S11782 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 20, 2007 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- should try to dispose of the issue (4) In 2004, a Senator from Massachusetts TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008 as soon as possible so we could move on who is a Vietnam veteran and the recipient of a , Bronze Star with Combat V, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under to the rest of the bill and pass it so we can get to conference and get it signed. and three Purple Hearts, was personally at- the previous order, the Senate will re- tacked and accused of dishonoring his coun- sume consideration of H.R. 1585, which There are vital parts of this bill on try; the clerk will report. which the chairman and members of (5) This attack was aptly described by a The legislative clerk read as follows: the Armed Services Committee have Senator and Vietnam veteran as ‘‘dishonest worked literally months, and I hope we and dishonorable.’’ A bill (H.R. 1585) to authorize appropria- (6) On September 10, 2007, an advertisement tions for fiscal year 2008 for military activi- could get to that aspect of the legisla- tion as well. in was an unwarranted ties of the Department of Defense, for mili- personal attack on General Petraeus, who is tary construction, and for defense activities Mr. LEVIN. If the Senator will yield honorably leading our Armed Forces in Iraq of the Department of Energy, to prescribe for a moment, on that point I agree to- and carrying out the mission assigned to him military personnel strengths for such fiscal tally with what he just said about the by the President of the ; and year, and for other purposes. importance of this bill. We are circu- (7) Such personal attacks on those with Pending: lating a request to our Members on distinguished military service to our nation Nelson (NE) (for Levin) amendment No. this side that no amendments be in have become all too frequent. 2011, in the nature of a substitute. order to this bill—that no amendments (b) SENSE OF SENATE.—It is the sense of the Warner (for Graham/Kyl) amendment No. Senate— be filed after a certain point this after- (1) to reaffirm its strong support for all of 2064 (to amendment No. 2011), to strike sec- noon, which I believe we have tried to the men and women of the United States tion 1023, relating to the granting of civil identify as 3 o’clock. I don’t know, I Armed Forces; and rights to terror suspects. (2) to strongly condemn all attacks on the Cornyn amendment No. 2934 (to amend- didn’t have a chance to talk with my honor, integrity, and patriotism of any indi- ment No. 2011), to express the sense of the friend from Arizona about that, but vidual who is serving or has served honor- Senate that General David H. Petraeus, hopefully on your side something simi- ably in the United States Armed Forces, by Commanding General, Multi-National Force- lar could be hot-lined so we could bring any person or organization. Iraq, deserves the full support of the Senate this to an end. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- and strongly condemn personal attacks on We have literally 250 amendments al- ator from California is recognized. the honor and the integrity of General ready. We have disposed of a lot. We Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I thank Petraeus and all the members of the United disposed of 50. We can dispose of more States Armed forces. the clerk for reading those words. I today at some point, but we can’t have hope Members of the Senate heard Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask more amendments coming in than we them well because in this amendment, unanimous consent that after Senator are able to work out. what we are doing is saying that there BOXER offers an amendment related to I hope on both sides we can get a is essentially a terrible trend in Amer- the subject matter of the pending Cor- unanimous consent agreement that no ica today: to launch attacks on honor- nyn amendment, the Boxer and Cornyn amendments will be in order to this able people who serve in the military. amendments be debated concurrently bill in the first degree if they are filed By the way, it isn’t just folks who were for 20 minutes, with the time equally later than a fixed time this afternoon. mentioned or alluded to. I have an arti- divided and controlled between Sen- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there cle I would like to have printed in the ators BOXER and CORNYN or their des- objection to the initial unanimous con- RECORD from the San Diego Union ignees; that no amendments be in order sent request, as modified, by the senior Tribune, April 16, 2004, and another to either amendment; that upon the Senator from Michigan? from the Seattle Times of May 13, 2007. use or yielding back of time the Senate Without objection, it is so ordered. proceed to vote in relation to the Boxer I ask unanimous consent to have two Who yields time? The Senator from articles printed in the RECORD. amendment; that upon disposition of California is recognized. that amendment there be 2 minutes of There being no objection, the mate- AMENDMENT NO. 2947 TO AMENDMENT NO. 2011 debate prior to a vote in relation to the rial was ordered to be printed in the Cornyn amendment; that each amend- (Purpose: To affirm strong support for all RECORD, as follows: the men and women of the United States ment be subject to a 60-vote threshold, [From the