Cord Byrd: “I thank the Chair. This is what we are about to do to other countries. We are about to inflict this horrible suffering…”

“I thank the Chair. This is what we are about to do to other countries. We are about to inflict this horrible suffering upon other people. Of course, we do not talk about this. We talk about taking out Saddam Hussein. We are talking about taking out Iraq, about 'regime change.' I do not want history to remember my country as being on the side of evil. During the Civil War, a minister expressed his hope to President Lincoln that the Lord was on the side of the North. The Great Emancipator reportedly rebuked the minister stating: It is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation are on the Lord's side. Before I vote for this resolution for war, a war in which thousands, perhaps tens of thousands or hundred of thousands of people may die, I want to make sure that I and this Nation are on God's side. I want more time. I want more evidence. I want to know that I am right, that our Nation is right, and not just powerful. And I want the language that is in this amendment so that Congress can oversee this power grab and act to terminate it at some point in time--giving the President the opportunity to extend the time but let's keep Congress in the act. Senators, vote for this amendment. I plead with you.”