[chanting]. [background sounds]. [background sounds]. [background sounds]. [background sounds]. [background sounds]. This meeting will come to order. Without objection, you will have five days to submit statements of material and questions to director subject in the rules. It will begin this missus secretary, thank you for meeting with us this morning. Weeks ago, we invited you to testify about american policy towards iran and iraq abusive force. Knowing that soleimani was in danger this terrorist is important that we look at Foreign Policy in terms of whether makes american safer advances our interests. Weeks later we seen attacks and more than a hundred servicemembers and thousands more personnel back to the region. In development of our relationship with the reckon the fight against isis. And run again, pushing towards a Nuclear Weapon and you promised the American People that they would be safer and iran, would be detoured. So my wrong metrics of this policy has been a failure. Mr. Secretary shouldnt have been so difficult to get you here in your parents here today, is far too short and all we had to wait for you, the world is a way for anyone and now we face another potential crisis, coronavirus. Imagine you will hear some questions about that this morning as well. Dozens of other issues, we would like to ask you about including the savini this committee issued in september the youve ignored. See you again here for the budget hearing. I would appreciate if you renew your commitment to appear for that hearing when i recognize you for an opening statement. Im going to forgo any additional openings in the hopes of getting to as many members as possible this morning. I will yield to our ranking member. Thank you mr. Chairman. Mr. Sec. , thank you for being here in your for your service to talk about iran and iraq as we grew she was a committee and more portly thank you the president for taking decisive actions to protect americans overseas. The President Trump had not made the Bold Decision to strike Qasem Soleimani, we might be having a different hearing, he did not stop the deaths of more americans. Striking Qasem Soleimani, was a right decision in the world safer for it. He organized and escalated series of attacks against our forces in iraq. And killed an american, he also directed an attack on the embassy in baghdad. Further chairman and joint chiefs of staff, said the administration would have been negligent, had they not acted and taken out Qasem Soleimani. When the blood of hundreds of americans and american soldiers, on his hands. I fully agree with you in the general that the strike was necessary and well within the president s of authorities. Under article two. The president acted with tremendous restraint over the past year, as we saw in the white house. Continually making the choices that to deescalate even as ron launched the attacks on international commerce, saudi, oil assets, and the United States grown. Some people cant grasp within this strike was justified illegal and indeed we are safer because of it. And now the senate has a preemptive war powers resolution that the house boat on in the coming weeks to direct the United States, hostilities against iran. I believe this is based on a false premise. Some mr. Secretary, my questions will be tested this, we engage in activehostilities against iran and as you know better than anyone, we need to show unity, not division and the congress as americans. Overseas and especially the middle east. So what can congress do to support your efforts to curb Iran Destabilizing activities. Hope forward to your answers and testimony and with that i yield back. Thank you and a witness this morning, his secretary of state, mike pompeo, who is served in the study for many. And without objection, your complaint testimony will be included in the records. I will ask you to please summarize your statement environments. And because of years of titan time, im going to have to be very quick with the gavel. So i now recognize you for five minutes. Mike thank you. I will do this in less than five minutes. I do have a statement that i will submit for the record. Im back from a trip where i traveled to saudi arabia, central topic of each of those discussions is what we are talking about here today. The threat of iran. His number one terror. In the World Largest state sponsor of insights his syllogism, wanting to wipe israel off of the face of the earth. Responsive for the death of death in the rock including American Contractor who was killed on december 27th of 2019. His forces, irans forces, prop up and undermine democracy i in lebanon and iraq and still things in human. And they launched hundreds of missiles and armed drones in saudi arabia were 80000 americans live. Since the start of the conflict pretty hours after i visited our troops, under roy 20, iran forces, launched the fort port city. And they are responsible to for the airliner in january. One hundred sunday six people killed. In the regime lied about the tragedy and they are still not turned over the black box. Iranian regime soldered at least hundred or so people. With as many as 1500 people during the protest. Many more have suffered since this began 40 years ago. Iranians and those impacted by the regime are thankful that the United States is finally holding their oppressors accountable. The Trump Administration will new therapies are more tolerate the threat that iran poses to the United States and her friends or allies. Our Pressure Campaign is aimed at risk reducing the threats in convincing iran to change its behavior. It is been one minute specifically addressing the strike, the commander and killing Qasem Soleimani. He was regimes top terrorist. Removing him from the battlefield was in the escalatory measure. His death reduce the risk to our personnel overseas. Among diplomats, and our military and a clear that we are willing and able to impose our adversaries if they threaten or attack us. I know that sadly some american troops were injured during the missile attack on outside for air force to. The leadership is not eager to escalate the military confrontation. They know if we fight, they will lose and that is deterrence our policy. In such as military deterrence, the jc po a as the murderous campaigns of the civilizations, we have reversed that appeasement. And apprise the regime of at least 50 billion in revenue. Diplomatically we rallied allies and partners to been, career of weaponry around the middle east. In columbia, honduras, United Kingdom and declared blocking terrorist organizations in all aspects. That is real American Leadership to confront a run, who sustain a pressure, we will contain the to protect the American People and American Interest by any means necessary. We will work with our allies and partners for more stable and secure middle east. Thank you and i look forward to your questions. Thank you. Ill recognize myself for five minutes and i yield. Mr. Pompeo, im concerned that the so called maximum Pressure Campaign against iran does not achieve what you promised it would. It says january 2nd, there have been for iranian attacks on american personnel. We had to of deployed 6000 additional troops and iran is once again on the path towards Nuclear Weapons in the American People have heard conflicting information from you and other people in the administration. Then about the details of its impact for the Qasem Soleimani attack. But from the dishonesty on this and many other issues, we lost trust in our government. And now a Serious Health crisis in the form of the coronavirus. Unfortunately with also heard from conflicting information on this as well. We know that this is a threat that does not respect borders. An infectious victims indiscriminately and is starting to show up in our own communities. We know have different escalation, who is response will for mentioning the response to potential spread of this virus. Six of sicily managing global aspects of this crisis will require American Leadership. So can you tell us exactly what your role is in this response. Mike is that the question. What is your set of responsibilities as secretary of state. Mike we agreed that i would come here today to talk about iran. In the first question today is not about iran. We learned that there has been an outbreak intro 12. Havent you or any other seniorlevel american officials been in touch with anyone inside the iranian government to cordate on this responsive to the virus and mitigate the further spread of the virus. Mike we have made offers for a run to help and we made clear to others are of the world, that assisted the humanitarian assistant to push back against the coronavirus in a run. It is of the United States of america fully supports and we will continue to support that. For every nation. Will bring our diplomatic power to deliver technical medical assistance wherever we can. So i am worried because of this administration three year history of blatant disregard of the facts, the American People dont know who to trust. Because of the policy that you have done pretty for of isolated within the global committee. To deal with Global Health epidemic in the aggressive military focused Foreign Policy that this administration has not achieved any articulated goals by the American People suffer. American leadership around the world is paramount to keeping america safe and i am concerned today about this ministrations ability to do so. And with that i yield back. Thank you mr. Chairman. The secretary, i am a doctor, and was a week that of the my formal colic, and the university of california is treating the first possible case of coronavirus. My hometown and county in sacramento has been reminded that the disease has no borders. So following my colic, im deeply alarmed by our approach to iran impact of the coronavirus. Do you share data about new diseases like coronavirus, making the world safer. Mike yes. Summa you believe veteran is after the fight of coronavirus. Yes no. Trent iran. Mike their Healthcare Infrastructure is not too robust pretty their willingness to share information about what is really going on inside the islamic iran, has been robust and im very concerned that iran is not sharing information. I agree with some of that assessment but did not have that infrastructure and i am worried about that and as a doctor i know we were fighting a new disease, time is of the essence. Enemies people in medical supplies at the epicenter pretty because that will help limit the spread before it