Senator Strom Thurmond (R) continued,
It was a wilderness of savagery and squalor before we arrived, and unfortunately, it may revert to the same state when we leave. Frankly, I do not think we have the power to prevent it. What happens there is no longer the main issue, as far as I am concerned.

Senator Donald Riegle (R) -

I think whenever the United States is engaged militarily overseas there are several tests that have to be applied as to the wisdom of doing that. I think a central test is the question of whether any of us would be prepared to send our own son or daughter into that conflict situation, because if we are not prepared to answer yes we are prepared to send our own son or d...

Senator Strom Thurmond (R) continued,
It was a wilderness of savagery and squalor before we arrived, and unfortunately, it may revert to the same state when we leave. Frankly, I do not think we have the power to prevent it. What happens there is no longer the main issue, as far as I am concerned.

Senator Donald Riegle (R) -

I think whenever the United States is engaged militarily overseas there are several tests that have to be applied as to the wisdom of doing that. I think a central test is the question of whether any of us would be prepared to send our own son or daughter into that conflict situation, because if we are not prepared to answer yes we are prepared to send our own son or daughter, then I do not think we ought to send anybody else's son or daughter into that situation. We are all familiar with the events of the last several days and the last few weeks with respect to the not only killing of American forces but now at least one individual who we have seen on videotape who has been taken prisoner, and I gather there may be others as well.

I do not think we can inject ourselves into these civil war situations in remote places and try to dictate the terms and conditions. We can do it. But we are going to do that at great risk to our own people. And I frankly am not prepared to see the young men and women of Michigan committed to this kind of a situation where I do not think they are adequately able to be protected and where the mission I think is very unclear as to what will justify that kind of very serious commitment of American effort to ask our people to be there in the line of fire.

Representative Rick Lazio (R) -

Madam Speaker, this is not a Johnnie-come-lately position on my part or on the part of so many of my colleagues. Six months ago, on April 1, the House Republican Policy Committee issued a forceful policy statement that made many of these same points and specifically urged that our forces be pulled out in a safe and orderly manner. We have paid too high a price for failing to heed this advice.

Representative Dave Camp (R) -

Mr. Speaker, Americans have been killed. Before more Americans are killed in the streets, it is time for them to come home. The United States can't build a nation for the people. It is now up to the people. Bring our troops home--now.

Re...

Representative Rick Lazio (R) -

Madam Speaker, this is not a Johnnie-come-lately position on my part or on the part of so many of my colleagues. Six months ago, on April 1, the House Republican Policy Committee issued a forceful policy statement that made many of these same points and specifically urged that our forces be pulled out in a safe and orderly manner. We have paid too high a price for failing to heed this advice.

Representative Dave Camp (R) -

Mr. Speaker, Americans have been killed. Before more Americans are killed in the streets, it is time for them to come home. The United States can't build a nation for the people. It is now up to the people. Bring our troops home--now.

Representative Terry Everett (R) -

Yesterday, my Republican colleagues and I sent a letter to President requesting that he bring the United States military operation to a close, and shift the responsibility of this mission back to the United Nations. Moreover, we stressed the fact that we have successfully completed the humanitarian mission of food distribution ; the mission has now changed to nation-building, which is the role of the United Nations. I hope the President takes heed in this letter and listens to the American people; it's time to bring our troops home.

Senator Phil Gramm (R) -

If the people of Texas--who are calling my phones every moment, who are sending me letters and telegrams by the hour--are representative of the will of the American people, the American people do not believe that we should allow Americans to be targets for 6 more months. I cannot see anything that we would achieve being worth the precious lives of more Americans. Months more of Americans being targeted for no clearly defined reason, does not make sense. I do not support it, and I do not believe that the Senate of the United States will sustain that policy.

Representative Benjamin A. Gilman (R) -

Mr. Speaker, the administration still hasn't learned an important lesson. The only practical solution is for Congress to set a date for withdrawing American troops.

Representative Dirk Kempthorne (R) -
Mr. President, today I spoke to a seasoned, tough soldier, who is in a military hospital in Germany. This tough soldier is 19 years old, and he is in this military hospital as a result of the firefight he was involved with in. And he said that he has been to twice now on assignment. The first time was for humanitarian purposes, but now it is to go and be involved in these fire fights. He said things have dramatically changed to the point now that it is...

Representative Benjamin A. Gilman (R) -

Mr. Speaker, the administration still hasn't learned an important lesson. The only practical solution is for Congress to set a date for withdrawing American troops.

Representative Dirk Kempthorne (R) -
Mr. President, today I spoke to a seasoned, tough soldier, who is in a military hospital in Germany. This tough soldier is 19 years old, and he is in this military hospital as a result of the firefight he was involved with in. And he said that he has been to twice now on assignment. The first time was for humanitarian purposes, but now it is to go and be involved in these fire fights. He said things have dramatically changed to the point now that it is the American troops that are the targets so that these clans are intent upon killing Americans.

Representative Doug Bereuter (R) -

The American people have come to the conclusion that we should not be in the business of nation-building. Yet, over 10,000 American troops remain committed to the ill-conceived and misdirected effort of nation-building. Unfortunately, if the administration has its way, those forces will remain deployed in harm's way.

Tony Snow (Republican hack and partisan mouthpiece for the right wing echo chamber) -

Wars will flare all over the world as nations stumble toward democracy, or at least self-rule. We can't serve as the world's nanny or cop and we shouldn't try. One cannot impose democracy with troops: Nations must develop democratic institutions themselves. As a result, U.S. presidents should put soldiers' lives at risk only when necessary to defend vital economic or strategic interests, and use subtler strategies--such as supporting the creation of free markets--to bolster democracy.


Representative Gerald Solomon (R)

This carnage, this madness must stop. The so-called rebuilding is not worth the price of one American life, much less the carnival of death that has been displayed on our television screens, such a despicable situation.