On the recordMarch 10, 2010
I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio, first, for presenting this resolution and, secondly, for fighting for so long to get us to have this debate. I want to say to Mr. Berman, thank you for agreeing to let this be debated. I want to start by saying that Peggy Noonan has called for this debate in ``A `Necessary' War?'' I want to read this: ``So far, oddly, most of the debate over Afghanistan has taken place among journalists and foreign policy professionals.'' All of them have been honest in their opinions about the war in Afghanistan. But when you really look at the facts, nobody elected these people to debate the war. ``Washington has to get serious, and the American people have a right to know the facts and options.'' A `Necessary' War? The President and Congress, Distracted, Have Left a Void (By Peggy Noonan) So far, oddly, most of the debate over Afghanistan has taken place among journalists and foreign-policy professionals. All power to them: They've been fighting it out on op-ed pages and in journals for months now, in many cases with a moral seriousness, good faith, and sense of protectiveness toward the interests of the United States that is, actually, moving. But nobody elected them. We need a truly national debate. So thank you both for allowing this debate to take place today. But I join my friends in saying that it's time to bring an end to this war.
