Defense since the days of ronald reagan. Under this commanderinchief, the era of budget cuts to the American Military are over. [applause] v. P. Pence you can also be assured our administration is committed to strengthening and modernizing Americas Nuclear deterrent. History attests peace is through american strength. There is no greater elements of american strength, no greater force for peace in the world than the United States nuclear arsenal. This bedrock of freedom protects and assures our allies and it proves every day to the world the United States has both the will and the firepower to annihilate any existential threat to our people or homeland. I can assure you that President Trump is committed to ensure the United States maintains an Effective Nuclear deterrent that is capable of meeting the unpredictable threats of the 21st century and beyond. That is why earlier this year, the president directed the secretary of defense to conduct a comprehensive review of our Ballistic Missile defense and Nuclear Capabilities as part of the Nuclear Posture review and as a sign of his commitment to strengthen our deterrent secretary mattis visited this airbase a few short weeks ago. To see, as i did today, ill Nuclear Forces and to meet the men and women who operate than and maintain them. The findings from the Nuclear Posture review will be released in the months ahead. And under President Trumps leadership, we will make sure our Nuclear Deterrent is stronger than ever before. Modern, robust, flexible, resilient, and ready to confront any and all enemies of peace with rapid, effective and overwhelming response. And i will make you a promise. Under President Trumps leadership, we will rebuild our military. We are going to restore the arsenal of democracy and we will once again as a nation give our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guard the resources and the training you need and deserve to accomplish your mission and come home safe. That is my promise to every one of you and your families. [applause] v. P. Pence and with that renewed american strength, this president has made it clear america will stand with our allies and stand up to our enemies. In afghanistan as we speak, our commanderinchief is committing armed forces to remain against the taliban and other terrorist groups in the region until we eliminate that threat once and for all. President trump a few short days on notice when he announced our administration will no longer certify the Disastrous Iran Nuclear Deal and we will no longer tolerate tehrans support of global terrorism. Ourks to the courage of armed forces, in syria and iraq, isis is on the run. Three years ago, those barbarians celebrated in their selfdeclared capital of raqqa. They raised their black flags across the region as they began to perpetrate their unspeakable violence on innocent civilians. But thanks to the armed forces of the United States of america, those black flags do not fly in raqqa anymore. [applause] v. P. Pence just last week, american and allied forces liberated raqqa, and you guys were part of the historic victory. The great men and women of minot took the fight to isis in the air and on the ground, and i came to say thanks to the team here at minot for a job well done. [applause] v. P. Pence the b52s of the fifth wing responsible for 700 danger close strikes to support our coalition for freedom in the region. I know all of you know you could not have achieved those missions without the skill and hard work of your maintainers who kept the jets in the air day after day without interruption. So let me take a moment to thank all of you who just returned from that desert mission. The crews and maintainers and the families and loved ones who quietly bore the burden at home. Thank you to your bravery. Across syria and iraq the caliphate is crumbling. We will not rest, we will not relent, until we hunt down and completely destroy isis at its source. We will finish the mission you have been so vital to advancing. [applause] v. P. Pence in just a few days, President Trump will travel to another frontline of freedom. For so many of your fellow orces,s of the armed f you stand guard to protect our people, allies, and our way of life. The korean peninsula. In the face of ongoing threats and provocations by the regime in north korea, i can assure you the United States will continue to marshall economic and pressure to demand north korea abandon its nuclear and Ballistic Missile programs. While President Trump has made clear great strength and patience, all options are on the table. Our enemies should never doubt the capabilities of the armed forces of the United States of america. Anyone who would threaten our nation should know that america always seeks peace, but if were forced to defend ourselves or our allies we will do so with military power that is effective and overwhelming. And those gathered here at Minot Air Force base will play a Critical Role again. Now more than ever, your commanderinchief is depending on you to be ready. Stay sharp, mind your mission and your airmen, and be that credible deterrent that has ensured the security of the American People for generations. The brave men and women of Minot Air Force base may yet be called upon to be the instrument of american power. And if that day comes, we know you will be prepared. Bully. Bully v. P. Pence you know, it is deeply humbling for me to stand before you today. Before so many heroic americans. Because, you see, while i am the son of a combat veteran, im a proud father of an aviator in the United States marine corps. My life not take me into the uniform of the United States. But i have seen you all in action. Back in the spring