Ultimately harming consumers because then it giving access to the best information from across the internet. Watch the communiques tonight at eight eastern on cspan2. X, general mackenzie answers questions on the president 2021 Defense Budget request and how the coronavirus outbreak is impacting the middle east. Our meeting will come to order. The Committee Meets today to receive the testimony of the United StatesCentral Command. I would like to welcome our witness, general frank mckenzie, commander of the United StatesCentral Command. I want to add that immediately following this mornings open hearing well move to svc217 in the Senate Visitor center for a closed session which will be an opportunity for general mackenzie to answer some of the questions that might make a note of questions that come along that are not appropriate answer in the setting so that we can do it later. I would like to begin by recognizing two United States marines, gunner Sergeant Diego Pongo and captain moises navas, who were killed earlier this week during a mission against the isis stronghold in iraq. I also want to recognize that two additional americans who were killed yesterday, whose names have not yet been released. Released. That was in a rocket attack in taji. Their loss is a painful reminder that even where weve been successful, such as in destroying isis, the caliphate, we still have troops in harms way. And when store rounds and i had the opportunity to meet with some of our troops just two weeks ago in visiting iraq, we had a chance to really talk over some of the things like this with them. General, later this month youll be commemorating your oneyear anniversary as centcom commander, and im sure youll agree it has been a tough ride. Since may 2019 we have seen iran and its terrorist proxies escalate their asymmetric aggression against the United States and our partners throughout the region. In may they hit our partners oil tankers. In june they downed an american drone. In september attack saudi Oil Facilities, threatening the Global Energy supply. And throughout this uptick President Trump announced new sanctions on iran, bolstering protection of our troops in the region, but he sought to avoid a military escalation and even offered to negotiate with iran. Caveman. Then in december irans proxies killed a u. S. Citizen at attack the u. S. Embassy in baghdad. These actions caused the president s redline, which we knew that by his very nature hes going to adhere to its own red lines, unlike some others in the past. The president responded by ordering a strike that ended up killing soleimani. I ran counter by firing Ballistic Missiles that thankfully missed our troops in iraq, the over 100 soldiers sustained concussions. Since then the situation seems to have deescalated. Iran countered by firing Ballistic Missiles and thankfully missing our troops, though over 100 soldiers sustained concussions. After that attack, however, the situation appeared to deescalate. Yet despite the deployment of approximately 14,000 new troops to the region editor iran, your written testimony says including from your testimony, general, quote, apple intelligence exists indicating that irans regime desired to continue maligned operations that threatens lives. In early me to report suggest iran backed groups were responsible for yesterdays attack at camp taji. So if the deployment, approximate 14,000 troops in the region will not deter them, im sure a good question would be, what will deter them . Will have ample opportunity to respond to the question. Ask this middies topper is effective implementation of the National Defense strategy which has to focus on china and russia as the central charleston u. S. Prosperity and security, and as you highlight in your written testimony, to accept a a greatr risk in the centcom aor. Countering iran is an important aspect of american credibility in the middle east, and bolstering american credibility is vital to preventing our partners from looking toward china and russia for their security needs. But every battalion that we sent to the middle east is a battalion that is not being sent in supporting someplace other priorities in europe in the pacific. Are over, this ramp up in the middle east comes while other priorities such as counterterrorism and Security Cooperation in africa or being under sourced. So i hope you will address how these new developments to the middle east are changing irans behavior for the better. Or if conflict with iran remains likely in your view, we would like you explain to us what these new deployments are achieving. And with that, i will turn to senator reed. