afghanistan as well? >> well, the police development program has been operating since october 1, 2011 when the state department became the u.s. lead for police development. since october, our senior police advisers who are the most experienced group of police advisers ever fielded by the u.s. government, have had approximately 690 total mentoring and advising sessions with over 86 iraqi counterparts. and we've recently completed an assessment of iraq's ministry of interior and police services so that we can rell refine how we are monitoring and what kind of performance measurements we need. i think that cgar performs a valuable oversight service. we welcome helpful recommendations about how to make the police development program better. we are implementing the recommendations from the fall audit, and we're going to continue to look at

opportunities to improve the effectiveness of these programs. we think they are critical to the stability and security of iraq. so we take it very seriously, and we take recommendations from cgar and others very seriously as well. >> and finally, in my remaining time, i just want to add my voices to others that -- about our continued effective and full engagement at the u.n. certainly not a perfect body but one that certainly there have been some successes there vital for our security and economic interest and appreciate those continued efforts. >> thank you. >> thank you very much. mr. shabbot, the chairman of the subcommittee on middle east and south asia is recognized. >> thank you, madam chair. madam secretary, because of limited time, i would like to raise three issues and then i give you my remaining amount of time to address them. first iran. on the subject of the iranian nuclear program, the fiscal year

2013 congressional budget justification notes that, quote, the bureau of near eastern affairs will maintain pressure through sanctions to encourage iran to return to the negotiating table, unquote. this policy, however, is essentially the same unchanged iran policy that the administration has had since it took power back in january of 2009, engagement and pressure. on july 12, 2009, over two and a half years ago, you stated that, quote, we understand the importance of offering to engage iran in giving its leaders a clear choice. the opportunity will not remain open indefinitely, unquote. and we enter your -- excuse me, as we enter year 4 of this policy, it seems to me to be painfully obvious that this administration's policy is not only the same but that it's failed to achieve the core objective: persuading the regime and tehran to abandon its pursuit of a nuclear weapons

capability. just this morning in your testimony before the house appropriations subcommittee on foreign operations, you said that you believe we are making progress on the sanctions front. my question is, how have these sanctions actually altered the iranian regime's calculation about its nuclear program? and let me say i don't think merely getting them to the table is enough. we've seen numerous times that the regime in tehran uses negotiations as a delaying tactic and that a willingness to negotiate does not equal a willingness to make concessions. second, i'd like to ask you about iraq. within hours of the departure of the final u.s. convoy, a political crisis started occurring in iraq which, if not checked, has the potential to throw the entire country back into sectarian civil war that we spent years working to resolve. many iraqis continue to die in

daily attacks across the country, and according to one report, our influence over the m malaki government has dwindled significantly. they note, quote, renewed sectarian conflict seeking to fill a vacuum left by u.s. disengagement would pose a significant threat to u.s. influence in the region, unquote. it seems undenial that the continued presence of even a modicum of u.s. troops would have resulted in far more stability and security than we are seeing now. given our lack of a military presence and our diminished diplomatic leverage, how does the administration plan to deal with the current deterioration on the ground in iraq? finally, madam secretary, if i may, i'd like to briefly touch on the issue of outstanding claims against the government of saudi arabia. in the last 20 years or so, thanks in large part to executive branch of pressure, a number of previously unsettled

cases involving more than a dozen american firms totalling somewhere in the neighborhood of $500 million have been resolved. i learned last year that at least one such unsettled claim with the saudis remains. despite continued efforts by the party, gibson hill, the u.s. government and repeated requests from congress, the claim in the '70s and '80s and totalling more than $30 million still has not been settled. i discussed the case with the saudi minister when i met him in rihad last year and asked him to expeditiously remove this claim. this claim is of significant importance to an american company and their workers and it should be important to the reputation of the saudi government, which i'm sure it does not want to be known as one which does not pay its bills. you've got about a minute for all that, madam secretary.

>> i'll take the last one because that's shorter and then get back to you on the important questions concerning iran and iraq. the state department is well familiar with the gibson hill contract dispute. it's been raised at high levels for a number of years. at the request of counsel for hill international, the state department recently conducted a review of all of our records in this matter. we have a standing invitation to officers of hill international to come in and discuss the results of this review, to bring not only representatives but the counsel of the company. we regularly meet with representatives of hill international because they still do business in saudi arabia. in fact, they do quite a bit of business. they come in and talk to us about commercial ventures and business climates, so if they wish to come in and talk to us about our review of the records, we stand ready to do so.

