we are live on capitol hill this morning for the senate foreign relations committee hearing on the crisis in syria. according to the latest un estimates 7500 people have been killed since the start of the anti-government uprising about a year ago. u.s. ambassador to syria robert ford is expected to testify along with assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs, jeffrey feldman. un humanitarian official was denied entry into the country yesterday. we expect this to gets under way shortly.

we're live in the senate office building, a senate foreign relations hearing is set to get under way on the syrian

conflict. while we wait, the u.s. senate has gavelled in about half an hour ago. senators will be spending most of the day debating the transportation bill, setting highway and transit programs and policy for the next two years. senators will vote at 11:30 now related to an amendment by senator roy blunt allowing employers and other insurance providers to decline koov raj of care they have a moral objection to. the senators office calls the amendment the respect for rights of conscience act. that's set for 11:30 east esh. you can see live coverage on c-span2. the house gaveled in at 9:00 this morning. they'll be working on a resolution authorizing oral histories of house members. it took part in the 1965 civil rights marches in alabama. you can see live coverage right now on c-span. this news to pass on from the associated press, andrew breitbart has died. his website announced today he passed away of natural causes in

los angeles early this morning. his death was con firld by joel pollack who said he was at that time hospital at the time. andrew breitbart was an outspoken critic of the mainstream media, behind the investigations to led to the resignations of former congressman anthony weiner and former agricultural commissioner sherry sherrod. andrew breitbart was 43 years old. >> bob, at some point i'm going to have to ask you to chair because i have to go back to the floor. >> [ inaudible ]. >> well, it's going to be later.

>> this hearing will come to order. thank you all. i apologize for being a moment late. i was over on the floor and a little delayed there. i'll have to go back there at some point in time. senator casey will chair at the point at which i will have to do that. we appreciate everybody coming here to discuss the on going situation in syria. as we all know, syria sits in the heart of the middle east straddling its ethnic and sectarian fault lines. all of the region's important powers have a direct interest in what happens in syria as do nonstate actors like hezbollah, hamas and others. al qaeda through its affiliate in iraq appears to be trying to take advantage of the unrest, chaos if you want to call it that, which is no surprise.

already as many as 9,000 civilians have died. many tens of thousands more have been displaced from their homes. in the syrian city of homs, there has been indiscriminate shelling for three weeks now. hundreds have died, and the city is running critically low on food and medical supplies. given the indiscriminate killing of its own citizens and given its back of the hand to the global community as well as to the regional powers that have tried to intervene, it seems clear that the assad regime is ultimately going to fall. but the longer the end game, the messier the aftermath and obviously the more complicated the in between. the prospect of a full fledged

sectarian civil war is a strike reminder that a terrible situation could become still much worse, with potentially devastating consequences for neighbors, israel, lebanon, jordan and adverse implications for the broader middle east. so the question being asked here in the congress as well as elsewhere in america and in the world is where do we go from here? america may have little direct leverage on syria, but the recent friends of syria conference in tunis was an important moment that could galvanize against the assad government. none of us should underestimate the global community having an impact on any renegade regime anywhere in the world when the full attention and focus of the global community is properly convened. the last year has shown that when the world acts with one voice, motivated by the cause of

freedom, a tyrant's grip on power doesn't seem so fierce. that is why the russian and chinese veto at the united nations security council was so disappointing because it actually extended to assad a political lifeline to continue to use violence against his own people. we need to encourage the russians and the chinese and certainly let them know that, while we would like their positive involvement in putting a halt to the conflict, we are able to do and prepared to do much more if they continue to block all progress at the security council. the arab league and gcc have ramped up their political and economic pressure. the eu and turkey -- turkey, interestingly enough, just a year ago, a close friend and supporter of syria, have broken and done the same. the un general assembly in

