On the recordSeptember 26, 2013
As a proud Californian, I join Ms. Pelosi in congratulating Oracle Team USA. Ever since Dennis Conner brought the Cup to California, we, as Californians, are very proud of it. I didn't spend the weekend in San Francisco, though. I spent it in Libya and in Cairo, because, as we speak here today, the good things that are going on in America are often overshadowed by our poor foreign policy, our inattention to historic allies and obligations. Today, war is going on in the Sinai, and the Egyptian Army is fighting it while we debate whether or not to support their effort. We debate whether or not a coup that overthrew a dictator who was elected--a man who no sooner got his office then he began moving Egypt toward shari'a law, abolishing its form of balance, including its judiciary and its parliament. We continue to debate. The fact is we need allies in the region. Israel needs allies in the region. Egypt needs to protect borders from insurgency and terrorism to its south, in the Sinai, and along the Libyan border. More than ever, the Libyan border is a concern for all of us. It is a lawless area. The term ``Benghazi'' often is taken for the sad loss of four brave Americans at our consulate, but the truth is Benghazi is the next Afghanistan if we cannot engage and stop the terrorism that is going on there. It is a training ground for insurgents--one of many. So when many talk in foreign policy today about the Arab Spring, I'd like all Americans to understand, Mr.…
