Cord Byrd: “with American troops on the ground in Afghanistan, with an uneasy coalition of nations confronting an unprecedented war…”

“with American troops on the ground in Afghanistan, with an uneasy coalition of nations confronting an unprecedented war on terrorism, and with the possibility of all-out war looming over the Israelis and the Palestinians, the Foreign Operations Appropriations conference report before us today comes at a pivotal moment in our nation's history. Given the volatility of the situation in the Middle East in the midst of America's war on terrorism, it is vital that Congress and the Administration present a united foreign policy front to the rest of the world. For that reason, I will vote for the FY 2002 Foreign Operations conference report, I do so reluctantly and with reservation--and I do not often vote for Foreign Operations appropriations bills. I believe it is time--I believe it is past time--to rethink our foreign aid policy and how relates to our national security priorities. September 11 was a wake up call on many fronts.”