reaches other countries. It took over a week after the disease was first diagnosed so this demonstration just had dirt dignified, the date would be sick to do. While this administration be issuing a new license for sanctions issues connected with coronavirus. Mike is not accurate. The predicate of your statement. Theres been a continuous avenue for movement of medical and humanitarian inside iranian republican have not been sanctioned anytime. Before the event of the coronavirus and concurrently. Lets just make sure we do everything to actually stop and assist. Isolation has made it less transparent and as a result, coronavirus is flourishing in that country. It is not making america safer. And with that i yield back. Thank you. Mr. Secretary, the senate as i mentioned, war powers resolution the house will bone on in the coming weeks direct donate United States to cease hostilities against iran. And again i believe this is based on the false premise that my question is very simple. Nancy was. Are we engaged in active hostility. Against and iran. Mike pompeo we are not. Is to deter and defend americas interest. With signal Business Division in the congressman to the largest statesponsored terror of iran. Mike pompeo a former member, i always have a high tolerance for people expressing their views, the views of their constituents. So members of congress have a responsibility to do that. Having said that, that is the case and around the world, leaders observed when there is not a consistent view across all of the United States government and americans policies are best effectuated when theres a consensus that emerges around the markets Foreign Policy and i would encourage everyone to stay on board with the them administration is doing and urge them come to consensus and assist us in delivering the change of the regimes behavior that i think everybody in this room today understands both necessary and in americas best interest. Statement of all four article one constitutional authorities and i do believe the president and the authorities under article two, as of defense in addition he is a designated foreign terrorist out in the obama administration. We ask this. The washington post, recently reported the forces and significantly deterred from retaliating against the United States. Since the death of Qasem Soleimani. Can you tell us how iran change since the United States took out Qasem Soleimani. Mike pompeo that is probably a classified setting. But i can say that unclassified sitting, then recognize the seriousness this which americans acted to take the strike against Qasem Soleimani. And i think i appreciate the seriousness in which President Trump in the ministration are taking, our obligation to defend america and our partners. And clearly demonstrated are preferable preparedness to continue to deter irans behavior and i think they are taking that seriously. Last question. Do you believe in terms of a threats in the future, depending, not talking about timescale that Qasem Soleimani was planning to kill more americans. Possibly in wreck. Mike pompeo 100 percent. Mike pompeo and in a very short timeframe. He was actively plotting to kill americans in the region. It. So anyway, the president has done nothing, then ordinary americans had been killed in a 1979 hostage situation, the president would be like that wouldnt eat. If he did nothing. Mike pompeo it was my judgment that this reduced risk to america to take the strike. I think the team are presented that to the president and he made a final decision that that was right and it would reduce risk. Other than shortterm, and the medium term and in the longterm to American Interest. So the American People, but most importantly our diplomats and soldiers in the region are certainly safer because of that decision. We do not agree with that. Mike pompeo undoubtedly predict. I want to close with, we have been in the white house with these discussions, the president was very clear, i do not want to go to work with a run. He said that repeatedly. I still think he believes that. I saw tremendous restraint when we are looking at how to respond to the drone. That was shot down by the iranians. In the u. S. Military asset when 50 percent of saudi refinery capabilities taken out. And then finally when the Center American embassy, that was not some brushfire, is bombed out. The picture in the house for pretty serious attack on her american embassy, that cannot go without a response. I think the president was very restraint, time and time again, but i think across the redline, when they attacked our embassy, kill the contractor and wounded three soldiers in addition to the hundreds of americans hold soldiers that Qasem Soleimani killed and one was right in front of me. He does not have his legs anymore. Because of Qasem Soleimani. The biggest terrorist in the middle east since van lawton, and the world is much safer a belief without him. And with that, i yield back. Thank you mr. Chairman. So every time you testified. I cant help but to think of those days when you are on this side. I can remember vividly, your thundering away that secretary clinton, and you know what, she showed up voluntarily. He sat there for 11 hours. So with you sir, we had to move heaven and earth to get you here today for just two hours. To me that shows disregard for the oversight responsibility of the United States congress. It is clear, the Trump Administration assistant to iran are reckless, and impulsive. Even after iran emerged as a hotspot of the coronavirus outbreak on the verge of being a pandemic, you can only commit to two hours today. After the Qasem Soleimani strike, the iraqi pastor resolution, calling for u. S. Troops to be kicked out of iraq. Which is exactly what Qasem Soleimani wanted to do for 20 years. Pushing the u. S. Direct relationship to break and the middle east into chaos. It does not benefit the United States of america. It so these are legally and strategically questionable continue to pile up in this in ministration and yet the ministration refuses to provide clear and honest answers. These include, pulling out of the jcp oh eight, no strategy. Abandoning the cards, no strategy. The strategic benefit of Qasem Soleimani. U. S. Destroy sites in iran, no strategy. Deny irans foreign minister to go to the un, no strategy. Suggesting that we will go to iraq if it follows through like selling a military. No strategy. Nobody here, morris the death of Qasem Soleimani but it backfired in completely foreseeable place. Killing him undermines all of the objectives and did not do anything to make america safer. And many other things, that i wouldve loved to ask but i had to give up some of my time. Because you are only here for two hours. I cannot use my whole five minutes because my colleagues, when i something to say so i now yield. Mr. Secretary, taking you to and half months come here before this committee, to explain the actions of january 3rd. Today the world faces a worldwide pandemic, the coronavirus. Will you come here next week and explain our International Efforts to deal with the coronavirus or will it take us to and have months have you back here. Mike pompeo we have briefed congress over 70 times on a run. Seventy times. My question is about coronavirus and whether you will come here next week the weather you should focus on the coronavirus. Mike pompeo i am happy to work with you to talk about this. Statement you claiming my time pretty reclaiming my time, start, you limit us to two hours, secretary clinton spent 11 hours. We must in here to the rules of this community as you would enforce them when you are saying here. I am reclaiming my order. Let him speak. Mr. Chairman, my time has been interrupted. I would like order and the committee. Gentlemen from california will continue. Hundred and ten of our Service Members suffered traumatic brain injuries. I thought it was even worse. But the day after hundred ten of our Service Members, were hurt, the president said, no americans were harmed in last nights attacked by the Iranian Regime. Nineteen days after those injuries, the president said, i heard they had an extruded i can report that is not very serious. Thirty of them are still in the hospital, all of them will be suffering their full lives or beat steady their lives from the traumatic brain injuries. Mr. Sec. , do you want to take the opportunity is innocent not yes or no question. To apologize to the Service Members trivializing their interests. Mike pompeo mr. Congressman, i have never trivialized injuries. It. Do you want to apologize on the behalf of the ministration. Mike pompeo sir i have never trivialized their. [inaudible]. Mike pompeo are you looking for me to is on the question. I am happy to his of the question. You keep speaking over me. Give me a second. We take seriously every american servicemembers life. Thats why we have the policies in iran that we have. Gentlemen, the time has expired. I am very deeply disappointed, so my colleagues in there, theyre disrespected, they are showing view and secretary of state, likely has done an extraordinary job. The world, you have been everywhere. You have been leaving the station and leading the world, and the president s home and i want to thank you for that service and no, that i in my colleagues, so many and most americans, deeply respect you. And your honesty, and again, i think some of this is already gotten out of hand. Im deeply disappointed in my colleagues. As our know, as you know i should say, iraqis, syria, and relief and accountability act in 2018, the bipartisan bill. What is designed to provide humanitarian aid, ices genocide, jerry such as christian, and thursday enforce most, they would return to the homes, something that was contemplated by Vice President of the 2018. Now however, military, the iranian backed again just like you spoke earlier in human, the iranians, mobilization forces, do not intend to leave the plane area jiggling given the essence of the government in baghdad to tehran. What if you can give us your assessment of the permanency of the violent organization. And is in our policy to try to change that. What steps are we taking. And when you supported they do not have modified a directive. Very briefly, i chaired ten congressional hearings on barack obama, 70000 made the way to the ices genocide. I went there. And theres a camp, ten minutes away. They learned the wanted to go there. I finally visited there. But we were not providing that aid. There were three questions in there, the