Transcripts For CSPAN3 Secretary Pompeo Testifies On Iran Ir

CSPAN3 Secretary Pompeo Testifies On Iran Iraq Use Of Force July 13, 2024

Coronavirus outbreak. This is two hours. [inaudible conversations] committee will come to order. Without objection, all members will have five days to submit statements, extraneous material, and questions to the record subject to the length, limitation, in the rules. Well begin, mr. Secretary, thank you for meeting with us this morning. Weeks ago, we invited you to testify about american policy toward iran, iraq, and the use of force. No one doubts that Qasem Soleimani was a dangerous terrorist, but its important that we look at Foreign Policy in terms of whether it makes americans safer and advances our interests. Weeks later weve seen attacks that have injured more than 100 Service Members, the need to move thousands more personnel back to the region, and derailment of our relationship with iraq and a setback in the fight against isis and iran, again, pushing headlong toward a Nuclear Weapon. You promised the American People that they would be safer and iran would be deterred. So by your own metrics, this policy has been a failure. Mr. Secretary, it shouldnt have been so difficult to get you here and your appearance here today is far too short and while weve had to wait for you, the world doesnt wait for anyone, and now were facing another potential crisis, coronavirus. And i imagine youll hear some questions about that this morning as well. There are dozens of other issues wed like to ask you about, including the lawful subpoena that this committee issued in september that youve ignored, so we expect to see you here again, soon, for our annual Budget Hearing and id appreciate if you renewed your commitment to appear for that hearing when i recognize you for an opening statement. Im going to forego any additional opening in the hopes of getting to as many members as possible this morning, and ill yield to mr. Mccaul, our Ranking Member, for any remarks he might have. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, thank you for being here. Thank you for your service. To talk about iran and iraq as we agree to as a committee. More importantly, thank you, and the president , for taking Decisive Action to protect americans overseas. Had President Trump not made the Bold Decision to strike Qasem Soleimani, irans mastermind of terror, we might be having a different hearing on why he didnt stop the deaths of more americans. Striking soleimani was a right decision and the world o is saf for it. He organized an escalating series of attacks against our forces in iraq which killed an american. He also directed an attack on the embassy in baghdad. Further, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff general milley said the administration would have been culpably negligent had they not acted to take out soleimani who had the blood of hundreds of americans and american soldiers on his hands. I fully agree with you and the general that this strike was necessary and well within the president s authorities under article 2. The president acted with tremendous restraint. Over the past years wed saw in the white house continually making the choice to deescalate even as iran launched attacks on international commerce, saudi oil assets, and a United States drone, but some people cant grasp that this strike was justified, legal, and our troops are, indeed, safer because of it. And now the Senate Passed a preemptive war powers resolution that the house will vote on in the coming weeks to direct the United States to cease hostilities against iran. I believe this is based on a false premise. So, mr. Secretary, my questions will be to ask you this, are we engaged in active hostilities against iran . And second, as you know better than anyone, we need to show unity, not division, in the congress and as americans. Overseas, especially in the middle east. So what can congress do to support your efforts to curb irans destabilizing activities . I look forward to your answers and your testimony. With that, i yield back. The gentle man yields baman. Thank you, mr. Mccaul. Our witness this morning is secretary of state mike pompeo. Mr. Secretary, without objection, your complete testimony will be included in the record. Ill ask you to please summarize your statement in five minutes. And because were so tight on time, im going to have to be very quick with the gavel. So i know recognize you for five minutes. Thank you. Thank you, chairman engel, thank you Ranking Member mccaul. Ill do this in less than five minutes. I do have a statement that ill submit for the record. Im back from a trip where i traveled to saudi arabia and oman. The central topic of each of the discussions was what were talking about here today, the threat posed by the Islamic Republic of iran. Some basic facts, iran is the worlds number one state sponsor of terror and the Worlds Largest state sponsor of antisemitism. Wanting to wipe israel off the face of the earth. You just have to listen to them. Iran and its proxies are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of americans in iraq including an American Contractor who was killed on december 27th of 2019. Its forces, irans forces, and the militias it supports prop up bashar al assad, undermine democracy in lebanon, iraq, and steal humantariitarian aid in y. Speaking of yemen, Iranbacked Houthis launched hundreds of missiles and armed drones in saudi arabia where 80,000 americans live since the start of the conflict. Indeed, hours after i visited our troops on february 20th, Iranbacked Houthi forces launched an attack at the port city of yanbu. Iran, too, is responsible for the downing of a civilian airliner in january. 