Political Quotes

“the Udall-Webb-Leahy-Feinstein-Durbin-Paul- Wyden amendment would remove the very troubling detention subtitle from the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. I am a cosponsor of this amendment because I believe the detention subtitle is deeply flawed. We should hear from the Pentagon and other agencies about what they believe to be the appropriate role of the Armed Forces in detaining and prosecuting terrorism suspects. Unfortunately, the language in the bill before us blatantly disregards the concerns of these agencies. Contrary to statements by the bill's authors, the current version of the detention subtitle, considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee, SASC on November 15, contains virtually all of the same concerns as the earlier version of the bill. The changes made by SASC do not correct the problems that have been raised by the administration. Since the SASC marked up the new version, we have received several letters from the administration in opposition to the new language. Secretary Panetta, Director of National Intelligence Clapper, and FBI Director Mueller, have all written to Senate leaders in opposition of the language. That means this language is opposed by each of the agencies whose officers in the field will be directly affected by it. Just yesterday, Director Mueller wrote that the ``legislation introduces a substantial element of uncertainty'' into terrorism investigations.…”