Mark Warner: “I thank the Chair. I say to my colleagues, think of the American taxpayer. Think of the parents of the young men and…”

“I thank the Chair. I say to my colleagues, think of the American taxpayer. Think of the parents of the young men and women who will today, tomorrow and in the future wear the uniform of our country as a part of the NATO force. We do not have a firm estimate of the costs and therefore in all probability there will be an expense to the American taxpayer associated with including these three countries. Nothing in this amendment precludes the Senate acting on the three countries, the subject of this principal debate. It simply says let us wait a reasonable period, 3 years, to get an experience curve to make the subsequent decision if it is the judgment of the President at that time that we proceed with further Member negotiations, giving us firmer cost estimates, a clearer definition of the mission to be undertaken and the risk to be assumed by the men and women who wear the uniform of our country.”