McCONNELL, MITCH: Mr. President, I know the
McCONNELL, MITCH: majority leader has indicated
McCONNELL, MITCH: he is going to file cloture on the Levin
McCONNELL, MITCH: amendment and is setting up a cloture
McCONNELL, MITCH: vote for Wednesday.
McCONNELL, MITCH: It had been my hope we could have by consent set
McCONNELL, MITCH: up a process by which we
McCONNELL, MITCH: could put the Levin amendment in the queue with a
McCONNELL, MITCH: 60-vote threshold such as
McCONNELL, MITCH: we've had on virtually every Iraq amendment this
McCONNELL, MITCH: week, and also a 60-vote
McCONNELL, MITCH: threshold on the Cornyn amendment, which is a
McCONNELL, MITCH: logical counter to the Levin
McCONNELL, MITCH: amendment. As I indicated, it is my understanding
McCONNELL, MITCH: the majority leader
McCONNELL, MITCH: announced earlier that it would be his intention
McCONNELL, MITCH: to file cloture on the
McCONNELL, MITCH: Levin-Reed amendment this evening. That would, as
McCONNELL, MITCH: I just suggested, allow for
McCONNELL, MITCH: a cloture vote to occur on Wednesday of this
McCONNELL, MITCH: week. As I indicated, it had been
McCONNELL, MITCH: my hope we could have had the Levin amendment and
McCONNELL, MITCH: the Cornyn amendment
McCONNELL, MITCH: in juxtaposition by consent, both requiring 60
McCONNELL, MITCH: votes. This has been the way we
McCONNELL, MITCH: have dealt with, I think, essentially every
McCONNELL, MITCH: controversial Iraq amendment this
McCONNELL, MITCH: year, no matter what bill it has been offered on.
McCONNELL, MITCH: Given the majority leader's intention to file
McCONNELL, MITCH: cloture this evening on the Levin
McCONNELL, MITCH: amendment, I now send an amendment to the desk
McCONNELL, MITCH: and ask its consideration.
REED, JACK: r. President.
REED, JACK: r. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: The Presiding Officer will
PRESIDING OFFICER: hold on for just a second
PRESIDING OFFICER: to ask a question of the Parliamentarian. The
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: he Senator
PRESIDING OFFICER: clerk will report.
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: from Kentucky [Mr.
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: McConnell] proposes an amendment number 2241 to
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: amendment number
McCONNELL, MITCH: ask that the reading of the
McCONNELL, MITCH: amendment be dispensed
PRESIDING OFFICER: s there objection?
McCONNELL, MITCH: with.
REED, JACK: send a cloture motion.
PRESIDING OFFICER: s there objection to the
PRESIDING OFFICER: termination of the reading
PRESIDING OFFICER: of the amendment?
DURBIN, RICHARD: object.
PRESIDING OFFICER: bjection is heard.
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: of the bill add the
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: t the end
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: following:
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: SEC. 1535. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON THE
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: STATE IN IRAQ.
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (a) Findings.--The Senate makes the following
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: CONSEQUENCES OF A FAILED
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (1) A failed state in Iraq would become a safe
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: findings:
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: haven for Islamic radicals,
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: including al Qaeda and Hezbollah, who are
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: determined to attack the United
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: States and United States allies.
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (2) The Iraq Study Group report found that ``[a]
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: chaotic Iraq could provide a
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: still stronger base of operations for terrorists
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: who seek to act regionally or even
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: globally''.
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (3) Iraq Study Group noted that ``Al Qaeda will
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: portray any failure by the
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: United States in Iraq as a significant victory
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: that will be featured prominently
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: as they recruit for their cause in the region and
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: around the world''.
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (4) A National Intelligence Estimate concluded
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: that the consequences of a
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: premature withdrawal from Iraq would be that--
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (A) Al Qaeda would attempt to use Anbar province
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: to plan further attacks
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: outside of Iraq;
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (B) neighboring countries would consider actively
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: intervening in Iraq; and
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (C) sectarian violence would significantly
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: increase in Iraq, accompanied by
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: massive civilian casualties and displacement.
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (5) The Iraq Study Group found that ``a premature
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: American departure from
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: Iraq would almost certainly produce greater
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: sectarian violence and further
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: deterioration of conditions. ..... The near-term
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: results would be a significant
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: power vacuum, greater human suffering, regional
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: destabilization, and a threat
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: to the global economy. Al Qaeda would depict our
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: withdrawal as a historic
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: victory.''
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (6) A failed state in Iraq could lead to broader
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: regional conflict, possibly
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: involving Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (7) The Iraq Study group noted that ``Turkey
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: could send troops into northern
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: Iraq to prevent Kurdistan from declaring
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: independence''.
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (8) The Iraq Study Group noted that ``Iran could
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: send troops to restore stability
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: in southern Iraq and perhaps gain control of oil
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: fields. The regional influence of
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: Iran could rise at a time when that country is on
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: a path to producing nuclear
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (9) A failed state in Iraq would lead to massive
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: weapons.''
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: humanitarian suffering,
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: including widespread ethnic cleansing and
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: countless refugees and internally
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: displaced persons, many of whom will be tortured
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: and killed for having
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: assisted Coalition forces.
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (10) A recent editorial in the New York Times
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: stated, ``Americans must be clear
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: that Iraq, and the region around it, could be
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: even bloodier and more chaotic
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: after Americans leave. There could be reprisals
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: against those who worked with
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: American forces, further ethnic cleansing, even
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: genocide. Potentially
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: destabilizing refugee flows could hit Jordan and
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: Syria. Iran and Turkey could
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: be tempted to make power grabs.''
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (11) The Iraq Study Group found that ``If we
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: leave and Iraq descends into
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: chaos, the long-range consequences could
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: eventually require the United States
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: to return'."
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (1) the Senate should commit itself to a strategy
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: Senate that--
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: that will not leave a failed state
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: in Iraq; and
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: (2) the Senate should not pass legislation that
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: will undermine our military's
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: ability to prevent a failed state in Iraq.
McCONNELL, MITCH: send a cloture petition to
McCONNELL, MITCH: the desk.
REED, JACK: he Clerk hear Mr. President, I
REED, JACK: send a cloture motion to the
PRESIDING OFFICER: The clerk will present the
REED, JACK: desk.
