Will be a vote for a use of force. And i hope that colleagues who feel as i do, that iran at all costs cannot have the ware with all to achieve nuke nuclear weapons. Well be in a position to support the use of force. Either we have sanctions vigorously pursued hopefully with the goal we collectively want, or the only one other option after that. Assuming it doesnt yield the diplomacy we want. Thats the challenges we face. Mr. Chairman, first of all, thank you for the words. Again, i come back to the fact that i think we should take out of this description of what is happening there the word success and effective. Because as you pointed out, they havent even been effective or successful in getting them to put their Nuclear Program on hold. Indeed, they are expanding it as you eloquently described in your Opening Statement. So i think by using in front of a Committee Like this, Foreign Relations committee of the United States senate for the administration to come here and say, well, you know, were pleased they have been effective and successful. I think back in iran watch the statements very closely, theyre going breathe a little bit of a sigh of rflt relief and say i guess theyre not thinking about the other things on the table. I think people should understand there, and should understood understand in the International Community and the administration should understand that the other options on the table were getting closer and closer and closer to because of the ineffectivenesses and the lack of success with the sanctions. So that is my view. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I appreciate that. I wont be labor we have a disagreement that the use of the word, i think is in the context of having abiding economic consequence that may change part of the equation. The gentleman and i share the same goal, and i just hope that as he and i share the same goal, that others who have expressed the willingness to share the same goal also are going to be willing to supportive of what the president will need, if diplomacy didnt yield at the end of the day. Thank you, mr. Chairman and the committee. Ambassador, patterson, thank you for being here today. I look forward to supporting your nomination and working with you and my subcommittee chairmanship capacity. I decided to give mr. Starr his money worth for coming. Im going direct my question to him, if you dont mind. Some things happened since we went on recess. Ting would be helpful for the committee and all who are watching this to understand some of your recent actions on the 4th of august, the state department ordered the closure of 22 Diplomatic Mission across the middle east and africa due potential terrorist threat finance you could, in the unclassified way, walk us through making the decision. How you made the decision to reopen the consulate and missions, please. Sir, trying to keep this unclassified will be difficult. We had specific threat information that was credible. It was not specific to where it something might happen against us. And in close collaboration with all of our partners, decisions were made that closing some of our facilities would give us time to develop what that threat information was to more adequately put protective measures in place, work with governments to protect us while we work to determine and counter that threat. I think its important that we have a capability to do things like that. I would like to put something on the record, which is that oftentimes we say an embassy gets closed, in many cases may have to close our operations to the public. The essential work goes on in many cases. We dont abandon our facilities. There is much that still goes on while we may still be closed to the public. You are correct, there was specific threat information. We needed a broad rush to address that specific threat information, and i think its indicative of the administrations willingness to balance the fact, yes, we need to stay there and be able to continue in the long run with sometime we need take short term step that effective and help mitigate threats against us. Within the last week, theres a significant attack on the consulate in afghanistans province. There were no u. S. Casualties. I think because of a strong response both by Embassy Personnel and others. I was hoping you would just describe, again, in an unclassified way that attack, and how, you know, the state Department Personnel and others work to make sure that it was rebuffed without any u. S. Casualty. Sir, at 5 30 in the morning, a group of individuals, which we now believe were probably lead by sponsored by the using taliban personnel. Attacked our facility in iran. First, with a very large truck bomb that exploded at our front gate, and followed up with attackers wearing suicide vests with are carrying automatic weapons of large variety of lines and antipersonnel devices and rpgs. That post is one of our posts where it is not protected by the department of defense. Its Diplomatic Security along with a group of experienced contractors. Its a post that benefited from the fact that the nondefensive personnel that are assign there had, the regular Foreign Service gone through what we call the fact training beforehand. At the moment the attack commenced, everyone one of them donned their protective gear. They had been drilled to make sure they got immediately to the safe haven, which is exactly what they did. The drilling on the part of the Regional Security officers and the defensive personnel we had was incredibly effective. We neutralize the threat. I believe the total number was eight attackers that our personnel neutralized. I would like to go on record saying it was not