San Diego Union Tribune, Apr. 16, Armed Forces and to strongly condemn at- 2004] and if the amendment does not achieve tacks on the honor, integrity, and patriot- RETIRED GENERAL ASSAILS U.S. POLICY ON 60 votes, the amendment then be with- ism of any individual who is serving or has IRAQ drawn, with the above occurring with- served honorably in the United States (By Rick Rogers) out intervening action or debate. Armed Forces, by any person or organiza- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- tion) Retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni won- Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I call up dered aloud yesterday how Defense Secretary jority leader is recognized. could be caught off guard Mr. REID. I wonder if my friend amendment No. 2947 and ask for its im- by the chaos in Iraq that has killed nearly would modify that to have the second mediate consideration. 100 Americans in recent weeks and led to his vote for 10 minutes rather than 15 min- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without announcement that 20,000 U.S. troops would utes? objection, the clerk will report. be staying there instead of returning home Mr. LEVIN. I so modify the request. The legislative clerk read as follows: as planned. ‘‘I’m surprised that he is surprised because The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there The Senator from California [Mrs. BOXER], there was a lot of us who were telling him objection? The Senator from Arizona. for herself, Mr. LEVIN, and Mr. DURBIN, pro- that it was going to be thus,’’ said Zinni, a poses an amendment numbered 2947: Mr. MCCAIN. Reserving the right to Marine for 39 years and the former com- At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the object, and I will not object, I think mander of the U.S. Central Command. ‘‘Any- following: the distinguished chairman and I have one could know the problems they were had a conversation that, following SEC. l SENSE OF SENATE going to see. How could they not?’’ that, for the benefit of our colleagues, (a) FINDINGS.—The Senate makes the fol- At a Pentagon news briefing yesterday, we would move to the Feingold amend- lowing findings: Rumsfeld said he could not have estimated (1) The men and women of the United ment and with it we will seek a time how many troops would be killed in the past States Armed Forces and our veterans de- week. agreement. Then with the cooperation serve to be supported, honored, and defended Zinni made his comments during an inter- of our colleagues, we will at least try when their patriotism is attacked; view with The San Diego Union-Tribune be- as much as possible to dispose of Iraq (2) In 2002, a Senator from Georgia who is fore giving a speech last night at the Univer- amendments today, if we could. a Vietnam veteran, triple amputee, and the sity of San Diego’s Joan B. Kroc Institute for I remind my colleagues we still have recipient of a Silver Star and Bronze Star, Peace & Justice as part of its distinguished the basis of this bill, which has Wound- had his courage and patriotism attacked in lecturer series. ed Warriors, pay raises, housing, train- an advertisement in which he was visually For years Zinni said he cautioned U.S. offi- linked to and Saddam Hus- cials that an Iraq without Saddam Hussein ing, and equipping of the men and sein; would likely be more dangerous to U.S. in- women of the Armed Forces. We do (3) This attack was aptly described by a terests than one with him because of the eth- have a number of pending amendments Senator and Vietnam veteran as ‘‘reprehen- nic and religious clashes that would be un- on the bill. I think, in fairness, we sible’’; leashed.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:19 Mar 13, 2014 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2007SENATE\S20SE7.REC S20SE7 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY September 20, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S11783 ‘‘I think that some heads should roll over Many senior officers say privately that But we didn’t come down and pass a Iraq,’’ Zinni said. ‘‘I think the president got such talk makes them uncomfortable; they resolution attacking the campaign some bad advice.’’ say that when your first name becomes that ran this ad. But now we have an Known as the ‘‘Warrior Diplomat,’’ Zinni is ‘‘General,’’ it is for the rest of your life. But attack on one organization. It is not a peace activist by nature or training, Batiste says he has received no communica- having led troops in Vietnam, commanded tions from current or former officers chal- wrong. It should be defeated. This rescue operations in and directed lenging his stance, although he occasionally amendment I have offered is the one strikes against Iraq and al Qaeda. gets an anonymous e-mail with the heading that ought to pass this Chamber. He once commanded the 1st Marine Expedi- ‘‘Traitor.’’ I yield to Senator DURBIN my remain- tionary Force at Camp Pendleton. Having quit the Army in anger over what ing time. Out of uniform, Zinni was a troubleshooter he calls mismanagement of the , he The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- for the U.S. government in Africa, Asia and says he chose a second career far from Wash- ator from California has 6 minutes re- Europe and served as special envoy to the ington and the Pentagon so he could speak freely on military issues. maining. Middle East under the Bush administration Mr. DURBIN. I would like to be noti- for a time before his reservations over the ‘‘I am outraged, as are the majority of Iraq war and its aftermath caused him to re- Americans,’’ he said. ‘‘I am a lifelong Repub- fied when I have spoken for 2 minutes sign and oppose it. lican. But it is past time for change.’’ and leave the remaining time under the Not even Zinni’s resume´ could shield him Officials of VoteVets.org, an Internet- control of Senator BOXER. from the accusations that followed. based veterans advocacy organization, say This is a balanced amendment that the TV ads, which challenge the president’s ‘‘I’ve been called a traitor and a turncoat Senator BOXER, Senator LEVIN, and I argument that he listens to his commanders for mentioning these things,’’ said Zinni, 60. have offered to this bill. I am not sure The problems in Iraq are being caused, he and say his Iraq policies endanger U.S. secu- rity, will run in the home districts of more this is a debate in which we ought to said, by poor planning and shortsightedness, engage on a regular basis, but Senator such as disbanding the and being than a dozen members of Congress. Two other retired generals, and unable to provide security. CORNYN has the right to raise this , speak in the VoteVets.org Zinni said the United States must now rely issue, and he has raised it. campaign’s other ads. The point we want to make is this: on the U.N. to pull its ‘‘chestnuts out of the In response, White House spokeswoman fire in Iraq.’’ Emily Lawrimore said: ‘‘We respectfully dis- The Cornyn amendment focuses on one ‘‘We’re betting on the U.N., who we blew agree.’’ She said Bush confers routinely with organization and one attack on an hon- off and ridiculed during the run-up to the senior officers, citing a meeting Thursday orable, patriotic leader of our military, war,’’ Zinni said. ‘‘Now we’re back with hat with the and a con- General Petraeus. If this resolution in hand. It would be funny if not for the lives versation last week with Gen. David that he offers would be fair, it would lost.’’ Petraeus, the senior U.S. commander in Iraq. Several things have to happen to get Iraq also take into consideration the situa- back on course, whether the U.N. decides to Mrs. BOXER. This is one where Gen- tions that we have raised in our step in or not, Zinni said. eral Zinni, who criticized the war in amendment with Senator BOXER. Improving security for American forces Iraq, said, ‘‘I have been called a traitor I asked Senator CORNYN last night: and the Iraqi people is at the top of the list and a turncoat for mentioning these Will you amend your resolution so followed closely by helping the working class things.’’ Outrageous—because he spoke other attacks—unwarranted, disgrace- with economic projects. out against the war in Iraq. ful attacks—on the military can be in- But it’s not the lack of a comprehensive Then you have retired General Ba- cluded? And I gave him two examples, American plan for Iraq nor the surging vio- tiste, who lashed out on the war and and he said no because those were in- lence that has cost allied troops their lives— says he gets e-mails with the heading, including about 30 Camp Pendleton Ma- volved in a political campaign. rines—that most concerns Zinni. ‘‘Traitor.’’ I am sorry, but that isn’t good ‘‘In the end, the Iraqis themselves have to My friend from Texas is taking one enough. If the principle is sound, it is want to rebuild their country more than we example, attacking an organization sound whether it is in the course of a do,’’ Zinni said. ‘‘But I don’t see that right that he doesn’t agree with—I am sure political campaign or not. If we are now. I see us doing everything. of that—and we are going to be pretty going to stand up for the honor, integ- ‘‘I spent two years in Vietnam, and I’ve busy in the Senate if we turn into the rity, and patriotism of those who serve seen this movie before,’’ he said. ‘‘They have ad police. When Senator Cleland was to be willing to do more or else it is never our country in uniform, let’s do it attacked we didn’t have a resolution on without partisan favor and certainly going to work.’’ the floor of the Senate. When Senator Last night at the Kroc institute during his not arguing that a political campaign speech ‘‘From the Battlefield to the Negoti- KERRY was attacked we didn’t do it. is somehow fair game to say anything ating Table: Preventing Deadly Conflict,’’ When General Batiste was attacked we about anybody. That is what is wrong Zinni detailed the approach he believes the didn’t do it. For General Zinni we with American politics, and that is United States should take in the Middle didn’t do it. We did speak out, and we what has to change. East. did speak out about the ad, all of us on The Boxer amendment, which I am He told an overflow crowd that the United both sides of the aisle, that attacked honored to cosponsor, changes it. I States tries to grapple with individual issues General Petraeus. But we didn’t have a in Middle East instead of seeing them as ele- think the examples we have cited in resolution all these times. this amendment include not only the ments of a broader question. Suddenly, now, a political organiza- ‘‘We need to step back and get a grand MoveOn ad, which has been dismissed tion is attacked by name in a resolu- strategy,’’ he said. and criticized by many on both sides of tion in something that reminds me of the aisle, but also goes to the so-called the old, bad days in America when or- [From the Seattle Times, May 13, 2007] Swift Boat Veterans for Truth out of ganizations were attacked by the Gov- RETIRED GEN. BATISTE LASHES OUT ON WAR Texas, an organization that attacked ernment. So what we have done is we (By Thom Shanker) our colleague, Senator JOHN KERRY, in have written this. I thank Senators ROCHESTER, NY.