Bob Kerrey: “I know that site fairly well. I think it would be a terrific site for history of the Armed Forces, but I also believe…”

“I know that site fairly well. I think it would be a terrific site for history of the Armed Forces, but I also believe oftentimes the most important decisions aren't the decisions the military is making but that the civilians made prior to the military having to act, at least as I see the history. In the Second World War, there were an awful lot of mistakes made in the 1920s and the 1930s that created the necessity for that terrible war. It is a very important reminder, especially today. It is something I am asked all the time when debating authorization for the military. People say: Do we need it? Who is the enemy? We are spending more than 20 leading nations, et cetera, et cetera. People say: Why do we need to continue to do this? The cold war is over, and so forth. The best answer lies in that 20-year period between 1919 and 1939 during which the United States of America tried, in the face of all evidence to the contrary, to stack arms and withdraw and become isolationist. We have talked long enough on that subject. I appreciate very much the Senator responding to former Senator Dole's request. This is the minimum that the people of the United States of America ought to do to participate in constructing this important memorial.”