They will discuss the policy options and efforts. Today, we are very fortunate to have a Diverse Group of individuals. Joined great honor to be today. I want to recognize the u. S. Government official on the panel today, jonathan winer. He took time out of his very busy schedule to be here. It is always a pleasure to do panels with Charles Lister and carnegies having a for conversation that will be wideranging and very informative. Thanks to our moderator who was a libya expert in his own right. He will be introducing the panel running the discussion. He is a frequent commentator on north african and gold affairs. During his diplomatic career, he served as secretary of days state. He was also united ambassador to united arab emirates. He knows north africa well. David, i would like to hand over the panel to you. David there are so many things we can talk about regarding libya. This particular program is going to focus on what the socalled Islamic State is up to in libya. Although it ha
Include isil or assad, as you stated in your testimony and that relying on moderate rebels to defeat them both and usher in a political settlement, will the assad regime being supported by iran and russia as they are and with isil being so well financed, how will a group of rebels be able to defeat them both . And what would they need in order to accomplish that goal . The administration doesnt have a comprehensive policy to deal with all of the threats in iraq and syria and iran, nor does it seem to want one. These arent realistic plans that can truly destroy isil, can defeat al news ra and defeat the assad regime. We havent even begun the train and equip mission and were about a year away from even standing that minimal force up, if ever at all. Is that the case . Where are we with that mission, sir . In my testimony, i did focus on the concern about the militias and Prime Ministers batty to reign those in, all armed groups within the structures of state. I also focussed on the desir
Or second us a tweet at comments. Like us on facebook, follow us on twitter. Now on efforts to combat isis in iraq and syria. Deputy mckirk testified before the House Foreign Affairs committee about the obama administrations strategy and efforts to build a more Effective National government in iraq. This is two hours and ten minutes. This hearing will come to order, i will ask those in the audience to take their skates at this time. This morning we welcome back ambassador mcgirk who was one of the few sounding the itsis alar as early as you did. We were having hearings last february to discuss the need to use airpower to turn back isis. After four months of the u. S. Led air campaign in iraq and in syria, isis still controls essentially the same amount of territory than it did in the summer. And one of the reasons for this in my opinion is the limited nature of this effort. We have conducted only about 1,000 air strikes to date, to date. Now if you if you compared that to when Saddam H
Review board report to upgrade security for personnel at highthreat posts. Has this been done . Not according to the facts ive heard. So, in fact, the department has yet to comply with benghazi arb recommendation 11, correct . We believe benghazi arb 11 intended for there to be Marine Security guards at all high threat posts. So i want to hear you say yes, that is correct. Thank you very much. Ive got 24 22 seconds left. I did want to touch a little bit on the local guard force. Real quick, mr. Linick, if i can just get to the findings with you. A, b, Regional Security officers took it upon themselves to vary the vetting and approval process and failed to ensure that the security contractors provided all the required documents. Thats correct . Thats correct. So, did any of the Security Companies that had contracts fully perform all vetting required in their contracts . No. We looked at 87 personnel files and none of them none of the security contractors performed all of the vetting req
Sanders will continue to debate the 1. 1 trillion spending bill that passed the house on thursday. Rules, the e earliest date for voting is monday. That is if a procedure of all passes later tonight. Meanwhile, funding will run out tonight. Sanders will be considering as well as several judicial and Branch Nominations today. On can watch this and live cspan two. Q and a, eek on political reporters share stories about being on the campaign trail with senator mitch mcconnell. P plan for four years this campaign. It started in 2010 after he saw what happened in the republican primary. Rand paul b mcconnells handpicked guy. At that point, mcconnell had to recalibrate everything that he knew. A hired key staff and build sophisticated infrastructure knowing that this was going to be a difficult campaign. They spent a lot of money and technology. Had watch obamas campaign. Senator watched reeds campaign. It was a tough race. He was going to have the latest technology. He said, he was going to