Political Quotes

“Back in October--to be precise, October 27, so we have now almost 5 months--almost 5 months ago, the Armed Services Committee unanimously approved the nomination of BG Michael Walsh to be a major general. This is a man who has had an exemplary career in the military. He has been there 30 years in the Corps of Engineers. He served in command assignments throughout the United States, throughout the world. In 2006-2008, Brigadier General Walsh served in Baghdad. He was commander of the Gulf Region Division of the Army Corps of Engineers. He was responsible for reconstruction projects managed by the corps throughout Iraq. Prior to that tour, Brigadier General Walsh served as commander of the Army Corps's South Atlantic Division. He served in places as far afield as Germany and Saudi Arabia. We approved this unanimously in the committee. There is no doubt about this general's qualifications and his character. No one has raised the slightest issue as to whether he should be approved based on his own merits. Instead, the objection is, the Corps of Engineers has not approved a number of projects Senator Vitter wants the corps to approve. It is inappropriate to stop a uniformed officer of the United States from having an advancement in his career because a Senator believes the Corps of Engineers, where this general served, should approve projects which the corps has said it cannot approve.”