I believe we should not at this time add additional sanctions. We should fully keep those sanctions in place. That is how my believe, the main reason why iran is where they are out because those sanctions have had an impact. My committee, the Armed Services committee, has been very much involved putting those sanctions in place. Alas National Defense authorization act had the last tranche in that bill. Im not one who has any sense at all and opposed to sanctions. As opposed, i am very for it. If we respond to this possibility in a negative way instead of being study and keeping sanctions in place, if we tighten the screws now when it looks as though, apparently against some opposition at home and in iran, that the iranian leadership may be willing to talk about ending, modifying, changing and making less threatening their nuclear program, and to response is negative, they could very well lose the very countries, particularly russia and china, who have stood with us to put sanctions in
Because our financial position , we havecarious considered to raise prices above the rate of inflation. It is important we discussed this issue today. Directspects have a bearing on pricing decisions that may impact the health of our customers. Quicklyic service is moving down a path to becoming a massive longterm burden to the american taxpayer. The legislation is a great starting point to get as off the path of disaster and onto the path of continued financial stability. We agree with the overall approach that provides important pricing and product flexibility and a strong framework for restructuring. Meet the goal of generating savings of 20 billion by 2017, the legislation must resolve our longterm Health Care Costs. I believe this is achievable. I am greatly encouraged by discussions we have had on this topic which i know we will continue to discuss next week. I would like to thank the committee for tanking this. I look forward to supporting your work. This concludes my remarks. T
And met with president karzai. Today, the Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman about improvements in the country as the u. S. And prepare to remove troops from afghanistan in 2014. From the council on foreign relations. Is an hour. Welcome to the foreign relations. Im johnathan karl. A high honor to be here with levin. Introduction. S no interduck carl levin is the chairman of the Senate Armed Services from the great state of michigan and of special interest to me, just back from a trip to afghanistan where he commanders over there and also had a one on one president karzai. Im eager to hear about that and senator levin has some tomarks about the trip afghanistan and then we will have a conversation. Levin . R well, thank you, jon. We appreciate the invitation to join you this morning and look forward to that conversation as well. Just here to share my ideas but hopefully to receive ideas that we all need in this kind of a world that we live in. Mentioned, i recently returned from
Officials testify on National Security agency Surveillance Programs followed by a hearing onthe washington shooting the shooting at the Washington Naval yard. Next, the house intelligence onmittee hearing testimony the National Security Agency Intelligence programs in the u. S. And abroad. Witnesses included National Intelligence Agency Director James Clapper and Homeland Security department officials. This hearing is twoandahalf hours. I remind all guests that i will only accept civil the koran and only those recognized to speak will be allowed to speak andhe core him decorum only those recognized to speak will be allowed to speak. I would like to recognize our first panel today. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper James Clapper, Deputy Attorney the deputyes cole, director of the nsa, chris inglis. We will move immediately into the second panel of non governmental experts knowledgeable on fisa issues. We will discuss possible changes to the way fisa applications are handle
I have been there perhaps 12 times or so. The staff later will tell me if it is really a 11 or 13. Weve been there a lot. Strikinges are pretty especially in the last few years. That is not the impression the American People have. That, to me, is the obvious fact that things have changed and changed for the better in afghanistan. First of all, its more secure. We and our allies have made a the growth, the strength of the afghan army and the police now which has grown in a much more capable and respected force including the acal police, which has made major difference particularly in the villages about anna stan villages of afghanistan. The most feared force are those 25,000 local Police Feared by the taliban. Because they are so directly ed to the homes and they become a major threat to the taliban control and success. They are a resilient force and should not be underestimated. Theres a long way to go in terms of becoming a country that. S freer from terror nonetheless, the changes ar