Neil Abercrombie: “one observes today the discussions taking place in the press by members of the Armed Services with respect to whether or…”

“one observes today the discussions taking place in the press by members of the Armed Services with respect to whether or not political considerations are involved in whether we can attack or not attack, whether we retreat or do not retreat, whether we engage in collaborative activity with insurgents with regard to the possible upcoming elections, or whether we regard them as criminals to be taken and prosecuted, perhaps even shot and killed. Those issues do not know a Democratic or a Republican origin. Those young soldiers, and some not so young soldiers from the Guard and Reserve, are not making distinctions between Republican oratory and Democratic accusations with respect to this election. This issue has to be decided on November 2. The people of this Nation have to come to a conclusion electorally as to whether or not they want the present direction to go on or whether they want to move in a new direction. I contend and I tell Members this as a member of the Committee on Armed Services, a committee on which we do our level best to subsumed and submerge our partisan differences, yes, they come forward, I am not going to pretend otherwise or be so naive to think that can always happen, but the plain fact of the matter is when it comes to our votes, we try to figure out what is in the best interests of this Nation and what is in the best interests of the Armed Services.”