[inaudible conversations] come to order. Thanks to our distinguished witness the Defense Department was unable to discern day witness this is our second hearing on the syrianis conflict an issue that has been raised from many other meetings. 400,000 have thousand have been killed in the syrian conflict of 12 million nearly half are displaced in the asad regime bears overwhelming responsibility. But none of this would have been possible without the support of iran andnd russia with the u. S. In the partners with the support the Syrian Democratic forces so despite that territory. Also that ongoing danger. To maintain significant influence it is worth highlighting two recent developments u. S. And russia to sign a memorandum to maintain those arrangements in southwest area. And to deep in the hole potentially exacerbating the conflict of sectarian nature and then threatening our ally was israel. And the regime has pummeled the damascus suburb which is the socalled deescalation zones killing at least dozens of civilians displacing tens of thousands. So to provide details what they are doing to assess the prospects with that i will ask our distinguished Ranking Member. Thanks for calling the hearing we could not have a more distinguished witness before us. But there are many issues involving syria we have primary responsibility and oversight. The use of force many of us question if that applies to isis. Where is the authorization to maintain troops . To see a rapid increase of u. S. Troops what is the role for the u. S. Development assistance . How will america diplomacy play out . And then for him to be accountable for his war crimes. And this affects the security. And then in a m policy vacuum so the American Public was informed United States has a condition based military presence. And then to move to the American People about the conditions are they political or military . To gain insight because the young men and women in uniform deserve to be fully informed. Ir i am deeply disappointed i share the chairmans concern to decline this committees invitation to testify. With the authorization for the use of military force spending significant time debating if the 2001 au mff covers isis given that it was drafted two decades ago to target al qaeda. Now to argue even after isis is defeated they will remain in syria to make sure they dont return. Ano and to have any public explanation. And then to seem like a prelude and if we have learned anything from those experiences that the military fight is not even half the battle. That conflict demands political agreement with reconciliation initiatives and expertise accountability of local leadership and constant diplomatic and political engagement. Even after isis is defeated. Those who challenge the asad regime. This is another arena where they are gaining ground to russia. And then to stabilize her motherer countries. With a stable and prosperous middle east. With that influence with increasedouos human suffering in the same old topdown corruption. And then to set the stage with those reconstruction contracts. And then with the vase access those absent from the scene rolling out the red carpet for mr. Putin. This is not a situation that benefits the United States. And then to clarify these points to have a better understanding of a strategy in syria. I will say there is progress being made on the au mf and then to have a markup in the way to engender support but as it relates to what happened in syria, after watching people in action what we saw was a seamless handoff from one to another obviously the generals were given more flexibility within the administration but i saw the handoff where we were very successful with the caliphate. So as that relates to isis and successful we are left with a country to figure out how to deal with. Thanks to the ambassador the acting assistant secretary of state and one of the most distinguished and most recently served as the observers and previously served as an ambassador. We thank you so much and we look forward to your testimony. I appreciate the opportunity to testify. When isis first emerged to sweep across iraq and syria that summer to inflict suffering on thousands of civilians but despite those advances made our job is not done to remain focused on the defeat of isis and other terrorist organizations countering iranian influence in those behaviors to prevent the use of chemical weapons to ensure the safety of neighbors with the humanitarian crisis through the deescalationre of violence with a political transformation and resolution in accordance with the National Security resolution. Those that are previously controlled by isis was 7. 5 million freed from the domination in iraq and syria. Announcing that the fight is over that Coalition Partner does not regard this as a finished effort. The u. S. Is committed to the enduring defeatt of devices and then to ensure that they cannot regenerate. Thanks to the generosity of the congress u. S. Provided 7. 5 billion of humanitarian assistance or 1. 