PRESIDING OFFICER: cloture motion.
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: loture
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: Motion. We, the undersigned
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: Senators, in accordance with the provisions of
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: rule XXII of the Standing Rules
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: of the Senate, do hereby move to bring to a close
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: debate on the Levin-Reed
REED, JACK: ask unanimous consent that we
REED, JACK: dispense with reading of the
PRESIDING OFFICER: s there objection?
REED, JACK: motion
McCONNELL, MITCH: r. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: ithout objection so
McCONNELL, MITCH: r. President
PRESIDING OFFICER: ordered.
McCONNELL, MITCH: send a cloture motion to the
PRESIDING OFFICER: he Minority Leader.
PRESIDING OFFICER: The cloture motion having
McCONNELL, MITCH: desk.
PRESIDING OFFICER: been presented under
PRESIDING OFFICER: rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read
PRESIDING OFFICER: the motion.
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: loture Motion.
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: the provisions of rule XXII of
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: the Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby move
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: to bring to a close debate on
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: pending amendment No. 2241 to Calendar No. 189,
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: H.R. 1585, National
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: signed by 16 senators as
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: follows: McConnell, Allard, Domenici, Jim
McCONNELL, MITCH: ask consent that the
ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE CLERK: Bunning,
McCONNELL, MITCH: reading of the names be
McCONNELL, MITCH: dismissed.
PRESIDING OFFICER: s there objection?
PRESIDING OFFICER: Without objection. So
PRESIDING OFFICER: ordered. The minority leader is recognized.
McCONNELL, MITCH: r. President, it is a shame
McCONNELL, MITCH: we find ourselves in the
McCONNELL, MITCH: position we are in. The sensible and logical way
McCONNELL, MITCH: to set up this debate with the
McCONNELL, MITCH: Levin amendment and the Cornyn amendment would
McCONNELL, MITCH: have been to do it by
McCONNELL, MITCH: consent with two 60-vote thresholds. This
McCONNELL, MITCH: continued effort to thwart the ability
McCONNELL, MITCH: of the minority to get amendments in the queue
McCONNELL, MITCH: and to get them offered and
McCONNELL, MITCH: voted on is not, I might say, a very effective
McCONNELL, MITCH: way, really, to legislate, because it
McCONNELL, MITCH: produces a level of animosity and unity on the
McCONNELL, MITCH: minority side that makes it more
McCONNELL, MITCH: difficult for the majority to pass important
McCONNELL, MITCH: legislation.
McCONNELL, MITCH: In addition to the Cornyn amendment, we have the
McCONNELL, MITCH: Warner-Lugar proposal,
McCONNELL, MITCH: which certainly deserves a vote, the Salazar--the
McCONNELL, MITCH: occupant of the Chair--the
McCONNELL, MITCH: Salazar-Alexander amendment.
McCONNELL, MITCH: I would hope we could do this in an orderly way.
McCONNELL, MITCH: We have been on this bill now
McCONNELL, MITCH: for a week and a half. We are clearly going to be
McCONNELL, MITCH: on it through the end of this
McCONNELL, MITCH: week. It would be important, as we move toward
McCONNELL, MITCH: disposition of this measure, to
McCONNELL, MITCH: have all Senators who have important amendments
McCONNELL, MITCH: have an opportunity to be
McCONNELL, MITCH: heard.
McCONNELL, MITCH: With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor.
REED, JACK: r. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator from Rhode
REED, JACK: had the opportunity this morning to
PRESIDING OFFICER: Island is recognized.
REED, JACK: listen to the majority
REED, JACK: leader, Harry Reid, as I presided. He made it
REED, JACK: clear that he would be perfectly
REED, JACK: willing to allow a 50-vote majority vote on both
REED, JACK: the Levin-Reed amendment and
REED, JACK: the Cornyn amendment or the proposed McConnell
REED, JACK: amendment. I think if there
REED, JACK: is any attempt to obstruct the will of the
REED, JACK: Senate, it is by those who are
REED, JACK: suggesting that we must have a 60-vote threshold.
REED, JACK: Again, I think Senator Reid
REED, JACK: made it clear that he would be happy to entertain
REED, JACK: a limited debate and a
REED, JACK: majority vote on the Levin-Reed amendment, the
REED, JACK: Kyl amendment, or other
REED, JACK: amendments that may be appropriate on the policy
REED, JACK: in Iraq.
REED, JACK: I also understand at this moment, under the
REED, JACK: pending unanimous consent, that
REED, JACK: the Senator from Illinois is to be recognized.
PRESIDING OFFICER: he Senator from Illinois
DURBIN, RICHARD: hank you, Mr. President and
DURBIN, RICHARD: Senator from Rhode Island for his hard work with
DURBIN, RICHARD: want to I thank the
DURBIN, RICHARD: the Senator from Michigan
DURBIN, RICHARD: in preparing this bill on Defense authorization.
DURBIN, RICHARD: With all due respect to the minority leader, the
DURBIN, RICHARD: statement he made on the floor
DURBIN, RICHARD: earlier is not accurate. The Republican minority
DURBIN, RICHARD: leader said, on issues relating
DURBIN, RICHARD: to Iraq, we have required 60 votes. I'd like to
DURBIN, RICHARD: remind the Republican minority
DURBIN, RICHARD: leader that the vote on the timetable on the
DURBIN, RICHARD: supplemental appropriations bill
DURBIN, RICHARD: was a simple majority vote. It was not a 60-vote
DURBIN, RICHARD: threshold. The most important
DURBIN, RICHARD: Iraq vote of the year did not require 60 votes on
DURBIN, RICHARD: the floor of the Senate. It
DURBIN, RICHARD: passed the Senate with a bipartisan rollcall, 51
DURBIN, RICHARD: or 52 Members supporting it,
DURBIN, RICHARD: and it was sent to President Bush for one of his
DURBIN, RICHARD: only three vetoes since he was
DURBIN, RICHARD: elected President. I am sure the minority leader
DURBIN, RICHARD: from Kentucky remembers it
DURBIN, RICHARD: was not a 60-vote requirement.
