1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,320
hearing is fully virtual and we must 

2
00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:04,264
address a few housekeeping matters 

3
00:00:04,264 --> 00:00:06,264
before we get started . For today's 

4
00:00:06,264 --> 00:00:07,990
meeting the chair or the staff 

5
00:00:07,990 --> 00:00:10,310
designated by the chair and that's Kyle 

6
00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:12,600
mute participants microphones when 

7
00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:14,711
they're not under recognition for the 

8
00:00:14,711 --> 00:00:16,933
purpose of eliminating background noise 

9
00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:19,930
members , you are responsible for 

10
00:00:19,930 --> 00:00:21,874
muting and unyielding yourselves . 

11
00:00:21,874 --> 00:00:23,819
Remember there's a little bit of a 

12
00:00:23,819 --> 00:00:27,600
delay when you go to a mute 

13
00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:29,711
yourself and we will try working with 

14
00:00:29,711 --> 00:00:32,010
the staff to let people know who's in 

15
00:00:32,010 --> 00:00:34,121
order for asking the next question to 

16
00:00:34,121 --> 00:00:36,450
help you out with that . If you do 

17
00:00:36,450 --> 00:00:38,283
notice that you have not unnoted 

18
00:00:38,283 --> 00:00:40,500
yourself , I might ask if you would 

19
00:00:40,500 --> 00:00:42,722
like some help and you would like staff 

20
00:00:42,722 --> 00:00:44,722
to unmute you , you can indicate by 

21
00:00:44,722 --> 00:00:47,400
nodding your head and staff will a mute 

22
00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,280
your microphone . I remind all members 

23
00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:52,320
and witnesses that we have a five 

24
00:00:52,330 --> 00:00:54,330
minute clock . And if you're in the 

25
00:00:54,330 --> 00:00:56,386
grid view , you can all see the five 

26
00:00:56,386 --> 00:01:00,350
minute timer and all Members will have 

27
00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:02,570
five minutes in which to address their 

28
00:01:02,570 --> 00:01:04,292
questions . Now , if we have a 

29
00:01:04,292 --> 00:01:07,510
technology issue , I will move to the 

30
00:01:07,510 --> 00:01:10,200
next member until that issue is 

31
00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,820
resolved , but we will remain and 

32
00:01:13,830 --> 00:01:16,220
maintain the balance of your time so 

33
00:01:16,220 --> 00:01:19,390
you won't lose any time If you notice 

34
00:01:19,390 --> 00:01:21,446
the clock , as I mentioned , and you 

35
00:01:21,446 --> 00:01:23,501
should have it in grid mode , so you 

36
00:01:23,501 --> 00:01:25,723
can all see it , you will know how much 

37
00:01:25,723 --> 00:01:27,834
time is remaining at one minute . The 

38
00:01:27,834 --> 00:01:30,840
timer will turn yellow at 30 seconds . 

39
00:01:30,850 --> 00:01:34,490
It will um be hearing a gentle 

40
00:01:34,500 --> 00:01:38,120
uh tap with my um improvised gavel 

41
00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:41,260
here , and I will be reminding members 

42
00:01:41,260 --> 00:01:43,482
that their time has almost expired when 

43
00:01:43,482 --> 00:01:45,920
your time has expired . The clock goes 

44
00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,240
red and I will begin to recognize the 

45
00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:51,351
next member as we know that we have a 

46
00:01:51,351 --> 00:01:53,462
lot of questions and I'd like to have 

47
00:01:53,462 --> 00:01:55,296
everybody have a second round if 

48
00:01:55,296 --> 00:01:57,518
possible . In terms of speaking order . 

49
00:01:57,518 --> 00:01:59,573
We're going to follow the order that 

50
00:01:59,573 --> 00:02:01,518
set forth by house rules and we'll 

51
00:02:01,518 --> 00:02:03,573
begin with the chair and the ranking 

52
00:02:03,573 --> 00:02:05,518
member and the full ranking member 

53
00:02:05,518 --> 00:02:07,462
who's joining us here today . Miss 

54
00:02:07,462 --> 00:02:09,573
Granger . Members present at the time 

55
00:02:09,573 --> 00:02:11,740
of the hearing is called to order will 

56
00:02:11,740 --> 00:02:13,796
be recognized in their seniority and 

57
00:02:13,796 --> 00:02:16,018
finally members not present at the time 

58
00:02:16,018 --> 00:02:18,018
of the hearing is called to order . 

59
00:02:18,018 --> 00:02:20,018
Finally , house rules require me to 

60
00:02:20,018 --> 00:02:22,240
remind you that we have set up an email 

61
00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:24,129
address to which members can send 

62
00:02:24,129 --> 00:02:26,351
anything they wish to submit in writing 

63
00:02:26,351 --> 00:02:28,462
to any of our hearings or mark ups or 

64
00:02:28,462 --> 00:02:30,684
things that they like have entered into 

65
00:02:30,684 --> 00:02:32,851
the record that email address has been 

66
00:02:32,851 --> 00:02:35,018
provided in advance to your staff . So 

67
00:02:35,018 --> 00:02:38,680
let's begin . Um Good morning . Uh 

68
00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:41,050
And this subcommittee is going to be 

69
00:02:41,050 --> 00:02:43,650
receiving testimony from the Southern U . 

70
00:02:43,650 --> 00:02:45,761
S . Southern Command . Our witness in 

71
00:02:45,761 --> 00:02:48,590
South Commander is Admiral Craig Faller . 

72
00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:51,750
Admiral Faller will welcome back to the 

73
00:02:51,750 --> 00:02:53,639
subcommittee . We look forward to 

74
00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:55,472
hearing your testimony . Today's 

75
00:02:55,472 --> 00:02:57,250
hearing is the first in several 

76
00:02:57,250 --> 00:03:00,050
subcommittee will hold with geographic 

77
00:03:00,060 --> 00:03:01,850
combatant commanders to discuss 

78
00:03:01,850 --> 00:03:04,070
national security challenges we face 

79
00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,580
around the world and to look to see how 

80
00:03:06,580 --> 00:03:09,280
each command is postured and has the 

81
00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:11,113
resources it needs to meet these 

82
00:03:11,113 --> 00:03:13,580
challenges the president and it's 

83
00:03:13,580 --> 00:03:15,580
called the skinny budget right ? It 

84
00:03:15,580 --> 00:03:18,310
describes the need to counter the 

85
00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:20,098
pacing threat from china as the 

86
00:03:20,098 --> 00:03:22,720
department's top challenge . As we 

87
00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:24,831
await the full budget though , we are 

88
00:03:24,831 --> 00:03:26,998
going to continue to move forward with 

89
00:03:26,998 --> 00:03:29,053
these hearings in the south , commit 

90
00:03:29,053 --> 00:03:31,220
calm area of responsibility , um 

91
00:03:31,230 --> 00:03:34,980
influences of foreign actors and drug 

92
00:03:34,980 --> 00:03:38,630
cartels has increased Russia and china 

93
00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,440
with their meddling in Venezuela has 

94
00:03:41,450 --> 00:03:44,510
also created challenges . China has 

95
00:03:44,510 --> 00:03:46,360
taken advantage of the covid 19 

96
00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,120
pandemic to grain to gain influence . 

97
00:03:49,130 --> 00:03:51,074
So I want to hear from our witness 

98
00:03:51,074 --> 00:03:53,186
about the destabilizing activities in 

99
00:03:53,186 --> 00:03:56,120
the region and self calms response . At 

100
00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:58,231
the same time , we need to be mindful 

101
00:03:58,231 --> 00:04:00,453
that many of the challenges we face may 

102
00:04:00,453 --> 00:04:02,440
require diplomatic or economic 

103
00:04:02,450 --> 00:04:05,280
responses rather than a military one . 

104
00:04:05,290 --> 00:04:07,840
We need to be smart about using all the 

105
00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:10,430
tools that are at our disposal . 

106
00:04:10,460 --> 00:04:14,280
Development defense as 

107
00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:16,460
well . And I think most importantly 

108
00:04:16,470 --> 00:04:18,930
diplomatic , One of the things that 

109
00:04:18,930 --> 00:04:21,190
make self calm area of responsibility 

110
00:04:21,190 --> 00:04:23,850
different from other combatant commands 

111
00:04:23,860 --> 00:04:26,250
is the proximity to the United States . 

112
00:04:26,740 --> 00:04:28,907
Events in the region can have a direct 

113
00:04:28,907 --> 00:04:30,907
impact on the United States and our 

114
00:04:30,907 --> 00:04:32,820
friends and allies . And there's 

115
00:04:32,820 --> 00:04:35,620
numerous examples of this Venezuela has 

116
00:04:35,620 --> 00:04:37,900
completely broken down . That country's 

117
00:04:37,910 --> 00:04:40,050
economic and political system has 

118
00:04:40,050 --> 00:04:42,490
displaced millions and created 

119
00:04:42,500 --> 00:04:45,670
instability in the region . Thousands 

120
00:04:45,670 --> 00:04:47,837
of Venezuelans have fledged the United 

121
00:04:47,837 --> 00:04:49,580
States last month . The biden 

122
00:04:49,580 --> 00:04:51,890
administration recognizes humanitarian 

123
00:04:51,890 --> 00:04:54,060
situation and extended temporary 

124
00:04:54,060 --> 00:04:56,330
protected status to thousands residing 

125
00:04:56,330 --> 00:04:59,090
here . The turmoil in Venezuela has 

126
00:04:59,090 --> 00:05:01,710
created a haven for trans national 

127
00:05:01,710 --> 00:05:04,640
criminal organizations who thrive in a 

128
00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:06,560
lack of government and security . 

129
00:05:07,140 --> 00:05:09,084
Criminal organizations continue to 

130
00:05:09,084 --> 00:05:11,170
traffic record numbers of drugs into 

131
00:05:11,170 --> 00:05:13,560
the United States while also engaging 

132
00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:16,230
in human smuggling and trafficking in 

133
00:05:16,230 --> 00:05:19,040
central America . Economic insecurity 

134
00:05:19,050 --> 00:05:21,160
conditions , combined with extreme 

135
00:05:21,170 --> 00:05:23,360
weather events made worse by climate 

136
00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:25,800
change , continue to cause thousands to 

137
00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,160
migrate north . And as we know , the 

138
00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:31,450
region has been hit hard by COVID-19 

139
00:05:31,460 --> 00:05:33,293
straining healthcare systems and 

140
00:05:33,293 --> 00:05:35,380
economies and creating instability , 

141
00:05:35,390 --> 00:05:39,120
particularly in Brazil . We will be 

142
00:05:39,130 --> 00:05:41,186
looking forward to hearing today how 

143
00:05:41,186 --> 00:05:43,408
self command has postured and resourced 

144
00:05:43,408 --> 00:05:45,640
and is ready to play its part in 

145
00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:48,420
addressing all these issues . We also 

146
00:05:48,420 --> 00:05:50,642
look forward to hearing how self com is 

147
00:05:50,642 --> 00:05:52,531
working with partner countries to 

148
00:05:52,531 --> 00:05:56,170
address our common challenges . And 

149
00:05:56,170 --> 00:05:59,080
finally , we will discuss the detention 

150
00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:02,720
facility at Guantanamo cuBA . We know 

151
00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:04,609
that the biden administration has 

152
00:06:04,609 --> 00:06:06,831
launched a formal review of the tension 

153
00:06:06,831 --> 00:06:08,664
facility with the aim of finally 

154
00:06:08,664 --> 00:06:10,887
closing it before president biden lease 

155
00:06:10,887 --> 00:06:12,750
office . And that is something I 

156
00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,910
strongly very strongly support . So 

157
00:06:15,910 --> 00:06:18,077
with that I want to thank everyone for 

158
00:06:18,077 --> 00:06:20,440
participating in today's hearing and I 

159
00:06:20,450 --> 00:06:22,840
will now recognize the distinguished 

160
00:06:22,840 --> 00:06:25,110
ranking member Mr calvert for his 

161
00:06:25,110 --> 00:06:28,150
remarks . Well , thank you Chairman 

162
00:06:28,150 --> 00:06:30,450
Colin , I appreciate that introduction . 

163
00:06:30,450 --> 00:06:32,630
Admiral Fowler , welcome back to what 

164
00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:34,650
we understand will be your last 

165
00:06:34,650 --> 00:06:36,872
appearance before the subcommittee . We 

166
00:06:36,872 --> 00:06:39,370
deeply appreciate your service and that 

167
00:06:39,380 --> 00:06:41,491
all the men and women who serve under 

168
00:06:41,491 --> 00:06:43,602
your command . I appreciate the chair 

169
00:06:43,602 --> 00:06:45,602
calling this hearing as the admiral 

170
00:06:45,602 --> 00:06:48,010
knows South com A . R . Is of keen 

171
00:06:48,010 --> 00:06:50,010
interest to me and members of both 

172
00:06:50,010 --> 00:06:52,121
sides of the aisle , especially since 

173
00:06:52,121 --> 00:06:54,120
I'm from a border state . And 

174
00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:56,176
understand some of your some of your 

175
00:06:56,176 --> 00:06:58,342
challenges . Many of us have felt that 

176
00:06:58,342 --> 00:07:00,287
your command has been under source 

177
00:07:00,287 --> 00:07:02,398
relative to your needs , particularly 

178
00:07:02,398 --> 00:07:04,509
my colleagues tomorrow the ballot and 

179
00:07:04,509 --> 00:07:06,676
Henry Cuellar , which is an issue that 

180
00:07:06,676 --> 00:07:08,676
we sought to address in last year's 

181
00:07:08,676 --> 00:07:10,731
bill more broadly . The chaos on our 

182
00:07:10,731 --> 00:07:12,842
southern border reminds us the perils 

183
00:07:12,842 --> 00:07:14,787
of taking our eye off the ball and 

184
00:07:14,787 --> 00:07:17,009
allowing our own hemisphere to become a 

185
00:07:17,009 --> 00:07:19,160
victim of strategic neglect here in 

186
00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,560
Washington . I hope your testimony will 

187
00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,530
be needed correction to that mindset . 

188
00:07:24,540 --> 00:07:26,830
For example , I'm struck by your stark 

189
00:07:26,830 --> 00:07:29,010
assessment , but the hemisphere is 

190
00:07:29,020 --> 00:07:31,450
under assault from criminal 

191
00:07:31,450 --> 00:07:33,672
organizations . That imminent action is 

192
00:07:33,672 --> 00:07:36,290
needed . And we are to effectively 

193
00:07:36,290 --> 00:07:38,401
address china's correct corrosive but 

194
00:07:38,401 --> 00:07:40,860
growing influence there . Much of this 

195
00:07:40,860 --> 00:07:42,471
task will fall to others and 

196
00:07:42,471 --> 00:07:44,527
interagency , particularly the State 

197
00:07:44,527 --> 00:07:47,860
Department and Usaid I'd . But sal com 

198
00:07:47,860 --> 00:07:49,960
has a critical role to play in 

199
00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,127
countering threats to the homeland and 

200
00:07:52,127 --> 00:07:54,238
helping to strengthen the security of 

201
00:07:54,238 --> 00:07:56,182
our partners in the region in your 

202
00:07:56,182 --> 00:07:58,238
testimony , I hope you will identify 

203
00:07:58,238 --> 00:08:00,050
sitcoms most serious resource 

204
00:08:00,050 --> 00:08:02,161
constraints including with respect to 

205
00:08:02,161 --> 00:08:04,210
your long standing requirement or 

206
00:08:04,210 --> 00:08:06,890
persistent is our I look forward to the 

207
00:08:06,890 --> 00:08:09,260
testimony and dialogue to follow and 

208
00:08:09,260 --> 00:08:11,650
with that madam share . I yield back . 

209
00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:17,320
Thank you . Well today we have the 

210
00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:19,830
honor and the privilege of being joined 

211
00:08:19,830 --> 00:08:22,090
by uh Miss Granger who's the full 

212
00:08:22,090 --> 00:08:24,146
ranking member of the appropriations 

213
00:08:24,146 --> 00:08:26,479
committee subcommittee and Miss Granger . 

214
00:08:26,479 --> 00:08:28,590
I believe you will be the first woman 

215
00:08:28,590 --> 00:08:30,620
ever to lead this subcommittee on 

216
00:08:30,620 --> 00:08:33,000
defense . Welcome . Thank you very much . 

217
00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:35,020
Thank you . Thank you . Thank you 

218
00:08:35,020 --> 00:08:37,530
Admiral . Follow for its being here . 

219
00:08:37,530 --> 00:08:40,480
It's good to see you South um is an 

220
00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,090
extremely important area of operations 

221
00:08:43,090 --> 00:08:44,868
that frequently doesn't get the 

222
00:08:44,868 --> 00:08:46,757
priority it deserves . Because of 

223
00:08:46,757 --> 00:08:49,460
conflicts in other areas of the world . 

224
00:08:49,470 --> 00:08:51,500
That has been will continue to be a 

225
00:08:51,510 --> 00:08:55,120
priority of mine . The crisis on our 

226
00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:57,650
southern border is just the most recent 

227
00:08:57,650 --> 00:08:59,860
reminder of how critically important 

228
00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:02,320
the region is to the security of our 

229
00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:05,080
own country . I've seen for myself on 

230
00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,024
many visits to the border into the 

231
00:09:07,024 --> 00:09:09,400
region . This is not a new problem we 

232
00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:12,060
are trying to solve . We have tried 

233
00:09:12,060 --> 00:09:14,171
many times to address the reasons why 

234
00:09:14,171 --> 00:09:16,227
people decided to make the dangerous 

235
00:09:16,227 --> 00:09:18,227
journey from central America to the 

236
00:09:18,227 --> 00:09:20,550
United States . Despite well meaning 

237
00:09:20,550 --> 00:09:22,590
efforts going back two decades , we 

238
00:09:22,590 --> 00:09:24,646
have not found the right formula for 

239
00:09:24,646 --> 00:09:27,080
lasting success . And unfortunately 

240
00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:28,858
some of the changes made by the 

241
00:09:28,858 --> 00:09:30,858
previous administration to stem the 

242
00:09:30,858 --> 00:09:32,780
flow of migration have now been 

243
00:09:32,790 --> 00:09:36,340
reversed . I hope this administration 

244
00:09:36,340 --> 00:09:38,451
will consult with our partners in the 

245
00:09:38,451 --> 00:09:40,860
region as well as this committee to 

246
00:09:40,860 --> 00:09:42,971
understand the lessons that have been 

247
00:09:42,971 --> 00:09:45,138
learned in the past to ensure that our 

248
00:09:45,138 --> 00:09:47,470
efforts produce better results . I look 

249
00:09:47,470 --> 00:09:49,526
forward to reviews on other pressing 

250
00:09:49,526 --> 00:09:51,692
challenges , including china's growing 

251
00:09:51,692 --> 00:09:54,620
influence in the region . I also hope 

252
00:09:54,620 --> 00:09:56,787
you can speak to some of our successes 

253
00:09:56,787 --> 00:09:58,620
in your area of responsibility , 

254
00:09:58,620 --> 00:10:00,731
including expanding and deepening our 

255
00:10:00,731 --> 00:10:03,450
key partnerships in the region such as 

256
00:10:03,450 --> 00:10:06,800
Costa rica and Colombia . This hearing 

257
00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,190
is typically classified so that we can 

258
00:10:09,190 --> 00:10:11,540
gather the full picture of what's going 

259
00:10:11,540 --> 00:10:13,540
on in the region . Father's hearing 

260
00:10:13,540 --> 00:10:15,762
today has opened the public . I hope it 

261
00:10:15,762 --> 00:10:17,762
will not prevent you from giving us 

262
00:10:17,762 --> 00:10:19,970
full answers . I encourage you to 

263
00:10:19,970 --> 00:10:22,780
provide classified responses in writing . 

264
00:10:22,790 --> 00:10:24,901
If you can't respond to the questions 

265
00:10:24,901 --> 00:10:26,901
members asked today and I thank you 

266
00:10:26,901 --> 00:10:28,790
again for your service and I look 

267
00:10:28,790 --> 00:10:30,901
forward to your testimony and I yield 

268
00:10:30,901 --> 00:10:34,580
back . Thank you . Thank you . Um um 

269
00:10:34,590 --> 00:10:37,190
ranking member Granger . Uh I was going 

270
00:10:37,190 --> 00:10:39,190
to mention the fact that this is an 

271
00:10:39,190 --> 00:10:41,079
open hearing . Uh If something is 

272
00:10:41,079 --> 00:10:43,440
classified . Um Admiral , please let us 

273
00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:45,662
know when we will arrange to have those 

274
00:10:45,662 --> 00:10:47,780
answers done because we're living in 

275
00:10:47,780 --> 00:10:50,160
the age of covid . Um We needed to keep 

276
00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:52,710
these baton command um hearings moving 

277
00:10:52,710 --> 00:10:55,180
forward as we await the full budget . 

278
00:10:55,190 --> 00:10:57,900
Uh there's no time to waste and so a 

279
00:10:57,900 --> 00:11:00,220
lot of what we can discuss can be done 

280
00:11:00,230 --> 00:11:04,220
in in open session . Um The staff , 

281
00:11:04,230 --> 00:11:06,910
both Democratic and Republican staff 

282
00:11:06,910 --> 00:11:09,077
are working together to figure out how 

283
00:11:09,077 --> 00:11:11,021
we can do classified briefings . I 

284
00:11:11,021 --> 00:11:13,610
spoke with chair shift yesterday . They 

285
00:11:13,610 --> 00:11:15,990
had their first classified briefing and 

286
00:11:15,990 --> 00:11:18,212
the intel committee and it was a little 

287
00:11:18,212 --> 00:11:20,379
bumpy as they all can't be in the room 

288
00:11:20,379 --> 00:11:22,610
together . So we are working that out . 

289
00:11:22,620 --> 00:11:24,842
And uh if somebody has something that's 

290
00:11:24,842 --> 00:11:27,120
have a classified nature for an answer , 

291
00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:29,600
sir , feel comfortable and saying so , 

292
00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:31,810
and the staff will work to accommodate 

293
00:11:31,810 --> 00:11:33,699
that . Those answers are not only 

294
00:11:33,699 --> 00:11:35,477
provided to the member , but to 

295
00:11:35,477 --> 00:11:38,420
everyone on the full committee . As as 

296
00:11:38,420 --> 00:11:41,320
we know , um Chair Ryan has been 

297
00:11:41,330 --> 00:11:44,590
working very hard on making sure that 

298
00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:48,000
our capital area stays secure and safe 

299
00:11:48,010 --> 00:11:50,420
and mr Ryan , if you're available , I 

300
00:11:50,420 --> 00:11:52,500
was going to have you take the first 

301
00:11:52,500 --> 00:11:56,140
question . I know he's been trying to 

302
00:11:56,140 --> 00:11:57,460
come in and out so 

303
00:12:00,940 --> 00:12:04,490
he's not . So with that , um I'm going 

304
00:12:04,490 --> 00:12:07,370
to ask a question on on climate change 

305
00:12:07,370 --> 00:12:10,010
before we turn to the ranking member of 

306
00:12:10,020 --> 00:12:12,131
the reason why I'm going with climate 

307
00:12:12,131 --> 00:12:14,960
change is it affects not only what we 

308
00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,071
need to be doing to secure our assets 

309
00:12:17,071 --> 00:12:19,570
and build resiliency into them , but 

310
00:12:19,580 --> 00:12:22,420
also the response that you have in 

311
00:12:22,420 --> 00:12:25,890
facing issues with responding to 

312
00:12:25,900 --> 00:12:27,844
disasters and the instability that 

313
00:12:27,844 --> 00:12:31,130
climate change causes . We know in Key 

314
00:12:31,130 --> 00:12:33,460
West , for example , is particularly 

315
00:12:33,460 --> 00:12:35,682
vulnerable to climate change and you do 

316
00:12:35,682 --> 00:12:37,682
have some plans moving forward down 

317
00:12:37,682 --> 00:12:40,200
there . Guantanamo Bay is another area 

318
00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:42,460
that that's out there . Very vulnerable 

319
00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:44,696
as well as some of the response that 

320
00:12:44,696 --> 00:12:47,250
you've now had to focus um things um 

321
00:12:47,260 --> 00:12:49,190
things on emissions on because of 

322
00:12:49,190 --> 00:12:51,246
climate change . So , could you talk 

323
00:12:51,246 --> 00:12:53,190
about climate change is a national 

324
00:12:53,190 --> 00:12:55,079
security issue , not only for the 

325
00:12:55,079 --> 00:12:57,301
immediate effects of your command , but 

326
00:12:57,301 --> 00:12:59,301
for the disruption it causes in the 

327
00:12:59,301 --> 00:12:59,050
area . 

328
00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:05,696
Well , thank you , Madam , Chair and 

329
00:13:05,696 --> 00:13:07,862
ranking member calvert , distinguished 

330
00:13:07,862 --> 00:13:10,029
members of the committee and we'll get 

331
00:13:10,029 --> 00:13:12,140
ready to questions on the interest of 

332
00:13:12,140 --> 00:13:14,307
time . I had an opening statement that 

333
00:13:14,307 --> 00:13:14,260
I'll just submit for the record . 

334
00:13:14,740 --> 00:13:16,962
However you want to proceed . I'm ready 

335
00:13:16,962 --> 00:13:19,018
to dive in whatever you want to do , 

336
00:13:19,370 --> 00:13:20,370
Madam , Sheriff 

337
00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:29,080
Madam share your muted . You're muted , 

338
00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:33,040
ma'am , Kyle . You have permission on 

339
00:13:33,050 --> 00:13:36,980
any time you want . So I am so sorry 

340
00:13:36,980 --> 00:13:38,813
sir . We would like to hear your 

341
00:13:38,813 --> 00:13:40,980
opening statement . We we do have time 

342
00:13:40,980 --> 00:13:43,258
if you want to react a little bit . Um , 

343
00:13:43,258 --> 00:13:45,480
that's fine . And that's on me . That's 

344
00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:47,591
my apologies . No , no , not at all . 

345
00:13:47,591 --> 00:13:49,647
It's it's quite all right . But uh , 

346
00:13:49,647 --> 00:13:52,870
thank you all . I am Chair and Madam . 

347
00:13:52,870 --> 00:13:54,814
Chair and ranking member calvert . 

348
00:13:54,814 --> 00:13:56,814
Distinguished members . It's a real 

349
00:13:56,814 --> 00:13:59,270
opportunity to testify today . Uh , now , 

350
00:13:59,270 --> 00:14:01,492
more than ever , I feel a deep sense of 

351
00:14:01,492 --> 00:14:03,360
urgency that our region is under 

352
00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:05,193
assault from a vicious circle of 

353
00:14:05,193 --> 00:14:07,630
threats . And , and these are global 

354
00:14:07,630 --> 00:14:09,900
threats and they are right here right 

355
00:14:09,900 --> 00:14:12,350
now in our neighborhood and the Western 

356
00:14:12,350 --> 00:14:14,239
hemisphere is our home . It's our 

357
00:14:14,239 --> 00:14:16,461
shared neighborhood . And the number of 

358
00:14:16,461 --> 00:14:18,517
you have talked about that proximity 

359
00:14:18,517 --> 00:14:20,739
and how it matters . And in the interim 

360
00:14:20,739 --> 00:14:22,739
national Security strategy , we saw 

361
00:14:22,739 --> 00:14:24,906
that it was designated as a hemisphere 

362
00:14:24,906 --> 00:14:26,794
of vital national interest to the 

363
00:14:26,794 --> 00:14:28,628
United States . The indo pak com 

364
00:14:28,628 --> 00:14:30,850
commander recently testified that china 

365
00:14:30,850 --> 00:14:32,961
is the number one strategic threat of 

366
00:14:32,961 --> 00:14:34,961
the 21st century and we see that in 

367
00:14:34,961 --> 00:14:36,961
this hemisphere every day , I would 

368
00:14:36,961 --> 00:14:40,060
like to address a few myths that I hear 

369
00:14:40,540 --> 00:14:42,860
and do some myth busting in the start 

370
00:14:42,860 --> 00:14:44,916
of this hemisphere . One myth that I 

371
00:14:44,916 --> 00:14:47,650
often hear is that china's interests in 

372
00:14:47,650 --> 00:14:49,706
the Western Hemisphere are primarily 

373
00:14:49,706 --> 00:14:51,850
economic . The the chinese Communist 

374
00:14:51,850 --> 00:14:54,017
Party , with its insidious , corrosive 

375
00:14:54,017 --> 00:14:56,072
and corrupt influence , seeks global 

376
00:14:56,072 --> 00:14:58,183
dominance and and that that runs from 

377
00:14:58,183 --> 00:14:59,906
the Taiwan right here into our 

378
00:14:59,906 --> 00:15:02,490
neighborhood and our strategic approach 

379
00:15:02,500 --> 00:15:05,480
for china as a nation and as a whole of 

380
00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:08,360
nation together must be global as well . 