last one, would we work on a modified policy, yes. The continued problem and presence of the malicious in the region is something we have worked hard on, our ambassador, second ambassador, we have worked very diligently on but have not succeeded we had repeated promises from that repeated Iraqi Government that they would work the problem set and move the back and allow Security Forces that would permit to get all the people in that region. We had some success of getting this in but we need the pmf out, we need the militias out, and where youre going to deliver to create space for the religious freedom north of iraq then we have to convince the iraq he government and we need an Iraqi Government that is prepared to defend its own sovereignty and pull back the issue militias controlling the region. I just went to sagans equity of state, please dont take from this meeting, some of those comments were to the point where the words shouldve been taken down. You have been honest, straightforward and as my good friend said, taking out soleimani who is not in iran when he was killed, he was a combatant if there ever was one and directing what we all know 600 plus americans have died and thousands through his use of ied and were wounded. I yield back. The gentleman yield back. Thank you, mr. Chairman and think you mr. Secretary for fair enough to say, you talk a lot with the president . Thats not a tough one, that was the best question you have this morning right . Its true. Do you ever hear him say the phrase will see what happens . Have you ever heard him say th that . Yes i think of said that many times myself as well. Really, okay. We know youre on the team. But you said consistency in your opening statement, what i have to tell you time and time again, what we get back when we ask people, the attitude that people have of america, our allies, well see what happens. Just last night, after the president pulled out and took us away from the syrian issue, just last night we found out it is escalating, now turkey is looking for article four discussions, maybe leading to article five pulling us in with our allies and i remember the president saying we will see what happens. I remember with the discussion in north korea when he was having the discussions, will have the discussions, will talk and have love letters, well see what happens. We know what happened, theres no escalation of the missile system, the nuclear system. Were seen by pulling out of the Nuclear Agreement with iran jcpoa, we are seeing, well see what happens, well see what they do. Now theyre enriching to greater extent and moving forward in their program. So this idea of consistency, i just came back, the munich security conference, i want to tell you the discussions with our closest allies. They are telling us that we are not as sure about your commitment as a country final watchword for the policy right now, it will do something and will see how it happens. I am concerned about the lack of consistency, you know with the coronavirus, when that issue came forward, the president said it again. He said is going to get warm and we better vaccine in the corner, well see what happens. We will see what happens is not being consistent. And now after last nights activities, we will be moving forward again because of whats happening in syria, we will be calling on the united nations, will be calling on nato again, we and we left him on the ground in syria when the president made that the issues are. Even your own administration told us that was a mistake not notified our allies. Im just going to say the policy has to change because well see what happens is not happening. I yield back. I think my friend from massachusetts. Mr. Sec. Thank you for being here. I want to not miss this opportunity to do everything that you can bring home mike can situate bob to his family. I dont have a lot of time left. A lot of us are feeling, the American People are becoming increasingly worried about coronavirus, we get phone calls every minute of every day. People are really concerned and when they hear conflicting messages, they dont know what to make of it. Mr. Pompeo, any entry any misinformation is bad. The pattern of misinformation undermines our entire system, when the president lied about the nr girl crown, it was embarrassing. It was hard to believe when he falsified the hurricane weather map. It was disgraceful when he told the American People that iranian bombs and 110 soldiers were scarcely injured and dramatic brain injuries are not just headaches. Now we face coronavirus and the president tells us that the vaccine is almost ready and it is not. And then he tells us the warm weather will miraculously take care of this, take care of everything. And it wont. This does not just impact the president s supporters at his rally. And it does not just impact democrats voting in the president ial primaries, this impacts everyone in america. And it is more important than politics mr. Secretary, the Administration Must do better. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, thank you for being here today, we very much appreciate it. The humanitarian situation in the province of syria is alarming. Innocent civilians and women and children have been slaughtered could you tell us what i wrong or its proxies, what their involvement has been relative to the ongoing assault on new civilians . Consistently since the Previous Administrations decision to allow the russians to come into syria that combined with a long history of iranian influence in parts of syria has led us to where we are today. You can see with the is really all strikes in place to get syria in the work that the United States is doing in the north and the east we have an enormous iranian problem inside of syria, these attacks that are regime led iranian supported underwritten are causing a humanitarian calamity and once again reenter what we saw several years back for the numbers range from three quarters of a million to 1. 1 Million People in the northwest part of the province many of whom will be displaced. Our mission set has been diplomatic to urge parties to cease fire both bilaterally with each of the participants we have Un Security Council revolution that sadly the regime will not in here to which was designed to find the political resolution 2254. We have not been able to make progress there. In light of that we have done what we can with american assistance, Stabilization Assistance throughout the region to try to lend both food and assistance to medical through usaid and try to build back some of the institution so the be capable of put into pushing back with iranians, russians and syrians are doing in this hellish place. Ironic spires next year, our European Partners committed to extending, what can we do to put pressure on china and russia to cooperate as well. One of the flaws of the jcpoa was your very short duration for many of the most provision, the significant provision expires in october of this year, a handful of months away, the very missiles that rained down on our American Forces will be permissibly sold come october of this year. That is a big flaw in the deal. So we are working diplomatically, were hoping they will take seriously the risk that there will be chinese weapons systems, sold into iran, im confident they are gearing up already to deliver the weapons come october with the full authority, no un security prohibiting. We will work at the un and try to convince the russians and chinese not to veto that resolution and we will urge our european colleagues to use the tools at hand to prevent conventional weapons from being a lawfully sold to the Worlds Largest state sponsor of terror. Thank you, finally, iran prox me under proxy in lebanon, how has the administration maximum Pressure Campaign impacted irans ability to support in le. We had impact but not enough. We had a Material Change in their capacity to do harm, they no longer have access to all the capital they had under the jcpoa, we are restricted the money and the resources. There is more work to do there, we have also used our diplomatic efforts to build out a coalition to support the lebanese government to do the reform that you can see. You can see the protest in the street in beirut and outside of beirut in lebanon as well. The lebanese people are exhausted from iran. They are exhausted from has blocked. You see the same thing and, these are not protest against the United States of america, they are protest to the people of iraq and lebanon that want noniranian dominated government. Our mission is to do all that we can to assist the government to make this transition from iranian controlled and iraq, the government sovereign and independent to the people of the country really want and desperately need. What is going on in italy makes my heart in the world in particular, our country cannot just stand by while putin and erdogan are killing people. Its not fair to the syrian people, is terrible terrible atrocity, i wish we had more time to talk about it. Thank you mr. Chairman, welcome mr. Sec. Thank you for your service. My constituents in minnesota no american diplomacy is integral to keeping all of the state in the United States. But they are afraid if you can imagine. Afraid for the potential of far more significant response from my run and terrified as my colleague just referred to about the coronavirus. Sadly they are increasingly lacking faith in the administrations ability to address it. Can you tell them you have done everything humanly possible both around the globe and here to keep us safe from coronavirus . I am confident that this administration has taken action that has significantly reduced risk and will continue to do so. Its a very complex problem the state department has a piece of it, the work at your state department did to get americans out, not only are diplomats of people to work for the United States government and civilians there as well is in the finest tradition of the diplomatic corps. It was done with excellence and bigger and brought americans home safely. Im incredibly proud of the work that my team did, we will continue to do that, we have diplomats in china today and we are working to make sure we keep them safe but keep them in place so we can perform all the missions to help china deal with the virus were began. I appreciate that but how do you reconcile what you said with the budget you submitted which cuts state Department Funding by more than 50 in the cdc global helhelp by more than 40 . How can