Political Quotes

“I thank my colleague. In my trip in the October timeframe, I would see much the same expression from military and civilian. Our codel visited, and it was following my trip that I came back and said in a press conference, this situation is moving sideways. My observations, together with the observations of others--some in our Government, some in the private sector--induced the administration--I am not suggesting we were the triggering cause, but we may have contributed--to go to an absolutely, as you say in the Navy, ``general quarters'' to study every aspect of the strategy which then was in place, and which now is clearly stated as late as yesterday by the admiral who will be the CENTCOM commander, wasn't working. I commend the President for taking the study and inviting a number of consultants. That whole process was very thorough. The point the Senator is making, as late as December--mine in October, yours in December--we both gained the same impressions that no one was asking for additional United States troops at that time.”