House Armed Services Committee: Hearing on Considerations for a Grand Strategy for the United States Part 2

House Armed Services Committee: Hearing on Considerations for a Grand Strategy for the United States Part 2

Ike Skelton, Chairman
For Immediate Release: Sept. 24, 2008

Opening Statement of Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO)

Washington, DC – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) delivered the following opening statement during today’s hearing on Considerations for a Grand Strategy for the United States Part 2:

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the Armed Services Committee hearing on considerations for a grand strategy for the United States. Appearing before us today is General Jack Keane, U.S. Army retired, former Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. Welcome, General Keane. Today’s hearing is a continuation of the hearing last week with Madeline Albright. As I mentioned at that hearing, we always try to present multiple viewpoints for our Member’s consideration and I pledged that this Committee would do so at the earliest opportunity

“So that we can get right to General Keane’s testimony on this busy day, I will only take a few minutes to remind you all of some of the things I mentioned last week. First and foremost, let us remember that the idea behind this series of hearings has been to provide Members with a range of insights from former senior policy officials and academics because the impending transfer of administrations offers a potential opportunity to reexamine the nation's grand strategy, and perhaps make some needed adjustments.

“I also talked about the fact that there does not seem to be a comprehensive strategy for advancing U.S. interests and how our efforts can be compared to a pickup sandlot baseball game rather than a coherent course of action and how this can result in the splintering of national power.

“I have on several occasions, here, on the House Floor and when I’ve spoken outside of Capitol Hill, advocated that the next president, whoever it is, commission an effort like President Eisenhower’s Solarium Project to review strategies to deal with today’s rapidly changing world and I think we would do well to engage the American people in that discussion, too.

“With that said, I look forward to hearing your testimony today, General Keane and now I’d like to turn to my good friend and Ranking Member, Duncan Hunter, for any comments he may have.”


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