Pete Stark: “I support his resolution, House Resolution 82, because the administration policy is not defined, it is not clear, it is…”

“I support his resolution, House Resolution 82, because the administration policy is not defined, it is not clear, it is not viable with its use of force. Indeed, it is hardly existent. Members have heard people talk about why we are not in other parts of the world, and excuse it blithely. I cannot. We cannot ignore all these other conflicts, but that does not give us an excuse, when we had no policy then, to begin killing people when we have no policy now. This resolution is of the highest priority because we must exercise our obligation under the War Powers Act to debate the use of military force, particularly so in light of the absence of any comprehensive policy on the part of our administration. Unfortunately, we are not allowed enough debate. We are going to talk about spending $13 billion, approving the committal of ground troops, which we all know is beginning while the debate goes on, and I support this resolution authorizing House Resolution 82 of the gentleman from California (Mr. Campbell) because the use of force is not working and will not work here. NATO has made matters worse, not better.”