S8662 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 28, 2007 legislation have, throughout this proc- mittee hearings, expert testimony, and The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ess, voted as a block to prevent the a public markup. ator from Michigan is recognized. passage of any so-called ‘‘deal-break- Strangely enough, this is the precise Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I yield ing’’ amendments. At several points criticism meted out by the Democrats myself 8 minutes. during the debate, members of this coa- when they were in the minority last I support the nomination of LTG lition have admitted that the amend- Congress. Now that control of the Sen- Doug Lute to be Assistant to the Presi- ments in question would, in their opin- ate has changed hands, it seems the dent and Deputy National Security Ad- ion, improve the overall bill. Yet, in an Democrat requirement for regular viser for Iraq and Afghanistan. effort to preserve the coalition, they order is not necessary anymore. Lieutenant General Lute is an ac- have worked together to prevent the Mr. President, we have been told that complished senior officer with a distin- passage of even some of the most rea- this is our last chance to pass immigra- guished record and great experience in sonable, commonsense amendments. tion reform for several years. I dis- both military tactics and national se- Then, after an initial attempt to end agree. Once again, there were other ap- curity strategy and policy. Lieutenant the debate failed, the majority leader proaches that could have been taken to General Lute has been serving as the agreed to let the debate go forward and pass this legislation, and these options Director of Operations, J–3, on the to have votes on a number of amend- remain available. In addition, there are Joint Staff since September of 2006. Im- ments. Initially, this sounded good. many areas of agreement when it mediately prior to this assignment, he However, it soon became clear that, in comes to immigration. Therefore, I be- served for more than 2 years as the Di- another effort preserve this shaky, lieve that we can find a way to address rector of Operations, J–3, at U.S. Cen- flawed compromise, the only amend- our immigration problems that will tral Command, overseeing combat op- ments that would be voted on were satisfy the American people. erations in Iraq and Afghanistan and those of the majority leader’s own But, to do that, we need a process other operations in the CENTCOM area choosing. that is fair and open. The process we of responsibility. I don’t believe that anyone should be have followed in this case has been too While I know of no concerns as to criticized for their willingness to com- limiting and, as a result, we have a bill General Lute’s qualifications for the promise. Clearly, compromise is a vital that the vast majority of Americans position to which he has been nomi- part of what we do in the Senate. How- will not support. That being the case, I nated by the President, there have ever, we simply cannot value com- oppose this effort to end debate and to been some other concerns expressed promise for compromise’s own sake. In- push this bill through. about this nomination. The first con- deed, we should not push through such Mr. President, I yield the floor and cern questions the need for the position fatally flawed legislation simply be- suggest the absence of a quorum. itself as well as the potential for confu- cause it is the product of compromise. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. sion as to who is responsible for Iraq Compromise—the means by which the SALAZAR). The clerk will call the roll. and Afghanistan policy. On the one Senate passes legislation that will ben- The legislative clerk proceeded to hand, the position implies a direct and efit our Nation—is not an end unto call the roll. independent relationship with the itself. Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask President as Assistant to the Presi- Yet, too many of my colleagues seem unanimous consent that the order for dent, and on the other hand, as Deputy all too willing to simply push this leg- the quorum call be rescinded. National Security Adviser for Iraq and islation through simply to preserve The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Afghanistan, the position implies sub- this great compromise. In fact, it al- objection, it is so ordered. ordination to the National Security most appears as if some would consider f Adviser. our efforts successful if we were simply One can argue that the responsibility able to bring this bill to passage, re- EXECUTIVE SESSION for Iraq and Afghanistan policy clearly gardless of what the bill looked like belongs to the National Security Ad- and regardless of what its effect would viser, as well as the responsibility for NOMINATION OF LIEUTENANT be on our immigration system. How- directly advising the President on GENERAL DOUGLAS E. LUTE TO ever, I believe that if we were to follow those issues. Creating a position with BE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESI- this course, we would be wasting an op- ambiguous subordination to the Na- DENT AND DEPUTY NATIONAL portunity to provide real reforms to tional Security Adviser could need- SECURITY ADVISER FOR IRAQ our Nation’s immigration policy and to lessly complicate and confuse an al- AND AFGHANISTAN provide real solutions for our Nation’s ready confused policy process. I, too, many immigration problems. Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask have some concerns in this regard but It is not a novel idea to suggest that unanimous consent that the Senate not to the extent that I will oppose the there was a better way to approach now proceed to executive session to President’s decision to create such a this problem. That way, Mr. President, consider Calendar No. 165, the nomina- position. was the process by which we approach tion of LTG Douglas Lute; that the The other concern which has been ex- all issues of this magnitude. This bill time until 3 o’clock be for debate on pressed is that appointing an Active- was brought to the floor without hav- the nomination, equally divided be- Duty military officer to such a polit- ing gone through the committee proc- tween myself and Senator WARNER or ical position is a practice which should ess. This is never a good sign for any his designee; that at the conclusion or be avoided in that for the officer in piece of legislation. Whenever you by- yielding back of time, the nomination question, it needlessly blurs the dis- pass the regular order of the Senate, be laid aside and the Senate return to tinction between recommendations he there will undoubtedly be a significant legislative session in morning business; might make based on unbiased profes- portion of our constituents who feel as and that at 4 p.m., the Senate return to sional military judgment and those if their views don’t count. The Senate executive session and the vote on con- based upon or colored by political con- has used and maintained the com- firmation of the nomination of Lieu- siderations. In a larger sense, it is mittee structure for over 200 years, and tenant General Lute. counter to the traditional American it has served the American people well. I also am hopeful that there will be approach to civil-military relations. In this case, refusing to use the time- some votes on judicial nominees as For the individual officer, it may also tested committee structure has been a well today, but that has not yet been create difficulties in subsequently re- recipe for disaster. cleared. turning from a political position to a The decision to bring this bill di- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without uniformed, apolitical, military posi- rectly the floor robbed many Senators objection, it is so ordered. tion. I emphasize that General Lute of an opportunity to examine the bill The clerk will report. will remain on active duty during this thoroughly and publicly express their The assistant legislative clerk read period. concerns. In addition, it made certain the nomination of Douglas E. Lute, De- However, this would not be the first that the bill would come before the en- partment of Defense, Army, to be Lieu- time that uniformed military officers, tire Senate without the benefit of Com- tenant General. remaining on active duty, have served

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He later commanded the second don’t believe it should be the norm for reconciliation benchmarks, such as im- armored cavalry regiment in 1998 to a military officer to serve in these plementing legislation for the equi- 2000, and the multinational brigade kinds of positions, I do not believe this table distribution of revenues from oil east in Kosovo in 2002. In 2003, he was should be a disqualifying concern in sales, de-Baathification, and constitu- assigned as deputy director of oper- rare circumstances such as this, and tional amendments, that would lead to ations in headquarters European com- therefore should not disqualify General reconciliation among the three main mand and, in that capacity, played an Lute from his nominated position. Iraqi groups. Progress is not apparent important role in responding to the im- I do believe, however, that General in those critically important political pending humanitarian crisis in Liberia. Lute has been nominated for an reconciliation areas—again, the stated It was in that context that I first met unenviable position. He will be respon- purpose of the surge. this distinguished officer. sible for bringing coherence to an inco- I believe the only chance to get Iraqi General Jones was, at that time, herent policy—a policy that is still politicians to stand up is when they NATO commander. I talked with him floundering after more than 4 years of know we are going to begin to stand about the problems we were experi- war in Iraq. down. Our soldiers risk their lives encing over the African coast at that General Lute told the Armed Serv- while Iraqi politicians refuse to take time. As you may recall, elements of ices Committee that ‘‘the position is political risks and make the necessary the Marine Corps and other Naval units an advisor and coordinator, without di- compromises to promote reconcili- were sent down there to try to—and in- rective authority beyond a small ation. Those are the compromises deed they did—succeed in contributing staff.’’ He further said that the ability which everybody agrees must be made to a cessation of a lot of the tensions to move policy forward had to do more if there is going to be any hope to end which could have erupted into a civil with such factors as ‘‘Presidential di- the violence in Iraq. We cannot con- war. rection and support, acceptance by tinue to have the lives of American At that time, General Lute was di- other policy principals, broad commit- servicemembers held hostage to Iraqi rector of operations for the U.S. Cen- ment to a common cause, cultivated political intrigue and intransigence. tral Command, where he served over 2 interpersonal relationships, personal I hope once General Lute is con- years. I was privileged to join him off integrity, and meaningful results.’’ firmed, he will be willing and able to the coast aboard those naval vessels, Secretary Rice, described as a close redirect Iraq policy to exert maximum and he accompanied me when I went in personal friend of the President—in- pressure on Iraqi leaders to achieve po- and worked with the Ambassador in deed almost a family member—was ei- litical reconciliation. The beginning of the incipient days of that potential ther not able to get that Presidential that is a phased redeployment of conflict. direction and support or not able to United States troops from Iraq. That is As a key member of the joint staff, I employ it to bring coherence to the the only leverage on those leaders with visited him many times in the Depart- President’s policy. One must wonder any hope of success, with them finally ment of Defense and received excellent how General Lute can be expected to be understanding that their future is in briefings from him about the worldwide more successful. their hands and we cannot save them situation. I have witnessed firsthand It is no secret that several retired from themselves. the extraordinary, professional capa- four-star general officers were offered But as for today’s nomination, I sup- bilities of this fine officer. the position and turned it down. Ac- port the confirmation of LTG Douglas In the estimation of GEN David cording to media reports, one reason Lute to be the special assistant to the Petraeus: given by one of the generals was that President and the Deputy National Se- the administration remains fundamen- curity Adviser for Iraq and Afghani- Doug Lute knows Iraq. Doug Lute knows tally divided on how to carry out the stan. Iraq, the region, and in Washington will be a conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Re- I yield the floor. great addition to the team that is striving to achieve success in Iraq. He is also a doer. tired Marine GEN Jack Sheehan, who The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- declined to be considered for the posi- ator from Virginia is recognized. Ambassador Crocker added: tion, said: Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I note General Lute’s knowledge and experience The very fundamental issue is, they [the with great respect and approval the will make him a valuable partner to our ef- administration] don’t know where the hell Senator’s comments to support his forts in Iraq. I look forward to working they’re going. nomination. The Senator and I have closely with General Lute in the coming months. General Sheehan reportedly ex- discussed this nomination, and I pressed concern that the hawks within strongly endorse the President’s nomi- There has also been some indication the administration, including Vice nation of General Lute and welcome that people are concerned about the President CHENEY, remain more power- the support of our distinguished chair- precedents connected with this assign- ful than the pragmatists looking for an man of the committee. ment. I will put into the RECORD a list exit strategy in Iraq. This does not The Senator made reference to Gen- of individuals who have served Presi- bode well for General Lute. eral Sheehan and others who appar- dents in this capacity over the past It is no secret that General Lute ently had some contact with the White years. Notably among them were Gen- himself questioned the so-called surge House personnel, and others, regarding eral Haig, military assistant to the strategy for Iraq before its announce- possibly taking on this assignment. In President for national security affairs; ment by President Bush last January. no way can I believe their comments Lieutenant General Scowcroft; Admi- Indeed, General Lute confirmed that should be held against the distin- ral Poindexter; GEN Colin Powell; Gen- doubt at his hearing. guished nomination of General Lute. eral Kerrick; GEN Michael Hayden, Di- The surge is now complete, and the They are part of the public records, but rector of Central Intelligence at the results are not very promising. Amer- I think sometimes when the President present time and on active duty. ican casualties are at some of the high- speaks with individuals about the pos- I ask unanimous consent that this est levels of the war, sectarian violence sibility of serving him, those matters list be printed in the RECORD. is rising again after a short reduction, are best left confidential—for any There being no objection, the mate- and the insurgency is as active as ever, President. I certainly treat them that rial was ordered to be printed in the especially in the use of mass casualty- way. I was somewhat taken aback by RECORD, as follows:

