I am concerned by recent suggestions that the Agreed Framework is in jeopardy and I am interested in hearing General Schwartz's assessment of whether the Agreed Framework contributes to our national security and whether it is still viable.

In the Southern Command area, we need to discuss, among other issues, the implications of President Pastrana's recent decision to end the safe zone of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on the stability of the Colombian government; whether the existing limitations on the U.S.-trained counterdrug brigade should be maintained; and whether future U.S. assistance to the Colombian military should be geared toward counter-insurgency capabilities.

General Speer has also recently taken on the mission of running the camp for detainees at the U.S. Naval station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

So there is a great deal of ground to cover this morning. Again, I am glad that we have these experts with us. Before we turn to them, let me recognize Senator Warner.

STATEMENT OF SENATOR JOHN WARNER

Senator WARNER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Your opening statement embraces many of the sentiments I have and therefore I will ask that my statement to be placed into the record.

Chairman LEVIN. Thank you. It will be made part of the record. [The prepared statement of Senator Warner follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT BY SENATOR JOHN WARNER

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This hearing, one in a series of annual hearings this committee conducts to hear from our Unified and Regional Commanders on their military strategy and operational requirements, is, in my view, one of our most important hearings.

Admiral Blair, General Schwartz, General Speer, you are this nation's warfighters on the front lines, protecting U.S. national security interests and presenting the face of American resolve to allies, friends and potential adversaries. The committee values your unique contributions and perspectives.

Your input and insight provide us with important information we need to make decisions regarding policies and programs that impact each of your areas of responsibility (AOR). This is of particular significance this year due to the ongoing global war on terrorism and this Nation's global responsibilities in which each of you play a critical role.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge both Admiral Dennis Blair and General Thomas Schwartz in what may well be their last appearance before our committee. Both Admiral Blair and General Schwartz are scheduled to retire this May.

Gentleman, you have served our Nation with the highest level of dedication and professionalism. I know what this duty has required of you-the long hours, the missed family events, the cancelled plans. I want to express my personal thanks to both of you for your selfless service to country. We have been fortunate as a Nation to have men such as you at the helm-well done.

Mr. Chairman, I would now like to take just a moment to highlight a number of specific concerns I have within each of our witnesses' AORS.

While China and the Korean Peninsula remain areas of primary concern, in the Asia-Pacific region the global war on terrorism has now moved to the Philippines with U.S. troops deployed to that nation to help the Philippine Government fight terrorist groups. I look forward to receiving an update on the status of that important mission.

Last year, our bilateral relations with China reached a low point following the unfortunate EP-3 incident. I am interested in Admiral Blair's perspective on the current U.S.-China relationship, particularly the current state of U.S.-China military to military contacts and China's reaction to the recent visit of President Bush. Additionally, I look forward to receiving an update on the situation in the Taiwan Strait.

The continuing stalemate between India and Pakistan remains an issue of utmost importance. I am interested in Admiral Blair's perspective on this important region, particularly in light of his regular interaction with Indian military officials.

Tensions remain high on the Korean peninsula. While food shortages remain at crisis level throughout North Korea, there appears to be no letup in North Korea's troop buildup along the DMZ. I look forward to hearing General Schwartz's insights on the situation on the Korean peninsula following President Bush's recent visit to Seoul and the DMZ. I am particularly interested in any change in North Korea's military posture since the war on terrorism began last fall, as well as your assessment of North Korea's ballistic missile and proliferation activities.

Colombia remains a focus of my concern in SOUTHCOM's AOR, especially in light of renewed fighting in that nation. I am interested in receiving an update from General Speer on Plan Colombia, including what role U.S. military advisors are currently playing in Colombia and what, if any, future role you envision our advisors playing. Finally, I am interested in the situation at Guantanamo Bay and your assessment of how the global war on terrorism is impacting operations in SOUTHCOM's AOR.

We welcome our witnesses this morning and look forward to their testimony.

Senator WARNER. I will, however, join you in commending our two distinguished service persons, Admiral Blair and General Schwartz, for a career that each of you can look back on with great pride and share that pride with your family. We often think of the officers themselves, but their families, their spouses, make a direct contribution.

Behind you sit some very competent staff, each of whom would like to move up into those chairs. I always remember when I was in the Navy Department I had two four-stripers; each of them became Chief of Naval Operations. That was remarkable in view of their assignment with me, for them to overcome that and achieve that status.

