Yes, all right. It was on, but didnt get picked up. This hearing on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the near east, south asia and central asia will come to order. Today were Holding Hearings on the bipartisan Syria Study Group. It was established by congress for the purpose of examining and making recommendations with respect to the conflict in syria. I want to recognize my colleagues particularly senator shaheen and my friend, the late senator john mccain for their efforts to establish this working group. We also wish to honor the american men and women who have died as part of Operation Inherent resolve, the campaign against isis in syria and iraq. Finally, i want to thank our witnesses here today for their willingness to take on the task for examining an accomplished problem with no easy solutions. Optimal outcomes were left behind long ago, end of quote. Its never easy to devote time and resources to a task whose main goal is often to prevent worse things from happening.