you reconcile the budget request with your set investment. We will have plenty of money. Im very confident that we are well. Weve enough resources 30 and 40 in those budgets is enough for Global Pandemic that is emerging before our eyes. I commit to you, as we need resources, what if we find out theyre not sufficient resources to address the problem where we can create value and reduce risks, we will come to you and execute that and deliver for the American People. You understand my maybe susp i dont understand, i have great confidence. I dont understand either. With that i yield to my colleague mr. Connell. Thank you mr. Phillips. Welcome mr. Sec. Let me ask a question, in addition to the budget recommended cuts which seem ill time at the very least given whats happening with the coronavirus. Im worried by the fact that we do not have a permanent structure for dealing with pandemics. We set up a structure in the Previous Administration on ebola and then we dismantled it. On may 18 this administration dismantled the Global Health security at the national Security Council in light of whats happening today and what could happen year in and year out. We dont know. In retrospect was not an unwise decision . To abolish a code entering coordinator that we need today. I watches process move forward since the very first day we became aware of the coronavirus, i watched the state department having responsibility and secretary as are in his half, ive seen cdc officers when i travel to ethiopia, causing stan and pakistan, we have to focus on actions, activity. Lets stipulate that every decision made by the president of this administration is beyond approach buried including questionable budget. So stipulated. So we get that out of the way. As we look at the reality today more than a chart, its about coordination, its about having a focal point in the federal government that is specifically mandated with this mission and that person and those persons or neck internetworking with wto at the frontline monitoring situations, we thought we had to do in the previous pandemic or on the brink of pandemic of a bullet. This seems more serious in terms of spread and wondering from your point of view after all you oversee, would it be helpful to have them charge specifically with this mission. I have watch the coordination through the task force that secretary azar was leading in the Vice President now has his mission set, we now have a woman named deborah brooks who has been running a significant Global Health program for me for the United States department of state who will begin to work for the Vice President to deliver. Im very confident we will corny among our agencies and from my perspective coordinate with her partner agent went time has expired. Mrs. Wagoner. Thank you, mr. Chairman and secretary pompeo thank you for your time here this morning. On january 3 President Trump and did soleimanis brutal reign of terror to kill and killed countless of americans and Coalition Forces and threatened many more to come as we have heard today in many times over. For too long tehran has been permitted to act with impunity against u. S. Allies, u. S. Interest and personnel. I was proud when the administration acted decisively to restore deterrence in the middle east just as i was proud when former president obama succeeded in his decision to kill Osama Bin Laden and pakistan. This was a defensive move to strike one of the worlds most powerful terrorist who is organizing against americans in iraq in defiance of Un Security Council revolution 2231. I applaud the president for making our redlines clear to the Iranian Regime, attacking americans is never acceptable. When american lives hang into violence, tehran will be held to account for its actions. The middle east is a safer place with the United States as you said clear inconsistent in its intentions. Soleimani successor as head of the force was his counterpart and countries eased away run, afghanistan, pakistan, and Central Asian republic. While his head in operation in the west, are you concerned that he will seek to expand iran along the line activities in afghanistan and how is the administration mitigating the risk to u. S. Interest . I say more about iranian activity in afghanistan and the classified setting. But i will say in this forum they share a long border, there is a history of iran engaging in activity in the side of afghanistan to act as a spoiler, we have seen in the last six days a significant reduction in violence in afghanistan and we are watching closely to see if the islamic republik around begins to take more active majors computer american soldiers on the ground in both the areas of the west as well. This is part of his territory, we are very mindful thats an area that he knows well and might well seek to expand iranian activity through the force and otherwise. Im glad youre on top of it. How did soleimani strike change the standing and iran and have weve been able to take advantage of any loss of prestige through Information Operation and i wrong in iran. He was a strategic target and deterrence that was resulted from that. He absolutely was a terrorist and had american blood on his hands. He intended to kill more americans in the immediate future. He also occupied a position which was very close to the ayatollah and theres no one that will be we exercise to make sure they understood what america was prepared to do and when they took actions with consistent with what we told them, we executed against that. Media report show Vice President of iran in irans Top Health Official had both corre contracted coronavirus. Are you able to comment on destabilization of a wrong and where there Political Leadership to the deathly ill or perhaps die, specifically does the state have concerns about leadership as it relates to the Nuclear Program . I dont have very much information beyond what we seen in the open press reporting. We will do what we can on the humanitarian side to assist the iranian people in building up their systems inside the country. I thank you for your time. Thank you, mr. Chairman. After the strike you were the point person making the case that we had to kill soleimani at that moment on january 3 preheres what you said. I will read it. You said we have specific information on an imminent threat in the streams included on u. S. Embassies will stop. That was january 10 after you had a week to get your story straight. Except when we look at the facts that taken out soleimani was essential to addressing activity, i question the fact that the day after his death i wrong leader appointed soleimanis longtime deputy to replace him and continue operation. They did not stop or slow down. Isnt that true they shot rockets at her people days later . The answer is yes. In the same day you made that statement, you gave a classified briefing and congress. I was there and you do not provide evidence about the claim imminent. That is not true. The evidence of the claimed imminent was not given at the briefing. We absolutely did. That minutes was necessary and pivotal to the administration justification for circumventing congress. I said there was nothing in that briefing with conflicting information with conflicting information its hard for the American People to know what to believe. Fortunately we have a 1264 report and the president is required by law to send it to congress to explain the legal and policy justification for killing soleimani. Since its a crime to make false statements to congress, i presume we could take the 1264 at face value, we received this on january 31. How many times does the report of a attack to stop killing soleimani. The answer is none. So your own report contradicts what you and the president told the American People over and over, you said imminent threat to american lives. That century. When they were constrained by the law to tell the truth you and being did the talking point. Mr. Pompeo, theres another report on iran that is due this sunday, it is required by a piece of law that i authored, it should give more transparency to the American People about why you risk plunging us into war and i expect the president will comply and provide that report this weekend. Do you expect that will be the case. We always do best to comply with every legal requirement. I look forward to reading it. This administration has been so inconsistent with the facts as a relays to coronavirus on matters of security in Public Health, the American People need consistent information and we are not receiving that from the administration. Is impossible i could respond to a couple things. I was not asked a question you were but you do not answer them. There were material misstatements made. We dont have enough time. Thank you, mr. Chairman. To your left you see a map of the world. Right there, would you please point out on this map which of our embassies are under threat if they have been a taxi had to kill general soleimani regardless of the consequences for American Safety on januar january 3, 2020. Im happy to answer your question. Im happy to answer your question i will not get into classified information. To claim my time, well know soleimani was a bad guy, but what i am talking about is the decisions made leading up to january 3 that brought us the brink of war and are not willing to tell us which embassies were under attack . Under threat of attack. Im never willing to disclose classified information. I assume you are not either. You cannot hide behind classification on this one because if you cant classify some of that does not exist, the administration has given up shifting stories, you, the president , others about what was going on. On january 10 the same day you briefed congress, the president said this. I reveal that i believe it wouldve been for embassies. So this again is the same day you had your briefing, i was there on soleimani strike, we did not hear word on the threat of for embassies why not . There were multiple embassies which my Diplomatic Security team had enormous concern are you going to let me answer the question. No because you are not answering. Im not asking to reveal classified information. Please let the witness answer the question have respect. I want the witness to answer the question, i hope when we iran out of time that the secretary will agree to stay for a few extra minutes. I will not agree to stay for a few extra minutes but ill answer whatever questions i have. This is the problem mr. Secretary. Here is the bottom line, if we have