— has trav- what I think was one of the lowest mo- LEVIN and REID and DURBIN and other eled a long way in four years, from com- ments in Presidential politics. It goes Senators who believe what we see is a manding the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq to to the attacks on Senator Max Cleland, quitting the Army after 31 years in uniform, trend to attack heroes. We say it is a man who used to sit in a wheelchair, and, now, from overseeing a steel factory in wrong. We don’t go after one organiza- having lost three limbs in Vietnam, a Rochester to openly challenging President tion. We say it is wrong. disabled veteran struggling to be a Bush on his management of the war. Let me show you the Max Cleland ad. Senator from Georgia whose patriotism ‘‘Mr. President, you did not listen,’’ Ba- We have the picture of Max Cleland in tiste says in new TV ads being broadcast in and courage were attacked in a polit- the same ad with Osama bin Laden and Republican congressional districts as part of ical ad—something which I am sure is Saddam Hussein. a $500,000 campaign financed by Vote Vets.org. going to remain a shameful chapter in ‘‘You continue to pursue a failed strategy This is what Senator MCCAIN had to say about that ad. Here is what he said: American politics. that is breaking our great Army and Marine Those who want to join in standing Corps. I left the Army in protest in order to I’ve never seen anything like that ad. speak out. Mr. President, you have placed . . .Putting pictures of Saddam Hussein and up for men and women in uniform, past our nation in peril.’’ Osama bin Laden next to a man who lost and present, have a chance to do it Those are inflammatory words from Ba- three limbs on the battlefield, it’s worse with the Boxer amendment. I am hon- tiste, a retired major general. than disgraceful, it’s reprehensible. ored to be a cosponsor.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:19 Mar 13, 2014 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2007SENATE\S20SE7.REC S20SE7 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S11784 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 20, 2007 I reserve the remainder of my time. tion, recognize the differences between way I know of that one can justify or The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- those of us who run for public office rationalize the attacks on Senator ator from Texas is recognized. and hold public office, and while we Cleland or on Senator KERRY. You Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I join may all decry the kinds of personal at- can’t, I believe, do that by saying: Oh, my colleagues in decrying the tone of tacks that have become all too com- no, they are in a political campaign; modern politics where there are all too mon in political campaigns, it is a dif- therefore, we can impugn their service many personal attacks. But what they ference in kind for MoveOn.org and because they run for office. To say it is fail to recognize is those who volunteer those who support them to make per- different to impugn the honor of vet- to put ourselves up for public office, to sonal attacks against a four star gen- erans such as Senator Cleland and Sen- run for public office, we know what we eral in the U.S. military commanding ator KERRY, it seems to me, is totally are going to be subjected to in the back 170,000 American military servicemem- unacceptable. It is an effort to justify, and forth of a political campaign. What bers in a war zone in Iraq. differentiate, rationalize attacks which this amendment seeks to do, what the It is my hope that colleagues would I consider to be abhorrent, just as I do Boxer amendment seeks to do, is to vote unanimously for the amendment the attack on General Petraeus, and I change the subject. The subject is this which I have offered and reject the have said so very publicly. And this ad. The subject of my amendment is Boxer amendment as an attempt to amendment, the Boxer amendment, this ad put in the New York Times on change the subject and obscure the fact makes it very clear that attacks on September 9, 2007, attacking a four-star that this shameful ad is out there with- men and women who have worn the general wearing the uniform of the out the disapproval, so far, of this uniform honorably, attacking their U.S. Army, the Commander of the body. service, their patriotism—this was not Multi-National Forces in Iraq—not I think we all recognize that political an attack on Senator Cleland’s poli- only this individual, but everyone campaigns are different. We do not nec- tics; this was an attack on his patriot- under his command, 170,000, approxi- essarily like them, but we are all vol- ism. Aligning him with Osama bin mately, members of the U.S. military. unteers, and we volunteer to subject Laden in an ad is an attack on his pa- What does it accuse him of? Cooking ourselves, unfortunately, to the tone of triotism. You can’t just single out one the books for the White House. The ad modern political campaigns today. I asks: Is it General Petraeus or General attack which you dislike—and we all wish we could change it, and