John Ensign: “I am very aware of the role that Germany is playing there. We defended Germany, with those bases, from the Soviet threat…”

“I am very aware of the role that Germany is playing there. We defended Germany, with those bases, from the Soviet threat during the entire cold war. It is the reason that Germany hasn't had to spend hardly any money on their national defense--because America has been providing that umbrella of defense, and now we are using those bases, obviously, with their permission. That is something we appreciate, but it doesn't take away the fact of the role they played in trying to turn world opinion against the United States. I still think it is inappropriate to have these funds going toward these other countries. If this nullifies those other contracts, as far as I am concerned, the purse strings are controlled by the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate. That is under the Constitution. We should be able to at least direct--when we feel strongly--where some of those funds could go. I think it would be highly inappropriate for those funds to be going toward companies and persons from Germany and from France.”