Political Quotes

“As we approach the desk for this historic vote, and it will be a historic vote, I point out to my colleagues we have in the past contributed, in fiscal year 1999, $4.5 billion for this action in Kosovo. We are about to vote on, in a sense, another blank check, for $1.85 billion. In the bill I am working on and will bring to the floor hopefully next week and pass on to the appropriators, there is authorization for another $1.65 billion for a total of up to $8 billion for Kosovo. I think we have an obligation to the people of our Nation in hometown America who are paying this through their taxes, who are sending forth the young men and women into harm's way beyond our shores. We have an obligation to them. If we are going to vote to strike the Byrd-Warner amendment, in essence we are saying Congress is out of it. It is another blank check. Add up Bosnia; it is about $11 billion to $12 billion. We are approaching $20 billion for U.S. participation in this critical part of the world. I certainly agree it is in our security interests to have been with NATO in Bosnia, then with NATO in Kosovo. We did the bulk of the fighting in the 78-day war. How proud we are of the men and women of the Armed Forces. Now we have an obligation to those serving today.”