WEBVTT 00:02.020 --> 00:05.950 Ranking member snows members of the committee. I am honored to 00:05.950 --> 00:09.200 appear before you today with my colleagues from the defense department. 00:09.710 --> 00:12.730 Together with see intelligence community. We were to protect 00:12.730 --> 00:16.620 our country from terrorist attacks and are promote American national 00:16.620 --> 00:17.970 security objectives. 00:18.560 --> 00:21.330 The middle east today is undergoing history changes. 00:21.890 --> 00:25.440 Across the region. We're seeing unprecedented political for man 00:25.520 --> 00:29.650 and in some cases up the wealth as people the man change their 00:29.650 --> 00:33.550 it deeper demographic and economic forces that add urgency to 00:33.550 --> 00:34.600 this situation. 00:35.160 --> 00:38.110 But it is clear that the forces are changer knocking down some 00:38.110 --> 00:41.570 of the long standing keller said ever supporter reach announced ability. 00:42.020 --> 00:44.380 Regrettably. There are no easy solutions. 00:45.080 --> 00:48.900 The rapid pace immense in the region asa threaten stomp on long 00:48.900 --> 00:53.320 dormant divisions within societies among clans set to religion 00:53.350 --> 00:54.270 and ethnicity. 00:55.220 --> 00:58.250 These developments hayder of missionary sentiment and set the 00:58.250 --> 01:02.390 conditions for extremism that is rejected by the vast majority 01:02.390 --> 01:06.590 of people across a region and poses a threat to the United States. 01:07.380 --> 01:10.530 The United States air is similar manning for main duration the 01:10.530 --> 01:11.230 middle east. 01:11.900 --> 01:15.310 Our relationships in the region meant to United States an essential 01:15.310 --> 01:18.040 player in the search for diplomatic solutions. 01:18.830 --> 01:22.780 The region's people want affected the months that respect universal riots. 01:23.290 --> 01:25.930 Presenting us was opportunities to show the why. 01:26.750 --> 01:30.360 Our position than the global economy can how most ourselves and 01:30.360 --> 01:32.740 their agents are broader trade and investment. 01:33.980 --> 01:37.360 Secretariat stay carrie has undertaken extraordinary efforts 01:37.360 --> 01:40.590 to address the region's pressing and and a related challenges 01:40.990 --> 01:44.070 and leading efforts to prevent iran from obtaining and unclear 01:44.070 --> 01:48.220 went and did in the cell war in syria and at how free chiffon 01:48.220 --> 01:51.490 Hasta disagreement between the Israelis and. Palestinians. 01:52.650 --> 01:55.410 Mister chairman I know this committee sharers our deep concern 01:55.410 --> 01:57.130 about Iran's nuclear program. 01:57.740 --> 02:01.430 United States is firmly committed to remaining iran from a korean 02:01.430 --> 02:02.330 nuclear weapon. 02:03.320 --> 02:07.060 Talks on a comprehensive solution will begin Indiana next week. 02:07.770 --> 02:11.680 Main wow we continue 10 forest vigorously the existing sanctions 02:11.680 --> 02:16.430 put in place by the United States and many and the international community. 02:17.420 --> 02:20.790 We're also well I were there to ron continues to from out regional 02:20.790 --> 02:23.950 instability Easter about sir Ronnie another proxy fighters. 02:24.530 --> 02:28.340 Are Ronson for for hezbollah has done much to destabilize 11 02:28.340 --> 02:32.720 on from out tensions along israel's northern border and how keep 02:32.720 --> 02:34.510 the as Saunders shame in power. 02:35.570 --> 02:39.160 Iran is awesome working to undermine Yemen's peaceful transition 02:39.190 --> 02:40.580 and barring steadily. 02:41.210 --> 02:44.770 Our negotiations with the ron on the nuclear issue will not stop 02:44.770 --> 02:47.940 us from taking the sciency stance with our partners in the golf. 02:48.540 --> 02:53.120 In europe and a house for to andy's other and other dangers activities. 02:54.360 --> 02:58.090 In arrive mystery chairman of the rare rock is men experiencing 02:58.090 --> 02:59.840 escalating levels of violence. 03:00.470 --> 03:04.100 The two if of extremists between a rock in syria has allowed 03:04.100 --> 03:05.900 high profile attacks in a roam. 03:06.480 --> 03:09.590 Mostly led by fighters from the as san make state of a rock and 03:09.590 --> 03:13.730 the love on I aside known formally known as oxide and in a rock. 03:14.730 --> 03:18.340 Taking a than age ever rocks. Fragility NGO. I'm not we knows 03:18.370 --> 03:22.180 I as siam began shifting resources from syria to rock climb a 03:22.180 --> 03:27.180 sheer can system with its broader ambitions by last summer they 03:27.180 --> 03:30.520 were launching between 30 and 40 suicide bombings monthly. 03:31.190 --> 03:35.430 In january ayers sialic tacked unoccupied. Armani info allusion. 03:36.210 --> 03:39.680 Or if you without the leaders the government has rc fader mondeo 03:39.680 --> 03:43.730 hires side now and it's plans to claire foliage and and it plans 03:43.730 --> 03:46.650 to careful lucia using mostly travel forces. 