NOMINATIONS OF LT. GEN. TOMMY R. FRANKS, U.S. ARMY, FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE GRADE OF GENERAL AND TO BE COMMANDER IN CHIEF, UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND; AND LT. GEN. WILLIAM F. KERNAN, U.S. ARMY, FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE GRADE OF GENERAL AND TO BE COMMANDER IN CHIEF, UNITED STATES JOINT FORCES COMMAND, SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER, ATLANTIC TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2000 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES, Washington, DC. The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 11:29 a.m., in room SR-222, Senate Office Building, Senator John Warner (chairman) presiding. Committee members present: Senators Warner (presiding), Thurmond, Inhofe, Allard, Hutchinson, Levin, and Reed. Committee staff members present: Romie L. Brownlee, staff director; and Judith A. Ansley, deputy staff director. Professional staff members present: Charles S. Abell, John R. Barnes, Edward H. Edens, IV, Gary M. Hall, George W. Lauffer, Patricia L. Lewis, Thomas L. MacKenzie, Joseph T. Sixeas, and Cord A. Sterling. Minority staff members present: David S. Lyles, minority staff director; Richard D. DeBobes, minority counsel; Daniel J. Cox, Jr., professional staff member; and Gerald J. Leeling, professional staff member. Staff assistants present: Suzanne K.L. Ross and Michele A. Traficante. Committee members' assistants present: George M. Bernier III, assistant to Senator Santorum; Thomas M. Vecchiolla, assistant to Senator Snowe; Robert Alan McCurry, assistant to Senator Roberts; Charles M. Cogar, assistant to Senator Allard; Michael Ralsky, assistant to Senator Hutchinson; William K. Sutey, assistant to Senator Robb; and Frederick M. Downey, assistant to Senator Lieberman. OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR JOHN WARNER, CHAIRMAN Chairman WARNER. The committee will come to order. The committee meets today to receive testimony concerning two key nominations by the President and Secretary of Defense and brought to the Senate for confirmation: Gen. Tommy Franks, United States Army, nominated to be the Commander-in-Chief, United States Central Command; Gen. William Kernan, U.S. Army, has been nominated to be the Commander-in-Chief, United States Joint Forces Command. I note that, if confirmed by the Senate, General Kernan will also serve in a NATO role as Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic. Both of these distinguished military leaders have impressive records of challenging assignments and accomplishments. Each Senator has been given a copy of their biography, so I shall not go into further detail. General Franks, on the occasion of this very important day you've brought with you your wonderful wife Catherine. Would you kindly introduce her to the committee. General FRANKS. Sir, I would be pleased to do so. This is my wife and mentor and guide for a long period of time, Cathy Carly Franks. Chairman WARNER. Are there others that have come to join you on this day? General FRANKS. Sir, she is the only one today. Chairman WARNER. She earned this day, as did the lovely wife of General Kernan. Would you likewise introduce your wife. General KERNAN. Yes, sir, I would be honored to. This is my wife Maryann, wife of 35 years. She has been my mainstay throughout my career and my strongest supporter, and my strongest critic also, I must add, sir. I am just pleased that she is not up here asking questions. Chairman WARNER. Well, Senator Levin and I might afford her that opportunity. [Laughter.] General KERNAN. As soon as I said that, Senator, I wished I had not. Chairman WARNER. May I call on my distinguished colleague, Senator Levin. STATEMENT OF SENATOR CARL LEVIN Senator LEVIN. Mr. Chairman, I join you in welcoming our two very experienced and very strong nominees who will command two of our nine combatant commands. They will have a very heavy responsibility. General Franks is going to be responsible for a large and an extremely important area of responsibility, the Central Forces Command. Those forces in conjunction with the forces of Great Britain, are presently enforcing the no fly zone and the so-called no enhancement zone in southern Iraq and, along with the forces of a number of our allies, we are carrying out the multinational Maritime Intercept Operations to seize Iraqi contraband in the Persian Gulf. The Joint Forces Command commander, General Kernan will exercise command of virtually all the forces within the continental United States. He is charged with the responsibility for joint force training, for doctrine development, for joint experimentation, and for providing ready, trained forces to the other combatant commanders. He will also be responsible for providing military support to U.S. civil authorities for managing the consequences of weapons of mass destruction within the United States. As you have mentioned, Mr. Chairman, as Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic, General Kernan will be responsible for NATO operations in the North Atlantic area and, along with General Ralston, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, will play a major role in implementation of NATO's Defense Capabilities Initiative that is designed to ensure that all Allies remain interoperable and also improve their capabilities. General Kernan will also be the first non-Naval Service officer to serve as Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic. This is a notable day for many reasons and that is surely one of them. I want to, along with our chairman, extend our congratulations and our gratitude for your continuing service to this Nation. I also extend our very warm welcome to your wives. General KERNAN. Thank you, sir. General FRANKS. Thank you, sir. Chairman WARNER. Thank you very much. Our colleagues: Senator Hutchinson. STATEMENT OF SENATOR TIM HUTCHINSON Senator HUTCHINSON. Mr. Chairman, I only wanted to say how much I enjoyed getting to know these two Generals. I have had an opportunity for them to come by the office and visit with them, and not only do they have impressive biographies, they are very impressive personally, and glad to support their nominations. Senator REED. Mr. Chairman, it is a great day- STATEMENT OF SENATOR JACK REED Senator REED. Excuse me? These gentlemen are much more mature than I am. [Laughter.] General FRANKS. Neither