if there do, I hope; I hope we all condemn the Betray Us? My friends on the other was a way to do so, I would support ad in the New York Times. I have per- side of the aisle want to change the that effort. But I do not support the sonally, and I feel very personal about subject. They do not want to confront Boxer amendment because it fails to it. I thought it was a disgraceful ad. organizations such as MoveOn.org, recognize the key distinction between But you can’t just then say: But we are which have the right to express their those who are public figures by choice not going to talk about other attacks view thanks to the first amendment of and those who are public figures by on men and women who have put their the Constitution, thanks to people like duty, people such as General Petraeus. lives on the line, given up parts of their General Petraeus and the brave men It is a shame that we have not been body, because they decide to run for and women of the U.S. military who able to get a vote yet on this amend- public office. protect moveOn.Org’s right to have its ment, but I am glad we will here in the No, I am afraid the Cornyn amend- say. But we ought to have our say, too, next few minutes. I encourage my col- ment is the effort to justify and ration- and to condemn, in the strongest pos- leagues to vote in favor of my amend- alize something which cannot be justi- sible words and by our actions, this ment on this character assassination fied or rationalized just because a vet- kind of irresponsible ad. It is clear, ac- against this good man and to vote eran who has served honorably, put his cording to the New York Times Maga- against the Boxer amendment for the life on the line, decides to run for pub- zine of September 9, this was a part of reasons I mentioned. an orchestrated effort, both on the Hill I reserve the remainder of my time. lic office. They are all disgraceful ads, and off the Hill, to disparage this gen- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- and we ought to treat them the same eral before he even had a chance to ator from California. way. They impugn the honor, integ- make his report to the Congress. Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I might rity, and patriotism of real heroes. The Boxer amendment, with all due say that my friend and colleague— Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, how respect, is an effort to change the sub- maybe he didn’t read the Boxer amend- much time do I have remaining? ject, is a smokescreen to try to dis- ment because we specifically pointed The PRESIDING OFFICER. Four and tract colleagues on the floor from hold- to the Petraeus ad, and we say, in fact, a half minutes. ing MoveOn.org and those who would that it was an unwarranted personal Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I of- slander and by character assassination attack. I will just tell you right now, if fered this resolution on the Transpor- attack the reputation of leaders of the my colleague wants to vote no on all tation, Housing and Urban Develop- U.S. military who are doing nothing such attacks, whether it is against ment appropriations bill about 10 days more than their duty and what the General Batiste or Zinni, then vote no ago, and it was objected to at that Commander in Chief and this Congress on the Boxer amendment. If you want time, so that is the reason I am back asks them to do. This is an attempt to to vote no on the amendment that says again today and yesterday. It took excuse this kind of conduct by trying two things here—we reaffirm our until today for our colleagues on the to change the subject. I would urge my strong support for all the men and other side of the aisle to come up with colleagues to reject it. women in the U.S. Armed Forces, and some reason not to support this amend- Frankly, if colleagues are going to we strongly condemn all attacks on the ment which condemns this ad against vote against my amendment, it will be honor, integrity, and patriotism of any this four star general who wears the tantamount to saying this kind of individual who is serving as or has hon- uniform of the U.S. Army and com- character assassination is okay. It is orably served in the U.S. Armed Forces mands 170,000 soldiers currently serv- my hope that on a bipartisan basis we by any person or organization—if my ing in harm’s way in Iraq. would rise up and we would say it is friend wants to vote against this, then There is too much venom and too not okay, it is unacceptable. so be it because just to attack one or- much poison in the political arena If, in fact, there are colleagues who ganization and not look at the larger today. I do not like it any more than think the amendment offered by my problem of what is happening out there my colleagues on the other side. But distinguished colleague from California in our country seems to me a political we have a tradition in this country of, is going to be a fig leaf, well, I tell you, vendetta and nothing more. after the campaigns are over, trying to it is not big enough, as most fig leaves Mr. President, I yield the remainder work together in the best interests of are, to cover up the shame that will be of my time to Senator LEVIN. the American people. That is what we on this body if we see colleagues vote The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- all try to do despite our differences, de- against—basically vote for this kind of ator from Michigan has 2 minutes re- spite our party affiliation. But I would irresponsible ad. maining. think we ought to rise up unanimously There is a difference in kind, and I Mr. LEVIN. I wish to join with Sen- and condemn this character assassina- hope colleagues would, on calm reflec- ator BOXER in saying that there is no tion of General Petraeus. And the fact