the time i would play the defense secretary statement that he had no information about embassies. We are facing a possible coronavirus pandemic. It had three different stories about the events that brought us to the brink of war. It is no surprise that americans are scared because this administration keeps proving it cannot be trusted to tell us the truth. I yield back. Thank you, mr. Chair. Thank you mr. Secretary, thank you for being here, i apologize if this hearing has been a joke. Youre getting ask a lot of questions, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are choosing to either answer the question for you if you dont answer in the first second of them finishing with . Or if you attempt to answer they cut you off to reclaim their time. I first would like to give you the opportunity to answer any of the questions opposed because what we just witness for anyone at home the last five minutes is an embarrassment. Let me just say, it was really an embarrassment that we cannot get more than two hours from the secretary of state, thats an embarrassment to this committee. The record should reflect that the United States government has briefed congress over 70 times on the issue of iran. I think its difficult that it would not be prepared to share. Some of the refer to the briefing, extensively the setaside as well, and entire every member of congress was invited not only myself secretarcircuitry of defense int chief of staff to talk about the legal issues in the intelligence community. We have a thorough and complete briefing. A. Let me respond to the question that came in previously about the embassy that i have responsible for security four. In the days that led up to this strike are embassy all across the region went to security posture. We moved resources around the region, we did that for two purposes so we could respond and deliver capabilities in the event that we had to do so as well to deter attacks on embassy. We took these threat from soleimani honor him as he seriously, we responded appropriately and we deliver for the American People. I will tell you today, i still have officers in these places, i still been a significant in baghdad, beirut, these are amazing People Living under a threatening region and were doing everything we can to reduce it in the strike against solo more safe than they were when they were walking the planet. Thank you mr. Secretary im honored to have you as our secretary of state, we saw albaghdadi get killed, the decisions to move the embassy and israel to jerusalem and reed reducing the israeli activity in judea. I heard you refer as far as the decision in regard to Oil Sanctions and taking out soleimani as going after the fuel and taking out the driver. Instead of seeing oil from iran go from two, three, 5 Million Barrels a day 140 million a day and proceeds to the iranian government, bound activity instead we see it going down to 300,000 barrels a day and then you take out soleimani. The amount of attacks that youve endured for the decision of the administration is insane. Ive used and heard the speaker refer to it as disproportionate to take out soleimani and i pose the question i still have regarding answer, what point is it proportionate. There were 600 u. S. Troops that got killed at the hands of soleimani, thousands of u. S. Troops were injured at soleimani. In the days leading up to taking out soleimani and we saw the u. S. Civilians ended up getting killed and injured. At what point is it proportionate to take out the one person who is responsible for killing 600 u. S. Troops and wounded thousands of others. The problem is is that people are getting antsy at what a good job you have been doing. I sell opposed in the transcript as revealed that mr. Macclenny was at the deposition and asked about the state department under mike pompeo and has it gotten worse and they were shocked that his answer was, the state department has gone better and they thought this guy who had just retired from the state department was going to throw you under the bus. Even in that situation, that person comes to that situation and tells the committee and posing the question and getting an answer, thats a problem i encourage my colleagues to let you into the questions going forward. The gentleman yields back. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Good morning mr. Secretary. We know iran has a long history of revenge killing, thats something you and i can agree on. Its one of the mens enter many reasons these unpredictable countries in the world. To think that iranian revenge strike in iraq the injured more than 100 Service Members is the loss that we have seen of our iranian retaliation for the Soleimani Killing . That is a yes, sir no. The reason i pause as i try to make sure to give answers that are not classified. You believe its a loss to seen. I do not say that, i think the strike on soleimani was necessary but not sufficient. Are going to reclaim my time. Do you think this strike by the iranians on bases in iraq after the Soleimani Killing was a lot that we seen of retaliatory action. We have seen the iranians take action after the already whether you characterized as this is the fortyyear revolutionary regime. Are very concerned about the likelihood of severe retaliation going forward. We know as you alluded iran has a pattern of waiting before retaliating. Youll recall 1994 hezbollah bond that is lacking two years after israel killed. They waited two years to get revenge. We know retaliation is not immediate, they will be patient, it would be foolish to think revenge for the killing of the general is over, im terribly concerned that iran is going to be looking for more vulnerability and opportunities to harm americans as retribution that will play out over the years. We are very worried about iran. This is where you have strategic campaigns to change course of their behavior. Let me say, i think every day they spread all over the world. Some i visited over christmas, they are already doing dangerous work and thats what they sign up for. Im worrying we increasing the chance of harm to these people who service. I think its lettuce down a more unpredictable path of iran seeking revenge and a fear for the Public Servants who are going to brave and bear the brunt of that. I yield to ms. Omar. Thank you. I just want to follow up with enough has been done to protect americans at harms way, the day of the strike your department issued awarded against u. S. Citizens to depart iraq and medially. Was there a concern before or after that americans can be targeted from retaliation . Weve known americans traveling we dont really have that much time i need to be accurate. I apologize. Did you win either before or after the attack. The embassy was completely in the loop as we were working through, not only ours the people at the embassy who are the ones in harms way were not warned and i hope you are not saying that they are lying. Were you aware, the americans might be targeted by this assassination and be retaliated against . I ask because brian, your special representative on iran received extra security, and los angeles after the attack, los angeles, he got protection from Diplomatic Security, the lapd and Counter Assault team. I have to ask if we were so much safer, why did they need Counter Assault teams to protect him at a speech in california. It is undoubtedly the case we are all safer, theres distributional elements to this, certain persons who meet certain decisions, but let me assure you,. If you are claiming americans are safer after the attack, currently your department disagrees at least as far i yield back. Mr. Parise. Thank you, mr. Chairman, great to see you mr. Secretary. Welcome to the theater, unfortunately this is very serious business. Let me see if this quote is familiar to you. It turns on good at killing people, i did not know that would be a strong suit of mind. That was a previews president , president obama. The country of pakistan, 207,041 killed, not including civilians in yemen i ha 975 killed, not including civilians. And somalia, 286 killed not including civilians during the last administration. Do you remember when it occurred in congress what is the question. When do we declare a war on pakistan, yemen and somalia. It did not happen during my six years. I dont remember either. You remember this committee or any committee dragging into secretary of state and asking them what the strategy was during that period of time when we killed the United States combatants around the world. Not on the battlefield declared by the United States of America Purdue remember that . Im sure there were oversight hearings were congress ask questions but i cannot recall. Do remember the strategy . In which particular theater . Anyone of those places. I know what the administration said they were trying to do. To remember mine and your colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Do remember any colleagues on the side of the aisle complaining about removing terrorist off the face of the earth. I do not recall that happening. When you have actionable intelligence regarding pending or imminent attacks on u. S. Interest including embassies, what is your duty . To ensure the mexican internm or military folks have any harm brought to them. So to reduce the risk with every tool that we have in our arsenal. You made aware of security risks prior to the strike on soleimani to u. S. Interest and personal that took corrective action to make sure the risk was mitigated. Thats a decision the president made. Do you remember, we had a consulate in benghazi libya. When the ambassador had asked repeatedly for increased security at the time for the Previous Administration. Do you recall what occurred that the embassy received or did i not . My recollection is some of the were made available and others were not. What was the result . It was a tragic day were four americans were killed. The bottom was never gone to as far as Many Americans were concerned consider. Yet we sit there and secondguess our decision to keep america in americas interest save. In the face of a terrorist, with responsibility of hundreds if not thousands of american deaths on his hand. Mr. Secretary, are we or were we at the brink of war . As claimed in the committee. We were at a heightened sense of risk on both sides but i never observed we were at a risk at anything and when i hear people talk about it that is not where we were. At any time. They consider themselves at war with the United States of