Bill Delahunt: “Well, Mr. Speaker, if my friend would yield for a moment, of course that is absolutely aberrational in American history.…”

“Well, Mr. Speaker, if my friend would yield for a moment, of course that is absolutely aberrational in American history. In fact, during World War II, President Roosevelt asked the American people to accept a tax increase. We are not here even suggesting that this evening. But I think what we have learned is, unfortunately, the estimates that have been put forth by the administration were absolutely inaccurate, underestimated, and represented a scenario that was totally unrealistic. I would remind my friend that Under Secretary of Defense Wolfowitz, back in March, told Congress that, and I will quote him, ``We are dealing with a country that can really refinance its own reconstruction, and relatively soon.'' And relatively soon. What I find fascinating is that this Congress, on a bipartisan basis, is expressing its dismay. To quote from a story that appeared in the September 9 issue of The New York Times, and this is when representatives of the administration were appearing before a Senate committee, a prominent member of that committee, Senator McCain of Arizona, was dissatisfied with an answer from Mark Grossman, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs on how long it would take for more troops from other countries to arrive in Iraq under United Nations auspices: `` `I am not asking for precisely what day,' Senator McCain said. `I am asking of a matter could you tell me years?' Mr.…”