Samuel Nunn: “I thank my friend from Nebraska. I commend him for those facts, which I think are very important. This would be an…”

“I thank my friend from Nebraska. I commend him for those facts, which I think are very important. This would be an exception. This would be a dramatic exception. I am not against exceptions where the facts warrant them. I am not against retiring people at a lower rank if the facts warrant it. My view is the facts do not warrant it here. Madam President, in closing, let me commend those who are on the other side of this debate today--not because I agree with them, not because I think their logic is impeccable. Obviously, I do not in this case. But they are sincere. They are absolutely dedicated to making sure that we honor the men and women who serve in our military; that we treat everyone equitably in our military. They recognize that women are an indispensable part of our national security now. I commend them for that point, which needs to be made over, and over, and over again on the floor of the Senate. I hope that everyone in the military in uniform who listened to this debate will understand that the facts of this case divide us. There is no division in terms of condemning the activity that took place at the Tailhook symposium. There is no division in terms of the kind of honor and integrity that we expect of our military leaders and that we expect of the men and women who serve in the military. We simply cannot have an effective national security unless the women in the military are treated equitably and with respect and with dignity. I thank the Chair.…”