as of december 7, usaid afghanistan has 180 american staff in the country, usaid expects to have a total of 333 americans on the ground early next year. we also have 136 afghans and 163rd country nationals on our staff in afghanistan. usaid currently has ten contracts and officers to focus on afghanistan and more than 57 contacting officers technical representatives on our staff in the country as well. our staff operate within a new initiative called afghan furs which others have referred to. the guiding principle is that afghans lead, not follow in their path to a secure and economically viable country. the program strives to buy afghan products, used afghans on firms for procurement and use-- whenever possible in order to build capacity in afghanistan. in conclusion afghanistan is hungry for development. the united states and coordination with international partners is providing jobs for the jobless, a voice to the voiceless, food for the hungry and hope for the hopeless. we know it will be difficult. we remain optimistic, even during weeks like this when five members of our team for t

- with usaid.reated this office to make it -- of ambassador holbrooke's in 1020 created this office. -- when he created this office. dod has three represent atives. i would also amplify the point about ambassador tony wayne in the field, who is the coordinating director for development and economic affairs since june. he oversees all u.s. government, non-military assistance. we have created a counterpart in pakistan to have the same coordination. he directs and supervises a wide range of sections, programs, agencies. there are 15, national-level working groups. not only do we believe we have to work towards as a coordinated injure agency to be successful. >> inter agency to be successful. >> i have another subcommittee to go to, so i am at your mercy. you can do whatever you want by unanimous consent. >> i would like us to vote on the health care bill by monday and go well for christmas. [laughter] will that work? >> maybe not at third >> i thought i would give it a shot. ho ho ho. senator kirk? >>

- with usaid.and parcel of ambassador robert's and 10 when he created this office to make it -- of ambassador holbrooke's in 1020 created this office. -- when he created this office. dod has three represent atives. i would also amplify the point about ambassador tony wayne in the field, who is the coordinating director for development and economic affairs since june. he oversees all u.s. government, non-military assistance. we have created a counterpart in pakistan to have the same coordination. he directs and supervises a wide range of sections, programs, agencies. there are 15, national-level working groups. not only do we believe we have to work towards as a coordinated injure agency to be successful. >> inter agency to be successful. >> i have another subcommittee to go to, so i am at your mercy. you can do whatever you want by unanimous consent. >> i would like us to vote on the health care bill by monday and go well for christmas. [laughter] will that work? >> maybe not at third >> i thought

usaid is increasing one-year contracts.signed with your subcontracting layers and more supervision. we're moving towards afghan contractors. international contractors that have a strong percentage of afghan personnel. this includes working with certified afghan ministries. the third category is the personnel divisions. state and eight are increasing their technical officers and program officers -- to ensure that contractors are performing according to standards. the fourth is the general civilian increases in the field. we have more than doubled the number of u.s. civilians deployed to the field this year. the more that are there, were the contracts are located, and their projects are happening, the more oversight we can provide. the fifth is the extra oversight mechanisms, and that is working in close concert and supporting the missions of the various inspectors general, the gao and other external reporting mechanisms. what i would say about corruption is that this is an issue that is at the core of our strategy in afghani

usaid. this is truly an impressivest. >> okay. general? >> the one point i would make, when you talk about military it may not look like what you traditionally think. we have military partnered with his. we're doing agricultural development, enabling civilian expertise. i think it's key we understand we're trying trying to do this with every part of our capacity that we have. >> thank you very much. >> the time of the general has expired. >> thank you, gentlemen, for appearing today. mr. ambassador, appreciate your emphasis on agricultural development. i think that's noteworthy. before my question, i want you all to succeed. the down side, gravity of the down side to not succeeding is very apparent. with that said, mr. ambassador, and this was touched upon a moment ago, your key to president obama as well as the potential for success of our military efforts. what changed? >> i wouldn't decide my views as pessimistic. concerns expressed. with the president's decision, we have a refined mission. resources matched against that and a properly