381
00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,630
They have over 40 port deals in work , 

382
00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:14,030
they're dishing out significant loans 

383
00:15:14,030 --> 00:15:16,141
for political and economic leverage , 

384
00:15:16,141 --> 00:15:18,470
They're pushing it infrastructure and 

385
00:15:18,470 --> 00:15:20,581
they're engaged in array of predatory 

386
00:15:20,581 --> 00:15:22,914
practices such as illegal , unregulated , 

387
00:15:22,914 --> 00:15:25,137
unreported fishing , all with little or 

388
00:15:25,137 --> 00:15:27,026
no concern for human rights , the 

389
00:15:27,026 --> 00:15:29,081
environment of the rule of law . The 

390
00:15:29,081 --> 00:15:30,970
second myth is that transnational 

391
00:15:30,970 --> 00:15:33,026
criminal organizations are just drug 

392
00:15:33,026 --> 00:15:35,192
traffickers and only a law enforcement 

393
00:15:35,192 --> 00:15:37,400
problem to be clear , and it is our 

394
00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:39,456
assessment to transnational criminal 

395
00:15:39,456 --> 00:15:41,511
organizations or TCO s pose a direct 

396
00:15:41,511 --> 00:15:44,280
threat to our national security . They 

397
00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:47,200
traffic in arms , humans , drugs and 

398
00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:49,311
they claim tens of thousands of lives 

399
00:15:49,311 --> 00:15:51,478
each and every year here in the United 

400
00:15:51,478 --> 00:15:53,478
States and in our partner nations , 

401
00:15:53,478 --> 00:15:55,422
they undermine democracy . They're 

402
00:15:55,422 --> 00:15:57,533
murderers tactics have resulted in 43 

403
00:15:57,533 --> 00:15:59,720
of the 50 most violent cities being in 

404
00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:01,942
our hemisphere . And they drive illegal 

405
00:16:01,942 --> 00:16:04,053
immigration and allow bad actors like 

406
00:16:04,053 --> 00:16:06,900
China to gain influence , Myth three is 

407
00:16:06,900 --> 00:16:09,290
that the United States military or 

408
00:16:09,290 --> 00:16:11,457
partner nation militaries have no role 

409
00:16:11,457 --> 00:16:14,080
to play with these threats . Our role 

410
00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:16,720
is a supporting role for sure . But the 

411
00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,620
professionalism of of your our United 

412
00:16:19,620 --> 00:16:21,731
States military , men and women is an 

413
00:16:21,731 --> 00:16:23,953
example that our partners seek to model 

414
00:16:23,953 --> 00:16:25,953
each and every day . And we do that 

415
00:16:25,953 --> 00:16:27,898
through our education and training 

416
00:16:27,898 --> 00:16:30,064
programs are exercise programs and our 

417
00:16:30,064 --> 00:16:32,260
humanitarian assistance . To name just 

418
00:16:32,260 --> 00:16:35,210
a few , we have established programs 

419
00:16:35,740 --> 00:16:38,580
that help partner nations develop and 

420
00:16:38,580 --> 00:16:40,802
implement , respect for the rule of law 

421
00:16:40,802 --> 00:16:44,400
and human rights . And our programs are 

422
00:16:44,410 --> 00:16:46,840
as as is our equipment are corruption 

423
00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:48,729
free . And when you work with the 

424
00:16:48,729 --> 00:16:50,396
United States , you work on a 

425
00:16:50,396 --> 00:16:52,470
relationship , not a client client 

426
00:16:52,470 --> 00:16:54,620
relationship . We provide not only 

427
00:16:54,620 --> 00:16:56,676
positive role models , but the tools 

428
00:16:56,676 --> 00:16:58,842
and strategies for them to implement , 

429
00:16:58,842 --> 00:17:01,009
enhancing their capacity and making us 

430
00:17:01,009 --> 00:17:03,410
all stronger together . Underpinning 

431
00:17:03,410 --> 00:17:05,354
these national security threats is 

432
00:17:05,354 --> 00:17:07,243
growing fragility in the region . 

433
00:17:07,243 --> 00:17:09,299
COVID-19 has hit the hemisphere hard 

434
00:17:09,740 --> 00:17:11,962
According to the IMF . The economies of 

435
00:17:11,962 --> 00:17:14,129
Latin America and the Caribbean shrank 

436
00:17:14,129 --> 00:17:17,700
by 7.4 in 2020 . The impacts of the 

437
00:17:17,700 --> 00:17:19,867
pandemic will alter the hemisphere for 

438
00:17:19,867 --> 00:17:22,089
years to come . And in the midst of the 

439
00:17:22,089 --> 00:17:24,700
pan pandemic , two back to back major 

440
00:17:24,700 --> 00:17:26,940
hurricanes devastated central America , 

441
00:17:26,950 --> 00:17:30,620
creating even greater instability . The 

442
00:17:30,620 --> 00:17:32,990
pandemic and these unprecedented storms 

443
00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,222
struck on top of the vicious circles of 

444
00:17:35,222 --> 00:17:37,000
threats that I've highlighted , 

445
00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:39,056
creating strong push factors for the 

446
00:17:39,056 --> 00:17:41,111
people , the region to head north in 

447
00:17:41,111 --> 00:17:43,167
search of safety and basic needs for 

448
00:17:43,167 --> 00:17:46,070
their families in Venezuela . Despite 

449
00:17:46,070 --> 00:17:48,181
an economy and tailspin and more than 

450
00:17:48,181 --> 00:17:50,237
five million refugees that have fled 

451
00:17:50,237 --> 00:17:52,348
the country , the illegitimate Maduro 

452
00:17:52,348 --> 00:17:54,570
regime continues to cling to power with 

453
00:17:54,570 --> 00:17:56,681
support from cuba , Russia , Iran and 

454
00:17:56,681 --> 00:17:59,910
china . We can't face these daunting 

455
00:17:59,910 --> 00:18:02,132
challenges on our own . The only way to 

456
00:18:02,132 --> 00:18:04,299
counter these threats is to strengthen 

457
00:18:04,299 --> 00:18:06,521
our partnerships and that's how we will 

458
00:18:06,521 --> 00:18:08,688
win the strategic competition . No one 

459
00:18:08,688 --> 00:18:10,521
nation is as strong as all of us 

460
00:18:10,521 --> 00:18:12,354
working together . And I've been 

461
00:18:12,354 --> 00:18:14,243
impressed by the nations who have 

462
00:18:14,243 --> 00:18:14,200
worked shoulder to shoulder with us 

463
00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:15,756
encountering threats to our 

464
00:18:15,756 --> 00:18:18,033
neighborhood . For example , last year , 

465
00:18:18,033 --> 00:18:20,256
Colombia brought together more than two 

466
00:18:20,256 --> 00:18:22,480
destinations in operation of Ryan six 

467
00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:24,424
to conduct a counter transnational 

468
00:18:24,424 --> 00:18:26,770
criminal organization operation . And 

469
00:18:26,770 --> 00:18:28,881
earlier this year , brazil became the 

470
00:18:28,881 --> 00:18:30,937
first latin american country to send 

471
00:18:30,937 --> 00:18:32,937
forces to our high end U . S . Army 

472
00:18:32,937 --> 00:18:34,937
training in Fort Polk . Louisiana . 

473
00:18:35,740 --> 00:18:37,796
Good neighbors are here to help when 

474
00:18:37,796 --> 00:18:39,962
you need them most , especially during 

475
00:18:39,962 --> 00:18:41,962
a crisis . And during this pandemic 

476
00:18:41,962 --> 00:18:44,129
United States Southern Command stepped 

477
00:18:44,129 --> 00:18:46,351
up . We provide humanitarian assistance 

478
00:18:46,351 --> 00:18:48,462
to our partners when the Covid struck 

479
00:18:48,462 --> 00:18:50,684
and we did it with speed of relevance , 

480
00:18:50,684 --> 00:18:52,907
delivering field hospitals and critical 

481
00:18:52,907 --> 00:18:55,590
PPE . To date , we've executed 498 

482
00:18:55,590 --> 00:18:58,100
projects in 28 countries with a total 

483
00:18:58,100 --> 00:19:00,910
investment of more than $70 million . 

484
00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,010
And this investment thanks to your 

485
00:19:03,010 --> 00:19:05,570
support is making a difference . South 

486
00:19:05,570 --> 00:19:07,348
um works every day to build the 

487
00:19:07,348 --> 00:19:09,403
readiness and professionalism of our 

488
00:19:09,403 --> 00:19:11,570
trusted military partners and security 

489
00:19:11,570 --> 00:19:13,459
partners , modest investments and 

490
00:19:13,459 --> 00:19:15,126
intelligence surveillance and 

491
00:19:15,126 --> 00:19:17,350
reconnaissance , security cooperation 

492
00:19:17,740 --> 00:19:19,629
and presents go a long way in the 

493
00:19:19,629 --> 00:19:21,629
hemisphere and will help us and our 

494
00:19:21,629 --> 00:19:23,851
partners counter these global threats . 

495
00:19:24,540 --> 00:19:26,596
Finally , our successes would not be 

496
00:19:26,596 --> 00:19:28,480
possible with our most important 

497
00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:31,950
resource . Our people are self com team 

498
00:19:32,340 --> 00:19:34,340
and we're taking proactive steps to 

499
00:19:34,340 --> 00:19:36,520
protect our people from unacceptable 

500
00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:38,409
behaviors like sexual assault and 

501
00:19:38,409 --> 00:19:41,020
harassment , racism and extremism . We 

502
00:19:41,020 --> 00:19:43,076
take these threats seriously because 

503
00:19:43,076 --> 00:19:45,020
it's key to readiness and it's the 

504
00:19:45,020 --> 00:19:47,660
right thing to do , Madam . Chair , 

505
00:19:48,140 --> 00:19:50,470
ranking member Rogers on behalf of CNN 

506
00:19:50,470 --> 00:19:52,610
team . Thank you for your trust . I 

507
00:19:52,610 --> 00:19:54,499
look forward to the questions and 

508
00:19:54,499 --> 00:19:57,210
discussion today . Thank you so much . 

509
00:19:57,220 --> 00:19:59,164
And you're full testimony has been 

510
00:19:59,164 --> 00:20:01,220
submitted for the record and members 

511
00:20:01,220 --> 00:20:03,331
have a copy of it . Thank you so much 

512
00:20:03,331 --> 00:20:05,970
for that overview . So , um you heard 

513
00:20:05,970 --> 00:20:08,026
my questions on climate change , You 

514
00:20:08,026 --> 00:20:10,192
touched a little bit about some of the 

515
00:20:10,192 --> 00:20:12,303
challenges that you're facing in your 

516
00:20:12,303 --> 00:20:14,192
open statement . Would you please 

517
00:20:14,192 --> 00:20:17,820
elaborate on that ? Our main line of 

518
00:20:17,820 --> 00:20:20,660
effort , our main engagement is to work 

519
00:20:20,660 --> 00:20:22,771
with our partners on their ability to 

520
00:20:22,771 --> 00:20:26,260
respond rapidly . And the science is 

521
00:20:26,260 --> 00:20:30,210
there the climate is more violent and 

522
00:20:30,210 --> 00:20:33,330
I'll give you an example madam Chair In 

523
00:20:33,340 --> 00:20:36,380
in the fall of 2019 . I went on an 

524
00:20:36,380 --> 00:20:38,450
extensive tour , two different base 

525
00:20:38,450 --> 00:20:42,330
locations in Guatemala and as we flew 

526
00:20:42,330 --> 00:20:44,550
around the country , talked about how 

527
00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:46,671
they could improve their security and 

528
00:20:46,671 --> 00:20:48,893
how we can partner together . It struck 

529
00:20:48,893 --> 00:20:51,400
me that the rivers were dry , the 

530
00:20:51,410 --> 00:20:54,360
fields parched and the crops 

531
00:20:54,940 --> 00:20:57,100
of that should have been ready for 

532
00:20:57,100 --> 00:20:59,530
harvest were withering and uh , it 

533
00:20:59,530 --> 00:21:01,641
would have been had been in a drought 

534
00:21:01,641 --> 00:21:03,697
condition for some number of years . 

535
00:21:03,697 --> 00:21:06,690
One year later , those same fields were 

536
00:21:06,690 --> 00:21:08,950
flooded and washed out by the two most 

537
00:21:08,950 --> 00:21:11,540
violent storms to hit that region in 

538
00:21:11,540 --> 00:21:14,360
rapid succession . So cat four 

539
00:21:14,360 --> 00:21:16,500
hurricanes right around the beginning 

540
00:21:16,500 --> 00:21:20,190
of november , Rolled in on the same 

541
00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:23,920
track 15 days apart . And and the 

542
00:21:23,930 --> 00:21:25,750
today , all three nations , the 

543
00:21:25,750 --> 00:21:27,528
Northern Triangle have declared 

544
00:21:27,528 --> 00:21:30,320
national food emergencies and there is 

545
00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:32,042
a significant portion of their 

546
00:21:32,042 --> 00:21:34,710
populations that don't have the basic 

547
00:21:34,710 --> 00:21:38,240
food to eat . So that is an example and 

548
00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:40,351
then where we come to play is to help 

549
00:21:40,351 --> 00:21:42,518
our partners uh determine the best way 

550
00:21:42,518 --> 00:21:45,310
to respond their response . Um 

551
00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:48,050
Department military is necessarily in 

552
00:21:48,050 --> 00:21:50,370
support of their inter agency . But 

553
00:21:50,370 --> 00:21:52,420
when just as we look inward in a 

554
00:21:52,420 --> 00:21:54,670
disaster they do . So we work on rapid 

555
00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:58,540
response . We're very fortunate , as 

556
00:21:58,540 --> 00:22:00,651
was mentioned in some of your opening 

557
00:22:00,651 --> 00:22:02,651
statements , posture is key . We're 

558
00:22:02,651 --> 00:22:05,570
very fortunate to have a security 

559
00:22:05,570 --> 00:22:09,120
cooperation location , it's Soto cano 

560
00:22:09,150 --> 00:22:12,080
Honduras . And there we have army 

561
00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:15,990
helicopters lift um Around 14 of them . 

562
00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:18,050
We immediately deployed those 

563
00:22:18,050 --> 00:22:21,060
helicopters during that hurricane to 

564
00:22:21,060 --> 00:22:23,450
save lives and help our partners . We 

565
00:22:23,450 --> 00:22:25,672
deploy them in support of our embassies 

566
00:22:25,672 --> 00:22:27,920
are ambassadors and the U . S . Aid and 

567
00:22:27,930 --> 00:22:30,120
we had them in constant operation for 

568
00:22:30,120 --> 00:22:32,176
about a month's time last november . 

569
00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:36,860
And I think it points to when partners 

570
00:22:36,860 --> 00:22:39,082
are in need and the United States steps 

571
00:22:39,082 --> 00:22:41,082
forward and extends an outstretched 

572
00:22:41,082 --> 00:22:43,200
hand . We build trust and we build we 

573
00:22:43,210 --> 00:22:46,040
further strengthen that relationship 

574
00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:48,262
for the long term and it can be a force 

575
00:22:48,262 --> 00:22:52,040
for good . Thank 

576
00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:53,860
you . Mr calvert . 

577
00:23:00,140 --> 00:23:02,370
That's the service admiral . My 

578
00:23:02,370 --> 00:23:05,930
understanding that that the 

579
00:23:05,940 --> 00:23:08,690
Malcolm uses less than 1% of the D . O . 

580
00:23:08,690 --> 00:23:10,523
D . S . S . R . Resources . That 

581
00:23:10,523 --> 00:23:14,510
correct ? Yes , sir . It's about 1% 

582
00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:17,820
of the resources for I . S . R . And uh 

583
00:23:17,830 --> 00:23:20,052
and as I mentioned in my only statement 

584
00:23:20,052 --> 00:23:22,274
that is absolutely critical . Our intel 

585
00:23:22,274 --> 00:23:24,960
drives everything we do . Uh We turned 

586
00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:27,530
it into knowledge we share where we can , 

587
00:23:27,540 --> 00:23:29,429
particularly with our own U . S . 

588
00:23:29,429 --> 00:23:31,651
Government agencies helps us understand 

589
00:23:31,651 --> 00:23:33,651
what's on the field and how to best 

590
00:23:33,651 --> 00:23:36,730
respond long term . So if you had if 

591
00:23:36,730 --> 00:23:38,720
you had additional I . S . R . To 

592
00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:41,750
counter transnational organized crime , 

593
00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:43,760
other critical objectives , uh that 

594
00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:45,960
would be very very helpful . So you 

595
00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:49,280
need additional platforms to make that 

596
00:23:49,290 --> 00:23:52,840
mission succeed . Yes , sir , we really 

597
00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:54,562
appreciate the support of this 

598
00:23:54,562 --> 00:23:56,673
committee in particular in the in the 

599
00:23:56,673 --> 00:23:58,960
past we had an S . R . Transfer fund 

600
00:23:59,340 --> 00:24:01,370
that was critical to meeting those 

601
00:24:01,370 --> 00:24:03,630
needs . Very cost effective fund that 

602
00:24:03,630 --> 00:24:05,908
was not included in last year's budget . 

603
00:24:06,140 --> 00:24:08,220
And while we have not seen the full 

604
00:24:08,220 --> 00:24:11,210
budget for 22 , I and I would 

605
00:24:11,210 --> 00:24:13,530
anticipate that the top of my unfunded 

606
00:24:13,530 --> 00:24:16,240
requirements list will be the need for 

607
00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:19,770
additional is our to include what we 

608
00:24:19,770 --> 00:24:23,210
call nontraditional is our it is using 

609
00:24:23,220 --> 00:24:24,998
machine learning and artificial 

610
00:24:24,998 --> 00:24:28,320
intelligence to look through the vast 

611
00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:30,960
amount of commercially available for in 

612
00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:34,090
data data on foreign adversaries . We 

613
00:24:34,090 --> 00:24:36,080
have uh we have used that as our 

614
00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:38,480
transfer fund money to to do work in 

615
00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:40,960
that environment and we've uncovered a 

616
00:24:40,970 --> 00:24:43,040
considerable amount of useful 

617
00:24:43,050 --> 00:24:45,050
information that we've been able to 

618
00:24:45,050 --> 00:24:47,890
pass to host nation for their action , 

619
00:24:47,900 --> 00:24:50,370
our law enforcement partners . And in 

620
00:24:50,370 --> 00:24:52,780
some cases it's been able to use to be 

621
00:24:52,780 --> 00:24:55,520
able to illuminate malign chinese and 

622
00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,970
Russian behavior um 

623
00:24:58,980 --> 00:25:02,580
uh regarding your global posture 

624
00:25:02,580 --> 00:25:04,580
review and the new national defense 

625
00:25:04,580 --> 00:25:07,050
strategy . I guess they're reevaluating 

626
00:25:07,060 --> 00:25:09,860
that pentagon now you're aware 

627
00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:12,680
uh and our existing security 

628
00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:14,847
relationships with key partners in the 

629
00:25:14,847 --> 00:25:18,720
south . Um They are um what focus 

630
00:25:18,730 --> 00:25:22,330
do you think we need to change in 

631
00:25:22,330 --> 00:25:24,880
regard to this great power competition ? 

632
00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:27,720
Especially china ? Uh Many have 

633
00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:29,942
questioned the utility by the way and I 

634
00:25:29,942 --> 00:25:33,310
just bring that up . Uh I only have a 

635
00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:36,540
limited time uh putting more littoral 

636
00:25:36,540 --> 00:25:40,430
combat ships in your O . R . They give 

637
00:25:40,430 --> 00:25:42,370
you some more flexibility in that 

638
00:25:42,370 --> 00:25:45,050
operation . What's the comment on that ? 

639
00:25:47,340 --> 00:25:49,673
To start with the global posture review , 

640
00:25:49,673 --> 00:25:51,784
Its welcome always welcome to look at 

641
00:25:51,784 --> 00:25:53,729
our global footprint . I think our 

642
00:25:53,729 --> 00:25:56,440
approach needs to be truly global . The 

643
00:25:56,440 --> 00:25:58,662
front line of competition with china is 

644
00:25:58,662 --> 00:26:00,940
in our neighborhood in this hemisphere . 

645
00:26:00,940 --> 00:26:02,718
And in order for us to win that 

646
00:26:02,718 --> 00:26:04,773
competition , which will be far more 

647
00:26:04,773 --> 00:26:06,884
cost effective than a confrontation . 

648
00:26:06,884 --> 00:26:09,770
We've got to compete with our strengths 

649
00:26:09,780 --> 00:26:12,150
where we can get the best leverage . 

650
00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:14,382
And in this hemisphere , a small amount 

651
00:26:14,382 --> 00:26:18,230
of time and presence and resources 

652
00:26:18,230 --> 00:26:20,563
has a high rate of return on investment . 

653
00:26:20,940 --> 00:26:23,930
We need Navy ships to be in in that mix 

654
00:26:24,100 --> 00:26:27,570
up until 2019 , we would get an 

655
00:26:27,570 --> 00:26:30,570
occasional United States Navy ship . We 

656
00:26:30,570 --> 00:26:32,514
made the case during the Combatant 

657
00:26:32,514 --> 00:26:34,681
Command review for additional assets , 

658
00:26:34,740 --> 00:26:36,796
Uh , and we had on the average about 

659
00:26:36,796 --> 00:26:39,018
three United States Navy ships over the 

660
00:26:39,018 --> 00:26:41,940
past year to augment our very robust 

661
00:26:41,940 --> 00:26:44,860
coast guard presence . Those navy ships 

662
00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:47,407
participated in transnational Criminal 

663
00:26:47,407 --> 00:26:49,570
organization operations , worked with 

664
00:26:49,570 --> 00:26:51,910
partners , worked with the Coast Guard 

665
00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:54,180
and made a difference , significantly 

666
00:26:54,180 --> 00:26:56,069
put pressure on the transnational 

667
00:26:56,069 --> 00:26:58,402
criminal organizations . Send a message . 

668
00:26:58,402 --> 00:27:00,580
Two would be competitors that the 

669
00:27:00,580 --> 00:27:03,410
United States values the region is here . 

670
00:27:03,420 --> 00:27:06,180
We were able to conduct exercises with 

671
00:27:06,180 --> 00:27:08,830
partners from Ecuador to Columbia to 

672
00:27:08,830 --> 00:27:11,860
peru partners with capable navies . 

673
00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:15,000
And so for me , it's about the 

674
00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,990
capability , it's about having built in 

675
00:27:17,990 --> 00:27:21,370
the U . S . Navy ships uh working with 

676
00:27:21,380 --> 00:27:23,547
Joint Interagency Task Force South and 

677
00:27:23,547 --> 00:27:25,769
our Navy South component from florida . 

678
00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:29,570
And so whatever capability that the uh 

679
00:27:29,580 --> 00:27:31,802
United States Navy can source to that , 

680
00:27:31,802 --> 00:27:33,913
I welcome . But I would note that are 

681
00:27:33,913 --> 00:27:36,136
literal combat ships , particularly the 

682
00:27:36,136 --> 00:27:38,080
freedoms recent deployment and the 

683
00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:40,191
Gabby Giffords performed quite well . 

684
00:27:40,191 --> 00:27:42,302
And I know that the Navy is committed 

685
00:27:42,302 --> 00:27:44,524
to overcoming the challenges associated 

686
00:27:44,524 --> 00:27:44,270
with the maintenance on those ships . 

687
00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:48,720
Thank you , Admiral . And uh sure I 

688
00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:52,620
yield back . Thank you . Next . We have 

689
00:27:52,620 --> 00:27:53,770
Mr Kwehr , 

690
00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:00,000
Thank you very much , Madam Chair and 

691
00:28:00,010 --> 00:28:02,780
ranking member for holding this meeting 

692
00:28:02,790 --> 00:28:05,140
Andrew . I want to talk about your 

693
00:28:05,140 --> 00:28:08,730
sense of urgency of what's happening uh 

694
00:28:08,740 --> 00:28:11,950
in latin America as all of us in the 

695
00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:14,280
committee have said , we are so used to 

696
00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:16,447
looking at the Middle East and looking 

697
00:28:16,447 --> 00:28:18,502
at other parts of the world , but we 

698
00:28:18,502 --> 00:28:21,290
keep forgetting own backyard . And I 

699
00:28:21,290 --> 00:28:24,230
think the maps that you have provided 

700
00:28:24,230 --> 00:28:27,650
us uh to us to show where 

701
00:28:27,650 --> 00:28:30,310
the criminal organizations are coming 

702
00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:32,840
from and how they are affected as 

703
00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:36,810
whether they're bringing in drugs or 

704
00:28:36,810 --> 00:28:39,600
people there there and many of times , 

705
00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:41,544
as you said , and as we all know , 

706
00:28:41,780 --> 00:28:43,870
sometimes those organizations are 

707
00:28:43,870 --> 00:28:45,648
stronger than some of the state 

708
00:28:45,648 --> 00:28:48,650
security forces that we have . And then 

709
00:28:48,650 --> 00:28:50,594
on top of that it's not only those 

710
00:28:50,594 --> 00:28:53,410
trans organizational groups that we 

711
00:28:53,410 --> 00:28:57,380
have , but we have the influence of 

712
00:28:57,390 --> 00:29:01,310
Iran in South America . Not only do 

713
00:29:01,310 --> 00:29:04,250
we have the influence of them but we 

714
00:29:04,250 --> 00:29:08,250
also have the Russian influence in 

715
00:29:08,250 --> 00:29:10,450
countries but the one that we've been 

716
00:29:10,450 --> 00:29:12,610
talking about is the one with the 

717
00:29:12,620 --> 00:29:15,310
chinese . The last time you provided 

718
00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:19,240
this reports at Rome Uh you know 

719
00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:22,440
we had x amount of countries in South 

720
00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:25,320
America 19 I'll be there were less than 

721
00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:28,150
that but now we have 1933 countries 

722
00:29:28,150 --> 00:29:30,510
that have joined the one belt one road 

723
00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:34,120
uh initiative . There are now 25 out of 

724
00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:38,120
the 33 countries that have that 

725
00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:41,170
host Chinese infrastructure projects 

726
00:29:41,180 --> 00:29:44,770
including Mexico beliefs uh or even 

727
00:29:44,770 --> 00:29:47,750
outside of al to Bahamas Panama where 

728
00:29:47,750 --> 00:29:49,790
the canal is at . And then so many 

729
00:29:49,790 --> 00:29:53,240
other ones . Then we talk about even 

730
00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:56,100
now eight countries that are producing 

731
00:29:56,100 --> 00:29:58,267
and using and testing or interested in 

732
00:29:58,267 --> 00:30:02,160
purchasing chinese cov 19 

733
00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:05,570
vaccines Then we look at and this is 

734
00:30:05,570 --> 00:30:09,160
what's very interesting . We know the 

735
00:30:09,170 --> 00:30:12,030
major chinese I . T . Footprints and 

736
00:30:12,030 --> 00:30:15,850
space tracking stations and Argentina 

737
00:30:15,860 --> 00:30:18,050
and you have some in Peru Ecuador 

738
00:30:18,050 --> 00:30:21,960
Panama brazil and of course Venezuela . 

739
00:30:22,340 --> 00:30:26,290
Uh and you know all that worries me 

740
00:30:26,290 --> 00:30:28,512
because from the last time you provided 

741
00:30:28,512 --> 00:30:30,640
this the numbers keep going up , the 

742
00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:33,010
investments keep going and they keep 

743
00:30:33,010 --> 00:30:35,820
getting closer and closer to the US 

744
00:30:35,820 --> 00:30:38,660
Mexico border where I live at . 

745
00:30:39,140 --> 00:30:42,220
So I want you to talk to us about this 

746
00:30:42,220 --> 00:30:44,360
sense of urgency and what this 

747
00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:47,040
committee can fund . I know there's an 

748
00:30:47,050 --> 00:30:49,990
assessment that you all are working on 

749
00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:52,860
uh with the U . S . Uh Department of 

750
00:30:52,860 --> 00:30:54,971
State U . S . I . D . And I think the 

751
00:30:54,971 --> 00:30:56,749
rand corporation is going to be 

752
00:30:56,749 --> 00:31:00,470
involved to do that study uhh and 

753
00:31:00,470 --> 00:31:02,560
should have been done by this last 

754
00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:04,782
december . But Kobe had something to do 

755
00:31:04,782 --> 00:31:06,838
with that . But I think it should be 

756
00:31:06,838 --> 00:31:08,950
ready by the 31st of this year . Tell 

757
00:31:08,950 --> 00:31:11,250
us what we need to invest because I 

758
00:31:11,250 --> 00:31:13,580
agree with you . We should have a sense 

759
00:31:13,580 --> 00:31:15,680
of urgency . We keep looking at 

760
00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:18,090
everywhere , but it's our own backyard . 

761
00:31:18,100 --> 00:31:20,156
That worries me . Tell us about your 

762
00:31:20,156 --> 00:31:22,267
sense of urgency and what we ought to 

763
00:31:22,267 --> 00:31:24,489
be investing in and what this committee 

764
00:31:24,489 --> 00:31:28,230
should be doing . Well , thank you 

765
00:31:28,230 --> 00:31:30,230
for the , emphasizing that sense of 

766
00:31:30,230 --> 00:31:32,440
urgency that we certainly feel at the 

767
00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:34,780
United States Southern Command . And uh , 

768
00:31:34,780 --> 00:31:37,560
and the department has been supportive 

769
00:31:37,570 --> 00:31:40,950
as , as has your committee by last year . 

