Rep. John F. Tierney Holds a Hearing On Troops, Diplomats and Aid: Assessing Strategic Resources for Afghanistan

Political Transcript Wire › September 08, 2009

Linked as:

Extract

Rep. John F. Tierney Holds a Hearing On Troops, Diplomats and Aid: Assessing Strategic Resources for Afghanistan

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM, SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOLDS A HEARING ON TROOPS, DIPLOMATS AND AID: ASSESSING STRATEGIC RESOURCES FOR AFGHANISTAN

MARCH 26, 2009

SPEAKERS: REP. JOHN F. TIERNEY, D-MASS. CHAIRMAN REP. CAROLYN B. MALONEY, D-N.Y. REP. PATRICK J. KENNEDY, D-R.I. REP. STEPHEN F. LYNCH, D-MASS. REP. CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY, D-CONN. REP. BILL FOSTER, D-ILL. REP. STEVE DRIEHAUS, D-OHIO REP. HENRY CUELLAR, D-TEXAS REP. DENNIS J. KUCINICH, D-OHIO REP. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, D-MD. REP. PAUL W. HODES, D-N.H. REP. PETER WELCH, D-VT. REP. EDOLPHUS TOWNS, D-N.Y. EX OFFICIO

REP. JEFF FLAKE, R-ARIZ. RANKING MEMBER REP. DAN BURTON, R-IND. REP. TODD R. PLATTS, R-PA. REP. JOHN L. MICA, R-FLA. REP. JOHN J. "JIMMY" DUNCAN JR., R-TENN. REP. MICHAEL R. TURNER, R-OHIO REP. LYNN WESTMORELAND, R-GA. REP. PATRICK T. MCHENRY, R-N.C. REP. JIM JORDAN, R-OHIO REP. JEFF FORTENBERRY, R-NEB. REP. DARRELL ISSA, R-CALIF. EX OFFICIO

WITNESSES: RETIRED ARMY LT. GEN. DAVID BARNO, DIRECTOR, NEAR EAST SOUTH ASIA CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES, NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY, FORMER COMMANDER, COMBINED FORCES COMMAND-AFGHANISTAN OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM

JAMES DOBBINS, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, DEFENSE POLICY, RAND CORPORATION, FORMER REPRESENTATIVE TO THE AFGHAN OPPOSITION, FORMER SPECIAL ENVOY FOR AFGHANISTAN

FREDERICK KAGAN, RESIDENT SCHOLAR, AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE

DAVID KILCULLEN, SENIOR NON-RESIDENT FELLOW, CENTER FOR A NEW AMERICAN SECURITY, PARTNER, CRUMPTON GROUP LLC, FORMER SPECIAL ADVISOR, COUNTERINSURGENCY, SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE

[*] TIERNEY: Good morning. I apologize for being just a touch late. I have tp say I had my jokes all prepared on General Barno. I was going to say how he was late and all that, logistical work that he have been doing over in Afghanistan and Pakistan, he couldn't get here on time, when you ended up being on time and I ended up being late so. So, so much for that.

I thank all the witnesses for being here, Mr. Flake, as well.

]] Now, before we get started, I do just want to mention that we have a particular guest with us here this morning, Representative Carolyn Maloney, who does an incredible amount of work on human rights, particularly in this South Asia area of the world, has a guest in town, and that is Dr. Sommers (ph) -- am I saying that properly?

I just want to introduce her and thank her for her attendance. She is working hard to guarantee the equality for Afghan women throughout Afghanistan and doing quite a bit of work on that on the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission.

So, thank you for your work and thank you for joining us here this morning.

We have a quorum present, and so we're going to begin our hearing, which is entitled "Troops, Diplomats, and Aid: Assessing Strategic Resources for Afghanistan," the meeting will come to order.

I ask unanimous consent that only the chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee be allowed to make opening statements; without objection, so ordered.

And I ask unanimous consent that the hearing record be kept open for five business days so that all members of the subcommittee may be allowed to submit a written statement for the record; without objection, so ordered.

This morning we're continuing what has been somewhat of a sustained oversight on this committee with regard to Afghanistan and Pakistan. We all understand that the challenges that we face in South Asia are breathtakingly complex.

Oversight of U.S. programs, deployments and spending requires an appreciation of the underlying ethnic tensions, historical grievances and regional dynamics.

The lines of conflict and the aspirations of the people have unique characteristics that call for serious consideration by U.S. policymakers charged with achieving United States national security interest.

Problems this complex require that we use both a microscope and a telescope. As such, the subcommittee has spent significant time during this opening congressional work period to examine and investigate Afghanistan and Pakistan through a variety of different lenses. I know Mr. Kilcullen has noted that w...

See the full content of this document