Political Quotes

Tom Lantos: Mr. Speaker, I want to tell my good friend, the gentleman from California, that there is an enormous difference between…

On the recordDecember 5, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I want to tell my good friend, the gentleman from California, that there is an enormous difference between targeting innocent civilians and collateral damage. Today, as we speak, American soldiers were killed, killed in Afghanistan by our own forces inadvertently. There is a difference of the whole world between deliberately killing innocent civilians and retaliating, doing one's utmost to avoid killing civilians and, tragically, mistakes occurring. I think this distinction must be made on this floor.
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Tom Lantos

Editor's note · Context

Discussing the distinction between targeting civilians and collateral damage during a debate.

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