With so many concerns about who the opposition is, who we are working with, and whether Syria will break into fragments, first and foremost what the Administration's goal is in Syria and how the Congress can help achieve it.
Ambassador Ford, I join Chairwoman Granger in welcoming you this morning. I thank you for your service.
The violent conflict in Syria has resulted in a staggering humanitarian catastrophe:
• more than 70,000 lives have been lost,
• 4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and
• an estimated 3 million people displaced, and 1 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries.
Those numbers are staggering and are increasing every day. The logistical and security-related obstacles to distributing aid have left Syrians without access to food, water, electricity, and other basic needs, and now we are hearing disturbing reports of Syrian women and girls being assaulted, trafficked, or sold into marriage.
If the humanitarian situation is not bad enough, we are now seeing signs that indicate a sectarian and ethnic conflict is emerging. This is of great concern to me, and I hope you will address what plan the Administration has to secure Syrian conventional and chemical weapons.
I am also very concerned that as this conflict drags on it has allowed terrorist organizations, such as Hezbollah and Al Qaeda, the ability to recruit new members, develop new alliances, and establish bases of operations against the United States and our allies.
Secretary Kerry recently stated in Rome, "...that the Syrian Opposition Coalition is the legitimate representative of the Syrian people..." With so many concerns about who the people in the opposition are, who we are working with on any given day, and whether Syria will break into fragments, first and foremost we need to hear from you what the Administration's goal is in Syria and how the Congress can help achieve it.
In addition, the incursion in Iraq last week, and the abduction of UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights, begs the questions:
• What are the prospects for a full-fledged regional spill-over of the conflict?
• What are the prospects that an enduring conflict leaves areas open for violent extremists to exploit?
• And what is the likelihood of power struggles within the opposition leading to future civil warfare along sectarian lines?
I realize there are no simple answers to these questions. So, I look forward to your testimony and counsel on this serious humanitarian and security challenge.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
