Doneford testifying on a military strategy on south asia that includes india pack tan and afghanistan. This hearing is just getting underway. These fundamental issues do need to be discussed openly for the American People and for those who have sacrificed over the last 16 years. Thats the reason we are here today. Mr. Smith. Thank you mr. Chairman. And i think the chairman raised all the questions that need to be raised. This is offense a revery difficult part of the world. We clearly have National Security interests in how afghanistan is governed and pakistan as well. Going back to 2001 when the then Afghanistan Government led by the taliban allowed al qaeda to have safe haven to plot and plan terrorist attacks against the u. S. , including 9 11. Making sure we dont return to toes days is clearly in our National Security interests. What is not as clear is how we do that and what the cost is of our current effort. Afghanistan is a very difficult place to govern. I think one of the thin
Of contracts we cant forget that corruption corrodes the markets and bruises uncertainty and creates efficiency and under mines Good Governance and frightens away good capital and put simply it slows down growth and doesnt speed it up. It doesnt expand growth and it certainly doesnt meet the standards of a world that is increasingly looking for more transparency and accountability. It creates a fragile system instead of a strong one. President obama and i commend apec for its close work with the private sector to develop ethics for businesses large and small and we commend apec resent work to shine light on money laundrying and illegal traffic and our economys simple bottom line, our economies will not reach their full potential and we will not meet the demand of all those young people looking for us for good choices and for the future and we will not do that unless we eliminate criminal enterprises that undermine the legitimacy of what we are all trying to achieve and the rules by whi
National Security Policy is inhibit the advancement of al qaeda. We will go now live over to the American Enterprise institute in washington. Frederick kagan. Coming inside to this windowless we have windows, but we have covered them. I want to thank you for coming happyr talking about our talk with. I am frederick kagan, the director of the American Enterprise institute critical threats project. We have been working on al qaeda and especially on the various Al Qaedaaffiliated movements around the world for a number of years now. Topicnfortunately is a that does not show any sign of diminishing in importance, and it is getting ever more complicated to understand, because what we are finding is a lot of these affiliates and inociates are ramifying their local areas, and both expanding and interacting with one another in new ways. Simply major undertakig ng simply to try to follow what is going on, let alone coming up with come up with a coherent recommendations for one instead. Just to
You wont find them saying the islamic state, alqaeda, iraq has not regained, obviously, we know they regained footholds, but the truth is they regained foot hots around iraq. No one argues theres large alqaeda affiliates in syria. That was one of the reason given traditionally for why we dont support, i dont find it a persuasive reason, but thats an argument made. Thatst a large and powerful franchise, and its clear with operations in north africa that we have a vibrant franchise in alqaeda, and so on and so on. The question of whether we have affiliates out there and whether they continue to be strong or capable is not really in question. The real question that our policy debates focus around is just the United States needs to care. How much of a problem is it for us if these local groups do well or poorly, and is this something to be concerned about, and that is how do local groups relate to what the Administration Group calls alqaeda core, the group around formally bin laden, after
Their community. I am very proud to be a part of Mental Health first aid. Thank you. Its a little tight back here. Hi there, i am liz rearden. Ive been a trainer for the past five years. Im the very proud spouse of an air force veteran. The husband dave served from 1971 to 1975 in southeast asia. You talk about the invisible wounds of war. I know what it is like firsthand have someone who you live really loved to have to go through that. Train number of years, i did not know what to do. I figured, it is vietnam, long time ago, time will heal those well, it doesnt. I did not know to say. Finally, we got ourselves down to the Veterans Administration hospital in White River Junction vermont where they have a primary Mental Health clinic. We finally got down there. The very first thing they said to us when we walked in the door was, thank you for your service. And that opened a door for us because also, they were so nonjudgmental. My husband was able to tell his story. They were not surpri