Lieutenant General Carter Ham (Usa) Holds Defense Department News Briefing

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Lieutenant General Carter Ham (Usa) Holds Defense Department News Briefing

GENERAL HAM HOLDS A DEFENSE DEPARTMENT NEWS BRIEFING

FEBRUARY 25, 2008

SPEAKER: LIEUTENANT GENERAL CARTER HAM (USA), DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS, J-3, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

[*] HAM: I don't have my partner with me today. Sorry.

QUESTION: There's a story. HAM: That's not a story. We have a "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Just a couple of brief remarks and I'll get to your questions.

Regarding last week's satellite intercept, as General Cartwright told you last week, various tracking systems have continued to monitor the debris following the intercept. And the assessment now is that the intercept was successful in reaching the tank and that the hydrazine contained therein has now dissipated.

Based on the recommendation of General Chilton, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, over this past weekend, we stood down the forces that were ready to respond should any hazardous debris fall to Earth.

From our standpoint, this largely concludes the military operations for this mission. The ships and the two missiles, the two remaining missiles, will now be reconfigured back to their normal status.

We continue to provide intelligence and appropriate information to the Turkish government, as directed. And as part of that agreement, the Turkish military forces informed us and have now undertaken a limited ground operation against the KGK terrori...

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