I like toisch welcome our guests. I hope they can get us uptodate, which is difficult, as fast as the situation is moving. The hearing is intended to examine turkeys crossborder attack on u. S. Interests in the middle east. State ofaluate the u. S. Turkey relations. Before we talk about the current state of affairs in syria, it is important to recall the path that brought us here. The Syrian Civil War is a complex, multisided conflict that has drawn in russia, iran, the u. S. , nato allies and other entities. Over the course of this eightyear conflict, the syrian dictator with the support of russia and iran has bombed towns and cities across syria, resulting in 500,000 deaths and leaving 10 Million People displaced. We are all aware of confirmed use of chemical weapons by the regime incked assad violation of international law. Syrian, russian and iranian regimes hope to tilde upon the successful defeat of the islamic northeast syria. These are circumstances we find ourselves in today. Beginning in 2011, the Islamic State took full advantage of the chaos in syria to gather 2014 gather strength. Into14, isis spilled over iraq, captured territory and declared its caliphate. As iraqi watched soldiers were marched to mass graves, women and children were sold into slavery. Execution videos made by isis were packaged as recruitment materials. Aftereral files several false starts, the u. S. Led a coalition intent on defeating the caliphate. With limited boots on the ground, then the u. S. And kurds forced the territorial defeat of isis. Heavy kurdish involvement came at great cost, nearly 11,000 syrian kurds reported killed and many more wounded. That brings us to the present. The turkish relationship with the regions kurds has been fraught for centuries, particularly over the last three decades. U. S. Support for syriankurdish fighters created massive tensions in the u. S. Turkey relationship. Turkey views syrian kurds as an extension of the insurgency pkk, which as the has fought an insurgency against ingres for the past three. Against ankara against ankara for the past three decades. The u. S. Has worked for months to address turkish security. Turkeys misguided invasion in Northern Syria threatens to unravel progress the u. S. And partners have fought to achieve. Isis is defeated, but elements remain that could reconstitute and pose a threat to u. S. National security. Our counterterrorism concerns remain very real. Continuing regional conflict and instability create conditions for isis revival with potential to attack the u. S. Homeland. Absent continued counterterrorism pressure, isis is likely to return, whether in syria or elsewhere. Only through diligent through vigilance will we keep ourselves safe. Turkey has assured us they will continue to battle the Islamic State. Skeptical of turkeys counterterrorism guarantees. We have tread this ground before. We have offered turkey the opportunity to combat isis. Turkey promised to provide forces to combat isis but failed to follow through. Worse, sometimes the forces had questionable ties to jihadist or Al Qaeda Linked groups. Primary concern is its struggle against pkk. Countering isis falls much further down the list of turkish priorities. Actions threaten further instability and chaos in a country that has suffered devastation. Reports of syrian and Russian Troops occupying abandoned u. S. Positions underscores that turkeys actions have opened the his russiand and and iranian backers. The u. S. Withdraw has created an opportunity to be exploited by russia. On the day the u. S. Brokered ceasefire was set to expire, president erdogan met with president boudin. U. N. Security Council Resolution framework for a political resolution, ceasefire, free elections, remains very much in doubt with putins high level and high level of involvement. We should discouraged parallel talks and reinvigorate the u. N. Process. Isis detainees, many at makeshift prisons, add to the complexity. We have seen reports of breakouts. Further escape of battle hardened terrorists will serve as a strategic boon for isis to swell the ranks. Finally, there is the broader issue of u. S. Turkish relations. Prior to the turkish invasion, turkeys dangerous tilt toward moscow and autocracy was a serious concern and remains a concern. Turkey has imprisoned americans and u. S. Consulate employees, has jailed more journalists than anywhere in the world and recently purchased and an accepted delivery of the russian system,ssile defense despite the loud protests of turkeys closest allies. Now we face a turkey that ignores our interests and brutally attacks our partners. While i appreciate efforts to reduce violence through negotiations, turkey must bear cost for undermining u. S. Security. That is why Ranking Member menendez and i have written legislation to sanction, block arms sales and impose costs on turkey if it continues its illadvised syrian invasion. I took liberty by saying the Ranking Member and i. There were many members of this committee who had input into this. I complement the staffs of the majority and minority for working hard on a bill we think is a good l. Bill. Ood we have other fronts that have been opened up with other bills being offered. Some members of this committee have partnered on some of those bills. I would urge when these things happen, that we try as best we can to act as a committee. We are much stronger when we act together, and i think the bill that comes out of this committee, with a real push from the vast majority of the committee, would be very helpful. Bill that weve the are working on and continue to work on today in the very near future. And dasor jeffrey, palmer, thank you for your attendance are today. I hope we can provide i hope you can provide guidance on how the administration intends to tackle this situation and provide ideas for a constructive path for the