Rep. Ike Skelton Holds a Hearing On Pakistan Security and Stability

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Rep. Ike Skelton Holds a Hearing On Pakistan Security and Stability

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES HOLDS A HEARING ON PAKISTAN SECURITY AND STABILITY

APRIL 29, 2010

SPEAKERS: REP. IKE SKELTON, D-MO. CHAIRMAN REP. JOHN M. SPRATT JR., D-S.C. REP. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, D-TEXAS REP. GENE TAYLOR, D-MISS. REP. SILVESTRE REYES, D-TEXAS REP. VIC SNYDER, D-ARK. REP. ADAM SMITH, D-WASH. REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ, D-CALIF. REP. MIKE MCINTYRE, D-N.C. REP. ROBERT A. BRADY, D-PA. REP. ROBERT E. ANDREWS, D-N.J. REP. SUSAN A. DAVIS, D-CALIF. REP. JIM LANGEVIN, D-R.I. REP. RICK LARSEN, D-WASH. REP. JIM COOPER, D-TENN. REP. JIM MARSHALL, D-GA. DEL. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO, D-GUAM REP. BRAD ELLSWORTH, D-IND. REP. PATRICK J. MURPHY, D-PA. REP. HANK JOHNSON, D-GA. REP. CAROL SHEA-PORTER, D-N.H. REP. JOE COURTNEY, D-CONN. REP. DAVE LOEBSACK, D-IOWA REP. JOE SESTAK, D-PA. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, D-ARIZ. REP. NIKI TSONGAS, D-MASS. REP. GLENN G. NYE III, D-VA. REP. CHELLIE PINGREE, D-MAINE REP. LARRY KISSELL, D-N.C. REP. MARTIN HEINRICH, D-N.M. REP. FRANK M. KRATOVIL JR., D-MD. REP. BOBBY BRIGHT, D-ALA. REP. SCOTT MURPHY, D-N.Y. REP. BILL OWENS, D-N.Y. REP. DAN BOREN, D-OKLA.

REP. HOWARD P. "BUCK" MCKEON, R-CALIF. RANKING MEMBER REP. ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, R-MD. REP. WILLIAM M. "MAC" THORNBERRY, R-TEXAS REP. WALTER B. JONES, R-N.C. REP. TODD AKIN, R-MO. REP. J. RANDY FORBES, R-VA. REP. JEFF MILLER, R-FLA. REP. JOE WILSON, R-S.C. REP. FRANK A. LOBIONDO, R-N.J. REP. ROB BISHOP, R-UTAH REP. MICHAEL R. TURNER, R-OHIO REP. JOHN KLINE, R-MINN. REP. MIKE D. ROGERS, R-ALA. REP. TRENT FRANKS, R-ARIZ. REP. BILL SHUSTER, R-PA. REP. CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS, R-WASH. REP. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY, R-TEXAS REP. DOUG LAMBORN, R-COLO REP. ROB WITTMAN, R-VA. REP. TOM ROONEY, R-FLA. REP. MARY FALLIN, R-OKLA. REP. MIKE COFFMAN, R-COLO. REP. DUNCAN D. HUNTER, R-CALIF. REP. JOHN FLEMING, R-LA. REP. TODD R. PLATTS, R-PA. WITNESSES: MICHELE A. FLOURNOY, UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR POLICY

LIEUTENANT GENERAL JOHN PAXTON JR. (USMC), DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (J-3), JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

ANDREW J. SHAPIRO, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF STATE

PAUL JONES, DEPUTY TO U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY TO PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN HOLBROOKE

[*] SKELTON: Morning.

This morning, we have with us the Honorable Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy at the Department of Defense; Lieutenant General John Paxton, director for operations with the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Honorable Andrew Shapiro, assistant secretary for political-military affairs with the Department of State. We welcome you and thank you for being with us.

Before we begin, let me remind the members that this is open to -- so today's discussion should be solely involving unclassified matters and not matters of national classification.

Pakistan's continued security challenges have serious implications for our national and homeland security, for our efforts in Afghanistan, as well as for the security in that region.

In fact, there's no security relationship in the world today more important than the relationship between the United States military and the military of Pakistan. This relationship has experienced its ups and downs over years, but today, as we speak, it is solid, and it must remain so if we are to serve the interests of both nations.

The relationship is founded on the fact that our national interests align in fundamental ways. It's also sustained by the personal and professional relationship between the two nations' officer corps and not least by the mutual support we provide each other in the fight against Al Qaida and the Taliban.

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