770
00:31:40,950 --> 00:31:42,783
Your committee in particular was 

771
00:31:42,783 --> 00:31:44,950
supportive and establishing additional 

772
00:31:44,950 --> 00:31:47,117
funds in our security cooperation . So 

773
00:31:47,117 --> 00:31:48,910
I mentioned , the one of is our 

774
00:31:48,910 --> 00:31:51,077
intelligence drives everything and the 

775
00:31:51,077 --> 00:31:53,200
more we know and understand what the 

776
00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:55,360
threats are up to , the better we can 

777
00:31:55,840 --> 00:31:57,896
participate in a whole of government 

778
00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:00,300
and a whole of nation response . 

779
00:32:00,590 --> 00:32:02,590
National Defense Strategy certainly 

780
00:32:02,940 --> 00:32:05,220
nails it and talking about the global 

781
00:32:05,220 --> 00:32:07,276
competition and the competition with 

782
00:32:07,276 --> 00:32:10,010
china . So we looked at I . S . Are we 

783
00:32:10,010 --> 00:32:12,360
talked about s our security cooperation 

784
00:32:12,370 --> 00:32:14,370
is key . That's what builds partner 

785
00:32:14,370 --> 00:32:17,160
capacity . That's how we become more 

786
00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:19,650
interoperable with partners . Us has 

787
00:32:19,650 --> 00:32:21,650
the best equipment in the world and 

788
00:32:21,650 --> 00:32:23,761
Partners one our equipment and it's a 

789
00:32:23,761 --> 00:32:26,480
long term relationship We are as the 

790
00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:28,480
budget is unveiled , I believe that 

791
00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:30,369
will be at the top of my unfunded 

792
00:32:30,369 --> 00:32:32,591
priorities . There's more that could be 

793
00:32:32,591 --> 00:32:34,647
invested in the capacity . We sit at 

794
00:32:34,647 --> 00:32:37,180
about 120 million for 28 countries to 

795
00:32:37,180 --> 00:32:38,847
help them build . It's a good 

796
00:32:38,847 --> 00:32:40,736
investment long term for both the 

797
00:32:40,736 --> 00:32:42,736
United States and our partners . It 

798
00:32:42,736 --> 00:32:45,013
keeps them close , it's a relationship . 

799
00:32:45,013 --> 00:32:47,013
And then on the presence of posture 

800
00:32:47,013 --> 00:32:49,069
matters , we were very supportive of 

801
00:32:49,069 --> 00:32:51,850
Congress , asking tough questions about 

802
00:32:51,850 --> 00:32:53,820
some of the intended cuts to the 

803
00:32:53,820 --> 00:32:56,110
defense attache . Those are our front 

804
00:32:56,110 --> 00:32:59,090
lines in our embassy . We should look 

805
00:32:59,090 --> 00:33:01,312
at the manning of our embassies is very 

806
00:33:01,312 --> 00:33:03,050
very lightly man for today's 

807
00:33:03,050 --> 00:33:05,250
competition . And then look at where 

808
00:33:05,250 --> 00:33:08,520
we're postured as uh as a military and 

809
00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:10,409
as and where is the United States 

810
00:33:10,409 --> 00:33:12,576
postured in this hemisphere ? It's the 

811
00:33:12,576 --> 00:33:15,040
right thing to not have permanent basis . 

812
00:33:15,050 --> 00:33:17,780
Have light locations where we can uh 

813
00:33:17,790 --> 00:33:19,679
come in and out and work with our 

814
00:33:19,679 --> 00:33:21,401
partners on their training and 

815
00:33:21,401 --> 00:33:23,679
readiness . Thank you for the question . 

816
00:33:23,679 --> 00:33:25,670
Thank you . Mr Rogers 

817
00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:33,660
burke and I'm on mute . You're 

818
00:33:33,660 --> 00:33:37,590
good . Uh Andra welcome 

819
00:33:37,590 --> 00:33:40,010
to the subcommittee . Welcome to the 

820
00:33:40,010 --> 00:33:43,540
hill again . At one point in your 

821
00:33:43,540 --> 00:33:45,651
career , I understand you were on the 

822
00:33:45,651 --> 00:33:49,520
staff of senator ted Kennedy . So 

823
00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:51,760
welcome back to the hill . 

824
00:33:52,940 --> 00:33:56,210
Uh let me ask you and follow up on MR . 

825
00:33:56,210 --> 00:33:59,990
Players kind of questioning about the 

826
00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:03,030
role of the chinese and the drug 

827
00:34:03,030 --> 00:34:06,570
traffic in south America latin 

828
00:34:06,570 --> 00:34:09,980
America uh china 

829
00:34:09,990 --> 00:34:13,440
adversely affects the region through 

830
00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:16,600
drugs , human trafficking , 

831
00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:20,480
guns , an illegal mining , all of which 

832
00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:24,140
are underwritten through chinese money 

833
00:34:24,140 --> 00:34:26,910
lark laundering . And here's how I 

834
00:34:26,910 --> 00:34:29,750
understand that works historically , 

835
00:34:30,440 --> 00:34:33,780
drug cartels have struggled to get 

836
00:34:33,780 --> 00:34:37,670
their uh illegal profits back 

837
00:34:38,340 --> 00:34:40,860
within their borders . However recently 

838
00:34:41,640 --> 00:34:44,550
chinese , what we call money brokers 

839
00:34:45,740 --> 00:34:47,890
have emerged as vinyl partners for 

840
00:34:47,890 --> 00:34:51,020
latin american drug cartels . Those 

841
00:34:51,020 --> 00:34:54,970
cartels will uh brain proceeds from 

842
00:34:54,970 --> 00:34:58,300
us illegal drug sales to these chinese 

843
00:34:58,300 --> 00:35:02,020
brokers . Mhm . Who then 

844
00:35:02,020 --> 00:35:05,850
laundry those proceeds back 

845
00:35:05,860 --> 00:35:09,500
to the drug cartels here in 

846
00:35:09,510 --> 00:35:13,340
in in latin America that's resulted in 

847
00:35:13,340 --> 00:35:17,040
chinese crime groups increasing their 

848
00:35:17,040 --> 00:35:19,460
presence in places like Colombia . In 

849
00:35:19,460 --> 00:35:21,880
fact , I spoke on the phone just 

850
00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:25,260
yesterday with President Do K . 

851
00:35:25,940 --> 00:35:29,780
At Columbia by the way , I think his 

852
00:35:29,780 --> 00:35:31,836
administration is doing great work . 

853
00:35:32,340 --> 00:35:36,080
Welcome your comments on eradicating 

854
00:35:36,080 --> 00:35:38,930
coca , which is the main source of the 

855
00:35:38,930 --> 00:35:42,490
opium in the U . S . So thank you , 

856
00:35:42,490 --> 00:35:44,950
Admiral for being here today . Let me 

857
00:35:44,950 --> 00:35:48,060
ask you what you're doing about 

858
00:35:49,040 --> 00:35:52,770
the drug problem . Uh the drug 

859
00:35:52,770 --> 00:35:56,640
cartels and the chinese brokers tell 

860
00:35:56,640 --> 00:35:58,900
us how that works and what we're doing 

861
00:35:58,900 --> 00:36:01,710
about it and what we need to do on the 

862
00:36:01,720 --> 00:36:05,660
on the ethanol . Thank you 

863
00:36:05,660 --> 00:36:07,960
for recognizing Colombia there , a 

864
00:36:07,970 --> 00:36:11,100
trusted partner . They exceeded all 

865
00:36:11,100 --> 00:36:14,560
their goals in the counter narcotics 

866
00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:17,240
fight last year despite the pandemic . 

867
00:36:17,830 --> 00:36:20,410
Um I would I would trust them to be 

868
00:36:20,410 --> 00:36:23,580
alongside me and our team in any fight 

869
00:36:23,590 --> 00:36:26,600
as professionals that adhere to human 

870
00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:29,280
rights and all the standards that we 

871
00:36:29,290 --> 00:36:31,640
expect of our US armed force , men and 

872
00:36:31,640 --> 00:36:35,320
women . And and thank you with respect 

873
00:36:35,320 --> 00:36:37,487
transnational criminal organizations . 

874
00:36:37,530 --> 00:36:40,590
uh in this hemisphere we have eight of 

875
00:36:40,590 --> 00:36:44,190
the global population , And more than 

876
00:36:44,190 --> 00:36:47,570
60 of Cryptocurrency . So it's clear 

877
00:36:47,580 --> 00:36:50,430
that entities threat entities are 

878
00:36:50,430 --> 00:36:53,550
working around ways to strangle their 

879
00:36:53,550 --> 00:36:56,670
money supply . As I've met with key 

880
00:36:56,670 --> 00:36:59,300
partners , key law enforcement partners , 

881
00:36:59,300 --> 00:37:02,670
like New NYPD counter narcotics strike 

882
00:37:02,670 --> 00:37:05,680
force , FBI DEA and others . 

883
00:37:05,690 --> 00:37:07,780
Consistently , they cite the 

884
00:37:07,780 --> 00:37:10,590
significant and consequence role of 

885
00:37:10,600 --> 00:37:12,656
chinese banks and money laundering . 

886
00:37:12,830 --> 00:37:15,720
It's very hard to crack into that with 

887
00:37:15,730 --> 00:37:18,180
technology barriers , um language 

888
00:37:18,180 --> 00:37:20,840
barriers . And so when you look at the 

889
00:37:20,840 --> 00:37:23,440
corrosive and corrupt influence of 

890
00:37:23,440 --> 00:37:25,607
transnational criminal organizations , 

891
00:37:25,607 --> 00:37:27,662
because corruption really fuels them 

892
00:37:27,662 --> 00:37:29,718
their ability to undermine officials 

893
00:37:29,718 --> 00:37:31,884
and use extortion , it's the same sort 

894
00:37:31,884 --> 00:37:34,460
of principles that the Communist Party 

895
00:37:34,460 --> 00:37:37,010
of china thrives on . They could shut 

896
00:37:37,010 --> 00:37:39,177
this down if they wanted to , but it's 

897
00:37:39,177 --> 00:37:41,288
not in their interest to do so , it's 

898
00:37:41,288 --> 00:37:43,232
in their interest to undermine the 

899
00:37:43,232 --> 00:37:45,730
democracies so that they can gain more 

900
00:37:45,730 --> 00:37:48,350
influence for their version of a future 

901
00:37:48,350 --> 00:37:51,770
world order . Well , it's a it's a 

902
00:37:51,770 --> 00:37:55,340
huge huge item . I'm 

903
00:37:55,340 --> 00:37:57,770
told that transnational criminal 

904
00:37:57,770 --> 00:38:01,710
organizations Are generating around 

905
00:38:01,710 --> 00:38:04,340
$90 billion dollars in profits just 

906
00:38:04,340 --> 00:38:07,780
from cocaine and a lot of that cocaine 

907
00:38:07,780 --> 00:38:09,724
and the drugs out of South America 

908
00:38:10,420 --> 00:38:13,150
lands in my district . And we've been 

909
00:38:13,920 --> 00:38:15,570
fighting that fight with an 

910
00:38:15,570 --> 00:38:18,030
organization called unite now for a 

911
00:38:18,030 --> 00:38:21,650
dozen years , but it's being flooded 

912
00:38:22,220 --> 00:38:24,440
by the drugs coming out of South 

913
00:38:24,440 --> 00:38:27,600
America . So thank you for your service , 

914
00:38:27,670 --> 00:38:31,170
your lifetime of service Admiral , and 

915
00:38:31,170 --> 00:38:33,820
thank you for your present duties . Uh 

916
00:38:33,830 --> 00:38:36,350
tough short . Somebody's gotta do it . 

917
00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:38,416
You're doing great . Thank you . Are 

918
00:38:38,416 --> 00:38:40,582
you a bag ? Thank you . We're going to 

919
00:38:40,582 --> 00:38:42,804
hear from Mr irregular and then we will 

920
00:38:42,804 --> 00:38:46,150
go to um a full ranking member granger . 

921
00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:50,687
Thank you Chairwoman Admiral . Good to 

922
00:38:50,687 --> 00:38:52,631
see you again . Thank you for your 

923
00:38:52,631 --> 00:38:54,798
service . Um We've talked a little bit 

924
00:38:54,798 --> 00:38:58,330
about drug interdiction and uh if I 

925
00:38:58,330 --> 00:39:00,430
could just you know ask a follow up 

926
00:39:00,430 --> 00:39:02,750
question on that . Um You talked with 

927
00:39:02,750 --> 00:39:05,028
Mr calvert about some of the I . S . R . 

928
00:39:05,028 --> 00:39:08,360
Uh capabilities and you know through 

929
00:39:08,360 --> 00:39:10,416
the briefings we've had we know that 

930
00:39:10,416 --> 00:39:13,040
our ability to identify drug smuggling 

931
00:39:13,050 --> 00:39:15,217
in the pacific is far greater than our 

932
00:39:15,217 --> 00:39:17,630
capacity to interdict . Um What more 

933
00:39:17,630 --> 00:39:19,908
can we do to help you in these efforts ? 

934
00:39:19,908 --> 00:39:22,360
What resources are needed ? And if you 

935
00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:24,471
can touch on specifically some of the 

936
00:39:24,471 --> 00:39:26,527
work that you've been doing with the 

937
00:39:26,527 --> 00:39:28,360
Coast Guard in aiding those drug 

938
00:39:28,360 --> 00:39:30,550
interdictions um uh in your in south . 

939
00:39:30,550 --> 00:39:34,400
Um er Thank you the 

940
00:39:34,410 --> 00:39:37,380
area that we're looking at , where the 

941
00:39:37,390 --> 00:39:40,960
principal routes uh run is the larger 

942
00:39:40,960 --> 00:39:43,060
than the United States . And on any 

943
00:39:43,060 --> 00:39:46,230
given day we're covering that area with 

944
00:39:46,240 --> 00:39:49,580
about 10 US ships mix of Coast Guard 

945
00:39:49,590 --> 00:39:52,840
and U . S . Navy . Uh an innovative 

946
00:39:53,120 --> 00:39:56,020
vessel called the mm SV . That you all 

947
00:39:56,020 --> 00:39:59,640
have well and the appropriated , which 

948
00:39:59,640 --> 00:40:02,030
has been very successful . And then we 

949
00:40:02,030 --> 00:40:04,160
do that with partners . So when the 

950
00:40:04,160 --> 00:40:06,271
Coast Guard in the United States Navy 

951
00:40:06,271 --> 00:40:08,600
are their partners step up and we saw 

952
00:40:08,600 --> 00:40:10,822
last year that partners increased their 

953
00:40:10,822 --> 00:40:13,500
participation in the counter 

954
00:40:13,510 --> 00:40:15,510
transnational criminal organization 

955
00:40:15,510 --> 00:40:19,410
operations . The pressure by 10% in 

956
00:40:19,410 --> 00:40:21,632
interdictions and that's significant in 

957
00:40:21,632 --> 00:40:23,410
one year , especially given the 

958
00:40:23,410 --> 00:40:26,150
pandemic . So it's an example of when 

959
00:40:26,160 --> 00:40:28,140
the Coast Guard and the Navy , are 

960
00:40:28,140 --> 00:40:31,450
there others will come out . We cited 

961
00:40:31,450 --> 00:40:33,672
the success of Colombia . Costa Rica is 

962
00:40:33,672 --> 00:40:35,894
another partner that has done extremely 

963
00:40:35,894 --> 00:40:37,950
well . Panama just stood up a fusion 

964
00:40:37,950 --> 00:40:40,430
center . The key here long term is 

965
00:40:40,430 --> 00:40:43,370
getting a network of partners together 

966
00:40:43,710 --> 00:40:46,910
to keep pressure on the source , the 

967
00:40:46,910 --> 00:40:49,730
supply lines , all aspects of the 

968
00:40:49,730 --> 00:40:51,910
business model . Another key in the 

969
00:40:51,910 --> 00:40:55,280
last year as part of our surge in this 

970
00:40:55,650 --> 00:40:58,840
threat . Space has been the development 

971
00:40:58,840 --> 00:41:01,062
of the targeting process with the inter 

972
00:41:01,062 --> 00:41:03,229
agency here in the U . S . So learning 

973
00:41:03,229 --> 00:41:05,229
from what we've done in the Counter 

974
00:41:05,229 --> 00:41:08,300
Terror Ops and then working as a part 

975
00:41:08,310 --> 00:41:10,310
of a U . S . Government interagency 

976
00:41:10,310 --> 00:41:12,366
process . We've been able to improve 

977
00:41:12,366 --> 00:41:14,588
that targeting process by using machine 

978
00:41:14,588 --> 00:41:16,643
learning artificial intelligence and 

979
00:41:16,643 --> 00:41:19,730
really increase the speed of which we 

980
00:41:19,730 --> 00:41:21,930
can build a target package and then 

981
00:41:21,930 --> 00:41:23,986
hand off to a partner . Nation . Law 

982
00:41:23,986 --> 00:41:25,930
enforcement's that's significant . 

983
00:41:25,930 --> 00:41:27,986
We'll never interdict our way out of 

984
00:41:27,986 --> 00:41:29,874
this . We've got to look at these 

985
00:41:29,874 --> 00:41:31,930
organizations as an organization and 

986
00:41:31,930 --> 00:41:34,060
determine where they're key nodes are 

987
00:41:34,070 --> 00:41:36,292
centers of gravity if you will and then 

988
00:41:36,292 --> 00:41:38,250
crush that . We talked about money 

989
00:41:38,250 --> 00:41:40,730
laundering as part of that . There's a 

990
00:41:40,730 --> 00:41:42,563
cyber piece of this , there's an 

991
00:41:42,563 --> 00:41:44,786
information piece of this . So bringing 

992
00:41:44,786 --> 00:41:47,340
all elements of power in all domains is 

993
00:41:47,340 --> 00:41:49,830
the way forward for us to make a 

994
00:41:49,830 --> 00:41:51,830
lasting difference on this threat , 

995
00:41:53,510 --> 00:41:55,399
appreciate the answer . Thanks so 

996
00:41:55,399 --> 00:41:57,630
thanks so much . Admiral . Um Can you 

997
00:41:57,630 --> 00:42:00,680
talk a little bit more about um china 

998
00:42:00,680 --> 00:42:03,490
and and and what keeps you up at night 

999
00:42:03,490 --> 00:42:06,250
as far as uh their activities within 

1000
00:42:06,250 --> 00:42:08,361
the O . R . And and the relationships 

1001
00:42:08,361 --> 00:42:10,139
uh In some of these countries , 

1002
00:42:12,500 --> 00:42:14,930
it's when we sit down with our partners , 

1003
00:42:15,300 --> 00:42:17,920
it's it's part of the conversation . We 

1004
00:42:17,920 --> 00:42:20,087
talk about the chinese economy and the 

1005
00:42:20,087 --> 00:42:22,142
U . S . Economy . So it's undeniable 

1006
00:42:22,142 --> 00:42:24,198
that china is the number one trading 

1007
00:42:24,198 --> 00:42:26,420
partner with the United States . Number 

1008
00:42:26,420 --> 00:42:28,476
one trading partner with most of our 

1009
00:42:28,476 --> 00:42:30,364
partner nations . Now they're the 

1010
00:42:30,364 --> 00:42:32,476
number one trading partner with South 

1011
00:42:32,476 --> 00:42:34,940
America large and soon I think will be 

1012
00:42:34,960 --> 00:42:36,849
a larger trading partner with the 

1013
00:42:36,849 --> 00:42:39,870
hemisphere . So it's we have to 

1014
00:42:39,870 --> 00:42:42,280
determine as a nation how we win the 

1015
00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:44,169
competition without ever going to 

1016
00:42:44,169 --> 00:42:46,840
conflict . And it's , uh , when china 

1017
00:42:46,840 --> 00:42:49,330
is able to come in and , and gift 

1018
00:42:49,340 --> 00:42:52,050
militaries in our regions , significant 

1019
00:42:52,050 --> 00:42:54,730
quantities of money with very little or 

1020
00:42:54,730 --> 00:42:57,008
no strings attached . That concerns me . 

1021
00:42:57,280 --> 00:42:59,336
Some of our key partners have turned 

1022
00:42:59,336 --> 00:43:02,200
those gifts down and I applaud that and 

1023
00:43:02,210 --> 00:43:04,432
thank them for turning it down . Others 

1024
00:43:04,432 --> 00:43:07,240
say to me , we're a drowning . We feel 

1025
00:43:07,240 --> 00:43:09,073
like we're drowning Admiral in a 

1026
00:43:09,073 --> 00:43:11,184
lifeboat and we're going to take that 

1027
00:43:11,184 --> 00:43:13,240
life ring because we need it . And I 

1028
00:43:13,240 --> 00:43:15,350
say , hey , watch where the cord is 

1029
00:43:15,360 --> 00:43:17,360
attached . And what happens on that 

1030
00:43:17,360 --> 00:43:19,600
chord . We recently hosted a security 

1031
00:43:19,600 --> 00:43:22,230
conference with our allies , UK Canada , 

1032
00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:25,520
uh , french the dutch that have 

1033
00:43:25,520 --> 00:43:27,298
interests here . And one of the 

1034
00:43:27,298 --> 00:43:29,570
Canadian uh , members to that 

1035
00:43:29,570 --> 00:43:31,737
conference from their Foreign Ministry 

1036
00:43:31,737 --> 00:43:34,600
of Citizens , uh , civilian said to me , 

1037
00:43:34,610 --> 00:43:37,140
uh , we see the region , the threats of 

1038
00:43:37,140 --> 00:43:40,610
the region , um as a whirlpool and the 

1039
00:43:40,620 --> 00:43:42,787
nations in a lifeboat that are getting 

1040
00:43:42,787 --> 00:43:44,953
sucked down by the various pressures . 

1041
00:43:44,953 --> 00:43:47,340
So it does add to that sense of urgency . 

1042
00:43:47,340 --> 00:43:49,360
That's been a theme here . Uh , and 

1043
00:43:49,360 --> 00:43:51,527
it's really , that's what really keeps 

1044
00:43:51,527 --> 00:43:54,200
me up at night . Thanks Admiral , 

1045
00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:56,422
appreciate your service and uh , thanks 

1046
00:43:56,422 --> 00:43:58,533
so much for for being here today with 

1047
00:43:58,533 --> 00:44:00,589
us . Thank you , madam . Chair . You 

1048
00:44:00,589 --> 00:44:02,256
bet . Thank you . And with no 

1049
00:44:02,256 --> 00:44:04,480
disrespect mentioned trying to do 

1050
00:44:04,480 --> 00:44:07,160
things uh from distance to distance 

1051
00:44:07,160 --> 00:44:09,380
here , We will now hear from Miss 

1052
00:44:09,380 --> 00:44:12,750
Granger . Thank you . Thank you very 

1053
00:44:12,750 --> 00:44:16,110
much . Admiral 

1054
00:44:16,120 --> 00:44:19,820
Press . Can I am I coming across 

1055
00:44:19,820 --> 00:44:23,280
Admiral ? Can you hear me okay ? Good . 

1056
00:44:23,290 --> 00:44:25,910
Uh President biden indicated during the 

1057
00:44:25,910 --> 00:44:28,370
campaign he intended to vote as much as 

1058
00:44:28,380 --> 00:44:31,270
$4 billion to address the root causes a 

1059
00:44:31,270 --> 00:44:33,920
central american migration . And the 

1060
00:44:33,920 --> 00:44:36,000
budget framework released last week 

1061
00:44:36,000 --> 00:44:38,222
includes the first year of this funding 

1062
00:44:38,222 --> 00:44:41,040
850 million dollars to address the 

1063
00:44:41,040 --> 00:44:44,120
matter . We've talked so much about the 

1064
00:44:44,130 --> 00:44:48,080
issues in your area and the drug 

1065
00:44:48,080 --> 00:44:51,000
trade and particularly the drug trade 

1066
00:44:51,390 --> 00:44:53,870
and the help we need when they're going 

1067
00:44:53,870 --> 00:44:56,092
by water . Recently . I was the meeting 

1068
00:44:56,092 --> 00:44:57,814
was very , very concerned with 

1069
00:44:57,814 --> 00:44:59,870
disappoint to hear that there was an 

1070
00:44:59,870 --> 00:45:02,400
attempt to mothball all littoral combat 

1071
00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:05,720
ships . Um , and so I would ask you , 

1072
00:45:05,720 --> 00:45:08,560
you mentioned that those ships , have 

1073
00:45:08,560 --> 00:45:10,671
you found them helpful , particularly 

1074
00:45:10,671 --> 00:45:13,300
in the area in and in the drug control . 

1075
00:45:17,390 --> 00:45:19,557
The Navy's presence has been essential 

1076
00:45:19,557 --> 00:45:22,410
and it has uh , increased the capacity 

1077
00:45:22,410 --> 00:45:24,410
of our partners . And and frankly , 

1078
00:45:24,410 --> 00:45:26,132
I've been on board the ships , 

1079
00:45:26,132 --> 00:45:28,188
destroyers and littoral combat ships 

1080
00:45:28,188 --> 00:45:30,243
and talk to the Navy crews . They've 

1081
00:45:30,243 --> 00:45:32,299
really improved their readiness . So 

1082
00:45:32,299 --> 00:45:34,521
it's a win win on that program that you 

1083
00:45:34,521 --> 00:45:36,632
mentioned for the Northern Triangle . 

1084
00:45:36,632 --> 00:45:38,854
It's a welcome program . We need a long 

1085
00:45:38,854 --> 00:45:42,820
view for the region And 

1086
00:45:42,830 --> 00:45:44,940
and plan Colombia was a good model 

1087
00:45:44,940 --> 00:45:47,051
because we stuck with it for 10 years 

1088
00:45:47,051 --> 00:45:48,996
and we didn't have fits and starts 

1089
00:45:49,050 --> 00:45:51,820
annually with the plan . This is a 

1090
00:45:51,820 --> 00:45:54,530
generational problem developing the 

1091
00:45:54,530 --> 00:45:57,990
sustainable economies and the type of 

1092
00:45:57,990 --> 00:45:59,879
democracies that can take care of 

1093
00:45:59,879 --> 00:46:02,260
themselves so that we don't have these 

1094
00:46:02,480 --> 00:46:05,660
this crisis in Central America that 

1095
00:46:05,660 --> 00:46:07,604
drives people to walk thousands of 

1096
00:46:07,604 --> 00:46:09,827
miles to save their kids and save their 

1097
00:46:09,827 --> 00:46:12,080
lives . And I think , um , uh , ma'am 

1098
00:46:12,080 --> 00:46:14,136
that , uh , the military does have a 

1099
00:46:14,136 --> 00:46:16,990
role here , a very , a very focused 

1100
00:46:16,990 --> 00:46:19,340
supporting role because our track 

1101
00:46:19,340 --> 00:46:21,618
record and we've learned from our past , 

1102
00:46:21,618 --> 00:46:25,260
we know how to , to uh , by by the 

1103
00:46:25,270 --> 00:46:27,560
rule of law and human rights . And 

1104
00:46:27,560 --> 00:46:29,820
we've had a human rights program at 

1105
00:46:29,820 --> 00:46:31,876
South come and we've worked with our 

1106
00:46:31,876 --> 00:46:34,098
partner nations to professionalize them 

1107
00:46:34,580 --> 00:46:37,950
and they're part of the solution . In 

1108
00:46:37,950 --> 00:46:40,360
order to help going forward . We've got 

1109
00:46:40,360 --> 00:46:42,420
to be present to help influence good 

1110
00:46:42,420 --> 00:46:44,476
behavior to be part of the long term 

1111
00:46:44,476 --> 00:46:46,642
sustainable solution . So we welcome a 

1112
00:46:46,642 --> 00:46:48,610
long term plan . And so far the 

1113
00:46:48,610 --> 00:46:51,830
discussions and the involvement of the 

1114
00:46:51,840 --> 00:46:54,680
uh my command with Chairman Million , 

1115
00:46:54,680 --> 00:46:56,736
the Secretary Defense have been very 

1116
00:46:56,736 --> 00:46:58,847
transparent , very iterative . And uh 

1117
00:46:58,847 --> 00:47:01,013
and and they've been listening to us . 

1118
00:47:01,380 --> 00:47:03,547
Good . I hope you'll speak out for the 

1119
00:47:03,547 --> 00:47:05,658
littoral combat ships because part of 

1120
00:47:05,658 --> 00:47:07,880
that was going into shallow water being 

1121
00:47:07,880 --> 00:47:11,080
quiet , almost silent , uh speed . And 

1122
00:47:11,080 --> 00:47:13,440
so all the other indications I have , 

1123
00:47:13,450 --> 00:47:15,283
they're still helpful . So I was 

1124
00:47:15,283 --> 00:47:17,506
surprised at that . I want to make sure 

1125
00:47:17,506 --> 00:47:19,339
that you have Or are there other 

1126
00:47:19,339 --> 00:47:23,100
resources that in this uh pandemic time ? 

1127
00:47:23,180 --> 00:47:25,800
Are there other resources you need uh 

1128
00:47:25,810 --> 00:47:29,550
to change our ad to help 

1129
00:47:29,550 --> 00:47:32,890
you ? Our humanitarian assistance 

1130
00:47:32,900 --> 00:47:35,011
program And the authorities we have ? 

1131
00:47:35,011 --> 00:47:37,250
There are are the best tool I have . 

