Political Quotes

“I want to thank the gentleman for yielding and for his very deliberative work in leading our minority. I am glad that we are debating the President's proposal to arm and train the Syrian rebels. But, Mr. Speaker, I am totally disappointed that a debate on something that could have such broad implications on the United States' national security and the region is being included as an amendment to the continuing resolution. When I became a member of the Appropriations Committee, the first rule I was taught was that you don't authorize on an appropriations bill. Yet this is another instance of Congress taking a pass on its solemn constitutional obligations to weigh in on matters of war and peace. I am reminded of the failure to have a thorough and robust debate in the wake of 9/11 and the resulting overly broad authorization which I could not vote for because it was a blank check for perpetual war, and it still is on the books and it is being used as the authority for the strikes that are taking place now. This resolution should be repealed. And it was the rush to war against Iraq in 2002 that led us to where we are today. ISIS did not exist until the unnecessary and ill-begotten war in Iraq, which created sectarian violence and a civil war. We should be clear what the United States is committing itself to in Iraq and Syria. The U.S. has conducted nearly 3,000 missions and more than 150 airstrikes, and has deployed more than 1,000 troops already.…”