Marcy Kaptur: “tonight I wish to place on the record my deepening concerns about America's global alliances. A few weeks ago, it was…”

“tonight I wish to place on the record my deepening concerns about America's global alliances. A few weeks ago, it was with shock and dismay that I observed our President purposely fail to extend congratulations to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on his reelection. The President's behavior was inappropriate and damaging. Germany has stood as our Nation's most cooperative ally for over 50 years as our nations rebuilt Europe, weathered the Cold War and linked our economies with shared democratic values and a rule of law. NATO has stood as the bulwark against the most awful forms of tyranny and repression. NATO is not the ``Old Europe,'' in Secretary Rumsfeld's poorly chosen words. It is the democratic, dependable Europe that has withstood the test of time. It is the modern Europe that has always stood at America's side. I have been blessed to live through an era when President John F. Kennedy stood at the Brandenburg Gate, when Berlin was a divided city between the forces of freedom and repression, to proclaim for freedom-loving people everywhere, ``Ich bin ein Berliner.'' For the vast majority of Americans of this post-World War II period, we express to the German people and their government profound gratitude for your alliance with America, your sister Republic.”