Statement. Thank you, secretary shenker and assistant administrator harvey for testifying today. Nearly three years into the Trump Administration, the United States faces a multitude of challenges in the middle east. While the administration touts its maximum pressure policy, iran continues to destaiblize countries. Despite President Trumps bella koes rhetoric, tehran has bnl able to launch attacks. Undermining u. S. Deterrence and credibility. The Iranian Nuclear program is more advanced today. And the International Community is more guided in con froonting it. Iran continues to unjustly imprison americans and violate the human rights of its own people. Iran also continues to support bashar alla sawed and inside syria and in neighboring countries. This conflict in the humanitarian crisis will reshape the middle east for decades to come but our policy in syria remains ambiguous at best. President trump has now twice announced the rapid and complete withdrawal from troops from syria wit
Today to hear testimony on the Trump Administrations budgetary and policy priorities in the middle east for fiscal year 2020. We look forward to hearing from witnesses about the fy 20 budgets for the department of state Near Eastern Affairs bureau as well usaid bureau for the middle east. Thank the witnesses for appearing today. I recognize myself for purposes of making an opening statement. Thank you assistant ebt secretary shanker and administrator harvey for testifying today. Nearly three years in the Trump Administration, the United States face as multitude of challenges in the middle east. While the administration touts maximum pressure policy, iran continues to detablize countries from iraq yemen and leb ondespite President Trumps rhetoric tehran that is laufrmd attacks on International Shipping and regional states. Undermining u. S. Deterrence and credibility in the process. The Iranian Nuclear program is more advanced today than the day that President Trump took office. And the
The Iraqi Armed Forces Syrian Armed Forces in 27 in summer 27th the Lebanese Armed forces who were. Old western borders between lebanon. And the group which is just. So that since. Since. The start to lose all control in its territory in syria in lebanon in iraq 2017 the. Thank you. We appreciate it thank you. To spain now where a day of protest in the city of barcelona has ended in Violence Police clash with catalan Pro Independence demonstrators on saturday firing tear gas and water cannon after what began as a peaceful rally in the city protests have swept across the region after Spain Supreme Court imposed a lengthy prison sentences on catalan separatist leaders who were found guilty of sedition. The rally began peacefully with the streets of barcelona awash in a sea of protesters from the waterfront to the citys landmarks a grad a familiar church. Many carry cattle on flags and banners branded with slogans such as sit and talk and freedom for political prisoners. Pro independence
Good afternoon and welcome to is newly renovated headquarters. I am the Senior Vice President at the middle east institute. I am pleased to welcome you to todays important and timely commsby examining cent approach to the middle east. We will explore prospects for an effective u. S. Military role in the region, especially given current news from northeast syria. Great panel of experts to discuss this with you today. Ken pollock, we are also pleased to welcome back senior fellow and director of the defense and Security Program after a oneyear fellowship at the department of defense. We are happy to have him back and look forward to hearing his insights from his upcoming article in the 2019 fall issue quarterlyhington entitled broken partnerships can washington get security . Eric schmidtht is a writer for the new york times. Since 2007, he has reported on terrorism issues with assignments to pakistan, afghanistan, Southeast Asia among others. Is a coauthor of counterstrike the untold st
Current news from northeast syria. We have great panel of experts to discuss this with you today. Ken pollack, dana stroul and were also pleased to welcome back in the eye senior fellow and director of the defense and Security Program bilal saab after a oneyear fellowship in the department of defense. We are happy to have him back and look forward to hearing his insights from his upcoming article in the 2019 fall issue of the washington quarterly entitled broken partnerships can washington get Security Cooperation right . Moderating todays panel of the six experts is eric schmitt. Eric is a writer covering terrorism and National Security for the new york times. Since 2007 he has reported on terrorism issues with assignments to pakistan, afghanistan, north africa, southeast asia, among others. He is a coauthor of counterstrike, the untold story of americas secret campaign against alqaeda. Published in 2011. Before joining the times, eric was an education reporter at the tricity herald i