Joe Lieberman

Just that what this tragedy has led to is one more example, fortunately rare, where policymakers and private individuals think out of the box and come up with a remedy.

Mr. Chairman, if I might, just to follow up in terms of messages we might send to the Taliban.

There has been some discussion about different ways in which as we head toward July 2011 we can reassure both the Afghans, their enemies, and the region of our longer-term commitment.

Vital national interest

For one who taught international relations for a period, that is a code word. That is a sign of commitment.

The outcome of the war in Afghanistan was of vital national security interest to the United States.

This is a president who is acting as a commander in chief.

It's not a deadline for withdrawal. It's not a deadline by which we're going to pick up and go out. It's a goal.

I fear there's a gap between the tone and the message that you gave us yesterday and what we are reading in the media about what's happening.

You now have my full support for the conduct of these operations and the support of the people in this area.

I would say, finally, there is a path forward that allows Congress to act but does not reject the science of climate change. That path forward is a ``no'' vote on the resolution and a ``yes'' vote on comprehensive energy and climate…

I rise to oppose the resolution offered by my friend from Alaska... This resolution would lead us in exactly the opposite direction.

Long after it is stopped, the people, the communities, the State and local governments of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida will still be dealing with its consequences.

But I think it is a very important hearing because it is obvious to all of us that it has taken painfully long for the oil spill in the Gulf, Deepwater Horizon, to be stopped.

This is now the worst catastrophe of its kind that we have ever faced.

The Minerals Management Service did not require adequate safety and response measures from the oil companies at deepwater level.

We have to, when we start talking about this, acknowledge that there have been thousands of wells dug, and the safety record overall is an impressive one.

I appreciate what you are doing now to contain the spill, and particularly, Secretary, what you are doing with Secretary Salazar to come up with a reform package.

And as Senator Collins said, my understanding is that increasingly in the Gulf and elsewhere we are using deep-water wells.

The private sector must accept responsibility for this failure in modern engineering.

I believe the Administration is correct in calling for a halt to the approval of further drilling in deep waters.

I appreciate hearing that. And, again, it seems to me that we are experimenting because this is something unprecedented and I think unanticipated--by the regulatory process, anyway, the one that the Minerals Management Service imposed on…

I think the President was absolutely right last Friday to say this is not about who is responsible for paying.

I do think that understanding sub-sea intervention capability and having a plan is a model.

I think we will need to look at what type of sub-sea intervention capability is planned or could be available.