Nominations of the Principal Deputy under secretary of defense for intelligence, robert karen to be assistant secretary of defense for new National Security affairs and kenneth to be assistant secretary of defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security. I note the presence of several of our colleagues including our distinguished majority leader who is here as well. Representative barbara comstock. If it is agreeable to our colleagues, we would like senator mcconnell to make an introduction, it is a heavy busy schedule. Welcome, senator mcconnell. Senator reid, members of the committee, i am proud to be here today to introduce robert karen, a very experienced and wellqualified nominee to serve as next assistant secretary of defense in National Security affairs. This committee will find an individual who worked to prepare himself to address major challenges facing our country. Because of his razorsharp intelligence and diligence, robert, a native of lexington, kentucky, rapidly moved up in my office from staff assistant to legislative correspondent and eventually to be my legislative assistant for foreign affairs. And i learned not to doubt his advice or judgment. Robert also worked in my office when the nation experienced one of the most harrowing days in its history, hard at work on capitol hill and september 11, 2001, when our country was hit by the devastating al qaeda terrorist attacks was witnessing this heinous attack on our country including on our pentagon from this close vantage point, left a profound imprint on keen appreciation of the seriousness of the threats confronting our nation. He was a seller legislative staffer and advised me on a wide array of Foreign Policy issues. For instance he played an Important Role in assisting me on matters related to burma. Something chairman mccain and i have both been involved in over the years, bipartisan sanctions which led ultimately to the adoption of muchneeded reforms. Burma has been and remains a bipartisan issue on capitol hill, and this was a significant role in our efforts in this regard in the early 2000s. He provided vital assistance to congressional delegation in afghanistan and iraq in 2003. Robert left to work in the Bush Administration as special advisor for National Security affairs, to Vice President cheney where robert would work for a number of years. The Vice President thought enough of roberts skill that after he left office he asked him to assist in researching and editing his memoirs. Following his tenure with the Vice President roberts ability House Majority leaders eric cantor and kevin mccarthy, both of whom robert advised on National Security matters, he later was the Foreign Policy staffer on the jeb bush campaign. We face numerous security threats around the globe. Donald trump announced an outstanding choice by nominating a man with experience and ability to serve as assistant secretary of defense, looking forward to the Committee Consideration of the nomination and could not have picked a better person. For this office. From the busy schedule on behalf of the nominee. To confirm command higher representative comstock, welcome. Thank you, mister chairman. Chairman mccain, senator reid and members of the Armed Services committee, thank you for having me here this morning for the great honor of introducing my fellow virginian and friend of over 30 years to be assistant secretary of defense, Homeland Defense surrounded by his family, his wife dixie, son scott, recent west point graduate, recent newlywed with his wife, also cans daughter claire, joining shortly, another daughter, taylor, proud mother, carefully is also here, along with brothers richard and dave and sisterinlaw sarah. Mister chambers, a family of Public Service, my strong support based on my personal knowledge of his abilities and his significant and stellar expertise in the area covered by the assistant secretary of defense position. Volunteer between 2 combat tours in iraq and afghanistan. s Previous Service at the pentagon in key areas and more recent service in positions of ever increasing responsibility at the department of energy and as deputy undersecretary of counterterrorism focused on unconventional nuclear threats. Always a family sacrifice and we appreciate him stepping up in this new role and i look forward to seeing him in his success or convey you. You, congresswoman, for coming over and we appreciate your introduction. Its my understanding chairman thornberry wanted to be here, but had another obligation. He wanted to join us to introduce ms. Billingham so i was to his statement to the record. He writes ms. Being a commitment to service will serve the department of defense and the nation well. So, welcome, witnesses this morning. We thank you for joining us and we welcome your family and friends are with us today. As is our tradition at the beginning of your testimony, we invite you to introduce those that are joining you today. Its a standard to ask certain questions to exercise responsibility. Its important this committee and other appropriate committees of Congress Hear testimony, briefings and other. If you will answer the questions do you hear to the laws and regulations governing complex of interest . S. Will you ensure your staff complies with deadlines established for communication including questions for the record and hearing . Yes. Will you cooperate in providing witnesses . Yes. Will those witnesses be protected from reprisal from their testimony or briefing . Yes. Do you agree to testify upon request before this committee . Yes. Do you agree to provide documents including copies of electronic forms of communication when requested by duly constituted committee or to consult with a Committee Regarding the basis for any good faith delay or denial in providing such documents . Yes. Have you assumed the