Russ Feingold

In that document is a pledge to give no support whatsoever to illegal armed groups in the DRC.

We still have a place where hundreds of thousands of women have been raped and gotten HIV because of this.

It may be necessary to have an intervention brigade like this that is skilled at taking tough action but protecting civilians at the same time.

We have not been shy about this.

I am cautiously optimistic about the road ahead for the DRC and the Great Lakes.

It is part of the Congolese system, but it benefits from the addition of international jurists, often African jurists, who will help increase the credibility and expertise of the court so it is credible.

We will want to see even more support in this regard and guarding against any reduction.

What Secretary Clinton did by looking at this issue and sticking with it was a very important step in the right direction.

I believe that the Democratic Republic of Congo, with our help and the help of other donors, have to significantly and quickly accelerate this.

I am cautiously optimistic about the road ahead.

If there is any evidence of this M23 rebellion reconstituting itself... it will be met very directly and with force.

Not only is democracy in the Congo problematic, particularly following the 2011 elections, but those in neighboring countries as well.

I think we ought to look at any modifications where people give specific problems with the mechanism.

I will be urging our fellow donors in Europe next week to do this.

I remember you coming to me and talking to me about this unbelievably tragic treatment of women.

Well, this is, of course, one of the complicated aspects of these kinds of armed groups where often the families and the kids are with them in the camps.

I think there has been some of that, but I think, based on my actual observation of what is happening over there, less than I would have expected based on those comments.

This region has been brutally exploited by colonial powers and by other countries in a way that is shameful and has denied the birthright of the Congolese people.

Those who have committed these heinous crimes have to be held accountable.

Mr. President, the Constitution of this country was not a rough draft. We must stop treating it as such. The First Amendment is the bedrock of the Bill of Rights.

I want to leave the First Amendment undisturbed.

We cannot always respond as they wish. But when we vindicate their faith in us by defending the ideals we share with them, we emerge stronger and better able to advance our national interests.

It's troubling to see their disappointment sometimes morph into resentment against the United States.

The appointment of former Senator Feingold as a special envoy for the Great Lakes I think is a strong additional signal of U.S. interest in the Great Lakes region.

the appointment of someone of the caliber and the deep knowledge of Africa represented by Russell Feingold adds to that and will, indeed, contribute to our efforts to assist in resolving the situation.