Our nation recently observed the 19th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of september 11, 2001. Nearly two decades later we continue to mourn the nearly 3,000 lives lost that terrible day and keep their loved ones in our prayers. This committee and the department of Homeland Security were established in the wake of 9 11 to help prevent future attacks on our soil. Regardless of who was chairman weve held regular hearings examining worldwide threats with leaders from the department of Homeland Security, fbi, and National Counter Terrorism Center. And regardless of who has occupied the white house, whether democrat or republican, weve received cooperation in that effort. Today was supposed to be no different. Unfortunately as we see from the empty chair in front of us mr. Wolf is not here to represent the department of Homeland Security. Let me be clear about how we got here. The committee began engaging with the department over three months ago to secure participation alongside his col
Without objection the chair is authorized to declare the committee in recess at any point. Good morning. Before we begin i want to say our thoughts with those americans dealing with devastating natural disasters including the wildfires in the west and Hurricane Sally in the south. As chairman i remain committed to ensuring they receive the federal help needed to respond, recover and build back stronger. They, the committee on Homeland Securitys meeting for its annual hearing on worldwide threats to the homeland. Our nation recently observed the 19th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of september 11, 2001. Nearly two decades later we continue to mourn the nearly 3,000 lives lost that terrible day and keep their loved ones in our prayers. This committee and the department of Homeland Security were established in the wake of 9 11 to help prevent future attacks on our soil. Regardless of who was chairman weve held regular hearings examining worldwide threats with leaders from the depart
A process which has been going on for 12 years trying to disarm iraq from its weapons of mass destruction this report by libyan intelligence the external Security Organization or. Shows details of a meeting with the cia. As it plans to invade Saddam Husseins iraq in 2003 the u. S. Needed to prepare Public Opinion for the attack getting libya on govt is key to that strategy. But the iraq war went badly for the western allies. No evidence of dangerous weapons was found and the lack of a postwar strategy plunged the country into calles. Gadhafi then seized the moment in a dramatic bid to ingratiate himself with the west and have sanctions on libya lifted he claimed to have w m ds ive offered to surrender them. Desperate to put a positive spin on their mission to destroy weapons in the middle east the u. S. And u. K. Led the way in rehabilitating gadhafi almost overnight. Libya was no longer. Part of the axis of evil. In return a Lucrative Oil and gas deal was signed and it was then that t
Saddam had biological weapons they were ready yeah but everybody thought they had the International Community has clearly demonstrated that it is fed up way is it a process which has been going on for 12 years trying to disarm iraq from its weapons of mass destruction this report by libyan intelligence the external Security Organization or solo shows details of a meeting with the cia. As it plans to invade Saddam Husseins iraq in 2003 the us needed to prepare Public Opinion for the attack getting libya on govt is key to that strategy. But the iraq war went badly for the western allies. No evidence of dangerous weapons was found and the lack of a postwar strategy plunged the country into calles. Gadhafi then seized the moment in a dramatic bid to ingratiate himself with the west and have sanctions on libya lifted he claimed to have w m ds and offered to surrender them. With. Desperate to put a positive spin on their mission to destroy weapons in the middle east the u. S. And u. K. Led t
Led Coalition Forces the turkish government describes the main fighting force of the s. D. F. As a terrorist organization linked to its outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party which is fought against the turkish government for decades the s. D. F. Control around 430 kilometers of syrian territory along the Turkish Border they have fought and worked alongside the u. S. Troops for years they say u. S. President s dont trumps decision to withdraw the nearly 1000. 00 american soldiers is a stab in the back of one that gives turkey an opportunity to attack that if that turkey and how do you decide threats made by turkey to attack the area is not something new they have consistently done it for years we as Syrian Democratic forces take the matter into account and are fully prepared to fiercely respond to any imminent attack on syrian soil. Turkeys government says it wants to create what it describes as a safety zone of around 30 kilometers in the site syria so around 2000000 of the 3600000 Syrian R