>> thank you very much, mr. shabbot, thank you, madam secretary. [ foreign language ] >> now, that was easy enough for everybody to understand. mr. sears? >> thank you, madam chair. madam secretary, thank you for being here and thank you for the service you give this country. you certainly make us proud, and i don't know how you do it, but every time i see you, you're in a different country. it's amazing. i also want to commend the administration for standing firm. cuba not participating in the summit of the americas. and i also wish to add that if we could use some of our pull with the oas, maybe they could speak up a little louder about the houuman abuses that are occurring in cuba currently. with that it brings me to alan gross, and i know you mentioned

alan gross before, but there are no negotiations going on for a swap of the cuban spies with alan gross? i know there was discussion a few days ago, and i was just wondering if you know of any kind of negotiation for a swap? >> well, i have to say that the continuing imprisonment of alan gross is deplorable, it is wrong, it is a violation of human decency as well as human rights. and at every single meeting that we possibly can arrange, we raise this issue. we call people around the world to raise this issue because mr. gross deserves to come home. at no point, however, has the united states government been willing to give any unilateral concessions to the castro regime or to ease sanctions as a means to secure mr. gross' release.

we think this should be done as a matter of humanitarian concern as evidence that, you know, the castro regime is willing to demonstrate that it is moving in a different direction, but it hasn't happened yet. so we have not had any success in our diplomacy. we would like to see mr. gross home, but we have made no deals, we've offered no concessions and we don't intend to do so. >> thank you. i would also like to associate myself with my colleague, chris smith, on the human rights abuses, especially what's going on in egypt with the christians. i have a big population of christians in my district, and they're very concerned about the family members they have back home, and i hope we continue to speak up on their behalf. i also -- i know you didn't address this, but if we could use our leverage with the oas to speak up more on human

rights abuses, that would be great, and one of the things that is my pet peeve, i know that the state department operation funding for iraq has been reduced. i think this year is going to be $4.8 billion. and i know that the department of defense also has reduced from 9.6 to 2.9, almost $3 billion. i just wondered if any of that money is being used for infrastructure rebuilding in iraq. we have an infrastructure in the u.s. that's falling apart. i was just wondering how any of this money is going to be used? do you know? >> well, congressman, as you know, we have dramatically scaled back on what we spend in iraq, primarily because the military has left in accordance with agreements that were negotiated by the prior administration, and now what we are focused on is our civilian president, so we don't fund

iraqi infrastructure any longer. and what was funded was primarily on the military side, not sthe civilian side. >> getting back to cuba on my last issue, we have a criminal who killed a state trooper in new jersey, joe ann chesamar. she's been living in cuba for 20 years. she shot a state trooper point blank, and any time i'm back in the states and i run into the state troopers, they want me to raise this issue to see if the state department, when you meet with cuba, or when you do, your conversations with some of the cuban counterparts. is the issue of joann chesamar ever raised, or is it a forgotten issue? >> it will now be raised if it hasn't been raised, and i thank you for raising it. because i well remember that terrible case, and i'm confident

it has been raised, but i will assure you and the state troopers in new jersey, it will continue to be raised in the future. >> okay. madam secretary, thank you for your service to this country. >> thank you so much. my florida colleague, mr. mack, the chairman of the subcommittee on the western hemisphere, is recognized. >> thank you, madam chair, and i also would like to thank the secretary for being here and making herself available to questions from the committee. i want to go and continue to explore the keystone xcel pipeline. but i first, just for a point of clarification for everyone, we would much rather, as a policy in the united states, buy oil from our friends skpal liand al canada than we would from venezuela. would you agree with that? >> yes. yes. and we do buy, as you know, a lot of oil from canada. >> if we had the option to stop buying oil from venezuela and

get more oil from canada, that is also a policy that we would pursue, wouldn't it? >> well, obviously, we would rather buy oil from friendly countries, and we are doing everything we can to diversify our oil supply, including producing more oil here in the united states, which is all to the good. >> so why the flip-flop on the keystone xcel pipeline? >> i don't think there was any flip-flop, congressman. i think this was always a matter that had to be evaluated in accordance with legal and regulatory standards. certainly energy security considerations was a key factor but not the only factor. there was a lot of concern on the part of one state through which the pipeline traveled. >> and on that note, your environmental impact statement approved the original route and now there's been an agreement

upon another route that the governor and others have come out and supported, correct? >> well, i think what the finding was is that there was minimal environmental disruption, but the national interest consideration had not yet been finalized, which is why a state department representative spanned out across the states affected, and they were quite large and contentious and emotional meetings in nebraska and a plea by the governor and everyone else that a different route be considered. once that was requested -- and it was complicated because nebraska didn't have legislation that really got it into the business of judging routes before, but they were concerned because of the, you know, the sand hills and the like. once they demanded a different route and then there was an effort to work out a different route, the congress, of course, through an amendment to the