recent weeks voted 137-12 to condemn the crackdown. two weeks ago, the senate passed unanimously a resolution introduced by this committee, condemning the regime for its brutal crackdown and expressing solidarity with the syrian people. there are still serious questions about various opposition organizations, including especially the syrian national council and free syrian army. they share the goal of getting rid of assad and they've done -- they have traveled some distance in the course of the last year. but they have not yet unified in the way that the libyan transitional national council did. so i believe it's time for us to redouble our efforts to engage with syria's political opposition to try to shape their thinking, to understand it more fully, to identify more fully the leadership, to strongly

encourage them to coalesce into a coherent political force. with the creation of the friends of syria group, there is now a multi-lateral mechanism for supporting the syrian national council and other political groups with technical assistance. but it is true that many syrians themselves remain on the fence, especially members of the ala white christian and other minority groups. they are horrified by the regime's atrocities, but also terrified for the potential for broad scale sectarian strife. thus it is absolutely vital that the snc do everything it can to unify politically to put national aspirations ahead of personal ambitions, to categorically reject radicalism and reassure religious and ethnic minorities that they will enjoy full freedoms in a tolerant and pluralist post assad society.

the syrian opposition needs to understand that the international community's political support will ultimately be contingent upon their ability to speak with one voice that represents the full diversity of syrian society and also embraces the values that will bring the global community to its side. a debate has started in congress and in the region about whether and if so how to support the free syrian army. it is critical that we all proceed with extreme caution and with our eyes wide open. there are serious questions to be answered about the free syrian army, but it is not too soon to think about how the international community could shape its thinking or encourage restraint. we should encourage the free syrian army to subsume itself under the leadership of syria's political opposition. finally, we are all deeply concerned about the disposition of syria's biological and chemical weapons and its lethal

conventional weapons systems. i know the administration is fully engaged with respect to this particular challenge, and are working diligently to make sure there are contingencies to prevent these weapons from falling into the right hands. i would urge all of my colleagues to be fully supportive of those efforts. to help us work through the complexities of this situation -- and i want to emphasize this is not libya, this is not egypt, this is not tunis, this is a far more complicated and difficult proposition. but to help us work through those complexities today, we are joined by two of the most talented and accomplished members of america's diplomatic corps. i'm pleased to welcome assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs jeff feldman and former u.s. ambassador of syria robert ford, i should say ambassador, but not currently in country.

secretary feldman knows the region well, and having served as ambassador to lebanon, i think he understands as well as anybody the full implications this crisis could have. ambassador ford has worked tirelessly to engage with the people of syria during his tenure. ambassador, we want to all commend you on your courageous and important efforts that you made to distinguish between the clientitis that can sometimes embrace those abroad and your own connection to the values you represented. i think we all were very empressed by that. ambassador ford had to leave the country once in october because of threats to his own safety, but he returned and continued his efforts until the embassy closed last month because of the continue deterioration in security. we thank you both in advance for providing your insights and look forward to your testimony.

senator lugar? >> thank you very much, mr. chairman. i join you in welcoming assistant secretary feldman and ambassador ford to this committee. we do appreciate their leadership as events in syria have proceeded. ambassador ford and his team on the ground in syria were especially courageous and they deserve great credit for documenting evidence of the syrian government's aggression against its people despite substantial personal risks to themselves. our hearing today takes place amidst the deadly violence, the gross human rights violations and degradations of the assad regime continues to inflict on the syrian people. since our last hearing on syria in november, the death toll in this 11-month conflict has risen dramatically. we're confronted by horrific images of the depths to which assad would go to preserve his power, including targeting civilians, journalists, doctors,

workers, women and children. i welcomed a meeting in tunis last week of the friends of the syrian people that brought together 60 nations and international organizations. we should continue to focus attention on humanitarian needs in syria. the absence of russia and china from the meeting was an abrogation of their responsibilities in my judgment as permanent members of the united nations security council. events in security will impact united states national security and the interest of our close ally, israel. the outcome in syria will have deep implications for the internal politician of neighboring countries, ethnic conflicts in the middle east and broader strategic issues. terrorist groups are likely to attempt to take advantage of political instability and inner sectarian violence could spill overseer yeah's borders as groups settle old scores or

