact admiral john kirby says the iraqis disappointed that Security Forces were unable to the islamicd defeat state of iraq and syria. He stressed that the pentagon continues to monitor the andlating violence in iraq is preparing options for the president to consider. 40 minutes. T good afternoon, everybody. Let me start with a brief update on iraq. Secretary hagel continues to monitor the situation there as do defense and military leaders here at the pentagon. Last 38 hours, the secretary has met a number of times with senior military leaders to discuss events on the ground and prepare options for the president s consideration. I wont detail those options but a wideell you they cover range of military capabilities and will be designed, the president says, to help break momentum of isils progress and bolster Iraqi Security any decisionearly to employ these options rests solely with the commanderinchief. Think its important to remember that for several months now we have been be working in close coordination with the state department to augment the capabilities of Iraqi Security forces. On increasingbeen their capacity to defend themselves and their people and taking onponsible for the threats over the long term. In march, we delivered 100 hellfire missiles on an expedited time table bringing some 300. To thats in addition to millions of rounds of small arms fire, ammunition, helicopter fired rockets. Late last year we delivered additional armed scout helicopters to the Iraqi Armed Forces and a few weeks ago we congress of an additional billion dollars in sales. Military secretary believes it is imperative that iraq and its neighbors have Strong Security meet evolving threats and the violence spilling over from syrias borders. Fully committed to that effort but in keeping with that effort we continue to provide counterterrorism support. Support has included i. S. R. Capabilities and we have supportied this i. S. R. In recent days at the request of the Iraqi Government. Think its important to remember that we have some 35,000 u. S. Military personnel in the middle east region. Our forces there work closely each and every day with our against to defend external aggression and terrorist networks that threaten its allies. Before i take your questions, i want to say a few words about hagels meeting this morning with Prime Minister of australia, tony abbott. Discussed the forced Posture Agreement that he and the president announced 25year agreement that will provide an enduring framework for the initiatives governments embarked in november 2011, including rotational presence of marine and air force assets as well as partnerships on space and cyber. Oure deeply grateful for partnership with the Australian Defense force. Secretary hagel looks forward to discussing further defense cooperation at the annual States Military consultations later in year in australia. Questions. Ill take can you provide maybe a detail, do you gotten intobush has the gulf, is heading for the gulf at this point or generally you say when hes expected and can you give any broad assessment of the or capabilities, that the u. S. Believes they may have . Not on your first question, i withnothing to announce respect to force movements and area ofral command responsibility, the aircraft bush and her strike group remain in the region and that for any tasking general austin cares to give them but as we speak right now, theres no Aircraft Carriers into the persian gulf. On your other question, i did use that verb on your other i mean, we have for watching events in iraq isis,ime and watching isils movements and capabilities. Resourcedheyre well and what were seeing is a not unsophisticated degree of cooperation and organization on their part and of course momentum and the president speck spoke to that earlier today about the need in the near term to help iraq break that momentum. As for their capability, these are this is an armed militant Extremist Group and we do know as iraqi secures forces or left andback vacated areas and bases, we have believe that isil have benefited from that with respect equipment anded systems but we dont have a really perfect sense on exactly or and their capabilities of using what theyve got but weve seen the video. You see that theyre driving some of these vehicles, theyre in possession of some of this stuff but id be loathe to tell solid sense what have theyve got. Numbers . Numbers . This isnt this isnt an army, like a nation army. So i think any estimate of numbers would be imperfect but i clearly i think its in the thousands. Weve said for quite some time that they gainnue to they substance and reinforcements from foreign fighters from syria, as well, but i think if you were to characterize it in the thousands, i think thats accurate but again [inaudible question] i just would say stay with thousands. You a hesitant to give hard nob this. Hang on just a second. Answer. Inish the its not the kind of force that put down numerically and to count. Organized nation state army. Left it atk if you thousands, youd be fine. Justin . What plan could you draw up . Realistically are you looking to do if youre not clear on what they have, where what theyre commanding justin, what i said was, we indicationa perfect of the captured equipment that they have. But we have been be watching, as said at the outset of my answer, we certainly have been watching their growth and activities and their inside iraq. Its not that we havent been mindful of the threat that they pose or what theyre capable of doing. And im just simply not going to detail options that that secretary hagel and the leadership here in the pentagon are proposing. But youre confident that you options to take them out if you were told to do so . Our job is to provide the commanderinchief options. We are doing that. We have been in so many other places in the world, were that that we will be able to provide the commanderinchief options to be flexible as he should choose to want to be. Joe . Given the lack of intelligence that the united intes has on the ground iraq, i dont know if you agree with this are you confident that these options that the pentagon leaders are working on president canthe give the Iraqi Government the theytunity to retake what have lost, like the city of mosul and other cities . Joe, your question gets to toective and im just going point back to what the commanderinchief just said a ago, that theres a nearterm objective here to help iraq break this momentum and again, were going to provide to meetthat that try the commanderinchiefs intent in that regard and im just simply not going to go into much greater detail than that but i to alsos important make it clear that over the long it onthis is, as i said tuesday, this is this is is the sovereign state of iraq. They have Security Forces. This is ultimately a threat and a challenge that the government and Iraqi Security force have got to be able to rise to meet. Context, are you aware that the iranian have sentary guards special forces inside iraq and if they did so, whats the that . On reaction on ive seen the press reporting on that, joe, but i have nothing confirm that there are Iranian Special forces inside going to getnot into hypotheticals. The only thing i would say and before is that we encourage all of iraqs neighbors, including iran, to a constructive role in you know, in iraq, clearly, and given the challenges theyre facing but also in the region. Missy. The president said that it consideration to send u. S. Troops back into combat in iraq. Does that imply that it would be or is it under consideration or would it be under consideration to send american soldiers or d. O. D. Civilians to do other things in iraq like advising support, either under oncr. Authority or u. S. Authority . We already have in iraq and have since 2011 a small again, im not going to get into hypotheticals about options may or may not be sent over for the president to consider. I think he was pretty clear about today, what he didnt want to do and, you know, our to provide him options to consider and were doing that but im not going to speculate about what they are, barb. You mentioned at the beginning that youve increased ther. In recent days at request of the Iraqi Government. Can you add to that, in recent days, so in response to this crisis . When did they request . Can you tell us any more about what youre doing and to follow up on justins question, if you dont if the pentagon cant even confirm that there are on the ground,s what is th