U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations

DOCTOR KISSINGER, WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE YOU APPEAR BEFORE THE COMMITTEE THIS MORNING. WE APPRECIATE YOU MAKING YOURSELF AVAILABLE TO TESTIFY ON THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT.

FOR THE INFORMATION OF OUR MEMBERS, WE WILL HAVE TWO PANELS THIS MORNING.

WE WILL START WITH DOCTOR KISSINGER, THEN HEAR FROM THREE FORMER MILITARY CINCS THAT WILL PROVIDE US THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON THE 9-11 COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS --HOW THEY COULD IMPACT THE WARFIGHTER AND READINESS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

APPEARING IN THAT PANEL WILL BE:

GENERAL JOE RALSTON, (RETIRED), FORMER COMMANDER OF U.S. EUROPEAN COMMAND AND SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER, EUROPE, NATO

ADMIRAL DENNIS C. BLAIR, USN (RETIRED), FORMER COMMANDER OF U.S. PACIFIC COMMAND; AND

ADMIRAL JAMES O. ELLIS, JR. (RETIRED), FORMER COMMANDER OF U.S. STRATEGIC COMMAND. WE APPRECIATE THE WITNESSES BEING WITH US THIS MORNING AND LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR TESTIMONY.

THE PURPOSE OF THESE HEARINGS IS TO ADDRESS THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 9-11 COMMISSION.

I HAVE READ THE COMMISSION’S REPORT AND RE-READ IT. THE RECOMMENDATIONS PRESENTED DO NOT REFLECT THAT REPORT.

FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN BOTH AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ, THERE HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN THE OPERATIONS AND METHODS OF INTELLIGENCE SINCE SEPEMBER 11, 2001-- BOTH WITHIN OUR CIVILIAN INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES AND UNIFORMED MILITARY.

WE ARE HOLDING THESE HEARINGS TO LISTEN TO THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCED IN INTELLIGENCE—EITHER AS DIRECT PARTICIPANTS OR AS CONSUMERS.

WE MUST LISTEN TO THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED AND SEEK THEIR OPIONIONS AS WE LOOK AT WAYS TO REFORM THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.