Haley Stevens: “But not Afghanistan. So the best advice I can give the Senate is this: If the Senator from New Mexico wishes a vote, I…”

“But not Afghanistan. So the best advice I can give the Senate is this: If the Senator from New Mexico wishes a vote, I certainly will not oppose that and will join in requesting a vote. However, I will say no matter what happens here, whether the Senate approves or disapproves, the subject matter will have to be dealt with in conference because it is a matter that has been raised, and it is of great significance. I talk too much about my own service in World War II, which was sort of insignificant, but I got a CBI medal--China, Burma, India--but I spent only a day or two in India and an hour or two in Burma. We all thought we should have had a China medal, but the powers that be gave us a China-Burma-India medal. The powers that be right now are the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This is not a political issue is what I am trying to tell the Senate. This is an issue that arose out of an initiative from the Joint Chiefs of Staff themselves, is what I understand. They decided this current situation is so global in nature that people are moved from one area to the other in terms of expertise and need, that there ought to be a medal for the period we are in right now which is really a global war on terrorism, and as such I am inclined to support that concept. I will vote against the Bingaman amendment. But I have a feeling it will pass because I think everyone would like to be on record now of recognizing the need for medals. That would be my last comment to the Senate.”