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Rank/Name Position From To

GEN Alexander Haig ...... Military Assistant to the Presidential Assistant for National Security Affairs ...... 1969 1970. GEN Alexander Haig ...... Deputy National Security Advisor ...... 1970 1973. GEN Alexander Haig ...... White House Chief of Staff (Nixon) ...... 1973 1974. LTG Brent Scowcroft ...... Deputy National Security Advisor ...... 1973 1975. ADM John Poindexter ...... Deputy National Security Advisor ...... 1983 1985. ADM John Poindexter ...... National Security Advisor ...... 1985 1986. LTG Colin Powell, USA ...... Deputy National Security Advisor ...... 1987 1987. LTG Colin Powell, USA ...... National Security Advisor ...... 1987 1989. LtGen Donald Kerrick, USAF ...... Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs ...... 1997 1999. LtGen Donald Kerrick, USAF ...... Deputy National Security Advisor ...... 2000 2000. Gen Michael Hayden, USAF ...... Director of Central Intelligence ...... 2006 Present.

Mr. WARNER. I would also put this Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask not of the Department of Defense but into the RECORD at this point. I solic- to be notified after 5 minutes. the Department of Justice. If your ited the White House’s views regarding The PRESIDING OFFICER. The court system is not working, if you any legalities of this nomination. I Chair will so notify the Senator. don’t have an adequate jail system, if have the letter of Mr. Fielding, counsel Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I you can’t get the water turned on or to the President. I ask unanimous con- think Senator LEVIN and Senator WAR- the electricity turned on, our soldiers sent that it be printed in the RECORD. NER have pointed out the fact that this are at an increased risk to their safety. There being no objection, the mate- is not an unprecedented appointment So it is absolutely critical that all rial was ordered to be printed in the and that it is consistent with what has our agencies of Government work to- RECORD, as follows: been done before. People have their gether, agree, work out differences, and THE WHITE HOUSE, own ideas about how the chain of com- create the greatest possible oppor- Washington, DC, June 26, 2007. mand should work, but that is fun- tunity for those fabulous soldiers we Hon. JOHN WARNER, damentally the question to be an- have sent to be successful in helping to U.S. Senate, swered. create a stable and decent government Washington, DC. Let me join with Senator WARNER in in Iraq. It is not at the level of co- DEAR SENATOR WARNER: This is in response saying how much I admire the record operation we need. We have not gotten to your inquiry as to the constitutionality of of General Lute. He is a three-star gen- the President of the United States appoint- to that level. ing an active duty military officer to serve eral. He was a director of operations at I am telling my colleagues, I have in the White House Office as Deputy Na- the operational section of Central seen it. The Department of Defense is tional Security Advisor to the President and Command for 2 years. He is intimately here, the Department of Justice is Assistant to the President. familiar with the Middle East. He has here, the Department of State is here. There is no constitutional issue arising by demonstrated in his positions with the The Department of Defense—probably virtue of such service. All military officers Department of Defense in recent years in frustration, I will say it this way. I are part of the Executive Branch of our gov- with the joint staff his willingness to ernment, and there is no break in their chain said we probably would have been bet- of command, as the President’s constitu- question ideas that many consider pop- ter off just giving everything to the tional duties include his role as Commander- ular. In fact, it is reported that he Department of Defense. They are pret- in-Chief of the United States Armed Forces. asked a lot of tough questions about ty doggone competent in what they do. Likewise, such an appointment is consistent the surge, and how that would go, and But the State Department has huge re- with U.S. law. See 10 U.S.C. § 601. how it should be handled if done. I sponsibilities in Iraq. Therefore, the As you are aware, in the past our Nation think, if anything, we know for sure Defense Department steps back and has been served by active duty military offi- that he will do what he believes is in they interface, but State has respon- cers holding the same position; to wit: Gen- America’s interests. sibilities, Justice has responsibilities, eral Brent Scrowcroft, Admiral John Let me tell you why I truly believe Poindexter, General Colin Powell, General and Interior has responsibilities in Donald Kerrick. we need a position such as this and a Iraq. Virtually every department and Thank you for your inquiry. I am pleased man like General Lute. We have about agency does. They are not at the high- to be able to respond. 