176 people killed. The regime lied about the tragedy. The regime has still not turned over the black box. The Iranian Regime slaughtered at least several hundred of its own people with reports of as many as 1,500 during the protests last november. Many millions more have suffered since the revolution began more than 40 years ago. Iranians and those impacted by the regime are thankful that the United States is finally holding their oppressors accountable. The Trump Administration will neither appease nor tolerate the enormous National Security threat that iran poses to the United States, our friends, and our allies, our Pressure Campaign is aimed at reducing these threats and convincing iran to change its behavior. I want to spend one minute specifically addressing the strike on the kuds force commander, Qasem Soleimani. He was the regimes top terrorist and mastermind of the killing of innocent americans, syrians, iraqis and others. Removing him from the battlefield was a deesque la toir measure. His death reduced the risk to our personnel overseas. Of my diplomats and our military and made clear that were willing and able to impose cost on our adversaries if they threaten or attack us. I know that, sadly, some american troops were somewheinj during irans missile attack on al assads base. It indicates that irans leadership is not eager to escalate a military confrontation. They know if we fight, theyll lose. Thats deterrence. Its our policy. Its not just military deterrence, the jcpoa had bankrolled the regimes murderous came pains of terror and destabilize. We reversed that appeasement and imposed the most aggressive economic sanctions campaign in history to deprive the regime of at least 50 billion in revenue and diplomatically, allies and partners, personnel an the middle east and in part, colombia, honduras, kosovo, paragu paraguay, and United Kingdom declared hezbollah a terrorist organization in all aspects. Thats real american leadership. To confront iran, we will sustain our pressure, continue to protect the american peel and american interests by any means necessary and continue to impose costs on the regime for its campaigns of karne arncarnage a with allies and partners for a more stable and secure middle east. Thank you, i look forward to your questions, mr. Chairman skbr tha. Thank you. I recognize myself for five minutes and yield to mr. Cicilline. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Im concerned the socalled maximum Pressure Campaign against iran has not achieved you promised it would, after all, since january 2nd there have been four iranian attacks on american personnel, had to send 6,000 additional troops to the region and iran is once again on the path toward a Nuclear Weapon. The American People heard conflicting information from you and other members of the administration about the reasons for the soleimani strike and detailde t detail of its impacts. Because of the dishonesty from this administration on this and many other issues americans have lost trust in their government. Now were facing a serious Global Health crisis in the form of the coronavirus and trust is more important than ever. Unfortunately, we heard conflicting information when it comes to the administration we spons on this as well. We know this is a threat that doesnt respect borders, impacts victi victims indiscriminately and starting to show up in our own communities. We heard different explanations of who in the administration is responsible for managing the american response to the potential spread of this virus. Successfully managing the global aspect of this crisis will require american leadership, so yun tell can you tell us exactly what your role is in this response . Is that the question . Yes. What precisely falls under your set of responsibilities as secretary of state . Sure. So, mr. Chairman, just so you know, we agreed that i would come here today to talk about iran and first question today is not about iran. Well, make it about iran. Let me make it easier. No weve learned theres been an outbreak in iran of 245 cases. Right. The latest number. Have you or any other seniorlevel american official been in touch with anyone inside the iranian government to coordinate on this response to the virus and to nmitigate th further spread of the virus . We made offers to help and we made clear to others around the world in the region, humanitarian assistance to push back against the coronavirus in iran is something that the United States of america fully supports. We will continue to support. Thats true for every nation. We will bring to bear our diplomatic power and capacity to deliver technical and medical assistance wherever we can. Sir, im worried because of this administrations threeyear history of blatant disregard for facts that the American People dont know who to trust. Because of the policies you championed, we isolated ourselves within the global community, ignored or defunded key government offices or International Entities that deal with Global Health and pandemics and aggressive militaryfocused Foreign Policy of this administration hasnt achieved any articulated goals or made the American People safer. American leadership around the world is paramount in keeping americans safe and im concerned today about this administrations ability to do so. And with that, mr. Chairman, i yield back. All right. I now yield to mr. Bera. Thaunk you, mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, im a doctor and on wednesday we found out my former colleagues at university of california davis are treating the first possible case of Community Transmission of coronavirus in the United States. My home county of sacramento