[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 30, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H7362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATE DEPARTMENT SHOULD GET ON MESSAGE WITH WHITE HOUSE
(Mr. NADLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, this country is united in supporting the
determination of President Bush to fight the terrorists across the
world, to fight all those terrorist groups, as he said, with global
reach. Apparently, however, the State Department has not gotten the
message.
What are we to make of the fact that the State Department incessantly
criticizes Israel for attacking terrorists who have attacked civilians
in Israel in exactly the way the United States is trying to apprehend
and kill Osama bin Laden and his followers; and the State Department
spokesman says, ah, it is different, because there is an agreement with
Israel to negotiate with the Palestinians. When the Palestinians engage
in terror and break their agreement not to use violence, apparently our
position is that Israel should remain defenseless and do nothing to
reply; either do nothing or face the condemnation of our State
Department.
The State Department should get on message with the President and the
rest of the United States that is opposed to terror and thinks that
people who are attacked by terrorists have the right to self-defense.
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