payroll tax cut, said, no, you have to make a decision right now. and legally, there was no alternative but to deny the permit. we did not recommend to the president that the answer be no, but that the presidential permit for the project be denied at that time because there would have been, i think, at a conservative estimate, several hundred lawsuits if there had been any other decision made, which would have pushed the decision, whatever it might be, far into the future. >> so are you prepared to do it now, then? >> we have no pending application now. there's no pending application. >> if you had an application, would you approve it now? have all the other scenarios been -- >> congressman, we would have to go through the process because it would be a new application. now, what transcanada is doing is announcing that -- >> because my time is limited, if i can. i mean, even the former president bill clinton says embrace it.

and we need to move forward with the keystone xcel pipeline. >> he's a very smart man. but he, unfortunately, is not bound by the laws and regulations any longer to the united states to make decision that follow a certain procedure, and that's what we have to do. >> so is it a mistake for the former president to say embrace it? >> of course not. this is america. people say they embrace it, people say they hate it. our job is to take a very clear-eyed look at what the fact are. there is no pending application. >> did the white house ask you to delay the process? >> no. no. we -- our job was to make a recommendation. >> here's where i have the problem. because in conversations that you and i have had, and also in front of committees, you have

led us to believe it's something the state department was going to approve. and it just seems a little fishy to me that at the height of this thing that it seems that the president found a way to wiggle out of it and wants to make you the scapegoat. and i don't understand why -- the facts don't mesh up. >> well, you know, congressman, that's just not how we see it. i think that the people in the state department, i was fully and regularly breached on the department review's process. i fully support the recommendation that the department made. this is a difficult decision for the state department to make because most other pipelines are not within the purview of the state department. we don't have the kind of staff

experience, expertise and numbers that you have in other places with the united states government. but under the laws, if that pipeline crosses an international border, then it's our responsibility. so what transcanada is doing is announcing they're going to start building parts of the pipeline that don't cross the international border. but i have to defend the process that the state department went through which was fully in accordance with the laws of the united states. >> thank you very much, mr. mack, madam secretary. another florida colleague, mr. deutsch of florida. >> thank you, madam chairman. madam secretary, thank you for being here. it is safe to say that certainly here on the hill and around the world, you are extraordinarily respected for the job you do, and i particularly would like to thank you for your leadership in critical areas of instability in the middle east, preventing a nuclear armed iran, human rights and your continued advocacy for foreign assistance. i would like to talk first about

syria. and rather than continue the discussion that you've had already on what -- what happening now has to end, i would like to talk about what's happening at this moment. just today it was reported that 23 people were killed when syrian troops ambushed a group trying to smuggle western journalists out of the country. i don't know whether the body of marie colvin, the american who wrote for the sunday times of london, whether that body has been recovered. if you have information, i would welcome that. the same with the french photographer. the fact is even as we talk about the big picture in syria, the humanitarian situation deted deteriorates daily. food and medicine is not being delivered to civilians. it's a tragic situation for the

people of syria, and i'd like for you to address that, and specifically what you can do and what we can do to alleviate those concerns now and to convince the russians and the chinese to, notwithstanding their views on the assad regime, to at least support a humanitarian cease fire and put pressure on assad to permit a humanitarian cease fire so that the people of syria can at least receive the basic food stuffs and medicine they desperately need. >> congressman, i share your concern and your outrage. every day that goes by just compounds the crimes against humanity committed by this regime and their security forces. when we met in tonesia last friday, i announced a $10

million to an assistance project. secondly, to keep working with the opposition so they get stronger, more effective and so they're inclusive and they represent all syrians, and thirdly, to keep pressing for a political resolution. and the arab league plan, which called for assad to step aside, is the plan that people feel most comfortable pushing. you know, the fact is, access is a terrible problem. there is not even a willingness to the part of the assad regime to let the syrian red crescent in to pick up bodies, to deliver medical supplies and provisions, and they effectively not only block such aid, but they target those who are trying to provide it. so we see a brutal use of violence against the people of syria and everyone trying to help them. so we're looking with our allies, particularly in the neighborhoods, those who have