america and israel. What seemed to me listening to my colleagues, we should allow iran to kill as Many Americans as they want to and not respond for the fear that they might kill even more. I dont know how you cant listen to that assessment. Let me clear something up regarding jcpoa, is there any reason to enrich the level of ovarian has or heavy water reactor constructed for Peaceful Nuclear power program. Is there any reason at all to do that . The current installation set in iran in the magnitude levels of enrichment taking place that are not consistent with one would find for medical isotopes. I yield. The gentleman times has expired. Let me say the strikes that my colleague referenced are authorized by congress under the 2001 a ums, congress is not to strike against. There is no authorization of the use of force against iran and thats a different, ms. Houlihan. Thank you. Thank you for being here. On january 7 iran responded to the soleimani strike by the launching missiles at a rocky basis. We now know it cause permanent brain damage and trauma tour Service Members. The story the administration tells us of what happened keeps changing. The day after the president told the nation that the American People should be extremely grateful and happy, no americans were harmed in the Iranian Regime. Many americans that i believe, i was relieved. That was not true, many people were harmed following the attack and ensuing reports that injured Service Members, the president had this to say, i heard they had headaches and a couple of other things, i can report is not very serious, briefly mr. Pompeo was a yes, sir no. Do you believe the brain injury is serious. Yes. I do too. Im a Third Generation and i have Family Member serving in harms way and im familiar with the devastation that these injuries can cause but on january 24 the pentagon told us that 34 Service Members had suffered traumatic brain injury. On january 284 days later we were told that that number was 50. Two days after that it was 64. With a simple yes and a number, what is the number standing at now in terms of u. S. Traumatic brain injury which he has previously dismissed as simple headaches. You have to go to the department of defense. I can give you the number, many of them have been cleared and returned to duty and weve heard that 30 of them remain hospital care. The administration claimed that the strike on soleimani was to deter iran from conducting or supporting further attack against u. S. Forces. This is not deterrent. It was a decision with strategy and endangerment of our National Security and men and women in uniform. Mr. Pompeo, the president s decision had very real consequences. 110 Service Members suffered tbi and the president called a headache. It isnt even close to ending, the campaign against us and alleys on behalf of iran. They are currently enriching uranium by your automation, you told us we are not in safety and clearly still in harms way. I guess my concern to you, i am not sure what weve accomplished other than injuring 110 Service Members in making our nation allows space. With the remainder my time i yield to my colleague. Thank you for yielding. Let me point out, the quote is to president obama it was in a book allegedly overheard and reviewed in the washington times, i dont think anybody here heard him say that. Who knows if its true or not. Id like to ask you, about something that was said after the soleimani strike, on januare American People in a tweet in all caps iran will never have a Nuclear Weapon, it will never have a Nuclear Weapon. I agree it should not have a Nuclear Weapon, but the famous radio interview with mary louise kelly, i think you know her, the three times what the administration was going to do to stop iran from having a Nuclear Weapon. Heres what you said. Since you made that, iran has tripled the amount it has. I will give you another chance to answer the question, how will we stop iran from getting a Nuclear Weapon. We will stop them. [laughter] i will take my time back since your making fun of my question. We will stop thats a bumper sticker. I will go back to the interview to use your words further in the interview, i think you think this is funny, she asked you and told you that iran had admitted they removed all limits on their program and you said hes blustering. Frankly mr. Pompeo i agree it is dangerous especially when it comes to Nuclear Weapons development, but today youre just blustering. This is not a plan or an acceptable substitute for plan and we will not allow that. I yield back. The chairwomans time has expired, missing ca. The multimedia dog and pony show put on is exhausting. Nobody thinks the secretary of state being sense of humerus, we can have a moment of levity without trying to get a youtube moment or without being upset and anger so you could go eat and watch tv on a cable station. You understand this committee, i thought like hell to get a waiver to get on this committee. The thing i love about the committee its bipartisanship. The whole time we had the majority, we never took one boat that was partisan on this committee. Not once. Our very first thing that we did on this committee under the new majority i think we took two of them, one was yemen. Preventing the u. S. From doing anything. Thats a Campaign Issue right now even though most people have annoyed you what is going on. Ill ask you real quick, how much humanitarian aid has iran provided to the human crisis. 0. You have been on this and understand whats going on, the soleimani initially a lot of folks did not know we all the sudden thunder he was killed and then there outraged about it, point i would like to make, we operate in that was part of the operations against the iranians in iraq during the iraq war so by killing soleimani in iraq protecting u. S. Troops like we did on task 417, we were operated under the same authority that we had to defend american troops against iran that we did when we killed soleimani in iraq. But when all the discussion about not having the authority, youre saying we did not have the authority to defend ourselves and operate against. All of that positive movement weaned make with illegal because congress did not operate. Its the same authorization today and i would argue it was prey proportional because instead of blowing up sites where theres 100 soldiers working that want a paycheck and iran, it may come to that if iran decides to escalate. Instead of doing that we killed the man responsible for these deaths. Mr. Secretary let me ask you quickly, how Many Americans have been killed or injured as a result of mr. Soleimani. Hundred. How many people around the region do you think are dead including the crisis because of soleimani. Thousands and thousands of muslims. My friend on the other side of the aisle says we get it, he was a bad guy. However, i he was a demon. Mr. Soleimani also was a demon this is a guy that traveled around in the middle east bragging about the amount of people he killed. Bragging about his ability to expand the iranian empire and the message that came along with that, half a million dead syrians. I sawed would not be empower if it was not for iran. We look at the destabilization of lebanon, the innocent dead people in yemen, that is not america and saudi arabia. That is because the Iranian Regime overthrew the government of yemen, parts, weapons in the middle of populated territory, when they are bombed and threatened by airplanes they kill civilians and then they can. To the civilians. Mr. Secretary i want to mention on the airliner, after the iranian shut down the airliner, it was amazing to see the number of people that blame President Trump for shooting down the airliner. None of this would happen if it wasnt for President Trumps irresponsibility is what i was told. They have an important thing to remember is we killed soleimani, around acted and fully expecting us to react they turn to their service and missile sites on trying to defend their acs, assuming america would react. Because we should restrength. And then whatever the situation was, the collaborator shut in the airline, that was not President Trump, i would argue he showed a great deal of restraint. I appreciate you coming in, i am sorry, some of my colleagues have been very respectful, legitimate questions but im sorry that some have not. I yield back. Thank you, chairman, thank you mr. Secretary, we were on the Intelligence Committee before he went to the cia. Im still on that committee and i listen to your answers for classified information. Ive seen classified information in after reviewing, i dont think you are telling the truth. I would encourage a president to declassify as much as possible i think if the American People read it themselves they would not believe you are telling the truth. Here is my question. My colleagues have shown killing soleimani made america less safe in the ways that were predictable. And yet it doesnt seemed like the administration was all prepared for American Forces from iraq or for guided missile strikes the forces them to hide in bunkers. Or to a complete halt for the fight against isis. The four from syria, the president made a decision with no planning or understanding of the consequences. This is exactly why the framers of our constitution with the power to take america to war. Instead of following the law in seeking authorization, you first said there was an imminent threat. Which we know is not true. Then you concocted a theory that congress had already authorized to attack iran. Mr. Secretary, do you really believe that congress authorized the president to attack iran . Im very confident that every action the sin administration has taken is fully lawful. The president and the administration has referenced, let me ask you mr. Secretary, how many times is a 2002 Saddam Hussein authorization which you are invoking missio mentioned a . I know this was discussed, then it was approved by the lawyers and had every action this administration has taken. Were fully active. You know he does not mention around . Every member of this body knows that Congress Never authorized the war with iran. We certainly did not to 18 years ago on authorization. I yield to mr. Espey not of new york. Mr. Secretary, good morning. We came here to discuss very important issues of life and death, war and peace and the separation of power in our constitutional right as a duly elect, americans across the country as they send their children to school. We are terrified as a nation about the coronavirus. Particularly when we read in the paper the top official the Vice President of women and Family Affairs in iraq contracted the disease. We saw yesterday how wall street took a unprecedented dive, americans are terrified, i am terrified about the coronavirus. Terrified American Families across our nation, we have a money problem. The president has a deep cut to your department. You feel we should divert money from building the wall to stop this pandemic . Yes or no . Thats a strong man argument. Yes or no . We can i refrained my time. Yes or no, you feel we should divert funding from building the wall to stop this pandemic of terrifying American Families . Yes or no . America has the resources you are not asking answering the question. Your personnel of the first point of contact overseas from diplomatic engagement. You feel your employees are at risk, exposed to the coronavirus . They are in china, all over asia. You feel your employees are endangered, at risk of contracting the coronavirus . Weve taken a number of actions are they at risk of contracting this virus . Yes or no . Would you permit me to yes or no . Its more complicated. No its not. You are sitting in the office, interview people in china and japan or asia. Are you at risk of contracting this disease . Everyone of our ambassadors evaluates the risk every day. Not just from coronavirus mr. Chairman, i yield back. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you for being here. Yes, everybody as at risk. He said in the beginning, the Trump Administration will neither follow nor appease the iranian terrorist regime. The president has said would be open and talking to him. I think thats great. We are thankful for that but that should be the policy of america beyond this administration and hopefully the next administration that we will not tolerate this activity against our countrys side. I appreciate them standing stock. Many of them laid out planes that there is no strategy pulling out of the jc poa, eliminating soleimani, sanctions on iran. The other things, no response of coronavirus. A lot of the things we did do pulling out of the jc poa, the sanctions, those author strategies. I think you will see the response down the road. As far as coronavirus, my colleagues in the other side said the administration has done nothing. Weve had two hearings in this committee and weve had the administration here. In fact, weve had to epidemiologist show up, weve had two hearings on coronavirus, state department employees, the doctor from the cdc and weve offered help to iran and china and they have not taken it. To date, everybody is worried about coronavirus. The last thing we need to do is dramatize it, that everybody is going to get coronavirus. We did that was zika and ebola and we were blessed because of the system we have in this country. To date, there are 57 cases confirmed of coronavirus of americans. Forty were on a cruise ship, i wont mention the name. Three from wuhan, 12 are travel related and to our persontoperson. I think in the country of 330 some Million People, thats pretty darn good. I applaud the administration. We talked to the doctor yesterday, he said they are ready to go. We talked to Patrick Kennedy who received the crews ship in cambodia, the state department was there. They had six staging areas, they worked with the cambodia government which i appreciate. They got those people home safely. I do have some questions pertinent to this hearing. With soleimani being eliminated, can you report, in this setting, have you seen a weakening in irans force or proxies or lebanon or yemen or anywhere else . I prefer to answer that by saying its a cumulative effect of the actions we have taken. They reduced the capacity for the inflict of terror around the world. Theres no doubt about that. Do you have a replacement . Ill simply say, all the money was a unique leader in the broader institution and array of the islamic public of a wreck. He was a loud voice, a voice that has lots of people who were willing to listen to them and not a leader that is likely to be able to replace him completely, adequately and fully. That is justification enough, if we look at our servicemen and women that were either killed or wounded in iraq and afghanistan, we know 70 of those came from ieds. 90 of those came from iran. Who was in charge of those . Those were quick force operations led by soleimani. We can go back to bill clinton and president obama, prior to president obama. Bill clinton had the opportunity to remove Osama Bin Laden. He had ten to 12 different tim times, he had the opportunity to apprehend him or eliminate him. He chose not to. The question is, what 9 11 happened had we done that . I dont want to speculate. We cant speculate but we can probably look into the future, soleimani state i would have been more deaths attribute it to iran and the ids so i commend this administration for doing what they did. You got a tough job. We need to focus on whats going on in the world. Its not just iran. We got china, north korea, whats going on in venezuela. Without the economies being adjusted all over the world. So we cant just focus on one area. Weve got to look at the whole picture. I would think congress would come together to focus on that. I yield back. Thank you. Your time has expired. Mr. Secretary, you and i had what i thought was a very constructive conversation at the conference about the importance of the state Department Personnel and i appreciated some of the things you said to us. Since we got home, we heard the following statement from the White House Deputy spokesperson. Said, too often we have people in this government, the federal government massive with millions of people and there are a lot of people out there taking action against this president and when we find them, we will take appropriate action. Weve seen reports that White House Personnel Office is compiling with the socalled deep state people. This oil people to purge. There are 24000 Foreign Service officers, mr. Secretary, who are also listening to you right now. They know they have a duty to implement this president policies and thank you, you called them a moment ago amazing people. You know they are not working against this president but they also feel they have a responsibility to share with you in the present to tell you the truth as they see it, whether its what the leadership wants to hear or not. My question is, if they do that, for example, state Department Official goes to a meeting at the white house and reports that there are more isis fighters today and when isis took over half of iraq in 2014, the strike against soleimani temporarily hampered our ability to fight, a Public Health expert working for you, how the president the virus isnt necessarily going to go away, are you going to back them up . When they speak with a belief to be the truth, are you going to stand by while people in the white house talk about purging your employees . Actually, this is an easy question. Theres not a day goes by that state department does not tell me things that i disagree with. Not one, i cant imagine, actually welcome all my ambassadors to the mission conference. I heard lots of voices. What i always amen from a, the truth the best they know it, their policy judgments as well, they have lots of experience time on the ground. Are you willing to go into a fight with the white house if necessary . As all of your predecessors would have in the face of these comments like a 29yearold in the white house. Its not about fighting, its about being right, making sure we deliver on behalf of the American People. I do that every day. I worked to make the case for delivering american diplomacy in a way that the institution always have. We have built up and made it better. When i predecessors are there and i hope my successor makes it better. I yelled my time. Generate seventh, the foreign minister said following this holy money strike, iran was going to get rid of all the futures. Let me that into context. As of last november, the iran stockpile has grown but after the soleimani attack, they built a war that stopped more than triple to about 26 hundred pounds. My question to you, does iran have more highly nampa now and when Trump Took Office . Yes. Okay. I want to switch to coronavirus. I want to make sure i get this. They have enriched to a higher level than they did when we took office. Its a little more complicated. Im going to switch to coronavirus. The hopes of the day, you agree with Donald Trumps chief of staff that the virus is the hopes of the day . Im just asking you. Do you believe the coronavirus is a hoax . We are working to keep people safe. Its not even its not useful. Can you just answer the question . We are taking it seriously. At 1215 today, are you speaking . Yes. So you have two hours. Instead of answering russians on lifeanddeath issues, from a bipartisan group, youre going to talk special Interest Groups . It shameful you cant even answer basic questions. Your time has expired. Thank you, mr. Chairman. The first question i would off offer, i yield you ten seconds. Was it appropriate to offer information in that setting . Was an appropriate . I think we have i dont decide on the appropriateness of it. Congress has a right to say whatever they need. I would ask the committee to determine whether that was appropriate to offer information from a classified setting. I want to talk about important points made the very beginning of this hearing. The first comment from the other side today was, how can we offer, how can we make sure we offer iran eight. Can we ensure we can offer aid over to run . That was the first question that came out of this committee. Second, from the other side. Where the gentleman yelled . No, i will not. The second question that came out, offering to spend more time here and secretary clinton spent 11 hours here. We should give her ahead of congratulations. Not even one hour for every hour she allowed. Our men and women overseas to be killed without dispatching any Quick Response force. Congratulations for that. How to ask a couple questions. It does make sense to me that many on the other side are upset about killing somebody who was attacking our embassy. That is consistent with not defending that. That would be consistent. I would to ask here, are any of my colleagues, and willing to offer time for this, who have been chastising the president , who keep saying over and over because of killing soleimani, willing to offer you time from you wish