DURBIN, RICHARD: Now, let's look at the Defense authorization bill
DURBIN, RICHARD: here let's take a look at the
DURBIN, RICHARD: history of the Defense authorization bill. Once
DURBIN, RICHARD: again, I would ask the minority
DURBIN, RICHARD: leader from Kentucky to please look at the
DURBIN, RICHARD: record. What he said earlier on the
DURBIN, RICHARD: floor is not accurate.
DURBIN, RICHARD: In the last debate on the Defense authorization
DURBIN, RICHARD: bill, there were two Iraq
DURBIN, RICHARD: amendments offered. One was by Senators Levin and
DURBIN, RICHARD: Reed, another one by
DURBIN, RICHARD: Senator Kerry. Both related to the war in Iraq,
DURBIN, RICHARD: and both required only a
DURBIN, RICHARD: majority vote.
DURBIN, RICHARD: The Senator from Kentucky has not accurately
DURBIN, RICHARD: portrayed what occurred on the
DURBIN, RICHARD: floor of the Senate either with our supplemental
DURBIN, RICHARD: appropriations bill or the
DURBIN, RICHARD: previous Defense authorization bill. Now, for
DURBIN, RICHARD: those who are following this
DURBIN, RICHARD: debate and wondering: Why are you worried about
DURBIN, RICHARD: required, this is what the Senate is all about.
DURBIN, RICHARD: how many votes are
DURBIN, RICHARD: The question is, Will this Senate
DURBIN, RICHARD: speak on the issue of the policy on the war in
DURBIN, RICHARD: Iraq?
DURBIN, RICHARD: The Senator from Kentucky understands--because he
DURBIN, RICHARD: has been a veteran of
DURBIN, RICHARD: this body--that he does not have a majority of
DURBIN, RICHARD: the Senators supporting his
DURBIN, RICHARD: position or the position of President Bush and so
DURBIN, RICHARD: he started this debate by
DURBIN, RICHARD: saying we won't allow a majority vote.
DURBIN, RICHARD: It will take 60 votes--60 percent of the
DURBIN, RICHARD: Senate--to change the policy on the war
DURBIN, RICHARD: in Iraq. The Senator from Kentucky is betting
DURBIN, RICHARD: that he can hold enough
DURBIN, RICHARD: Republican Senators back from voting for a change
DURBIN, RICHARD: in policy on the war in Iraq
DURBIN, RICHARD: to defeat our efforts to start bringing our
DURBIN, RICHARD: soldiers home. That is his procedural
DURBIN, RICHARD: approach to this. He has stood by it. But he
DURBIN, RICHARD: should confess it for what it is. It
DURBIN, RICHARD: is a departure from where we have been on the
DURBIN, RICHARD: debate on Iraq, both on the
DURBIN, RICHARD: supplemental appropriations bill, and on the
DURBIN, RICHARD: Defense authorization bill.
DURBIN, RICHARD: And Mr. President, it is unfortunate, and it is
DURBIN, RICHARD: wrong. It is wrong to require 60
DURBIN, RICHARD: percent of this body to vote this way if,
DURBIN, RICHARD: traditionally, on this war in Iraq we
DURBIN, RICHARD: have required only a simple majority. I suppose
DURBIN, RICHARD: it's encouraging to us that
DURBIN, RICHARD: more than 60 percent of the American people get
DURBIN, RICHARD: it. They understand how
DURBIN, RICHARD: failed this policy has been of the Bush
DURBIN, RICHARD: administration--the policy that's being
DURBIN, RICHARD: supported by the minority leader of the Senate.
DURBIN, RICHARD: They understand it. They want
DURBIN, RICHARD: us to do something about it. But the Senator from
DURBIN, RICHARD: Kentucky has thrown this
DURBIN, RICHARD: obstacle in our path. He created this procedural
DURBIN, RICHARD: roadblock. He has filibustered
DURBIN, RICHARD: starting a filibuster to stop the debate on the
DURBIN, RICHARD: war in Iraq.
DURBIN, RICHARD: Now, I've been here for a few years, and I have
DURBIN, RICHARD: not seen a full-throated, fully
DURBIN, RICHARD: implemented filibuster that you might have
DURBIN, RICHARD: recalled from ``Mr. Smith Goes to
DURBIN, RICHARD: Washington,'' when Jimmy Stewart stood at his
DURBIN, RICHARD: desk, until he crumpled in
DURBIN, RICHARD: exhaustion, filibustering a bill to stop it. Over
DURBIN, RICHARD: the years, our gentility has led us
DURBIN, RICHARD: to a different kind of filibuster. It's a
DURBIN, RICHARD: filibuster in name only, where one side
DURBIN, RICHARD: says, well we are going to keep this debate going
DURBIN, RICHARD: on indefinitely, and the other
DURBIN, RICHARD: side says we are going to bring it to a close
DURBIN, RICHARD: with a motion for cloture, and we
DURBIN, RICHARD: will see you in 30 hours; have a good time, maybe
DURBIN, RICHARD: you want to go and have a
DURBIN, RICHARD: nice dinner with your friends. We will see you
DURBIN, RICHARD: We are going to change that procedure this week.
DURBIN, RICHARD: tomorrow morning.
DURBIN, RICHARD: Since the Republican side
DURBIN, RICHARD: has decided they want to filibuster our effort to
DURBIN, RICHARD: debate the war policy on Iraq,
DURBIN, RICHARD: we have decided on the Democratic side that we
DURBIN, RICHARD: are going to have a real
DURBIN, RICHARD: filibuster. One of the critics of this recently
DURBIN, RICHARD: called it a stunt that we would stay
DURBIN, RICHARD: in session--a stunt that we would have a
DURBIN, RICHARD: sleepless night for Senators, a stunt
DURBIN, RICHARD: that we would inconvenience Senators and staff,
DURBIN, RICHARD: and press, and those who
DURBIN, RICHARD: follow the proceedings. I don't think it is a
DURBIN, RICHARD: stunt. I think it reflects the reality of
DURBIN, RICHARD: this war.