duties or undertaken actions which would appear to presume that outcome of the confirmation process . No. Thank you. Ms. Begum the us faces a global threat environment where terrorist organizations are metastasizing and exercising states and adversaries are increasingly asserting power through a regular means. Every component of our Defense Department must have timely intelligence to understand the threats we face to prepare for professional potential conflict. With persistent budget constraints, accurate and timely intelligence becomes the more vital and we look forward to hearing from you as to how you will address this mission if confirmed. That assistant secretary of defense for interNational Security affairs is charged with a wide responsibility from Security Cooperation and military sales. The us defense policy in europe, the middle east and africa and we will be interested to hear from you on issues, us strategy for countering russian aggression, with the us posture with europe should look like over the longterm and what the us should do to create space for Political Solutions in iraq and syria. The secretary defense for my defense is responsible for a wide range of portfolios ranging from Homeland Defense, defense support, counter wmd, cyber policy and space policy. You have an extensive background in a variety of Homeland Security and i look forward to hearing you discuss how your previous experiences would inform your approach to these complex issues, especially the need for us policy and strategy in cyberspace. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I want to join you in welcoming you this morning. Thank you for your willingness to serve our nation and let me express my gratitude to your families who are here today and who support you throughout your careers. Nominees today have extensive experience and are wellqualified for the positions they have been nominated. Nominated to be Principal Deputy of defense is well known at the house Armed Services committee. Principal deputy support the second of defense for intelligence answers for the principal intelligence of advisory for secretary defense and overseas intelligence organizations including the National Security agency, National Space agency and intelligent throughout her work both on the hill in the private sector ms. Begum has expertise in the area of defense policy of Strategic Forces in space policy. Mr. Karam also brings significant experience including foreignpolicy advisor for the foreign majority leader. Assistant secretary of defense serves as the principal advisor to the under secretary defense of policy regarding defense policy and strategy to europe, russia, middle east, africa. He has had an impressive career in Government Service and private sector, counter proliferation policy analysis. Is also serve the marine corps and marine corps reservist and has been nominated to serve as assistant secretary of defense, global secretary of defense, a position in which he will be charged with developing policy, mission defense, support of Civil Authority and home lancet defense activity. If confirmed, all three will be instrumental on a number of issues within the department including various aspects to defeat the isis threat. The committee looks forward to hearing your views on these issues and thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you. We will begin with you. Welcome. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, senator reed, it is an honor to appear before you as a nominee to become assistant secretary of defense for interNational Security affairs. Leader mcconnell, thank you for your generous introduction. Im grateful for the confidence you showed in me 17 years ago. That experiences, opportunity and lessons provided played a essential role in inspiring a career in Public Service that has led to my appearing before this committee today and i would like to thank the president of the us and the secretary of defense for my nomination. If confirmed, it would be a honor to serve our country of the department of defense and let me also thank my friends, mentors and former bosses, colleagues and counterpart counterpart. I am grateful some of my family could join me. My parents, fred and suzanne of lexington, kentucky and my brother fred of chapel hill, North Carolina are joined by my girlfriend. My sister, Rebecca Hughes of birmingham, alabama could not be here, but im immensely proud of that amazing mother my little sister has become to her four children. The responsibilities of the office we welcome your family members. Welcome. Thank you. Responsibilities cover the vast majority of the globe and stretch across five commands. Its impossible these days to open a new without confronting boldfaced headlines without confronting eight crisis or challenge with the dedicated cover Government Service and military personnel are already ably grappling. National security challenges, these private confessionals confront are real and sobering. If confirmed it would be a privilege to serve alongside these american patriots to rebuild americas military capabilities and ready nest, bolster and modernize alliances such as nato while rebalancing the burden sharing. Strengthen us credibility and influence in the region of key strategic interest, defeat isis and other terrorist groups, confront russian and iranian aggression, combat new Cyber Threats and create conditions favorable for safeguarding our security and promoting americas prosperity. If confirmed alex forward to working with this committee and the congress is able to address these and other challenges facing our nation. Im grateful for your consideration of my nomination and i look forward to your questions. Thank you. Thank you. Ms. Begum. Thank you. Chairman mccain, Ranking Member read and senators of this committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you