1132
00:47:37,250 --> 00:47:40,350
It's responsive . It's scalable . We 

1133
00:47:40,350 --> 00:47:42,517
can meet Partners needs short and long 

1134
00:47:42,517 --> 00:47:44,794
term . Uh with the support of Congress , 

1135
00:47:44,794 --> 00:47:46,850
we received additional money and the 

1136
00:47:46,850 --> 00:47:49,128
Department of Defense additional money . 

1137
00:47:49,128 --> 00:47:51,072
At the beginning of the pandemic , 

1138
00:47:51,072 --> 00:47:53,072
we've applied that to good use . Uh 

1139
00:47:53,072 --> 00:47:55,072
It's a it's an authority that we're 

1140
00:47:55,072 --> 00:47:57,017
able to apply to partners , health 

1141
00:47:57,017 --> 00:47:59,680
agencies or civil agencies . I would 

1142
00:47:59,680 --> 00:48:01,513
like to see an expansion of that 

1143
00:48:01,513 --> 00:48:03,350
authority to be able to end the 

1144
00:48:03,350 --> 00:48:05,461
appropriation of the money to be able 

1145
00:48:05,461 --> 00:48:07,683
to work with partner militaries . And I 

1146
00:48:07,683 --> 00:48:09,850
think we could get enough oversight on 

1147
00:48:09,850 --> 00:48:11,794
it that we would ensure it did the 

1148
00:48:11,794 --> 00:48:13,461
right thing . That would be a 

1149
00:48:13,461 --> 00:48:15,239
humanitarian assistance realm . 

1150
00:48:15,239 --> 00:48:17,690
Similarly , given the competition we're 

1151
00:48:17,690 --> 00:48:20,650
in and and the need and the our need to 

1152
00:48:20,650 --> 00:48:22,860
be able to flex two partners needs . 

1153
00:48:23,270 --> 00:48:25,470
When I visited the region in october I 

1154
00:48:25,470 --> 00:48:27,850
found our partners were just exhausted 

1155
00:48:28,270 --> 00:48:30,200
and running out of fuel and basic 

1156
00:48:30,200 --> 00:48:33,790
necessities . Yet I lack a near term 

1157
00:48:34,170 --> 00:48:36,750
relevant mechanism to provide some 

1158
00:48:36,750 --> 00:48:39,670
assistance in that manner . We have two 

1159
00:48:39,670 --> 00:48:41,337
year funding which is greatly 

1160
00:48:41,337 --> 00:48:43,503
appreciate a long view , which is what 

1161
00:48:43,503 --> 00:48:45,281
we need . But I think we need a 

1162
00:48:45,281 --> 00:48:48,530
military assistance program for small 

1163
00:48:48,530 --> 00:48:52,200
dollar amounts . I'm talking 15 50,000 . 

1164
00:48:52,200 --> 00:48:54,530
That would be real game changers to 

1165
00:48:54,530 --> 00:48:56,586
build near term trust and respond to 

1166
00:48:56,586 --> 00:48:59,150
partners needs mil to mil . Thank you 

1167
00:48:59,150 --> 00:49:02,920
very much appreciate that . I 

1168
00:49:02,920 --> 00:49:06,830
yield . Thank 

1169
00:49:06,830 --> 00:49:10,070
you . Um this 

1170
00:49:10,070 --> 00:49:13,700
kirkpatrick and then Mr Womack , 

1171
00:49:16,770 --> 00:49:18,826
thank you Madam Chair and thanks for 

1172
00:49:18,826 --> 00:49:21,230
having us here in uh Admiral . I 

1173
00:49:21,230 --> 00:49:24,610
represent a border district in Arizona 

1174
00:49:24,620 --> 00:49:27,650
and I'm very focused on how we ensure 

1175
00:49:27,650 --> 00:49:30,860
our border communities are protected 

1176
00:49:30,870 --> 00:49:33,690
from excuse me , illicit drug activity 

1177
00:49:33,690 --> 00:49:36,900
and violence from trans criminal , 

1178
00:49:37,170 --> 00:49:39,337
transnational criminal organizations . 

1179
00:49:39,670 --> 00:49:41,726
While the Department of Defense does 

1180
00:49:41,726 --> 00:49:45,150
not have the lead in many aspects of 

1181
00:49:45,150 --> 00:49:47,310
the counter drug efforts , the 

1182
00:49:47,310 --> 00:49:50,670
Department is the lead agency for the 

1183
00:49:50,670 --> 00:49:54,320
detection and monitoring of aerial and 

1184
00:49:54,320 --> 00:49:57,740
maritime transit of illegal drugs into 

1185
00:49:57,740 --> 00:50:00,370
the United States . So my question , my 

1186
00:50:00,370 --> 00:50:03,880
question is this um can you provide an 

1187
00:50:03,890 --> 00:50:06,600
update on efforts to counter 

1188
00:50:06,600 --> 00:50:09,730
transnational criminal organizations , 

1189
00:50:09,730 --> 00:50:12,650
and how does the US measure success or 

1190
00:50:12,650 --> 00:50:14,990
failure in this area ? 

1191
00:50:18,560 --> 00:50:21,780
Okay . We appreciate the work that Air 

1192
00:50:21,780 --> 00:50:25,090
Forces South and Tucson has done in the 

1193
00:50:25,100 --> 00:50:27,210
aerial port of this detection of 

1194
00:50:27,210 --> 00:50:29,390
monitoring uh and they work hand in 

1195
00:50:29,390 --> 00:50:31,580
hand with Joint Interagency Task Force 

1196
00:50:31,580 --> 00:50:33,802
South and Key West , which is a team of 

1197
00:50:33,802 --> 00:50:37,770
teams that is led by a Coast Guard to 

1198
00:50:37,770 --> 00:50:41,020
Star Rear Admiral Doug fears each and 

1199
00:50:41,020 --> 00:50:43,187
every day focused on this very problem 

1200
00:50:43,187 --> 00:50:45,510
set in july it If we have every 

1201
00:50:45,510 --> 00:50:48,460
relevant agency in the U . S . That 

1202
00:50:48,470 --> 00:50:50,630
that works in the counter narcotics 

1203
00:50:50,630 --> 00:50:52,352
counter transnational criminal 

1204
00:50:52,352 --> 00:50:54,241
organization , space , as well as 

1205
00:50:54,241 --> 00:50:56,130
partner nations from 24 different 

1206
00:50:56,130 --> 00:50:58,297
partner nations . And that is the real 

1207
00:50:58,297 --> 00:51:01,230
keep . And we've made progress . So , 

1208
00:51:01,240 --> 00:51:04,600
using the additional resources that the 

1209
00:51:04,600 --> 00:51:06,656
department supplied in terms of Navy 

1210
00:51:06,656 --> 00:51:08,910
ships last year , we put more pressure 

1211
00:51:08,910 --> 00:51:11,400
on the networks that kept our partners 

1212
00:51:11,400 --> 00:51:13,180
in the game . These security 

1213
00:51:13,180 --> 00:51:15,850
cooperation programmes do have long 

1214
00:51:15,850 --> 00:51:18,490
term pay back for the United States and 

1215
00:51:18,490 --> 00:51:20,268
as I mentioned previously , our 

1216
00:51:20,268 --> 00:51:22,434
partners stepped up and increase their 

1217
00:51:22,434 --> 00:51:24,601
participation and their interdiction . 

1218
00:51:25,360 --> 00:51:27,840
We were able to increase our targeting 

1219
00:51:27,840 --> 00:51:30,020
so we were able to get on more targets 

1220
00:51:30,020 --> 00:51:32,470
last year , disrupt more flow , put 

1221
00:51:32,470 --> 00:51:34,680
more pressure on the networks , which 

1222
00:51:34,680 --> 00:51:36,960
generates more opportunity for partner 

1223
00:51:36,960 --> 00:51:39,240
nations and law enforcement partners to 

1224
00:51:39,240 --> 00:51:42,860
capture detain . And so we're on a good 

1225
00:51:42,860 --> 00:51:45,080
glide slope , but clearly not enough 

1226
00:51:45,080 --> 00:51:47,280
when we still have tens of thousands 

1227
00:51:47,280 --> 00:51:49,280
dying in the United States . And we 

1228
00:51:49,280 --> 00:51:51,224
still have organizations that have 

1229
00:51:51,224 --> 00:51:54,930
budgets larger and bigger than the many 

1230
00:51:54,930 --> 00:51:57,080
of the security forces they face and 

1231
00:51:57,080 --> 00:51:59,440
organizations that control territory , 

1232
00:51:59,440 --> 00:52:01,740
frankly . And so more pressure , 

1233
00:52:01,740 --> 00:52:04,420
sustained pressure and more focus on 

1234
00:52:04,650 --> 00:52:07,340
the source and more focus on . As was 

1235
00:52:07,340 --> 00:52:09,229
mentioned in some of your opening 

1236
00:52:09,229 --> 00:52:11,670
comments , diplomacy and development as 

1237
00:52:11,670 --> 00:52:13,980
a way for people to have other models . 

1238
00:52:16,250 --> 00:52:18,417
Thank you . I appreciate that . I have 

1239
00:52:18,417 --> 00:52:21,070
a one other question here . Um , 

1240
00:52:21,650 --> 00:52:24,070
so , so , uh , 

1241
00:52:25,750 --> 00:52:27,770
you also have the only human rights 

1242
00:52:27,780 --> 00:52:30,240
office throughout the combatant 

1243
00:52:30,240 --> 00:52:33,730
commands . Um , do you see meaningful 

1244
00:52:33,730 --> 00:52:36,250
progress in these areas and what 

1245
00:52:36,250 --> 00:52:38,430
support do you need from Congress to 

1246
00:52:38,430 --> 00:52:42,430
strengthen programs ? We could 

1247
00:52:42,430 --> 00:52:44,670
have the best equipment and we do in 

1248
00:52:44,670 --> 00:52:46,720
the United States . We can have the 

1249
00:52:46,730 --> 00:52:49,620
best women and men in our force and we 

1250
00:52:49,620 --> 00:52:53,260
do . But we could still lose the 

1251
00:52:53,260 --> 00:52:55,371
competition that we're in or the next 

1252
00:52:55,371 --> 00:52:57,593
war that we fight because we don't have 

1253
00:52:57,593 --> 00:52:59,593
legitimacy with our people . We can 

1254
00:52:59,593 --> 00:53:01,593
never take that for granted . And I 

1255
00:53:01,593 --> 00:53:04,030
joined The military 42 years ago . It 

1256
00:53:04,030 --> 00:53:06,141
was not a foregone conclusion that we 

1257
00:53:06,141 --> 00:53:08,086
would have the trust of the United 

1258
00:53:08,086 --> 00:53:10,520
States population and we do this by 

1259
00:53:10,520 --> 00:53:12,760
adhering to the rule of law . Human 

1260
00:53:12,760 --> 00:53:15,710
rights , respect those unacceptable 

1261
00:53:15,710 --> 00:53:17,543
behaviors . That I talked at the 

1262
00:53:17,543 --> 00:53:19,960
beginning relentless pursuit of all of 

1263
00:53:19,960 --> 00:53:22,760
that . Our command recognized over 20 

1264
00:53:22,760 --> 00:53:24,830
years ago that key to sustainable 

1265
00:53:24,830 --> 00:53:26,910
security in this hemisphere was 

1266
00:53:26,910 --> 00:53:29,660
improving the human rights record of of 

1267
00:53:29,660 --> 00:53:31,716
all aspects of our engagement mil to 

1268
00:53:31,716 --> 00:53:34,560
mil . And we invested in human rights 

1269
00:53:34,570 --> 00:53:36,740
team and we've increased that 

1270
00:53:36,740 --> 00:53:38,962
investment . It's something we fund out 

1271
00:53:38,962 --> 00:53:41,129
of hide . It's not a program of record 

1272
00:53:41,129 --> 00:53:43,296
with the Department of Defense . We've 

1273
00:53:43,296 --> 00:53:45,184
been able to install human rights 

1274
00:53:45,184 --> 00:53:47,018
advisers and our partner nations 

1275
00:53:47,018 --> 00:53:49,129
Security Force conduct workshops with 

1276
00:53:49,129 --> 00:53:51,296
our partner nations , ensure that it's 

1277
00:53:51,296 --> 00:53:53,296
embedded in their training programs 

1278
00:53:53,296 --> 00:53:55,351
that is embedded in their doctrine . 

1279
00:53:55,351 --> 00:53:57,518
And we've offered that into all the US 

1280
00:53:57,518 --> 00:53:59,351
schoolhouses as a key element of 

1281
00:53:59,351 --> 00:54:01,240
building that professionalism and 

1282
00:54:01,240 --> 00:54:04,170
legitimacy . Thank you . Thank you for 

1283
00:54:04,170 --> 00:54:07,500
good work that you're doing . I as 

1284
00:54:07,510 --> 00:54:09,510
representing a border destruction . 

1285
00:54:09,510 --> 00:54:11,800
Arizona really appreciate your efforts 

1286
00:54:11,800 --> 00:54:14,640
and Madam Chair , a yield back . Mr 

1287
00:54:14,640 --> 00:54:17,800
Womack . Thank you , Madam . Chairwoman . 

1288
00:54:17,800 --> 00:54:21,800
And uh Admiral Fowler , it's great to 

1289
00:54:21,800 --> 00:54:25,770
see you again . Um uh you know 

1290
00:54:25,770 --> 00:54:27,826
of all the cocom is that we're gonna 

1291
00:54:27,826 --> 00:54:31,460
get posture briefings from . I consider 

1292
00:54:31,460 --> 00:54:34,740
this to be uh as it 

1293
00:54:34,740 --> 00:54:38,280
concerns the direct impact on my 

1294
00:54:38,280 --> 00:54:41,060
constituents to be 

1295
00:54:41,740 --> 00:54:44,480
of one of the most important , if not 

1296
00:54:44,490 --> 00:54:47,970
the most important to be clear what's 

1297
00:54:47,970 --> 00:54:50,760
going on in indo pak calm or in eastern 

1298
00:54:50,760 --> 00:54:54,030
europe . And some of the other trouble 

1299
00:54:54,030 --> 00:54:57,320
spots around the globe are uh pose 

1300
00:54:57,330 --> 00:54:59,386
existential threats to our country . 

1301
00:54:59,386 --> 00:55:03,210
There's no question about that . But as 

1302
00:55:03,210 --> 00:55:06,890
it concerns my constituents , there is 

1303
00:55:06,890 --> 00:55:10,720
not another combatant command A . R . 

1304
00:55:11,130 --> 00:55:15,040
That has such an immediate impact on my 

1305
00:55:15,040 --> 00:55:18,020
people than yours . And so we're gonna 

1306
00:55:18,020 --> 00:55:21,400
beat this T . C . E . O . Uh , issue 

1307
00:55:21,400 --> 00:55:24,400
again , um because I think it's a 

1308
00:55:24,410 --> 00:55:26,990
critical importance and and I just 

1309
00:55:26,990 --> 00:55:29,250
recently came back from the border , 

1310
00:55:29,250 --> 00:55:31,910
went down with whip Scalise to mcallen 

1311
00:55:31,910 --> 00:55:34,132
texas . I know that's a little north of 

1312
00:55:34,132 --> 00:55:36,240
your A . R . But I'm reading from a 

1313
00:55:36,240 --> 00:55:38,550
slide right now that was given to us by 

1314
00:55:38,550 --> 00:55:41,340
the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol 

1315
00:55:41,340 --> 00:55:43,860
folks In the period of time between 

1316
00:55:43,860 --> 00:55:46,580
March four and April one , there were 

1317
00:55:46,580 --> 00:55:49,130
14 plus pounds of cocaine . This is 

1318
00:55:49,140 --> 00:55:51,550
less than a month . £14 of cocaine , 

1319
00:55:51,940 --> 00:55:55,310
£3,251 of marijuana . A 

1320
00:55:55,310 --> 00:55:57,860
million dollars in currency . 24 

1321
00:55:57,860 --> 00:56:00,840
firearms , eight gang member arrests , 

1322
00:56:00,850 --> 00:56:04,080
20 or 622 criminal 

1323
00:56:04,090 --> 00:56:08,050
arrests . That's in less than a month . 

1324
00:56:08,830 --> 00:56:10,997
And I know that a lot of this stuff is 

1325
00:56:10,997 --> 00:56:14,100
coming up into my district . So um 

1326
00:56:14,110 --> 00:56:17,350
thank you for your leadership in trying 

1327
00:56:17,350 --> 00:56:19,461
to bang the drum on the transnational 

1328
00:56:19,461 --> 00:56:22,190
criminal organizational piece . But 

1329
00:56:22,190 --> 00:56:24,330
there's one part about it that we've 

1330
00:56:24,330 --> 00:56:26,670
only kind of glossed over and that is 

1331
00:56:26,670 --> 00:56:29,410
the tremendous migration that is 

1332
00:56:29,410 --> 00:56:31,840
happening in a lot of your A . O . R . 

1333
00:56:32,230 --> 00:56:35,740
Into our , into our area . 

1334
00:56:36,130 --> 00:56:39,050
Uh , that is having a , and I know 

1335
00:56:39,050 --> 00:56:41,050
you've got some numbers on it . How 

1336
00:56:41,050 --> 00:56:43,217
many people have actually migrated out 

1337
00:56:43,217 --> 00:56:45,280
of those areas because of the safety 

1338
00:56:45,280 --> 00:56:47,447
concerns . Can you speak to that ? And 

1339
00:56:47,447 --> 00:56:50,140
how incredibly important these numbers 

1340
00:56:50,140 --> 00:56:53,880
are . The , uh , this threats hit , 

1341
00:56:53,890 --> 00:56:55,723
hitting your home of Bentonville 

1342
00:56:55,723 --> 00:56:57,557
Arkansas and my home of Freiburg 

1343
00:56:57,557 --> 00:56:59,723
pennsylvania . It's killing people and 

1344
00:56:59,723 --> 00:57:01,334
it's stressing economies and 

1345
00:57:01,334 --> 00:57:03,168
governments and it's undermining 

1346
00:57:03,168 --> 00:57:05,400
security . Just as an example , a 

1347
00:57:05,410 --> 00:57:07,410
congressman , when you look at this 

1348
00:57:07,430 --> 00:57:09,730
yesterday , the intelligence agencies 

1349
00:57:09,730 --> 00:57:11,800
published an annual reports 

1350
00:57:11,800 --> 00:57:13,880
unclassified And they looked at the 

1351
00:57:13,880 --> 00:57:16,490
scope of the migration over five-year 

1352
00:57:16,490 --> 00:57:20,070
period , 40 million , 40 million have 

1353
00:57:20,070 --> 00:57:22,520
migrated in this hemisphere . And 

1354
00:57:22,530 --> 00:57:25,960
they're looking at Haiti cuba Venezuela 

1355
00:57:26,330 --> 00:57:29,220
And Central America , 40 million people . 

1356
00:57:29,230 --> 00:57:32,150
And that is the insecurity , the lack 

1357
00:57:32,150 --> 00:57:34,550
of ability to , to get health care for 

1358
00:57:34,550 --> 00:57:36,860
your Children , uh , lack ability to 

1359
00:57:36,860 --> 00:57:39,150
find something to eat . And uh , and 

1360
00:57:39,150 --> 00:57:41,150
it's got to be a whole government , 

1361
00:57:41,150 --> 00:57:42,928
whole nation , regional kind of 

1362
00:57:42,928 --> 00:57:46,290
approach sustained uh , to to put these 

1363
00:57:46,290 --> 00:57:49,240
numbers and uh , and and give folks 

1364
00:57:49,240 --> 00:57:52,630
some Uh huh . Yeah . Well , look , I 

1365
00:57:52,630 --> 00:57:54,741
again , I appreciate your willingness 

1366
00:57:54,741 --> 00:57:57,820
to uh , to bring this to the attention 

1367
00:57:57,830 --> 00:58:00,680
of not only the Congress but other 

1368
00:58:00,680 --> 00:58:03,190
military leaders . And even though 

1369
00:58:03,190 --> 00:58:05,246
you're going to be retiring sometime 

1370
00:58:05,246 --> 00:58:07,246
this fall , I sure hope that you'll 

1371
00:58:07,246 --> 00:58:09,357
continue to be outspoken on it by the 

1372
00:58:09,357 --> 00:58:11,246
way . Speaking of partnerships is 

1373
00:58:11,246 --> 00:58:13,468
everybody on this committee knows I'm a 

1374
00:58:13,468 --> 00:58:15,579
big advocate of the State Partnership 

1375
00:58:15,579 --> 00:58:17,690
program and I'd be remiss if I didn't 

1376
00:58:17,690 --> 00:58:19,801
give you an opportunity to talk about 

1377
00:58:19,801 --> 00:58:21,634
how incredibly important the SPP 

1378
00:58:21,634 --> 00:58:25,430
program is in your , er , the 

1379
00:58:25,430 --> 00:58:27,800
State Partnership program is the number 

1380
00:58:27,800 --> 00:58:31,050
one assigned force that we have in 

1381
00:58:31,050 --> 00:58:32,883
order to help our partners build 

1382
00:58:32,883 --> 00:58:34,772
capacity , United States Southern 

1383
00:58:34,772 --> 00:58:36,828
Command . We're blessed to have uh , 

1384
00:58:36,828 --> 00:58:39,050
the most robust partnership lineup with 

1385
00:58:39,050 --> 00:58:41,217
24 partners . Arkansas is aligned with 

1386
00:58:41,217 --> 00:58:43,910
Guatemala . It's a long term relation 

1387
00:58:43,920 --> 00:58:46,710
as our , as our guard gets to develop 

1388
00:58:46,710 --> 00:58:48,990
and build that and uh we really 

1389
00:58:48,990 --> 00:58:51,212
appreciate Congresses boarding that and 

1390
00:58:51,212 --> 00:58:53,268
I'm constantly in communication with 

1391
00:58:53,268 --> 00:58:56,060
the tags of the various states as we 

1392
00:58:56,060 --> 00:58:58,004
look to how to help partners build 

1393
00:58:58,004 --> 00:59:00,227
capacity and frankly , training is good 

1394
00:59:00,227 --> 00:59:02,338
for the guard to I get the feedback . 

1395
00:59:02,338 --> 00:59:04,560
It's a two way win as we move forward , 

1396
00:59:04,720 --> 00:59:07,300
I think as we look forward to be , if 

1397
00:59:07,300 --> 00:59:09,467
the guard had some flexibility on this 

1398
00:59:09,467 --> 00:59:12,790
for two year money , things that could 

1399
00:59:12,800 --> 00:59:15,150
meet the partner speed , they often 

1400
00:59:15,150 --> 00:59:18,170
have difficulty budgeting inside of our 

1401
00:59:18,180 --> 00:59:20,347
cycle and being able to do things that 

1402
00:59:20,347 --> 00:59:22,458
might be one thing to look at . Thank 

1403
00:59:22,458 --> 00:59:24,624
you . Thank you , madam , Chairwoman . 

1404
00:59:24,624 --> 00:59:26,847
Before I , before I yield back , I just 

1405
00:59:26,847 --> 00:59:29,069
want to associate myself with the marks 

1406
00:59:29,069 --> 00:59:31,069
of ken calvert and others that have 

1407
00:59:31,069 --> 00:59:33,180
talked about the I . S . Our needs of 

1408
00:59:33,180 --> 00:59:35,291
South um and the transfer fund that I 

1409
00:59:35,291 --> 00:59:38,650
was lost but critically important uh 

1410
00:59:38,660 --> 00:59:41,530
leveraging that kind of technology with 

1411
00:59:41,540 --> 00:59:43,596
the mission going on in south . Um I 

1412
00:59:43,596 --> 00:59:46,030
think is is pretty important and I sure 

1413
00:59:46,030 --> 00:59:48,141
hope that we can continue to make the 

1414
00:59:48,141 --> 00:59:50,197
arguments for it now . You're back . 

1415
00:59:50,197 --> 00:59:52,363
Thank you . Thank you . We're going to 

1416
00:59:52,363 --> 00:59:54,530
hear from Miss Kaptur and then Mr Diaz 

1417
00:59:54,530 --> 00:59:56,830
Balart and I'm waiting to see if Mr 

1418
00:59:56,830 --> 00:59:59,052
Ryan and Mr Kilmer are going to be able 

1419
00:59:59,052 --> 01:00:01,274
to join us or in other meetings . Thank 

1420
01:00:01,274 --> 01:00:02,440
you Miss Kaptur . 

1421
01:00:05,210 --> 01:00:07,210
Admiral Fowler , thank you for your 

1422
01:00:07,210 --> 01:00:09,266
service to our country . Uh this has 

1423
01:00:09,266 --> 01:00:11,630
been a rather grim hearing in the way I 

1424
01:00:11,630 --> 01:00:14,720
view the world , I'm reminded 60 years 

1425
01:00:14,720 --> 01:00:17,540
ago , John Kennedy launched the 

1426
01:00:17,540 --> 01:00:20,610
Alliance for progress and uh I'm glad 

1427
01:00:20,610 --> 01:00:23,600
he did , but it doesn't seem like we've 

1428
01:00:23,600 --> 01:00:25,933
made a lot of progress over the decades . 

1429
01:00:25,933 --> 01:00:28,156
So maybe the architecture of what we're 

1430
01:00:28,156 --> 01:00:31,140
doing isn't integrated in a proper way . 

1431
01:00:31,510 --> 01:00:34,620
Um , what percentage of the 

1432
01:00:34,620 --> 01:00:36,850
territory in your way ? Or would you 

1433
01:00:36,850 --> 01:00:38,072
say is ungovernable ? 

1434
01:00:42,010 --> 01:00:44,810
Thanks for mentioning the success of , 

1435
01:00:44,820 --> 01:00:47,210
of past historical models . We've spent 

1436
01:00:47,210 --> 01:00:49,377
a lot of time looking at what's worked 

1437
01:00:49,377 --> 01:00:51,599
and what hasn't worked . And the key is 

1438
01:00:51,599 --> 01:00:54,180
often the consistency over time and 

1439
01:00:54,180 --> 01:00:56,350
then getting at all aspects of our 

1440
01:00:56,350 --> 01:00:58,590
partners needs , not just a couple 

1441
01:00:58,600 --> 01:01:01,790
points here there . And , uh , and the 

1442
01:01:01,800 --> 01:01:03,856
places where we've been able to make 

1443
01:01:03,856 --> 01:01:05,967
that work , We've turned , uh , chaos 

1444
01:01:05,967 --> 01:01:08,078
in democracy . So , well , there is a 

1445
01:01:08,078 --> 01:01:10,078
sense of urgency and some amount of 

1446
01:01:10,078 --> 01:01:11,633
grimness , as you suggest , 

1447
01:01:11,633 --> 01:01:14,540
congresswoman in the , in the nineties . 

1448
01:01:14,550 --> 01:01:16,717
In the eighties , many of our partners 

1449
01:01:16,717 --> 01:01:19,450
in Central America were in civil wars . 

1450
01:01:19,460 --> 01:01:21,293
And so from that respect , their 

1451
01:01:21,293 --> 01:01:23,571
democracies are fragile and young . We , 

1452
01:01:23,571 --> 01:01:25,682
when we have to hang with them . Um , 

1453
01:01:25,682 --> 01:01:27,516
as we get this right and I think 

1454
01:01:27,516 --> 01:01:29,682
there's hope I've met people , we have 

1455
01:01:29,682 --> 01:01:32,370
values in common to get this right in 

1456
01:01:32,370 --> 01:01:35,310
terms of the threat . And as we discuss , 

1457
01:01:35,310 --> 01:01:36,810
the transnational criminal 

1458
01:01:36,810 --> 01:01:38,977
organizations that are many cases more 

1459
01:01:38,977 --> 01:01:41,410
better funded there in strength is 

1460
01:01:41,410 --> 01:01:44,510
larger than the police . In some cases 

1461
01:01:44,510 --> 01:01:47,820
the police and the Militaries combined 

1462
01:01:47,820 --> 01:01:49,876
in some countries from 200 different 

1463
01:01:49,876 --> 01:01:52,390
organizations and they do control 

1464
01:01:52,390 --> 01:01:55,900
territory . It ebbs and flows and 

1465
01:01:55,910 --> 01:01:58,440
take a stab admiral . What percent ? 

1466
01:01:58,440 --> 01:02:02,170
What percent is not under normal civil ? 

1467
01:02:02,430 --> 01:02:04,319
I'd have to take that one for the 

1468
01:02:04,319 --> 01:02:06,152
record and come back with a more 

1469
01:02:06,152 --> 01:02:08,374
detailed analysis . More than a third . 

1470
01:02:08,374 --> 01:02:10,597
Is it more than a third ? I don't think 

1471
01:02:10,597 --> 01:02:12,763
it's more than a third man . But there 

1472
01:02:12,763 --> 01:02:14,708
is , there is swaths that are very 

1473
01:02:14,708 --> 01:02:16,819
concerning . And we'd have to look at 

1474
01:02:16,819 --> 01:02:19,041
this holistically with my shipmate from 

1475
01:02:19,041 --> 01:02:21,152
North com to look at the impacts from 

1476
01:02:21,152 --> 01:02:23,560
Mexico . The mexican cartels have grown 

1477
01:02:23,560 --> 01:02:26,580
their market share uh and move south , 

1478
01:02:26,590 --> 01:02:29,080
which is a concerning trend . Well , I 

1479
01:02:29,080 --> 01:02:31,980
was extremely troubled when Mexico's 

1480
01:02:31,980 --> 01:02:34,590
president released Caro Quintero . Uh 

1481
01:02:34,600 --> 01:02:38,460
the number one drug lord on the D . A . 