soleimani was still alive . Im willing to yield you time. If you want to say im happy to ask a question. Of course you said you would yield time. He wants an answer or not . You want a moment . Yes, having to answer. We believe the president of the United States keep the people safe. We believe this has made us less safe. Nobody on the side wants him alive. You know better shame on you for asking that question. Shame on you for suggesting i reclaim my time. With a gentleman yelled . With the gentleman yelled . You wish he was still alive . Im from virginia. Referencing what you said earlier, the point was, there was no evidence given the classified briefing. None. I am very happy that soleimani is dead. We need strategy and we need to ensure we are protecting the American People and the focus of our question. Everybody yield police. No less than ten times, they are less safe. Because soleimani was killed. It was said over and over here. Its a simple question. You wish he was still alive . Ill hold out for another moment. Youve used up enough. Thank you. Well try to get the i have another question. At this. Back at what. Would you say that iran has gone too far . I willing to offer time for that. When you can say iran has crossed a redline . Ill wait. Will the gentleman yield . Absolutely, if you want to offer when they yield im asking in response, i would like you to define what a redline is. Went for you, as iran went too far that it justifies killing soleimani or taking out some other sort of action . What is your redline for any of my colleagues . The question was for this particular strike. When we go out there and label somebody designated terrorist, when we put that wanted sign on their back, there is justification for a strike just as if thats a sanctions, thats nothing to do with use of force. Just as if its not replacement, he has a wanted poster on his back being the head of the designated terrorist organization. What anybody else care to offer at they have a redline or actions of rating aggression . My last couple of seconds, i will offer this. I heard one response for a redline of iranian aggression. We believe there are no redlines. That should be concerning. Ill pass, mr. Chairman. Thank you. Eleven hours of testimony by secretary clinton on benghazi. Two hours. Two. Secretary pompeo on iran. Mr. Pompeo, i think the administration handled iran policy in recent months explains why so many of us are concerned about the response to coronavirus. If the administration isnt going to tell the truth about the alleged imminent threat to our people in our embassies, why should the American People have confidence in the statements about the threat this disease poses . If the administration hides the fact that the number of Service Members who are injured and attacked, how can we know the numbers about diagnosis and quarantines are accurate . When the administration fires or sidelined people like ambassador yovanovitch, vindman, mcguire for this week, the hhs whistleblower is being targeted just because they told the tru truth . Should we believe what you tell us about another crisis . The American People are scared, sir. My constituents are scared. The administrations record of incompetence and dealing with crisis doesnt inspire confidence. To make it worse, the president tried to the personal programs that can make us better equipped to grapple the Global Health crisis. Its reckless. We end up with mixed messages, level information, infusion. The last thing we want in this situation. You need to do better, the American People clearly deserve better. I yield. Thank you for yielding. Im going to make a statement, im not going to ask any questions, mr. Pompeo. No one disputes soleimani is a dangerous terrorist, no one over here warrant his death. I know some prefer to take a simple path to call hardfought negotiations to cap the Nuclear Program that is now back on as evident today, a term with we know historic freight or declare an unauthorized strike to the senior general, the same taking of any other terrorist. There are not on the quinces at stake. As a member of this committee, its our job to ask, and then what . Foreignpolicy taking on the global stage cant be short sighted if considered what comes next. What happened after the strike was a series of actions that are both predictable and heard the longterm National Security interests of the United States, similar to the impulsive decisions we seen the administration, as if turning our backs after phone call or inviting the taliban to camp david on the week of 9 11. Now we face the possibility of historic Global Pandemic led by a president and his administration thats near and capable of thinking about what happens next. This administration left the state department, key positions vacant, the national Security Council and cdc, key positions vacant and of course, slashed critical funding. Governing and leading the world requires stable leadership. The world looks to us for that leadership. They watch us, they fear our military, but more than that, they respect our failures. And how we lead government by chaos makes us less safe and the world less safe. I hope and pray for our great country that we will get our act together as we face the coronavirus. I will work with the administration and do everything i can to protect my constituents in our great country. I hope you will, in the future, give this committee the time it deserves to discuss these issues the American People want to know why we took this strike. What went into it . Theres been no debate. Talk about the authorization for the act, thats our role in the democracy. I encourage you to give us the time to have that discussion. I yield back. Thank you. Thank you for being here today. As youve seen the ringling brothers on this committee. Rarely have i seen adults behave in such a despicable and rude manner as they have today. Including employing bullying tactics. Which i think is reprehensible. I want you to know youve done an outstanding job in the United States america and the world because you are the secretary of state. I have a real simple question and im going to yield because we are about out of time for the committee. It has to do with the protesters. In iran. Realizing the limitations we have to affect things internal internally, do you believe we are doing everything we can to support the protesters . Is there Anything Congress can do to help the protesters and around . We have taken a very different approach with the respect of protesters. We are doing all of the things we have in our toolkit. This is what we do in countries where people are demanding freedom, liberty. They want simple basic human rights but have been denied them for so long. We saw what happens with this election, not only did they run but the iranian people chose not to vote as well. They knew it was a joke. It wasnt a real election. Im happy also to share with you another exciting of all of the things the administration is doing to try to create an environment of the iranian protesters that can at the very least, not harm and more broadly throughout the middle east, standing up and lebanon, and the control of hezbollah and as they comprehend this region and if we get it right, the people will be better off. America will be more secure. Thank you. I will yield the remainder of my time. Thank you. Thank you for being here, i havent been in Congress Long enough to be dinner or shouted at or anything. You will learn quickly. Hoping i would so i can get more tv time. You can take my pictures. Thank you, brother. I appreciate that. [laughter] ill put you on my Christmas Card list. Since soleimani, irans actions have changed. I suspect they walk out every morning and look up in the sky. The answer is, yes. But its much more complicated. Theres no single act you can start independently and say this is the one variable that moved the entire puzzle. Its more comprehensive than that. This is just one element of the efforts weve undertaken. The responses are to draw a correlation like that, i want to be very cautious about. More of a longterm thing. Thank you for that. The maximum Pressure Campaign to fund hezbollah,. Im happy to share the data but our decision is being made. Decisions about whether you should make hezbollah, how big of a militia you can support inside iraq. Work on the external Assassination Campaign and underwrite the campaign in afghanistan. There were shipping roughly somewhere between 2. 7 and 2. 9 million crude oil, closer to market prices today from a 300,000 burials barrels a day. They are shipping it to syria. This putsch constraints on the regime. America is safer, israel is safer as well. Thank you. What can be done to manned the rift between the countries to make a deterrent against iran . We are encouraging all of the states to join us in this. They see a threat to the nations in the public of our own. Disputes among them make that more difficult to prosecute effectively and we hope theyll get this figured out. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I yield back the remainder of my time. Think of. We are just about to run out of time. Let me say two things. First of all, i hope youll come back soon. We hope you will give us more time. I think you can sense the frustration on the side of the aisle, we only have two hours, theres a lot more time we could have done. Ive been on this committee over 30 years and three or four hours when they come from we hope we can get back to that as well. Thats the frustration on this site that we didnt feel we were able to get into a lot of topics that we think are necessary to discuss with the secretary of state. We want to thank you for coming here and let you know you are always welcome whenever you want to come to discuss with us. We are always happy to have you. Thank you and safe travels to wherever you are going. Before i adjourned the committee, i asked everyone to keep your seat while the secretary departs. We can do that now. The committee stands adjourned. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] South Carolina primary is saturday. Candidates reaction to the results. Live covered saturday evening starting at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan on demand cspan. Org. Listen live on the free cspan radio app. Your unfiltered view of government. 1979 and brought to you today by your television provider. National security advisor, Robert Obrien gave remarks during the conservative medical conference during a Ronald Reagan dinner