170,000-plus soldiers in Iraq and Afghan- est level of effectiveness, in my view. With best regards, istan. They are serving us in a dan- It is not as important, I have to say, Sincerely, gerous area of the world. We know and for Justice to get a court system up FRED F. FIELDING, have had so many colleagues say—and Counsel to the President. and running as it is for the Defense De- Senator LEVIN is most articulate in partment because it is their soldiers at Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I feel saying this—it is more than just the risk if we don’t create a good justice that this gentleman, General Lute, is military; there is a political settle- system in Iraq. eminently qualified, as the President ment, there is reconstruction, there I thought we needed somebody such has indicated. It is the personal prerog- are economic issues involved, oil and as General Lute to go into Iraq, go into ative of the President to select those gas, water, electricity, which are all Afghanistan, and find out what is going who wish to advise him in a confiden- key components of having a govern- on and be able to tell the President tial vein. General Lute will undertake ment effective in Iraq that serves the where the problems are. When there is that with great distinction. people of Iraq and Afghanistan. a dispute between agencies, one person The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- This is important. The problem is we can fix it, and that is the President of ators from Virginia and Michigan con- have all our agencies involved in Iraq, the United States. He can say: I want it trol the time. not just the military. We have the done this way or your resignation to- Mr. SESSIONS. Will somebody yield State Department involved in Iraq. The morrow, Mr. Secretary. Or you and I me some time? Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I yield State Department is the one respon- have had a long friendship over the such time as the Senator from Ala- sible for trying to move the Govern- years. I want this done, you don’t want bama wishes to take. ment along in an effective way. They it done. I will get somebody who will The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- also have responsibility over the econ- get it done. ator from Alabama is recognized. omy, trying to help Iraq have a good But how can he know all these dif- Mr. LEVIN. Will the Senator yield economy. They are responsible for try- ferent problems that are occurring? briefly? ing to negotiate safety agreements How can he personally be on top of it? Mr. SESSIONS. Yes. with its neighbors. They are respon- Likewise for the Secretary of State. Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, how much sible for infrastructure, actually. They She is expected to be in China, to go to time remains on both sides? are not responsible for law and order, Brazil, Chile, Indonesia, Europe, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- the court system, and the prison sys- Kosovo, South Korea, or Japan. The ator from Michigan has 71⁄2 minutes. tem, which has not gone well at all. I National Security Adviser has the The Senator from Virginia has 10 min- have been a major critic of that situa- whole world under his responsibility. utes. tion. That is under the responsibility, He has to be managing all these issues

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That leagues, it is obvious to me the Na- governments in those countries to be doesn’t mean the President cannot tional Security Adviser cannot drop all successful, therefore enhancing their bring an active-duty military person of his or her responsibilities and spend ability to be effective against terror- on to his staff. As Senator WARNER said his or her time negotiating problems in ists and violence, therefore reducing in another meeting, the President has Iraq. The President is going to have to the threat to our soldiers—that is the the authority to bring anyone of value designate somebody to do that. He has bottom line—and increasing their abil- to his administration he wants. The chosen General Lute who is a man, by ity to be successful. question becomes: Should that indi- all accounts, of extraordinary ability, I am pleased to support this nomina- vidual remain in uniform? And should proven experience in the region, a per- tion. I think all the serious questions that individual be able to return to the son who knows the difficulties so he that have been raised have been an- active-duty military once