[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 8340-8341]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                SUPPORT FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, in my colloquy with the distinguished 
Democratic leader, I reviewed my great concern that as Senators--
indeed, as people all over the United States and, indeed, the world--
wish to address the extraordinary, tragic information flowing about 
alleged atrocities perpetrated by U.S. forces and perhaps others that 
they incorporate in every statement a reference to the courage, the 
sacrifice, of the men and women in the Armed Forces of our Nation, of 
the coalition forces who are fighting with us in Iraq, as well as 
Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world, and, indeed, the impact of 
this tragic series of revelations on their families back here at home, 
and to be ever mindful that in the United States and in the homes of 
the coalition forces in other nations are the wives, the children, 
mothers, fathers, and others who are in strong support of their loved 
one beyond the shores, and how ever so hard this story hits home with 
them.
  I do hope my colleagues and others, as they address this issue, take 
the time to include reference to the valiant work being done by 
uniformed people of the armed forces of many nations and their 
families.
  The allegations of mistreatment of the prisoners by some members of 
the Armed Forces, if proven, represent an appalling and totally 
unacceptable breach of military regulations and conduct that could--and 
I repeat--could undermine much of the greatest works and sacrifices of 
our forces in Iraq and around the world in the war on terror.
  The vast majority of our men and women--as the Democratic leader 
said, 99.99 percent--fully understand their obligations to conduct 
themselves in accordance with military, national, and international 
standards, most particularly the standards of professional conduct that 
are taught each soldier, sailor, airman, and marine of our forces.
  The mistreatment of prisoners, no matter what their reason for 
incarceration, is not what the uniform of the United States stands for. 
It is not what the United States stands for as a Nation. It is not the 
way for anyone who wears that uniform to conduct themselves.
  The Armed Services Committee received a briefing from senior Army 
officials yesterday. We did receive a considerable amount of 
information that is not freely in the press today. I think in due 
course that information will be and should be shared publicly. 
Nevertheless, we have begun our probe of this particular case. I 
commend the committee for its actions so far. We had three-quarters of 
the members of the committee in attendance yesterday. There was a very 
vigorous questioning of the Army witness. While informative, the 
briefing revealed the need for more extensive public hearings from 
civilian and military officials. I made a request for such hearings 
immediately following our hearing yesterday. I was joined by Senator 
Levin, the ranking member.
  We must always remember that under our Constitution, it is very clear 
in the long traditions of this country that civilians control the U.S. 
military. They have the ultimate responsibility of the actions of the 
men and women in uniform. They are the ones who promulgate the orders 
from the Commander in Chief, the President, to the unit commanders. 
Consequently, the civilians must accept that responsibility.
  Secretary Rumsfeld, in a press conference yesterday, addressed the 
Nation. As I said, I have been in consultation with him and his office 
about an appearance, which I anticipate will take place very shortly 
following the public statements to be issued, I believe, today by the 
President of the United States.
  I fully believe the most constructive course of action at this point 
is to fully understand the extent of this problem, no matter how much 
time it requires to gather all of the facts, no matter how difficult it 
is to get all of those facts, no matter how embarrassing those facts 
may be--get the facts out and the story, so that not only the Congress 
of the United States can reach its judgment but, indeed, the American 
public and others around the world, because this is an around-the-world 
story at this point in time.
  Our great Nation has had a symbol of freedom and hope for its entire 
existence. The world looks to us as the

[[Page 8341]]

standard bearer of how best to bring about freedom for others, how best 
to protect those values which we hold so dearly and for which men and 
women have gone forth for generations from these shores not to conquer 
or take land, but they have gone forth in the cause of freedom.
  I believe in due course, once this story is fully understood, we will 
have the ability as a Nation to apologize to our Chief Executive, the 
President, through others, through this humble Senator, for the actions 
taken and, most importantly, give the assurances to the world that we 
will not ever again see a repeat.
  I have had the privilege to have had association with the men and 
women of uniform for over 50 years. When I was a young sailor in the 
closing year of World War II, I began my career in the training 
commands of the U.S. Navy. I have had many opportunities in the ensuing 
years to work with the men and women of the U.S. military. During the 
war in Korea, I served as a marine. During the Vietnam war, I was 
privileged to serve over 5 years as the Navy Secretary. We had our 
problems during that conflict, but I doubt if any of those problems 
parallel the seriousness and consequences of this framework of 
allegations today.
  Therefore, it is a duty upon us to leave no stone unturned, to reveal 
all of the facts, to give the assurance that it will not happen again, 
and to place into the military such authorities as they need. I doubt 
if there is anything under statute law that needs to be added, but the 
authorities need to uphold those laws and regulations, and training 
should follow so that this will never be repeated.
  Again, as we proceed over the next days and weeks, we must be mindful 
of the millions of men and women in uniform, past and present, who have 
honorably, with great sacrifice, defended the laws, rules, traditions, 
and values enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and in the American way 
of life. The actions of a few must not be allowed to tarnish that 
image.
  Of course, I am very mindful of the fact that Memorial Day is in a 
few weeks, and we will dedicate a magnificent set of structures on our 
Mall to the men and women who served during World War II--some 16 
million. I had the privilege of going down the other day with Senator 
Dole, a former colleague, whose wisdom and energies have contributed 
greatly to this magnificent memorial. As we walked there together with 
other Senators from this Chamber--totaling 7, who served in World War 
II--Senator Dole said that, yes, the monument stands as a symbol for 
the sacrifices of those in uniform, some 16 million, but he said it 
also stands as a monument and testimony of the homefront. Those of us 
who have memories of that period remember how well this country was 
unified. We had rationing; we had war production; we worked around the 
clock not only to supply and equip our troops but to provide equipment 
for our Allied forces. It was a magnificent chapter in American 
history. That cannot be tarnished by the actions of a few here.
  There is clearly room for a constructive debate on how best to 
proceed in Iraq, but we must not allow recent events to obscure the 
overall stakes for our Nation and the world in this region. We must be 
unified in overall purpose that success in Iraq is essential and that 
we, the Congress, stand squarely behind our men and women in uniform.
  Our troops in Iraq deserve this. They deserve the best support we can 
give them. To appear divided while our sons and daughters are in harm's 
way runs counter to the traditions of this Chamber. There should be 
debate, but let it be reasoned and measured, and focused on the way 
forward in this war on terrorism.
  The brave young men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces have answered 
their Nation's call to service. They deserve nothing less than our 
absolute, unwavering commitment to their success. Nothing less.
  I yield the floor.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Virginia for 
helping to explain to the world how sad all of us are about the 
developments in Iraq with the prisoners. I appreciate the distinguished 
Senator, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, moving forward 
and asking Secretary Rumsfeld to come and testify in public. It is our 
hope that Secretary Rumsfeld will also brief the entire Senate, along 
with the distinguished committee. I appreciate the leadership of the 
Senator from Virginia very much.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank our colleague from Texas. Let me 
assure all that I have been in contact with Secretary Rumsfeld. There 
is no reluctance whatsoever on his part to come forward. He desires to 
do so, but I believe it should be following the Commander in Chief, the 
President, when he addresses indeed the Nation and the world in a short 
time.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. I thank the Senator from Virginia and also agree that 
would be proper. The President should have the ability to represent the 
American people and the world. I know that he is going to do that in a 
very effective way. Thank you, Mr. President.
  Mr. President, I ask the Senator from Iowa to take the next 10 
minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa is recognized.

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