Chris Van Hollen: “Thank you, Mr. Delahunt, and thank you, Mr. Larson, and others who are gathered here to talk about these very important…”

“Thank you, Mr. Delahunt, and thank you, Mr. Larson, and others who are gathered here to talk about these very important national security questions. As you pointed out, Mr. Delahunt and Mr. Larson, we have taken our eye off the ball here. As we approach the terrible fifth anniversary of the tragic attacks of 2001, September 11, it is important to remember that the attacks upon our homeland were launched by al Qaeda from Afghanistan and had nothing to do with Iraq, nothing to do with Iraq. Yet here, as we gather 5 years later, we have not finished the job in Afghanistan. We have not finished the job against al Qaeda. Indeed, the situation is now getting worse today than it was a year ago and even a year before that. Now, the President has said in the last 10 days that he wants to have a national conversation about Iraq and national security, and he has delivered a number of speeches. But when you listen to what he has had to say, it is clear that unfortunately once again he is not interested in the national conversation. Conversation implies a give and take, a dialogue, an exchange of views. But when you listen to the President, on the one hand he lays out his idea of what he wants to go forward and then engages in finger-pointing and name calling of anybody who disagrees with him. Secretary Rumsfeld and Vice President Cheney have gone around this country engaging in name calling and finger-pointing against anyone who disagrees with them.…”