are in for your consideration of my nomination to be Principal Deputy. First, i would not be here without the strong support of my family, has been shone, our two young sons, henry and harrison and my parents john and rebecca. My father enlisted in the army had 18 and my grandfathers both served in the army during world war ii. If confirmed my role in the department is my opportunity to continue our familys tradition of service and get back to our country. Welcome to your family members. Thank you. I wish to thank the president and secretary mattis for placing their trust and confidence in me. Im also grateful to the mentors that have shaped my career including chairman thornberry and others. Who i have learned from it have the privilege to collaborate with and support of that and daa. Henry kissinger statement before this committee has stuck with me that quote the us is not safe while threats increase our military force structure has decreased. As a secretary mattis stated we have left the military shock absorber than we once did. This makes intelligence and highly effective Defense Intelligence enterprise are more critical to buy our leaders the time and space necessary to develop a policy, posture accordingly and resource capability. Keeping america safe and supporting our forces in harms way is a humbling responsibility. If confirmed, my First Priority will be to support the war fighter. We have troops around the world that deserve the best intelligence our nation can provide to protect and support their mission. Additionally we must improve our Defense Intelligence posture and capability to address the full spectrum of securing challenges together early from challenges that range from high end nuclear and advanced conventional threat to cyber in information domain. The battlefield is more dynamic in the Defense Intelligence enterprise must be more agile and adaptive weather integration with operations, collecting analysis or incorporation of new technology. Furthermore, im reminded of the reason why it was established in the first place. In the wake of 911 to improve the integration, management and allocation of resources across the enterprise. Integration and unity of effort across the Defense Intelligence enterprise is the value this position brings to the secretary, director of National Intelligence and congress. I recognize collaborative relationships are motivating people focused on a Clear Mission are the foundation to implementing these priorities and its been an honor working for the house Armed Services committee starting with Strategic Forces. I believe my time on capitol hill coupled with my technical background and work in the private sector have prepared me for this position. If confirmed, committed to working with this committee and other committees i hope to earn and confidence and im committed to providing you with the information you need for your oversight. I also look forward to working closely with the new under secretary once nominated and hopefully confirmed and a great team in the office and across the department. Thank you for your time today and for your consideration of my nomination. Thank you. Push the button. Good morning, mr. Chairman, Ranking Member read and members of the committee. Thank you for the privilege of appearing before you today. I would like to thank my family. First of all, my wife dixie is been my best friend and partner for 28 years and are for kids who are with us here today. Taylor, our oldest who is studying at North Park University in chicago to become a counselor. Scott, west point class of 2015 and an infantry platoon commander. His wife katie, a brandnew daughterinlaw and a welcome addition to our family. Also, clear who last month graduated Phi Beta Kappa from James Madison university and leaves next month with the peace corps volunteer. Finally, will who will be 30 or eight university of virginia the salt and is on track to become a business major and aspires to become a captain of industry someday. Welcome. Thank you. Dixie and i are proud of our kids. Raising them has been the most important and rewarding role of our lives and i would like to thank my parents, alan and cappy. If it wasnt for the love, hard work and perseverance im quite certain i would not be sitting before you today. I have been working National Security issues by entire career and i believe that the threats that we face today are complex, unpredictable and dangerous as any time in our history. The us homeland is no longer a sanctuary. The growing sophistication and proliferation of threats in fiber, space, ballistic and cruise missiles and endemic diseases and Unmanned Technologies combined with the growing number of nations and nonstate actors with access to them continue to increase this to the homeland and Defense Mission assurance. I see no more Important Role in National Security than serving in the position of assistant secretary of defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security and focusing on ensuring continuing ability to defend our nation against dynamics and evolving threats. If confirmed, look forward to working with you and your staff and i appreciate the opportunity to answer your questions today. Thank you very much. Thank you and think the witnesses. Mr. Rapuano, what do you think should be the key elements of our National Cyber policy . Senator, there has been focused on our cyber policy of late for understand understandable reasons. The 17 and daa has direction with regard to development of a deterrent framework and policy. There was a recent Defense Cyber study that god at the end for importance of the campaign and whole approach to declaratory policy. I believe we have got to have both what is perceived to be and what is actually affective Cyber Capabilities that will introduce such an element