Thomas Daschle: “today we begin the most consequential national security debate in a generation. At stake is more than just the fate of…”

“today we begin the most consequential national security debate in a generation. At stake is more than just the fate of $87 billion in spending. This debate will speak to the lives of hundreds of thousands of our men and women in uniform, who are being asked to risk everything for their country. It will speak to America's taxpayers who are being asked to shoulder the burden of the administration's Iraq policy with little or no help from our friends and allies around the globe. And it will speak to our Nation's responsibilities and its role in the world today and for years to come. Let me begin, though, by talking specifically about what this debate is not about. Democrats and Republicans are united in our support for all our brave service men and women. They continue to bring honor to their country. Inspired by their performance of duty to us, we pledge to live up to our duty to them. Democrats will do everything in our power to ensure that our troops have every tool and resource necessary to do the job we are asking of them. Democrats and Republicans are also united in our commitment to a free, stable, and secure Iraq. Terror must not be the successor to tyranny. Therefore, Democrats are committed to doing everything possible to keep Saddam Hussein from returning to power and to keep terrorists from exploiting Iraq as a base of operations.”