On the recordNovember 18, 2011
I thank the Senator from New Mexico again for the comments, but also tell him how very much impressed I have been right from the first day I heard him with his openmindedness on subjects. It is very important that we keep open minds, and he has shown just how to do that. We appreciate that on an issue this complex, particularly on the Defense bill. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, our staff is working on various amendments that we could get approved by both sides. We think there are a number of those on which we can get agreement to make progress today. While we are going through that process, I would like to point out the front page of this morning's Wall Street Journal, I am sorry to note, may be a harbinger of events that will happen in the future, that will take place in the future, which will be unfortunate for the United States of America and indeed tragic for Iraq. The front page of the Wall Street Journal today says ``Standoff Over U.S. Airbase in Iraq.'' A tense standoff between local police and the Iraqi Army played out on Thursday at the gate of the U.S.…





