Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa | 2172 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 | Nov 13, 2013, 2:00pm

Chairman Ros-Lehtinen on the hearing: “I thank the brave and patriotic men and women of the armed services, who for nearly 8 years shed blood and sacrificed everything in an effort to bring stability and security to Iraq.
Now, almost two years since the official conclusion of the U.S. mission in Iraq, sectarian violence is on the rise and a resurgence of al-Qaeda and other extremist groups has begun to fill the void we left behind.
 The diminished American presence, lack of a clear U.S. policy and the fractured political landscape in Iraq has also allowed Iran to increase its influence in Baghdad, complicating an already delicate situation.
This hearing is necessary to examine how U.S. policy toward Iraq has changed to match the current situation on the ground and to examine what the Administration’s strategic goals and objectives are in Iraq.
It will also examine the growth of al-Qaeda and the link between Iraqi Islamists and the Syrian conflict, as well take a look at the upcoming April 2014 elections and what steps Iraq must take to ensure these elections are free, fair, transparent and all-inclusive”.

Witnesses
Mr. Brett McGurk
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq and Iran
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
U.S. Department of State