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman. Let me join you in welcoming general mackenzie back before the committee, and we look forward to your testimony and our discussion. Thank you, general. Let me also join the chairman and expressing my condolences for the loss of the three Coalition Personnel at camp taji last evening and two of whom were reported to the american personnel, and the death of the two marines conducting operations against isis in iraq earlier this week. Our thoughts are with the families and those who were injured in those incidents. The agreement between the United States and the taliban announced on fabric 29th was a notable step toward bringing our nations longest war to a close. It is born to keep in mind that it is only a first step, and the pastor longterm stability in afghanistan will only be found through a through a negotiated settlement between the taliban and Afghan Government. With that in mind im concerned we are not a properly leveraging u. S. And Coalition Military presence to support a settlement that protects u. S. Security interests primarily and values, including the hardfought gains on issues in afghanistan like womens rights and education. Financing a timetable for the complete withdrawal of u. S. And International Forces before into afghan negotiations have even begun, im concerned we are in some respects anyone Afghan Government and validating the taliban to longstanding perception that they can wait as that. Despite the specific time i can think in the agreement, summing administration of said that the 14 month timetable is aspirational and that will left ample time to assess the taliban say intent and capability to uphold their security commitments. General mckenzie, i hope youll help us better understand how we intend to monitor and verify taliban compliance. In particular, do you believe it will be possible for u. S. Forces to conduct the rigorous monitoring and evaluation necessary to ensure that terrorist threats will not reemerge in afghanistan while simultaneously tearing out a fullscale withdrawal . I would also like your more about the commitments we make to our afghan partners and how our efforts to build credible Security Forces and instructions will be sustained. The afghan Security Forces have been nearly completely built and funded by u. S. And coalition funds. Until the signing of the u. S. Taliban agreement, the afghan secretive forces received robust advising and enabling support from u. S. And Coalition Forces on the ground and in the air. Even with the Peace Agreement there is little to suggest that the afghan economy will, within a foreseeable timeframe, provide enough revenue to fully fund the countries Security Forces. Notably, the administrations fiscal year 2021 budget request contains funding for afghan training and equipping programs that will extend well beyond the date of the planned departure of the last u. S. Military personnel. Its important to understand the plan to ensure those resources are invested in sustainable and responsible ways especially given the likelihood of increased taliban participation into Afghan Government. Despite the focus of the National Defense strategy on a more resource sustainable approach to the National Security challenges in centcom, we have deployed more than 14,000 troops in the region since may in response to malign iranian activity. While i understand the need to ensure u. S. Personnel, facilities and key Strategic Interests are protected, i question the extent to which we can deter asymmetric attacks iran to the deployment of additional conventional u. S. Military forces to the region. Indeed, the rocket attack on camp taji in iraq last night reportedly carried out by iranian backed militia would seem to challenge the notion we have reestablished deterrence with respect to iran. I believe that the administration socalled maximum Pressure Campaign has isolated us from our allies, given iran a pretext to violet constraints placed on its Nuclear Program by the joint company to plan of action and may, in fact, have increased the likelihood of conflict. The killing of the leaders of isis and all kind in the Arabian Peninsula were significant counterterrorism operations, and the administration should be commended for those operations. But the turkish incursion into northern syria, fall upon the killing of general soleimani, and political unrest in iraq, lebanon and elsewhere have disrupted our efforts against isis. I remain concerned about the longterm disposition of the more than 10,000 isis fighters being held by the Syrian Democratic forces as well as the unknown number of internally displaced people that retain an allegiance to isis. I look for to an update on centcoms operations to ensure these groups are not able to reemerge. Thank you, mr. Chairman, 30 much. Thank you, senator reed. General mckenzie, we will recognize you for your Opening Statement. As you know your entire statement will be made part of the record. Chairman inhofe, Ranking Member reed, distinguish members of the Senate Armed Services committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you to provide an Operational Update and testimony in support of the fy 21 budget request pertaining to our area of responsibility. My senior enlisted leader, fleet master chief jamie erdell of the navy is also with you here today seated immediately behind me. I appreciate very much your remarks about the sacrifices of captain navas and Gunnery Sergeant pongo as well as corporal zavala, a a marine was killed in a vehicle rollover during an exercise in uae just a couple of days ago. Additionally, the two u. S. Service members and the United Kingdom servicemember who died in the attack at times yesterday and iraq, they will be remembered. Today there are nearly 90,000 men and women serving thought the nations. I am proud of the remarkable dedication and humbled by the personal sacrifice and its my honor to serve with them. They are Young Americans in the line of fire working to prevent attacks on the homeland, counter stabilizing regional influence, prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass distraction, and ensure the freedom of navigation through international waterways. Your annual and time of passage of both the National Defense authorization act and the defense Appropriations Bills honors the courage and sacrifice, and i encourage you to maintain this tradition. Keeping a place for my confirmation hearing before you here in december 2018, i a pure now an offer you my best military advice. While my written statement highlights several nations and areas of interest within the Central Command area of responsibility, my Opening Statement will focus on iran. The National Defense strategy directs us to work with partners to deny fiorini regime all paths to a Nuclear Weapon and to neutralize iranian malign influence. This is no easy task. Irans regime is persistent and resilient, going its are sold Ballistic Missiles despite international condemnation. I ran rings the Worlds Largest state sponsor of terrorism. Since may 2019 iranian proxies have increased attacks on u. S. Interests and conducted scores of unmanned aerial system, aerial unmanned system reconnaissance flights near u. S. And Iraqi Security force bases. Fiorini regime has attacked or seized foreign vessels, sponsored attacks by houthi forces, continued the export of lethal aid to destabilizing groups throughout the region, and in september 2019 carried out an unprecedented Cruise Missile and uas against Oil Facilities in saudi arabia. In early january iran launch more than a dozen boasting vessels in a delivery attack against u. S. And Coalition Forces in iraq. This statesponsored missile strike cross thresholds compared to previous attacks and is probably set a lower bar for future action fighters you against a Hostile Forces most likely she militia groups launched with in a dozen rockets and u. S. And Coalition Forces at camp taji and iraq killing two u. S. And one british servicemember as well as wounding several more. While we are investigating the attack i will note that the arena proxy group Kataib Hezbollah is the only group known to produce a an indirect fire attack of the skin against u. S. And Coalition Forces in iraq. While. To decrease tension may provide the illusion of return to normalcy, ample intelligence and yesterdays actions indicate the iranians regimes desire to continue malign activities that threaten lives, destabilize sovereign nations, threaten freedom of navigation, regional commerce, Global Energy supplies in the Global Economy itself. At centcom we recognize that so long as the u. S. Applies diplomatic and economic pressure, the joint force must be postured to deter iran from employing the military element of power to counter our actions. Our presence since a clear message about our capabilities and our will to defend partners and u. S. National interest. It is centcoms objected to posture forces in the region with the operational depth to achieve a consistent state of deterrent against iran and even adaptable to future iranian threats. The departments fy 20 one budget supports centcoms ability to keep our forces agile, lethal at the battle. And adaptable. The National Guard state Partnership Program cultivates relationships and approves interoperability with six nations cost the centcom aor, with more applying for entry this year. The 2021 budget supports building new partnerships and enabling the formation of enduring middle east coalition. As centcom continues operations we appreciate the efforts of our duties of the leadership in technology the teamwork of the interagency and we thank the members of congress and your staffs without his consistent backing will be unable to accomplish our mission. In order for Americas Armed forces to sustain all the main dominance, the department partial support as was predictable, adequate and timely funding. Thank you again for all you do for our troops and families, and i look forward to your question. Thank you jennifer and much. For any of the numbers who came in a little bit late, we announced we are going to have closed session immediately following this down in svc217. General mckenzie, in the past year, in response to the iranian provocations we have deployed some 14,000 additional troops to the region. Youve indicated in your statement that more attacks iran are likely. And if so in one sense this new deployments to the middle east deterring and what level of deterrence do they provide . Is another form of deterrence that might work . Chairman, i believe deterrence is born of and appreciation in the might of the adversary of both capability and will. We over the last few months have demonstrated both of that. As a result of the i believe we have reestablished a rough form of deterrence, what i would call contested deterrence, with iran at the love of state on state attacks. By that im referring to things like attributable elastic missile attacks from ayn rand launched against u. S. Forces. They have stood their missiles down. I dont think thats an imminent threat. What has not been change is the continuing desire to operate through their proxies indirectly against us, and that is a far more difficult area to deter because they believe they can generate a measure of nonattribution. We we would not agree because we believe we will be able to distill it was behind these attacks Going Forward. Were in a period where state on state i believe we have achieved