DURBIN, RICHARD: How many sleepless nights have our soldiers and
DURBIN, RICHARD: their families spent waiting to
DURBIN, RICHARD: find out whether they will come home alive? How
DURBIN, RICHARD: many sleepless nights have
DURBIN, RICHARD: they spent praying that after the second and
DURBIN, RICHARD: third redeployment that their
DURBIN, RICHARD: soldier will still have the courage and strength
DURBIN, RICHARD: to beat back the enemy and
DURBIN, RICHARD: come home to his family? It is about time for the
DURBIN, RICHARD: Senate to spend at least one
DURBIN, RICHARD: sleepless night. Maybe it's only a symbol, but it
DURBIN, RICHARD: is an important symbol for the
DURBIN, RICHARD: soldiers and their families. It really goes to
DURBIN, RICHARD: the nature of sacrifice.
DURBIN, RICHARD: I guess I was raised as a little boy reading
DURBIN, RICHARD: about World War II and
DURBIN, RICHARD: remembering the Korean war when my two brothers
DURBIN, RICHARD: served. There was a sense
DURBIN, RICHARD: of national commitment in those wars. People back
DURBIN, RICHARD: home, as well as those on
DURBIN, RICHARD: the front, felt they were in it together.
DURBIN, RICHARD: Sacrifices had to be made and your daily
DURBIN, RICHARD: living habits, the kinds of things you could buy,
DURBIN, RICHARD: and ration cards and buying
DURBIN, RICHARD: U.S. savings bonds. America was one united Nation
DURBIN, RICHARD: in those wars. We accepted
DURBIN, RICHARD: that shared sacrifice, and we were better for
DURBIN, RICHARD: that shared sacrifice. But during
DURBIN, RICHARD: this war, sad to say, this President has not
DURBIN, RICHARD: summoned that same spirit of
DURBIN, RICHARD: sacrifice. He basically told us that this war can
DURBIN, RICHARD: be waged without
DURBIN, RICHARD: inconveniencing the lives of most Americans.
DURBIN, RICHARD: Our soldiers go through more than inconvenience.
DURBIN, RICHARD: They go through hardship
DURBIN, RICHARD: and deprivation. Many of them face injury and
DURBIN, RICHARD: death in serving our country.
DURBIN, RICHARD: But for most of us, life goes on as normal. This
DURBIN, RICHARD: President has not asked great
DURBIN, RICHARD: sacrifice from the American people.
DURBIN, RICHARD: When I visited Iraq, it was not uncommon to have
DURBIN, RICHARD: a marine or soldier say to me
DURBIN, RICHARD: over lunch: Does anybody know what is going on
DURBIN, RICHARD: over here? Does anybody
DURBIN, RICHARD: know what we are up against? It is a legitimate
DURBIN, RICHARD: question. We focus on these
DURBIN, RICHARD: superficial stories in the press that don't mean
DURBIN, RICHARD: a thing and forget the obvious.
DURBIN, RICHARD: And the obvious is this, Mr. President: Every
DURBIN, RICHARD: month we are losing American
DURBIN, RICHARD: lives; about 100 American soldiers die each month
DURBIN, RICHARD: in this war in Iraq, and
DURBIN, RICHARD: 1,000 are seriously injured. We spend $12 billion
DURBIN, RICHARD: each month. That is the
DURBIN, RICHARD: reality.
DURBIN, RICHARD: I know there is frustration by the soldiers and
DURBIN, RICHARD: their families that we are not
DURBIN, RICHARD: paying close enough attention. But the American
DURBIN, RICHARD: people understand that this
DURBIN, RICHARD: failed policy from the Bush administration has to
DURBIN, RICHARD: come to an end. Wasn't it
DURBIN, RICHARD: interesting over the weekend when the Prime
DURBIN, RICHARD: Minister of Iraq invited us to
DURBIN, RICHARD: leave, and said: You can take off anytime you
DURBIN, RICHARD: would like, America. We will take
DURBIN, RICHARD: care of our own problems. Prime Minister
DURBIN, RICHARD: al-Maliki, the man we helped to bring
DURBIN, RICHARD: to office, the one we're hoping would show the
DURBIN, RICHARD: leadership in Iraq for its future,
DURBIN, RICHARD: asked America to pick up and go whenever we would
DURBIN, RICHARD: What do the Iraqi people think about our
DURBIN, RICHARD: like to.
DURBIN, RICHARD: presence? 69 percent of the Iraqi
DURBIN, RICHARD: people say our presence in Iraq today, with our
DURBIN, RICHARD: troops, makes it more
DURBIN, RICHARD: dangerous to live there. More than 2 million of
DURBIN, RICHARD: those soldiers, of those Iraqis,
DURBIN, RICHARD: have left that country as refugees. Millions have
DURBIN, RICHARD: been displaced from their
DURBIN, RICHARD: homes. Thousands--we don't even know the
DURBIN, RICHARD: number--have been injured and
DURBIN, RICHARD: killed. And they want us to leave--this
DURBIN, RICHARD: occupation Army of Americans.
DURBIN, RICHARD: What do the American people think about this
DURBIN, RICHARD: occupation in Iraq? They want it
DURBIN, RICHARD: to end as well. They don't see any end in sight.
DURBIN, RICHARD: They don't hear from this
DURBIN, RICHARD: President the kinds of strategy or direction that
DURBIN, RICHARD: leads them to believe that this
DURBIN, RICHARD: will end well or end soon. They want our troops
DURBIN, RICHARD: to start coming home and I
DURBIN, RICHARD: agree with them. I don't believe the Iraqis will
DURBIN, RICHARD: accept responsibility for their
DURBIN, RICHARD: own country until we start leaving. If the Iraqis
DURBIN, RICHARD: know that every time there is a
DURBIN, RICHARD: problem, they can dial 9-1-1 and bring on 20,000
DURBIN, RICHARD: of our best and bravest
DURBIN, RICHARD: soldiers to quell the violence on their streets,
DURBIN, RICHARD: what kind of incentive is that for
DURBIN, RICHARD: them to protect their own country. What kind of
DURBIN, RICHARD: incentive is thatm for them to
DURBIN, RICHARD: make the critical political decisions which may
DURBIN, RICHARD: lead one day to stability?
DURBIN, RICHARD: I look at this Cornyn amendment just filed, and I
DURBIN, RICHARD: respect my colleague from
DURBIN, RICHARD: Texas, but I tell you, he is asking for too much.
DURBIN, RICHARD: He is asking the United States
DURBIN, RICHARD: to stay in Iraq to make certain that it succeeds.
DURBIN, RICHARD: How long is that going to be?
DURBIN, RICHARD: How long will that go on?
