[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 19, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5739-S5740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, we spend a fair amount of time on this 
floor discussing priorities for our people and our Government. As far 
as I am concerned, all that talk is about what comes in second to the 
subject we are on today: national security.
  Our first obligation is to defend the American people and our 
interests abroad. If we don't do that with thoroughness and excellence, 
nothing else is going to matter for long.
  September 11 was a tragic day. It was also the end of a period of 
denial. For generations, we believed that we could sit here safely, 
protected by our oceans. But 2 world wars in the last century and the 
coming of the nuclear age changed that. But when the Berlin Wall fell 
down and the Soviet Union collapsed, perhaps some lapsed into a false 
sense of security. September 11th changed that forever.
  This bill--the Defense authorization bill--is an attempt to respond 
to the defense of American interests in the world as it is, now and for 
the foreseeable future. Failure to be prepared invites the threats we 
fear. Peace through strength must remain the governing doctrine of 
American national security.
  I support the work of the Chairman, Senator Warner, on this bill. 
What a

[[Page S5740]]

tremendous asset it is to the Senate and Nation to have his expertise 
and experience. The fact that he served at the Pentagon, and has 
participated in this bill through numerous administrations gives us 
confidence in this work product.
  It has been said that the key to leadership is maintaining order in 
the midst of change, and change in the midst of order. With the 
distinguished Chairman, we have that balance.
  Mr. President, for a moment, I want to discuss recent developments in 
Iraq.
  You would never try to time a foot race with a sun dial. Likewise, it 
makes no sense to judge the progress of the war in Iraq by the top of 
the hour news.
  We are at war. That is a sentence fraught with meaning. War is by 
definition unpredictable. It involves a struggle against a dedicated 
foe, and constantly shifting conditions. Depending on your point of 
view, a single event for one part will be an ``ebb'', while for another 
it is a ``flow.'' With a short term perspective, you never know whether 
something is a trend or an isolated, irrelevant occurrence.
  One of the lessons we learned from the Vietnam era is that when the 
United States of America commits troops to battle, we should only do so 
if we are committed and confident of victory. The angst of so many 
Vietnam veterans is not the sacrifice they were called to make, but the 
betrayal of their cause and the anger of the American people at them 
for doing what their country asked them to do.
  The decision to go to war in Iraq was not a snap judgment. It was 
thoroughly debated here on this floor. The vote to authorize the use of 
force was not unanimous, but it was bipartisan. We crossed a threshold 
when we made that decision, and when combat began.
  A decision to go to war is not a stock you buy or sell depending on 
how it is doing. We are in this war until we finish it successfully.
  Is there room for debate on how the war is to be conducted? 
Certainly. But only to a point. We don't need 535 commanders in chief.
  In a world of instantaneous global communication, we need to be very 
sensitive to what we say on the public record, and how our words can be 
interpreted by those who wish to destroy us. War is a matter of 
armaments and troops and battle plans. But is also a matter of 
psychology and spirit. We should be very careful not to encourage our 
enemies. When Congressman Murtha made his comments last week, I 
vehemently disagreed with them. This war is certainly ``winnable'' but 
if insurgents heard his words, it was harder to win than before he 
spoke.
  I reiterate that it would be foolish to try to run this war based on 
public opinion. We have no General Gallup Poll. The circumstances we 
have learned about Abu Ghraib are very disturbing to us all. Looking at 
the polls, it had a short term effect on support for the war effort. 
But we must maintain the perspective that these are actions we are 
ashamed of and are working to prevent from ever re-occurring. Compare 
that to the villains who beheaded Mr. Berg. They reveled in the act of 
his murder. It was a picture of what we are there to fight against.
  Progress is being made. The influential Shia cleric Al-Sistani has 
called for people like Al Sadr to lay down their arms.
  The President has made it clear what to expect as the June 30 
deadline approaches. Terrorists like Al Zarqawi know what the prospect 
of a free Iraq means, and they will do anything to stop it. We cannot 
let them succeed. We need to be more committed to our noble ideals than 
the terrorists are to their evil plans. Despite all the attempts to 
distract us or deter us, we need to stay focused on the transition to 
Iraqi sovereignty. If we fail, the fall out will be far worse than that 
from an artillery shell filled with sarin gas.
  Mr. President, our history tells us that war is hell. But it also 
tells us that there are some things worth fighting for.
  The battle is engaged. The war on terrorism is being fought in 
Baghdad, in the Sunni Triangle, not here. Better to fight the battle 
there than here. Have no doubt, if we were not fighting it there, it 
would be fought right here. Its poison and death would spew forth upon 
us.
  Removing Saddam Hussein from the world stage was worth fighting for. 
Freeing the people of Iraq from tyranny and deprivation is worth 
fighting for. Planting an Arab democracy in the Middle East is an 
historic opportunity for freedom in this world.
  We are committed, Mr. President. Our only option is to persevere to 
victory. With all people, I hope and pray it will be soon.
  I thank the committee for the bill they have brought here to the 
Senate floor to give the President the tools he needs to protect our 
security. I look forward to our consideration and passage of it.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska is recognized.

                          ____________________