of doubt in the mind of our adversaries that that the Cyber Attacks that they would be interested to take to achieve; be outweighed by the highlight of our response. Ms. Become, as you know we just had a very serious cyber attack worldwide. How wellequipped are we intelligence wise to anticipate or even adequately respond really unprecedented activity . I believe this continues to be a challenge in the Intelligence Community and particularly in the defense intelligent enterprise. Continued need for capability to detect an attribute where these attacks are coming from, understand the totality, but also to think more strategically about where is this headed. If you look at each individual event the challenge for the Defense Intelligence enterprise is putting it all together and as we look to stand up us Cyber Command our challenge is also how do we support that command responsibility, military plans and operational could be cash capabilities and i believe that they important mary that we need to do a better job, sir. Willis and you can put in Vladimir Putin is learning since there seems to be a significant laugh lack of an International Response to his action in ukraine in syria. Obviously the cyber activities were kind of lesson do you think hes learning from what seems to be rather successful activities from his standpoint . Senator, i believe russias interference, invasion and continue legal operation occupation of ukraine poses a threat to interNational Security and our own and his actions in syria and culture we did to that problem. I dont think he that Vladimir Putin is sufficiently determined from perpetuating similar and continuing activities. Well, i believe that all three of our nominees are highly qualified and much needed, very frankly. I regret that secretary mattis does not have the team around him he needs to do his job in the most efficient passion and we will expedite your nominations following a vote from the committee as quickly to get you to work as quickly as possible. All three is highly qualified. Senator reed . Thank you very much, mr. Chairman. I have been impressed with the witnesses, not only experience, but their discussions in the office of thank you all very much. Mr. Karem, we have seen since last year russians involved in our elections, do you agree with the assessment that russian activity interfered with the 2016 president ial election . I have read the unclassified assessment from the Intelligence Community and i agree with it. Do you feel this is on ongoing threat, not just historical incident, but ongoing threat that you will have to deal with . Senator, i believe the russians like the soviets have a long history in engaging in active measures against her adversaries and i understand that the director of National Intelligence testified recently that these activities continue. Mr. Rapuano, the same question about your sense of russian involvement in our election and other elections. Is a credible and growing threat . Yes, i believe it is. I believe they will continue doing it as long as they feel its in their interest and the consequences are lesson the benefit. How do you believe we are postured to counteract these operations they are conducting in a larger sense to participating in the kinds of Information Campaign and in some cases this information that we see our adversaries . Are we in a similar position at least having the capability if necessary to do it . I think our Information Operation capability have attributed since the cold war and i think of late there has been growing recognition of how important it is. I think that recognition is understood in the pentagon and there are focus review groups looking at our cyber policy. Let me address this question again to mr. Rapuano, mr. Karem and then i will ask question to ms. Bingon. Some of this i suspect in you suspect is the stove pipe organization that seems to be rampant within the department then among the department of Homeland Security, department of energy etc. As a result, i dont think we have come up with an integrated plan. We have pieces, but they are very discreet and fragmented. Is that fair and more importantly how will we do with that . I believe it is fair and i believe that its been recognized. Theres a lot of work that needs to be done in terms of understanding the players and sake stakeholders in their perspective roles, response abilities and resources and then what are the threats and have we prioritize them and how do we view them together to make for a affective set of policies and capabilities and actions. Where do you think the level of coordination has to be . Because again its not just dod, department of energy, department of Homeland Security. Ultimately the white house has a very Important Role in the National Security council. And they should be coordinating, leading an effort to come up with doctrine as well as organizational changes in personnel augmentations or movement . I believe they should be setting those expectations. I believe that executive order issued by the president last week is a long way to identifying the challenges and setting in motion the steps to identify the issues that need to be addressed. Quickly, any comments in this regard . Senator i agree with mr. Rapuanos assessment. I would only add that the problem is magnified when you look at the threat these activities pose to our allies and so there would need to be coordination, not just among the Us Government, but with our owl eyes, cyber, but clear there is more work to be done. Ms. Bingon, we had a chance to talk on this topic in the office and that is particularly after the data breach shift there was a huge shift back to dod, but now, we have a backlog of 600,000 people in terms of getting cleared, so we can have the people to do these jobs. We have been talking about do you agree this is a significant problem dod faces and that its essential we deal with quickly and effectively . Senator, i agree with that. Most of those are dod personnel waiting for Background Investigation or update. We are mandated dod program or by the plan to transfer the mission back to opm and i assume you will be one of the chief architects of this plan and i also assume you will hit the ground running. Are those fair assumptions correct. Absolutely, as you point no, sir it requires a plan by august 1 on that transfer so that is something i absolutely would have to hit the ground running and focus on meeting a deadline in providing you the information you need. Thank you very much. