On the recordFebruary 10, 2022
I have listened carefully to the remarks of my friend and colleague, Senator Sanders of Vermont. I read his published article in the Guardian newspaper yesterday, and it paralleled many of the things which he said on the floor today. We have a very positive starting point between us. I think my record on voting to go to war may be identical to his, if not very close. Neither of us wants war--that is the last resort--and it is frightfully predictable that there will be innocent people killed, even in the best of times and in the best of military force. Secondly, I couldn't agree with the Senator more that we should be promoting all that we can in terms of diplomacy at this moment. The other night, I had the opportunity to be in a meeting with some Senators and with the new Chancellor of Germany, Chancellor Scholz. He was on his way, soon, to Moscow; President Macron of France has been there; and others are going. I encourage that communication, that dialogue, as much as possible. I think it is hopeful that these efforts can lead to a peaceful resolution in the controversy that we are now facing in Ukraine. The third point, which I agree with, is that it is certainly in the interest of the United States, for our values, to make it clear that we want to protect and defend--at least not in a military fashion but, let me say, in a general fashion--the notion of sovereignty when it comes to Ukraine.…