defend brethren from attacks. in the midst of this upheaval, we know syria has substantial stockpiles of chemical and conventional weapons that could directly threaten peace and stability throughout the region. our government should be focusing intelligence and counterpro live ration assets on containing this threat. the development of an opposition that speaks for most syrians would improve chances that the damage to the syrian people can be contained. some opposition voices are attempting to emerge. but at present the syrian opposition lax cohesion and a sufficiently defined political agenda. as a practical matter, it also lacks the physical space and technical means to mature, to over come its internal differences, and to develop a plan for democratic transition.

deep sectarian divisions outside influences from iran and elsewhere and the lack of a democratic political culture weigh heavily against the short-term emergence of unified opposition on which to base a tolerant democracy. this presents the united states with very limited options. clearly we must oppose the assad's aggressions against his own people and support international human efforts. we should work to limit any spillover effect generated by violence in syria. we should not over estimate our influence to shape events in the country at this point. further attempts by the united states or the west to closely manage the opposition could backfire in an environment where the government blames outside influences for syria's troubles. while not taking any options off the table, we should be

extremely skept cam about actions that could commit the united states to a military intervention in syria. under the constitution, any decision placing us as a party to armed conflict in syria rests with the congress. as you and others in the administration consider a way for ward together with our international partners, i encourage you to work closely with congress as plans evolve, particularly as the situation becomes more complex. i look forward to your testimony very much, and we are honored that you're with us today. thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you, senator lugar. mr. secretary, if you would lead off and then ambassador ford. thank you very much. your full testimony will be placed in the record. >> thank you, mr. chairman. chairman kerry, ranking member lugar, distinguished members of the committee, thank you for holding this important hearing. i appeared before your regional

subcommittee in november to discuss the crisis in syria. since that time, our european friends have joined us in sanctioning the central bank of syria impeding the financing of the regime's brutal crackdown. the eu has completed its implementation of its embargo on oil pur chases from syria halting a third of bashar's government revenues. the arab league suspended the membership with many states downgrading relations and freezing bank accounts. the arab league put forth a political transition period for syria. over 137 countries supported the un general assembly resolution condemning the syrian regime's violence and supporting the arab league transition plan. more than 60 countries and institutions met in tunis as friends of the syrian people to endorse the arab transition plan, to demand an immediate end to the violence and commit to practical steps to address the

syrian crisis. the syrian opposition in tunis articulated a clear, credible transition plan and addressed minority fears directly and convincingly. we announced $10 million in immediate humanitarian assistance with millions more from other countries. the un, the arab league appointed a joint high profile envoy with a mandate from the arab league initiative and un general assembly resolution. just this morning the un human rights council in geneva overwhelmingly passed a strong resolution, the council's fourth, essentially describing the situation in syria as a man-made humanitarian disaster. and we all know the identity of the man responsible for that disaster. these are just some of the examples of regional and international resolve. nevertheless, as both of you have described, we've also seen the assad regime has intensified

its vicious attacks against the syrian people. the situation is, frankly, horrific including indiscriminate artillery fire against entire neighborhoods. today's reports from homs are truly alarming. large numbers of syrians are living every day under siege, deprived of basic necessities including food, clean water and medical supplies. women and children are wounded and dieing for lack of treatment. innocent people are detained and tortured and their families left to fear the worst. yet despite the regime's brutality, the people of syria dmon straight enormous courage. their determination to continue protesting for their rights, mostly still peaceful protests, is an inspiration and a testimony to the human spirit. now, as assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs

watching the upheavals in the arab world i'm humble enough to say that we don't know for sure when the tipping point, the breaking point will come in syria. but it will come. the demise of the assad regime is inevitable. it's important that the tipping point for the regime be reached quickly because the longer the regime assaults the syrian people, the greater the chances of all-out war in a failed state. all of the elements of u.s. policy towards syria are channelled toward accelerating the arrival of that tipping point. as i refer to at the start through the friends of the syrian people group, we are translating international consensus into action. we are galvanizing international partners to implement more effective sanctions and to deepen the regime's isolation. we're supporting the arab leagues, and now the un general

assembly's call for an immediate transition in syria, moving ahead with humanitarian assistance for the syrian people demanding access be granted. we're engaging with the syrian opposition on their vision for syria's future, a proud and democratic syria that upholds the rights and responsibilities of all of its citizens regardless of their religion, their gender or their ethnicity. now, together we're working to persuade frightened communities inside syria that their interests are best served by helping to build that better syria, not by casting their lot with a losing regime, a corrupt and abusive regime which has been a malignant blight in the middle east for far too long. the goal of the opposition and the friends of the syrian people alike is as follows. a syrian-led political transition to democratic

government based on the rule of law and the will of the people with protection of minority rights. i would like to close my opening statement by echoes this committee's praise of my fellow witness and friend, ambassador robert ford. ambassador ford's courageous actions on the ground in syria these past months have been a great credit to him, to the foreign service and to the united states. he repeatedly put himself in harm's way to make it clear that the united states stands with the people of syria and their dream of a better future. i want to thank this committee for its leadership in supporting his confirmation. >> thank you very much, mr. secretary. we appreciate that again. ambassador ford, maybe you shouldn't say anything, just stop. >> senator, mr. chairman and ranking member lugar, senators casey, car den, corker, thank you very much for this invitation to come and speak to the committee about syria today.

i don't want to do a long opening statement because i'm hoping we can open discussion about syria, but i would just like to say how much i appreciate this committee's support during my time in damascus several times we got messages from members of the committee's staff asking how we were doing, how my team was doing. i would just like to say that the team really appreciated those messages, especially during some of the tenser moments. it meant a great deal. i had a terrific team in damascus, and i really would like just to thank this committee for your support for our efforts. beyond that, i think the statement that ambassador feldman made is quite good. i'll stop there. thank you. >> well, thank you very much, mr. ambassador. that does give us an opportunity to get a good dialogue. we certainly appreciate it.

let me begin by asking both of you if you would share with us your perceptions of the state of the assad regime itself right now. are there any fishers? there have been some defek shuns, not at the highest level. there have been some excuses we understand of farious military figures, maybe others, as a deterrent to any plots or defection. what is your judgment about the current fragility if it is, indeed, that at all of an anna light family enterprise that has a lot to lose obviously? >> a couple of things i would say on that, senator. fir first, the assad regime is under greater stress now i think than it was even two or three months

ago. this is in part because the military is more challenged. there have been a steady stream of desertions. the military has so far retained its cohesion, the security forces have retained their cohesion, but they are under significantly more stress now, the first quarter of 2012, than they were, say, even as recently as three or four months ago. within the ruling circle, if i may call it that, i think there is greater concern. they are aware that the business community, for example, is very unhappy. they have changed several times on a dime some of their economic policies to try to placate an increasingly unhappy business community which is suffering because of the sanctions that we have imposed, that europe and now arab countries have imposed. they are i think also concerned

about their support on the street. so, in general, i think they understand that this is the biggest challenge during the 40 years of the assad maloof's family domination of syria. >> mr. secretary, do you want to add anything? don't feel compelled? >> just to refer back to that tipping point, the breaking point that i talked about in my opening statement. part of the regional and international community's calculation is to appeal to, as you talked about, senator, those people who haven't yet made up their minds to side with change but who don't like the way that assad -- don't like the direction assad is taking them. so a lot of what you see -- a lot of what you see coming out of meetings like in tunis are ways to appeal to the broader