Cord Byrd: “The report that we are considering today is indeed a solid achievement in our efforts to keep this nation on the right…”

“The report that we are considering today is indeed a solid achievement in our efforts to keep this nation on the right track as we work to bolster America's military readiness and national security. Unfortunately, the circumstances under which we are taking up this report offer no cause to celebrate. The United States today is mourning the loss of at least five American sailors, a death toll likely to rise, and the injury of dozens more in an apparent terrorist attack on the destroyer U.S.S. Cole in Aden, Yemen. Our thoughts and our prayers are with the crew of the Cole and their families, and with the entire Navy family. The attack on the Cole was a vile and contemptible act. We must leave no stone unturned in working to determine the origins of this attack, to bring those responsible to justice, and to redouble our efforts to protect our forces overseas. And we must renew our calls to the Palestinian and Israeli leaders to quell the violence in the Middle East, to stop the fighting between the two sides from spiraling out of control.”