Daniel Inouye: “it was not my intention to participate in this debate. As it is well known in this Chamber, I was one of the few who…”

“it was not my intention to participate in this debate. As it is well known in this Chamber, I was one of the few who voted against the resolution to grant the President of the United States authority to carry out the strike. So my views are rather well known here. But on matters that are being discussed today, in war it is almost impossible to predict what will happen tomorrow. As I indicated earlier, as a young lieutenant in charge of 40 men, if someone should have asked me how many men I thought I would lose today in battle, my response would be that I hope none. But who can predict that? Like many of my colleagues here, I have seen too many men killed. I have sensed the anger of war, and I have tasted the hatred involved. I say these things not to criticize my dear friend. In fact, I commend him for bringing these matters up for discussion. But one in war cannot make predictions, much as you want to. Equally as important, in the world of diplomacy--and in this case pointed out very astutely by my chairman, the Senator from Alaska--the President of the United States is in charge of the foreign policy of this Nation. In the world of diplomacy, when one sits down with another diplomat, one doesn't tell the world, I am going to tell that person that I want this or I want that or I am going to do this if you do not do that. It is just not done that way. Most of the conversations between heads of state are in private. That is the way it should be.…”