Review. This is about 90 minutes. The meeting will come to order. The Committee Meets today to hear testimony on the Administrations National Defense Strategy and Nuclear Posture review, both of which were recently released. We welcome back the secretary of defense and the vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff to discuss these important documents. I cannot count the number of times i have heard members of this Committee Talk about the importance of having a Defense Strategy to help guide decisions that we, in the executive branch, have to make. Now, we have one. It is a component of the Broader National Security strategy released in december and it has within it the Nuclear Posture review, the first of its kind since 2010. A lot has changed since 2010 and both documents come at a critical time. As the National Security strategy points out, quote, americas military remains the strongest in the world. However, u. S. Advantages are shrinking as rival states modernize and build up the
The jihadist footprint. Chattanooga. Im thinking about the hatchet attack in new york. Think about the beheading in oklahoma. Very strange cases very difficult to categorize but clearly some inkling of jihadist ideology there that there are a lot of other issues Like Mental Health with personality disorders and so on. One could argue in this is that the hypothetical level that a lot of these individuals in europe find it much easier to go in the direction of syria and iraq. For one reason or another they dont find that outlet that they might basically let their anger in the radicalization out. The final point and i will wrap it up here in the most interesting part is the q a part for sure is a different approach from the governments point of view on the two sides of the ocean. On both sides particularly on the european side there has been a strengthening of the harder part of a counterterrorism spectrum. Legislation have been on both sides of the ocean but particularly some parts of th
Was established and these people right now are probably dominating among the people who have returned to European Countries. For these people there need to be options other than going to prison for 20, 30, 40 or so i have always been in my colleagues and i have always been very forthright in pushing European Countries to establish reIntegration Programs for people who are generally disillusioned to believe they made a mistake who have not committed major crimes. Its something that can be very tough but allows for the reintegration of people back into their societies. You have these three different groups, disillusioned, disturbed and dangerous. I think right now by far the Largest Group isnt that the fourth group which i call the undecideds. A lot of people have returned and is not clear at all what kinds of things they would do in the long term. This shouldnt surprise us. This thread and this is my final remark, this threat will play out over long period of time. If afghanistan in the
To be replaced until the 2030s. We have authorized continued development and replacement for this responsive leg of the triad which acts as a counterbalance to hostile icbms. I know there is concern about russias violation of the intermediate range Nuclear Force treaty, which is a foundational arms control treaty from the late 1980s. The committee has received classified briefings on the actions taken by russia, and they are indeed serious. I urge all my colleagues to request these classified briefings if they have not done so. Some have called for the u. S. To reform the developmental Testing Systems that are noncompliant with the treaty, this committee has pursued a cautious and measured approach of looking at what kinds of Research Within the confines of the treaty we can perform if called upon to counter this threat. Let me stress that i do not support withdrawing from the treaty. Our best approach is to bring the russians back into compliance. With respect to energy use, which is
Joint chiefs of staff. General dunford, the Committee Thanks you for your decades of distinguished service to our nation. We are grateful to your wife, ellen, for the support that she has always provided to you, and to all who serve our nation in uniform. I would also like to welcome your son patrick. Patrick, fortunately you look like your mother. Thank you. Who is joining us this morning. I know that your other children, joe and kathleen, send their support from afar. Even as i bet theyre a little relieved that they dont have to sit through your interrogation. In order to exercise its oversight responsibilities its important that this committee and other committees of congress receive testimony and briefings and communications of information. Have you adhered to applicable laws and regulations governing conflicts of interest . I have. Do you agree when asked to give your personal views even if the views differ from the administration in power . I do, chairman. Have you assumed any du