United States congress to take moving forward. Senator menendez. Menand is thank you endez thank you for rolling they hearing. The urgency of now as it relates to syria and our interests cry out for a hearing like this, and i applaud your quick response. I want to thank ambassador jeffries and deputy secretary palmer. Ambassador, i understand you came out of retirement for this post. Im not going to suggest you need a mental check. [laughter] i applaud your commitment to serving our country. I think it is incredibly important. Ambassador jeffrey, we understand you and ambassador diplomatic corps and military leaders on the ground spent the past months doing diligent diplomacy, balancing a belligerent nato ally and a militia force in pursuit of defeating isis in syria. However, your efforts were of lastg in december year, when President Trump made abundantly clear he was more swayed by president erdogans manipulative threats and persuasions then advice from his own diplomatic and military corps. The president s decisions are a betrayal of u. S. Foreign policy to russia, a betrayal of kurdish partners who died alongside us in the battle against isis, who are now throwing in their lot with russian and iranianbacked Syrian Government, the regime that gassed its own citizens and uses isis as a political tool, a betrayal of our ally, israel, as chaos empowers irans pursuit of a land bridge from tehran to the mediterranean, and a gift to isis, which has been given the time and space to regroup, as well as thousands of civilians continuing to flee, even under this socalled ceasefire. The region is recalibrating the relationship ash the United States, thousands of kurds who we wa who we once called partners rocks,u. S. Troops with president erdogan today said we will continue to make big steps with my dear friend, mr. Putin, to provide the longlasting peace and stability to syria. The betrayal is fully in viewing that press conference, where russia has agreed to join turkey in cutting a swath of land for turkey that ultimately, at the end of the day, is a cleansing of kurds who have historically had these as part of where they have lived going back in time. As the pause and hostilities expires as we sit here, the United States has been sidelined. Russia and the murderous assad regime are calling the shots. We dont even have clarity about whether, where and how many u. S. Troops might remain. Before, was any doubt erdogans intentions are clear, and ethnic cleansing mission in northeast syria and a partnership in cooperation with the United States and other nato allies. Nato members commit to upholding principles laid out in the articles of the north atlantic charter, including solidarity , as allies in the alliance well as dedication to democratic principles and practices. In recent years, turkeys behavior has belied nearly everyone of those principles. 0 air defensee s40 system from natos main opponent, russia, and developing Close Relationships with the kremlin. I hear the majority leader and some of my colleagues suggesting we have to worry about not pushing turkey into rushs arms. They are there. 0, theyught the s40 could have bought the u. S. Patriot Missile System, interoperable as an ally. They were meeting with russia and iran about the future of syria, and they strike a deal with russia to ultimately pursue their interests. Erdogan has cracked down on human rights and eroded Democratic Institutions in his country. The most journalists imprisoned anywhere in the world, it is not north korea, iran or russia. They are in turkey. And erdogans aggression extends to the exclusive Economic Zone of cyprus, were turkish ships bully International Energy companies conducting legitimate exploration. Over the weekend, the New York Times reported on turkeys interests to pursue Nuclear Weapons. This is not the behavior of a constructive, democratic actor or nato ally. Todaysing we can use hearing to get a full assessment of how the United States is now pursuing our interests on the ground in syria. The president s abandonment of American Interest in syria syria open the door for turkish incursion into northeast syria has unequivocally harmed American National security, potentially increased the threat of terrorism against the homeland and against americans, and solidified russian and iranian political and military power across syria and beyond. The American People are smart enough to see through the president s hollow claims of fulfilling a Campaign Promise to bring american troops out of the middle east. Theas simply moved most of troops from syria into iraq, where reports today say leadership in iraq is saying they cannot stay there, and has also sent thousands more troops to saudi arabia over the past year. How is that getting out of the entanglements of the middle east . So as we must win president s do not come of the congress has stepped into put americas interests first. I was pleased to join senators young, murphy and gardner in introducing a resolution condemning turkish actions, calling on the president to reconsider his decision, and for a comprehensive strategy against isis. The chairman mentioned we have worked on legislation to address not just turkeys actions, but calling on the administration to submit a copperheads of review. F our counterisis strategy humanitarian and Stabilization Assistance for kurds in syria, and accountability for crimes against humanity as well as sanctions on russia as well. Mr. Chairman, i look forward to this hearing and i look forward to working with you to move this bill through the committee and to the floor. I think the fierce urgency continues to dictate that we move urgently. Chairman risch we do need to move together. It is very obvious that a once strong ally, turkey, and a fellow member of nato, has really gone in a very bad direction and wound up in a very bad place. That is