To fully declassify a march 13, 2003, cable from c. I. A. Field officers to headquarters. This cable provides information about the Bush Administrations campaign to build public support for the iraq invasion. One part of that campaign was the repeated misleading suggestions that mohamed atta, leader of the 9 11 hijackers, had met with an iraqi intelligence official in prague. I received a letter from director brennan making public for the first time some of the cables contents. He quotes the cable as saying, theres not one u. S. Government counterterrorism or f. B. I. Expert that has said they have evidence or know that atta was indeed in prague. In fact, the cable say, the analysis has been quite the opposite. Close quote. Now, my statement just entered in the record, i also discuss recent revelations by the former head of a Czech Counterintelligence Agency about u. S. Pressure to confirm the report of that meeting. The American People deserve to know the full truth about this episode
That morning, i knew what it was like to belong to an Intelligence Agency that had been ringing the bell for many months about the plans to attack. Thatf us were devastated al qaeda operatives were able to carry out such horrific attacks in simultaneous fashion. While i remit or walking the halls of cia that day to ensure as many agencies as possible had left the building. They work through that day and that night in the following days in the following nights to piece together the clues as to what plans are underway to carry out more attacks. Their cia brothers and sisters who were dispersed around the globe many in dangerous environments to the same thing only 15 days after 9 11 under it was cia who put the First American boots on the ground in afghanistan. Less than two months after arriving the United States suffered its First Casualty what a 32yearold cia officer was killed in action november 25. Ciae his death, 20 other officers have lost their lives around the world the events of
Strategy, the pivot, the military girding of that is largely the u. S. Navy and the central that makes much sense if the navy is stable in size or growing because otherwise you have 60 of a smaller force that may be less than 50 of the old force and if you do the math, sequestration is roughly at the crossover point. In other words, it would force a reduced fleet size if it was to stay over longterm, which would be in the range of lets say 240, 250 ships, maybe less and 60 of that is no improvement. Relative to 50 of where we are today. Which is about 285 ships. Its more or less a watch. If you are trying to send a signal, you have taken the ability away by sequestration. Thats a clear way and a reason im against sequestration. I dont think we need a build up, but a nice, steady, real increase would be, to me, a good thing. Over to you. Thank you. If i had a real good answer for the question, id probably call the secretary of defense this afternoon and let him know, but its a very impo
Screeria nigeria. Briefing. And later epa Administrator Gina Mccarthy testifies on her agencys 2016 budget request. Next treasury secretary jack lew and John Koskinen testify on the 2016 budget request for the Treasury Department. They also discuss cybersecurity, tax fraud, Taxpayer Services, and Small Businesses. This runs just under two hours. The subcommittee on Financial Services and general government will come to order. Good afternoon. The subcommittee as i said, will come to order. Today marks the first hearing of the Financial Services and general Government Subcommittee for the 114th congress. This is also my first hearing as subcommittee chairman. And im pleased to serve alongside the new Ranking Member my good friend, senator coons. I would also like to acknowledge senator langford and senator durbin. Although our subcommittee is small, the number of agencies we fund is large. And their impact on our economy is significant. Im confident that our members are up to the task be
On the theme that chairman boos man started with about, Community Banks can make significant difference. Describe how the Community Development Financial Institutions fund is used to help rebuild distressed neighborhoods and Small Businesses and the bond guarranty program ramp up two billion how they might play a constructive role providing access to capital first. Second, senator boozman. About the burden, the Regulatory Burden on smaller banks. I heard from a number of folks from the Financial Community who believe once banks obtain more than 50 billion in assets they suddenly become subject to Regulatory Oversight of the megabanks. While im a strong supporter of steps taken in doddfrank to prevent future crises im wondering if that is quite accurate or is there a step series where you steadily ratchet up regulation into froing size . Would welcome your insight into that point as well. Thank you, senator. Cdfi i think is enormously Effective Program both because of what it does direc