Don Nickles: “First, I wish to tell my colleagues who debated on the other side of the issue that I have great respect for their…”

“First, I wish to tell my colleagues who debated on the other side of the issue that I have great respect for their position. I just happen to disagree with it. I stated some time ago that I had hoped a significant portion of the $20 billion for reconstruction of Iraq could be in the form of a loan. I would like to see that be the case. I just happen to think, upon further review, that it is not possible now. It might be possible a year from now, but it is not possible now, at least in my opinion. There is no government in Iraq today. Hopefully, there will be. It is our objective to have a democracy in Iraq. It is our objective to have Iraq run by Iraqis. There is nobody in Iraq who can sign a note and say: We will borrow $10 billion and pay you back. Nobody. I guess one could say Ambassador Bremer could do it. I listened to Ambassador Bremer, and I have great confidence in him. I think he has done a great job. This amendment is saying we know better than he does.”