Political Quotes

“I rise today in support of amendments Nos. 1125 and 1126, which have been offered by the Intelligence Committee chairwoman, Senator Feinstein. While the Senate did not adopt my amendment that would have instructed the Senate to consider these detainee matters separately from the Defense authorization bill, I believe Senator Feinstein's amendments make important changes and improvements to the bill-- improvements that may yet avoid a problem with a Presidential veto. I thank the Presiding Officer for his comments yesterday on the detainee provisions that are in this proposed legislation. I urge my colleagues to support these amendments. I want to be clear. I intend to support them. I have serious concerns going forward about the unintended consequences of enacting the detainee provisions in subtitle D of the Defense Authorization Act. These amendments help to alleviate some of my concerns. I wish to, in the context of the debate we are having, note that in addition to the Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta; the Director of National Intelligence, General Clapper; and FBI Director Mueller--who all oppose the detainee provisions--CIA Director Petraeus's senior staff has indicated they, too, oppose the detention provisions. The CIA believes it is important to preserve the current U.S. Government's prosecution flexibility that has allowed both the Bush and the Obama administrations to effectively combat those who seek to do us harm.…”