On the recordFebruary 14, 2012
Mr. President, some Senators are concerned that I may be delaying a vote in the Senate. This is not true. I offered yesterday to vote on my amendment with 10 minutes of discussion. I have offered to vote immediately at any point in time. I do think it is worth 10 minutes of our time and 10 minutes of America's time to discuss the plight of U.S. citizens in Egypt. I don't think 10 minutes is too much to ask to discuss, debate, and vote on whether Egypt should continue to get aid from us while detaining our citizens. Egypt is unlawfully preventing U.S. citizens from leaving that country. I don't think 10 minutes is too much to ask. We have sent over $60 billion in aid to Egypt over the years, and they now hold 19 U.S. citizens virtually hostage. Will we ever learn? Will we ever learn we can't buy friendship? Nineteen U.S. citizens who traveled to Egypt to help Egypt embrace democracy, to help Egypt to have an elective government, to enjoy the freedoms we enjoy and the success we enjoy having a democratic government, those Americans are now being prevented from leaving Egypt. Some of the prodemocracy workers are, in fact, seeking refuge in the U.S. Embassy. This is a tragedy and something we should make a clear and unequivocal statement about. Does Egypt wish to be part of the civilized world or do they wish to descend into the lawlessness of the Third World?…
Source
govinfo.gov




