Political Quotes

“I thank my dear friend, the distinguished chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and I thank my friend, the distinguished ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, for helping Mr. Panetta bring this bill to the floor. I rise today in support of H.R. 676, the NATO Support Act, reiterating congressional support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and prohibiting U.S. withdrawal from that organization. As we mark 70 years of the NATO alliance this year, it is critical we recognize the invaluable role that NATO has played in protecting U.S. national interests and global stability. NATO remains the foundation of U.S. foreign policy to promote a Europe that is whole, free, and at peace. NATO has invoked Article 5, the commitment to collective defense, only once in 70 years, and that invocation was on behalf of the United States after we were attacked on 9/11. As a result, nearly one-third of the fatalities suffered by coalition forces when we fought in Afghanistan to rid that country of al-Qaida and the Taliban--one-third of the casualties--were from non-U.S. NATO member and partner countries. {time} 1715 They put their blood and their flesh on the line on behalf of this country as part of that alliance. Despite these sacrifices, unfortunately, our President has questioned the value of NATO and falsely claimed that NATO allies owe the United States money.…”