Pete Domenici: “Senator Stevens is the senior Republican in terms of time--I am sure many people do not know it, but I am second--and I…”

“Senator Stevens is the senior Republican in terms of time--I am sure many people do not know it, but I am second--and I want to say I am very proud that he has said what he said. Many people speak all the time. The Senator from Alaska speaks when it is important. He does not come to the Chamber and engage himself in rhetoric. He is too busy doing tough work. He understands this issue. Truly, many of the Democrats ought to be ashamed of themselves. We try to support Presidents. We would have supported President Bill Clinton if he had done what he was talking about in that statement the Senator read. I do not think there is any doubt about it. We would not have questioned whether he had the right security briefing and whether he knew what he was doing. Our President has been warning us, he has been going back to the table, letting the inspectors go in again, coming to the American people, going to the U.N., and nothing happens. As a matter of fact, I believe it is correct, when the Senator cites the date that President Clinton gave that speech, I do not believe anything of a positive nature has happened in Iraq at the hands of Saddam Hussein since that time. It has gotten worse, if anything. He has not ameliorated or made anything better, to my knowledge, and look what it was like on the date the Senator read in his statement. I commend the Senator, and I do believe the resolution introduced today ought not deter anyone from what we are doing.”