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, mr. Chairman and to all three of you, congratulations on your nomination and thank you for your willingness to continue to serve the country at this time. Mr. Karem, i want to start with you because i very much appreciate you have been a supporter of the immigrant visa program for those who helped us in afghanistan and iraq. Im sure you are aware while the iraq program is also a completion the program in afghanistan continues with many people in the queue who helped us who would like to come to the us. Can you talk about why you think this is important . Senator, thank you. I first went to recognize your leadership on this issue and that of the chairman and Ranking Member. When i served in house leadership i was proud to work with your staff on that iraq and Afghanistan Special immigrant visa program to make sure they were extended and believe strongly that the us should be no better for it there is no better friend and no worse enemy if confirmed, however, the portfolio for ifa would not include afghanistan, but the nato component, so this program would not fall under my jurisdiction, but i have been a long time believer that we need to stand by those who have risked their lives alongside our soldiers. Thank you and i appreciate secretary madisons support for the program as well. Lets me follow up on the questioning then that senator reid started around nato and you are answering that you think the senator Cyber Security center of excellence and nato is important as we look at how we can better with nato address the Cyber Threats to ourselves and the allies from the nato allies can you expand a little more and what you would like to see nato do with respect to Cyber Threats yes, senator. I think there are a couple pieces and there are things the United States can do to increase deterrence, but with respect to nato all of our allies have operation under article three to increase their national resilience. Some nations in the cyber realm have done more than others. They are real leaders in this regard and its no surprise the cyber center is located there appeared. I had a chance to visit their their investment in Cyber Security technology, there is making budgetary decision and really changing the culture so we prioritize this. If confirmed i would want to get more deeply into the subject and work with our nato partners on it. Great. Ms. Bingon, you will be responsible or have intelligence gathering as part of your portfolio as i understand what you will be doing. How important is the intelligence sharing we do to our allies and helping us to get the information that we need to take action . I believe its important. Nearly every military operation we undertake todays dead in a coalition, so its important we be able to provide Coalition Partner intelligent information they provide us information as well for the same mission to protect our National Security. How important is it that people believe and they share intelligence it wont continue to be confidential in the us with those people who will act on equipment . Its my responsibility to safeguard classified information in our sources and methods including those from allies and partners. And its important to our allies that that be the case; correct . Yes. Mr. Rapuano, and thinking about cyber, what was seen with some of the breaches within dod have been with respect to the contractors that we work with. Do you have thoughts about what more we can do to ensure our contractors are doing Everything Possible to make sure they are not susceptible to cyber threat and that they maintain secure networks. Contractors are very comport important component of the total force and that they have vulnerabilities. It really weakens the entire system, so looking at their it, the level, how often, frequent, what are their policies for patches and other security measures is critical and thats an area that if confirmed would be a higher focus for me. Thank you. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, mr. Chairman. The discussion of cyber policy, i dont want to say i laugh, but i felt a sense of irony because we probably spent more time on cyber policy in cyber issues in this committee that any other single issue in the last year or two, but there is no cyber policy and i realize that you all are not at the level where you will be setting that policy, but i hope you will be a continued irritant within the administration and this stands visit ministration prior administration. We have to point where we have a policy and cleared to tarrant strategy. We dont have that now and i hope this is something for example in your list, mr. Karem, youre looking at interNational Security. The most likely attack is a cyber attack and we have so many warnings that keep coming, its the longest wind up for a punch in World History and we are still not ready, so it will be jeff you will take very seriously the necessity of a consistent overall government and nongovernment strategy and doctrine for dealing with this issue. I hope you will take that on. Mr. Karem, more specific question, what is your recommendation for our longterm military posture