. >> ok, usaid, you are not putting your contracts into the data base. >> into which? >> spot.the fact that you had to ask was a problem. there is supposed to be one and everyone is supposed to be using it so there is transparency in all of the contracts that are outstanding in the work that are being -- is being done. >> we are putting contracts into spot. we're putting it at the company and organizational level. we have not putting individual names because of concern for the security of the individuals. of the 20,000 people who work under aid contract andts are afghans there is faced -- are afghans. there is concern for their security and privacy. in terms of all those are working for us, we have not as yet put those individuals into the system. >> let me ask, is the information that the army is putting in, i assume it is more comprehensive than what aid is putting in? >> i do not know what fayed is putting in, but the army requires -- what aid is putting in, but the army requires names of the contract in personnel in the data base. >> i think we need to resolve this. clearly

but the usda, usaid and state department experts serving alongside his battalion.e told her he was happy to supply whatever support these valuable civilians need and he said we need more of them. the president's strategy with congressional support will make that possible. now, i'd like to take a few moments to address how the recently completed strategic review impacts u.s./pakistan relations. as the president made clear in his speech last week our partnership is linked to our efforts in afghanistan. we're committed to a partnership with pakistan that is is built on a foundation mutual interest, mutual respect and mutual trust. we're not only strengthening pakistan the capacity to target the groups that threaten our countries but providing substantial resources to support democracy and development in pakistan. the president said going forward the pakistani people must know america will remain a strock supporter of pakistan prosperity and security long after the guns have fallen silent. so the great potential of its people can be unleashed. the united states is xmit

some affect usaid and we're concerned with getting usaid folk in touch with the people who are doingthat kind of planning. >> in terms of the plan, the recommendations that you made you know of anybody who spent any time working on those recommendations from the academy to see if they're implementing them or following through or responding? >> not very much. they're certainly interested in the numbers. i don't think they're using the plan. we are talking to the director general's office about having the academy take on another planning -- try to help -- don't feel proprietary about it if they can do it without us we don't need to be horning in. but we've got an awful lot of experience in the academy. an awful lot of knowledge. and we would like to find a way to work with them to make some of that knowledge, you know, tom pickerings joke and we would like to make some of that available to help with that effort. >> mr. chairman, i want to thank you. i don't have any other questions, but i -- this has been a great hearing. fire it up, mr. chairman. [laughter] >> thank you very much, sen

but the usda, usaid and state department experts serving alongside his battalion.e told her he was happy to supply whatever support these valuable civilians need and he said we need more of them. the president's strategy with congressional support will make that possible. now, i'd like to take a few moments to address how the recently completed strategic review impacts u.s./pakistan relations. as the president made clear in his speech last week our partnership is linked to our efforts in afghanistan. we're committed to a partnership with pakistan that is is built on a foundation mutual interest, mutual respect and mutual trust. we're not only strengthening pakistan the capacity to target the groups that threaten our countries but providing substantial resources to support democracy and development in pakistan. the president said going forward the pakistani people must know the state department is working closely with military partners to manage two programs.

it would normally be run by the state department or usaid. this is dangerous, and we see it taking place in the creation of a new command in africa. the goal is to establish bases all over africa to do this. so far, the african government has said, we do not what your bases here. the headquarters is in germany now. the headquarters for africom is in germany, and there is no sign that that will change anytime soon. but the policy of militarizing the u.s. relationship with africa through our efforts with africom is still going forward, and i think that is dangerous. host: as we start looking at facts and figures of how many barrels a day are coming from africa and, it is not deniable that this has become a strategic interest for us. but china has a big military presence there, as well. >> they have contractors. they have a huge economic presence. the question becomes, as it does in so many parts of a world, does having our soldiers present at bases that are often hated by local people, does that make us safer? i do not think so. host: him on th

