I want to thank our witnesses, secretary esper, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff milley for appearing before us to testify. The purpose of this hearing is to discuss our policy in syria particularly in light of the events that happened when turkey invaded and drove the kurds out of portions. Our first hearing since the congressman from new york joined the committee. I want to thank him. We have a lot of new faces in this committee that are a year into it. They are not new faces anymore but good to have another freshman added to the committee. I appreciate him serving. The purpose of this hearing is to look at events around syria. A whole bunch of questions and the other big issue is the ability of memories of this committee to ask questions of the key policymake is in an area of importance to the committee and to give them an opportunity to learn more about the policy and express their views and that is a huge part of our oversight role in congress and it is enormously important.
Address that range of topics. To begin, i have a senior counsel and director of the Freedom Technology and security project. It is a time where we hear a lot about the goal of putting America First. Surveillance states, this often creates some friction with our allies. Our goals may conflict with their desire to protect their own citizens. [cheering and applause] thank you. Hello, everyone. Www. Cdt. Org. I want to talk about the Global Implications of what i call America First surveillance policies. U. S. Surveillance policy, particularly on the intelligence side of the equation discriminates against foreigners in a fairly dramatic way when it comes to surveillance that occurs outside the United States inside the United States it is relatively even between americans and foreigners. When they want to survey out a person in the United States and collect their Communications Content for intelligence purposes, it has to show they are in agent of a foreign power. A Foreign Terrorist Organi
Generations. Your faithfulness sustains the seasons of our earthly pilgrimage. You are worthy of our praise. Infuse our lawmakers with reverential awe, as they remember you are the one constituent they absolutely must please. Because of you, they live and move and breath and have their being. Although they may plan, you alone decide what will or will not prevail. May our senators make you their refuge, their shelter in the time of storms. And, lord, we thank you for the inspiration of a stupendous world series. We pray in your glorious name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to our flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Mr. Grassley madam president. The presiding officer the senator from iowa. Mr. Grassley i ask to speak as if in morning business for 90 seconds. The presiding officer without objec
Thank you. Im kathleen hicks. I direct the National Security program here. Our ceo wanted to be here this morning to welcome the commandant, but hes been under the weather, so i get to both moderate the conversation and also do that. Before i begin, i just want to remind everyone that this is the fourth of our Maritime Security dialogue series of 2019. Our Maritime Security dialogue is cohosted between csis and our partners at the u. S. Naval institute. And our goal is to highlight Current Issues and future challenges facing the navy, marine corps and coast guard. I want to thank our sponsor, Huntington Ingalls industries who has made this possible. Today were talking with admiral karl schultz, a commandant of the marine corps. And i want to get right into it. We were lucky enough to have you join us in august of 2018. Pete daily was the moderator for that session and here we are a yearplus beyond that, a few months beyond that when you began which was roughly may 2018. I would love to
This hearing will come to order and we welcome everyone. The subcommittee testimony on the findings and recommendations in the study groups final report. Given the timing of the hearing we will have the opportunity to discuss the ramifications of the policy changes in syria and a study Group Recommendations to still address the challenges that are. For the purpose of an opening statement. Thank you very much for testifying today and for your work and the final report of the study group. Your report as a thoughtful review of the conflict and provides pragmatic recommendations for how policymakers can protect u. S. Interests and destabilize syria. Now it is well known President Trump does not like to read but i wish that he had skimmed over the executive summary before the recent phone call with the turkish president. Your assessment notes do not eliminate the threat to the United States. It also notes the detainee population is a longterm challenge is not being adequately addressed and