Russ Feingold: “I rise to comment on the administration's ``discussion draft'' of a resolution authorizing the use of force against…”

“I rise to comment on the administration's ``discussion draft'' of a resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq. This proposal is unacceptable. The administration has been talking about war in Iraq for quite some time now. Surely they had the time to draft a more careful, thoughtful proposal than the irresponsibly broad and sweeping language that they sent to Congress. Apparently the administration put forward such broad language as a negotiating tactic--asking for everything in the hopes of getting merely a lot. But we are not haggling over a used car. We are making decisions that could send young Americans to war and decisions that could have far-reaching consequences for the global campaign against terrorism and for America's role in the world in the twenty-first century. To put forth such irresponsible language is to suggest that the President actually wants the authority to do anything he pleases in the Middle East--and that suggestion is likely to raise tensions in an already explosive region. To pepper the resolution with so many completely different justifications for taking action signals a lack of seriousness of purpose, and it obscures the nature of the mission on the table. And then to insist on immediate action while remaining largely incapable of pointing to any imminent threat and unwilling to flesh out the operation actually being proposed reveals a troubling approach to our national security.”