[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 154 (Friday, November 18, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13309-S13311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IRAQ
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, as we look out the window in most of our
great country, we can witness the season change, the change in the
season, and we can feel it. The air has become crisp with autumnal
chill. The leaves on the trees change their color; from the exuberant,
green lushness of the summer months to the tired, brown, yellow, and
red of the autumn, much like the graying hair of a man advancing in
age.
Nature can sometimes mimic human events with a subtlety that no words
can quite convey. As our country heads into the season that is
celebrated with the love of family and the love of home, Americans
should also look across the landscape of America and reflect upon the
loss of so many young Americans in the 12 months since autumn last fell
upon us.
Think about it. In the past year, more than 820 servicemembers have
lost their lives in Iraq.
The evening news features pictures of American troops who have
perished in service to our flag, in service to our country. I am struck
by these colorful mosaics of these troops, amen; the green and blue of
their uniforms set against the background of the bold colors of our
flag, Old Glory, Old Glory. Each of these proud troops holds an
expression of pride and courage, even though many of them appear to be
so young. Note their ages--18, 19, 20, 21--just starting out in life,
having one full glance of what is around them.
I can only imagine the grief of their loving families during this
time of the year, as the somber tones of fall contrast with the joy of
being with family during the upcoming holidays. I pray that God,
Almighty God, will comfort those who have suffered losses, that He will
bless the fallen in their everlasting life, and that His hand will
protect those who still serve in harm's way.
That so many have sacrificed during this war in Iraq is reason enough
to ask questions about our Government and about our Government's policy
in that faraway land. Our troops continue to shed their blood, and our
Nation continues to devote enormous sums of our national wealth to
continue that war.
The Constitution protects the American people from unjust laws that
seek to stifle the patriotic duty to question those who are in power.
But it is the courage of the American people that compels them to
actually speak out when those in power call for silence. If anything,
attacks on patriotism of freedom-loving Americans may result in even
more Americans fighting against attempts to squelch the constitutional
protections of freedom.
Since our country was sent to war on March 19, 2003, 2,073 American
men and women have been killed. Yes, 2,073 Americans have died. Nearly
16,000 troops have been wounded.
Our military is straining under the repeated deployment of our
troops, including the members of the National Guard. They come from all
walks of life. They are lawyers. They are teachers. They are preachers.
They are coal miners. They are farmers. More than $214 billion has been
spent in Iraq and the end is not in sight. More than $214 billion spent
in Iraq and the end is not in sight. Urban combat takes place each day,
every day, in Baghdad, all day long. Every day and night.
Veterans hospitals in our own country are threatened by budget
shortfalls, and yet Americans are still left to wonder, when will our
brave troops be coming home? When?
I opposed this war in Iraq from the outset. From the beginning I
spoke out against our entry into this war. I pleaded with my
colleagues. I pleaded with the White House. I asked questions that have
not been answered. I spoke out against the invasion of a country which
did not pose an imminent threat to our national security. I said so
then--and I was right. I opposed the war in Iraq from the outset. From
the word go, I opposed it. But our troops were ordered to go to Iraq
and they went.
[[Page S13310]]
The question is, now, when will they come home? The administration
has so far laid out only a vague policy, saying our troops will come
home when the Iraqi Government is ready to take responsibility for its
country. When our troops are no longer needed, when the job is done,
they will come home. We will not stay a day longer than we are needed.
That sort of political doublespeak is small comfort to the mothers
and the fathers of our fighting men and women, the mothers and fathers
who turn and toss upon their pillows, whose tears wet the pillows,
whose prayers break the silence of night. Oh, when will they come home?
Bring my boy home. Oh, God, this awful war.
Wednesday evening the Vice President of the United States, even
claimed that criticism of the administration's war in Iraq was
dishonest and reprehensible. Did you hear that? Hear me, now; let me
say that again: On Wednesday evening the Vice President of the United
States, the man who is within a heartbeat of being the President of the
United States, the Vice President of the United States even claimed
that criticism of the administration's war in Iraq was ``dishonest and
reprehensible.''
Since when are we not to lift our voices? Are the American people not
to lift their voices in criticism of the administration's war in Iraq?