in iraq after that if he devices . Senator, i believe there are ongoing discussions between the us and iraq about a longerterm us presence after the defeat of isis. I think our objectives should be to make sure iraq remains a longterm Strategic Partner in the fight against terrorism and that iraq remains free from iranian malign interference. The mechanics of what that relationship looks like with authorities under which it occurs are under negotiation and if confirmed i would want to work with counterparts throughout the interagency and with congress. Ivan told this engagement would not be good policy. Yes, i believe history would caution against walking away from our partners. Thank you. Thank you. Ms. Bingon, youre part of a much larger Intelligence Community in your position. Do you series of redundancy and opportunities for a better Coordination Corporation and perhaps even efficiency in terms of the 17 agencies involved in the Us Government and Intelligence Matters . Yes, senator. Right of the bat i think theres an opportunity for greater airspace integration and we have continued to have these discussions, but its an area airspace integration, more integration on the ground in terms of processing and exportation and bringing in whether its commercial technology or other technologies out there. Theres a lot of data out there and whether its fullmotion video other that our analysts are spending more time searching for that data that doing the analysis, so i think there are opportunities to integrate not only better across the intelligence enterprise, but in support of the National Intelligence enterprise as well. Will you participate in your position as a member of the Intelligence Community or is that general stuart. How does the structure work. Circuit or one of the jobs of the under secretary defense and Principal Deputy if confirmed i would support that you will be engaged those discussions . Absolutely, if confirmed. Mr. Rapuano, what do we need to do to ensure defense of the homeland growing threat of missile attack of north korea or cow do you feel about the state of our Missile Defense . This is a key area is seems to me and has become more important literally every day . Senator, missile attack is not directly in my portfolio, but clearly it is a growing threat specifically with regard to north korea. There are number of systems we have in place both in terms of our capability to detect and track these systems as well as to engage and defeat them. I think it would be difficult without going into a closed hearing to get into some of those details and i have not been fully briefed, but i recognize your concern and that would be an area of focus should i be concerned. Thank you and my time has expired, but another area that is important to Pay Attention to in a changing environment is the arctic and met absence of senator solon this morning i will carry the water for him. Its an incredibly important area. The opening up of the arctic ocean is the equivalent of a discovery of the maturity and seat, a new body of water thats never been available for human activity in Human History and the implications in terms of National Security are very serious, so i hope each of you in your respective areas will be thinking about that as a important part of the development of american strategy. Thank you very much. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Senator collins. Are shared senator kings concern about the arctic, but we adopted committee ruled that only senator sullivan gets to bring that up repeatedly in a hearing. You are his proxy today because he is absent for the time being. Thank you for being here and your willingness to serve your country again. Thank you to your family members and to the support youve given them. Mr. Karem, is it your sense that our nato and us posture in europe is adequate today to meet the threat from russia . Senator, i believe that Vladimir Putin remains undeterred from conducting activities that are harmful to the interest of the us and its nato allies, so if confirmed i would want to look at additional steps the us and its partners could do to bolster our deterrence and ability to defend against such activities. We are undertaking something called reassurance initiative. Regrettable we need to reassure our allies, but if Vladimir Putin remains undeterred, what are some of the steps you think i understand you have not been confirmed and you dont have the most recent intelligence, but the broad steps necessary to reach a point where Vladimir Putin is deterred . Senator, i would look at it a couple different ways. Their investments the us could make in technologies, to offset the advantages the russians have acquired after 15, 20 years of military organization. There are steps we could take to reinforce our position on the continent, but as importantly there are states our nato allies could take to meet the 2 pledge of wales and to invest in technology that allow them to play a larger role within the alliance in defending and deterring against russian aggression. Investing in technologies . Correct and the wales pledges speaks to this. Yes, it does and, i mean, the 2 goal is important, but some countries might want to spend more than that, but not one to coordinate the technologies they acquire given their position within europe and the threat europe poses to them and they should all try to reach the 2 growth by increasing the newman nader numerator. Dot decreasing the denominator. Ms. Bingon, could you please speak to the imports of isr in europe especially as it relates to the threat of russia that we have been . Absolutely, senator and i would start by saying the Defense IntelligenceCommunity Needs to go to school on what russia is doing in ukraine in syria particularly ukraine. When you based on what i have seen when you look at how they