DURBIN, RICHARD: There are three battles going on in Iraq today:
DURBIN, RICHARD: First battle, who is in charge?
DURBIN, RICHARD: The Sunnis, Shia, Sadr militia, al-Qaida, some
DURBIN, RICHARD: other force? The Kurds, I
DURBIN, RICHARD: assume, have to be part of the equation. That
DURBIN, RICHARD: battle goes on every day on the
DURBIN, RICHARD: floor of the Parliament in Iraq as they try to
DURBIN, RICHARD: decide who is going to try to govern
DURBIN, RICHARD: their country.
DURBIN, RICHARD: There is a second battle going on as well. It is
DURBIN, RICHARD: a battle as to whether or not Iraq
DURBIN, RICHARD: is going to be a nation. The Cornyn amendment
DURBIN, RICHARD: assumes, and many people
DURBIN, RICHARD: assume, that Iraq has been a nation forever. It
DURBIN, RICHARD: has not. Certainly, in the depths
DURBIN, RICHARD: of history, you can find Mesopotamia. We all read
DURBIN, RICHARD: about it in the earliest
DURBIN, RICHARD: civilizations, the Tigris and Euphrates. But
DURBIN, RICHARD: Iraq, as we know it today, was the
DURBIN, RICHARD: creation of British diplomats after World War I
DURBIN, RICHARD: who sat down with a map of the
DURBIN, RICHARD: Middle East and said to the French you can take
DURBIN, RICHARD: Lebanon, bring in the Shia
DURBIN, RICHARD: and Sunni--on and on, creating countries out of
DURBIN, RICHARD: whole cloth at the end of a
DURBIN, RICHARD: war, dividing up the soils of the Middle East.
DURBIN, RICHARD: That was the creation of Iraq as
DURBIN, RICHARD: we know it. Iraq as we know it has not been in
DURBIN, RICHARD: existence that long--not one
DURBIN, RICHARD: century.
DURBIN, RICHARD: And Iraq has to decide whether there is more that
DURBIN, RICHARD: binds them than divides
DURBIN, RICHARD: them. They have to decide whether the Kurds,
DURBIN, RICHARD: Sunni, and Shia of this location
DURBIN, RICHARD: want to come together as a nation to share in
DURBIN, RICHARD: governance, to share in revenue,
DURBIN, RICHARD: to share in their future. That is an ongoing
DURBIN, RICHARD: debate in Iraq today.
DURBIN, RICHARD: And there is a third debate in Iraq today that is
DURBIN, RICHARD: even deeper in history. It is a
DURBIN, RICHARD: debate between warring Islamic factions that has
DURBIN, RICHARD: been going on for 14
DURBIN, RICHARD: centuries. Ever since the death of the great
DURBIN, RICHARD: prophet Mohammed, Islamic people
DURBIN, RICHARD: have argued over his rightful heirs--one branch
DURBIN, RICHARD: of the Sunni religion of
DURBIN, RICHARD: Muslims and one in the Shia--and they came to
DURBIN, RICHARD: different conclusions and they
DURBIN, RICHARD: have not resolved that. Often, that difference of
DURBIN, RICHARD: opinion has erupted into
DURBIN, RICHARD: violence, which we see today on the streets of
DURBIN, RICHARD: Iraq.
DURBIN, RICHARD: And so Senator Cornyn files an amendment that
DURBIN, RICHARD: says the United States should
DURBIN, RICHARD: stay there with its forces until they resolve
DURBIN, RICHARD: these three problems: Who is going
DURBIN, RICHARD: to govern, whether there will be a nation, and of
DURBIN, RICHARD: course, this Islamic division.
DURBIN, RICHARD: Is that what we bargained for when the President
DURBIN, RICHARD: asked us to invade Iraq? It
DURBIN, RICHARD: certainly is not. Not one of those things was
DURBIN, RICHARD: included in the President's request
DURBIN, RICHARD: for the authorization of force in Iraq.
DURBIN, RICHARD: Do you remember why President Bush told us we had
DURBIN, RICHARD: to invade Iraq? Saddam
DURBIN, RICHARD: Hussein--a tyrant killing his own people--was a
DURBIN, RICHARD: threat to the region and to his
DURBIN, RICHARD: own country. Saddam Hussein is gone, dug out of a
DURBIN, RICHARD: hole in the ground, put on
DURBIN, RICHARD: trial by his own people, and executed.
DURBIN, RICHARD: The second reason the President said we had to
DURBIN, RICHARD: invade Iraq was to find and
DURBIN, RICHARD: destroy weapons of mass destruction. Well, we've
DURBIN, RICHARD: been looking for 4 1/2 years,
DURBIN, RICHARD: Mr. President, for weapons of mass destruction,
DURBIN, RICHARD: and can't find a one. So that
DURBIN, RICHARD: reason for the invasion of American forces is
DURBIN, RICHARD: long gone. And the final, of
DURBIN, RICHARD: course, was to protect any threat of Iraq to
DURBIN, RICHARD: America's security. Well, I can tell
DURBIN, RICHARD: you after Saddam Hussein was deposed and
DURBIN, RICHARD: dispatched quickly by our fine
DURBIN, RICHARD: military, and when weapons of mass destruction
DURBIN, RICHARD: were not found, Iraq was no
DURBIN, RICHARD: threat to the United States.
DURBIN, RICHARD: Now comes the new Republican rationale, the
DURBIN, RICHARD: Cornyn-McConnell rationale: We
DURBIN, RICHARD: need to stay in Iraq until they resolve
DURBIN, RICHARD: century-old battles over the Islamic
DURBIN, RICHARD: religion. We need to stay in Iraq until they
DURBIN, RICHARD: decide whether they want to come
DURBIN, RICHARD: together as a nation. We need to stay in Iraq
DURBIN, RICHARD: until their Parliament decides to
DURBIN, RICHARD: roll up its sleeves and make important political
DURBIN, RICHARD: decisions about their future.
DURBIN, RICHARD: Just how long will that be? How many American
DURBIN, RICHARD: soldiers will be called into
DURBIN, RICHARD: action for those goals? How many times will
DURBIN, RICHARD: Congress be called on to vote for
DURBIN, RICHARD: authorization of force to reach these objectives?