Admiral Blair, you sit on a key part of the world, including China. I hope you will give us a good, succinct, professional, as well as personal, perspective. The tragic incident of the EP-3 and the loss of one of their pilots, we certainly regret the loss of life. I hope steps have been taken to ensure that the level of reocurrence of that incident is much lower. I continue to believe that an incidentat-sea type of framework similar to what we had with the former Soviet Union, and now with Russia, could be adopted with China. I know you have some concerns about the Homeland CINCNORTH and the various command and control of forces in the Pacific region, and I think it is quite proper that perhaps you express those concerns here. Several of our colleagues here in the Senate have consulted with you on that matter and I would hope you would make your views a part of today's record.

Taiwan continues to be a valued ally. I hope you will cover Taiwan and the continuing stalemate between India and Pakistan.

General Schwartz, we had a very good discussion yesterday when you visited my office and I hope you cover those personnel issues today. I think you have approached them with a degree of realism and pragmatism that needs to be expressed and made a part of today's record. Speaking for myself, I do believe the committee would join in trying to help that situation. It is not just a housing problem. There must be other factors when so many fine professionals, officer and enlisted, look upon assignment to your post as one where they are forced to make a choice between whether they want to stay in uniform and accept that assignment or go on to civilian pursuits. We may as well meet that issue head-on.

I share the Chairman's views about the North-South relationships on the Korean peninsula. The Chairman and I used to work with Dr. Perry. I spoke with him recently, Mr. Chairman, and expressed to him my continuing belief that he made a very valuable contribution in that area, and that we appreciate his willingness to continue to give advice to the Senate regarding the situation on the Korean peninsula.

I hope we can lessen tensions and further reconcile the differences between North and South Korea. The starvation in the North is, as you said yesterday, at one of its higher levels because of the diversion of so much of the world's food supply to the Afghan region. So that is important.

Of course, SOUTHCOM. You are carrying on in the stead of a very fine officer who now sees the Senate quite often. General Pace is one of the principal briefers for the Secretary of Defense to the Senate and the House, and he has handled that very commendably.

Colombia remains a focus and a major concern to this committee and we look forward to your comments today. It is not an easy situation to address.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman LEVIN. Any other opening remarks before we call on our witnesses?

Senator Roberts.

Senator ROBERTS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

These three men oversee the regions of the world that are vital to the United States, as has been pointed out by the distinguished leadership of our committee. Aside from the ongoing war in Afghanistan and the war against terrorism, no other issues will be as critical to the future of our Nation as those pertaining to the Pacific and the Korean peninsula and the American Southern Hemisphere.

The potential emergence of China as a peer competitor, a nuclear India and Pakistan, and the entire Pacific Rim fall under the responsibility of the Pacific Command and have a great deal of significance to this Nation. The responsibility of maintaining the pulse on the events that happen or do not happen in regards to Korea, which by the way is one-third of the so-called axis of evil, and being prepared to respond to an attack from Kim Jong Il and a very capable North Korean force, rests with the commander of our Korean forces. Korea is one of the very few places where the potential for a major force-on-force conflict actually exists and continues to exist. Lastly, I want to salute Major General Speer-this is why I have chosen to make some opening remarks-who is carrying a tremendous load and the responsibility for what I consider to be one of the very critical areas to the United States.

Let me say that, in regards to the Southern Command, I am very concerned that we have sort of a benign neglect. I know that we have a purpose there, we have a mission there, we are trying very hard there, but I regret that the administration has to be so slow in replacing General Pace as CINCSOUTH. This is absolutely no reflection on Major General Speer's ability. If I had two stars on me, I would pin them on you right now so you would have the rank I think you deserve, which would be commensurate with your duties and the way you are carrying out your duties.

But I must say, Mr. Chairman, from a vital national interest perspective there is a great deal to be concerned about to our south and the region should be under the responsibility of a four-star general. There are 360 million people in the Southern Command, living in 31 nations. We have made tremendous progress since the eighties. Average age 14, suffering from malnutrition. We all know both General Pace and General Wilhelm did a great job and, as I have indicated, so has General Speer.

