Norman D. Dicks: “The strict limitation of funds in the resolution offered by Mr. Rooney of Florida would end our involvement…”

“The strict limitation of funds in the resolution offered by Mr. Rooney of Florida would end our involvement unilaterally. I believe this action would be unwise, and that it could materially harm our relationship with NATO allies from whom we will undoubtedly require support in the future. It would also undermine the worldwide effort to protect the people of Libya. Now in this amendment, there are exceptions: search and rescue; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; aerial refueling; and operational planning. I asked the majority if they would put in suppression, because you can't conduct these other missions without suppression, and if we don't have the ability to suppress enemy air defenses, the allies will not be able to continue the bombing campaign. So all of these things that the gentleman says he wants to do and have exceptions for will be undermined by not having suppression. Today's F-18 Growlers go in on these missions and they suppress the enemy radars so that the bombing can continue. So I think this is fatally flawed because of the lack of suppression, and I feel that we now have to vote against this because of that fact. I tried to offer this as an amendment, but I was told that they weren't interested. I just hope you understand that you are undermining this mission and you are undermining NATO. This deserves to be defeated.”