Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, the pending bill permits the President to scrape from the hull of a great ship, the foreign relations law of the United States, some of the barnacles that prevent us from aiding our ally, Pakistan. It is an appropriate response to the emergency situation confronting our Nation and to the difficulties facing Pakistan as it assists us to stabilize their region. Pakistan has been for decades a friend of the United States. It stood by us, for example, by committing its armed forces on our side in the Gulf War, unlike some of its neighbors who were mild and somewhat equivocal in their response to Saddam Hussein. Of course, it was the launching place for our long, difficult joint effort to free the Afghan people of the Soviet Army. While Pakistan and the United States have had serious disagreements on proliferation policy and other issues and we remain concerned with the overthrow of the elected government by President Musharref, we can and should work with Pakistan during the coming years and establish a new relationship based on trust, mutual interest, and common values. The bill waives for fiscal years 2002 and 2003 legislative provisions with respect to Pakistan prohibiting direct assistance on account of the deposition of a duly elected head of government by a military coup.”