[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S12533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    REMARKS OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY SARA LISTER AND THE MARINE CORPS

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I rise today to express my grave 
disappointment in the statement that Sara Lister, the Army's Assistant 
Secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, made in reference to the 
U.S. Marine Corps. We just finished Veterans Day, and November 10 is 
traditionally the Marine Corps' birthday. So I guess her sense of 
timing is unbelievable. But, basically, this is what the Assistant 
Secretary said: ``The Marines are extremists'' and ``wherever you have 
extremists, you've got some risks of total disconnection with 
society.''
  For whatever I have done with my life personally, I attribute some of 
what I learned in the U.S. Marine Corps. I think the statement that she 
made is grossly unjust, and is an affront to every person who has ever 
worn the uniform of the U.S. Marine Corps, or to any person who has 
worn any uniform of the Armed Forces of this country, and those who 
have died for the very freedoms that we Americans, even Ms. Lister, 
enjoy today and every day.
  Mr. President, back in 1955, we were taught that the code of the 
corps is honor, courage, and commitment--honor in the defense of 
freedom, courage in the face of adversity and commitment to the members 
of your unit but, more important, to those folks at home.
  I am very proud to say that these principles have guided my life, and 
I hope that these would be the principles that our society could 
emulate, not values that should be considered ``disconnected'' with the 
norm. I am wondering who is really disconnected here.
  The corps has always presented to its new members a challenge for 
higher standards and higher achievements. In its 222-year history, they 
are incomparable and, yes, they are the guiding light of all services 
and something of which every American can be proud.
  I understand Ms. Lister has sent an apology to the Commandant of the 
Marine Corps, General Krulak. That might be enough for him, but it is 
not enough for me. She claims that she was quoted out of context. I 
don't accept that either. No one service should be placed over another. 
Nobody has a corner on bravery or valor or commitment to this country. 
But you must remember that it was these men and women who fought and 
died for the blessings of liberty for our Nation, and no one should 
forget that their words still reflect today.
  So I am saying Secretary Lister should resign her post, because I 
personally think that she is unfit to serve in a leadership position in 
the military of this Nation. I am very sad about this day.

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