without casual toy our side. When we look at the Afghan National police and guard force members killed in the attack, some of our own Afghan National employees that were translators and security personnel and some other personnel that were wounded, it was significant, but the defense of the facility was effective. Our personnel were not injured. Very grim reminder of the challenges of the job, but it sounds as if it was a job effectively done. Finally, mr. Starr, we talked before most recently in a july hearing about future embassy Training Needs for state Department Personnel. Is it still the position of the state department i know theres additional dialogue. Is it still the position of the state department the best option for the training of Embassy Personnel in the future is a center in virginia . It is certainly my position, sir. We we very much understand that our world has changed. With that world its not just a question of training dip Diplomatic Security. Its the entire Foreign Services that need to be prepared for the place in this case work. We believe the equity of having the consolidated Training Center in the nearby area to the other equities, the service institute, department of defense, Intelligence Community, mat rein corp. Bases in quantity quo, its the most effective solutions. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, senator. I have some final questions. First of all, ambassador patterson, will you commit to me that upon conformation, that you will make an effort with the iraqis to make it very clear to them they are equally as responsible for the security of those individuals at camp liberty . And also to do all they can to pursue the attackers at camp ash wrath and return the hostages that the seven hostages taken there. Yes, sir. I will. And i want to ask both of you. Every witness if confirmed, will you be responsive to questions and inquiries from the committee. Certainly, mr. Chairman. Absolutely, mr. Chairman. Finally, mr. Starr, how often does state plan to review presence of highthreat, highrisk post through the highthreat body mechanism . We did the first review earlier this spring, sir. We have just finished a worldwide review of the threats again all of our post overseas. Something we call the security environment threat list. Once we have that out, will be out by the end of this month, i intend to conduct another review in october of our highthreat Service Posts in con conjunction of the other department that crailt with usaid and the peace corp. And others. It will be this october. Okay. The departments sixperson panel to, quote, thoroughly review the Diplomatic Security organization and management instruct concluded the work on may 3rd. Im not aware the report has been released publicly. Is there an intongs release it to the congress . Its an unclassified report, sir. I believe it will be released to congress. I believe at the moment, what were doing is going through our responses and trying to line up what were doing in regard to the recommendations. But yes, i believe that ultimately the report is releasable. Okay. Well, i would ask the department to release it upon its completion. I understand for the 35 recommendations were not accepted by state. Do you is that a final determination . More or less, sir. Can you speak why those four were not accepted . One was a specific reference to putting a chief of staff physician for the directer of Diplomatic Security. We dont usually have chief of staff positions. Its a technical response. The other was about whether Diplomatic Security, intelligence, and threat Analysis Section should be part of the Intelligence Community. There are plus and minuses in our minds, of being part of the Intelligence Community. One, in fact, with we are users of intelligence. And over the past year, one of the things we have done best is to increase our reach and depth in to the Intelligence Community, and expand our collaboration with the Intelligence Community. We at the moment, dont necessarily believe that its the best answer to try to become part of the Intelligence Community but to expand our characteristics and make sure we get the intelligence we need. Have you had any obstacle in getting the intelligence you need . No , sir. We are linked very closely. Finally, two last thing. The august 29th report of the independent panel on best practices were security and highrisk, highthreat posts which the committee hasnt received an official copy, but had to rely on al jamaican lead copy. Undersecretary of Diplomatic Security and responsibility for Diplomatic Security be shifted from the undersecretary of management to new position. Do you have view on the recommendation . Sir, as im up here trying to hopefully become confirmed if your committee concurs as the assistant secretary. I think thats my first hurdle. Looking at that larger question of whether or not my position should be an undersecretary position, i think thats a larger issue that the Department Needs to look whole listicly. Ill tell you one of the reason the recommendation was met, to ensure that the head of security, whoever the rank, had access to the secretary of state and other senior officials if they needed it. I think it will be a long process to determine whether or not we need an undersecretary of state for security. It feeds to be closely looked at. What i would like to do is assure you i have the access that i need so far, should i be confirmed, i absolutely believe i will have the access i need have to the secretary when necessary, to the deputy secretary, to the assistant secretary, and the undersecretary in the department. I think thats the critical issue. I would expect you to