And its the only appropriate mark of respect that i have gotten from my colleagues and i think the general, thank you for your outstanding service. We have had the opportunity over the past 12 and 13, 14 years, and i appreciate your service elmont. I am really reluctant to get back into this. But people keep trying to say that 2008 we said that wed have everyone out, that we really wanted this day in iraq and the fact is that the president of the United States, there was never any Public Statement that said he would want to use day in iraq. The fact is that the senator and i were there and we know full well that if we really wanted to we could have kept the residual force to build her we were on the ground there in these places and we agreed. So in the word of the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, we have cascaded down to 3500 troops, which was absolutely ridiculous. So we will be fighting this for years to come. But facts are stubborn things and we couldve left a residual force i
That is the plan senator. So november for example of 2015. We will have become the drawdown by november of 2015. At that point how many of our Coalition Allies how Many Coalition allied troops will be with us . We will have 4000 plus or minus that will be with us in 2015. As we collapse back to kabul centric approach in 2016 i would expect we would have the least half of that number in 2016. So we will have about 5000 troops . Presents that they would have half in 2016 and 5500 is out there but the president s guidance has been about half. Your testimony before the committee today, and your best judgment to the congress is that the numbers that we protect 42015 will be adequate to provide security during that calendar year. Is that correct. Senator that is correct. The numbers in 2015 are consistent with the recommendation made to the president. Okay ndu reserve the right as i understand it to look at conditions on the ground and change that recommendation as it goes forward beyond cal
Contamination. Weve finally gotten studies to shed light on this tragedy. As someone i know who served at camp lajeune, i hope you will make this a priority, and will you work with congress to work with this . I feel confident because were working with atr and some other areas that overcome any of these hurdles that may halt or delay the pursuit of answers for affected marines and their families. Absolutely, senator. And well do all we can to be transparent with marine families, and frankly, at the end of the day to do the nice thing. I think its a powerful program that allows our Service Members to pursue education in their off time, and i think it enhances the professionalism and certainly helps prepare them for the civilian work force when they transfer out. Congress has sent a very clear message about the importance of this benefit and by restoring it in fiscal year 13 and reprogramming that in fiscal 14, and in the marine corps 15 budget, the original proposal wanted to cut this b
Privilege of operating. Admiral greenert cannot be here due to a death in his family but im joined by the very able vice chief, admiral michelle howard. Uniquely, the navy and marine corps provide presence around the globe around the clock. The nations first line of defense. Presence means we respond faster. We remain on station longer. We carry everything we need with us. And we do whatever missions are assigned by our nations leaders without needing anyone elses permission. We have always known americas success depends on exceptional navy and marine corps. Article one of the constitution, which you quoted mr. Chairman authorizes congress to raise an army when needed. But directs it to provide and maintain a navy. From the first six frigates to our growing fleet of today from tripoli to afghanistan sailors and the marines have proven the founders wisdom. American leaders across the spectrum have understood the vital significance of the sea power. We deploy in peace just as much as in
Time. She also taught in the Political Science department at the Us Naval Academy and has been a candidate for both the u. S. House and senate. Its really a pleasure to welcome you amy and to have you join brookings very own Michael O Hanlon the defense analysts, analysts, author of articles and books and numbers that are way too high for me to count. And of course the philip h. Knight chair in defense and strategy. A reminder to our audience that you can send questions to events at brookings. E d. U. Throughout. And thanks to those of you who have already done so. In march 2020 commandant of the u. S. Marine corps. General david h. Berger released force design 2030. His plan to match the capabilities of the marine corps to what he understands to be the work that the nation will need the marines to do in the contemporary operating environment. General berger and his staff describe f. D. 2030 is being directly responsive to the 2018 and 2022 National Defense strategies which instruct th