Political Quotes

“I want to express some reservations. I commend the leadership on both sides for what they are trying to do. Eventually these countries ought to be part of NATO, no matter what Russia thinks. However, I have some reservations. First, Poland. In Poland I wish Lech Walesa was still the head. In Poland a former leading member of the Polish Communist government is not the new prime minister. In Hungary, foreign investors are concerned that socialism is coming back, and many people who were Communists when we knew they were Communists are now back in the government. In Bulgaria, there are many Communists that have come back in government and, hopefully, the democratic leaning party will win in the upcoming election. In Romania, many of the same people that were in the Ceausescu government are still part of the government. So I am concerned about this. Also I think if this does pass that we should lay the word down that we expect all of these countries to respect human rights: freedom of religion, freedom of worship, no antisemitism, freedom of movement, and freedom of expression. I am concerned that perhaps we should wait and hold out a little longer on NATO expansion to make sure these countries really do join democracy, whereby they become eligible for NATO. So I commend the gentlemen on both sides but I want to raise some concerns. If communism comes back, these countries ought not be part of NATO.”