1482
01:02:38,460 --> 01:02:41,080
S . List . I thought so Mexico is gone 

1483
01:02:41,090 --> 01:02:43,257
and I won't go into all my experiences 

1484
01:02:43,257 --> 01:02:45,312
with Mexico . Uh My experiences with 

1485
01:02:45,312 --> 01:02:47,423
people are very good . My experiences 

1486
01:02:47,423 --> 01:02:49,646
with the government is horrendous . And 

1487
01:02:49,646 --> 01:02:53,520
so I think my sense 

1488
01:02:53,520 --> 01:02:56,160
is that we are talking about Narco 

1489
01:02:56,160 --> 01:02:58,930
states . Um and I'm interested in your 

1490
01:02:58,930 --> 01:03:00,820
assessment if not publicly now 

1491
01:03:00,820 --> 01:03:02,876
privately as to what is happening in 

1492
01:03:02,876 --> 01:03:05,042
these different countries and which of 

1493
01:03:05,042 --> 01:03:07,098
them are absolutely ungovernable and 

1494
01:03:07,098 --> 01:03:09,320
that is at the basis of so much of what 

1495
01:03:09,320 --> 01:03:11,598
is causing disturbance in this country , 

1496
01:03:11,598 --> 01:03:13,653
certainly with the narcotics trade . 

1497
01:03:13,653 --> 01:03:15,764
And I would recommend a book . You've 

1498
01:03:15,764 --> 01:03:18,740
probably read it by um uh Sam Cantona's 

1499
01:03:18,750 --> 01:03:22,580
dreamland because after the collapse of 

1500
01:03:22,580 --> 01:03:25,990
the white corn market in Mexico , uh 

1501
01:03:26,000 --> 01:03:28,540
the displaced by corn grown in my 

1502
01:03:28,540 --> 01:03:31,850
region . Yellow corn , the drug trade 

1503
01:03:31,850 --> 01:03:34,600
began to lock down the opium fields in 

1504
01:03:34,600 --> 01:03:36,656
the very places where the white corn 

1505
01:03:36,656 --> 01:03:38,878
market disappeared . We've never solved 

1506
01:03:38,878 --> 01:03:40,933
that problem . We've never . And all 

1507
01:03:40,933 --> 01:03:43,044
those people from those villages from 

1508
01:03:43,044 --> 01:03:45,156
Oaxaca and everything started to move 

1509
01:03:45,156 --> 01:03:47,156
north . They left their parents and 

1510
01:03:47,156 --> 01:03:49,322
those provinces and then the kids came 

1511
01:03:49,322 --> 01:03:48,760
up north . A lot of them got involved 

1512
01:03:48,760 --> 01:03:51,580
in the drug trade . And I really , I 

1513
01:03:51,580 --> 01:03:54,400
sense it's out of control . You may not 

1514
01:03:54,400 --> 01:03:56,456
feel that way . You're closer to the 

1515
01:03:56,456 --> 01:03:58,678
ground than I am . But I know my region 

1516
01:03:58,678 --> 01:04:00,733
up in Northern Ohio because of drugs 

1517
01:04:00,733 --> 01:04:02,733
and the routes that are coming from 

1518
01:04:02,733 --> 01:04:04,956
Mexico to columbus Ohio and then like a 

1519
01:04:04,956 --> 01:04:08,570
spoke out around the attack is , is 

1520
01:04:08,570 --> 01:04:11,410
frightening . And uh , my own neighbors 

1521
01:04:11,420 --> 01:04:13,531
involved in some of that drug trade . 

1522
01:04:13,531 --> 01:04:16,880
So it's just , it's a continental 

1523
01:04:16,880 --> 01:04:19,480
scourge . And it doesn't seem to me 

1524
01:04:19,480 --> 01:04:21,424
that the way we're structured were 

1525
01:04:21,424 --> 01:04:24,810
being maximally effective . So , and 

1526
01:04:24,810 --> 01:04:27,032
you've given a great share of your life 

1527
01:04:27,032 --> 01:04:29,254
to this . So I'm very interested in the 

1528
01:04:29,254 --> 01:04:31,477
map of what is ungovernable on the city 

1529
01:04:31,477 --> 01:04:33,699
planner by training . I like to look at 

1530
01:04:33,699 --> 01:04:35,699
next and I'd like to understand . I 

1531
01:04:35,699 --> 01:04:38,840
also know that after World War Two , uh , 

1532
01:04:38,850 --> 01:04:42,420
Britain created new towns safe places . 

1533
01:04:43,490 --> 01:04:45,657
I think we need a different strategy . 

1534
01:04:45,657 --> 01:04:48,850
That's more cosmic less . Uh , because 

1535
01:04:48,850 --> 01:04:51,072
the current system isn't working , it's 

1536
01:04:51,072 --> 01:04:53,072
getting worse and china is an added 

1537
01:04:53,072 --> 01:04:55,239
complexity . But if you really look at 

1538
01:04:55,239 --> 01:04:57,350
what's going on there , I don't think 

1539
01:04:57,350 --> 01:04:59,128
that our approach addresses the 

1540
01:04:59,128 --> 01:05:01,128
magnitude of what we're facing . My 

1541
01:05:01,128 --> 01:05:03,128
time is probably expired . but I am 

1542
01:05:03,128 --> 01:05:05,239
very interested in another setting to 

1543
01:05:05,239 --> 01:05:07,350
look at the map that you might have , 

1544
01:05:07,350 --> 01:05:09,406
your Navy man . But I think you like 

1545
01:05:09,406 --> 01:05:13,110
land uh and very interested in um 

1546
01:05:13,490 --> 01:05:16,700
uh what is ungovernable and other 

1547
01:05:16,700 --> 01:05:19,060
alternatives to create safe havens for 

1548
01:05:19,060 --> 01:05:21,670
people ? How do we do that ? And I mean 

1549
01:05:21,680 --> 01:05:24,160
villages play and what do we do about 

1550
01:05:24,160 --> 01:05:26,670
those places that are raising the 

1551
01:05:26,680 --> 01:05:29,950
plants that produce the cocaine ? Um 

1552
01:05:29,960 --> 01:05:32,127
from an agricultural standpoint , I've 

1553
01:05:32,127 --> 01:05:34,238
never heard one person from the State 

1554
01:05:34,238 --> 01:05:36,460
Department or any department Talk about 

1555
01:05:36,460 --> 01:05:38,293
that massive transformation that 

1556
01:05:38,293 --> 01:05:40,860
occurred after 1993 that completely 

1557
01:05:40,860 --> 01:05:43,082
turned Mexico upside down . Thank you , 

1558
01:05:43,082 --> 01:05:46,490
Madam . Chair . Thank you . We now have 

1559
01:05:46,500 --> 01:05:49,830
Mr Diaz Balart , then Mr Ruppersberger 

1560
01:05:49,830 --> 01:05:53,760
and then mr carter madam . True . 

1561
01:05:53,770 --> 01:05:55,860
Excuse me , thank you very much . 

1562
01:05:55,870 --> 01:05:57,981
Admiral Fowler . First and foremost . 

1563
01:05:58,590 --> 01:06:00,812
You know , words don't suffice to thank 

1564
01:06:00,812 --> 01:06:03,110
you for your decades of honorable 

1565
01:06:03,120 --> 01:06:05,231
service to our country . I've had the 

1566
01:06:05,231 --> 01:06:07,342
privilege to have Southern command in 

1567
01:06:07,342 --> 01:06:09,342
my district . And I will tell you , 

1568
01:06:09,342 --> 01:06:11,509
we've had , we've had over the years , 

1569
01:06:11,509 --> 01:06:13,509
over the decades , some outstanding 

1570
01:06:13,509 --> 01:06:16,590
leaders of South com . Uh but Admiral , 

1571
01:06:16,600 --> 01:06:19,310
no one has done a better job than you 

1572
01:06:19,310 --> 01:06:21,540
have . So , again , thank you so very 

1573
01:06:21,540 --> 01:06:23,910
much In your testimony , you mentioned 

1574
01:06:23,920 --> 01:06:26,020
how many americans die from illicit 

1575
01:06:26,020 --> 01:06:29,070
drugs . I think it's 87,000 and 2020 

1576
01:06:29,070 --> 01:06:31,237
alone . And and that's a result of the 

1577
01:06:31,237 --> 01:06:33,237
drug trade that originates in Latin 

1578
01:06:33,237 --> 01:06:36,120
America . Uh and so very specifically 

1579
01:06:36,120 --> 01:06:38,342
what kind of , and I know that you know 

1580
01:06:38,342 --> 01:06:40,570
the South um interdict more drugs that 

1581
01:06:40,570 --> 01:06:42,792
I believe all of the police departments 

1582
01:06:42,792 --> 01:06:45,380
in the entire country combined . Um But 

1583
01:06:45,390 --> 01:06:48,640
what specifically , what resources do 

1584
01:06:48,640 --> 01:06:50,900
you need to be able to do even more 

1585
01:06:51,480 --> 01:06:53,313
because you literally are saving 

1586
01:06:53,313 --> 01:06:56,920
american lives . And we do 

1587
01:06:56,920 --> 01:06:59,780
interdict in accordance with the statue , 

1588
01:06:59,780 --> 01:07:01,920
provided the bulk of the drugs for 

1589
01:07:01,920 --> 01:07:04,300
about one of the overall budget that's 

1590
01:07:04,300 --> 01:07:07,450
associated with that effort across all 

1591
01:07:07,450 --> 01:07:10,820
the US . agencies . And it's uh it's an 

1592
01:07:10,830 --> 01:07:13,360
indicative of of being able to try to 

1593
01:07:13,360 --> 01:07:15,416
push it to the source before it gets 

1594
01:07:15,416 --> 01:07:17,416
divided into so many little packets 

1595
01:07:17,416 --> 01:07:20,140
that can ease into south florida or 

1596
01:07:20,140 --> 01:07:22,660
Ohio or all the other places . And the 

1597
01:07:22,660 --> 01:07:24,604
key I think to go back to the last 

1598
01:07:24,604 --> 01:07:26,660
question . The key is that there are 

1599
01:07:26,660 --> 01:07:28,980
good people and uh and making our 

1600
01:07:28,980 --> 01:07:31,450
ability to leverage our values which is 

1601
01:07:31,450 --> 01:07:34,300
our strength as americans and values 

1602
01:07:34,300 --> 01:07:36,411
that are common to some of these good 

1603
01:07:36,411 --> 01:07:38,590
people and creates stronger 

1604
01:07:39,280 --> 01:07:41,620
institutions in our partner nations 

1605
01:07:41,620 --> 01:07:44,310
that are resilient to corruption and 

1606
01:07:44,310 --> 01:07:46,199
that has to be a whole government 

1607
01:07:46,199 --> 01:07:48,143
efforts . So we have to focus on a 

1608
01:07:48,143 --> 01:07:51,610
corruption free , strong military and 

1609
01:07:51,610 --> 01:07:54,560
police and judicial systems . And when 

1610
01:07:54,560 --> 01:07:56,504
we leave off the pressure or don't 

1611
01:07:56,504 --> 01:07:59,380
incentivize our partners to do better 

1612
01:07:59,380 --> 01:08:01,602
in a certain area . It creates a gap or 

1613
01:08:01,602 --> 01:08:03,713
a whole . I hear from partner nations 

1614
01:08:03,713 --> 01:08:05,824
that look , we wish we had a stronger 

1615
01:08:05,824 --> 01:08:07,658
judicial system because when the 

1616
01:08:07,658 --> 01:08:10,640
criminals get to the end in the 

1617
01:08:10,640 --> 01:08:13,070
judicial system , to to quote a phrase 

1618
01:08:13,070 --> 01:08:15,240
from Costa rica , they say Puerto 

1619
01:08:15,240 --> 01:08:17,296
Vallarta , which is don't worry , be 

1620
01:08:17,296 --> 01:08:19,462
happy . They fear us judicial system . 

1621
01:08:19,470 --> 01:08:21,470
They respect the U . S . Military , 

1622
01:08:21,470 --> 01:08:24,180
they respect our customs and border 

1623
01:08:24,180 --> 01:08:26,180
protection . They respect our State 

1624
01:08:26,180 --> 01:08:29,950
department I nl so staying consistent 

1625
01:08:29,960 --> 01:08:32,940
and investing in the institutions of a 

1626
01:08:32,950 --> 01:08:35,061
couple of programs that are important 

1627
01:08:35,061 --> 01:08:37,228
that are under resourced institutional 

1628
01:08:37,228 --> 01:08:39,540
capacity building . It's a program and 

1629
01:08:39,540 --> 01:08:41,707
I have enough for about three advisors 

1630
01:08:41,707 --> 01:08:44,570
for the whole hemisphere . It's funded 

1631
01:08:44,570 --> 01:08:46,237
through triple three security 

1632
01:08:46,237 --> 01:08:48,870
cooperation money out of an institute 

1633
01:08:48,870 --> 01:08:50,981
in California , Monterey , California 

1634
01:08:50,981 --> 01:08:54,030
where the ministries of the our our 

1635
01:08:54,030 --> 01:08:56,141
partners will agree to put an advisor 

1636
01:08:56,141 --> 01:08:58,197
in there . And these are experienced 

1637
01:08:58,197 --> 01:09:00,560
savvy , retired , usually retired 

1638
01:09:00,560 --> 01:09:03,330
military personnel to help them develop 

1639
01:09:03,330 --> 01:09:05,497
transparent , accountable corruption , 

1640
01:09:05,497 --> 01:09:08,390
free budget systems . That's a small 

1641
01:09:08,390 --> 01:09:11,190
investment for a good rate of return if 

1642
01:09:11,190 --> 01:09:13,134
we funded and if we stay with it , 

1643
01:09:13,230 --> 01:09:15,452
there are more examples like that where 

1644
01:09:15,452 --> 01:09:18,530
we can get results . I'll give you one 

1645
01:09:18,530 --> 01:09:21,680
more a partner nation of Guatemala , 

1646
01:09:22,670 --> 01:09:26,150
their special naval forces working with 

1647
01:09:26,160 --> 01:09:28,160
other U . S . Government agencies . 

1648
01:09:28,160 --> 01:09:29,882
We've developed a very capable 

1649
01:09:29,882 --> 01:09:32,140
corruption free , trustworthy special 

1650
01:09:32,140 --> 01:09:34,196
naval force that gets it done on the 

1651
01:09:34,196 --> 01:09:36,770
sea . They're able , there are areas of 

1652
01:09:36,770 --> 01:09:40,070
that that we can spread the trust and 

1653
01:09:40,070 --> 01:09:42,660
spread the accountability but we got to 

1654
01:09:42,660 --> 01:09:45,500
stay with it over time . And that small 

1655
01:09:45,510 --> 01:09:47,732
focused investment does have a ready to 

1656
01:09:47,732 --> 01:09:50,680
return for a safer us in every one of 

1657
01:09:50,680 --> 01:09:54,660
our cities . And you also you 

1658
01:09:54,660 --> 01:09:56,882
talked about and you know , this is not 

1659
01:09:56,882 --> 01:09:59,104
a classified briefing . So , so I don't 

1660
01:09:59,104 --> 01:10:01,327
expect a matter of fact . Let me let me 

1661
01:10:01,327 --> 01:10:03,580
just ask a couple of specific questions 

1662
01:10:03,580 --> 01:10:06,660
about state actors and non state actors 

1663
01:10:06,660 --> 01:10:08,880
as far as are they a threat to our 

1664
01:10:08,880 --> 01:10:10,880
national security interests in this 

1665
01:10:10,880 --> 01:10:13,047
hemisphere or are they not ? So let me 

1666
01:10:13,047 --> 01:10:15,158
just very briefly , china , is that a 

1667
01:10:15,158 --> 01:10:16,936
threat to our national security 

1668
01:10:16,936 --> 01:10:19,047
interest in the read , as I stated in 

1669
01:10:19,047 --> 01:10:21,790
the opening china's uh pacing threat 

1670
01:10:22,260 --> 01:10:25,670
for the 21st century and so are about 

1671
01:10:25,670 --> 01:10:28,730
Russia . Absolutely . And I would miss 

1672
01:10:28,730 --> 01:10:30,397
on the transnational criminal 

1673
01:10:30,397 --> 01:10:32,452
organizations . One of the gaps uh , 

1674
01:10:32,452 --> 01:10:34,990
congressman is that it's not reflected 

1675
01:10:34,990 --> 01:10:37,268
in our higher level documents . So I I , 

1676
01:10:37,268 --> 01:10:39,434
you know , that's a decision that will 

1677
01:10:39,434 --> 01:10:41,601
be made by policymakers and we respect 

1678
01:10:41,601 --> 01:10:43,712
that . But it's hard to compete if we 

1679
01:10:43,712 --> 01:10:45,879
don't respect something as a threat to 

1680
01:10:45,879 --> 01:10:47,990
in our national security . About cuba 

1681
01:10:49,360 --> 01:10:51,300
cuba's malign influence is felt 

1682
01:10:51,300 --> 01:10:53,411
throughout the hemisphere . I wish it 

1683
01:10:53,411 --> 01:10:55,411
were different , but they undermine 

1684
01:10:55,411 --> 01:10:57,522
democracies there currently the their 

1685
01:10:57,522 --> 01:10:59,633
de facto praetorian guard to keep the 

1686
01:10:59,633 --> 01:11:01,522
illegitimate bureau and power and 

1687
01:11:01,522 --> 01:11:03,578
lastly , and I'm running out of time 

1688
01:11:03,578 --> 01:11:03,550
Iran . Are they also a player in this 

1689
01:11:03,550 --> 01:11:06,020
hemisphere ? The long arm of Iranian 

1690
01:11:06,020 --> 01:11:08,540
malfeasance is felt around the globe . 

1691
01:11:08,540 --> 01:11:10,762
They're the number one state sponsor of 

1692
01:11:10,762 --> 01:11:12,818
terrorism in the world . Thank you . 

1693
01:11:12,818 --> 01:11:14,984
Admiral again , madam Chairman , Thank 

1694
01:11:14,984 --> 01:11:17,207
you . My time has run up run out . So I 

1695
01:11:17,207 --> 01:11:18,762
yield back . Thank you . Mr 

1696
01:11:18,762 --> 01:11:20,873
Ruppersberger , Mr carter and Mr Ryan 

1697
01:11:20,873 --> 01:11:24,530
will uh be after Mr carter . Well , 

1698
01:11:24,540 --> 01:11:27,210
thank you , cancel McCullum and also a 

1699
01:11:27,210 --> 01:11:29,760
ranking member calvert admiral . You 

1700
01:11:29,760 --> 01:11:32,230
have served your country well . I've 

1701
01:11:32,240 --> 01:11:35,000
always felt uh the amount of yours I've 

1702
01:11:35,000 --> 01:11:36,889
been in Congress and I was on the 

1703
01:11:36,889 --> 01:11:38,889
intelligence committee for 12 years 

1704
01:11:38,889 --> 01:11:41,111
that we , from a resource point of view 

1705
01:11:41,111 --> 01:11:44,080
have not given the resources to south 

1706
01:11:44,080 --> 01:11:46,450
America central America . And I think 

1707
01:11:46,460 --> 01:11:48,238
we're paying for it in a lot of 

1708
01:11:48,238 --> 01:11:50,293
different ways . And I will say that 

1709
01:11:50,293 --> 01:11:52,016
from your perspective and your 

1710
01:11:52,016 --> 01:11:53,960
leadership , you have been able to 

1711
01:11:53,960 --> 01:11:56,182
bring the team together . You mentioned 

1712
01:11:56,182 --> 01:11:59,330
in your statement that intel drives 

1713
01:11:59,330 --> 01:12:01,620
everything we do and that gives you the 

1714
01:12:01,620 --> 01:12:03,953
ability to do the things you need to do . 

1715
01:12:03,953 --> 01:12:06,176
And part of what I like . Um your style 

1716
01:12:06,176 --> 01:12:08,287
is the teamwork . Uh and I'm going to 

1717
01:12:08,287 --> 01:12:10,453
call out the D . E . A as an example a 

1718
01:12:10,453 --> 01:12:12,620
very small organization uh and they're 

1719
01:12:12,620 --> 01:12:14,509
in a very dangerous situation but 

1720
01:12:14,509 --> 01:12:16,509
they've done a good job now for the 

1721
01:12:16,509 --> 01:12:19,610
support of the military FBI . I think 

1722
01:12:19,610 --> 01:12:21,810
we're on the right rabbit . So thank 

1723
01:12:21,810 --> 01:12:24,550
you for what you've done . Um China's 

1724
01:12:24,550 --> 01:12:27,670
influence in in latin America continues 

1725
01:12:28,050 --> 01:12:32,010
outside of Mexico uh to be 

1726
01:12:32,010 --> 01:12:35,910
really the region And 

1727
01:12:35,910 --> 01:12:38,570
and the involvement in South America 

1728
01:12:38,570 --> 01:12:40,710
Central America . And I'm very 

1729
01:12:40,710 --> 01:12:43,500
concerned about where we are uh with 

1730
01:12:43,500 --> 01:12:45,722
respect to China and I want to give you 

1731
01:12:45,722 --> 01:12:47,722
some numbers here . Uh that China's 

1732
01:12:47,722 --> 01:12:49,667
trade with the region overtook the 

1733
01:12:49,667 --> 01:12:52,290
United States in 2018 and extended that 

1734
01:12:52,300 --> 01:12:55,930
in 2019 to more than 22 billion versus 

1735
01:12:55,930 --> 01:12:59,320
US . trade of 198 billion . According 

1736
01:12:59,320 --> 01:13:02,410
to analysis of uh the trade figures 

1737
01:13:02,410 --> 01:13:05,430
from the U . N . Uh tom trade database . 

1738
01:13:05,440 --> 01:13:07,950
I know that throughout the pandemic of 

1739
01:13:07,950 --> 01:13:10,760
the United States there has been a we 

1740
01:13:10,760 --> 01:13:14,540
have had a great partner uh with the 

1741
01:13:14,550 --> 01:13:17,180
the different countries that we're 

1742
01:13:17,180 --> 01:13:19,630
working with . But in the end , um 

1743
01:13:19,640 --> 01:13:23,110
we're looking at a situation is getting 

1744
01:13:23,110 --> 01:13:25,580
worse and worse as it relates to china . 

1745
01:13:25,590 --> 01:13:27,810
Now from your perspective , what you 

1746
01:13:27,810 --> 01:13:29,880
need to do to counter china in the 

1747
01:13:29,880 --> 01:13:32,600
region . Do you see any changes in the 

1748
01:13:32,600 --> 01:13:34,740
diplomatic front with the new 

1749
01:13:34,740 --> 01:13:37,760
administration and also to what degree 

1750
01:13:37,760 --> 01:13:40,170
do you see insecure technology 

1751
01:13:40,170 --> 01:13:43,140
offerings from china like Huawei ? Uh 

1752
01:13:43,150 --> 01:13:45,220
were bad loan terms , driving 

1753
01:13:45,220 --> 01:13:47,840
relationships between your A . A . O . 

1754
01:13:47,840 --> 01:13:51,150
R . Area of responsibility and china . 

1755
01:13:51,160 --> 01:13:54,090
And do countries truly want to work 

1756
01:13:54,100 --> 01:13:56,230
with the chinese or do they want them 

1757
01:13:56,240 --> 01:13:59,570
as a piggy bank ? Now outside of our 

1758
01:13:59,570 --> 01:14:01,700
near pier , What type of Iranian 

1759
01:14:01,700 --> 01:14:03,910
activity are you also seeing in the 

1760
01:14:03,910 --> 01:14:05,854
region ? I think you answered that 

1761
01:14:05,854 --> 01:14:07,910
question before and I've always been 

1762
01:14:07,910 --> 01:14:09,688
concerned about their potential 

1763
01:14:09,688 --> 01:14:11,743
historic conflicts in our backyard . 

1764
01:14:15,340 --> 01:14:17,290
The focus of our National Defense 

1765
01:14:17,290 --> 01:14:19,690
strategy on strengthening partnerships 

1766
01:14:19,700 --> 01:14:21,610
and of our south com strategy of 

1767
01:14:21,610 --> 01:14:23,721
strengthening partnerships is exactly 

1768
01:14:23,721 --> 01:14:26,210
the best approach to out competing 

1769
01:14:26,210 --> 01:14:28,950
china . So focus first and foremost by 

1770
01:14:28,950 --> 01:14:30,950
looking in the mirror every day and 

1771
01:14:30,950 --> 01:14:33,117
asking ourselves so we the best to use 

1772
01:14:33,117 --> 01:14:35,061
a sports analogy , athletes on the 

1773
01:14:35,061 --> 01:14:37,530
field morally , physically mentally uh 

1774
01:14:37,530 --> 01:14:41,290
and ready to take that forward , engage 

1775
01:14:41,290 --> 01:14:43,670
with our partners and I can say we are 

1776
01:14:43,680 --> 01:14:45,847
and we're not the perfect people , but 

1777
01:14:45,847 --> 01:14:48,050
we we work hard at all aspects of that 

1778
01:14:48,060 --> 01:14:50,670
to get it right uh in the United States 

1779
01:14:50,670 --> 01:14:53,003
military and in South com in particular . 

1780
01:14:53,003 --> 01:14:55,290
And so partners want to chance to 

1781
01:14:55,290 --> 01:14:57,430
partner with the World Champions and 

1782
01:14:57,430 --> 01:14:59,770
that's our standard to never lose . Uh 

1783
01:14:59,780 --> 01:15:01,836
we appreciate your support in that . 

1784
01:15:01,836 --> 01:15:04,002
And so when I sit with partners , they 

1785
01:15:04,002 --> 01:15:06,113
want to work with the US Absolutely . 

1786
01:15:06,113 --> 01:15:08,930
Uh and we have so much in common values 

1787
01:15:08,940 --> 01:15:11,051
in this hemisphere , being at the top 

1788
01:15:11,051 --> 01:15:13,320
of that list , the great uh , us built 

1789
01:15:13,320 --> 01:15:16,350
equipment and so we look for areas of 

1790
01:15:16,350 --> 01:15:18,183
commonality and how we move that 

1791
01:15:18,183 --> 01:15:20,690
forward . We've got to be present to do 

1792
01:15:20,690 --> 01:15:23,050
that physically and with some level of 

1793
01:15:23,050 --> 01:15:25,170
resources . Uh , as I say , you gotta 

1794
01:15:25,170 --> 01:15:27,114
be on the field to compete and you 

1795
01:15:27,114 --> 01:15:29,226
gotta be seeing her seen and heard to 

1796
01:15:29,226 --> 01:15:31,610
compete . And I don't ask partners to 

1797
01:15:31,610 --> 01:15:34,440
choose because that puts them often and 

1798
01:15:34,440 --> 01:15:37,270
publicly in a very cumbersome and tough 

1799
01:15:37,270 --> 01:15:39,830
situation . But I do point out what 

1800
01:15:39,830 --> 01:15:42,340
system do you want ? And do you have 

1801
01:15:42,340 --> 01:15:44,229
and do you want your Children and 

1802
01:15:44,229 --> 01:15:46,062
grandchildren to grow up under a 

1803
01:15:46,062 --> 01:15:48,980
democracy or an autocracy ? And that's , 

1804
01:15:48,990 --> 01:15:51,170
it's really an easy question to answer 

1805
01:15:51,640 --> 01:15:53,862
as we move forward . So our best way to 

1806
01:15:53,862 --> 01:15:57,260
compete is to be the best and folks 

1807
01:15:57,260 --> 01:16:00,410
want to partner with us , but we got to 

1808
01:16:00,410 --> 01:16:02,632
be consistent . We gotta stay with them 

1809
01:16:02,632 --> 01:16:04,940
in that respect . China . They're 

1810
01:16:04,950 --> 01:16:06,728
growing in their boldness . You 

1811
01:16:06,728 --> 01:16:08,450
mentioned a number of things , 

1812
01:16:08,450 --> 01:16:10,561
congressman . Uh , we see it with the 

1813
01:16:10,561 --> 01:16:12,460
vaccines . So the U . S . Is the 

1814
01:16:12,460 --> 01:16:15,330
largest contributor to covid health 

1815
01:16:15,330 --> 01:16:17,441
response in this hemisphere . But you 

1816
01:16:17,441 --> 01:16:19,608
wouldn't know that by some of what you 

1817
01:16:19,608 --> 01:16:21,774
hear coming out of chinese and Russian 

1818
01:16:21,774 --> 01:16:23,830
information and disinformation . All 

1819
01:16:23,830 --> 01:16:25,997
right . We just got to stay the course 

1820
01:16:25,997 --> 01:16:28,780
and make sure the truth is told . Okay , 

1821
01:16:28,790 --> 01:16:31,520
go back . Thank you . Thank you . Mr 

1822
01:16:31,520 --> 01:16:34,140
carter . And then Mr Ryan Mr carter . 

