Rep. Adam Smith Holds a Hearing On the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget for the U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Northern Command

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Rep. Adam Smith Holds a Hearing On the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget for the U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Northern Command

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON TERRORISM, UNCONVENTIONAL THREATS AND CAPABILITIES HOLDS A HEARING ON FISCAL YEAR 2009 BUDGET FOR U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND AND U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND

MARCH 5, 2008

SPEAKERS: REP. ADAM SMITH, D-WASH. CHAIRMAN REP. MIKE MCINTYRE, D-N.C. REP. ROBERT E. ANDREWS, D-N.J. REP. JIM COOPER, D-TENN. REP. JIM MARSHALL, D-GA. REP. MARK UDALL, D-COLO. REP. BRAD ELLSWORTH, D-IND. REP. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, D-N.Y. REP. KATHY CASTOR, D-FLA. REP. IKE SKELTON, D-MO. EX OFFICIO

REP. WILLIAM M. "MAC" THORNBERRY, R-TEXAS RANKING MEMBER REP. ROBIN HAYES, R-N.C. REP. JOHN KLINE, R-MINN. REP. THELMA DRAKE, R-VA. REP. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY, R-TEXAS REP. H. JAMES SAXTON, R-N.J. REP. DUNCAN HUNTER, R-CALIF. EX OFFICIO

WITNESSES: ADMIRAL ERIC OLSON (USN), COMMANDER, U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

GENERAL VICTOR RENUART JR. (USAF), COMMANDER, NORAD AND U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND

[*] SMITH: We will go ahead and get started, call the committee to order.

We never know when votes are going to interrupt us, but we're certain that they will. I'm sure more members will show up as we get going here, but we'll go ahead and get started.

I want to welcome our witnesses.

Admiral Olson, the commander of Special Operations Command, thank you. It's been, as I noted talking to you earlier, a long day for you. It's started in front of the committee at 10 a.m. We appreciate you being here, both for the full committee and for our subcommittee, and look forward to your testimony.

And, General Renuart, thank you also, head of NORTHCOM; look forward to your testimony and to your comments.

I just have a brief opening statements, and then we'll turn it over to Mr. Thornberry for his opening remarks.

I want to welcome both of you gentlemen here today and appreciate your service. I think both of your areas are incredibly important to our national security and to this committee.

Focusing first on SOCOM, the demands that have been placed on our special operators since 9/11 have been enormous, more than I think any of us have imagined...

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