Rick Allen: “I rise to address the most pressing and difficult issue facing our Nation today. Over the course of the next few days…”

“I rise to address the most pressing and difficult issue facing our Nation today. Over the course of the next few days, we will be debating in the Senate and we will vote on the most serious responsibility the U.S. Constitution delegates to Congress, which is authorizing the use of military force against another nation. I have only been here for about a year and a half. I passed in the hallway the senior Senator from Virginia, John Warner, who told me, ``This is the first time you will have to do this.'' He said he has been through this experience seven times. I am sure he takes the same sort of care and consideration each time. But for me, this is the first time I have had to face such a question and such an issue as to where I stand. It is my view the use of military force to resolve a dispute must be the last of all options for our Nation. Before entering into such a decision, it is absolutely necessary Government officials sincerely and honestly are confident they exhausted all practical and realistic diplomatic avenues and understand the short-term as well as the long- term ramifications and implications of such actions.”