1823
01:16:36,830 --> 01:16:38,150
Uh can you hear me ? 

1824
01:16:41,230 --> 01:16:44,750
Can you hear me ? Yes , we can hear you . 

1825
01:16:45,130 --> 01:16:47,270
And I'm trying to operate this thing 

1826
01:16:47,270 --> 01:16:49,890
and I don't do very well . You're doing 

1827
01:16:49,890 --> 01:16:52,001
great . I've had a couple of slip ups 

1828
01:16:52,001 --> 01:16:54,001
today . You're you're doing great . 

1829
01:16:54,330 --> 01:16:56,552
Thank you for being thank you with me . 

1830
01:16:56,552 --> 01:16:58,663
I've got Another hearing . I'm trying 

1831
01:16:58,663 --> 01:17:02,300
to take care of two . Uh , well , I had 

1832
01:17:02,300 --> 01:17:04,411
a great conversation with yesterday . 

1833
01:17:04,530 --> 01:17:06,808
Sorry to have to cut it off to go vote . 

1834
01:17:07,030 --> 01:17:09,960
He had a great talking and Jordan 

1835
01:17:11,230 --> 01:17:12,730
the transnational criminal 

1836
01:17:12,730 --> 01:17:14,674
organizations has been the subject 

1837
01:17:14,674 --> 01:17:17,080
we've been talking about a lot . It's 

1838
01:17:17,080 --> 01:17:21,000
reported that over 200 violent Tco 

1839
01:17:21,010 --> 01:17:24,470
tco controlled territory in circular , 

1840
01:17:24,470 --> 01:17:27,110
in south America and that any influence 

1841
01:17:27,110 --> 01:17:29,380
government and the governance of those 

1842
01:17:29,380 --> 01:17:31,820
countries . Additionally , john and 

1843
01:17:31,820 --> 01:17:34,550
Russian are involved in the region . 

1844
01:17:35,030 --> 01:17:38,570
And we're and uh , and for me putting 

1845
01:17:38,570 --> 01:17:41,900
their influence out as these TCO 

1846
01:17:41,910 --> 01:17:45,540
traffic guns , drugs , money and 

1847
01:17:45,540 --> 01:17:47,610
people into the United States , 

1848
01:17:49,290 --> 01:17:50,850
basically through Mexico 

1849
01:17:53,130 --> 01:17:56,490
illegal aliens are being house on 

1850
01:17:56,690 --> 01:17:59,850
military bases such as ford less taxes , 

1851
01:18:00,220 --> 01:18:04,180
enjoy basis san Antonio do you 

1852
01:18:04,180 --> 01:18:06,500
see any inherent risk to national 

1853
01:18:06,500 --> 01:18:09,660
security and housing those people on 

1854
01:18:09,660 --> 01:18:12,040
active ? We're very boast 

1855
01:18:18,220 --> 01:18:20,387
congressman . I'll leave the policy of 

1856
01:18:20,387 --> 01:18:24,150
uh , of where we put them uh to uh the 

1857
01:18:24,150 --> 01:18:26,261
Department of Defense and others that 

1858
01:18:26,261 --> 01:18:28,317
are looking at that . The underlying 

1859
01:18:28,317 --> 01:18:30,640
driver though here the violence , the 

1860
01:18:30,640 --> 01:18:33,930
murderous violence , the 

1861
01:18:34,620 --> 01:18:36,600
the ability of these groups to use 

1862
01:18:36,600 --> 01:18:39,260
corruption to undermine governance and 

1863
01:18:39,270 --> 01:18:43,160
captured territory is critically 

1864
01:18:44,220 --> 01:18:46,331
at the center of gravity . The center 

1865
01:18:46,331 --> 01:18:48,553
of this perfect storm . And that's what 

1866
01:18:48,553 --> 01:18:50,553
we're really trying to get after uh 

1867
01:18:50,553 --> 01:18:52,776
working with all the U . S . Government 

1868
01:18:52,776 --> 01:18:54,553
agencies and as we stated , the 

1869
01:18:54,553 --> 01:18:57,040
absolute criticality of intel uh to 

1870
01:18:57,040 --> 01:19:00,070
drive that as uh as a way to better 

1871
01:19:00,070 --> 01:19:01,959
understand what lovers need to be 

1872
01:19:01,959 --> 01:19:05,360
applied and pulled all the way . I look 

1873
01:19:05,360 --> 01:19:08,340
at it . May have looked at it . Oh I 

1874
01:19:08,340 --> 01:19:10,790
was concerned about national security 

1875
01:19:10,790 --> 01:19:13,750
issue . But in turn I'm also security 

1876
01:19:13,760 --> 01:19:17,150
very concerned about placing Children 

1877
01:19:17,160 --> 01:19:20,560
on live fire military was like Fort 

1878
01:19:20,560 --> 01:19:24,300
Hood where life arranges within walking 

1879
01:19:24,300 --> 01:19:26,980
distance of where they would be housed 

1880
01:19:26,980 --> 01:19:30,940
in most of these Children or teenagers 

1881
01:19:31,420 --> 01:19:34,020
and teenagers are very curious and when 

1882
01:19:34,020 --> 01:19:36,030
tanks start shooting they're gonna 

1883
01:19:36,030 --> 01:19:38,730
gonna want to go see and I'm worried 

1884
01:19:38,730 --> 01:19:41,550
about somebody getting killed . But I 

1885
01:19:41,550 --> 01:19:44,620
know that you're perfect . What you're 

1886
01:19:44,620 --> 01:19:46,620
doing on the order though , has an 

1887
01:19:46,620 --> 01:19:49,730
influence on what is bushing this 

1888
01:19:49,740 --> 01:19:53,310
massive migration basically in the past . 

1889
01:19:54,320 --> 01:19:56,830
And now we're moving them to other 

1890
01:19:56,830 --> 01:20:00,820
states as they require . But it is a , 

1891
01:20:01,310 --> 01:20:04,830
a gigantic problem . State taxes , 

1892
01:20:05,710 --> 01:20:09,540
The one road 1 belt 

1893
01:20:11,010 --> 01:20:13,066
program that the chinese are doing . 

1894
01:20:13,310 --> 01:20:15,254
We're doing some things to counter 

1895
01:20:15,254 --> 01:20:17,199
those things are the things we are 

1896
01:20:17,199 --> 01:20:20,910
doing to count them as effective or at 

1897
01:20:20,910 --> 01:20:24,820
least somewhat effective and changing 

1898
01:20:24,820 --> 01:20:27,620
the influence of them imposing on our 

1899
01:20:27,630 --> 01:20:30,030
central and south american friends , 

1900
01:20:33,510 --> 01:20:36,500
the security and all the insecurity 

1901
01:20:36,500 --> 01:20:39,360
that you cite . Uh , congressman has 

1902
01:20:39,360 --> 01:20:42,530
got to be part of the economic solution . 

1903
01:20:42,910 --> 01:20:46,250
And so when one belt one road and its 

1904
01:20:46,250 --> 01:20:49,640
promise of uh , of chinese investment 

1905
01:20:49,650 --> 01:20:52,630
in chinese access chinese economies , 

1906
01:20:53,010 --> 01:20:55,330
uh , the best way to out compete that 

1907
01:20:55,330 --> 01:20:58,210
is to use us companies incentivize 

1908
01:20:58,210 --> 01:21:00,321
their business and incentivize supply 

1909
01:21:00,321 --> 01:21:03,720
chains for the Americas , secure 

1910
01:21:03,840 --> 01:21:06,530
supply chains that take advantage of 

1911
01:21:06,530 --> 01:21:08,697
that proximity to our country and take 

1912
01:21:08,697 --> 01:21:11,540
advantage of the the the tremendous 

1913
01:21:11,540 --> 01:21:15,020
hardworking uh labor that 

1914
01:21:15,030 --> 01:21:18,030
uh , that comes with the migration and 

1915
01:21:18,040 --> 01:21:20,207
and so that has to be . And I think it 

1916
01:21:20,207 --> 01:21:22,318
was mentioned a number of times today 

1917
01:21:22,810 --> 01:21:24,970
getting development right with the 

1918
01:21:24,970 --> 01:21:27,560
diplomacy and the security has got to 

1919
01:21:27,560 --> 01:21:29,616
be key and we're focused on that . I 

1920
01:21:29,616 --> 01:21:31,930
have , we routinely meet and we have in 

1921
01:21:31,930 --> 01:21:34,910
our headquarters members of the inter 

1922
01:21:34,910 --> 01:21:37,021
agency groups and we look for ways to 

1923
01:21:37,021 --> 01:21:40,520
help enable them as a small piece of 

1924
01:21:40,520 --> 01:21:42,760
the security solution uh , to get the 

1925
01:21:42,760 --> 01:21:44,970
work done developmental finance core , 

1926
01:21:44,980 --> 01:21:47,500
which was part of Congress's build act 

1927
01:21:47,510 --> 01:21:51,270
is one such a lever that shows promise 

1928
01:21:51,270 --> 01:21:52,937
I think . And I know that our 

1929
01:21:52,937 --> 01:21:55,103
ambassadors as I interact with them in 

1930
01:21:55,103 --> 01:21:57,214
the region are focused on these types 

1931
01:21:57,214 --> 01:21:59,670
of things . You mentioned in our 

1932
01:21:59,670 --> 01:22:02,930
conversation yesterday an idea of uh 

1933
01:22:02,940 --> 01:22:06,250
maybe a system south american country 

1934
01:22:06,250 --> 01:22:09,360
marshall plan to move with all the 

1935
01:22:09,370 --> 01:22:11,648
money we're throwing around these days . 

1936
01:22:11,648 --> 01:22:13,759
We have to figure out how to fund all 

1937
01:22:13,759 --> 01:22:16,740
that . But would you like to talk about 

1938
01:22:16,740 --> 01:22:17,620
that concept ? 

1939
01:22:20,900 --> 01:22:23,640
Mr Mr mr carter ? We are going to have 

1940
01:22:23,640 --> 01:22:25,696
time for a second round so that will 

1941
01:22:25,696 --> 01:22:27,918
give the Admiral of time to think think 

1942
01:22:27,918 --> 01:22:31,400
that that over . Um Okay , very 

1943
01:22:31,400 --> 01:22:33,680
and I'm interested in hearing the 

1944
01:22:33,680 --> 01:22:35,910
answer . Mr Ryan . 

1945
01:22:37,400 --> 01:22:39,567
Thank you Madam Chair , appreciate the 

1946
01:22:39,567 --> 01:22:41,622
opportunity . Thank you Admiral . Um 

1947
01:22:41,622 --> 01:22:44,230
one of the questions I had a read with 

1948
01:22:44,240 --> 01:22:46,351
great interest about what happened in 

1949
01:22:46,351 --> 01:22:48,760
March with the United States Coast 

1950
01:22:48,760 --> 01:22:52,400
Guard cutter Stone , which was deployed 

1951
01:22:52,410 --> 01:22:54,354
to the South atlantic to help curb 

1952
01:22:54,354 --> 01:22:57,780
illegal chinese fishing . And this was 

1953
01:22:57,780 --> 01:23:00,002
the Coast Guard's first such deployment 

1954
01:23:00,002 --> 01:23:02,450
in over a decade . And the mission uh , 

1955
01:23:02,460 --> 01:23:05,640
we're told was primarily a success and 

1956
01:23:05,640 --> 01:23:07,529
the crew was able to conduct some 

1957
01:23:07,529 --> 01:23:11,330
training with several countries . And 

1958
01:23:11,340 --> 01:23:14,100
uh , evidently the mission hit a snag 

1959
01:23:14,100 --> 01:23:16,390
when the Argentine government refused 

1960
01:23:16,390 --> 01:23:18,612
to provide box services for the Stone . 

1961
01:23:19,200 --> 01:23:22,780
And uh , we know that that would 

1962
01:23:22,780 --> 01:23:26,750
normally be pretty routine . Um , and 

1963
01:23:26,750 --> 01:23:30,440
we know that that Arjun Argentine 

1964
01:23:30,450 --> 01:23:32,672
Argentina , excuse me , has been one of 

1965
01:23:32,672 --> 01:23:34,728
the largest recipients of funds from 

1966
01:23:34,728 --> 01:23:37,560
the Chinese government for their belt 

1967
01:23:37,560 --> 01:23:40,330
and Road Initiative . And so I'm just 

1968
01:23:40,340 --> 01:23:43,000
interested in your opinion . If you 

1969
01:23:43,000 --> 01:23:45,490
believe that that deepening 

1970
01:23:45,490 --> 01:23:48,310
relationship with china was the reason 

1971
01:23:48,310 --> 01:23:51,830
that we were refused to be able to 

1972
01:23:52,300 --> 01:23:55,620
uhh docked the Stone there , 

1973
01:23:57,300 --> 01:23:59,411
Coast Guard cutter , Stone , National 

1974
01:23:59,411 --> 01:24:01,633
Security cutter . And those are , those 

1975
01:24:01,633 --> 01:24:03,633
are awesome ships well built , been 

1976
01:24:03,633 --> 01:24:05,650
aboard them ? They're built to do a 

1977
01:24:05,650 --> 01:24:07,372
range of missions . Had a very 

1978
01:24:07,372 --> 01:24:09,428
successful patrol as you point out , 

1979
01:24:09,428 --> 01:24:12,150
congressman and , and and was aimed at 

1980
01:24:12,150 --> 01:24:14,360
getting after a significant source of 

1981
01:24:14,360 --> 01:24:16,710
insecurity , which is this idea of 

1982
01:24:16,720 --> 01:24:18,940
illegal , unregulated , unreported 

1983
01:24:18,940 --> 01:24:21,560
fishing . Uh , Admiral Schultz and our 

1984
01:24:21,560 --> 01:24:23,671
Homeland Security Department have put 

1985
01:24:23,671 --> 01:24:25,838
forward a strategy for that . We are , 

1986
01:24:25,890 --> 01:24:27,990
we are participating with them with 

1987
01:24:28,000 --> 01:24:30,590
their in the lead . And this patrol was 

1988
01:24:30,590 --> 01:24:32,750
part of that last year . We saw off 

1989
01:24:32,750 --> 01:24:36,220
Ecuador tremendously large . A 

1990
01:24:36,220 --> 01:24:39,880
fleet primarily of state owned 

1991
01:24:39,920 --> 01:24:43,360
chinese , distant water fleet that 

1992
01:24:43,360 --> 01:24:45,027
would everyday turn off their 

1993
01:24:45,027 --> 01:24:47,249
transponders and go into the ecological 

1994
01:24:47,249 --> 01:24:50,580
zone of the Galapagos . And uh , and we 

1995
01:24:50,580 --> 01:24:52,802
can only wonder what was happening when 

1996
01:24:52,802 --> 01:24:54,691
you turn those off . It's for two 

1997
01:24:54,691 --> 01:24:56,747
reasons only . You're trying to mask 

1998
01:24:56,747 --> 01:24:58,858
illegal behavior or that's broken and 

1999
01:24:58,858 --> 01:25:00,969
you don't have half a fleet broken at 

2000
01:25:00,969 --> 01:25:03,024
the same time . So this was meant to 

2001
01:25:03,024 --> 01:25:05,080
get after that Argentina's had their 

2002
01:25:05,080 --> 01:25:07,136
their share of issues with illegal , 

2003
01:25:07,136 --> 01:25:09,570
unreported , unregulated fishing and uh 

2004
01:25:09,570 --> 01:25:11,626
and we worked with their their Coast 

2005
01:25:11,626 --> 01:25:13,848
Guard successfully . I was in Argentina 

2006
01:25:13,848 --> 01:25:16,540
last week , had a very excellent uh 

2007
01:25:16,550 --> 01:25:18,772
series of meetings with the Minister of 

2008
01:25:18,772 --> 01:25:20,939
Defense there , Chief of Defence about 

2009
01:25:20,939 --> 01:25:23,161
a whole range of areas we can cooperate 

2010
01:25:23,161 --> 01:25:23,130
on together . They want to partner with 

2011
01:25:23,130 --> 01:25:25,330
us . We talked about the Coast Guard 

2012
01:25:25,340 --> 01:25:29,270
ship stones of um work and exercise . 

2013
01:25:29,270 --> 01:25:31,810
It's a it's a right level . And uh we 

2014
01:25:31,820 --> 01:25:34,153
we got into the the issue with the port . 

2015
01:25:34,153 --> 01:25:36,980
Uh it was approved uh and then we had 

2016
01:25:36,980 --> 01:25:39,091
to uh try to find another port at the 

2017
01:25:39,091 --> 01:25:41,313
last minute because of some port safety 

2018
01:25:41,313 --> 01:25:43,480
concerns that were raised by our Coast 

2019
01:25:43,480 --> 01:25:45,647
Guard . So I I actually after speaking 

2020
01:25:45,647 --> 01:25:47,480
with Argentinean authorities , I 

2021
01:25:47,480 --> 01:25:49,258
actually think it was more of a 

2022
01:25:49,258 --> 01:25:51,369
misunderstanding than any slight . Um 

2023
01:25:51,369 --> 01:25:53,536
they clearly want to partner with us . 

2024
01:25:53,536 --> 01:25:55,480
They point out that china is their 

2025
01:25:55,480 --> 01:25:57,647
largest economic partner as it is with 

2026
01:25:57,647 --> 01:25:59,813
the U . S . So we've got to figure out 

2027
01:25:59,813 --> 01:26:02,036
how to do that going forward and uh and 

2028
01:26:02,036 --> 01:26:04,670
provide an incentive for us , business 

2029
01:26:04,670 --> 01:26:06,837
industry and our defense establishment 

2030
01:26:06,837 --> 01:26:10,710
uh to uh to be able to sell in a 

2031
01:26:10,710 --> 01:26:13,400
competitive manner with Argentina . So 

2032
01:26:13,400 --> 01:26:17,180
it was it was a safety issue that 

2033
01:26:17,180 --> 01:26:19,124
that we determined it was a safety 

2034
01:26:19,124 --> 01:26:21,270
issue . We cancelled the first port 

2035
01:26:21,270 --> 01:26:23,830
visit based on concerns raised by the 

2036
01:26:23,840 --> 01:26:26,440
cutter skipper . So I'm confident , I 

2037
01:26:26,440 --> 01:26:28,662
trust in what I heard from the Minister 

2038
01:26:28,662 --> 01:26:30,996
of Defense , the Chief of Defence there . 

2039
01:26:30,996 --> 01:26:33,051
That uh was the right decision and I 

2040
01:26:33,051 --> 01:26:35,107
look forward to the next time we can 

2041
01:26:35,107 --> 01:26:36,940
come down and do a port visit in 

2042
01:26:36,940 --> 01:26:38,980
Argentina . Safety as far as just 

2043
01:26:38,990 --> 01:26:42,850
safety of the ship or terrorism 

2044
01:26:42,850 --> 01:26:46,710
or some kind of attack or ? No , 

2045
01:26:46,710 --> 01:26:48,821
there's a number of factors of a ship 

2046
01:26:48,821 --> 01:26:51,220
driver myself . You assess the water 

2047
01:26:51,220 --> 01:26:53,387
depth , appear the weather , all kinds 

2048
01:26:53,387 --> 01:26:55,164
of things . And uh and it was a 

2049
01:26:55,164 --> 01:26:57,387
decision made at the commanding officer 

2050
01:26:57,387 --> 01:26:59,498
level . I've I've done the same thing 

2051
01:26:59,498 --> 01:27:01,387
before a port visit as you assess 

2052
01:27:01,387 --> 01:27:03,109
what's best for your ship . Uh 

2053
01:27:03,109 --> 01:27:05,560
certainly not terrorism or any uh 

2054
01:27:05,570 --> 01:27:07,760
physical threat safety to that ship , 

2055
01:27:07,770 --> 01:27:11,380
Argentine , Argentine as Argentina has 

2056
01:27:11,380 --> 01:27:13,920
very capable security forces . And uh 

2057
01:27:13,930 --> 01:27:15,986
that would have been taken care of . 

2058
01:27:15,986 --> 01:27:17,541
I'm assured . What were the 

2059
01:27:17,541 --> 01:27:19,708
international laws governing the legal 

2060
01:27:19,708 --> 01:27:22,590
fishing ? Is there a body of law regime 

2061
01:27:22,590 --> 01:27:24,923
that we're relying on to try to stop it ? 

2062
01:27:25,780 --> 01:27:29,480
Absolutely . Uh and uh within nations 

2063
01:27:29,490 --> 01:27:32,800
exclusive economic zones , uh , they 

2064
01:27:32,800 --> 01:27:36,040
have a right to to that by 

2065
01:27:36,040 --> 01:27:38,470
international law . And we see that 

2066
01:27:38,480 --> 01:27:40,480
there are nations that have distant 

2067
01:27:40,480 --> 01:27:42,890
high seas fleet that routinely violate 

2068
01:27:42,890 --> 01:27:45,800
that international protocol . Um , 

2069
01:27:46,280 --> 01:27:50,150
thank you , Madam Chair Mr . And we 

2070
01:27:50,150 --> 01:27:52,640
have an opportunity to do another round 

2071
01:27:52,640 --> 01:27:54,751
of questions I'm gonna ask as you can 

2072
01:27:54,751 --> 01:27:56,862
see , the timer has been set to three 

2073
01:27:56,862 --> 01:27:59,720
minutes and um , we will start with uh , 

2074
01:27:59,730 --> 01:28:01,390
Mr Kwehr . 

2075
01:28:04,770 --> 01:28:07,740
He's not , who is not on camera . So 

2076
01:28:07,750 --> 01:28:11,160
I am here . I am here . I am here . 

2077
01:28:11,750 --> 01:28:13,820
There you are . I didn't think you'd 

2078
01:28:13,820 --> 01:28:16,153
miss a chance . Mr Kwehr . There you go . 

2079
01:28:16,153 --> 01:28:19,380
Three minutes especially . Thank you . 

2080
01:28:19,860 --> 01:28:22,930
We'll just give me an inventory of what 

2081
01:28:22,930 --> 01:28:25,097
we can do to address the issues that I 

2082
01:28:25,097 --> 01:28:27,319
asked on the first round of questions . 

2083
01:28:27,319 --> 01:28:29,374
Just quickly give me an inventory of 

2084
01:28:29,570 --> 01:28:32,320
items that you think we ought to be fun 

2085
01:28:32,330 --> 01:28:35,150
or put language in there . Just a quick 

2086
01:28:35,150 --> 01:28:38,690
inventory . Thank you 

2087
01:28:39,370 --> 01:28:41,481
first . I haven't seen the details of 

2088
01:28:41,481 --> 01:28:43,592
the next year's budget . Once we do , 

2089
01:28:43,592 --> 01:28:45,930
we'll come forward as you all have 

2090
01:28:45,930 --> 01:28:48,152
asked as we've done in the past with an 

2091
01:28:48,152 --> 01:28:49,986
unfunded requirements list . I'm 

2092
01:28:49,986 --> 01:28:52,208
confident that our department has a has 

2093
01:28:52,208 --> 01:28:54,320
a prioritization system that's fair 

2094
01:28:54,330 --> 01:28:56,970
will make our case , but intel is one 

2095
01:28:56,970 --> 01:28:59,310
area in particular support for I . S . 

2096
01:28:59,310 --> 01:29:01,710
Are platforms and I . S . R . Transfer 

2097
01:29:01,710 --> 01:29:04,340
fund insecurity cooperation . We 

2098
01:29:04,350 --> 01:29:06,294
greatly appreciate the committee's 

2099
01:29:06,294 --> 01:29:08,350
support last year to restore , which 

2100
01:29:08,350 --> 01:29:10,580
had been about a 32% cut over the 

2101
01:29:10,580 --> 01:29:13,650
previous three years . And uh At that 

2102
01:29:13,650 --> 01:29:17,210
at about 120 million level . I think we 

2103
01:29:17,210 --> 01:29:19,110
need to all asking the department 

2104
01:29:19,110 --> 01:29:22,210
defense with that being my main muscle 

2105
01:29:22,210 --> 01:29:25,250
mover where the money is best spent to 

2106
01:29:25,250 --> 01:29:27,440
win the competition . And I think that 

2107
01:29:27,440 --> 01:29:29,880
we could , will make the case in our 

2108
01:29:29,880 --> 01:29:32,047
unfunded requirements based on what we 

2109
01:29:32,047 --> 01:29:34,158
see in the level for additional funds 

2110
01:29:34,158 --> 01:29:36,047
there . And then in terms of , of 

2111
01:29:36,047 --> 01:29:37,991
security cooperation locations and 

2112
01:29:37,991 --> 01:29:40,580
presidents continued support to ensure 

2113
01:29:40,580 --> 01:29:43,040
that we have the right level of people 

2114
01:29:43,050 --> 01:29:45,260
and the right level of presence . Uh , 

2115
01:29:45,270 --> 01:29:47,437
that would include access to locations 

2116
01:29:47,437 --> 01:29:50,250
like uh , oh , Malaba uh , and soda 

2117
01:29:50,250 --> 01:29:53,690
cano . Okay , good . Well , 

2118
01:29:53,700 --> 01:29:55,922
uh , and again , thank you for what you 

2119
01:29:55,922 --> 01:29:57,978
do . Uh oh , you back the balance of 

2120
01:29:57,978 --> 01:29:59,978
the time . But if you can follow up 

2121
01:29:59,978 --> 01:30:02,144
with the committee on on my question , 

2122
01:30:02,144 --> 01:30:04,367
we want to be very helpful again . Uh , 

2123
01:30:04,370 --> 01:30:06,537
I think the committee shares , I don't 

2124
01:30:06,537 --> 01:30:08,537
want to speak for everybody , but I 

2125
01:30:08,537 --> 01:30:10,703
think we share the sense of urgency of 

2126
01:30:10,703 --> 01:30:12,870
what we're seeing with those actors in 

2127
01:30:12,870 --> 01:30:15,730
in south and central America . If I 

2128
01:30:15,730 --> 01:30:18,450
could just answer on the report that 

2129
01:30:18,450 --> 01:30:20,672
you asked for is very important because 

2130
01:30:20,672 --> 01:30:23,320
it is , it will provide from respected 

2131
01:30:23,330 --> 01:30:26,910
uh think tank and analysis of the needs 

2132
01:30:26,920 --> 01:30:29,142
that we can compare to our own analysis 

2133
01:30:29,142 --> 01:30:31,142
and I think would really inform the 

2134
01:30:31,142 --> 01:30:33,253
work of your committee in Congress to 

2135
01:30:33,253 --> 01:30:35,198
help look at the global balance of 

2136
01:30:35,198 --> 01:30:37,309
resources that we have recognized and 

2137
01:30:37,309 --> 01:30:39,309
we'll never have enough for all the 

2138
01:30:39,309 --> 01:30:41,364
needs we have . But where is it best 

2139
01:30:41,364 --> 01:30:43,531
applied to get the leverage we need to 

2140
01:30:43,531 --> 01:30:45,920
be uh competitive uh today and tomorrow . 

2141
01:30:45,920 --> 01:30:47,642
And so I welcome that . I also 

2142
01:30:47,642 --> 01:30:49,587
appreciated your initiative on the 

2143
01:30:49,587 --> 01:30:51,587
Western Hemisphere initiatives . It 

2144
01:30:51,587 --> 01:30:53,753
really is the the seed , the seeds for 

2145
01:30:53,753 --> 01:30:56,380
what would be a marshall plan like 

2146
01:30:56,380 --> 01:30:58,800
initiative as we move forward . Thank 

2147
01:30:58,800 --> 01:31:01,190
you . Thank you , madam , Chair and 

2148
01:31:01,200 --> 01:31:03,478
ranking member of members of committee . 

2149
01:31:03,478 --> 01:31:05,478
Yeah , I was hoping this would have 

2150
01:31:05,478 --> 01:31:07,700
been ready on december 31st of 2020 but 

2151
01:31:07,700 --> 01:31:10,590
Kobe hit uh so be ready on july 31st 

2152
01:31:10,590 --> 01:31:12,701
and this will give us a comprehensive 

2153
01:31:12,701 --> 01:31:14,423
of what we need to do with the 

2154
01:31:14,423 --> 01:31:16,757
department . Defense State Department U . 

2155
01:31:16,757 --> 01:31:18,646
S . I . D . A whole of government 

2156
01:31:18,646 --> 01:31:20,950
approach for central America . So maybe 

2157
01:31:20,950 --> 01:31:23,172
we can put a placeholder there and work 

2158
01:31:23,172 --> 01:31:25,394
on it . But uh my time's up . Thank you 

2159
01:31:25,394 --> 01:31:27,630
so much . Uh Admiral . And thank you , 

2160
01:31:27,630 --> 01:31:30,010
madam Chair . Thank you . Absolutely . 

2161
01:31:30,010 --> 01:31:32,232
And I look forward to seeing the report 

2162
01:31:32,232 --> 01:31:34,010
and this needs to be a whole of 

2163
01:31:34,010 --> 01:31:36,010
government approach . We need to be 

2164
01:31:36,010 --> 01:31:38,066
relying on diplomacy and development 

2165
01:31:38,070 --> 01:31:40,181
and defense should always be our last 

2166
01:31:40,181 --> 01:31:44,050
resort . Um would uh mr calvert 

2167
01:31:44,060 --> 01:31:46,830
um and mr calvert , could you find out 

2168
01:31:46,830 --> 01:31:48,997
if Miss Granger is going to be able to 

2169
01:31:48,997 --> 01:31:51,219
join us back and let our staff ? No , I 

2170
01:31:51,219 --> 01:31:53,441
know your staff's listening so they can 

2171
01:31:53,441 --> 01:31:55,663
just they could just email Mr calvert . 