Is it dishonest on the part of the American people to do that? Is it
reprehensible on the part of mothers and fathers of sons and daughters
who were sent to that most dangerous country in the world? Is it
reprehensible? Did the Vice President measure his words? The Vice
President's comments come on the heels of comments from President Bush,
who said:
What bothers me is when people are irresponsibly using
their positions and playing politics. That's exactly what is
taking place in America.
Listen to that. The President and the Vice President need to reread
the Constitution, take another look at that inimitable document. Asking
questions, seeking honesty and truth, and pressing for accountability
is exactly what the Framers had in mind. What would George Washington
say? What would Alexander Hamilton say? What would James Madison say?
What would Gouverneur Morris say? What would James Wilson say?
Questioning policies and practices, especially ones that have cost
this Nation more than 2,000 of her bravest sons and daughters, is the
responsibility of every American and is also a central role of Congress
as our duty as the elected representatives of a free people. We--you,
you, you and I--we are the elected representatives of the American
people, the people all over this vast land, its plains, its prairies,
its mountains, it valleys, its lakes, its rivers, its seas. Yes, we are
the men and women who are tasked with seeking the truth. Is that
irresponsible to seek the truth?
But instead of working with the Congress, instead of clearing the
air, the White House falls back to the irksome practice of attack,
attack, attack; obscure, obscure, obscure; attack. The American people
are tired of these reprehensible tactics. If anything is reprehensible,
it is these tactics.
Circling the wagons will not serve this administration well. What the
people demand are the facts. They want the truth. They want their
elected leaders to level with them. And when it comes to the war in
Iraq, this administration seems willing to do anything it can do to
avoid the truth, a truth I believe will reveal that the Bush
administration did, indeed, manipulate the facts in order to lead this
Nation down the road to war. War. War.
The administration claims that the Congress had the same intelligence
as the President before the war and that independent commissions have
determined there was no misrepresentation of the intelligence. But
neither claim is true. The intelligence agencies are under the control
of the White House. All information given to the Congress was cleared
through the White House. And the President had access to an enormous
amount of data never shared with the Congress. There was a filter over
the intelligence information the Congress received. That filter was the
administration, which is actively engaged in hyping the danger and
lusting after this war, this terrible war in Iraq.
Remember the talk of weapons of mass destruction? Remember the talk
of mushroom clouds? Remember? Remember the talk of unmanned drones? The
so-called proof for war was massaged before it was sent to Congress, to
scare Members, and leaked to reporters to scare people.
No independent commission has stated that the case for war was
indisputable. Commissions have looked at how the intelligence fell
short, but none have yet examined possible political manipulation.
Even the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence slowed its
examination, stalled its examination of possible White House
manipulation. My colleague from West Virginia, the ranking member of
the Intelligence Committee, Senator Jay Rockefeller, is rightly
pressing for answers.
Right now we are engaged in a mission with no definition. That is
troubling because without a clearly defined mission, it is impossible
to determine when our effort is truly accomplished.
This week, the Senate had the opportunity to establish some very
basic benchmarks for progress in Iraq, benchmarks that would have
clearly outlined goals and provided accountability in meeting those
goals. The proposal, offered by the senior Senator from Michigan,
Senator Carl Levin, was a modest, flexible approach that would have
given our troops, their families, the American people, and the Iraqi
people some basic guidepost. Unfortunately, the Senate turned its back.
It could not see the wisdom of this approach. It could not bring itself
to see the wisdom of the approach.
So, my fellow Senators, it is vital that we have benchmarks against
which to gauge our progress. That is how we can measure effectiveness
and, most importantly, how we know when the job is done. The
administration's strategy of keeping our troops in Iraq for as long as
it takes--have you heard that before? Keeping our troops in Iraq for as
long as it takes?--that is the wrong strategy. Who knows how long it
will take for the Iraqi Government to institute order in that
fractured, unhappy, miserable country?
Unfortunately, the questions that the American people are asking
about the missteps and the mistakes in the war in Iraq are not being
answered by this White House, not being answered by the administration.
Vice President Cheney has dismissed these important questions as
``making a play for political advantage in the middle of a war.''