have the access. And the answer sense of absence of it should you be confirmed i would you, upon review of the, to let us know if youre not. Finally, with reference to the Marine Security guards, which i applaud, but my understanding is that two such detachment of the 35 Security Guard detachment are in place within other expected by the end of september. Thats 3 of 35. How long is it going take to get the full . I hope have another six or seven ak elevated by the end of the calendar year. We believe that is possible. There are issues that we have to undertake such as leasing the facility for the marines to live in and make sure its safe and secure, and altering the embassy or consulate profile so they have a right place to work out of. Takes a little bit of time. Ultimately we believe it will be a threeyear process. By end of calendar 2013 i hope have 6or 7 more. Is the threeyear process because the physical aspect you have just described as part of the process . Or is it resources . Its not resources, sir. Well, first, we have to have the facilities. We have to lease the facilities. We have to alter the Embassy Property or the con consulate property. Second, mat rein corp. Is marine corps. Is upping the numbers of marine they can provide for us. And the activation plan is in accordance with how many marines can be turned out of the system and given to us in a timely fashion. 35 detachment is a long a lot of detachment. I believe it was the 90s, sir, we increased from about 112 to about 150 detachment. We have done this before. There are problems not problems. There are issues that come up we must som. Solve. We think the threeyear time frame is realtistic time frame. I would, note, sir, there are other programs increasing the number of marine we have the at the existing detachment. The highest threat post which are also a high priority for us. In some cases, instead of activating another detachment, were taking marines available for that, and increase the number of marines at the existing facility to improve the protective capability we have. We see first hand their efforts. I appreciate your service. Mr. Starr, we talked a little bit about one of the positions you need to fill the Deputy Assistant for highrisk, highthreat post. I guess we pass the piece of legislation out of committee that will got floor that has some rights recommendation about the qualification for that person. I know you had concern about that. For the record, will you briefly state what they are . Sir, i want to thank the committee for all of the work that has been done on the Embassy Security bill. I think its an excellent opportunity. It gives us resources and gives us guidance that helps us to go in the right direction. The the Deputy Assistant secretary position for high threat, which report directly to me is a very good position. Its something that we need, and works very closely. Met the highest of requirement. I think in trying to do that, some of the requirements were spriptive. I have some concerns whether or not i can meet the prescriptive requirement put down for the assistant deep i believe i need to pick the most qualified person i that have within my organization to fill that position. The committee worked very well under the chairmans leadership to produce, i think a good piece of legislation. My sense to make it work is a goal. I have and is well be able to resolve the pressure weapon talked a little bit. There have been some concerns about narrowing down or shortening the Training Program down to 10 weeks. I know, we had thought maybe had been done solely for monetary purposes. You believe that the length of the training what is being implemented or put forth in the Training Program is exactly what you need for the folks that are moving in to Diplomatic Security posts. Well go a review after we run it twice and make sure what we need. If you would share with us after the two interrations, your sense what the shortcomings and pluses, we appreciate it. I know you are trying to think through the best way to handle that, and we talked a little bit of that about that yesterday or the day before. A lot of times people go down the senate floor and talk about our influence on egypt regarding aid. I think on the other hand, some of us talk about our National Interest relative to aid. Would you just, for the record, talk a little bit about the influence component with other countries supplying other type of aid, and whether that is what we should look at, or whether its our National Interest and low that aid is flowing. With the egyptian military. And let my say ive been deeply infliewpsed by some of the issues by my experience in pakistan. Where we cut off assistance to the Pakistani Military for 12 years, in my view disastrous strategic consequences. We have a generation of people that have no contact with the american military, and no exposure to our value. Because in the training here. I think its we have some very difficult political issues to work through. I think our relationship with the egyptian military, and in turn their relationship with their counter parts and the Israeli Military on the important issues of camp david implementation and border issues and the situation in gaza. Is really a corner seen of piece in the peace in the region. I think we have to look closely at the role of our assistance in preserving our National Security interest in egypt, and particularly in protecting and working with our allies. Sometimes countries dont do things exactly the way we wished for them do them. But we still have an interest in preserving the relationship and we have to we have to balance our interest. In this particular case, the camp da