Political Quotes

“I ask unanimous consent that a letter from GEN John Shalikashvili, the retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: General John M.D. Shalikashvili, USA (Retired), Steilacoom, WA, September 16, 2010. Dear Senators: I am writing to urge the Senate to vote in support of the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act. Each element contained in the legislation that passed the Senate Armed Services Committee is essential to the maintenance of a strong, capable fighting force for our nation. Provisions in the bill will ensure that our soldiers have the pay they deserve and the equipment, training and support they need to conduct their critical missions. In particular, I support the DADT repeal language that passed through the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this year and is currently part of the pending legislation. The Pentagon is currently conducting a study on how to implement a policy of open service. Congressional repeal is vital for the Pentagon to implement their findings, whatever they may be. As I have said before, repeal strikes down the law that straitjackets military leaders' ability to craft a sensible and practical policy about open service. Most importantly, the current repeal language allows the Pentagon the time it may need to answer any questions about how to actually implement the change.…”