Dick Durbin: “Let me say initially that I am sure during the course of the debate there will be many raising the question of whether…”

“Let me say initially that I am sure during the course of the debate there will be many raising the question of whether we should spend this time on this debate. The fact that we might spend 4 hours on the debate over a war we are now facing for our fourth year indicates that it truly is appropriate. What we would like to do is ask unanimous consent that the following Democratic Senators be recognized in the order as stated with the understanding that if a Republican Senator seeks recognition, they would be recognized in alternating fashion. I will read the list of Democratic Senators in the order in which they will speak: Senators Schumer, Durbin, Levin, Reed of Rhode Island, Kerry, Clinton, Kennedy, Harkin, Boxer, Dayton, Carper, Dorgan, Murray, and Mikulski.”