Right-minded people such as Dawn Johnson, whose nomination, surprisingly, is still pending in the other body, has worked to reform the Office of Legal Counsel, reform that process and keep it on a very solid, professional footing.

We're currently engaging with all relevant parties inside of Sudan to bring peace and stability to that country.

We really all ought to see the Office of Legal Counsel opinion. That is this Administration's view of what due process entails.

We want an inclusive and durable peace in Darfur.

I think these sort of characterizations are overstated and do not state the actual situation.

Thus far, in your public statements, you've pushed a relatively new approach toward the Government of Sudan, emphasizing engagement and incentives.

We want a country that's governed responsibly, justly, democratically; a country that's at peace with itself and its neighbors, that's economically viable.

I understand that rationale, but, of course, the concern is that the message is possibly given to Khartoum that they don't have to do much at all in order to have that kind of constructive engagement.

Most urgently, we seek a definitive end to the conflict and the gross human-rights abuses in Darfur.

Well, I'm pleased that an attempt is being made to create a real interagency strategy, but it does appear to me that the constructive-engagement approach was engaged in prior to this process being over, or being done and being ready to go.

You can't have a discussion--and I think no Member of the House should--can be expected to act responsibly, to vote responsibly and intelligently on pending legislation without access to that opinion.

We have lived through several years now of secret law from the Office of Legal Counsel. It has been a national disgrace.

Opening Statement of Senator Herb Kohl

I'm concerned that the Pakistani military continues to remain at the forefront of the recovery efforts for internally displaced Pakistanis.

This approach, I believe, may be a threat to the integrity of both the military commission system and the Federal criminal justice system.

Attempts to resume military commission trials would perpetuate the harmful symbolism of Guantanamo, undermining our current terrorism efforts and squandering an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the American system of justice.

I am concerned about any suggestion that military commissions would be better because it is easier to get a conviction.

I remain concerned that the military commission process is so discredited that it may not be possible to fix it.