Ben Cardin actually said...

an important part of our strategy in North Africa rests with our appropriation process

the United States presence was critically important, more so than the other competing powers, particularly Iran, Russia, and even Europe.

I see it as problematic, because if you keep declaring victory when you do not have victory, you create more problems than you solve.

We have had a series of hearings focused on the Middle East. Obviously, it is an area of great importance to the United States.