Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I wish to speak briefly about this amendment. I think most people in this body understand we are reimbursing the Pakistani military for efforts they are putting forth on behalf of what we are doing in Afghanistan in Enduring Freedom. We have crafted an amendment that asks for certain reporting to take place from the Pentagon and for them to look at ways of diminishing this reimbursement over time as we wind down our operations in Afghanistan. This amendment has been drafted in such a way as to not further escalate tensions between us and the Government of Pakistan. This is a good-government type of amendment that asks the Pentagon to begin looking at ways of decreasing the support we are giving to the Pakistani military on our behalf regarding Afghanistan as we wind down our operations there simultaneously. It is my understanding that both the chairman and ranking member of the Armed Services Committee have accepted this, there is no hold from the majority on the Foreign Relations Committee, and I hope we will have an opportunity to vote and pass this by voice vote very soon. With that, I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona. Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I support the amendment, as modified, by the Senator from Tennessee, Mr. Corker, who has devoted a great deal of time and effort and thought to this issue, and the result is this amendment.…”