On the recordMarch 6, 2013
I thank the Senator from Wyoming for coming to the floor and helping to advance this debate. One of the points that was made toward the end is about our soldiers he visited and that he saw the capacity of the drones. The one thing that should not be lost here is that we are not arguing about the use of drones, particularly in defense of our military. When people are shooting at our soldiers I want the best equipment in the world that we have to defend them and to win our battles. That is something I think we should all want. But I think our American soldiers would be disappointed in us here at home if they felt, which I think many of them do, that they are fighting for our Bill of Rights, they are fighting for our Constitution, they are fighting for our conception of freedom--in doing so, I think they would be disappointed if they felt the drones that were being used against the enemy in the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan were going to be used against Americans in America without any kind of due process, because the whole idea of the Constitution is what they are fighting for. That is what the President has pledged to uphold and preserve. So it is such an important battle.…
