Cord Byrd: “It is a dramatic example and a most somber and chilling one. I thank the distinguished Senator for his observation. The…”

“It is a dramatic example and a most somber and chilling one. I thank the distinguished Senator for his observation. The President may be lucky. We may be lucky. If we launch this war on Iraq, we may be lucky. I hope we will be. But we may not be. The cost of war and the potential casualties--not only to American military personnel but also to innocent civilians in and around Iraq-- are unknowns. The impact of war on the fragile fabric of the Middle East is also unknown. The administration seems to think that war with Iraq will pave the way to peace and democracy in the Middle East, but I believe that is merely wishful thinking. Saddam Hussein is not the cause of the strife between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and Saddam Hussein's downfall will not erase the deeply rooted conflict between the two sides. War against Iraq may prove to be a fatal distraction from the war on terror. It could be. The danger to Americans today is from al-Qaida. Intelligence officials predict that war with Iraq will precipitate a new wave of terrorism against the United States and its allies and will serve as a powerful recruiting tool for anti-American extremists. We need to keep the pressure on al-Qaida. We need to strengthen our defenses against a terrorist attack here at home. We need to focus the resources of our Nation on the war on terror and dismantle the al-Qaida network before it can mount another catastrophic attack on the United States. The hour is late; the clock is ticking.…”