Senator James Lankford spent his weekend traveling in the Middle East for an Intelligence Committee trip. It was an evaluation of that region’s anti-terrorism efforts and oversight of intelligence programs. It also provided the chance for Lankford and the other Senators to visit with key allies.
“This Senate Intelligence Committee trip to the Middle East is part of my responsibility to evaluate anti-terrorism efforts and oversee American intelligence capacity world-wide. We have impressive women and men around the globe, that most Americans will never know about, who are monitoring international terror cells and activity to ensure we remain safe,” said Lankford.
Part of the trip took the group to Lebanon, where Americans have died at the hands of terrorists in the past.
“Our first conversation on terrorism in the region was in Lebanon with Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri; and we met with officials at our Embassy in Beirut. We also visited the Beirut Memorial, which honors the victims of terrorism, including the 241 US service personnel who died in the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing and those who perished in the 1983 bombing of our Embassy.”
Lankford believes working with our allies in the Middle East could prevent some terrorist acts reaching into America.
“Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel are dealing with many security challenges and multiple terrorist threats on a daily basis. It is important that terrorists are identified and defeated in the Middle East before they bring the fight to our homeland.”
Lankford was joined by Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, Senator Marco Rubio and Senator Tom Cotton.
Lankford is a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Home Security and Government Affairs Committee.
