Mitch Landrieu: “I hope Members on both sides can understand the importance of this debate. It always has been important. But I think…”

“I hope Members on both sides can understand the importance of this debate. It always has been important. But I think there has to be some renewed urgency given what has happened over the last 2 weeks--the unfortunate escalation of violence in the Mideast, the pressure that has now come to bear on our Nation in terms of the diplomacy underway to try to find a peaceful and certain way out of the situation in the Mideast. All of this has a direct bearing on the discussion we are having in the Senate about energy and the underlying policy and our dependency on this oil that comes in large measure--not solely--from Middle Eastern countries or from foreign sources. It has a direct impact, I believe, on whether we are ultimately going to be successful in the short and long run in our negotiations for peace and in combating terrorism.”