some affect usaid in particular.e're concerned with getting our usaid folk in touch with the people doing that kind of planning. >> in terms of the plan, the recommendations you made, do you know if anybody's spending time looking at the recommendations from the academy to see if they are implementing them, following through or responding? >> not very much. they are certainly interested in the numbers. i don't think they are using the plan. we are talking to the director general's office about having the academy take on another planning -- try to help, don't feel proprietary about it. if they can do it without us, we don't need to be horning in, but we have a lot of experience in the academy and an awful lot of knowledge. we would like to find a way to work with them to make some of the knowledge -- you know, tom pickerings favorite joke, 200 members with 7,000 years of experience and we would like to make that available to help with the effort. >> mr. chairman, i want to thank you very much. i don't have any other q

we're engaged in humanitarian assistance in gaza and while it is true that usaid is not present in gaza, there is still a lot of u.s. assistance flowing in through this strip through u.n. and other manners and there is a lot we're doing to bring gazan students and others out of gaza to the west bank so they can continue to interact with their fellow palestinians and to engage in region-wise programs and exchange programs so by no means are we hands off trying to help the people of gaza. >> for two years both sides said no. he said i did not take the first know and i didn't take this and -- second amendment and take the ninth note. after 700 days they finally said yes. that is how the banks about the work he is doing so we are not giving up. [applause] i have to -- the issue of gaza is close to my heart because my relatives lives there. i was there in may. i cannot understand how this it can keep going and the u.s. concern and i away and say we are helping get you and in -- humanitarian aid. [applause] when user level of poverty people are living under and the way people look the other w

usaid. this is truly an impressivest. >> okay. general? >> the one point i would make, when you talk about military it may not look like what you traditionally think. we have military partnered with his. we're doing agricultural development, enabling civilian expertise. i think it's key we understand we're trying trying to do this with every part of our capacity that we have. >> thank you very much. >> the time of the general has expired. >> thank you, gentlemen, for appearing today. mr. ambassador, appreciate your emphasis on agricultural development. i think that's noteworthy. before my question, i want you all to succeed. the down side, gravity of the down side to not succeeding is very apparent. with that said, mr. ambassador, and this was touched upon a moment ago, your key to president obama as well as the potential for success of our military efforts. what changed? >> i wouldn't decide my views as pessimistic. concerns expressed. with the president's decision, we have a refined mission. resources matched against that and a properly

federal aviation administration, the department of state, usaid. this is truly an impressive effort. >> the one point i'd make is i agree with ambassador eikenberry, it may not look like what you traditionally think. we've got military partnered with his. doing agricultural development, enabling civilian expertise. i think it's key we understand we're trying trying to do this with every part of our capacity that we have. >> thank you very much. >> the time of the general has expired. >> thank you, gentlemen, for appearing today. mr. ambassador, appreciate your emphasis on agricultural development. i think that's noteworthy. before my question, i want you all to succeed. the down side, gravity of the down side to not succeeding is very apparent. with that said, mr.@@@ úx ú >> i wouldn't characterize my views as decidedly pessimistic. concerns expressed. with the president's decision, we have a refined mission. we have clarity at this point now, with what means we're going to use to move forward. resources are properly matched against that, if you ha

. >> when you both joined up in vietnam, we had 5,000 usaid personnel and 7500 including contractorsn vietnam. you have 3 or 400 today. my question is the defense department in the past since 2007 has cut its oda funding from 16% of overall oda to about 9%. has that money moved into the defense procurement or have you seen any of it flow over to you in order to do this civilian surge? and the monies intended to make it happen? it is about $1.5 billion. have you seen that? >> congressman, i'm not aware of that in terms of the accounts from department of defense to department of state. what i would tell you now is that i'm very satisfied with the development budget that we have. i've put in a request for additional development funds. and that's being looked at right now. but i'm comfortable with the level of development assistance that we're providing to afghanistan and i'm very comfortable with the buildup of civilians we have on the ground. >> i thank the gentleman. mr. lobiondo? >> thank you, mr. chairman. and general mcchrystal and ambassador eikenberry, thank you for being here, t

