Frank Lautenberg: “I take a few minutes to discuss something that has been in front of our eyes and in front of our minds these last couple…”

“I take a few minutes to discuss something that has been in front of our eyes and in front of our minds these last couple of weeks; that is, the turmoil we are witnessing in the Middle East. Those horrible pictures of young people engaged in violence and paying a terrible price for the consequence of that violence. Not just the young people--women, children, young men. I think it is fair to say that everyone who sees what is taking place wishes it weren't happening. The question is raised about our responsibility and what do we do about it. Is there an opportunity for us to lend peace a hand, to see whether or not we can encourage the reduction of violence, the elimination of the confrontation with stones and tanks and guns, to see if there isn't something more that we could do than to simply be a witness. Mr. President, I commend President Clinton's efforts. He has been such a wonderful peacemaker in his term of office.”