his service is can carefully and with good judgment swered. done? analyze the different disputes and try I see my friend and colleague from I asked General Lute during his con- to get them settled so we can get on Virginia. He raises a good point about firmation hearings if he believed that with producing more oil and gas, hav- this matter of a uniformed person the advice he would be giving in this ing water for the citizens, having the being in the executive branch, the po- position would be political in nature, sewage system working, having the litical branch, I guess one can call it. and it unavoidably is. electricity on, and helping to make We have done it before and, in this So we have a situation that is recent sure we have a legal system with suffi- case, in my view, that concern, while a history. This type of situation does not cient bed spaces to detain criminals. legitimate one, I believe is outweighed go back long in American history I discovered that we have one-ninth by the fact that we need help right now where we have brought active-duty as many bed spaces in Iraq as we do in and General Lute is the guy who can do military people inside the political cir- my State of Alabama. I saw a similar cle of an administration and then al- story for New York. There are not it. I yield the floor. lowed them to return as active-duty enough places to put the criminals, and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who we have to increase those places. The members back to the military. This yields time to the Senator from Vir- bureaucracy is sitting around and not has not happened with any frequency, ginia? getting that done. other than in the past 20 years or so. If we catch and release terrorists, Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, how much That individual returning to the they are going to go out and kill again. time remains? military in a uniform unavoidably The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is causes questions inside the military There have been several articles that 1 have picked up on this situation. I have 6 ⁄2 minutes remaining. about political alignments and tends to Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I yield the politicize the military. That is my to say, it has been a theme of mine for 1 3 years now, and we still haven’t gotten 6 ⁄2 minutes to the Senator from Vir- problem. There is no way General Lute the justice system up like we would ginia. If he needs additional time, I ask can go to the morning meetings and like it. unanimous consent that he be given give advice that is not simply oper- 1 I see the Presiding Officer, a former additional time, after the 6 ⁄2 minutes. ational, but that is political in nature attorney general in his State, Senator We will wait and see if that is the case. with respect to how an administration SALAZAR. We were together in Iraq and Mr. WEBB. Mr. President, I will do puts a policy into place, and then can talked about these issues. I know he my best to finish within 6 minutes. I return to the active-duty military and shares a genuine concern that things appreciate the chairman asking me to be viewed as politically neutral. I say are not being accomplished as fast as come to the floor. that again with respect to the other in- possible. So I think that operating in This issue came up fairly quickly be- dividuals who were named in Fred the name of the President to try and cause of the vote this morning. I was Fielding’s letter. find out what difficulties are occurring not able to be here when my friend and It is my intention, during the time I in Iraq, where the bottlenecks are, and colleague, the senior Senator from Vir- am in the Senate, to ask any military being able to get the parties together ginia, made his comments, but he did officer who is being put into a position in the name of the President—he has give me the letter that had been pro- of political sensitivity whether that in- no direct authority to order the De- vided to him by the counsel to the dividual intends to take the uniform partment of Justice or the Department President which addresses the issue of off and keep it off. Any individual who of Defense to do anything. But he has the constitutionality of a uniformed of- otherwise is qualified who intends to the authority given by the President. If ficer serving as a direct policy adviser return to the active-duty military they can’t agree, he can appeal to the inside the administration. service, in my opinion, is violating this President. He can say: Mr. President, Counsel Fielding points out in the very sensitive line with respect to the the Department of State wants to do letter that there is no constitutional politicization of the military, and I in- this, the Department of Justice wants issue. He mentions Generals Scowcroft, tend to oppose those nominations. to do this, the Department of Defense Powell, Kerrick, and Admiral I thank the chairman for this time. wants to do this. My recommendation Poindexter as recent examples of ac- I yield the floor. is to do this, but you need to make this