DURBIN, RICHARD: I would say they've really told us what it is all
DURBIN, RICHARD: about. From the point of view of
DURBIN, RICHARD: the Bush administration and their supporters on
DURBIN, RICHARD: the Republican side of the
DURBIN, RICHARD: aisle, there is no end in sight in our occupation
DURBIN, RICHARD: of Iraq. They would have us
DURBIN, RICHARD: stay there for a long long time. The American
DURBIN, RICHARD: people know better. They
DURBIN, RICHARD: understand the sacrifices we have made.
DURBIN, RICHARD: The President likes to define this in terms of
DURBIN, RICHARD: victory and defeat, saying if we
DURBIN, RICHARD: start bringing American troops home, somehow, in
DURBIN, RICHARD: his mind, that's a defeat. I
DURBIN, RICHARD: say to the President, there are several things he
DURBIN, RICHARD: should consider. We were not
DURBIN, RICHARD: defeated when we deposed Saddam Hussein. We were
DURBIN, RICHARD: successful. We weren't
DURBIN, RICHARD: defeated when we scoured that country and found
DURBIN, RICHARD: no weapons of mass
DURBIN, RICHARD: destruction. We were successful. We weren't
DURBIN, RICHARD: defeated when we gave the Iraqi
DURBIN, RICHARD: people a chance for the first free election in
DURBIN, RICHARD: their history. We were successful.
DURBIN, RICHARD: We weren't defeated when they were allowed to
DURBIN, RICHARD: form their own Government to
DURBIN, RICHARD: plan for their own future. We were successful.
DURBIN, RICHARD: And we certainly have not been
DURBIN, RICHARD: defeated day to day with the courage of our men
DURBIN, RICHARD: and women in uniform.
DURBIN, RICHARD: I hear an argument from time to time as well that
DURBIN, RICHARD: if our troops start coming
DURBIN, RICHARD: home now and things go badly in Iraq, those who
DURBIN, RICHARD: have served and sacrificed
DURBIN, RICHARD: and even those who have died will have done so in
DURBIN, RICHARD: vain. I couldn't disagree
DURBIN, RICHARD: more. History has taught us a very basic lesson.
DURBIN, RICHARD: The test of courage of a soldier
DURBIN, RICHARD: is not to be measured by the wisdom of Presidents
DURBIN, RICHARD: and generals who send them
DURBIN, RICHARD: into battle. Presidents and generals make serious
DURBIN, RICHARD: mistakes. They send troops
DURBIN, RICHARD: into battle where they have no chance to win. But
DURBIN, RICHARD: those soldiers do their duty.
DURBIN, RICHARD: They show heroism, courage, and valor, and no
DURBIN, RICHARD: one--no one--can take that
DURBIN, RICHARD: away from them.
DURBIN, RICHARD: This political debate now about the wisdom of the
DURBIN, RICHARD: President's foreign policy has
DURBIN, RICHARD: reached a point where we have a number of
DURBIN, RICHARD: amendments on the floor. The
DURBIN, RICHARD: Republican leadership has established hurdles and
DURBIN, RICHARD: blockades--everything they
DURBIN, RICHARD: can find--to stop us from a vote that reflects
DURBIN, RICHARD: the feelings of the American
DURBIN, RICHARD: people. You know why? They are afraid of what the
DURBIN, RICHARD: American people want.
DURBIN, RICHARD: They are afraid the American people may prevail.
DURBIN, RICHARD: So they have dreamed up this
DURBIN, RICHARD: procedural requirement of 60 votes, a requirement
DURBIN, RICHARD: that did not take place on
DURBIN, RICHARD: the Iraq amendments on the previous Defense
DURBIN, RICHARD: authorization bills, a
DURBIN, RICHARD: requirement that did not take place when it came
DURBIN, RICHARD: to our supplemental.
DURBIN, RICHARD: We have offered them: Let's have a majority vote.
DURBIN, RICHARD: Let's speak as a Senate to
DURBIN, RICHARD: this issue seriously, an up-or-down vote on our
DURBIN, RICHARD: amendment, an up-or-down
DURBIN, RICHARD: vote on your amendment. They rejected it. Sixty
DURBIN, RICHARD: votes--they have it wired.
DURBIN, RICHARD: They've got it figured out. There is one thing
DURBIN, RICHARD: they don't have figured out and
DURBIN, RICHARD: that is how they are going to go home and explain
DURBIN, RICHARD: this situation, how will these
DURBIN, RICHARD: Senators go back to their States after they have
DURBIN, RICHARD: told their people they are giving
DURBIN, RICHARD: up on the President's policy in Iraq and explain
DURBIN, RICHARD: why they didn't support the
DURBIN, RICHARD: only amendment that will seriously change our
DURBIN, RICHARD: policy in Iraq?
DURBIN, RICHARD: I don't think they can. They can talk about
DURBIN, RICHARD: supporting other amendments.
DURBIN, RICHARD: There is only one amendment by the Senator from
DURBIN, RICHARD: Rhode Island, Jack Reed,
DURBIN, RICHARD: and the Senator from Michigan, Carl Levin, that
DURBIN, RICHARD: puts a timetable to bring this
DURBIN, RICHARD: war to a close that doesn't ask the President to
DURBIN, RICHARD: consider our point of view but
DURBIN, RICHARD: says we will use our congressional powers to
DURBIN, RICHARD: require of the President a change
DURBIN, RICHARD: in policy. Only one vote. Every other vote that
DURBIN, RICHARD: these Senators may cast, they
DURBIN, RICHARD: are going to say: Oh, I told you I disagreed with
DURBIN, RICHARD: the President and that is why I
DURBIN, RICHARD: voted this way.
DURBIN, RICHARD: Let me tell you, they don't stand the test of
DURBIN, RICHARD: scrutiny. Look carefully at those
DURBIN, RICHARD: amendments. See if they require of the President
DURBIN, RICHARD: a change in policy. See if they
DURBIN, RICHARD: bring one American soldier safely home. If they
DURBIN, RICHARD: don't, then they don't achieve
DURBIN, RICHARD: the goals the American people expect of us.
WARNER, JOHN: r. President
WARNER, JOHN: Mr. President, at some point, I would be
WARNER, JOHN: privileged if I could enter into a
WARNER, JOHN: colloquy with my valued friend. So at the proper
WARNER, JOHN: juncture in his remarks,
WARNER, JOHN: perhaps we could have a bit of a colloquy.