has been reminded that disease has no borders. So, following my colleague, mr. Cicilline, im deeply alarmed by our approach to iran in terms of impacting the fight against coronavirus. Mr. Secretary, do you believe that sharing data about new diseases like coronavirus makes american and the world safer . Yes no . Yes. And, mr. Secretary, do you believe that iran is up to the fight against coronavirus . Yes or no. Their Health Care Infrastructure is not robust, and to date, their willingness to share information about whats really going on inside of the islamic of iran has not been robust. And im very concerned that it is it is that iran thats not sharing information. Exactly, reclaiming my time. I agree with some of that assessment that they dont have that infrastructure and im worried about that. As a doctor, i know when were fighting a new disease time is of the essence. That means people and medical supplies at the epicenter because that will help limit the spread before it reaches other countries. It took over a week after the disease was first diagnosed for the Administration Just to clarify sending humanitarian assistance wouldnt trigger sanctions. Will the administration be issuing new licenses for iran sanctions to address issues connected to coronavirus . The predicate of your question is not accurate. There has been a continuously okay. An avenue for the movement of medical and humanitarian goods inside the islamic republ republic of iran. Great. They have not been sanctioned. At any time. Before the advent of the coronavirus and concurrently. Right. Reclaiming my time. Lets make sure we do everything we can to stop and assist iran. Irans isolation has made it less open, less transparent, and as a result, coronavirus is flourishing in that country. It is not making america safer and with that, i yield back. Okay. Time of the gentleman has expired. Mr. Mccaul. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, the senate, as i mentioned, passed a preemptive war powers re loo erers resolut the United States to cease hostilities against iran. Again, i believe this is based on a faulse premise. Let me ask you this. Are we engaged in active hostilities against and in iran . We are not. Our posture to push back against the behaviors of the Islamic Republic of iran is designed to deter and defend americas interests. Thank you. What signal does this division in the Congress Send to the largest state sponsor of terror, iran . So as a former member, i always have a high tolerance for people expressing their views, the views of their constituents and so, you know, members of congress have a responsibility to do that. Having said that, it is the case that around the world, leaders observe when there is not a consistent view across all of the United States government and americas policies are best effectuated when theres a consensus that emerges around american Foreign Policy and i would encourage everyone to take onboard what the administration is doing and urge them to come to the consensus and assist us in delivering the change in the regimes behavior that i think everyone in this room today understands is both necessary and in americas best interest. And, you know, im all for article 1, constitutional authorities, but i do believe the president had authorities under article 2 and selfdefense. In addition, hes a designated foreign terrorist under the obama administration. Let me ask you this, the Washington Post recently reported the kuds force has been significantly deterred from retaliating against further against the United States since the death of soleimani. Can you tell us how irans activities have changed since the United States took out mr. Soleimani . So thats thats probably best for a classified setting, but it i can say in an unclassified setting they recognized the serene neserious which america acted to take the strike against Qasem Soleimani and i think they appreciate the seriousness with which President Trump and the administration are taking our obligation to defend america and our partners and it clearly demonstrated our preparedness to continue to deter rairans behavior. I think theyve taken that seriously. And last question, do you believe in terms of a threat in the future, depending not saying on what type of time scale that mr. Soleimani was planning to kill more americans possibly in iraq . Oh, 100 . And that would be based and a very short timeframe. He was in the region actively plotting to kill americans in the region. So we are, in a way, had the president done nothing, more americans had been killed or ho president would be blamed for that, wouldnt he, if he did nothing . It was my judgment this reduced risk to america to take this strike. I think the team all presented that to the president. He made a final decision that that was right, that we would reduce risk both in the short term and the medium term and in the long term to american interests. And so the American People, but most importantly, our diplomats and soldiers in the region are certainly safer because of that decision. Wouldnt you agree with that . Undoubtedly. Id just like to close, ive been in the white house for some of these discussions. The president was very clear, i do not want to go to war with iran. He said that repeatedly. And i still think he believes that. I saw a tremendous restraint when we were looking at how to respond to the u. S. Drone that was shot down by the iranians. U. S. Military asset. 50 of saudis refinery capability taken out. Finally, when they attacked our american embassy, it was not some brush fire. It was bombed out. I had the picture on the house floor. Serious attack o

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