Bill Delahunt: “Again, I do not want those that might be watching us this evening having this conversation to think that simply because…”

“Again, I do not want those that might be watching us this evening having this conversation to think that simply because you and I are Democrats that there are not concerns that have been expressed by Members in the majority party. There was an article that appeared in a magazine that circulates here in Washington particularly among Members and those that work on Capitol Hill. This is back several weeks ago in Roll Call. The article is entitled, ``As Supplemental Heads to Conference, Members Warn of Cautionary Tale in Afghanistan.'' Members are using the war-torn nation as an example of what not to do in Iraq. ``Remember, Afghanistan was the haven for Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda,'' I am quoting now from Representative Jim Kolbe, chair of the Appropriations Committee in this body on foreign relations. He said there has been some neglect of it. He was referring to the 2-year U.S. effort to rebuild Afghanistan after toppling its repressive and terrorist-shielding Taliban government. Representative Lewis, our colleague from California who chairs the appropriations subcommittee on defense, said, ``One really does need to understand the challenges we face in Iraq. We should not leave vacuums like we did in Afghanistan. A failed state there could be an incubator for terrorism again but the resources have not always followed the policy.''”