Cord Byrd: “I opposed that amendment, but my vote should not be viewed as a lack of concern for the consequences of a failed Iraqi…”

“I opposed that amendment, but my vote should not be viewed as a lack of concern for the consequences of a failed Iraqi state. I agree that it is not in the interest of the United States for Iraq and the rest of the Middle East to devolve into total chaos, and no one in this body argues differently. However, I opposed the amendment because it suggests that the United States Senate will be bound to a policy of supporting an endless U.S. military involvement in Iraq. By implying that it is our military's responsibility to prevent a failed state in Iraq, the Cornyn amendment suggests that it is up to our service men and women, now and into the future, to undo the missteps of an ill-conceived adventure directed by a reckless President. The amendment fails to define what exactly a 'failed state' is, nor how the U.S. military should go about preventing one. Some may not have noticed, but Iraq is perilously close to a reasonable definition of 'failed state' already.”