Cord Byrd: “I simply wanted to say to the Senator from Indiana and the Senator from Michigan, I think I was the first to raise…”

“I simply wanted to say to the Senator from Indiana and the Senator from Michigan, I think I was the first to raise questions about benchmarks. In so doing, I did not mean to imply that I was against the amendment that Senator Thurmond has offered. I don't mean that at all. I just picked up on Senator Levin's reference to benchmarks and asked some questions about them. I intend to support the amendment. As to the distinguished Senator's reference to the military leaders, our military leaders, in part, helped to get us right where we are now. We were misled by some of our military leaders at the very beginning of the discussions concerning Bosnia. I have great respect for our military leaders, but I don't accept their word as having come down from Mount Sinai, as being engraved in stone. They listen to the President. They say whatever the President thinks. They all do. And very seldom will they venture to say something that isn't in accordance with the administration's viewpoint. I intend to say something about this subject matter later, but I wanted to wait to listen to what the distinguished Senator from Texas has to say first. I yield the floor.”