and i would add to that that wisely the united states deci decided -- >>> this is the first hearing of the subcommittee of the national security to examine the special inspector general for afghan reconstruction high risk list of major construction programs in east afghanistan. that are at risk for waste, fraud and abuse. i will now recognize myself to give an opening statement. good afternoon, everyone. i want to welce

and i would add to that that wisely the united states deci decided -- >>> this is the first hearing of the subcommittee of the national security to examine the special inspector general for afghan reconstruction high risk list of major construction programs in east afghanistan. that are at risk for waste, fraud and abuse. i will now recognize myself to give an opening statement. good afternoon, everyone. i want to welcome all of the new members to the committee. and especially i want to personally welcome and congratulate my friend the gentleman from georgia who joins me as the ranking member on the subcommittee. congratulations or condolence, i'm not sure which it is. back in 1947, senate foreign relations committee chairman in calling for bipartisanship on the issue of national security asserted on the senate floor that, quote, politics stops at the water's edge. today more than 70 years later, the international security environment is more complex and dangerous than ever. states with aspirations such as china, russia and iran all threaten to undermine the democracy and the internati