On the recordMarch 17, 2011
I thank the gentlewoman. We have to get this right. I rise in opposition to this motion. I use that phrase, it comes from David Petraeus' testimony in the last 2 days in front of the House Armed Services Committee. He tells a poignant story about a black day in Iraq when he was commander of the 101st in which two helicopters collided midair and 17 troops were killed. Really, one of his darkest days. And in the emotions of all of that and the trauma and the fight to move forward, a young PFC came up to this two-star general, which is pretty odd, and he said: General, I know of 17 reasons why we have to get this right. That analogy can be spread across all of the lives lost, all of the grievous injuries that we have suffered in this war over the last 10 years in Afghanistan. We have to get this right. And this emotion that they have brought forward is not remotely going to get it right. Whatever your position is, this is not the right thing to do. We should not do this. These conversations have consequences. They are heard around the world. And while the other side, the folks who will vote for this, the folks who brought this forward have a right to do this and, in their mind, perhaps an obligation to do this, to have this conversation, these conversations affect the men and women in the fight. And for us to stand here over and over to tell them that they cannot win, that they cannot make this happen, is irresponsible on our part.…
