Charles Rangel: “it is ironic that 25 years ago we had the same debate, and Mexico was cooperating then. We have had any number of…”

“it is ironic that 25 years ago we had the same debate, and Mexico was cooperating then. We have had any number of declarations of war, and yet it seems as though we send the DEA, we send so many people over there, not with the bullets and the resources even to attempt to negotiate a truce as the situation worsens. How ironic, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] over there and me over here having drafted the bill on which we are working today; and I think everyone is saying, it just does not work. For those that join with the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Hamilton] and some on the other side to say, let us get out of the business of certification, let me join. It was a good-faith effort. I thought war meant war. But I do not throw sand in people's faces unless I am prepared to bury them. There is no sense running around insulting people and threatening people if you do not intend to do anything. With all the wars that we have had, one office has never been on our side in the war, and that is Secretary of State, no matter whether it was a Democrat or Republican administration. I am on the Committee on Ways and Means. I have negotiated with them on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Do my colleagues think we might be able to talk about drugs when we are talking about this historic treaty? No, the State Department says, that is apples and oranges.”