Cord Byrd: “May I say to the distinguished Senator from Alaska that he holds no monopoly on the support for the troops. I was…”

“May I say to the distinguished Senator from Alaska that he holds no monopoly on the support for the troops. I was supporting American troops before the Senator from Alaska ever came to Washington. I have been supporting the American troops for over 50 years. And let the Record not stand with the Senator's words, if I interpreted them correctly, that those who vote against this bill are voting against the troops. I defy that statement. I defy that statement, and I hurl it back into the teeth of the Senator from Alaska. I support the troops. I would say that every Senator here, regardless of how he or she votes, supports the troops. So do not throw that old canard over here, over this way. I am sorry that the Senator from Alaska takes that view. I thought each of us could have our own viewpoint here without being charged with not supporting the troops. I regret the Senator from Alaska takes this view. I am sure that there are a lot of the American people out there-- millions of them--for whom I speak and for whom those who vote against this bill today speak who do not believe that this war was justified, who do not believe in the doctrine of preemption, who do not believe that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. They have not been found yet.”