2172
01:31:55,663 --> 01:31:57,941
No problem . We'll do that immediately . 

2173
01:31:57,941 --> 01:31:59,886
Thank you . Chair . You brought up 

2174
01:31:59,886 --> 01:32:03,840
Guantanamo chair . I I wanted to get in 

2175
01:32:03,840 --> 01:32:06,173
that whether you a little bit , Admiral , 

2176
01:32:06,173 --> 01:32:08,118
I understand , I know you recently 

2177
01:32:08,118 --> 01:32:10,173
closed Camp seven uh chair and I was 

2178
01:32:10,173 --> 01:32:12,229
out there , but I guess how long has 

2179
01:32:12,229 --> 01:32:14,507
that been ? About a year ago , I guess , 

2180
01:32:14,507 --> 01:32:16,562
Um and uh you consolidate everything 

2181
01:32:16,562 --> 01:32:19,730
into the camp five and we I took a look 

2182
01:32:19,730 --> 01:32:21,960
at that when we were down there . Uh 

2183
01:32:21,970 --> 01:32:24,330
Could you describe the reason for this 

2184
01:32:24,330 --> 01:32:27,410
change ? I think I know that was 

2185
01:32:27,420 --> 01:32:31,420
obviously financial along with uh , 

2186
01:32:31,430 --> 01:32:34,030
daily operations related to cost . Is 

2187
01:32:34,030 --> 01:32:37,440
that working ? I certainly 

2188
01:32:37,440 --> 01:32:40,050
appreciated uh visiting there with you 

2189
01:32:40,050 --> 01:32:42,310
and uh and the chair , it was very 

2190
01:32:42,310 --> 01:32:44,640
productive and uh it actually helps us 

2191
01:32:44,650 --> 01:32:46,860
to see it through your eyes . It was 

2192
01:32:46,870 --> 01:32:49,260
principally a safety issue that the 

2193
01:32:49,260 --> 01:32:51,810
camp references that was in uh was 

2194
01:32:51,810 --> 01:32:54,000
never built to last and it was in need 

2195
01:32:54,000 --> 01:32:56,860
of a number of safety upgrades . And uh , 

2196
01:32:56,870 --> 01:32:59,300
my mission is a safe treatment of the 

2197
01:32:59,300 --> 01:33:01,300
detainees . And that's what we take 

2198
01:33:01,300 --> 01:33:03,300
very seriously . There were will be 

2199
01:33:03,300 --> 01:33:05,411
manpower efficiencies associated with 

2200
01:33:05,411 --> 01:33:07,420
that . So it's a good uh , in that 

2201
01:33:07,420 --> 01:33:09,710
respect as well . But that's why we did 

2202
01:33:09,710 --> 01:33:12,250
it moving forward , I would note to . 

2203
01:33:12,250 --> 01:33:14,417
And you saw this when you were there , 

2204
01:33:14,417 --> 01:33:16,361
sir . It is the importance of that 

2205
01:33:16,361 --> 01:33:18,860
naval station as , as the only base we 

2206
01:33:18,860 --> 01:33:21,100
have in the hemisphere . Earlier . I 

2207
01:33:21,100 --> 01:33:23,100
mentioned some security cooperation 

2208
01:33:23,100 --> 01:33:25,070
locations , but that is the basic 

2209
01:33:25,080 --> 01:33:27,302
reports , strictly Department of Navy . 

2210
01:33:27,302 --> 01:33:29,191
It's a strategic location and the 

2211
01:33:29,191 --> 01:33:31,191
detention facility that is under my 

2212
01:33:31,191 --> 01:33:33,710
command is just a small tenet of that 

2213
01:33:33,710 --> 01:33:36,250
overall strategic location in the naval 

2214
01:33:36,250 --> 01:33:38,306
station . I understand that . Well , 

2215
01:33:38,306 --> 01:33:40,417
that's one thing I wanted to bring up 

2216
01:33:40,417 --> 01:33:42,417
is , you know , The people that are 

2217
01:33:42,417 --> 01:33:44,528
left there the worst of the worst and 

2218
01:33:44,528 --> 01:33:46,750
that's why they're there . But you have 

2219
01:33:46,750 --> 01:33:48,528
approximately 40 people there , 

2220
01:33:48,528 --> 01:33:50,694
including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed , The 

2221
01:33:50,694 --> 01:33:52,750
Mastermind behind the 9 11 attack of 

2222
01:33:52,750 --> 01:33:54,861
the United States . Is that about the 

2223
01:33:54,861 --> 01:33:57,330
right number ? About 40 of them ? Yes , 

2224
01:33:57,330 --> 01:34:00,970
congressman . Now , uh the president 

2225
01:34:00,970 --> 01:34:03,081
has indicated a desire , as the chair 

2226
01:34:03,081 --> 01:34:05,026
mentioned , to close the detention 

2227
01:34:05,026 --> 01:34:06,970
facility at some point . Have you 

2228
01:34:06,970 --> 01:34:09,030
received any tasking orders or 

2229
01:34:09,030 --> 01:34:11,230
otherwise have any information that a 

2230
01:34:11,230 --> 01:34:13,420
policy decision has been made to close 

2231
01:34:13,420 --> 01:34:16,460
that facility ? That will be a policy 

2232
01:34:16,460 --> 01:34:18,627
decision and will flex to however , it 

2233
01:34:18,627 --> 01:34:21,530
goes forward . Uh and uh , and we're uh 

2234
01:34:21,540 --> 01:34:23,707
we're looking forward to being part of 

2235
01:34:23,707 --> 01:34:25,929
that process . But no decision has been 

2236
01:34:25,929 --> 01:34:25,900
made to my knowledge . Finally , 

2237
01:34:25,910 --> 01:34:29,090
obviously , you have the most uh in my 

2238
01:34:29,090 --> 01:34:31,201
mind , in a lot of people's mind were 

2239
01:34:31,201 --> 01:34:33,257
the most evil men on the planet . At 

2240
01:34:33,257 --> 01:34:35,368
Guantanamo . Khalid Sheikh Mohammed . 

2241
01:34:35,640 --> 01:34:38,510
We were supposed to set up trials for 

2242
01:34:38,510 --> 01:34:41,180
some of these folks , which never took 

2243
01:34:41,180 --> 01:34:44,480
place is you want to comment on what's 

2244
01:34:44,480 --> 01:34:47,620
going on with illegal process there on 

2245
01:34:47,620 --> 01:34:50,920
Guantanamo . The commission process is 

2246
01:34:50,920 --> 01:34:53,087
important . It's important as a nation 

2247
01:34:53,087 --> 01:34:55,253
of laws that we get this right and and 

2248
01:34:55,253 --> 01:34:57,520
see this to fruition . My role in this 

2249
01:34:57,520 --> 01:34:59,687
is to ensure that the commission's get 

2250
01:34:59,687 --> 01:35:01,909
the right support logistically and with 

2251
01:35:01,909 --> 01:35:03,909
security , the commission's himself 

2252
01:35:03,909 --> 01:35:05,742
report directly to the Office of 

2253
01:35:05,742 --> 01:35:07,909
Secretary Defense and I know everybody 

2254
01:35:07,909 --> 01:35:09,720
in the Department of Defense is 

2255
01:35:09,720 --> 01:35:11,720
committed to moving forward on this 

2256
01:35:11,720 --> 01:35:13,990
line . Covid , of course , set us back 

2257
01:35:14,000 --> 01:35:15,833
some as we've worked through the 

2258
01:35:15,833 --> 01:35:18,056
protocols associated with ensuring that 

2259
01:35:18,056 --> 01:35:21,620
we don't Introduce any COVID-19 at all 

2260
01:35:21,620 --> 01:35:23,620
on the island . Well , you can 

2261
01:35:23,620 --> 01:35:27,110
understand it's been over 20 years are 

2262
01:35:27,110 --> 01:35:31,040
almost 20 years since 9 11 . And a 

2263
01:35:31,040 --> 01:35:33,420
lot of americans are frustrated that 

2264
01:35:33,570 --> 01:35:35,460
the final justice has not been 

2265
01:35:36,740 --> 01:35:39,140
submitted to that individual . So I 

2266
01:35:39,140 --> 01:35:41,251
appreciate your concern . Thank you . 

2267
01:35:41,251 --> 01:35:43,770
You're back manager . Thank you . Mr 

2268
01:35:43,770 --> 01:35:47,660
irregular . I 

2269
01:35:47,660 --> 01:35:50,260
know you've been there on and off . 

2270
01:35:51,840 --> 01:35:55,370
We will come back if you join us again . 

2271
01:35:55,840 --> 01:35:59,240
Miss Kaptur . Thank you , madam 

2272
01:35:59,240 --> 01:36:01,680
share Admiral . How difficult would it 

2273
01:36:01,680 --> 01:36:04,850
be for me to get a briefing um 

2274
01:36:05,630 --> 01:36:07,852
listing every one of the countries that 

2275
01:36:07,852 --> 01:36:10,600
you have responsibility for under your 

2276
01:36:10,600 --> 01:36:14,030
command and to get them ranked . So for 

2277
01:36:14,030 --> 01:36:16,640
example , you mentioned Guatemala and 

2278
01:36:16,640 --> 01:36:19,500
the significant challenges of Guatemala . 

2279
01:36:19,510 --> 01:36:22,330
Um they would be underwater on such a 

2280
01:36:22,330 --> 01:36:24,860
chart . In terms of the way you look at 

2281
01:36:24,860 --> 01:36:27,220
the world , you said good things about 

2282
01:36:27,220 --> 01:36:29,331
Columbia , so they would be above the 

2283
01:36:29,331 --> 01:36:32,410
watermark . Uh Could you do that for 

2284
01:36:32,420 --> 01:36:34,420
all the nations in latin America to 

2285
01:36:34,420 --> 01:36:36,476
give me a better sense of which ones 

2286
01:36:36,476 --> 01:36:38,698
are deeply troubled . And then in those 

2287
01:36:38,698 --> 01:36:41,400
countries , how much of the land is 

2288
01:36:41,400 --> 01:36:43,960
really not ? Is ungovernable 

2289
01:36:44,530 --> 01:36:46,840
uh where people's lives at risk ? 

2290
01:36:46,840 --> 01:36:49,007
They're leaving . You talked about the 

2291
01:36:49,007 --> 01:36:51,118
millions of people who fled different 

2292
01:36:51,118 --> 01:36:52,951
countries . Where can I get that 

2293
01:36:52,951 --> 01:36:55,970
information ? Uh so I gain a more 

2294
01:36:55,980 --> 01:36:59,980
granular understanding . We'd 

2295
01:36:59,980 --> 01:37:01,758
be happy to set up a classified 

2296
01:37:01,758 --> 01:37:04,091
briefing and go through all the factors , 

2297
01:37:04,091 --> 01:37:06,202
but I wouldn't characterize Guatemala 

2298
01:37:06,202 --> 01:37:08,470
is underwater . Uh other than what we 

2299
01:37:08,470 --> 01:37:10,526
saw as the impacts of the hurricanes 

2300
01:37:10,526 --> 01:37:12,581
last year . There are there are good 

2301
01:37:12,581 --> 01:37:14,920
people and there are there are aspects 

2302
01:37:14,920 --> 01:37:17,670
of the Guatemalan security team that I 

2303
01:37:17,670 --> 01:37:19,614
work with that are really good and 

2304
01:37:19,614 --> 01:37:21,726
working hard to make a difference . I 

2305
01:37:21,726 --> 01:37:23,837
cited one there special Naval force , 

2306
01:37:23,870 --> 01:37:25,880
their new Minister of Defense is 

2307
01:37:25,880 --> 01:37:27,936
committed to doing the right thing . 

2308
01:37:27,936 --> 01:37:29,880
He's a trusted partner , Their new 

2309
01:37:29,880 --> 01:37:33,330
chief of defense the same . And so uh 

2310
01:37:33,340 --> 01:37:35,720
there are many reasons to be concerned 

2311
01:37:35,720 --> 01:37:37,831
about the sense of urgency with which 

2312
01:37:37,831 --> 01:37:39,998
we have to get after the threats . But 

2313
01:37:39,998 --> 01:37:42,170
we also need to recognize and play to 

2314
01:37:42,170 --> 01:37:44,392
our strengths to which is democracy and 

2315
01:37:44,392 --> 01:37:47,510
values . And I see a real rays of light 

2316
01:37:47,520 --> 01:37:49,520
with respect to Guatemala . In that 

2317
01:37:49,520 --> 01:37:51,910
case , Ma'am . We have a lot of people 

2318
01:37:51,910 --> 01:37:54,440
who are escaping from Guatemala and 

2319
01:37:54,440 --> 01:37:56,496
don't want to go back there . So the 

2320
01:37:56,496 --> 01:37:58,496
popular and you can blame it on the 

2321
01:37:58,496 --> 01:38:00,718
hurricane . But I think there are other 

2322
01:38:00,718 --> 01:38:04,130
reasons as well . Um and in terms of 

2323
01:38:04,130 --> 01:38:08,060
the actual out migration , does your 

2324
01:38:08,060 --> 01:38:10,670
office calculate that from these 

2325
01:38:10,670 --> 01:38:12,892
various countries or is that some other 

2326
01:38:12,892 --> 01:38:15,350
State department or something ? That's 

2327
01:38:15,350 --> 01:38:17,461
other agencies , State Department and 

2328
01:38:17,461 --> 01:38:19,572
the United Nations that don't work on 

2329
01:38:19,572 --> 01:38:21,683
that data , ma'am . We have good maps 

2330
01:38:21,683 --> 01:38:25,260
of work opiates are being grown in 

2331
01:38:25,270 --> 01:38:27,048
the region under your command . 

2332
01:38:27,100 --> 01:38:29,450
Absolutely . The DEA and the CIA have 

2333
01:38:29,450 --> 01:38:31,506
the best data available and the best 

2334
01:38:31,506 --> 01:38:33,870
analysts in the world . All right . So 

2335
01:38:33,870 --> 01:38:35,890
if you help me gain a better 

2336
01:38:35,890 --> 01:38:38,112
understanding we could access that data 

2337
01:38:38,820 --> 01:38:41,042
and we can set up a classified briefing 

2338
01:38:41,042 --> 01:38:42,931
and we'll do that as soon as your 

2339
01:38:42,931 --> 01:38:44,931
availability supports . Thank you . 

2340
01:38:44,931 --> 01:38:46,931
Thank you very much appreciate your 

2341
01:38:46,931 --> 01:38:50,430
service . God bless you . 

2342
01:38:50,440 --> 01:38:53,870
Miss Kaptur will also work with the 

2343
01:38:53,870 --> 01:38:55,990
staff to get you the information that 

2344
01:38:55,990 --> 01:38:59,720
the CIA world fact sheet has and the 

2345
01:38:59,720 --> 01:39:02,270
World Bank so has great great 

2346
01:39:02,270 --> 01:39:04,120
statistics from everything from 

2347
01:39:04,120 --> 01:39:06,320
economic development to stunting to 

2348
01:39:06,320 --> 01:39:08,930
land title and everything else um To 

2349
01:39:08,930 --> 01:39:11,097
help you be prepared for when you have 

2350
01:39:11,097 --> 01:39:13,041
your classified briefing . I found 

2351
01:39:13,041 --> 01:39:16,320
those to be excellent resources . Um So 

2352
01:39:16,330 --> 01:39:17,930
mr Rogers 

2353
01:39:21,420 --> 01:39:23,430
mr Rogers you appear to be muted . 

2354
01:39:25,520 --> 01:39:29,490
Okay . Uh in 

2355
01:39:29,490 --> 01:39:31,323
my conversation yesterday that I 

2356
01:39:31,323 --> 01:39:33,140
mentioned on the telephone with 

2357
01:39:33,720 --> 01:39:37,340
President dok of Colombia , one of 

2358
01:39:37,340 --> 01:39:39,940
the biggest topics that he brought up 

2359
01:39:39,950 --> 01:39:42,200
was the border problem they have with 

2360
01:39:42,200 --> 01:39:45,530
Venezuela . Um 

2361
01:39:46,580 --> 01:39:48,747
skirmishes that are taking place along 

2362
01:39:48,747 --> 01:39:51,650
the border with Venezuela 

2363
01:39:52,520 --> 01:39:55,340
fueled in large degree , they say , by 

2364
01:39:55,340 --> 01:39:58,990
the drug traffic from 

2365
01:39:58,990 --> 01:40:01,410
Colombia through Venezuela and to the 

2366
01:40:01,410 --> 01:40:04,230
rest of the world . Uh 

2367
01:40:06,810 --> 01:40:09,820
Maduro . President Maduro , uh in 

2368
01:40:09,820 --> 01:40:13,590
Venezuela uh has 

2369
01:40:13,600 --> 01:40:14,130
uh 

2370
01:40:18,310 --> 01:40:21,710
driven 1.7 

2371
01:40:21,710 --> 01:40:25,330
million Venezuelans Uh 

2372
01:40:25,340 --> 01:40:29,340
to uh to abscond to Colombia . So 

2373
01:40:29,340 --> 01:40:31,396
they're they're dealing with the 1.7 

2374
01:40:31,396 --> 01:40:34,670
million refugees . On top of all the 

2375
01:40:34,670 --> 01:40:36,948
other problems that Colombia is facing . 

2376
01:40:37,710 --> 01:40:41,330
Um is there any indication admiral 

2377
01:40:41,330 --> 01:40:44,220
that the reported skirmishes 

2378
01:40:45,010 --> 01:40:48,540
with Venezuela will escalate ? And do 

2379
01:40:48,540 --> 01:40:51,540
we have any presence in that matter ? 

2380
01:40:53,810 --> 01:40:56,740
It's a credit to the Colombians in 

2381
01:40:56,740 --> 01:40:58,740
their humanity and their heart that 

2382
01:40:58,740 --> 01:41:00,930
they've been able to accept this large 

2383
01:41:00,940 --> 01:41:04,640
influx of migrants in a way that has 

2384
01:41:04,640 --> 01:41:06,807
respected them and human rights in the 

2385
01:41:06,807 --> 01:41:08,807
midst of Covid . And it hasn't been 

2386
01:41:08,807 --> 01:41:10,918
easy . And I I commend President Duke 

2387
01:41:10,918 --> 01:41:12,973
and his team and their leadership in 

2388
01:41:12,973 --> 01:41:14,918
this manner and their adherence to 

2389
01:41:14,918 --> 01:41:17,210
democracy in a really tough situation 

2390
01:41:17,210 --> 01:41:19,520
in tough times . Because right next 

2391
01:41:19,520 --> 01:41:22,380
door , you have Maduro and his cronies 

2392
01:41:22,390 --> 01:41:25,180
enabled by tens of thousands of Cubans , 

2393
01:41:25,180 --> 01:41:27,124
hundreds of Russians , chinese and 

2394
01:41:27,124 --> 01:41:29,320
Iranians , including uh , you know , 

2395
01:41:29,320 --> 01:41:33,000
Iranian uh security assistance , 

2396
01:41:33,010 --> 01:41:36,120
including cyber assistance by Russia , 

2397
01:41:36,130 --> 01:41:38,640
Russia speth gnats that have created a 

2398
01:41:38,640 --> 01:41:42,030
virtual uh narco trafficking paradise . 

2399
01:41:42,410 --> 01:41:46,090
And so the significant influx of Narco 

2400
01:41:46,090 --> 01:41:50,010
trafficking into Venezuela by the L . 

2401
01:41:50,010 --> 01:41:52,066
N . Farc distance and other groups . 

2402
01:41:52,310 --> 01:41:54,421
And then the ease with which they can 

2403
01:41:54,421 --> 01:41:56,532
use that now is the base of operation 

2404
01:41:56,532 --> 01:41:58,690
to distribute into europe into the 

2405
01:41:58,690 --> 01:42:00,968
Caribbean islands to the United States . 

2406
01:42:00,968 --> 01:42:03,860
Central Central America has complicated 

2407
01:42:03,860 --> 01:42:06,660
all of our efforts to get after the 

2408
01:42:06,670 --> 01:42:10,570
problem set . And so you you 

2409
01:42:10,570 --> 01:42:12,980
sight specifically the recent clashes , 

2410
01:42:12,980 --> 01:42:15,202
which on the face of it would look like 

2411
01:42:15,202 --> 01:42:17,202
Maduro has turned against the Narco 

2412
01:42:17,202 --> 01:42:19,369
traffickers . But it's as in all these 

2413
01:42:19,369 --> 01:42:21,550
things much more complicated . And uh 

2414
01:42:21,550 --> 01:42:24,650
and then they quickly appointed and try 

2415
01:42:24,650 --> 01:42:26,660
to blame this on Colombia when the 

2416
01:42:26,660 --> 01:42:29,070
facts that matter are , it's more of a 

2417
01:42:29,080 --> 01:42:32,540
drug war , turf war between uh , the uh 

2418
01:42:32,550 --> 01:42:34,910
madero security forces which are for 

2419
01:42:34,910 --> 01:42:36,966
the most part led by corrupt leaders 

2420
01:42:36,966 --> 01:42:39,077
and the Narco traffickers which share 

2421
01:42:39,077 --> 01:42:41,243
similar value system . So Colombia has 

2422
01:42:41,243 --> 01:42:43,299
uh has held the line on the border , 

2423
01:42:43,400 --> 01:42:46,480
our role , that the army's role in our 

2424
01:42:46,480 --> 01:42:49,870
interagency role uh with this crisis , 

2425
01:42:49,870 --> 01:42:51,950
we've used it to strengthen our 

2426
01:42:51,960 --> 01:42:53,580
relationship with Colombia , 

2427
01:42:53,590 --> 01:42:55,757
particularly in sharing intel . It's a 

2428
01:42:55,757 --> 01:42:58,340
two way . We get some of our best intel 

2429
01:42:58,340 --> 01:43:00,810
from their teams , uh and we share what 

2430
01:43:00,810 --> 01:43:03,420
we know , and we've developed a great 

2431
01:43:03,420 --> 01:43:05,800
protocols and systems using our 

2432
01:43:05,810 --> 01:43:08,340
security cooperation authorities uh in 

2433
01:43:08,340 --> 01:43:12,170
this regard . Thank you . Thank 

2434
01:43:12,170 --> 01:43:15,730
you . Mr Mr brian . And uh 

2435
01:43:16,200 --> 01:43:18,660
then we have Mr Diaz Balart . 

2436
01:43:21,700 --> 01:43:24,880
Thank you , madam Chair . If uh the 

2437
01:43:24,880 --> 01:43:27,630
question I know we were talking about 

2438
01:43:27,630 --> 01:43:29,408
some of the issues around human 

2439
01:43:29,408 --> 01:43:31,950
trafficking and stemming the flow of 

2440
01:43:31,950 --> 01:43:35,410
migrants north on that very dangerous 

2441
01:43:35,410 --> 01:43:38,800
journey that we keep uh , that we keep 

2442
01:43:38,800 --> 01:43:41,650
hearing about . What are we doing to 

2443
01:43:41,650 --> 01:43:44,020
help train some of our partners that 

2444
01:43:44,400 --> 01:43:48,240
are involved , you know , along the way 

2445
01:43:48,250 --> 01:43:50,230
along that journey , are we doing 

2446
01:43:50,230 --> 01:43:52,650
anything to help help them deal with it ? 

2447
01:43:52,660 --> 01:43:54,882
And are you involved in those countries 

2448
01:43:54,882 --> 01:43:56,950
that all helping with uh some of the 

2449
01:43:56,960 --> 01:43:59,016
security issues that are there ? And 

2450
01:43:59,400 --> 01:44:02,200
there's a lot of work going on with 

2451
01:44:02,200 --> 01:44:04,310
trying to build the economy , but 

2452
01:44:04,310 --> 01:44:06,254
nothing's going to happen with the 

2453
01:44:06,254 --> 01:44:08,477
economy in those countries until we get 

2454
01:44:08,477 --> 01:44:10,699
the security piece straight . So if you 

2455
01:44:10,699 --> 01:44:12,810
can enlighten us on that , that would 

2456
01:44:12,810 --> 01:44:15,032
be great . Absolutely right . We've got 

2457
01:44:15,032 --> 01:44:17,254
to have sustainable security to support 

2458
01:44:17,254 --> 01:44:19,366
the democracies and the prosperity to 

2459
01:44:19,366 --> 01:44:21,310
three of it goes together like the 

2460
01:44:21,310 --> 01:44:23,421
three legs of a well balanced stool . 

2461
01:44:23,421 --> 01:44:25,270
And uh and I . N . L . And State 

2462
01:44:25,270 --> 01:44:28,690
Department and other D . A . CBP and 

2463
01:44:28,690 --> 01:44:30,746
others of the principal role working 

2464
01:44:30,746 --> 01:44:32,857
with the police , which need to be at 

2465
01:44:32,857 --> 01:44:34,634
the front line in many of these 

2466
01:44:34,634 --> 01:44:36,690
countries of the police are the most 

2467
01:44:36,690 --> 01:44:38,760
likely to be corrupted and the ones 

2468
01:44:38,760 --> 01:44:41,010
that need the most help . Uh They're 

2469
01:44:41,010 --> 01:44:43,066
back stopped by their partner nation 

2470
01:44:43,066 --> 01:44:45,288
militaries . And what we've seen is the 

2471
01:44:45,288 --> 01:44:47,399
growing credibility of partner nation 

2472
01:44:47,399 --> 01:44:49,750
militaries . It turned from 

2473
01:44:49,760 --> 01:44:53,400
insurgencies of the 80s and 90s to 

2474
01:44:53,410 --> 01:44:55,521
professional forces that still have a 

2475
01:44:55,521 --> 01:44:57,577
long ways to go . But that have made 

2476
01:44:57,577 --> 01:44:59,577
progress . Our role in this is that 

2477
01:44:59,577 --> 01:45:01,632
professional development starts with 

2478
01:45:01,632 --> 01:45:03,910
education programs . The I met program , 

2479
01:45:03,910 --> 01:45:06,280
which is uh congressional E . 

2480
01:45:06,280 --> 01:45:08,613
Appropriated through the Foreign office , 

2481
01:45:08,613 --> 01:45:10,613
is our main game changer there . We 

2482
01:45:10,613 --> 01:45:12,710
bring people to US schools . We're 

2483
01:45:12,710 --> 01:45:15,470
funded at about 11 million range . When 

2484
01:45:15,470 --> 01:45:17,692
you all ask for what more we could do , 

2485
01:45:17,692 --> 01:45:19,692
there's more that could be invested 

2486
01:45:19,692 --> 01:45:21,803
there to come to US schools . Another 

2487
01:45:21,803 --> 01:45:23,748
great program was mentioned as our 

2488
01:45:23,748 --> 01:45:25,859
human rights program uh funded out of 

2489
01:45:25,859 --> 01:45:27,859
our own budget at five people for a 

2490
01:45:27,859 --> 01:45:29,970
whole hemisphere . More could be done 

2491
01:45:29,970 --> 01:45:31,970
there if resources were available , 

2492
01:45:31,970 --> 01:45:34,081
women's peace and security . So you'd 

2493
01:45:34,081 --> 01:45:36,081
say , how does that matter ? But it 

2494
01:45:36,081 --> 01:45:38,026
matters a lot . And it's a nascent 

2495
01:45:38,026 --> 01:45:40,026
program that we've started . Uh and 

2496
01:45:40,026 --> 01:45:42,137
it's it's proven to help our partners 

2497
01:45:42,137 --> 01:45:44,359
see how they can better leverage the 50 

2498
01:45:44,359 --> 01:45:46,610
of their population to get involved in 

2499
01:45:46,620 --> 01:45:49,290
sustainable security . So , uh , we 

2500
01:45:49,290 --> 01:45:51,940
have a small amount of funds . And what 

2501
01:45:51,940 --> 01:45:54,107
we've seen is that , uh , it resonates 

2502
01:45:54,107 --> 01:45:56,162
with our partners as we go forward , 

2503
01:45:56,350 --> 01:45:58,350
noncommissioned officer development 

2504
01:45:58,350 --> 01:46:00,406
here in the United States . We value 

2505
01:46:00,480 --> 01:46:03,380
our enlisted team . Our partners 

2506
01:46:03,380 --> 01:46:05,213
sometimes see that differently . 

2507
01:46:05,213 --> 01:46:07,260
Getting them to value officers and 

2508
01:46:07,260 --> 01:46:09,960
enlisted as one team . Working together 

2509
01:46:09,970 --> 01:46:12,210
inclusively is key and we're really 

2510
01:46:12,210 --> 01:46:14,432
investing with our along with our state 

2511
01:46:14,432 --> 01:46:16,543
partners in that . So going forward , 

2512
01:46:16,543 --> 01:46:18,654
duty has a role to play . And we look 

2513
01:46:18,654 --> 01:46:20,877
forward to playing that role as we work 

2514
01:46:20,877 --> 01:46:23,890
on a sustainable solution under the new 

2515
01:46:23,900 --> 01:46:26,760
$4 billion dollar multi year project 

2516
01:46:26,760 --> 01:46:30,420
that's being conceived . Thank you . 