tive-duty military officers holding this Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, in decision. Then the President can help type of position. keeping with my practice of deferring eliminate these problems. I would have risen in opposition to to Presidents when it comes to execu- The truth is, when somebody such as all of these other individuals under the tive branch nominations, I voted to General Lute says we have a disagree- circumstances that exist today, and I confirm LTG Douglas Lute to serve as ment between State and Justice and I am going to try to clarify that. Assistant to the President and Deputy am inclined to say this is the way it I don’t expect the opposition I have National Security Adviser for Iraq and ought to be settled, but the President to General Lute’s nomination is going Afghanistan. He is a competent officer told me, when I call him tomorrow, to to preclude him from being confirmed. with a history of service to this Na- let me know if there are any difficul- I don’t want the record to indicate that tion. However, I am deeply concerned ties, I am going to tell him that you I have any question with respect to his that rather than changing course in two children cannot agree, usually competence, the way he has served the Iraq, the President is merely rear- they get together and settle it. They country over the past 30 years or so, ranging the bureaucracy in the White don’t want to have the President come but I do believe this is a very impor- House. in and settle these disputes and get in- tant issue, and it goes beyond the opin- The administration needs to better volved. They know he has a lot of ion that was in Counsel Fielding’s let- coordinate the U.S. Government’s oper- issues on his plate. ter. ations in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am

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He said this of the Federal Government are needed. field, without needing to put a military about this position: However, I am skeptical that this officer in charge of coordinating the ci- To a person, those with whom I have spo- new position will have a significant im- vilian arms of government. ken conveyed two clear messages: first, a pact given that the President still re- Repeatedly, the President has ap- message of concern for the well-being and fuses to admit that there is no military pointed a new military officer to a safety of our men and women in harm’s way; solution to the situation in Iraq. Until leadership position and Congress has and second, that we would all like to see us the President recognizes the need to re- allowed the nomination to proceed pursue a course of action that makes our deploy our troops from Iraq and seek country safer while safeguarding our na- without objection. The White House tional interests in the region. Surely, this is international assistance in promoting then turns the cooperation of Congress our common ground. a political resolution, I am afraid that into yet another sound bite to prolong He went on to say: Lieutenant General Lute’s efforts will the prosecution of the President’s simply contribute to more of the same failed policy. How many times have we But the stakes for the United States are failed policy. I will continue working also high. This region—where America has heard that General Petraeus was con- vital national interests—will not succeed if to redeploy our troops from Iraq so firmed unanimously and that we ‘‘just Iraq and Afghanistan do not succeed, and the that we can devote greater resources to need to give him time’’? The President U.S. plays a vital role in this cause. 1 our top national security priority— has had 4 ⁄2 years to show progress. In- He went on to say this: going after the terrorists who attacked stead, the situation continues to wors- us on 9/11 and their allies. No one is satisfied with the status quo: not en in Iraq. the Iraqis, not key regional partners, not the Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am I, for one, will not vote to give the U.S. Government, and not the American pub- voting present on the nomination of President another military officer to lic. To change this, we are in the midst of Douglas E. Lute to be Special Assist- blame or another unanimous vote to executing a shift in course as announced by ant to the President and Deputy Na- exploit to delay bringing home our the President in January. Early results are tional Security Adviser for Iraq and Af- troops. I will not accept the President’s mixed. Conditions on the ground are deeply ghanistan. claim that a military officer advising complex and are likely to continue to Although I respect General Lute’s the President on two ongoing conflicts evolve—meaning that we must constantly adapt. Often, measures that fix one problem distinguished 30-plus year career in the should not be required to testify before U.S. Army, I view this position as rear- in as complex an environment as this reveal Congress on the progress of this long challenges elsewhere. ranging the bureaucracy at the White and disastrous war. That is certainly true. General Lute House. The creation of a ‘‘war czar’’ I will, therefore, vote against the continued: will not hide the President’s failed confirmation of Lieutenant General policies and is another way for him to Lute to this position. But one factor remains constant—the dedi- duck responsibility for the war in Iraq. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who cation and sacrifice of our men and women, military and civilian, serving in these com- Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, on May 15, yields time? 2007, President Bush nominated LTG bat zones. They are a continuing source of Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, how inspiration to me and to my family. Douglas Lute as Assistant to the Presi- much time remains on this side? The position for which I have been nomi- dent and Deputy National Security Ad- The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is nated is designed for one fundamental pur- viser for Iraq and Afghanistan. In that no time remaining to Senator WARNER. pose: to advise the President on how to pro- position, Lieutenant General Lute is to Mr. SESSIONS. I thank the Chair vide our troops and civilians in the field with be charged with coordinating the ef- and yield the floor. increased focused, full-time, real time, sup- forts of the executive branch to sup- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- port here in Washington. port our commanders and senior dip- ator from Michigan. He goes on to say: lomats on the ground in Iraq and Af- Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, appar- The aim is to bring additional energy, dis- ghanistan. ently I have a minute and a half re- cipline, and sense of urgency to the process. I am voting against the nomination maining. I will be happy to yield to the Our troops deserve this support. of LTG Douglas Lute, not because he is Senator from Alabama, if he would like I think that is a good statement, a unqualified for the position but be- the time. sense of urgency for all our agencies cause the White House refuses to per- Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, if we and departments of Government, not mit him to testify before those Mem- are waiting for the vote, I was going to just the military. He concludes this bers of Congress responsible for the quote a few items from General Lute’s way: oversight and funding of these con- statement, but otherwise I don’t need Mr. Chairman, I am a soldier; and our flicts. Article 2, section II of the Con- to do that. country is at war. It is my privilege to serve. stitution makes it clear that the power Mr. LEVIN. The vote will begin at 4. This position represents a major personal to appoint certain officers involves the Under the order, there is another challenge and I am humbled by the responsi- advice and consent of the Senate. I can speaker scheduled at 3 o’clock. bility it entails. If confirmed, I will give the imagine no circumstance where the The PRESIDING OFFICER. At 3 President my straightforward, candid, pro- President may require policy advice o’clock the Senate will return to morn- fessional advice. and guidance from an Active Duty ing business. Mr. President, I yield the floor. military officer regarding ongoing con- Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, if Sen- f flicts and issues relevant to Congress’s ator LEVIN is comfortable with this, I oversight responsibilities to which ask for 3 minutes. If someone comes to MORNING BUSINESS Congress should not be equally capable the Chamber at 3 and needs to take the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under of hearing in either public or closed fo- floor, I will yield. the previous order, the Senate is now rums as appropriate. To do otherwise Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask in a period of morning business, with may raise popular suspicion that all is unanimous consent that the Senator Senators permitted to speak up to 10 not on the ‘‘up and up’’ with the way from Alabama be yielded 3 minutes, minutes each. the President is conducting this war. and then morning business start at 3:03 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I suggest I am also concerned that putting a p.m. the absence of a quorum. general in this position will leave the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The PRESIDING OFFICER. The military open to inferences by the ad- objection, it is so ordered. clerk will call the roll. ministration that it is the military, The Senator from Alabama. The bill clerk proceeded to call the rather than George W. Bush, who is re- Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, we roll. sponsible for the failed policies in Iraq. had a hearing with General Lute. Sen- Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unan- After 5 years of conflict in Afghanistan ator LEVIN presided in his able way, as imous consent that the order for the and Iraq, the President, his Cabinet, always. He gave us a short written quorum call be rescinded.

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