03:47.470 --> 03:50.600 I would like to sign to converse for SIM paring the much-needed 03:50.600 --> 03:53.580 military equipment. We have been able to provide to rot. 03:54.290 --> 03:57.440 The government mean semper fashion out and well equipped army 03:57.470 --> 04:00.730 to engage extremist groups before they enter the cities. 04:01.510 --> 04:05.010 They're growing balances had a devastating effect on Iraq's people. 04:05.580 --> 04:09.110 To repair the damage Iraq's political leaders must work together 04:09.140 --> 04:13.730 urgently across religious and I think divides on essential political 04:13.730 --> 04:17.790 reforms in advance of the of a 30 as national elections. 04:18.880 --> 04:22.420 Mister chairman three years ago in Syrian as series and peaceful 04:22.420 --> 04:26.830 protests against suicide or a shame format was violence or oppression. 04:27.490 --> 04:30.900 In simmering civil war has caused enormous distraction and care 04:30.900 --> 04:32.980 about hardships for the Syrian people. 04:33.570 --> 04:37.810 It is also had serious consequences for serious neighbors turkey 04:37.810 --> 04:40.050 lebanon and Jordan as well as a rock. 04:41.090 --> 04:44.880 Did I States has responded to this crisis by providing more than 04:44.880 --> 04:48.720 one point seven billion in humanitarian assistance the largest 04:48.720 --> 04:52.940 in a nation for people affected by the conflict inside syria 04:52.970 --> 04:54.120 and across the region. 04:54.870 --> 04:58.020 The a Saunders shame has responder with instruction and I like 04:58.480 --> 05:02.470 preventing I infirmary she more than 200 and 50000 seve means. 05:03.040 --> 05:06.950 A though had there is Benmont as progress in hums civilians were 05:06.950 --> 05:09.950 eyeing trapped in the cities at you scared a and widen me up. 05:11.420 --> 05:15.030 The conflict has become a magnet for extremist around the weren't 05:15.470 --> 05:18.150 trying to hijack the Syrian say aspirations. 05:18.700 --> 05:23.550 We as says sir nearly 26000 extremists fighters in syria including 05:23.550 --> 05:27.210 more than 7000 foreign fighters from up to 50 countries. 05:27.770 --> 05:31.250 Many are affiliated with designated terrorist groups such as 05:31.250 --> 05:33.280 the on this for a from enya side out. 05:34.070 --> 05:37.640 On from a competing with the moderate stirring opposition and 05:37.640 --> 05:38.360 the regime. 05:39.220 --> 05:42.490 The United States is were to build an international consensus 05:42.490 --> 05:43.800 for ending. This conflict. 05:44.340 --> 05:47.730 Although the Geneva two processors be gone in support of our 05:47.730 --> 05:50.560 40 nations and international organisation. 05:51.090 --> 05:55.290 It in a shoots a process that can only in with the a somber seems departure. 05:55.850 --> 05:59.540 Our team is in Geneva to die seeking progress on discussions 05:59.570 --> 06:04.130 for a transition process and stance two-incher humanitarian access. 06:04.670 --> 06:06.870 To civilians trapped by the conflict. 06:07.840 --> 06:10.800 We're working closely with international partners to support 06:10.800 --> 06:13.780 the organization for them prohibition of chemical weapons. 06:14.340 --> 06:17.900 To meet the ambitious to inserting a target date for the elimination 06:17.900 --> 06:19.910 or serious chemical weapons from. 06:20.620 --> 06:24.580 The a PC daria has sister analyse serious chemical weapons production 06:24.580 --> 06:28.550 and mixing equipment and the us and others are working within 06:28.580 --> 06:31.570 to disturb remaining chemical weapons symmetry cursor djs. 06:32.170 --> 06:35.730 We're concerned about the searing garment Sol place. And are 06:35.730 --> 06:37.720 working with the international community. 06:38.270 --> 06:42.120 To for for to press center of of a on their international obligations. 06:43.100 --> 06:46.380 Mister chairman the United States for mining gary's to resolving 06:46.380 --> 06:50.410 some of the region's major international political crises will 06:50.410 --> 06:54.650 use our influence to press for political reforms in democratic governments. 06:54.930 --> 06:58.890 They've respects jammer. So rides enabling societies to change 06:58.890 --> 07:03.090 and adapt and we will press for economic reforms and seek to 07:03.090 --> 07:07.290 expand trade and investment to provide jobs averaging Andes and 07:07.290 --> 07:10.930 hoped that will benefit people in the region and the United States. 07:11.720 --> 07:15.090 Progress in the surrey areas can help turn the extraordinary 07:15.090 --> 07:19.330 creativity and energy of people in this region toward the building 07:19.330 --> 07:22.890 a better future. They will take years of war that our national 07:22.890 --> 07:25.070 security defense opponent thank-you..