2517
01:46:30,430 --> 01:46:33,230
Thank you . And uh , Mr Ryan , what you 

2518
01:46:33,230 --> 01:46:36,360
brought up on the fishing is , uh , is 

2519
01:46:36,360 --> 01:46:39,870
something that we need to be addressing 

2520
01:46:39,870 --> 01:46:41,870
with the international community on 

2521
01:46:41,870 --> 01:46:43,981
that . So , I look forward to working 

2522
01:46:43,981 --> 01:46:45,926
with you more on that . Um Mr Diaz 

2523
01:46:45,926 --> 01:46:46,926
Balart , 

2524
01:46:51,780 --> 01:46:53,891
thank you , madam carol . And I was I 

2525
01:46:53,891 --> 01:46:55,780
just realized when I was a little 

2526
01:46:55,780 --> 01:46:58,002
concerned , I've been eating some white 

2527
01:46:58,002 --> 01:46:57,690
corn chips and I realized that once 

2528
01:46:57,690 --> 01:47:00,070
I've been eating have been now recalled . 

2529
01:47:00,080 --> 01:47:03,890
So I hope that I'm okay . But anything 

2530
01:47:03,890 --> 01:47:06,170
happens , I'll call 911 if you very 

2531
01:47:06,170 --> 01:47:08,940
much like turning green on the screen . 

2532
01:47:08,950 --> 01:47:11,283
All right , thank you , madame Caroline . 

2533
01:47:11,283 --> 01:47:14,840
Uh And you talked a lot and there's 

2534
01:47:14,840 --> 01:47:16,784
been questions about the Tco about 

2535
01:47:16,784 --> 01:47:19,900
these organizations . Um 

2536
01:47:20,880 --> 01:47:22,547
talk to me about is there any 

2537
01:47:22,547 --> 01:47:25,720
relationship between the the cartels 

2538
01:47:25,720 --> 01:47:28,780
that you know uh that import arms , 

2539
01:47:28,780 --> 01:47:31,002
right , that that traffic in arms , the 

2540
01:47:31,002 --> 01:47:33,113
cartels , the traffic in humans , the 

2541
01:47:33,113 --> 01:47:36,840
cartels , the traffic in uh in drugs ? 

2542
01:47:36,850 --> 01:47:40,350
Um What relationship do they have ? Are 

2543
01:47:40,350 --> 01:47:42,740
they , Is that all they do ? Like if 

2544
01:47:42,740 --> 01:47:44,851
there's a cartel traffics in humans , 

2545
01:47:44,851 --> 01:47:47,073
is that all they do ? Are they also the 

2546
01:47:47,073 --> 01:47:48,962
same ones are related to have any 

2547
01:47:48,962 --> 01:47:51,210
associations with ones that traffic and 

2548
01:47:51,220 --> 01:47:53,700
drugs and other things . And also do 

2549
01:47:53,700 --> 01:47:55,867
they have any association or potential 

2550
01:47:55,867 --> 01:47:59,460
contact with cartels that , that not 

2551
01:47:59,460 --> 01:48:01,682
only are in this hemisphere ? So what , 

2552
01:48:01,682 --> 01:48:03,627
you know , talk to us a little bit 

2553
01:48:03,627 --> 01:48:05,627
about , are they a threat ? Who are 

2554
01:48:05,627 --> 01:48:07,460
they ? Why are they a threat ? I 

2555
01:48:07,460 --> 01:48:09,460
understand this is not a classified 

2556
01:48:09,460 --> 01:48:11,571
briefing , but whatever you think you 

2557
01:48:11,571 --> 01:48:14,160
can share when Covid struck with a 

2558
01:48:14,160 --> 01:48:16,650
vengeance , uh , and just tore it all 

2559
01:48:16,650 --> 01:48:18,650
of us , frankly , I'm sure everyone 

2560
01:48:18,650 --> 01:48:20,872
here on the screen has been impacted in 

2561
01:48:20,872 --> 01:48:22,983
some way . Family member personally . 

2562
01:48:22,983 --> 01:48:24,928
Uh , what we saw the , the murders 

2563
01:48:24,928 --> 01:48:27,030
nature of the cartels as they they 

2564
01:48:27,030 --> 01:48:28,863
expanded their business model to 

2565
01:48:28,863 --> 01:48:30,970
include PP and covid supplies and 

2566
01:48:30,970 --> 01:48:33,081
social services as they tried to gain 

2567
01:48:33,081 --> 01:48:35,400
influence with population . So There's 

2568
01:48:35,400 --> 01:48:38,160
over 200 different narco trafficking 

2569
01:48:38,160 --> 01:48:40,910
groups . And uh , one of the key 

2570
01:48:40,910 --> 01:48:43,077
efforts going forward has got to be to 

2571
01:48:43,077 --> 01:48:46,050
map the and rank and rack and stack the 

2572
01:48:46,050 --> 01:48:48,730
most important and the strongest uh , 

2573
01:48:48,740 --> 01:48:51,560
to the less and determine the sorts of 

2574
01:48:51,560 --> 01:48:53,790
things that each one thrives on and it 

2575
01:48:53,790 --> 01:48:56,230
changes and changes over time . So 

2576
01:48:56,230 --> 01:48:59,420
illegal mining , business , extortion , 

2577
01:48:59,430 --> 01:49:02,190
human trafficking , narco trafficking , 

2578
01:49:02,870 --> 01:49:05,850
the distribution , medical supplies , 

2579
01:49:05,860 --> 01:49:09,350
corruption of an undermining of public 

2580
01:49:09,350 --> 01:49:11,294
business . So their business model 

2581
01:49:11,970 --> 01:49:14,660
revolves around basic whatever they can 

2582
01:49:14,660 --> 01:49:17,370
do to make money and keep themselves in 

2583
01:49:17,370 --> 01:49:21,020
power . Uh , that has got to be part of 

2584
01:49:21,030 --> 01:49:23,086
how we get after going forward . And 

2585
01:49:23,086 --> 01:49:25,360
that's been a key part of our renewed 

2586
01:49:25,370 --> 01:49:26,180
efforts . 

2587
01:49:30,070 --> 01:49:32,510
And you had some questions about I . S . 

2588
01:49:32,510 --> 01:49:34,621
R . Um , and I just want to make sure 

2589
01:49:34,621 --> 01:49:36,843
that we kind of understand not only the 

2590
01:49:36,843 --> 01:49:40,250
importance of it , but um you talked 

2591
01:49:40,250 --> 01:49:42,250
about before , I think it was to Mr 

2592
01:49:42,250 --> 01:49:44,250
calvert's question about you know , 

2593
01:49:44,250 --> 01:49:46,417
what percentage of I . S . Are you get 

2594
01:49:46,417 --> 01:49:48,960
um are you getting enough ? And I 

2595
01:49:48,960 --> 01:49:50,960
understand that nobody has enough . 

2596
01:49:50,960 --> 01:49:53,127
Right . I mean there's no command that 

2597
01:49:53,127 --> 01:49:55,238
that will tell you we've got too much 

2598
01:49:55,238 --> 01:49:57,182
of it , right ? But I'm saying how 

2599
01:49:57,182 --> 01:49:59,127
deficient is the level that you're 

2600
01:49:59,127 --> 01:50:01,650
getting ? Is it you know , is it very 

2601
01:50:01,650 --> 01:50:04,160
deficient or are you kind of scrape in 

2602
01:50:04,160 --> 01:50:06,271
my but you'd like a little bit more , 

2603
01:50:06,271 --> 01:50:08,216
where are you there ? And actually 

2604
01:50:08,216 --> 01:50:10,327
Madam Chairman , I just realized that 

2605
01:50:10,327 --> 01:50:09,740
my time we have run out . So maybe if 

2606
01:50:09,740 --> 01:50:12,700
we have a second round , but if not 

2607
01:50:12,700 --> 01:50:14,700
Admiral , if you can maybe just get 

2608
01:50:14,700 --> 01:50:16,922
some information to me on that when you 

2609
01:50:16,922 --> 01:50:19,200
can as madam chairwoman for going over . 

2610
01:50:19,200 --> 01:50:21,422
Well that's okay if you can answer that 

2611
01:50:21,422 --> 01:50:23,311
quickly and mr Diaz Balart , I am 

2612
01:50:23,311 --> 01:50:25,478
worried about your health because this 

2613
01:50:25,478 --> 01:50:27,644
is the second round . Maybe those corn 

2614
01:50:27,644 --> 01:50:29,867
ships have gotten to you . So uh if you 

2615
01:50:29,867 --> 01:50:32,089
can answer maybe in 30 seconds and then 

2616
01:50:32,089 --> 01:50:31,740
get the committee back up for a 

2617
01:50:31,740 --> 01:50:34,830
response , eight of 8 of our 

2618
01:50:34,830 --> 01:50:36,830
requirement was met last year . And 

2619
01:50:36,830 --> 01:50:39,070
that was before the cut of the transfer 

2620
01:50:39,070 --> 01:50:40,980
fund . And that transfer fund 

2621
01:50:40,980 --> 01:50:44,170
represented about 38 of our overall 

2622
01:50:44,170 --> 01:50:46,650
budget for IS . are . So we will be uh 

2623
01:50:46,660 --> 01:50:48,827
will be even less than that as we move 

2624
01:50:48,827 --> 01:50:50,993
through the execution year this year . 

2625
01:50:52,760 --> 01:50:55,070
Thank you mr carter 

2626
01:50:59,560 --> 01:51:02,580
come back . I see that . Welcome . 

2627
01:51:03,660 --> 01:51:07,470
Right ? You can't hear me ? I can 

2628
01:51:07,470 --> 01:51:09,470
hear you but I can't see you . So I 

2629
01:51:09,470 --> 01:51:12,860
just want you know uh madam share 

2630
01:51:12,870 --> 01:51:16,040
uh before the judge asked this question , 

2631
01:51:16,040 --> 01:51:19,570
I'm gonna I apologize and I will share 

2632
01:51:19,570 --> 01:51:21,630
my California delegation meeting the 

2633
01:51:21,630 --> 01:51:24,570
few of us that are left so I appreciate 

2634
01:51:24,570 --> 01:51:27,780
the judge uh taken over for a while . 

2635
01:51:28,260 --> 01:51:30,840
Thank you . He is most welcome to do 

2636
01:51:30,840 --> 01:51:32,896
that . Mr Carter for three minutes . 

2637
01:51:33,860 --> 01:51:35,900
Thank you madam Chairman , you 

2638
01:51:35,900 --> 01:51:38,240
mentioned that an idea that you had a 

2639
01:51:38,250 --> 01:51:40,600
marshall plan for central and south 

2640
01:51:40,600 --> 01:51:42,830
America . You want to talk a little bit 

2641
01:51:42,830 --> 01:51:46,800
about that ? Very 

2642
01:51:46,800 --> 01:51:50,590
encouraged , Served by the efforts 

2643
01:51:50,590 --> 01:51:53,150
administration to apply resources to 

2644
01:51:53,150 --> 01:51:54,817
Central America and look at a 

2645
01:51:54,817 --> 01:51:56,940
longer-term plan $4 billion dollars 

2646
01:51:56,940 --> 01:51:59,300
over time as I understand it as it 

2647
01:51:59,300 --> 01:52:01,630
moves forward . But I think this we 

2648
01:52:01,630 --> 01:52:04,620
look globally at the challenges and 

2649
01:52:04,620 --> 01:52:06,676
where the opportunities , there's so 

2650
01:52:06,676 --> 01:52:08,342
much opportunity here in this 

2651
01:52:08,342 --> 01:52:10,509
hemisphere with the people we share so 

2652
01:52:10,509 --> 01:52:12,231
much values . Democracy is the 

2653
01:52:12,231 --> 01:52:14,009
proximity , the resources , the 

2654
01:52:14,009 --> 01:52:16,170
tremendous resource rich hemisphere . 

2655
01:52:16,650 --> 01:52:18,761
It has a positive water ratio . Water 

2656
01:52:18,761 --> 01:52:20,817
is so important in the global future 

2657
01:52:20,817 --> 01:52:23,910
and so much arable land access , See 

2658
01:52:23,910 --> 01:52:26,077
important sea lines of communication , 

2659
01:52:26,077 --> 01:52:28,480
deep harbors . And so if we look at the 

2660
01:52:28,480 --> 01:52:30,369
promise of the hemisphere and the 

2661
01:52:30,369 --> 01:52:33,500
resources , I think as as a nation , is 

2662
01:52:33,500 --> 01:52:35,611
it time to look at a big idea for the 

2663
01:52:35,611 --> 01:52:37,970
hemisphere along the lines of some that 

2664
01:52:37,980 --> 01:52:40,100
we've seen in the past ? And I 

2665
01:52:40,100 --> 01:52:42,156
certainly get very excited about the 

2666
01:52:42,156 --> 01:52:44,156
opportunity . The challenges in the 

2667
01:52:44,156 --> 01:52:46,267
sense of urgency is our real , but we 

2668
01:52:46,267 --> 01:52:48,267
can leverage these opportunities to 

2669
01:52:48,267 --> 01:52:48,090
make strength for the Americas 

2670
01:52:48,100 --> 01:52:50,380
hemisphere of promise and prosperity . 

2671
01:52:52,350 --> 01:52:55,680
I think that I like that challenge . 

2672
01:52:55,690 --> 01:52:59,090
It's a with our resources , with the 

2673
01:52:59,090 --> 01:53:01,257
spinning , we're doing it . It's going 

2674
01:53:01,257 --> 01:53:03,590
to be I interesting how we would do 

2675
01:53:03,600 --> 01:53:05,660
such a think that one of the things 

2676
01:53:05,660 --> 01:53:09,490
that marshall plan did was rebuild the 

2677
01:53:09,490 --> 01:53:12,470
existing industries of uh of the 

2678
01:53:12,470 --> 01:53:14,637
country that has been destroyed in the 

2679
01:53:14,637 --> 01:53:17,670
war . The challenge would be more 

2680
01:53:18,250 --> 01:53:21,830
to strengthen their 

2681
01:53:21,840 --> 01:53:24,970
existing him various 

2682
01:53:26,050 --> 01:53:28,217
factories and so forth . But in turn , 

2683
01:53:28,217 --> 01:53:31,560
built up in our industry going down and 

2684
01:53:31,560 --> 01:53:33,970
participating in that area . That 

2685
01:53:33,970 --> 01:53:37,430
requires a safe harbor for them to be 

2686
01:53:37,430 --> 01:53:41,250
able to do it . Including illegal , it 

2687
01:53:41,250 --> 01:53:43,900
gives them resource protection under 

2688
01:53:43,900 --> 01:53:46,320
the law , which is one of the real 

2689
01:53:46,330 --> 01:53:49,570
weaknesses I know about central America . 

2690
01:53:50,250 --> 01:53:52,870
You just can't get protection from the 

2691
01:53:52,870 --> 01:53:55,160
legal system . So it's gonna be a real 

2692
01:53:55,160 --> 01:53:58,350
show and take a lot of people to go 

2693
01:53:58,350 --> 01:54:00,406
down there and stream things out . I 

2694
01:54:00,406 --> 01:54:03,160
like the idea . We're thinking about it . 

2695
01:54:03,640 --> 01:54:06,170
So thank you , Admiral for doing that 

2696
01:54:06,940 --> 01:54:08,996
madam . Chairman . Thank you . Thank 

2697
01:54:08,996 --> 01:54:11,840
you Mr carter . Um Sir , I have a 

2698
01:54:11,840 --> 01:54:14,610
couple of uh I have one follow up on 

2699
01:54:14,610 --> 01:54:17,210
the climate change um due to time 

2700
01:54:17,210 --> 01:54:19,210
limitation . We talked a little bit 

2701
01:54:19,210 --> 01:54:21,360
about it yesterday , but we did touch 

2702
01:54:21,360 --> 01:54:25,070
on resilience uh and what we 

2703
01:54:25,070 --> 01:54:28,070
needed to do to be prepared for future 

2704
01:54:28,070 --> 01:54:30,740
storms , for our assets , especially in 

2705
01:54:30,740 --> 01:54:33,640
Key West housing , backup emergency 

2706
01:54:33,640 --> 01:54:35,918
generators , all those kinds of things . 

2707
01:54:35,918 --> 01:54:37,862
Because you're interconnected with 

2708
01:54:37,862 --> 01:54:40,740
everyone on the island um as well . So 

2709
01:54:40,740 --> 01:54:43,018
I know you have some of that available . 

2710
01:54:43,018 --> 01:54:45,296
Anything you want to add to that later ? 

2711
01:54:45,296 --> 01:54:47,296
Please provide to the committee . I 

2712
01:54:47,296 --> 01:54:50,880
have uh two questions . One is on 

2713
01:54:50,880 --> 01:54:54,450
brazil in 2019 . President trump deck 

2714
01:54:54,450 --> 01:54:57,310
sedated . Brazil is a major non NATO 

2715
01:54:57,310 --> 01:55:00,960
ally . After he visited the the 

2716
01:55:01,040 --> 01:55:03,850
Brazilian president last month , 

2717
01:55:03,860 --> 01:55:06,080
brazil's president fired the defense 

2718
01:55:06,080 --> 01:55:08,247
minister . And more recently the three 

2719
01:55:08,247 --> 01:55:10,900
branches of brazil's armed forces all 

2720
01:55:10,900 --> 01:55:13,620
jointly resigned after meeting with the 

2721
01:55:13,620 --> 01:55:16,780
new defense minister of brazil . Can 

2722
01:55:16,780 --> 01:55:18,669
you provide us a little bit of an 

2723
01:55:18,669 --> 01:55:20,780
update on the situation in brazil and 

2724
01:55:20,780 --> 01:55:23,113
how this has affected your relationship ? 

2725
01:55:23,140 --> 01:55:26,530
Um and what with with the new defense 

2726
01:55:26,530 --> 01:55:29,910
minister who was a celebrated military 

2727
01:55:29,910 --> 01:55:33,550
dictator , uh part of a dictatorship , 

2728
01:55:34,040 --> 01:55:37,690
1964 through 1985 , that killed and 

2729
01:55:37,690 --> 01:55:40,790
tortured thousands of Brazilians . So , 

2730
01:55:40,800 --> 01:55:43,400
uh could you maybe enlighten us as to 

2731
01:55:43,410 --> 01:55:46,520
what we're doing about that ? Now , the 

2732
01:55:46,520 --> 01:55:50,070
designation of brazil is a as a major 

2733
01:55:50,070 --> 01:55:52,790
ally on NATO partner was exactly the 

2734
01:55:52,790 --> 01:55:54,734
right thing to do to recognize the 

2735
01:55:54,734 --> 01:55:56,679
progress that has been made in the 

2736
01:55:56,679 --> 01:55:58,790
professionalism of the air force . We 

2737
01:55:58,790 --> 01:56:00,901
have a great history and a foundation 

2738
01:56:00,901 --> 01:56:02,679
to work forward from with their 

2739
01:56:02,679 --> 01:56:04,957
participation with us in World War Two . 

2740
01:56:04,957 --> 01:56:06,734
I've been to Brazil on multiple 

2741
01:56:06,734 --> 01:56:08,957
occasions , gone to their schools , met 

2742
01:56:08,957 --> 01:56:11,179
with their armed forces . Uh and that's 

2743
01:56:11,179 --> 01:56:12,957
what we do . We work with their 

2744
01:56:12,957 --> 01:56:14,846
institution and the core of their 

2745
01:56:14,846 --> 01:56:16,957
institutions are professional and are 

2746
01:56:16,957 --> 01:56:19,068
doing the right thing . Uh and uh and 

2747
01:56:19,068 --> 01:56:21,401
have responded in a professional manner . 

2748
01:56:21,401 --> 01:56:23,568
I'm very confident in my conversations 

2749
01:56:23,568 --> 01:56:25,734
with their Chief of Defence and others 

2750
01:56:25,734 --> 01:56:27,568
that they are going to stay that 

2751
01:56:27,568 --> 01:56:29,760
professional course . And I think uh 

2752
01:56:29,770 --> 01:56:32,270
that's what militaries do as the ebb 

2753
01:56:32,270 --> 01:56:34,820
and flow of politics occurs . And and I 

2754
01:56:34,820 --> 01:56:36,987
think we're seeing some of that now in 

2755
01:56:36,987 --> 01:56:39,153
brazil . If I could just touch on that 

2756
01:56:39,153 --> 01:56:41,320
resilience question with Diet of Two . 

2757
01:56:41,320 --> 01:56:43,320
So important , I don't I don't have 

2758
01:56:43,320 --> 01:56:45,320
enough time because I have one more 

2759
01:56:45,320 --> 01:56:44,930
question . So if you could get back to 

2760
01:56:44,930 --> 01:56:46,930
that , because I don't I want to be 

2761
01:56:46,930 --> 01:56:49,610
respectful of your time , I'm going to 

2762
01:56:49,620 --> 01:56:51,453
uh in my capacity as a member of 

2763
01:56:51,453 --> 01:56:54,030
Congress , talk to state about what's 

2764
01:56:54,030 --> 01:56:56,252
going on with the defense minister . So 

2765
01:56:56,252 --> 01:56:58,419
I understand you have a different role 

2766
01:56:58,419 --> 01:57:00,170
that you play with , that um 

2767
01:57:00,180 --> 01:57:02,310
humanitarian assistance . Last year , 

2768
01:57:02,310 --> 01:57:05,010
Congress provided $90 million . That's 

2769
01:57:05,010 --> 01:57:07,232
15 more than requested for humanitarian 

2770
01:57:07,232 --> 01:57:09,288
assistance . Uh , that was under the 

2771
01:57:09,288 --> 01:57:12,550
cares Act for the Covid response Before 

2772
01:57:12,550 --> 01:57:14,940
Covid the USs comfort and Mercy 

2773
01:57:14,940 --> 01:57:17,700
hospital ships were often deployed uh 

2774
01:57:17,710 --> 01:57:19,800
to do humanitarian assistance in the 

2775
01:57:19,800 --> 01:57:21,970
region . Um has there been any 

2776
01:57:21,970 --> 01:57:24,200
discussion about bringing back hospital 

2777
01:57:24,200 --> 01:57:26,256
ship to the region later this year ? 

2778
01:57:26,930 --> 01:57:29,650
The comfort deployments were extremely 

2779
01:57:29,650 --> 01:57:31,706
successful with the hearts and minds 

2780
01:57:31,706 --> 01:57:33,761
and helping our partner nations with 

2781
01:57:33,761 --> 01:57:35,761
their their health services , which 

2782
01:57:35,761 --> 01:57:37,761
have been really stressed . We were 

2783
01:57:37,761 --> 01:57:39,539
actively planning and the right 

2784
01:57:39,539 --> 01:57:41,850
opportunity to do medical engagement . 

2785
01:57:41,860 --> 01:57:45,090
It maybe via the comfort or a scalable 

2786
01:57:45,100 --> 01:57:47,510
air mobile , a concept that we're 

2787
01:57:47,510 --> 01:57:50,320
working on called Heart . We're looking 

2788
01:57:50,320 --> 01:57:52,580
at the right time for that . Many of 

2789
01:57:52,580 --> 01:57:55,600
our forces for that . Our Guard and uh , 

2790
01:57:55,600 --> 01:57:57,720
and our NGO partners play heavily in 

2791
01:57:57,720 --> 01:57:59,831
that . And as we know they're there , 

2792
01:57:59,831 --> 01:58:01,776
the Guard and our military is very 

2793
01:58:01,776 --> 01:58:03,609
engaged right now supporting our 

2794
01:58:03,609 --> 01:58:05,553
domestic covid response . So as we 

2795
01:58:05,553 --> 01:58:07,664
planned forward , we're looking along 

2796
01:58:07,664 --> 01:58:09,831
with the department offense to win the 

2797
01:58:09,831 --> 01:58:12,053
best window is we certainly think there 

2798
01:58:12,053 --> 01:58:13,998
is more opportunity there for that 

2799
01:58:13,998 --> 01:58:16,220
really important program , the military 

2800
01:58:16,220 --> 01:58:18,164
assistance being coupled with that 

2801
01:58:18,164 --> 01:58:20,387
medical support . And it shows the best 

2802
01:58:20,387 --> 01:58:22,609
of who we are here in the United States 

2803
01:58:22,609 --> 01:58:22,540
with an outstretched hand of help . 

2804
01:58:23,120 --> 01:58:25,120
Well , I want to thank you for your 

2805
01:58:25,120 --> 01:58:27,120
emphasis and for what you discussed 

2806
01:58:27,120 --> 01:58:29,270
with me with humanitarian assistance 

2807
01:58:29,280 --> 01:58:31,280
and the role that the Department of 

2808
01:58:31,280 --> 01:58:33,336
Defense can play and Development and 

2809
01:58:33,336 --> 01:58:35,810
diplomacy . Um , in that , in that 

2810
01:58:35,810 --> 01:58:38,200
engagement , I also went going through 

2811
01:58:38,200 --> 01:58:40,311
with your bio because I'm gonna thank 

2812
01:58:40,311 --> 01:58:42,311
you for your years of service . You 

2813
01:58:42,311 --> 01:58:44,533
understand humanitarian assistance in a 

2814
01:58:44,533 --> 01:58:47,880
way that um really brought it home to 

2815
01:58:47,880 --> 01:58:51,540
me your work on the USs shiloh , 

2816
01:58:52,620 --> 01:58:55,140
when the tsunami hit . Indonesia . So 

2817
01:58:55,140 --> 01:58:58,840
you know how important um our military 

2818
01:58:58,840 --> 01:59:01,130
can be showing in professionalism in 

2819
01:59:01,130 --> 01:59:03,352
the way that we can deliver aid and the 

2820
01:59:03,352 --> 01:59:05,440
way we can deliver service and we do 

2821
01:59:05,440 --> 01:59:07,560
that in a way that are near pure 

2822
01:59:07,560 --> 01:59:10,730
competitors can't . And so anything 

2823
01:59:10,730 --> 01:59:13,390
you'd like to say in closing about 

2824
01:59:13,400 --> 01:59:15,740
humanitarian assistance would be 

2825
01:59:15,750 --> 01:59:17,861
appreciative if you want to give this 

2826
01:59:17,861 --> 01:59:19,917
chair a little more direction and on 

2827
01:59:19,917 --> 01:59:21,972
how to use the Department of Defense 

2828
01:59:21,972 --> 01:59:24,083
for that . And once again , thank you 

2829
01:59:24,083 --> 01:59:26,250
so very much for years of service . We 

2830
01:59:26,250 --> 01:59:28,306
wish you good health and a wonderful 

2831
01:59:28,306 --> 01:59:30,920
retirement . Thank you chair and thank 

2832
01:59:30,920 --> 01:59:33,970
you for representing that experience I 

2833
01:59:33,970 --> 01:59:37,330
had on shiloh it really made an 

2834
01:59:37,330 --> 01:59:40,390
impression to the whole crew and all of 

2835
01:59:40,390 --> 01:59:42,510
us that the that winning the 

2836
01:59:42,510 --> 01:59:45,870
competition is so important and so less 

2837
01:59:45,880 --> 01:59:48,770
costly really than than the conflict 

2838
01:59:48,770 --> 01:59:50,770
that we never want to have . And so 

2839
01:59:50,770 --> 01:59:52,992
we've got to invest in winning this day 

2840
01:59:52,992 --> 01:59:55,159
to day competition globally , not just 

2841
01:59:55,159 --> 01:59:57,381
regionally , but globally . And , and , 

2842
01:59:57,381 --> 01:59:59,270
and so the modest investments and 

2843
01:59:59,270 --> 02:00:01,381
things like humanitarian assistance , 

2844
02:00:01,381 --> 02:00:03,659
hospital ships , engagement , training , 

2845
02:00:03,659 --> 02:00:06,440
education are really key uh , to doing 

2846
02:00:06,440 --> 02:00:08,662
that . And we're we've got to have that 

2847
02:00:08,662 --> 02:00:11,170
capability that to bring it . But we're 

2848
02:00:11,170 --> 02:00:13,337
best when we bring it with a handshake 

2849
02:00:13,337 --> 02:00:15,730
and when we can in the future a hug . 

2850
02:00:16,120 --> 02:00:18,360
Thank you for recognizing that . Well , 

2851
02:00:18,360 --> 02:00:21,140
thank you again . We all we all as you 

2852
02:00:21,140 --> 02:00:23,307
can tell from the accolades early on , 

2853
02:00:23,307 --> 02:00:25,251
uh , you know , thank you for your 

2854
02:00:25,251 --> 02:00:27,600
service uh , and wish you the best . I 

2855
02:00:27,600 --> 02:00:29,822
want to thank all the committee members 

2856
02:00:29,822 --> 02:00:31,989
for their time . So mr carter , we are 

2857
02:00:31,989 --> 02:00:33,989
going to adjourn at this time . You 

2858
02:00:33,989 --> 02:00:36,211
standing in for the ranking member . So 

2859
02:00:36,211 --> 02:00:38,378
this concludes today's hearing and the 

2860
02:00:38,378 --> 02:00:40,489
subcommittee stands adjourned . Thank 

2861
02:00:40,489 --> 02:00:40,350
you all