House Armed Services Committe
Subcommittee Chairman Meehan's Opening Statement --May 22, 2007
"Good morning, and welcome to this hearing of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
"Today, we continue our examination of the most pressing issue facing the country: the war in Iraq. In past weeks, the subcommittee has looked into the manning, training, and equipping of the Iraqi Security Forces and the U.S. military and police transition teams.
"In today's hearing we will receive testimony from witnesses on the command relationships and responsibilities of the Multi-National Corps-Iraq - called MNC-I - and the Iraq Assistance Group - called the IAG. Specifically, they will discuss the employment of Transition Teams with Iraqi Security Forces.
"Additionally, we will hear about the Multi-National Security Assistance Team-Iraq - called MNSTC-I - and its Civilian Police Advisory and Training Team - called CPATT. They are charged with training and equipping the Iraqi Police Service and managing training teams for the Ministries of Defense and Interior. CPATT also supervises the contractors who are International Police Liaison Officers and International Police Trainers working with the Iraqi local police.
"Other issues we want to address include the role that military and police unit readiness reporting plays in assessing the performance of Iraqi Security Forces. More importantly, we want to hear about the actions generated by these assessments, and how feedback is provided to Iraqi leaders. We want to hear our guests' frank appraisals of how the current structure for Transition Teams was developed and how future requirements are being determined and then communicated to the Services as force providers.
"Part of the reason for this hearing is the inability of the subcommittee to get documents and informed answers from witnesses in past hearings on Civilian Police Advisory and Assistance Training Team in particular, and the details on the command relationships in general. You may be aware that previous witnesses and briefers have had to take numerous committee questions for the record. You may not be aware than responses to questions for the record have been slow in coming or non-existent to date. I hope we do not have the same problem today.
"Our Members and the public should know, without disrespect intended towards these witnesses, that these were not the witnesses that we had hoped to hear from today. Because some of our other efforts have been delayed or blocked, we finally requested access to commanders whose plans, policies and assessment of progress are crucial to our understanding of the effort to transition security responsibilities to the Iraqi Security Forces. They were not made available, so we asked for their deputies or any knowledgeable staff officer. None were made available and no alternatives were suggested. Then we asked for knowledgeable staff officers from Central Command Headquarters in Tampa. We were told none was capable of providing testimony.
"We were offered instead a possible CODEL for eight Members late in June, which we will appreciate but is really much delayed in contributing to important debates in this House. And I would remind the committee that a staff delegation arranged for mid April was cancelled. We were also offered access to Lieutenant General Dempsey when he returns in mid-June, which we will also appreciate but which also doesn't fulfill our requirements.
"So gentleman, I hope for all our sakes' that you are able to answer our questions today. Among them will be specific questions about the contents of a critical document that this subcommittee has not been able to obtain, the Joint Campaign Plan signed by the Commander of the Multinational Forces Iraq and the Embassy as it pertains to developing the Iraqi Security Forces. MNSTC-I also has an unclassified Campaign Plan for developing the ISF and that has not been provided to us either.
"Today's hearing will begin with testimony from Mr. Peter Velz who is from the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs for the Middle East. He will be followed by Brigadier General Michael Jones from the Joint Staff. He is the Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs for the Middle East.
"To encourage discussion, I would like to follow the same less-formal procedures today as we have in our previous sessions. I have talked with our distinguished Ranking Member, and he has agreed to dispense with the 5-minute rule during today's hearing, but I would ask my colleagues not to monopolize the witnesses. I will try to alternate in recognizing members between the Majority and Minority.
"I would like to remind everyone that this is an open hearing so no classified information will be discussed. However, if necessary, when we are finished here we can retire to a separate room for a classified discussion for just members and cleared staff.
"Welcome again to our witnesses. We're looking forward to your remarks. We will take your whole text for the record, but I ask that you keep your prepared remarks fairly brief so we can get to our questions.
"Now, I would like to turn to my colleague, Mr. Akin, our ranking member, for any opening remarks he might have."
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