best we all Work Together to do this, and there is good signs that there is a lot of involvement from most every member of this committee. Thank you forfrey joining us today. Jeffrey is a james special representative for syrian engagement. A seniorr jeffrey is diplomat, having served as Deputy National security advisor from 20072008 as well as u. S. Ambassador to turkey from 2010 from 20082010. Help us wrestle with a difficult situation in a situation that is much different than you found when you were dealing with turkey. Please enlighten us. Jeffrey thank you. It is an honor to be here. I have submitted a written statement for the record. I would like to summarize our views and answer your questions. As you have indicated, the focus of todays hearing is a tragic syria,on in northeast including the u. S. Turkish agreement to bring about a andefire on october 17, the Just Announced a few hours ago, russiaturkish agreement for a ceasefire in other parts of that northeastern strip. But to understand what has happened, how the Trump Administration has responded, and what lies ahead, it is important to keep in mind lyingnder situation, the most destabilizing conflict of the 21st century. War, ragingivil since 2011. This devils brew mixes together three champions of middle east thander, assad, worse saddam or qaddafi, and ideological state on the march, all and terror from isis exploited cynically by an outside power, russia. Our actions and syria are driven by our core objectives, defeating islamic terror, restoring syria to a civilized the removalntering of all iranian commandant forces from that country. Some argue these objectives are too ambitious. Frankly, we have no other choice than to pursue them in order to lead the world out of this crisis. In dealing with todays situation in northeast syria, turkey is the heavy. It has acted unwisely and dangerously, as you have afterted, despite warning warning and incentive after incentive from this administration to choose differently, including a package of economic and security commitments and a visit to washington. As a result, millions of our stfle syrians, partners in the northeast, israel, jordan, iraq, and turkey itself, through this intervention, are all made less secure. And isis is more emboldened. Let us remember that with turkeys actions, we face another regional phenomenon, this time with a nato state, that is, a major neighbor to a conflict feels its asks this dental security on its border is not advanced by its existential security on its border is not advanced by the United States, as we end our partners strive to overcome the crisis, it is critical to keep in view these larger objectives. Thank you. Chairman risch as i stand it, both of your going to take questions from the with that, first of all, i want to say, i appreciate your focus on trying to get in a better place than where we are. Would you agree that with assad having amassed 30,000 troops on heat havingnd the been turned up as much as they have in recent months that this invasion was inevitable into syria . Jeffrey it was a very real possibility, it was never inevitable. We told turkey exactly what happened. They would not get very far in this offensive and they have not often very far. As you see, they are in ceasefire agreements with us and the russians and we told of how this would play out, that it made no sense to scramble the entire situation in northeast syria to do something they could not attain, which was to put together under their own control a 32 kilometer deep, for 40 kilometer wide security zone in northeast syria of somebody elses country. Incentivesoffer them that my colleague and i can go to more detail on in terms of the important lateral relationship as well as the security zone that we set up in the turkish agreement in august, to allow with the agreement of the stf, our partners in the northeast. We refer to them as kurds, but it is a kurdish arabic group. We call it the stf, i think it allow best term, to patrolling of turkish and American Joint units to 30,000 kilometers and the withdrawal of partpg, the pkk oriented of the stf from the immediate area of the border. That was a deal not only on the table but we were executing until turkey decided in october to go for broke with this offensive despite wanting not to do this all the way up to President Trump. What is your prognosis as far as attempting to put the genie back in the bottle and back to what was offered to them in the first place . Mr. Jeffrey i have to caution everybody that i have been wrong as much as i have been right. I think we are different than one week ago. We have an agreement with turkey that is, as im speaking, the 120 hours we agreed on for the ypg forces to withdraw from an area that was controlled by turkey, that was a term we used where the Turkish Forces have been. Essentially the central 130 kilometers of this for 40 kilometers zone in the north of of syria between the euphrates and iraq, the ypg was to withdraw during that period. The Turkish Military was to maintain a pause. At the end of that, that is now the Turkish Military, is to go to a halt, a more permanent essentially ceasefire, although the turks did not want to use that word. Meanwhile, we promised during on any0 hours not to put new sanctions on turkey under the executive order on sanctions on syria that we distributed on the 14th of october. With this commitment, if it is met by the turks, we will lift those sanctions we put on turkish ministers. Meanwhile, basically taking a page from what we had done, putin and erdogan got together in russia today to come up with a similar ceasefire in many syria, from the rest of 10 kilometers deep in a potentially not believable russian commitment to get the ypg out of that area, so turkey has not gained much from this but in the process has scramble the entire northeast, undercut effor