This Armed Services committee is one hour and 45 minutes. Committee will come to order. We turn our attention to the Central Command area of operations, where much of the nations military power has been engaged since 1991. While we are rightfully focusing attention on other threats, such as a resurgent russia and assertive china, the threat of terrorism has not gone away. As discussed a few weeks ago, it is difficult to see how isis is totally eliminated from syria, and al qaeda has not disappeared either. While terrorist have physically spread to other locations, some have become quite adept on posting online comic instigating terrorists incidents in the west. Iran poses a significant threat to regional stability. None of us will prevent will forget the central fight to prevent afghanistan from becoming a base for terrorism. I appreciate the witnesses answering our questions. I want to mention one additional issue that has been in the news lately. There have been press reports about c
Attention on other threats, such as a resurgent russia and assertive china, the threat of terrorism has not gone away. As discussed a few weeks ago, it is difficult to see how isis is totally eliminated from syria, and al qaeda has not disappeared either. While terrorist have physically spread to other locations, some have become quite adept on posting online comic instigating terrorists incidents in the west. Iran poses a significant threat to regional stability. None of us will prevent will forget the central fight to prevent afghanistan from becoming a base for terrorism. I appreciate the witnesses answering our questions. I want to mention one additional issue that has been in the news lately. There have been press reports about civilian casualties in mosul related to u. S. Aerial support reclaiming the city from isis. I would suggest that everyone be cautious. Environmentrban there may well be civilian casualties. Even the finest military in the world can make mistakes. We know fo
Employ the capability. And then are you making that largely permanent . At some point in the future you moved on to Something Else and someone comes in behind you. Is this still evolving how you are trying to establish these relationships as they apply to cyber, or are these going to be largely permanent . Will we be changing the story . I think they will be largely permanent. I feel pretty good that we have done the foundational work, broadly. I always remind people. Remember, no plan ever survives contact. In the broad framework, we are likely to see things we havent anticipated. We have to be flexible and be willing to change given the specifics of whatever it is is were dealing with. But for the way we are partnered, it hasnt been adversarial at all. It has been a great team. I would like to jump in on that sir. I would like to give a shoutout. We have been dealing with this on how to build up cyber capacity in the guard and reserve. We are building right now towards about 2,000 gu
Pressure from multiple directions across the battlefield in syria and iraq. As we have said from the start, this fight cannot be one in the military sphere. It will require a political solution to the crisis. One thing is certain. The vast majority of states around this table know the isil forces, isil itself, cannot be defeated as long as Bashar Alassad remains president of syria. It cannot happen by definition of the lines of this battle, because who is lined up with whom, and the nature of these protagonists. The reason is defined in the beginning by how this fight itself began. This fight began when young people, young syrians looking for a future wanting nothing more than opportunity and jobs, and education, when they went out to demonstrate for the future. And to claim the aspirations of young people. Assad sent his thugs to beat them up. They were outraged by the fact theirldren where children were being not. They were met with bullets. That is how this whole thing began. People
Set up what the administration has been doing and the larger issue of what this could potentially have among house guest the ministration is among House Republicans. Is the administration ofhas been a huge subject protest among the immigrant advocacy community. Jeh johnson has been listening to a lot of advocates and talking about the things they can do. It is not entirely clear what they will do. The thinking is there will probably be some good some new guidance about what they should consider when it comes to. Ooking at immigration people who are living in mixed of them aree citizens, some of them are illegals. Advocates would like the president to expand his Deferred Action Program that he has to a broader population of people. He put something together a couple of years ago under some protest that finally allowed this to happen. Young people who were brought here by their parents, they dont have to worry about being deported anymore. We are not sure what the administration is going