Political Quotes

On the recordFebruary 24, 1994
we were all shocked on Wednesday to learn that a senior CIA case officer had been arrested and charged with being a spy for the Soviet Union and later for the Russian Federation. It is almost beyond belief that he had allegedly been getting away with it for nearly 9 years. Some of my colleagues, including the Republican leader and some on my side of the aisle as well, have suggested we should retaliate against Russia for engaging in espionage against us by cutting off our economic aid to them. I do not follow that logic. "I don't get it." Are my colleagues telling us that they are outraged, or surprised, or disappointed, or dumbfounded to learn that the Soviet Union, and now the Russians, have spies working for them? Is that news to them? Are you telling me there is a Member of this body who is naive enough to believe that Russia had gotten out of the espionage business? Of course not. Did they think that the day the Soviet Union fell, we all shook hands and called home our spies? Of course not. Whom are we kidding. We all know that was not the fact. It was not the Russians who betrayed us. It was an American CIA officer who betrayed his country for cash, and exposed our spies in Russia. The Russians are doing what we have been doing for decades in the spying business. What riles me is the fact that they seem to be doing a better job of it than we are. The protesting Republican leader and his allies from my party could use a little reality check.…

Editor's note · Context

Metzenbaum addresses the arrest of a CIA officer charged with espionage and critiques responses to Russia's actions.

Share

More from Howard Metzenbaum

Apr 21, 1994

in current S. 540, there is a provision--tax administration, section 115, tax assessment--that would allow the assessment of uncontested or agreed upon prepetition tax liabilities. While of some assistance to the Internal Revenue Service…

govinfo.gov
Feb 3, 1994

You see, Mr. President, the Senator from New York voted on this very floor to strip a retroactive extension of the statute of limitations from an RTC funding bill. The Senator from New York voted not to go after Madison Guaranty, and…

govinfo.gov
Feb 8, 1994

I am prepared to extend the statute retroactively to make the same law that is operable at the present time, no limitations, no changes, just extend it retroactively. We have the right under the court's decisions to extend the statute…

govinfo.gov
Jan 26, 1994

I rise to recognize the dedication and perseverance of the senior Senator from Illinois, Paul Simon. He has made a difference. He is my good friend. But I do not rise to speak out of friendship. I simply think that Paul Simon is a Senator…

govinfo.gov

Other voices in this conversation