DURBIN, RICHARD: ut of great respect for the
DURBIN, RICHARD: Senator from Virginia, I
DURBIN, RICHARD: would like to give him that chance now.
WARNER, JOHN: thank my friend. We can have our
WARNER, JOHN: debates, and we
WARNER, JOHN: frequently do, on procedure, and it is very
WARNER, JOHN: confusing, of course, to the
WARNER, JOHN: American public. But these are old rules that go
WARNER, JOHN: back, I might say with some
WARNER, JOHN: sense of pride, to Thomas Jefferson. He had a
WARNER, JOHN: hand in writing them. Somehow
WARNER, JOHN: this magnificent institution, the Senate, has
WARNER, JOHN: been able to serve our great
WARNER, JOHN: Republic for these 200-some-odd years.
WARNER, JOHN: But apart from procedure--and it seems to me I
WARNER, JOHN: recall that at an earlier
WARNER, JOHN: juncture in the spring when we were debating
WARNER, JOHN: certain amendments on Iraq, the
WARNER, JOHN: Senator from Virginia had an amendment. It got
WARNER, JOHN: over 50 votes. It was a
WARNER, JOHN: bipartisan amendment. And that amendment, quite
WARNER, JOHN: interesting, while it failed
WARNER, JOHN: to reach the 60-vote margin, it was picked up by
WARNER, JOHN: the appropriators and word
WARNER, JOHN: for word written into the appropriations bill.
WARNER, JOHN: And it required, among other things, that the
WARNER, JOHN: President report on July 15th and
WARNER, JOHN: that report, I think, was of value. People can
WARNER, JOHN: differ with it. But I know it
WARNER, JOHN: attracted a lot of attention and widespread press
WARNER, JOHN: coverage. It was of value.
WARNER, JOHN: That report also set up an independent group. I
WARNER, JOHN: consulted with my good friend,
WARNER, JOHN: the chairman, Senator Levin, and told him I felt
WARNER, JOHN: all the years we have been
WARNER, JOHN: working together we get a lot of facts from the
WARNER, JOHN: Pentagon about the status of
WARNER, JOHN: Iraq's security forces. And shouldn't we have an
WARNER, JOHN: independent group not
WARNER, JOHN: affiliated with the Department of Defense--I am
WARNER, JOHN: not here, in any way,
WARNER, JOHN: impugning the accuracy of their facts but have an
WARNER, JOHN: independent group give us a
WARNER, JOHN: General Jones, General Jim Jones, former
WARNER, JOHN: second opinion.
WARNER, JOHN: Commandant of the Marine Corps,
WARNER, JOHN: offered to head up that group. I talked with him
WARNER, JOHN: about it. He thought about it a
WARNER, JOHN: long time. He decided to do it. He has about 18
WARNER, JOHN: individuals with military
WARNER, JOHN: experience and two former police chiefs. They got
WARNER, JOHN: back this weekend from a
WARNER, JOHN: very intensive one week schedule studying these
WARNER, JOHN: situations. So there is a great
WARNER, JOHN: convergence of information that will be brought
WARNER, JOHN: to bear and made public in the
WARNER, JOHN: first week in September.
WARNER, JOHN: But back to this question before us. The
WARNER, JOHN: distinguished Republican leader just
WARNER, JOHN: put an amendment up. I would like to ask my
WARNER, JOHN: distinguished colleague if you
WARNER, JOHN: would just cover with me the provisions and what
WARNER, JOHN: your views are on some of
WARNER, JOHN: the findings in the amendment.
WARNER, JOHN: This is a sense of the Senate on the consequences
WARNER, JOHN: of a failed state in Iraq.
WARNER, JOHN: Much of this material was put before the Senate a
WARNER, JOHN: few days ago, filed by our
WARNER, JOHN: distinguished colleague from Texas, Mr. Cornyn.
WARNER, JOHN: But would you engage me in
WARNER, JOHN: asking a few questions about it or is there
WARNER, JOHN: another time he would be willing to
WARNER, JOHN: do it?
DURBIN, RICHARD: o, if I may say to my
DURBIN, RICHARD: colleague from Virginia, I will
DURBIN, RICHARD: consider this colloquy to be in the form of a
DURBIN, RICHARD: question without yielding the floor.
WARNER, JOHN: es, of course, Mr. President.
DURBIN, RICHARD: lease proceed.
WARNER, JOHN: or instance, the first finding:
WARNER, JOHN: A failed state in Iraq would become a safe haven
WARNER, JOHN: for Islamic radicals, including
WARNER, JOHN: al Qaeda and Hezbollah, who are determined to
WARNER, JOHN: attack the United States and
WARNER, JOHN: United States allies.
WARNER, JOHN: We know from experience in Afghanistan that bin
WARNER, JOHN: Laden occupied a piece of
WARNER, JOHN: territory there and set up his training camp.
WARNER, JOHN: Much of the training that led to
WARNER, JOHN: the horrific damage to our Nation, loss of life
WARNER, JOHN: and property, occurred there--of
WARNER, JOHN: course, September 11. Does the Senator not
WARNER, JOHN: agree--I am curious, I would like
WARNER, JOHN: to get some understanding of what the Senator's
WARNER, JOHN: thoughts are on this sense of
WARNER, JOHN: the Senate.
DURBIN, RICHARD: irst, I wish to express my
DURBIN, RICHARD: thinking and feelings about the
DURBIN, RICHARD: Senator from Virginia, whom I respect very much,
DURBIN, RICHARD: who served our country so
DURBIN, RICHARD: well in so many capacities. He is the longest
DURBIN, RICHARD: serving Senator from the State of
DURBIN, RICHARD: Virginia in the history of the United States of
WARNER, JOHN: ne other, Mr. President, was a bit
DURBIN, RICHARD: America.
WARNER, JOHN: longer. I am No. 2, kind of
WARNER, JOHN: like the Senator from Illinois, No. 2.
