Arlen Specter: “the citation by the Senator from Virginia is a very impressive one, beyond any question, that some might think there was…”

“the citation by the Senator from Virginia is a very impressive one, beyond any question, that some might think there was some difference in circumstances between the imminence of a possible attack in 1962, with the so-called Cuban missile crisis, compared to the present time with respect to Iraq. I would be interested to know what the Senator from Virginia was doing at that time. I can tell the Senator from Virginia that was the one occasion where my wife and I went out to the supermarkets and stocked up on food, as did most Americans, and put them in the basement of our house. The television was replete with maps showing the missile range from Cuba to Philadelphia--the ones I particularly noted. They passed by Virginia en route to Philadelphia. I quite agree with the Senator from Virginia, we ought never subordinate our sovereignty when we face that kind of a threat. But I think the threat is significantly different with respect to Iraq--although I concede the threat. But the point is missed, at least somewhat, and that is whether U.S. unilateral action could set a precedent for some other country taking unilateral action, such as the ones to which I referred.”