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FEDERALhearing transcript

High Impact

Congressional Hearing on U.S. Strategy Against ISIL (June 2015)

Original title: U.S. POLICY TOWARDS ISIL AFTER TERROR GROUP SEIZES RAMADI AND PALMYRA

January 1, 2015

foreign policy ISIL Iraq Syria national security military strategy

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing examines the effectiveness of U.S. military and foreign policy in the Middle East, which directly impacts the allocation of federal defense resources and the scope of U.S. military involvement in regional conflicts.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

U.S. Department of Defense

The agency is responsible for implementing the military strategies discussed and providing support to regional partners.

Iraqi Government

The government is involved in the conflict against ISIL and is seeking arms and support from the U.S.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2015.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is a transcript of a 2015 House hearing regarding U.S. policy toward following the group's capture of Ramadi, Iraq, and Palmyra, Syria. Experts and committee members discussed the effectiveness of current military strategies and the territorial expansion of the group.

Key Facts

The hearing took place on June 3, 2015, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
The subcommittee reviewed U.S. policy in response to ISIL seizing control of Ramadi, Iraq, and Palmyra, Syria.
ISIL was reported to control approximately one-third of Iraq's territory at the time of the hearing.
ISIL was reported to control approximately half of Syria's territory at the time of the hearing.
The hearing included testimony from three expert witnesses: Michael Rubin, Anthony H. Cordesman, and Matthew Spence.
The committee allowed members 5 days to submit additional statements or questions for the record.
The hearing was scheduled to conclude early due to a series of 15 votes occurring in the House at 1:30 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?

The hearing was held to evaluate the effectiveness of U.S. strategy against after the group captured key cities in Iraq and Syria.

Who testified at the hearing?

The witnesses were Michael Rubin (American Enterprise Institute), Anthony H. Cordesman (Center for Strategic and International Studies), and Matthew Spence (former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Middle East Policy).

Why It Matters

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Shift in ISIL territorial control

The hearing highlights a specific moment in 2015 where ISIL's control over major population centers in Iraq and Syria was a primary focus of U.S. foreign policy.

ISIL

Connected Entities

personAnthony H. Cordesman“Arleigh A. Burke chair in strategy at the Center for Strategic and International”Map →

personIleana Ros-Lehtinen“Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa”Map →

organizationISIL“Terrorist organization and subject of the hearing”Map →

personMichael Rubin“Resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute”Map →

personMatthew Spence“Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Middle East Policy at the U.S. Department ”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance85
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy75
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment20
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz10
Current news / social attention level

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