Now, listen to that. The Vice President of the United States has
dismissed these important questions as ``making a play for political
advantage in the middle of a war.'' How about that?
Perhaps the Vice President should question White House aides about
using war for political advantage. For example, on January 19, 2002,
the Washington Post reported that Karl Rove--get this--advised
Republicans to ``make the president's handling of the war on terrorism
the centerpiece of their strategy to win back the Senate and keep
control of the House in this year's midterm elections.'' Does the Vice
President have anything to say about that?
Let me say that again. On January 19, 2002--I read about it at the
time; I did not miss it--the Washington Post reported that Karl Rove
advised Republicans to ``make the president's handling of the war on
terrorism the centerpiece of their strategy to win back the Senate and
keep control of the House in this year's midterm elections.'' That was
said on January 19, 2002. That was quoted in the Post on that date.
Yes, does the Vice President have anything to say about that?
The Vice President also lashed out at those who might deceive our
troops:
The saddest part is that our people in uniform have been
subjected to these cynical and pernicious falsehoods day in
and day out.
Now, listen to that. Was the Vice President trying to clarify some of
his past statements on Iraq? Was he?
On March 24, 2002, the Vice President said that Iraq ``is actively
pursuing nuclear weapons at this time.'' There was no doubt about it,
to listen to the Vice President--no doubt.
On August 26, 2002, the Vice President said:
Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now
has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt that he is
amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies,
and against us.
[[Page S13311]]
Let me go back and read the quote. Let me repeat it.
On August 26, 2002, here is what the Vice President said:
Simply stated, there is no doubt--
Get that--
Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now
has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt that he is
amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies,
and against us.
That is the end of the quotation.
On March 16, 2003, the Vice President said:
We will, in fact, be greeted as liberators.
Do you remember that?
On March 16, 2003, there it is, the Vice President said:
We will, in fact, be greeted as liberators.
Are these the ``pernicious falsehoods'' that the Vice President
believes our troops have been subjected to? That is, of course, a
rhetorical question. Far from questioning his own statements about the
war in Iraq, the Vice President's comments are a ham-handed attempt to
squelch the questions that the American people out there are asking
about the administration's policies in Iraq. The American people should
not be cowed. They should not be intimidated. And Senators should not
be intimidated by these attempts to intimidate. The American people
should not allow the subject to be changed from the war in Iraq to
partisan sniping in Washington.
Instead, the American people must raise their voices--hear us--the
American people should raise their voices--hear us, listen to us--the
American people must raise their voices even louder to ask the
administration the same simple questions: What is your policy for Iraq?
Answer that. What is your policy? Is it stay the course? When will the
war be over? How many more lives will this war cost? When will our
troops return home?
Mr. President, the holiday season is almost upon us. Americans will
soon sit down at their Thanksgiving tables. They will gather together
to give thanks to Almighty God, give thanks to Him for the blessings
that have been bestowed upon America's families. As we gather, there
will be an empty seat at many tables. Some chairs will be empty because
a service member is serving his or her country in a faraway land. Other
seats will be empty as a silent tribute to those who will never, never
return.
Each of these troops has fought to protect our freedoms, including
the freedom of Americans to ask questions--yes, the freedom to ask
questions. Our troops have fought for that freedom--people back home,
their families, might ask questions, their friends might ask
questions--the freedom to ask questions of their Government, the
people's Government.
The whole picture, the truth is that the continued occupation of Iraq
only serves to drive that country closer to civil war. They do not want
us there. They do not want us there.
How would you feel, Senators, how would you feel if our country were
invaded by another country? You would want them out. You would do
anything you could to get them out. American troops are now perceived
as occupiers, not as liberators. The longer we stay, the more dangerous
Iraq becomes, and the more likely it is we will drive the future
government further from a democratic republic and closer to religious
fundamentalism and, not insignificantly, the more American and Iraqi
lives will be lost--forever.
I, for one, believe that it is time to say ``well done''--``well
done''--to our brave fighting men and women. May God bless them one and
all. Let us say, job well done, and start to bring the troops home.
Mr. President, I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a
quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. BURNS). The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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