feel very compelled and i work very hard to help provincial reconstruction teams or civil corps or usaid, and it has been exciting to see that probably in the last three or four years mary there's been a huge levering curve. i think although a lot of the news is negative, i'm optimistic. i really think that in afghanistan things can get better, but it's going to take, you know, five or ten years and i guess the question is are we ready, do we want to make that commitment? and maybe you can answer this question but should we be there? i don't really know, but i do know that everywhere i go women especially ask us, please, help us educate our children. that's their number one request. >> host: well, the question to me, should we be there and actually e-mails from you over the years have convinced me, yes, we should be there. and i do have a fear, to tell you the truth about this 18-month timeline. i think it's a mistake to tell our enemy that we'll be leaving soon and what that means to something like you in all the good you're trying to achieve. i hope we revisit that because i think it's

he's relight on the international community and usaid to be supporting their plan. that's not to say that it is easy. but the work is building on a foundation that is an afghan-driven agriculture plan, that's true in other ministries as well. not true in every ministry. in terms of the level of u.s. civilian presence, when we started at the beginning of the year, there were roughly 320 civilians on the ground. by the end of january, we're going to be close to 1,000. that's a very big difference in terms of the amount of programming that we have going on, not just in kabul, but in all of the provincial areas, the district areas, where we'll be teaming up on a day to day basis. i think that you're going to see very substantial change in the progress made and it is all tightly coordinated in a civilian-military plan where the civilians are going in right when the military is created the space for them to work. >> senator wicker? >> thank you very much. gentlemen, senator isakson was pursuing a line of questioning with regard to corruption. let me follow along. presiden

but the usda, usaid and state department experts serving alongside his battalion. he told her he was happy to supply whatever support these valuable civilians need and he said we need more of them. the president's strategy with congressional support will make that possible. now, i'd like to take a few moments to address how the recently completed strategic review impacts u.s./pakistan relations. as the president made clear in his speech last week our partnership is linked to our efforts in afghanistan. we're committed to a partnership with pakistan that is is built on a foundation mutual interest, mutual respect and mutual trust. we're not only strengthening pakistan the capacity to target the groups that threaten our countries but providing substantial resources to support democracy and development in pakistan. the president said going forward the pakistani people must know america will remain a strock supporter of pakistan prosperity and security long after the guns have fallen silent. so the great potential of its people can be unleashed. the united states is xm

i am proud of where we have gone to pull together the review of all money spent, usaid in surplus, we're looking at together now. we are allowed to be part of the u.s. ided private. it is not perfect, i will not keep you. -- we are allowed to be a part of the usa ided project. it is not perfect, i will not get you. -- kid you. >> there will be problems if you do not state joined at the hip on this. i get the insurgency strategy, but i don't think the military would ever have in addition people to oversee large construction problems. that is why aid got into it. i want to be careful that we do not drift away, especially since you are working together and you are heading off to usaid where appropriate. >> thank you both for your service. i would make a recommendation to committee members -- go to the bottom confinement facility you have done a great job there -- the bagram confinement facility. you have done a great job there. i wish we had prisons like that in south carolina. a good detainee policy will help the war effort. you have done a good job there. narcotics support, some of the hy

and afghanistan to basically tell foreign service officers, civil service officers in both state and usaid if they went and spent their six months in one of those places, they would have the advantage of getting the next best assignment. if you wanted to end up in paris, you go to baghdad for six months, whether your experience and expertise was needed or not. we have painstakingly under the leadership of the deputy secretary matched each individual to the job that was required. we will triple the numbers that we have on the ground by early january. we have also required all of our civilians to train at camp canterbury in indiana, where our military members train -- membersatterbury. i think that we are learning a lot of lessons as we go, but you put your finger on one of our biggest problems. the funds that are acceptable to our military forces both in and immediately after combat operations are a tremendous tool for doing projects or winning the allegiance. it is even being used as it was in iraq for enticing people off the battlefield, as you know. there is nothing comparable on the civ

