Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold
On the Department of Defense Authorization Bill
October 27, 2005
Mr. President, last night the Senate adopted a unanimous consent agreement
to resume consideration of the Department of Defense authorization bill.
Under the agreement, each side will be allowed to offer 12 amendments
to the bill, all of which must relate to the bill or the jurisdiction
of the Armed Services Committee.
Let me start by congratulating the Democratic Leader for working tirelessly
to bring this bill back before the Senate. Sen. Reid recognizes that
Congress has a responsibility to the American people, and to our brave
men and women in uniform, to debate and pass a responsible DoD authorization
bill. I thank him for his efforts.
Congress has an additional responsibility, Mr. President – to
put our Iraq policy and our national security strategy right. The current
Iraq policy, and particularly the failure of the Administration to offer
a reasonable, flexible timetable for the remaining military mission,
is making us weaker and less safe and our enemies stronger. The perception
of a massive, indefinite American troop presence in Iraq is feeding
the very insurgency we are trying to defeat.
That’s why I call upon the Majority and Minority Leaders to agree
that they will allow the Senate to debate and vote upon an amendment
calling for a flexible timetable for bringing our troops home. This
doesn’t have to be the resolution I introduced in June, nor does
it have to include the December 2006 target date for completion of the
primary military mission that I proposed back in August. There are plenty
of members deeply concerned about Iraq whose leadership has been and
will continue to be crucial – people like Senator Levin, Senator
Kerry, and Senator Dodd. Senators Byrd and Kennedy have also been vocal
about their concerns. And there are plenty of members on the other side
whom I’ve spoken with and who share some of my concerns about
our Iraq policy. I welcome the opportunity to work with my colleagues
on both sides of the aisle to come up with a reasonable amendment that
will finally start the process of getting our Iraq policy – and
our broader national security strategy – on track.
Mr. President, I don’t have to remind anyone here that the U.S.
suffered its 2,000th casualty in Iraq this week. Every one of our servicemembers
in Iraq, and their families, deserves clarity about the mission they
are serving and the timeframe for that mission. And the American people
– and the Iraqi people, too -- need to know that we have a plan
to complete our military mission and draw down our troops in Iraq.
The Senate needs to do its job. When the Senate finally resumes consideration
of the Defense bill, and I hope that will be very soon, we need to finally
address and put right our Iraq policy. The Senate will consider up to
twenty-four amendments at that time. Clearly this should be one of them.
I hope my colleagues agree with me and we can work together to ensure
that we live up to our responsibility.
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