DURBIN, RICHARD: econd longest in the history of
DURBIN, RICHARD: the State of Virginia and
DURBIN, RICHARD: who has been a constructive partner in our
DURBIN, RICHARD: efforts to deal with this issue of
DURBIN, RICHARD: Iraq. Even before other Senators on his side of
DURBIN, RICHARD: the aisle questioned, spoke out,
DURBIN, RICHARD: he was there, and I respect him very much for
DURBIN, RICHARD: I would say to the Senator from Virginia that
DURBIN, RICHARD: that effort.
DURBIN, RICHARD: the Levin-Reed amendment is
DURBIN, RICHARD: conscious of the very first point he made, saying
DURBIN, RICHARD: that even redeploying troops,
DURBIN, RICHARD: we would reserve the right to use our soldiers,
DURBIN, RICHARD: use our troops to stop the
DURBIN, RICHARD: expansion of al-Qaida. So we are not walking away
DURBIN, RICHARD: Al-Qaida, as the Senator from Virginia knows,
DURBIN, RICHARD: from that threat.
DURBIN, RICHARD: those were the real culprits on
DURBIN, RICHARD: 9/11. Those are the ones who are sworn enemies of
DURBIN, RICHARD: the United States and in
DURBIN, RICHARD: what we believe. I don't believe any Senator on
DURBIN, RICHARD: my side, in the Levin-Reed
DURBIN, RICHARD: amendment or otherwise, has suggested we would
DURBIN, RICHARD: not continue to work to stop
DURBIN, RICHARD: the advance of al-Qaida and its evil scheme.
WARNER, JOHN: r. President, I think the Senator
WARNER, JOHN: is accurate. I have studied
WARNER, JOHN: the Levin amendment. I am opposed to it because
WARNER, JOHN: of the fixed timetables. But
WARNER, JOHN: let's just proceed to the second one. I think we
WARNER, JOHN: have covered the first, and I find
WARNER, JOHN: it very helpful.
WARNER, JOHN: The second, The Iraq Study Group report found
WARNER, JOHN: that ``[a] chaotic Iraq could
WARNER, JOHN: provide a still stronger base of operations for
WARNER, JOHN: terrorists who seek to act
WARNER, JOHN: regionally or even globally.''
WARNER, JOHN: To me that seems to have some basis in fact. Does
WARNER, JOHN: the Senator agree with that?
DURBIN, RICHARD: say to the Senator from
DURBIN, RICHARD: Virginia in response, at some
DURBIN, RICHARD: point, the Iraqis have to take control of their
DURBIN, RICHARD: country, their territory, and their
DURBIN, RICHARD: future. It is certainly not in their best
DURBIN, RICHARD: interest, if they want to develop, for
DURBIN, RICHARD: example, an oil industry that is going to fuel
DURBIN, RICHARD: their economy and improve the
DURBIN, RICHARD: lives of the people, to allow terrorist groups to
DURBIN, RICHARD: run without restraint.
DURBIN, RICHARD: So, yes, I think that is a concern they should
DURBIN, RICHARD: have as a nation, and that is why
DURBIN, RICHARD: the second part of the Levin-Reed amendment is so
DURBIN, RICHARD: important. We reserve the
DURBIN, RICHARD: right for American forces to help train and equip
DURBIN, RICHARD: the Iraqi soldiers, Army, and
DURBIN, RICHARD: police.
DURBIN, RICHARD: Fighting terrorism, we now see most often is a
DURBIN, RICHARD: military function, but I think
DURBIN, RICHARD: historically it has been a police function.
DURBIN, RICHARD: Regardless of which, we reserve in the
DURBIN, RICHARD: Levin-Reed amendment the right for America to
DURBIN, RICHARD: continue to invest in the Iraqi
DURBIN, RICHARD: Army and police force, for that very reason, so
DURBIN, RICHARD: that there is internal stability in
DURBIN, RICHARD: Iraq, even as our combat forces are removed.
WARNER, JOHN: r. President, I appreciate that
WARNER, JOHN: answer. I think there is a
WARNER, JOHN: provision--as a matter of fact, the amendment
WARNER, JOHN: Senator Lugar and I filed has
WARNER, JOHN: very much the same language in there. So let's
WARNER, JOHN: The Iraq Study Group noted that ``Al Qaeda will
WARNER, JOHN: proceed to 3.
WARNER, JOHN: portray any failure by the
WARNER, JOHN: United States in Iraq as a significant victory
WARNER, JOHN: that will be featured prominently
WARNER, JOHN: as they recruit for their cause in the region and
WARNER, JOHN: around the world.''
WARNER, JOHN: That concerns me. I think there is some truth to
WARNER, JOHN: that statement.
DURBIN, RICHARD: he Senator from Virginia served
DURBIN, RICHARD: Committee, as I did for 4 years. I think he
DURBIN, RICHARD: on the Intelligence
DURBIN, RICHARD: served longer. He will recall we were
DURBIN, RICHARD: told by our intelligence agencies that our
DURBIN, RICHARD: invasion of Iraq has led to an
DURBIN, RICHARD: emergence of al-Qaida terrorism in that country
DURBIN, RICHARD: and sadly, these terrorists are
DURBIN, RICHARD: taking their training by trying to kill American
DURBIN, RICHARD: soldiers and those who support
DURBIN, RICHARD: us.
DURBIN, RICHARD: And so my feeling is that the current strategy we
DURBIN, RICHARD: have been using,
DURBIN, RICHARD: unfortunately, is fueling this growth in
DURBIN, RICHARD: terrorism, growth in al-Qaida, the
DURBIN, RICHARD: presence of all these combat troops.
DURBIN, RICHARD: And I sincerely believe that we have to
DURBIN, RICHARD: understand that fighting al-Qaida,
DURBIN, RICHARD: fighting terrorism is still a high priority. I
DURBIN, RICHARD: think this administration was
DURBIN, RICHARD: diverted from our first priority.
DURBIN, RICHARD: The Senator from Virginia may remember that after
DURBIN, RICHARD: 9/11, within days, the
DURBIN, RICHARD: President came to the Senate and asked us to
DURBIN, RICHARD: declare war on al-Qaida and
DURBIN, RICHARD: those responsible for 9/11. The vote was
DURBIN, RICHARD: unanimous. Every Senator voted in
DURBIN, RICHARD: favor of that request, both political parties.
DURBIN, RICHARD: Those were sworn enemies of the
DURBIN, RICHARD: United States who had killed 3,000 innocent