Kendrick Meek: “I must say that I was not only quite disturbed, but concerned about the President's remarks yesterday at the Pentagon…”

“I must say that I was not only quite disturbed, but concerned about the President's remarks yesterday at the Pentagon, and it goes as so: ``Mr. Secretary, thank you for your hospitality and thank you for your leadership. You are courageously leading our Nation in a war against terror. You are doing a superb job. You are a strong Secretary of Defense, and our Nation owes you a great debt of gratitude.'' I must say that it is good to give commendations and thumbs up when it is time to give a thumbs up. But in the light of what is going on in the Department of Defense right now and in light of congressional hearings that are ongoing in the other body, I think the question mark of our true sincerity, being against the pictures, being against the acts that were carried out on individuals that were being questioned by members of our military in prison in Iraq, that I could say that the statements that are made by the Commander in Chief and also statements that are made by Secretary Rumsfeld and others could and will stimulate additional terrorism. Now, to say that you are leading our Nation against terror, well, that question is the question of the week and of the month.…”