Page:CTRL0000034609 - Transcribed Interview of Kashyap Pramod Patel, (December 9, 2021).pdf/102

102 Let me just read you what General Milley said in discussing—

Which you could've provided to us ahead of time but chose not to, but go ahead.

It's a November 11th memo directing the withdrawal from Somalia and Afghanistan. And General Milley said: When he—Mr. Patel—slid the paper across the desk for me, I said, "Are you behind this?" He said, "No, no. I just saw it. It just came into my inbox. I just saw it."

Okay.

And that doesn't jog your memory or refresh your recollection about giving General Milley—

Me sliding something to the general across the desk, probably happened 150 times.

A November 11th memo purporting to order the withdrawal of troops from Somalia and Afghanistan by January—a date certain before the end of the administration?

I don't remember that occurring.

Is the improper order that we've been discussing—and, again, I think "improper" was your word—is that something having to do with the withdrawal of troops from Somalia and Afghanistan? Is that what triggered this conversation in which you were in and out with Mr. O'Brien, General Milley, and Secretary Miller?

At the White House?

Yes.

Is that what triggered it? I'm not sure what triggered it. We were over there for a number of matters.

What was it that was improper that you—that was being discussed when