House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton Opening Statement Hearing on U.S. European, Africa and Southern Commands Budget Request
March 13, 2008
"Today, the committee will address the posture of three commands representing significant geographic diversity: the U.S. European Command, or EUCOM, the U.S. Southern Command, or SOUTHCOM, and the new U.S. Africa Command, or AFRICOM. Our witnesses are General John Craddock, Commander of EUCOM; Admiral James G. Stavridis, Commander of SOUTHCOM; and General Kip Ward, Commander of AFRICOM. It's great to have each of you back here again today. At the outset, I want to thank you for your leadership - and thank the troops that you lead.
"General Craddock, I remain deeply concerned about our efforts in Afghanistan. There has been a great deal of discussion about NATO's ability to lead the fight there, hampered in part by the caveats that many of our NATO allies have placed on their troops. Recently, you said 'These caveats, like shortfalls, increase the risk to every soldier, sailor, airman and Marine employed in theater.' I couldn't agree more. I have serious concerns about these caveats and NATO's unfulfilled commitments in troops and funding for Afghanistan. Clearly, NATO must do more.
"But I also believe the United States can demonstrate better leadership in Afghanistan. We are deploying an additional 3,200 marines to shore up the fight in the South and train and equip the Afghan National Security Forces. But when our military and civilian leadership says that in Afghanistan, 'we do what we can', rather than what we must, I think that sends a strong signal to Europe that we ourselves are not completely committed to a successful outcome. I would like you to address what we as a nation can do to provide the right kind of leadership in Afghanistan, which would spur our NATO allies to do more.
"General Ward and Admiral Stavridis, our committee has given a great deal of thought recently to the roles and missions of the Armed Forces and weaknesses in the interagency system for dealing with national security issues. I note that both of your commands are undertaking groundbreaking work to integrate interagency partners. I would like to hear more about your experiences and whether you think a greater interagency presence in your commands can really contribute to your mission.
"Combatant commands, particularly SOUTHCOM, have excelled in providing short-term humanitarian emergency assistance after natural disasters "Y they should continue to do so. I am interested, however, in the emphasis that SOUTHCOM and the emerging AFRICOM are placing on the promotion of internal security, trade, and economic prosperity within your areas of responsibility.
"This committee has mandated that the Department of Defense undertake a comprehensive review of its roles and missions. Both of your commands represent areas where the traditional model of military action is much less relevant than newer concepts for stability operations. I would like to hear more from both of you as to how you believe your combatant command's can best use scarce military resources to assist partner nations in achieving internal and cross border stability, and what activities are inherently civilian and not part of the DOD's mission.
"Last, let me say a word about strategic risk. Our attention is so focused on Iraq, we are hard pressed to devote the necessary attention to emerging security issues in other parts of the world. Within the last month, we saw a serious effort to topple the government of Chad, and a brief but potentially serious border dispute between Columbia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. We must rebalance our military to be prepared for these sorts of unexpected challenges in the event that they turn into truly serious contingencies.
"Now, before I recognize you gentlemen for your testimony, I turn to my good friend and Ranking Member Duncan Hunter, for any statement he may wish to make."
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