5 billion over the last year. But in Eastern Syria with support from the department of defense they lead recovery effortss to help consolidate our military gains to provide lifesaving assistance to stabilize those areas. Unlike iraq we do not have a trusted government partner to work with. H. Un we are not working and will not work with the outside regime. Until there is a process to lead a government chosen so the u. S. And allies will not support largescale efforts to reconstruct syria. On july 9, u. S. Jordan in russia made an arrangement in its initial form to reduce violence of syria and one november 8 to sign a formal memorandum codified principles to strengthen on this effort. It further defines our efforts with u. S. Russia and jordan that those Iranian Proxy ForcesMust Withdraw from areas in that ceasefire lines delineated and on november 11 President Trump issued a joint statement they endorsed this memorandum and they reaffirm the commitment to a free syria and also to serious sovereignty independence and nonsectarian character and then to participate in the political process. November 29 for the regime to attend meetings in geneva. And all of these efforts are fully aligned with implementation and that calls for a new syrian constitution for parliamentary elections at all syrians including those displaced can participate. Stable syria requires a departure of president assad and his regime suffering countless death including chemical weapons. It is a magnet for terror but we and our allies have come to russia s without path toward a political solution and we call on russia today to pressure the regime to work toward a political resolution to the conflict. Now we are welcome to take your questions. Because of the last portion of your statement we are now demanding that assad leave but embracing the resolution as putin has done. Correct. So then there would be an election to take place. A Constitutional Review process than the electoral process under Un Monitoring and supervision. And supported right now b by russia you believe the way asad would go through a democratic election would lose . We cannot conceive of a circumstance a genuinely fair electoral process with that displaced community could the two a result were he remained at the home. Is there a chance there could be a real election with the opportunity to vote that was not corrupt . That is exactly what russia and the International Community are formally committed to see achieve the taskit to make that real is the challenge before us all. Everything you said i agree with and to emphasize the importance of mr. Assad leaving but i will express some skepticism with russias involvement to understand how we are prepared with what is likely to come about russias goals of not having the free syria and certainly they are setting them up to be immune and be held accountable. And with that expectation to have a traditional Fair Election so hard we minimize the influence . So the things to achieve they have a basis for their own approach and understanding within International Consensus which is widely supported that granting of a legitimacy to what has happened in syria minus that for reform in process either from moscow or from the regime that is the first tool that second syria needs reconstruction. With the 200 and and 300 billion plus too reconstruct. That International Community community has committed itself. But this is the counterweight to the russian initiatives to control the track on their own. Minus the validation. And u. S. Diplomats is a strong one mr. Asad must be held accountable for their activities are you still committed to that goal . And another area that is a major concern that russian would be sympathetic there was great concern among jordan and israel with their security interest so what type of game plan did they have to minimize those risk factors . The activity through syria with a greater of the hezbollah threat is lebanon is the primary strategic challenge and then i would also add iraq. We would hope russia would recognize the longterm strategic interest Risk Assessment should not way as a factor. Can we convince russia of that . And he likes to have that proxy. And with that Russian Point of view. So at what price over the long term . And they cannot serve any trans Regional Security interest. But the first death was the defeat of isis as long as it wass a potent force with the forces simply were not there. And with the un process with International Support for a reform process to see a politicalalor transition as an achievable goal we dont underestimate those challenges ahead. It is very hard to do as assad will cling to power at every cost possible but with respect to syria with a separate strategic issue how do you deal with that . In all places that it manifest not just syria but iraq idea men other areas were those behaviors affect the allies National Interest a difficult challenge but not impossible. To have a political transform syria. Do you think russia cares greatly about ashad himself or just a syrian leader. As the soviets before them they treasure stability and fear chaos that is a source of stability at a highh price. As a generator of further violence but it is the end to threatening chaos. Good to see you again mr. Ambassador. A lot of hoosiers will be watching this with great interest in attending a ceremony for that sustainment to gain 250 of 50 of the best men and women in uniform for our support of iraq and syria. And then to demand the best possible strategy. And that my own belief is in the enduring way to defeat the terrorist groups with those sunni communities and to properlyou resourced o far to ensure we accomplish those objectives. Senator you are quite right there will be a resurgent of violence. Some of those are addressed others can be addressed better that is part of the dialogue with the partners from outside there are systemic longstanding generators violence in this troubled region and they cannot be ignoredn. With any instant strategy. Is there a milestone that this strategy remains on track . We watch very carefully the behaviors so in terms of the aggressiveve efforts to deny the ability to proliferate and support these efforts at any point in the past 15 years it is a challenge ahead of us that yes that is a strategy. You mentioned em and so thank you for your work on this front. Have an update on the humanitarian assistance. We appreciate your efforts to help us with this initiative. We have full access to humanitarian goods that means fuel moving we have already seen a reduction of f price and an increase in the availability of