of 2003, i traveled with the group of congressman to visit soldiers in operation iraq freedom. On our way back, i was inspired to visit the airmen station in at raf fairford in england. I will never forget the sight of seeing the last b52 lumbered down the runway and leap into the air on its way home to north dakota. I witnessed the power and professionalism of the airmen of minot firsthand. In america, we maintain peace through strength. And i saw that day just like i seen today you are americas strength. And know President Trump and i understand your Service Comes with great sacrifice, with long deployments, and hardship. But i want to assure you today that you do not bear the burden alone. You have the gratitude of a commander in chief, our entire administration, and your representatives in washington, and leaders in the congress who are standing with you and stand by you. Each and every one of you also carries with you the gratitude and pride of every american. And as the airmen of Minot Air Force base taste to the skies, let me say in one other way, i hope you also know that you never go alone. In one other way. The old book tells us that if yyou rise on the wings of the dawn, if you go up to the heavens, even there, his hand will guide you. His right hand will hold you fast. So as you take to the airs, as you take a stand for freedom, just know that you go on the wings of grace. And the grateful prayers of the American People who pray every day for gods protection as you serve and as you defend this nation and our freedom. So to the men and women of Minot Air Force base, on behalf of your commanderinchief and a grateful nation, thank you for your service. Thank you for your vigilance. May god bless you. God bless your families and your mission, and may god continue to bless the United States of america. [applause] announcer you can hear more about u. S. Military strategy tomorrow when defense secretary james mattis and secretary of state Rex Tillerson appear before the Senate ForeignRelations Committee to testify. That is live at 5 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan. You can also watch online at www. Cspan. Org or listen on the free cspan radio app. Cspan, where history unfolds daily. In 19 79, cspan was created as a Public Service by americas Cable Television companies and is brought you today by your cable or satellite provider. Announcer next come a conversation with former cia director and retired army general david the tray us on efforts to combat isis and other terrorist groups. This is part of a daylong conference on countering violent extremism. It is 40 minutes. Hello, everybody. Speaker. S our keynote before general petraeus comes on stage is my pleasure to invite Brigadier General retired, congressman from nebraska to the podium, officer from the air force come and highly decorated aviator, specialized in electronic warfare, intelligence, and Public Affairs during his long military career. He served four deployments in the middle east, most notably from 2007 to 2008. His military directions include the air force distinguished service medal, two bronze stars, and five service medals. Congressman baker . [applause] working. Lly the mic is it is an honor to be here at the Hudson Institute today. Truly an honor for me to recognize general betray us and ambassador ross. Military career i got to work with both of them in different capacities. He has a good quote nothing ruins a good war story like an eyewitness. In this case i was an eyewitness to his leadership and everything we say about him was so true during my time in iraq. I just want to give you the story. I got to iraq at the same time general petraeus showed up. Our forces in iraq look at their worst. The mood was bleak and our casualties were the highest they had ever been. There was no optimism of where we were going. Us, we brought in joe patre and he had a vision for how to fix this. It was my good fortune to see the progress we made under his leadership. When we showed up we had 120 fatalities a month. U. S. Fatalities. The attacks against our forces and against the iraqi forces and installations and economy were at its highest. He brought in the surge strategy. Not only a surge of u. S. Forces but a surge of new ideas. He brought in 30,000 new troops. He put those forces into our populated areas. Where we could protect them better. Then he was able to get the sunni tribes to lead that fight against al qaeda. At the same time he had to come up with a strategy to fight the iraniantrained militias. He also had to help the iraqi leadership to headache government that had kurds i got to watch that firsthand. A year later, our fatalities were often less than a handful of americans. 120, down to two or three, and later there were zero. For many months at a time. A couple of anecdotes, one time Prime Minister maliki criticized the u. S. Forces there and general petraeus said i want to go and build a briefing and were going to show Prime Minister maliki the good things were doing. Colonel. Ernel a he showed how we were helping build a hospital, and the dam. General petraeus went to malikis house. Sir, this is what you said. Lets remind you about the things were doing in iraq. We went through the hospital, the dam, the port down south. All the work we were doing their. There. What a great opportunity for me to be at the Prime Ministers house with general petraeus. I will tell you another general one. Petraeus made it clear we want to show the atrocities of al qaeda so people could see what was going on there. We found a torture house where people were brutally murdered. I want to get the story out at us a colonel, but my intermediate boss would not let