Ben Cardin actually said...

"Our hemisphere has always bragged about having democratic states and, yet, in recent decades we have seen a decline of democracy."

"I would just ask for your commitment that you would work with us and our staffs as we identify countries and individuals that we believe need to be considered for these types of sanctions."

"I agree with you that we need to have the programs in place to support democracy and democratic institutions."

"Lessons learned, as I see it, is that we have to have a strategy to make sure that our engagement does not reinforce the greed of corrupt leaders, and that was, I think, absent in Afghanistan."