General Kernan nor I have any comment on that, Mr. Chairman. Senator REED. They just look more youthful. But Mr. Chairman, I can assure you they were a couple years behind-I am a couple years behind. But it is an extraordinary day for the country. These gentlemen have served the Army with great distinction and the Nation, and I have every confidence they are going to do superbly well as CINC's. They have critical roles and I commend you for that. Before us is collectively about 70 years of dedicated service to the Nation and to the soldiers that they led, and I thank you for that, Generals. General FRANKS. Thank you, sir. Chairman WARNER. Senator Reed, we thank you. You certainly stood the test in the United States Army and rendered good judgments, and if you approve of them do we need to go forward? Senator REED. It is a great day for the Army. I move passage. Chairman WARNER. Now, we are also advised that Colonel William Webb is with us as his last day as legislative liaison for the Joint Staff, 28 years of great service to the country. Would you kindly stand and may we thank you for your service. [Applause.] Senator REED. Mr. Chairman. Chairman WARNER. Yes. Senator REED. If I may, you are getting in range. Colonel Webb is a year behind me at West Point and he has done an extraordinary job in his career. He commanded an aviation brigade in Bosnia with the First Armored Division. He did it with great distinction. He has been a White House fellow. He has done a remarkable bit of work in his career. He comes from a great family of soldiers. His dad was the Fourth Regimental Commander when I was a cadet at West Point. It is a great day to recognize a very fine soldier. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman WARNER. Thank you, Senator. He will be relieved by Navy Captain Randy Zeller, who will take his post. Captain Zeller, you are welcome. Thank you very much. We will Reserve our applause. [Laughter.] Senator LEVIN. Until you can survive your duty here. Senator THURMOND. Incidentally, you are nice to applaud when I came in. [Laughter.] Chairman WARNER. Well, we are off to a very good start. The committee has submitted to each of our nominees a questionnaire. They have replied. It has been reviewed by myself, my distinguished colleague Mr. Levin and the staff. Without objection, I will make the questions and responses part of today's record. Now, General Franks, if you will proceed with your opening remarks, followed by General Kernan. STATEMENT OF LT. GEN. TOMMY R. FRANKS, U.S. ARMY General FRANKS. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, Senator Levin, Senator Thurmond, distinguished members of the committee: It is indeed an honor to be nominated for the position as Commander-inChief, U.S. Central Command, and to appear before this committee today. If confirmed, I look forward to working with the members of this committee, and I appreciate very much the outstanding support that you have given and continue to give to the men and women of U.S. Central Command. Sir, I am prepared to answer your questions at this time. Chairman WARNER. Well, I will go to some routine questions following General Kernan. STATEMENT OF LT. GEN. WILLIAM F. KERNAN, U.S. ARMY General KERNAN. Mr. Chairman, Senator Levin, Senator Thurmond, members of the committee: I likewise am extremely grateful and honored to be selected by the Secretary of Defense and the President for the position of the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Joint Forces Command. Îf confirmed, I vow my continued support and allegiance to those great soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen out there, to our Nation, and pledge my complete support to this committee. I look forward to your questions, sir. Chairman WARNER. These are the standard questions propounded by the chair of this committee to our nominees. I will acknowledge each of you to each reply. Have you adhered to applicable laws and regulations governing conflict of interest. General Franks? General FRANKS. Yes, sir. General KERNAN. Yes, sir. Chairman WARNER. Have you assumed any duties or undertaken any actions which would appear to presume the outcome of the confirmation process? General FRANKS. No, sir, I have not. General KERNAN. No, sir. Chairman WARNER. Will you reaffirm your written responses that you agree to appear before Congressional committees when requested and to provide your personal opinion if asked by members of that committee General FRANKS. Yes, sir. Chairman WARNER.-even if your opinion differs from that of your superiors, namely the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs? General FRANKS. Yes, sir. General KERNAN. Yes, sir. Chairman WARNER. Will you ensure your staff complies with deadlines established for requested communications from Congressional committees, including questions for the record? General FRANKS. Yes, sir. General KERNAN. Yes, sir. Chairman WARNER. Will you cooperate in providing witnesses and briefers in response to Congressional requests? General FRANKS. Yes, sir. General KERNAN. Yes, sir. Chairman WARNER. Will those witnesses be protected from reprisal for their testimony or briefings, whatever they may do? General FRANKS. Yes, sir, they will. General KERNAN. Yes, sir. Chairman WARNER. When I had the opportunity to have an extensive visit with you, General Franks, I indicated as a part of your opening statement that you should go through your area of responsibility and touch on each of the Nations and your evaluations of the challenges that face you in that region. So as a part of your opening statement why do you not do that? General FRANKS. Mr. Chairman, I would be pleased to do that. With regard to what we see in the region right now, I believe we have good military-to-military relationships throughout the region. Our linkages with our hosts, as well as our Ambassadors and our country teams in the region, remain very good. We are continuing education, training, and development with military issues as well as environmental issues across the area of responsibility (AOR), and I believe we have had in Central Command some very important successes over the tour of General Tony Zinni: the Bright Star Exercise, the Cooperative Defense Initiative (CDI), border demarcations which may serve to solve longstanding problems, such as the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. We have improved our interoperability. |