Porter Goss: “Mr. Speaker, I think this debate is about the rule, and that is what we are going to be talking about in order to have…”

“Mr. Speaker, I think this debate is about the rule, and that is what we are going to be talking about in order to have more chances to articulate the sentiments as were just expressed so articulately by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha). And I have the highest feelings of praise also for Mr. Murtha and his very strong record on behalf of our defense forces, our troops. He knows the subject, and he attends to them very well. And I am sorry that the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha) is aggrieved by the procedure today. I need to tell you that I was not consulted either. This is a leadership resolution that is simply designed after 1 year of fighting the war on terror, the chapter in Iraq of the book on the war on terrorism for 1 year and all the extraordinary success and work that has happened over there. It is entirely appropriate to commend our troops who are working so hard and the members of the Coalition. That is the main thrust of this resolution.”