Max Cleland: “it has been an incredible 10 days. I was reading in the New York Times today a marvelous quote of John Kennedy that I…”

“it has been an incredible 10 days. I was reading in the New York Times today a marvelous quote of John Kennedy that I think is appropriate for where this country stands as we face our future. Only in winter can you tell which trees are truly green. Only when the winds of adversity blow can you tell whether an individual or a country has steadfastness. In so many ways over the last week and a half, it has been my honor and personal privilege to be a part of this great body, to see its steadfastness in the face of adversity, and to see the wonderful staff people come back to work even though they knew they were at least for a moment in time a target of the terrorists. It has been encouraging to see the steadfastness of my own people in my own home State of Georgia as they rally for the cause. It has been a marvelous thing to experience, watching television and seeing the experience of New Yorkers who rose to the occasion to honor their firefighters, and to honor their policemen, and who did what it was difficult to do in dealing with that terrifying situation which still goes on this day. But one element of steadfastness we are showing is that this legislative process continues. The Senate Armed Services Committee was busy buttressing the defense of America before the attack. We are busy today buttressing the defense of America after the attack. I would like to discuss today this pending legislation--the Defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2002.”