Roscoe Bartlett: “our President has stated that this is a war like none other we have ever fought. Before September 11 no one ever dreamed…”

“our President has stated that this is a war like none other we have ever fought. Before September 11 no one ever dreamed that we would have our Armed Services guarding our airports. Certainly we should permit the disposition of our troops anywhere they might be needed in the future to protect our national security and our vital interests, and this certainly includes the border. This is not obligatory legislation. This is only permissive legislation. How could we not vote to prevent the disposition of our troops on the border if in the view of our Commander in Chief, and it will not be done without his knowledge and therefore his presumed ascent, how could we preclude him from using the our troops that he feels is necessary on the border? There is no valid reason that this legislation should not be passed. I urge its acceptance.”