On the recordDecember 17, 2010
the Senator is absolutely correct. There was a series of requests from Senators on the other side--which is totally appropriate. I am not suggesting that was inappropriate. I think the record needs to reflect that on those multiple occasions when people requested time in order to be able to prepare, we gave them time. Senator Lugar was importuned some 13 times to specifically slow down the treaty process in order to allow for more time to be able to address the modernization process, which is outside the treaty but not unlinked from it when you are making judgments about this. Senator Kyl brought up some relevant omissions in that modernization process. That extra time allowed us to address that--I hope to his satisfaction but certainly to the improvement of an understanding of where we are proceeding and to increase the funds. Then we delayed even further when the committee was prepared to vote. There was a request for delay, and we delayed that vote. Then we delayed even after that in order to avoid the appearance of politicizing the treaty for the election. So we literally took it out and said: OK, we will do it after the election, which is why I think people feel so adamantly that now is the time. There have been an appropriate series of delays.