have integrated drones, electronic warfare, cyber, artillery artillery capabilities, little green men, they are presenting a challenge and when i look at the whole of europe and our security interests this is a very different operational challenge from what we have experienced the last 15 years. We cannot assume we have superiority in the future and there are tremendous foundational intelligence requirements that need to be undertaken that over the last 20 or 15 years with butter foundational targeting information, organizational title information and an ability to indication warnings. Speaking about air superiority, on my subcommittee we heard from numerous generals over the last four years about the threat we are being out range and by our adversaries in particular russia and china or could you speak a bit about the threat that it poses to our forces in europe . Senator, its an incredible threat and in my current position this is an area we have focused on significantly in terms of what our posture should be, but also the readiness and challenges of our forces everything from equipment to end strength to the trainings required in this environment that we have not had to do and we have a whole generation of leaders coming up through the system that have larger that focus on the counterterrorism fight rightly so, but they have not had to do that highend training that would be required. In laymans terms are adversaries could hit our troops with bullets, bombs at a distance we cant reach them or as you said they dont have air superiority of their aircraft could fly over our troops and attack our troops in a way that gives them greater advantage that we have enjoyed for 15 years in iraq and afghanistan . Yes, senator. Thank you all. Senator warren. Thank you to all of our witnesses. Mr. Karem, if confirmed you will be responsible for advising the secretary of defense on defense policy towards iran and its no doubt that iran remains a dangerous influence, but i would like to ask you specifically about the nuclear deal which impose limits on Irans Nuclear program and placed it under rigorous monitoring and in his Nomination Committee secretary matus referred to the Iran Nuclear Deal as an imperfect armscontrol agreement, but stated when america gives her word we have to live up to it and work with our allies. Do you agree with that statement by secretary matus . I do. Good. Donald trump once threatened to rip up the iran deal and instead last month the Trump Administration certified iran is complying with the nuclear deal, which was required for iran to get sanctions released to keep the agreement intact, so mr. Trump again setting the size his views on the iran deal itself do you agree with the administrations decision to certify that iran is complying with its commitment under the agreement . Senator, i agree with the determination. Good. Based on the assessment of the intelligence committee. Good peer do you think the nuclear deal makes it harder or easier to counter irans other destabilizing actions in the region . Senator, im concerned that the nuclear deal has in some ways limited our ability to confront irans malign activities. Some of the sanctions released have been lessened that pertains to its missile proliferation, for example. All right, but thats about sanctions in a different area that irans behavior, you know, the Iran Nuclear Deal isnt perfect, but i think its easier to counter that ambition of that iran that has no weapons than it is to counter on iran that can threaten the world with a new killer bomb. If the us tears up this deal we isolate ourselves instead of iran and potentially embolden the iranians to receive to revive their new care program and to escalate their dangerous activities in the region. I want to also have a chance to ask you about russia. Donald trump has flip flopped on many issues including the nato alliance. Candidate trump said nato was obsolete and suggested the us meet the commitment only if the country being attacked that 2 of gdp on defense, but recently after meeting with german chancellor merkel the native secretary announced that nato was suddenly no longer obsolete. Mr. Karem, what changed to cause nato to go from obsolete to not obsolete in a matter of a few weeks . Senator, i cant speak to any internal deliberations within the administration that may have led to a change in the opinions of those in the white house. Do you believe now that nato is obsolete or not obsolete . Senator, i believe nato is essential alliance im sorry, does that mean its obsolete or not obsolete see . Not obsolete. Do believe that you do to the obsolete . My own views is that nato has been and remains a Important Institution for the us. I will take that as not obsolete. Should the us refused to defend our nato allies if they dont spend as much as we want them to spend on defense . Senator, its important our nato allies are full contributors to the alliance. Thats not my question. I want them to be contributors. The question im asking is should we refuse to defend them if they dont meet spending targets that we set that they should spend on their own defense . Senator, i believe the us commitment to article five of nato is sacrosanct. Which means we commit no matter how much; right . Correct, but our allies should understand they weaken the alliance by not meeting their commitment. I understand that, but you are saying we are still committed . We have also increased our own spending in the region through the european resistance initiative, deploying equipment reassurance. On sorry, thank you. Sorry, mr. Chairman. Deployed equipment and rotating Ground Forces back into your, but this display of force obviously by itself isnt sufficient to deter russia. I will stop here because im out of time and i want to be respectful, but i want to submit a question for the record about working with our nato allies to counter russian aggression in the region. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, senator warren. Mr. Karem, would you judge iranian behavior to have increased or decreased their aggressive behavior in the region since the agreement was made with that iranians concerning nuclear . I believe the iranian behavior has not decreased work it has probably increased and poses a significant threat to the United States and its allies. Cannot allow the witnesses to leave without significant questions. Senator sullivan. Mr. Chairman, im glad you were so interested in the arctic mr. Karem, i would like to follow up on iran. You know, a number of us have been following that issue for quite some time even well before we started negotiations with the iranians and there is some serious doubt, i think, both in unclassified unclassified venues on whether and to what degree the iranians are actually complying with the Nuclear Agreement and i know that that i ate a recently confirmed that they believe they were in compliance, but a number of us who follow this closely have skepticism with regard to that issue. I think its an incredibly important issue. If confirmed, will you commit to looking at that outside of what they have stated and give us give this committee your own view this on both classified and unclassified information on whether or not the iranians or for that matter the russians are in compliance with this agreement, which many of us thought was of an illfated to begin with . Senator, i believe the administration is focused on making sure that iranians are living up to their side of the agreement and if confirmed i would certainly commit to coming back to you on this. But, coming back to us not just parroting what they have stated, but coming back to us with your own and the department of defenses independent evaluation of whether or not you as an organization believe they are in compliance . Yes, sir. Thank you. Mr. Rapuano, sorry, i know im probably butchering that. You know, in the last few days there has been not few days, last several weeks growing growing concern about the capability of the north koreans with regard to their intercontinental Ballistic Nuclear capabilities. Its been stated in this committee several times that its not a matter of if anymore, but when they will have the capability, not just arrange states like alaska and hawaii, but the lower 48 states in my view has been that if we know that day is coming that they will have that capability whether in a year or five years that we need to do much more with regard to our nations Missile Defense system that tries to integrate that Missile Defense base in the us. What your view on Missile Defense capabilities right now and what we should be doing with regard to our Missile Defense given that perhaps during your watch kim jonathan will be able to announce and probably with good reason that he has a capability to send a Nuclear Missile to hit chicago or la or new york . Missile Missile Defense is not within the cruise missiles and are faced defense does, but i will certainly knowledge that there are growing concerns about Ballistic Missiles particularly from these countries. The capabilities associated with detecting, tracking, acquiring and defeating these systems as you know we do have some of them deployed. We have areas that require improvement and that is a growing focus of concern in the department. Thank you. I would like to get a commitment that you work with other members within the administration on that important issue if confirmed. If confirmed, absolutely, senator. And not to disappoint the chairman with my 30 seconds left, but mr. Karem, give me your sense you know when secretary matus testified he did say the arctic is increasingly important area of strategic interest for the us because of natural resources, environment, opening shipping lanes and see the routes. Vladimir putin has called it the new suez canal with the rut which the russians went to dominate and their massively building up their military capabilities and arctic for new brigade combat teams, new Arctic Military command, 40 icebreakers and more. We have been slow to the game up there. Of the department of defense has just put out a revised Arctic Strategy which was mandated by this committee that the secretary of defense put forward if confirmed, will you give that strategic area of the United States sufficient focus and interest of the way that secretary matus stated he will during his confirmation hearing . Senator, i will and if confirmed i look forward to working with our allies who share a significant stake in the arctic. Rate, we just had arctic ministerial led by secretary tiller sent in the great city of fairbanks alaska last week where the arctic ministers including the foreign minister russia, nato and canada convened and tried to talk about cooperation in that area of the world and the tension underlying that were apparent mostly because of the russian aggressive actions including five bomber runs at sovereign airspace in the United States dates in alaska where we have had to intercept those russian bombers from coming into american airspace, so we went to work with you on that. Its an important area of the world and increasing being militarized by the russians. Thank you, mr. Chairman. The russians inserted their sovereignty over alaska again . Vladimir putin is just upset that we got a good deal of hundred 50 years ago when we bought alaska. Some of us question that. [laughter] i want to thank the witnesses for their willingness to serve, for their past service and we will move forward as quickly as possible so that you can get to work. I thank you for your service to the country and your willingness to serve. This hearing is adjourned. Live to capitol hill for a house hearing on the way to