In syria between 30 and Kurdish Forces. Witnesses included a representative from the Syrian Democratic counsel the former special forces officer who fought alongside the kurds. Before i begin i like to take a moment to remember my friend and our chairman, Elijah Cummings who we lost one week ago. Like others on this committee at the pleasure privilege to call elijah at my friend for almost 20 years. We worked the many issues that confronted congress. Mr. Cummings has bequeathed the legacy of Compassionate Service to those families in our society who still struggle to receive the full promise of the american dream. While he had an abiding faith in the goodness and kindness of humankind he was firm in his commitment to use his many talents and his power of position to weighin in behalf of the disenfranchised and reduce the suffering that he saw in this world. Elijah lived his life in a meaningful cause, a cause for justice and liberty and equality for all. We in our nation would be well served to follow his example and spirit had presence here on this committee will be sorely missed. Today we will examine the trump and ministrations decision to draw u. S. Forces in Northern Syria and abandon our kurdish allies. As everyone knows how little more than two weeks ago President Trump had a phone call turkish president or the one we dont know exactly what that transcript of that revealed but we do know the white house released the following statement about the call and i quote it here. Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long planned operations into Northern Syria. The United States armed forces will not support or be involved in the operation and United States forces having defeated the isis territorial caliphate we will no longer be needed excuse me, will will no longer be in the immediate area. Nowhere in that statement is there any indication that he tried to delay president s plan of operation and indeed i think it could be interpreted as the statement facilitated that incursion. Nowhere in the statement to the white house condemned turkish invasion and the destabilizing effects it would have and no where do the same and warned about the hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced only that the United States military will no longer be in the immediate the sanity. With that President Trump ceded virtually all of the ability to influence events on the ground in Northern Syria. He abandoned our allies in the kurdish led Democratic Forces who for years were our partner in the most effective fighters against the zoning state in iraq and syria. As a result they will no longer be able to apply continue terrorism pressure against isis which will almost inevitably allow them to reemerge and equally concerning is the power vacuum left by the lysates is already been felled by the Syrian Regime of asad, russia and iranian militias. The indifference to loyalty and life decisions on the phone with resident erdogan will result in disastrous consequences for the u. S. National security and has undermined u. S. Credibility in the world stage. According to one kurdish fighter quote, america will never again be able to count on the courage to fight isis we dont trust america anymore. This is important so let me read the kurdish again. We dont trust america anymore. Trumps betrayal of an ally and what it says about america will elect Severe Damage to american diplomacy, military strategy and Foreign Policy for many years to come. Dont take my word for it. President trumps most ardent supporters and former and ministrations officials have credit score decides decision with Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell says the withdrawal has quote, a grave mistake. Senator Lindsey Graham has called the decision shortsighted and responsible with former secretary said if we dont keep the pressure on the isis will reemerge. Its a given that they will come back. Last week 129 of my republican colleagues voted alongside two to 252025 democrats to oppose President Trumps decision to withdraw u. S. Forces from militant syria. To date we have the great privilege of welcoming [inaudible] executive president of steering the mechanic counsel and former special forces officer who fought alongside our kurdish spf allies in Northern Syria. We are also joined by bernice from save the children to provide an update on humanitarian situations in syria as well as immediate [inaudible] director of policy and research at the group and a former diplomats. We are also pleased to welcome director of the cato institute. A quickly just takes note for our members as you have noticed their company by a translator and it will require additional time to interpret questions and answers between members in the witnesses. I intend to hold members to the usual five minute time limit for questions i will allow extra time at my discretion if i determine that fairness requires granting a member additional time whether that member is democrat or republican. Id like to again thank our witnesses for your willingness to help this committee with its work. The chair and organizes the Ranking Member for five minutes for an opening payment. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Likewise i present your comments about chairman cummings. Obviously he and i and many on this side disagreed on many issues and i will say he was always very respectful and i have many conversations with him outside of this room and he was always respectful and will be greatly missed. I appreciate your comments. I would appreciate having this hearing today. Likewise i want to thank our witnesses for being here specially i want to think mr. Palmer for your service to our country. Regretfully, many members today cannot be her because of the House Majority having created a scheduling conflict and mr. Chairman, as you know, House Majority has scheduled a deposition as far as the illegitimate impeachment inquiry and as a result the House Majority is forced members to choose between this hearing and the deposition. Despite the importance of this topic i believe the choice was unfortunately very easy for other members to make. Arbitrary rules imposed by german chef have created an unprecedented secrecy around the inquiry and the next week members will be able to review the transcript of this hearing and followup with additional questions at our leisure. But the deposition and this partisan impeachment inquiry is not so cut and dry. The rules on who can access and how to access deposition transcripts are unclear and constantly changing. Members of this committee sought to review transcripts have been turned away. For those few lucky members the democrats will let you get the transcript, chairmanship has now insisted that will give members have democrat staff babysitters and who knows what other rules are coming. With changing roles shifting targets and unprecedented lack of chimpanzee the democrats impeachment upwards in the man demand report again members hold this to attention. Back to the topic today. Id like to say the videos emerging of individuals throwing rotten food at u. S. Soldiers is important. Both minimum and put everything on the line to further the goal of a safe and secure syria and should not be treated that way. The beginning in 2011 syria has been in a state of unrest and it began with the arab spring which led to a war all of the Previous Administration stood on the sideline. Thenpresident obama through his now infamous red line. President obama said it syria dictator asad was to use chemical warfares it would warrant the United States military intervention about a year later when asad did use chemical weapons on his own civilians the Obama Administration gave the keys to russia in negotiating with syria. While there are now fewer chemical weapons in syria syria has gained significant influence. When he used chemical weapons in 2018 President Trump to not bulk but instead wants to military strike of the significant sending a clear message to the assad regime that these chemical offense will not be tolerated. The continued efforts by the Trump Administration has led to the defeat of the isis caliphate and a significant weakening of islamic extremism in that region. A few weeks ago present dropped announced the decision to withdraw troops from the border between syria and turkey. The role of the u. S. Military is to protect vital u. S. Interests, not to be a unilateral nation for armed insurgencies against a nato ally. Previous administrations actions from from arming insurgents in latin america to intervening in iraq in libya have proven unilateral military action can indeed the problematic. In this situation it is no different. The Syrian Democratic forces of u. S. Backed insurgency is comprised of members of the ytd, the ytd is a sponsor group of the pkk. If the u. S. And turkey registered foreign terrorist organization. Its no wonder why turkey is uncomfortable with this alliance. An article titled why is turkey fighting the kurds in syria in the New York Times further explains the connection and mr. Chairman out asking endless content to submit this for the record. Without objection. Thank you. Sure everyone in his room as well as the Trump Administration as a whole is devoted to the safety and security of syria and the surrounding region but moreover, since were spending today discussing borders i think its appropriate time that we recognize that the turkish Syrian Border is almost 6000 miles away. While no question this issue does merit review its concerning to meet the democrats are more focused on the border crisis 6000 miles away then the crisis at our own southern border. During fiscal year 2019 alone customs and will patrol apprehended almost 1 million migrants at the southern border. Its an 80 increase increase over the previous year. Many having criminal records. I continue to call my democratic colleagues to provide our lot was meant many women the resources they need to solve this crisis. Again, mr. Chairman chairman i want to thank you for this hearing and each of our witnesses. I look forward to your testimonies and questions i had and i yield back. I think the gentleman. Just as equivocation rules for access to hearings and depositions have not changed. At least in the past ten years. Continue as they were under the republicanled house and those rules are still in place today. Hopefully i would beg to differ but this is not the time. Members are not allowed to see those pins gets. We are honored to be joined today by executive president of the Syrian Democratic counsel, he has been part of the kurdish struggle for freedom and democracy since the 1990s with particular with particular focus on womens rights. She joined today by a translator. I would like to thank you for being here and for your sacrifice on behalf of the International Community in the fight against isis. We are very pleased to welcome mr. Marty palmer, graduated from the United States military academy at west point and served combat tours in iraq and syria. He was what they tell us macarthur Leadership Award for outstanding leadership. Hes not pursuing his mba at columbia business school. Thank you for your service. Thank you for helping this committee with this work. Director of programs of research and in her ten year career as u. S. Foreign service served up a medic tours in