what it is true that usaid is not maintain a presence in gaza , but there is a lot that we are doingo help the people of gaza. we are also engaged in the work of trying to shape the opinion environment so that leaders -- i don't have to tell you that domestic politics are really difficult. we need to create an atmosphere where leaders feel that they have more flexibility to take the tough decisions that they need to take. we are to be there every day. senator mitchell talks about his experience in northern ireland. the way that he describes it is that for two years, both sides kept saying no. he said that he did not take the first note or the sec memo or the ninth no -- the first note, or the sec no or the nine no -- the first no, the sec that no, or the ninth no -- the second no, or the ninth no. -- >>> the way everybody looks e other way to allow these tunnels to exist so that the sheep cost $450 for one family. this is egypt on the one side and this is his role on the other side. -- israel on the other side. you have been doing what they can to keep that under control. -- you have

usaid the electronic medical record and we are talking about hospital profits but a lot of big city hospitals, and we are not talking about public hospitals, the voluntary hospitals the money doesn't necessarily going to things like electronic medical records. those things would not be reimbursed so again we go back to the whole system paying for certain things and not paying for others and the other thing is it is chaos. you walk into any hospital and even something as simple as following the patient through the system, you look at the average pace in charge after they been in the hospital for a week, it is like moby dick. not the edited. and you'll have everybody on different schedules. the residents are owned one schedule and the nurses are three days a week. physicians come and go. sometimes usoa haass bill's. what you have is there is no unified body to put these things into place which is exactly what you need when you would really need in any hospital system would be people going through, ergonomics that the experts going through mansingh this is what we need to happen because everybod

we don't spend serp money without their team on it and we're allowed to be part of the usaid part. it's not perfect, senator. >> i think that's great. i'm going to continue to keep a very close eye on that. i think there are -- there's going to be some problems if you all don't stay joined at the hip on this. i don't think they were trained to oversee large construction projects. i want be to careful that we don't drift too far away, especially fli you're work together. i hope you're handing off to aid where appropriate. thank you. >> senator graham? >> thank you, mr. chairman. thank you both for your service. when our colleagues go over to visit, i would just make a recommendation to the committee members. if you get a chance, go to the bagram confinement facility. general mcchrystal, you have done a great job. that is a, you know, i wish we had jails like that in south carolina. i mean it really is a very impressive facility. and i want to commend you and your staff and the embassy working together to come up with new detainee policy i think will help the war effort. you've done

he's relight on the international community and usaid to be supporting their plan.at's not to say that it is easy. but the work is building on a foundation that is an afghan-driven agriculture plan, that's true in other ministries as well. not true in every ministry. in terms of the level of u.s. civilian presence, when we started at the beginning of the year, there were roughly 320 civilians on the ground. by the end of january, we're going to be close to 1,000. that's a very big difference in terms of the amount of programming that we have going on, not just in kabul, but in all of the provincial areas, the district areas, where we'll be teaming up on a day to day basis. i think that you're going to see very substantial change in the progress made and it is all tightly coordinated in a civilian-military plan where the civilians are going in right when the military is created the space for them to work. >> senator wicker? >> thank you very much. gentlemen, senator isakson was pursuing a line of questioning with regard to corruption. let me follow along. president k

travis gardner, usaid, 38 years old from nebraska. in the same convoy out there doing their job as agriculture specialists with the u.s. army. i talked to them both on the phone that night, asked how they were doing. they said doing fine. they were just out there doing their job with the u.s. army. we should be enormously proud of the u.s. swilling serving alongside our soldier, sailors, airman and marines. >> thank you very much. i'm informed that the witnesses have a hard stop at 12:30. with that we are into the five-minute rule. mr. reyes? >> thank you. thank you, mr. chairman, and general and ambassador, thank you for being here with us this morning. the president commented in his speech at west point that we are being assisted by 43 countries. as we go around the world trying to convince other countries to join in the fight, because truly this fight against al qaeda, somehow we have to convince the rest of the world that it's in everyone's best interests to assist. there are two issues that are brought up. the first one is that s