borders, how do we get this aid in? how do we protect people who are trying to put it in? and we're going to continue to do everything we can not only to help get that aid in but pressure the assad regime, and we are working actively to persuade the russians and the chinese that at the very least they ought to support humanitarian assistance. put aside the political disagreement we have about supporting a leader who have murdered so many of his people with artillery. let's focus on how we help the syrian people. so that's our goal right now. >> i appreciate that. switching gears in the remaining time i have, it had been, i believe, misreported that what was going to be the largest joint military exercise between the united states and israel had been canceled because of the decision made by the administration. it was later reported that it was a decision made by the israelis. if you could speak to the reason for that cancellation, what will come next and whether, in terms

of security cooperation, that type of joint military exercise, why it's important and whether it's consistent with other military exercises like that that we've engaged in. >> of course, d.o.d. is the agency to whom such a question should be directed, but i believe it is either in the process or has already been rescheduled. we have upped our security assistance to israel. as i said earlier, president netanyahu calls our assistance from the obama administration unprecedented, and those include realistic and ongoing military exercises which we think are very important. >> i appreciate that. madam chairman, if i may, just finally, madam secretary, please encourage you to continue to press for information about my constituent, robin levinson. it is of great importance in my community and i feel continued

to press. >> mr. barry is recognized. >> thank you, madam chairman, madam secretary. let me ask a question about egypt. in 1979 as a young person, i entered the sinai desert in a place where there was fighting between israel and egypt in 1973, and a twisted pile of rubble and concrete were scrawled the words, here is the war, here is the peace. i was there in a jubilant time where there was a celebratory atmosphere between the new relationship between the united states and egypt. they had broken that treaty and the courage of sadat and began to extend their hands in friendship. that left us with peace between the two countries. now that a change has occurred and a great deal of uncertainty and an unclear commitment to that path of peace, given the

deal that we put together and the amount of aid that we've given both to israel but to egypt as well, and now with the affrontery of the egyptian authorities holding, arresting americans who are simply there to help egyptians, what is the administration's position of temporarily suspending the aid package? >> well, congressman, first of all, in all of the discussions that we have had and that we are aware of that egyptian authorities have had with other countries, they remain committed to the camp david accords, which we think is in egypt's interests and internal in israel's interests, so we are mindful of the importance of ensuring the continuity of that peace and stability. and we don't want to prejudge what the new government will do. because i think it is fair to note there is no government yet.

they're in the process of putting in place a government, and the people who are still there but not elected or appointed by the new authorities can't really make decisions, yet there is no president or executive authority yet chosen. so i counsel patience because we still have to get to know who the government is. we're working hard through different channels to develop relationships with people who will be in the new parliament, for example. right now i can report to you there is an ongoing commitment to preserve the camp david accord. we're having some difficult bumps right now. we're hoping to resolve the ngo situation very soon. then i think we have to take stock of where we are and make a decision based on the facts. >> given certain tensions in the past with our egyptian relationships, i have always argued publicly that it was better to grab the hand of

friendship than hold it tighter to work through that. it gets a lot more delicate now when there is an unclear pathway to potentially upholding these agreements that have worked so well not only for the egyptians but for the israelis and for a decade, they have taken that camp david accord for granted but it really is a pathway to peace. let me turn quickly to the president's large resistance army comprehensive strategy. we voted unanimously in last year's state partnership lateralization act to allow for the deployment of military advisers and a reason to bring joseph koni to justice. i'm concerned, though, that multi-lateral interest is potentially dissipating now. i think cooperation between the governments in the region are critical. can you comment on this? >> first i thank you for authorizing, encouraging such a comprehensive u.s. strategy to bring this murderer to justice. as you know, small teams of u.s.

military advisers were deployed in december and january to forward locations in the lra-affected areas. the advisers are working to create more cooperation among regional militaries and enhance their capacity. although there are approximately only 100, we think they are force adders to what is already going on, and we have a clear goal which is to enable local forces to end the rein of terror. we think this small number of u.s. advisers can play an outside role in bringing about that conclusion. >> regional governments must be able to step in and assume the challenge moving forward. >> yes, starting with regional militaries but including regional governments. >> let me urge you as well, and i think this came up earlier, to speak on behalf of pastor

urakami who is guilty of the crime in iran for witnessing to his faith. the last time you were here, you talked very forthrightly about your desire, yet struggles, to talk about the need for religious freedom as new democratic ideals arise in -- >> i'll let you finish that thought, mr. fortenberry, but we're out of time. >> thank you, madam chair. >> you'll have to give her some chocolate, though. >> excuse me? >> you'll have to give her some -- >> oh, no. >> going back to my train of thought, i'll try. continuing to raise the issue as an example of how religious freedom is a natural right that is consistent with the ideas of all humanity. so i just urge you to not only try to save his life, but point to that as to how governments who are looking for more just human rights or better human rights conditions and more just forms of government must re