Bill Delahunt

Well, Mr. Speaker, again, I guess my frustration, if the gentleman will continue to yield, is that in the aftermath of our national tragedy, if this proposal, and I presume it was put forward sometime from September of 2001, several months…

We know from newspaper reports, from statements made by the leaders of the Republican Party in this House, as well as statements made by President Bush and others in the administration that there was a reluctance to cooperate with the 9/…

Now here we are, heading towards an election, with obviously complex legislation to be drafted based upon those recommendations put forth by the Commission so that our homeland, the security of the United States, is enhanced, and yet, and…

Well, again, just to be clear in my mind, and I am sure that those who might be viewing our conversation this evening want clarity, what you are suggesting is that when the concept or the proposal of an independent commission looking into…

Well, again, I am surprised that the Republican leader in this House made that statement, because, according to our information, upon our return, based on the 9/11 Commission's report, the majority leader has now announced that he hopes to…

Let me give another example in terms of seriousness. The administration's position, vis-a-vis tracking down the terrorists. There was a Committee on Ways and Means hearing where a representative of the IRS was posed a question and in…

People are thirsting for respectful discourse about these issues because they are so profoundly important... My colleague mentioned Ahmed Chalabi earlier. How many people in this Chamber, in this country, know of Ahmed Chalabi; and yet…

And that by this time, I say to the gentleman, there would be less than 30,000 troops in Iraq.

The evidence that supports that premise is the reality that within the past week or two there has been a call-up of the so-called ``ready reserve,'' almost 6,000. Now, these are men and women who performed for their country, who obviously…

Already to date it has cost the American taxpayers $200 billion to build roads in Iraq, to provide Iraqis with good health care, to clean up their environment and to stimulate their economy.

We know, we know what the commander of the VFW, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a highly-esteemed organization serving veterans in this country, had to say about this administration's submission of a veterans budget to the United States…

That goes back to the issue of competence, and that is where, in addition to the issue of credibility, this administration, this White House, has failed miserably.

What did he say about the terrorist cells that now exist in Iran, in Syria, in Pakistan, in Sudan, in Indonesia, and I could list a long litany of other terrorist cells that are a threat to the United States? What did he say, if anything…

When are they going to go and fight the war on terror and absolutely defeat terrorism?

Mohammed Atta, by the way, for those who are watching us, was the leader of the 19 hijackers that were responsible for our national day of tragedy.

I would issue a challenge to my friend because he and I have traveled together and it is an experience, and it is a very positive experience, but there are people that are in the custody of the executive branch, those so-called senior…

Again, because we have a good discussion going here tonight, I think it is important for all those that are watching, because we will chew right into our friend's time too, I think it is important here tonight that the American people…

Again, I think it is absolutely critical to understand that there is no one that is unhappy with the removal of Saddam Hussein from power. But the question that we are posing here tonight is the allegation that there was a collaborative…

I mean, no one is questioning or raising at this point in time malice or inappropriate intentions on the part of those policymakers, but it is almost beyond comprehension to believe that they would have fallen for the likes of Ahmad…

If my colleague will yield to me, does this not just come down to basic incompetence?

So is it true that the Republicans became a majority in this particular branch back in 1994? I was not here in 1994. I think the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott) was here in 1994. But who has been setting the agenda and running…

It boggles the mind, it is such rank incompetence, it is such an inability to see reality, to be fooled. It is not incompetence, it is gross negligence. In some other forum it might almost be funny, but here it is so tragic because it is…

What is interesting is that David Kay, highly respected, the man that was charged by this President, it did not take him too long to conclude that Mr. Chalabi was transparent, a manipulator, a con man, if you will. In addition to all that…

What the gentleman is basically saying is that loyalty is prized above competence.

I would hope that one additional question might be asked of this Secretary who stands here next to the President of Uzbekistan, who is a tyrant, a despot and a dictator, who some day will rival Saddam Hussein as a gross violator and threat…