what it is true that usaid is not maintain a presence in gaza, but there is a lot that we are doing to bring students and others to the west bank so that they can continue to interact with their fellow palestinians. there will also engage in programs. by no means are we hands-off in terms of trying to help the people of gaza. we are also engaged in the work of trying to shape the opinion environment so that leaders -- i don't have to tell you that domestic politics are really difficult. we need to create an atmosphere where leaders feel that they have more flexibility to take the tough decisions that they need to take. we are to be there every day. senator mitchell talks about his experience in northern ireland. the way that he describes it is that for two years, both sides kept saying no. he said that he did not take the first note or the sec memo or the ninth no -- the first note, or the sec no or the nine no -- the first no, the sec that no, or the ninth no -- the second no, or the ninth no. >> the way everybody looks the other way to allow these tunnels to exist so that the sheep c

it would normally be run by the state department or usaid. this is dangerous, and we see it taking place in the creation of a new command in africa. the goal is to establish bases all over africa to do this. so far, the african government has said, we do not what your bases here. the headquarters is in germany now. the headquarters for africom is in germany, and there is no sign that that will change anytime soon. but the policy of militarizing the u.s. relationship with africa through our efforts with africom is still going forward, and i think that is dangerous. host: as we start looking at facts and figures of how many barrels a day are coming from africa and, it is not deniable that this has become a strategic interest for us. but china has a big military presence there, as well. >> they have contractors. they have a huge economic presence. the question becomes, as it does in so many parts of a world, does having our soldiers present at bases that are often hated by local people, does that make us safer? i do not think so. host: him on th

the united states through usaid and u.s. southern command has provided significantly emergency relief and assistance to the people of el salvador in the wake of hurricane ida. the president of el salvador and his government have worked closely with the united states to assist the affected populations. let me add that i attended the inauguration of the president in el salvador with secretary of state hillary clinton just a few months ago, and i am glad that our governments are working so closely together. let me say that i have great confidence in the president as he takes on these crucial disaster relief efforts. i had the pleasure when i attended the inauguration of the president with secretary clinton of meeting with then president-elect fuenas at the summit of the americas in trinidad as well. i have discussed things with him twice. as i have said, the u.s. and other countries have already done a great deal to assist el salvador during this difficult time, but i believe much more remains to be done. i urge my colleagues t

with the civilian question you asked, secretary gates' comments about the long-term need to rebuild usaid and state we all very much believe that. but notwithstanding that, there's a very large effort underway to get civilians to afghanistan. we're tripling the number of civilians in place by early next year, we'll have almost 1,000 people on the ground. they're leveraged 10 to 1 because local nationals are hired either directly or through contract or ngo arrangements. so that's a fairly substantial number of people. you're talking about 10,000 civilians. civilians don't come in battalions. they come in 1s and 2s. you have a dozen civilians in a district -- u.s. civilians they can organize an awful lot of activities. they can handle the disbursement of monies and they are on the ground and deal with some of these corruption issues because they are there to surprise the way the monies are given out in terms of the projects being funded. this is very hard work. i wouldn't sit here today and say that it's going to be easy to get enough civilians to do all the work that we have to do in afgha

it would normally be run by the state department or usaid.us, and we see it taking place in the creation of a new command in africa. the goal is to establish bases all over africa to do this. so far, the african government has said, we do not what your bases here. the headquarters is in germany now. the headquarters for africom is in germany, and there is no sign that that will change anytime soon. but the policy of militarizing the u.s. relationship with africa through our efforts with africom is still going forward, and i think that is dangerous. host: as we start looking at facts and figures of how many barrels a day are coming from africa and, it is not deniable that this has become a strategic interest for us. but china has a big military presence there, as well. >> they have contractors. they have a huge economic presence. the question becomes, as it does in so many parts of a world, does having our soldiers present at bases that are often hated by local people, does that make us safer? i do not think so. host: him on the democrats line

