Bill Nelson: “a significant hubbub has occurred as a result of stories that have appeared in this morning's Washington Post that…”

“a significant hubbub has occurred as a result of stories that have appeared in this morning's Washington Post that directly affect the defense posture of this country. It is stated in the Washington Post that the Prime Minister of Iraq is expected to release within days a ``plan [that] is likely to include pardons for those who had attacked only U.S. troops'' in Iraq. That is according to a top adviser. As a matter of fact, the Prime Minister of Iraq is quoted as saying-- and I will get to the quote--reconciliation could include an amnesty for those ``who weren't involved in the shedding of Iraqi blood.'' Ergo, there would be amnesty for those who would have been involved in the shedding of American blood. Now, it is possible--and this Senator hopes that something was lost in the translation because I cannot imagine the Prime Minister of Iraq turning on his heel away from American troops and suddenly--as he is trying to bring about reconciliation in his country--trying to then say as part of that reconciliation we are going to give amnesty for anybody who killed American men and women. Well, naturally the Government of the United States should not stand for this. That is why Senator Menendez and I are offering this amendment to the Defense authorization bill, so that we can clearly set forth the policy--in this case, the sense of the Senate--that we will not stand for this.…”