me do it because it was too ugly. But we needed to show what was done. I did something that was probably not wise, i did it anyway. I put it out despite my jaws my boss, who was a general. Before he came down general petraeus sent a note saying great job. Its one of the best things i have seen done. So i got saved. Thanks to him. We owe general petraeus a debt of gratitude for his many deployments in the middle east. Not joining us for our discussion is ambassador ross. I got to see him in 2003 in 2004. He started out as a soviet ecologist sovietologist. He is the foremost expert when it comes to israel he palestinian negotiations. He worked a deal with israel and jordan. He worked a lot with the syrians. Theres no one who has the depth of middle east diplomacy then an ambassador ross. With no further do i would like to invite our two esteemed american patriots to take the stage. Thank you. [applause] so, together again. Thats right. I want to start by asking you a real general comment. One thing you noticed was the struggle we faced was radical islamists, and islam is a religion, islamism is an ideology. One thing you notice is that this is going to be a long struggle. It is not quite disappear overnight. I would like you to offer your perspective on the nature of the challenge, how we ought to think about it and why it is simply not going to disappear quickly. Gen. Petraeus thank you for the thank you for a very kind introduction. I was delighted to save your taken by praising your to star star boss. We were not there to lose gracefully, as you recall. It was take no prisoners time, metaphorically speaking. Thanks to the Hudson Institute for the invitation to be here. Thanks in particular for arranging for me to have the privilege of being on stage with one of americas great diplomats and certainly that dean of those who have wrestled with the problems of the middle east, dennis ross. I have enormous respect for the Hudson Institute. Done a lot of events with them over the years and im very pleased to be able to be here for this one. I am a bit disappointed, i must say, that that the pink ladies were ushered out of the house earlier today. We had a very close relationship during the time i was privileged to command the surge. Never was there an appearance on capitol hill that was not helped by their greeting to me. Usually directly behind me with the cameras getting them in the frame. It wouldve been a sign of continued relevance if they were still in the room. I hold leon panetta personally accountable for having them expend all their energy on him and not saving some for me. This is a great question you ask, as usual, about the duration of the challenge that we face. Which as you know we have done this as little as two weeks ago and i love doing it together i would characterize that as a generational struggle. This is not the fight of a decade, much less a few years. And maybe if i could, i would like to offer five lessons up front that i think we should learn from the fight against islamist extremists, and to some degree against maligned iranian activity. Five of them. The first is that extremist, islamic extremists, and iranian elements in some parts of the world will exploit ungoverned spaces. It is not a question of if, it is merely a question of when and how significant will that exploitation be. Ve toecond is that we ha take action in such situations. That is because las vegas rules unfortunately do not apply in these areas. What happens there does not stay there. They tend to spew violence, extremism, and in many cases a tsunami of refugees not just of neighboring countries and throughout the region, but all the way into the countries of our nato allies and partners as we saw most significantly with the case with the geopolitical chernobyl, a meltdown of the country that is syria and the consequences of that in europe being very significant, domestic populist pressures that manifest themselves in a variety of different ways in a variety of brexitelections being among those. This is not a problem that we can deal with the way washington sometimes deals with it will s toealsa with it, which it so admire it until it does away. Unfortunately it is not going away. The third is, in taking action the u. S. Invariably has to leave. There may be cases such as the admirable case of a france leading the way in mali. Very courageously and skillfully. But in most significant cases the u. S. Will have to lead. The reason is quite simple we have the assets that have proven to be the most valuable of of all, as we engage in what might be termed advise, assist, and enabling operations. That is what we are doing. This is a big deal, as joe biden might have observed. This is such a big deal that it is arguably revolutionary. That we are able to defeat the Islamic State in iraq and in syria without our young men and women having to be on the front lines more than select Counterterrorism Operations and as advisors. And it is because of the skill of our young men and women, and those of coalition countries, and this should be a coalition, and the coalition should include islamic countries. And i will explain that more in a moment. But the assets that we can bring to bear, particularly the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms, especially the predators and reapers, the unblinking eye of up there seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and the advantages that that provides to the forces that we are advising, assisting, and enabling is profound. You can take all of the similar capabilities of other countries around the world, and multiply it by five or six and you would probably not get to the numbers we can keep up ther