Years. We have seen there movement diversify and expand in the aftermath of the upheave el in the arab world since 2010. As my college mentioned, isil is just one of the groups that were concerned about. Al qaeda core continues to support attacking the west and for now remains the recognized leader after global jihadist movement. In syria we have seen veteran al qaeda fighters travel from pakistan to take advantage of the permissive environment there. Branches in yemen and somalia continue to remain extremely active. Off course over the past five years, al qaeda sought to take down an airplane bound for the United States and here in the United States last years bombing of the Boston Marathon is a sober reminder of the threat we face from selfdivekted violent extremist. Terrorists skploided the lack of governeance and parts of the middle east. Terrorist groups are inactive in 11 insurgencies in the world. The groups are adapting their tactics to overcome our defenses, they are looking f
Monitoring them to see what they are in contact with . Or is that too risky . No, a case by case basis. And sometimes it makes sense under limited circumstances. Let somebody back in, cover them very closely to see who they connect with. Sometimes it makes sense to have them come back in the country and lock them up right away. So it is hard to say in the abstract. Okay. Secretary . I agree with the fbi director that suspension of passports should be considered on a case by case basis. The state department has the authority to suspend passports. I also know suspension of passports can be done when the situation warrants in a matter of hours or days. It does not necessarily need to be a lengthy process. And i agree given the current environment that we need to seriously consider limiting certain individuals to travel. Either go from one foreign country another. Or from our country another country. Director olsen . I think this was touched on by the chairman. How concerned are you with a
Have been with an average age of 25th. Averages average. That means quite a few of the fleet are substantially older. The shocking statistic, more than half of our our forces are not sufficiently ready today for our highend play. Interfere with you. You did your defenses and the like. More than half of our forces are not sufficiently. I think we also realize that demand we do that and alltime high all around the certainly its dangerous complex and constantly changing the that i can ever remember in the 34 years that i have been. Have to join my colleagues and say that a budgetary trajectory that resulted in sequestration is not going to allow us to sustain the space. Let me now do my plays became. I believe sequestration is going to place american lives at greater risk at home and abroad. Sequestration remains the law of the land in the United States air force simultaneously be able to defeat in adversary and one for cant deny a 2nd adversary the objective a seat as well is the from th
And signer and nuclear and signs and technology and readiness and people. In other words, i think everything is threatened mr. Chairman, under sequestration. And most of all i fear that american lives would be at risk. So i ask you again, please continue your leadership to get sequestration lifted permanently. Please keep on pushing. Thank you very much, and we all look forward to your questions. Thank you. Im going to ask the staff to put me on the clock because i have really one question directed to each of the Service Chiefs. At our retreat general dempsey said, and he said we could quote him the budget request was the lower ragged edge of what it takes to defend the country. If you were talking to my con state opportunities or our colleagues who dont deal in this area every day and had one minute to describe what the consequences to the country would be for not approving the amount that the president the administration has asked for for department of defense or your service how wou
Moving money and putting off unnecessary programs and delaying modernization but those cuts and delays we will do with next year with the return now of sequestration and added to the cuts already would be a back breaker for the United States army and i would argue the military at large. Were doing everything we can. Just basic commitments to save normal security. Yes we have a presence in afghanistan but those are not big operations. That is dated day commitments. We are mortgage eight our readiness just to meet these commitments is something bigger happens we will not be able to respond to it awaited people are used to was responding. Divemaster to get you to help us by giving specific examples. That is a very good example. White the platforms you have to give up wort strength you have to reduce our installations to have to close a week to help them understand. It is difficult we have 30 or 45 seconds before they are thinking about Something Different and that is a challenge. We do ha