what it is true that usaid is not maintain a presence in gaza, but there is a lot that we are doing to bring students and others to the west bank so that they can continue to interact with their fellow palestinians. there will also engage in programs. by no means are we hands-off in terms of trying to help the people of gaza. we are also engaged in the work of trying to shape the opinion environment so that leaders -- i don't have to tell you that domestic politics are really difficult. we need to create an atmosphere where leaders feel that they have more flexibility to take the tough decisions that they need to take. we are to be there every day. senator mitchell talks about his experience in northern ireland. the way that he describes it is that for two years, both sides kept saying no. he said that he did not take the first note or the sec memo or the ninth no -- the first note, or the sec no or the nine no -- the first no, the sec that no, or the ninth no -- the second no, or the ninth no. >> the way everybody looks the other way to allow these tunnels to exist so that the sheep c

these are civilians not only from the department of state, as you know, but usaid, development specialists department of agriculture specialists around the country, members of the federal bureau of investigation mentoring and helping establish an afghan fbi. we have brave members of the drug enforcement administration, members of the federal aviation administration, a really impressive array. we've had innovations over the course of the past six months in which the way that we organize our civilian efforts and multiply the effects of wherever they are through hiring afghans and then, through those afghan organizations, amplifying the effects. we have very close collaboration with general mcchrystal in the integration of these efforts. projecting ahead, congressman, we are set to build to 1,000. right now, we're in discussions with the -- with the department about what additional capabilities and numbers will we need on the ground. that's also in collaboration with general mcchrystal, understanding his campaign so we can support that. i don't have an exact number for what we'll grow to, but

in agriculture, members of the usaid said on the team, the department of agriculture, and from general mcchrystal command, we have the national guard sitting on their, and more from military command. i could go through all of these various functional groups that we have established. that is at the national level, horizontal, but vertical leap from kabul all the way down to the district, we have a fully integrated seville -- civil- military integration. >> do you want to add to that? the lead integration at the staff level to work on the next phase of the plan? >> we absolutely do, on a daily basis. >> thank you both. thank you very much. >> center with her -- senate wicker. >> when there is fighting near the pakistan-afghan border area, and we are engaged with the enemy insurgents, what had been the rules of engagement with regard to what our troops can do when the enemy retreats back into pakistan? >> the intent of our rules of engagement is always to protect our forces. never take away from our forces the ability to protect themselves or their well-being. we have the ability to fire

i like to begin with acknowledging the efforts of many people, from the state department, usaid, and other agencies that all contribute their expertise at field headquarters to make this program work. it is a combination of people all over the world who support people in country to put the plants in place. it is really quite a nor denies -- organization -- orchestration. i would like to thank president obama for creating this program. i have been working in hiv-age for 25 years, both domestically and internationally, and i can remember the days before this program was in place. patients were three in a bed, put under the bed, on the the -- and in the hallways. there were waiting for treatments that basically were not available. today the situation is markedly different. it has brought hope to millions of people across the world with the treatment and care programs. in 2009, we have supported life- saving antiviral therapy for more than 2.4 million people. the central character nearly a 11 million people. counseling and testing for nearly 29 million people. their efforts to prevent tr

would like to begin to -- with acknowledging the efforts of many people from the state department,, usaid, cdc, peace corps and other agencies that all contribute their expertise and field headquarters to make this program work. it is a combination of people all over the world who support people in country to put the programs in place. quite an orchestration. i would also like to acknowledge the efforts of president bush and members of congress from both sides of the aisle for creating and supporting this program. i have been working in hiv-aids for 25 years, both domestically and internationally, and i can remember the days before this program was in place. -- when patients were two-three and a bed, but under the bed, on the floors and the hallway and most of the sub-saharan african countries waiting for treatments that were not available. today the situation is markedly different. we have brought home to millions of people across the world with its treatment and care programs. in 2009 alone we have supported life-saving antiviral -- into retro viral care, and care to nearly 11 million p