brazil, pakistan, colombia, washington dc and the u. S. Mission to the united nations. She is also a graduate of new york in diversity in the Harvard Kennedy school. We are fortunate to welcome the senior director of the International Humanitarian policy and advocacy at save the children. She worked for several years as the advocacy and Campaign Director where she oversaw the International Campaign of humanitarian crises, trade, aid, climate change, food security, health, education. Oftentimes they are not recognized for the work and tech guys in the way they said so i thank you all for being here and your service. We like to welcome mr. John glaser, director of Foreign Policy studies at the cato institute, his research include grand strategy, u. S. Foreign u. S. Foreign policy in the middle east, rise of china and the role of status and prestige motivation and International Politics but he is been a guest on the variety of Television Radio programs and is the coauthor with [inaudible] of fuel to the fire how trump made americas broken Foreign Policy even worse and how we can recover. Mr. Glaser, thank you for being here today. We we look forward to learning from your policy. I now like to ask the witnesses to please rise to be sworn in and include the interpreter. Raise your right hand. Do you swear and affirm that has money to about to get is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you got . Let the record thank you. Let the record reflect that the witnesses have all answered in the affirmative. Microphones are sensitive so make sure he please pull them up so you can be heard. Without objection your written statement will be made part of the record and with that you are now organized for your oral presentation of your testimony. [speaking in foreign language] translator i like to think the campus for their support and for this opportunity. [speaking in foreign language] translator my condolences for your colleague. [speaking in foreign language] came from syria. And there was a heavy fight ongoing for years. [speaking in foreign language] translator we have lived in that war moment by moment and at the same time by going for the future. [speaking in foreign language] translator our people with christians we build a society together and liberated 30 of the syrian land. [speaking in foreign language] translator all faith in our religion are free to express themselves freely. [speaking in foreign language] translator syria is christians and muslims. [speaking in foreign language] translator we continue to live in harmony after isis. [speaking in foreign language] translator in the fight against isis we lost 11 fighters. [speaking in foreign language] translator 25 people were disabled in the fight. [speaking in foreign language] translator we appreciate American Forces for their fight for us. [speaking in foreign language] translator after they liberated these areas they had not give opportunity to show what we worked for. [speaking in foreign language] translator all this increased threats over us. [speaking in foreign language] translator we had a good relation with the u. S. Government enforces. [speaking in foreign language] translator in terms of fighting against isis but also realizing our hopes to build a democratic future will build stability in the region. [speaking in foreign language] translator they told us if we continue fighting [speaking in foreign language] translator we been together to work together. [speaking in foreign language] translator we will be in syria until the political solution is achieved on the ground. These other promises. [speaking in foreign language] translator then we came under attack and they told us we have no power so we cannot help you. [speaking in foreign language] translator we were told where our forces exist we wont allow attacks. [speaking in foreign language] translator for those reasons we thought American Forces and trusted them. [speaking in foreign language] translator we believe we thought when there was an attack in the region we do not expect them to fight on our behalf but we were sure they would do that. [speaking in foreign language] translator we put our hope to coexistence to live together with the people in the region. [speaking in foreign language] translator one day before the attack we were under assumption that the airspace would be closed by the u. S. [speaking in foreign language] translator the established we agreed upon to prevent attack of turkish state. [speaking in foreign language] translator through our forces we destroyed the trenches on the border and we put our heavy weapons for joined forces that have already stopped. [speaking in foreign language] translator unfortunately, after the phone call we were told it would be open in our forces would be withdrawn from the border area. [speaking in foreign language] translator we were shocked and puzzled. [speaking in foreign language] translator we did not hope this would happen. As a result of this we found out the fight with turkish state and we defended ourselves. Turkish government came and fought against us. [speaking in foreign language] translator forces us to fighting against isis [inaudible] without any reason. [speaking in foreign language] translator we never had any threat against the turkish. [speaking in foreign language] translator as a result of this war around 300,000 people are displaced. 250 people killed. The majority of these were kids and children. [speaking in foreign language] translator. People have disappeared, unaccounted for. [speaking in foreign language] translator moreover, a city was devastated for mortars and airstrikes. Our forces were killed. [speaking in f