Robert Smith: “I find it very humbling to be among these giants as a newcomer to this body. I feel something like the student…”

“I find it very humbling to be among these giants as a newcomer to this body. I feel something like the student questioning the wisdom of his professor because when it comes to names like Pat Moynihan, John Warner, and Sam Nunn, these are men whom I admire and whom I have read about for years in history books. Yet, I rise to oppose this amendment for reasons that I think are very, very important. I wonder as we consider the feelings of the Russians--and I am not saying those considerations are illegitimate, but what are the feelings of the Pols, the Czechs, and the Hungarians? Do they have no right to qualify to self-determination to be a part of the western alliance? I have had officials from all of those countries tell me that if they had to choose between the EU or NATO membership, they would take membership in NATO; whether right or wrong, they are afraid of Russia. I believe they have a right to qualify to be a part of the west. And, yes, strong economies are so important; but, frankly, they recognize that security precedes strong economic growth. Madam President, the European Union may be many things, but it is certainly not a substitute for U.S. leadership in Europe. The EU has proved time and again that it is incapable of acting together on matters of foreign and security policy.”