funds provided in this bill will allow state and usaid to hire more than 1,000 new staff which will help balance the three d's of smart power, the national to -- the approach to national security. it will in turn support our nation's defense and allow our military men and women to refocus on their core mission. as the congress provides additional staff and increases foreign assistance funding the level of commitment to reform must be equal to funding commitment made. oversight must be a priority. for that reason the bill provides $149 million for inspectors general and the oversight provisions and reporting requirements are also included. the conference agreement retains the language, it prevents u.s. tax dollars from going to organizations that support or participate in involuntary or coercive methods of family planning. there are legitimate concerns about family planning funding that goes abroad and legislative safeguards will remain in place the next fiscal year. i regret that this package lumps six bills together in a package of close to half a trillion dollars and does not allow thi

we are focusing on working with usaid and the u.s. military on improving out of cultural jobs and incomes, and improving afghan competence in their government. particularly the agriculture. >> i am dan. i am one of two deputies to ambassador holbrook. i help to coordinate a small team of focusing just on international engagement. and diplomatic initiatives. in part to help make it more efficient or i help to oversee a range of legal detainee human rights and other issues. spirit and the back story on that is when president obama and secretary clinton appointed me, other countries begin to follow suit. and we now have 28 different countries. the last one was the belgium last week. some of these are very important, but we welcome them all, whether they are big or small. we will meet again in the united arab emirates in early january. and this is the central mechanism through which we are coordinating international efforts, and this is a work in progress, but dan and his team, a lot of them who are not here today, are working with an int

it would normally be run by the state department or usaid.us, and we see it taking place in the creation of a new command in africa. the goal is to establish bases all over africa to do this. so far, the african government has said, we do not what your bases here. the headquarters is in germany now. the headquarters for africom is in germany, and there is no sign that that will change anytime soon. but the policy of militarizing the u.s. relationship with africa through our efforts with africom is still going forward, and i think that is dangerous. host: as we start looking at facts and figures of how many barrels a day are coming from africa and, it is not deniable that this has become a strategic interest for us. but china has a big military presence there, as well. >> they have contractors. they have a huge economic presence. the question becomes, as it does in so many parts of a world, does having our soldiers present at bases that are often hated by local people, does that make us safer? i do not think so. host: him on the democrats line

we appropriated -- twice appropriated $5 million to the department of state to send -- get the usaido send in extension agents. with $10 million, absolutely zero people went, as far as we know. so in 2007, i worked with the missouri national guard, good friends of mine. they sent a survey team over. they said, we can help. so in early 200, they sent a 50-member agriculture development team to nangahar province, gentleman al bad. gentlemajalabad.why did they ch? it was the number two producing nation and they had an excellent governor and they wanted to work. so the guard team went in. these were trained soldiers and armed airmen and women who knew how to fight in a battle. but they also had agricultural backgrounds in their day jobs, in their civilian employment. they were farmers, they were agronomysts, soil specialists, foresters, food processors, veterinarians. and they went in and helped the farmers of nangahar province rebuild their agriculture. by the end of the growing season in 2009 -- in 2008, president karzai said they'd made a tremendous defense. when he was over here, he

so instead, we have state department personnel, usaid and usda and other personnel that are seeking to negotiate with afghan farmers to encourage them to raise pomegranates and fruits and nuts of all kinds, especially vines and trees so they have to invest in a longer than an annual crop and perennial crop that makes them stick with that single crop longer. we are investing millions in that. we are providing suxdies -- subtsb subsidies into afghanistan -- subsidies into afghanistan, significant dollars. i'll pose this number. a billion dollars. a billion u.s. dollars invested in subsidies in afghanistan to try to convince them that there are crops that pay better than raising the illegal poppy crop. well, i think a big degree of this is poppycock, madam speaker. to think we can negotiate with people that are raising illegal drugs and convince them if we just gave them enough subsidy they'll stop doing that. they'll always do what pays the best. that's the way things work. the world does have a free market economy. can we imagine going down to pay the people in mexico and central and so