basic fuels throughout yemen as we expected would be the case. Speaking with the foreign minister yesterday that there would be no further closures of the sport and we will work with the days ahead on this issue. The cranes should arrive at ten a clock this sunday that is a major accomplishment that we all deserve credit. In your written testimony right thought has afflicted suffering and countless death including the heinous use of chemical weapons against his own people and you also might the need to diminish the forces of syria. Is it accurate Iranian Forces are in syria to help those who murder his own people went there in gas . That is correct i hope the people of iran heard that this radical and oppressive regime respecting human rights of their own people but also using the resources causing this from with these recent protest to keep a man in power who has murdered his own people. That is notable in light of the history back in the 80s. Thousands of iranian citizens were killed with use of chemical weapons inflicting some horrible scars on that nation or many families and the people need to know their own regime is complicit and directly involved in these activities. Senator im glad you raise that because one of those most interesting aspects of the statements made in full confused by the protesters the past two weeks has focused on the involvement of iranian money and forces the slogan was not syria or iraq so there is a recognition of exactly the nature of those external engagements. In your Opening Statement you noted the state department announced the principles between the United States and russia included a commitment to remove iranian backed versus sense and we have seen them maintain increased its own forces deeper into syrian territory and meanwhile russia has described that presence as legitimate and insist that he never committed to supporting the withdrawal of forces the last month National Security advisor indicated that you of the fighting force could be provided by fran and is keen on pursuing that with iraq. I dont understand heard your testimony that we as United States did not have enough bandwidth but is it the policy of the United States to actively move iranian backed forces from syria . Senator it is absolutely our policy to see syria able to move forward re of all Foreign Forces specifically includes Iranian Forces. Those brought into fight with them and hezbollah element. Some of us are waiting to see that strategy to be Honest Congress gave the administration sweeping authorities with strong congressional approval that have not been used yet. We are waiting to see what this strategy is but how can we effectively counter iran now after focusing elsewhere . It seems the forthcoming strategy is a contradiction to syria so how do you reconcile as the law has emerge stronger and as a more viable force . That violence precipitated by this, that can last that resulted ofip the seizure that allowed those elements to advance their interests. And that was the t Critical Condition to deal with iran but with respect to the borders with the land bridge issue we have seen Minimal Movement across the land borders that is a significant measure of our own presence and activities not just mishearing inside but the jordanian and iraqi side. Iraq cannot be eliminated me have worked very closely with the Prime Minister with those forces of his government in baghdad it has been a hard struggle since the kurdish referendum. You said there isnt much of the land border but there isnt much or any event it is a constant challenge. I asked you specifically if it was the policy of the United States to remove iranian backed forces from syria. S how so . You gave me a generic answer but russian and is a foreign entity. So specifically if that is the policy of the United States to diminish its influence and remove the iranian backed force forces, how . Force . Dormancy . First and foremost the aggressive sanctioning undertaken by our partners the ability to move assets. When will those happen . We have given and a host of sanctions they simply have not used. If we didnt have the bandwidth then because we are engaaf so i hope we see the pursuit of those Human Rights Violations i have not seen those views. It is unprecedented and that i am happy to detail. Much of what was done was done under previous authorities with more farreaching authorities the administration has and i cannot wait for them to use them. Mr. Ambassador i appreciate you being here today russia sees it as stability what shared interest are there right now in terms of syria . The first thing we come up with if you want to see stability . Looking at the caucuses to russia properly understand that. St how does that perpetuation of a regime whose behaviors provided the fuel for the abruption of that violence and extremism serve any russian interest . At this point we continue to reinforce we dont understand the longterm strategic thinkingnd whether they concur we will not legitimize that is independent of and not supported or endorsed by the secretarygeneral. And with that peace conference and so to say this is great that it tries to circumvent theesa Peace Process and that it has to be an honest broker but russia says thats not the problem. I views this as away from the United Nations. What the russian claim they have no other channel but that is fine rhetoric but it needs to be demonstrated with significant downs or reservationsns whether it is one and done to translate those outcomes to geneva that is one possible option or is it like a second track part of geneva but under russian control and direction only informing geneva as the outcomes are derived. That they would not or could not support. Un brokered peace negotiations only making minor progress and it does seem there is a hijacking of effor