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FEDERALhearing transcript

House Armed Services Committee Hearing on Middle East and Africa Military Strategy

Original title: [H.A.S.C. No. 116-10]NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES AND U.S. MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN THE GREATER MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

January 1, 2019

national securitymilitary operationsMiddle EastAfricacounter-terrorismforeign policy

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing provides the public record of the strategic priorities and operational challenges facing U.S. military forces in the Middle East and Africa, which directly impacts federal defense spending and foreign policy commitments.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

U.S. Military Personnel

The strategic directives and operational priorities discussed at this hearing influence the deployment and mission parameters for forces in the Middle East and Africa.

Department of Defense

The agency is responsible for implementing the policies and strategies reviewed by the committee.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2019.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The House Armed Services Committee held a hearing on March 7, 2019, to review U.S. military posture and national security challenges in the Middle East and Africa. The committee heard testimony from the commanders of U.S. Central Command () and U.S. Africa Command () regarding ongoing counter-terrorism efforts and regional stability.

Key Facts

  • The hearing took place on March 7, 2019, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
  • The session focused on U.S. military posture in the areas of responsibility for CENTCOM and AFRICOM.
  • Key topics included transnational terrorist threats in the Horn of Africa and West Africa.
  • The committee discussed efforts to build sustainable governments in Somalia and Libya.
  • The committee implemented a reverse-order questioning procedure, starting with the least senior members.
  • This was the final testimony before the committee for both General Votel and General Waldhauser.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of this hearing?
The hearing was held to review the current national security challenges and military activities conducted by the U.S. in the Middle East and Africa.
Who testified at this hearing?
The witnesses were General Joseph L. Votel (Commander, ), General Thomas D. Waldhauser (Commander, ), and Kathryn Wheelbarger (Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs).

Why It Matters

This hearing provides the public record of the strategic priorities and operational challenges facing U.S. military forces in the Middle East and Africa, which directly impacts federal defense spending and foreign policy commitments.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Transition in Questioning Procedure

The committee chairman explicitly changed the questioning order to start with the least senior members, a procedural shift from standard practice.

Adam Smith

Connected Entities

personKathryn Wheelbarger“Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs”Map →
personThomas D. Waldhauser“General, Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)”Map →
organizationHouse Committee on Armed Services“Congressional committee overseeing the Department of Defense”Map →
personAdam Smith“Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services”Map →
personJoseph L. Votel“General, Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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