Chairman Ros-Lehtinen on the hearing: “Recent elections in Lebanon and Iraq will have significant ramifications for their citizens and the wider Middle East in the years ahead. With Hezbollah’s power growing in Lebanon and Sadr winning in Iraq, this hearing will allow members to assess the elections and determine how the U.S. can protect its interests moving forward. The hearing will also serve as an opportunity to get a better sense of how outside actors, particularly Iran, may have influenced the election results and to evaluate how the U.S. should counter that influence.” 

Opening Statements

Witnesses

Michael Doran, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow
The Hudson Institute
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Ms. Danielle Pletka
Senior Vice President
Foreign and Defense Policy Studies
American Enterprise Institute
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Tamara Cofman Wittes, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow
Center for Middle East Policy
The Brookings Institution
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

____________________________

Hearing transcript (PDF)