A sanctuary for al qaeda or other Trans National extremiste. It is now being done with a relatively number of u. S. Forces. There still are casualties but way less for us. In the meantime, afghan force are very much fighting and dying for their down help achieve the mission that is so important to us and to them to not allow the force, retake their country, to taliban that did allow al qaeda to camp out on its soil and plan those attacks. Thank you very much. Thank you, mr. Chairman. And general, thank you and your family for your service to this country. It is good to have you back here today. We appreciate your ideas, your advice a great deal. One of the things i want to ask you about is you emphasize a need to work with the kurds, turkey, israel and other allies to interdict extremists groups. We have had the authority to cut off the shipments. What are the challenges and what are your recommendations on this . The challenges have been there have been devious and difficult Operation
Been tough on Prime Minister maliki here but Prime Minister maliki during the surge and the years after the surge hes the one that went off the shia militia very frankly impulsively as you may recall in march, we called it march madness in march of 2008. It was a very run close affair until we could get his elements supported that were on the ground. It was a resounding victory there in sauder city and set the conditions for a period of relative stability and reasonable harmony that lasted for several years after that. Tragically, he undid much of what was done during the surge, no longer honored agreements that were made with the sunny population and so forth. There has been a lot of academic and pundit discussion on why we hung with him especially because former Prime Minister got one more vote in the parliament but couldnt form a government. So there was as lot of wrangling back and forth. Without question, this is something in everyones mind and in everyones memory. And again, cert
Dollences to the family of the brave family killed by isil. Together with jordan we mourn the loss of a hero that that galvanized the nation and the world. I hope this heinous crime helps us put in place what thus far has been lacking, comprehensive strategy to achieve goal to degrade and destroy isil. Let there be no doubt we still do not have a viable strategy to counter isil. And if you are not winning in war, you are losing. America has no greater ally in the fight against terrorism than jordan. As we made clear to King Abdullah in our meeting yesterday, this committees concern is to ensure jordan has equipment and resources necessary to continue taking the fight directly to isil. Many of us on this committee will be sending a letter to the administration on this urgent issue of concern and we invite all of our fellow Committee Members to join us on that letter. I think there was a consensus on both sides after the meeting with King Abdullah that we would send a letter out this mor
Responsibilities it is important that this committee and other appropriate committees of the congress are able to receive testimony, briefings and other communication of information. Have you adhered to applicable laws and regulations governing restrictions . I have. Have you taken any actions for the process . No. Will you assure that your staff adhered to deadlines, including records for the hearings. I will. Will you cooperate with briefers in response to congressional questions . Yes. Will the witnesses be protected in reprisal from thur testimony or briefings . They will. Do you agree to appear and testify upon request before this committee. Yes. Do you agree to provide documents, including electronic forms of hearings or to consult with the committee for any good faith delay or denial in providing such documents . Yes. [ inaudible ]. That concludes our routine questions that we ask of the nominees. And so before the committee proceeds to the business before us today on behalf of
It ever coming up for a vote. Marylanders deserve the transparency to know how their elected leaders vote every time the state takes a bigger share of their hardearned tax dollars. This is a regressive tax that hurts struggling maryland families and our most vulnerable and which adds to the cost of almost everything. These automatic tax increases should be pealed and we will submit legislation repealed and we will submit legislation to do so. This initial tax relief package is just the starting point in the process of rebuilding our states economy. And of course tax relief is only a part of the solution. We have other important initiatives as well. Including number 7. Improving transportation. Over the last several years moneys for local road improvements have been slashed by up to 96 . Our administration is committed to restoring the money that was taken from the Transportation Trust fund and to making sure that it never happens again. Today [applause] today i am pleased to announce t