Ernest Istook: “we are often impatient people in the United States; but as the President has reminded us, we must be patient. This will…”

“we are often impatient people in the United States; but as the President has reminded us, we must be patient. This will be a long-term effort against terrorism and protecting our homeland. While we are doing these things, we have to make a lot of changes to prepare to be able to do it right. This week the Marines have landed in Afghanistan. Some people say why were they not there already? Well, the time was not right. We have to proceed in an orderly way to accomplish the maximum results. That is what we are trying to do. I appreciate that the author of this amendment has not questioned the priorities of the bill before us. He has just said he wants to do more, and he wants to do it now. Many of us say, however, we need to look at what we have done in this bill and understand that we are doing things in an orderly fashion and we are putting the money where the priorities are greatest. And we have, as Congress, asserted some of our priorities that differ a little bit from the administration. That is part of developing consensus. But we cannot do everything yet; we are not ready. We are not able to do everything yet. We must be patient. Books come in chapters. Plans come in phases. In a major construction project, public works or otherwise, it is necessary to design the plans, start digging and preparing the site, lay in a foundation, start with the walls, move on to the ceiling, the interior, the landscaping, and do the utilities along the way.”