But let me just say that since Kosovo, when we took a lot of infrastructure away from the Southern Command and moved from Panama, I think we are spread too thin down there. If you look at the issues that concern our vital national interest, I am still concerned about not-so-benign neglect. Under the Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee and basically under this committee, our responsibility is fighting drugs and that is where the drugs are coming from, at least to a great degree. We have a lot of immigration problems. We talk about immigration problems, illegal aliens, in regards to border control, and that obviously is in the Southern Command's jurisdiction.

We talk about trade and the opportunity to feed, as I have indicated, 360 million people with our bulk commodities exchanged for specialty crops, to raise the standard of living there. I do not think we are doing nearly as much as we could. We do not even have Presidential trade authority to get those bilateral trade agreements working.

In terms of refugees, I read a column the other day that said, in regards to that part of the world, that there are more refugees there than there were in Kosovo. That is hard to believe, and yet you do not see any press coverage in that regard.

In terms of terrorism, I think there is a growing threat. We will ask General Speers about that. In Cuba we have a policy, as far as I am concerned, that is very difficult to understand. We get 17 percent of our energy supply from that part of the world-17 percent. There is a lot of talk about 8 percent in regards to Saddam Hussein, but in regards to that part of the world, if something would go wrong, especially with Mr. Chavez down there in Venezuela, it would completely disrupt our economy.

We do not have anybody appointed in regard to the Special Operations-Low Intensity Conflict (SOLIC) position. So I am urging the administration publicly to pay attention to the Southern Command. They are our neighbors. We need a four-star and we need a person in charge of SOLIC and we need to at least answer some tough questions in regards to where we are headed in the Southern Command part of the world.

Again, Mr. Chairman, these are three very important parts of the world. These men are key to protecting our national interests in their regions. I salute them and thank them for appearing before the committee.

Chairman LEVIN. Thank you, Senator Roberts.

Senator Nelson.

Senator BEN NELSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I would like to welcome these gentlemen here today. On a personal note, General Schwartz, I wore my Pammunjon cufflinks that I received there a few years ago in recognition of your being here

today. I want to commend you on the work that you are doing on the peninsula.

General Speer, I certainly second what my friend from the south in Kansas said. I think you are doing an outstanding job. Of course, the Pacific is where the action clearly is going to be in the future, as well as in South America. I am looking forward to your comments this morning on these important areas and these important issues that face us.

It seems like most of the news today is centered in another part of the world, the Middle East. But certainly we must keep in mind what is going on in other parts of the world and not become so concentrated that we cannot keep a broad perspective of worldwide events and where other challenges and other opportunities exist.

So I appreciate your being here today. I look forward to your comments. Thank you.

Chairman LEVIN. Thank you, Senator Nelson. We also have a statement from Senator Thurmond that will be placed in the record.

[The prepared statement of Senator Thurmond follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT BY SENATOR STROM THURMOND

Thank you, Mr. Chairman:

Mr. Chairman, I join you in welcoming Admiral Blair, General Schwartz, and General Speer. I especially want to recognize General Speer, who is the acting Commander in Chief of Southern Command, and this is his first appearance before the committee.

General Speer, I hope the fact that you are appearing with the two distinguished officers seated with you at the witness table is a sign of the promotions ahead of

you.

Mr. Chairman, the committee is fortunate to have these distinguished officers testify on the status of their commands and the military strategy to support the Nation's national security objectives in their region. Although the national focus is on Southwest Asia and the global war on terrorism, the Pacific region, Korea, and South America are areas of continued concern. These regions not only are areas of continuing instability, but also are areas where the United States has vital economic interests. I look forward to our panel's testimony and I want to thank them for their leadership, professionalism, and concern for the men and women under their command.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman LEVIN. We will go to our witnesses then. Admiral, I think we start with you.

Admiral Blair.

STATEMENT OF ADM. DENNIS C. BLAIR, USN, COMMANDER IN CHIEF, UNITED STATES PACIFIC COMMAND

Admiral BLAIR. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. Before I address the specific concerns that you and other members raised, sir, if I can make a few general comments about the past year in the Pacific, because our men and women have been busy this past year and they have been performing magnificently.

The U.S.S. Carl Vinson battle group from San Diego reported to Central Command on September 11, 2001. They had prepared for other missions. They were soon in the thick of the action in Afghanistan and they came up with innovative ways to operate and did it just magnificently. A little later the Kitty Hawk battle group, the John C. Stennis battle group, patrol aircraft, and the Peleliu