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:19 Mar 13, 2014 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2007SENATE\S20SE7.REC S20SE7 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY September 20, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S11785 that political campaigns in 2002 and man. My colleague from California re- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 2004 involved ads that I think we all ferred to him as an amazing man, say- objection, it is so ordered. would find over the line as far as the ing: Of course I listen to General (The foregoing tally has been political discourse in a contested elec- Petraeus. changed to reflect the above order.) tion should not detract from or dilute The Senator from Delaware said: I do AMENDMENT NO. 2934 our condemnation of this particular ad. not know anyone better than Petraeus. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under You know, there is an unfortunate This is the thanks he gets after 9 the previous order, there will now be 2 trend in our society today by people re- months of service in Iraq. minutes of debate equally divided prior fusing to take personal responsibility The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time a vote in relation the amendment No. for their conduct by saying: Well, we has expired. 2934, offered by the Senator from ought to condemn everybody, as if we Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask for Texas. should not condemn those individuals the yeas and nays. The Republican leader is recognized. and those organizations which have The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I clearly crossed the line in this case by sufficient second? would like to proceed for a few minutes saying: Well, we have to condemn ev- There is a sufficient second. on my leader time. erybody. The question is on agreeing to the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Well, I think this is the place to amendment. objection, it is so ordered. start, by condemning this ad, this irre- The clerk will call the roll. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, it sponsible ad run in the New York The legislative clerk called the roll. has been more than a week since the Times at a discount by that organiza- Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the junior Senator from Texas offered an tion, by that business entity, in favor Senator from Delaware (Mr. BIDEN) and amendment condemning an ad by of MoveOn.org, for the kind of ad I the Senator from Washington (Ms. MoveOn.org that appeared last Monday would hope we would unanimously con- CANTWELL) are necessarily absent. in the New York Times. demn. Rather than relitigating polit- Mr. LOTT. The following Senator is The ad was, by any standard—by any ical campaigns in the past, my hope is necessarily absent: the Senator from standard—abhorrent. It accused a four- we would vote for this amendment and Colorado (Mr. ALLARD). star general, who has the trust and re- vote against the Boxer amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. spect of 160,000 men and women in Iraq, Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, will the TESTER). Are there any other Senators of betraying that mission and those Senator yield for a question? in the Chamber desiring to vote? troops, of lying to them and to us. I ask the Senator from Texas, I was The result was announced—yeas 50, Who would have ever expected any- down here yesterday spending quite a nays 47, as follows: body would go after a general in the bit of time on this particular issue. I [Rollcall Vote No. 343 Leg.] field at a time of war, launch a smear was not aware the Senator from Cali- YEAS—50 campaign against a man we have en- fornia was going to come in with her trusted with our mission in Iraq? Akaka Harkin Nelson (FL) amendment. I assume the first vote we Baucus Inouye Nelson (NE) Any group that does this sort of have is going to be on the Boxer Bayh Johnson Obama thing ought to be condemned. amendment; is that correct? Bingaman Kennedy Pryor Let’s take sides: General Petraeus or The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Boxer Kerry Reed MoveOn.org. Which one are we going to Brown Klobuchar ator from Oklahoma is correct. Reid believe? Which one are we going to Byrd Kohl Rockefeller Mr. INHOFE. Well, let me just sug- Cardin Landrieu Salazar condemn? That is the choice. Carper Lautenberg gest to you, I think if the defining mo- Sanders MoveOn says he is a traitor. If we be- Casey Leahy ment—if you really agreed with what Schumer Clinton Levin lieve that, we should condemn him. If Specter MoveOn.org did and what they said and Conrad Lieberman we do not believe that, then we ought how they demeaned one of the finest Dodd Lincoln Stabenow to be condemning them, not him. Tester officers in the history of this country— Dorgan McCaskill Now, here is what we know about Durbin Menendez Webb the guy has a Ph.D. from Princeton; he Feinstein Mikulski Whitehouse this group. I will bet you a lot of our is not just a normal person. The guy Hagel Murray Wyden Democratic colleagues do not know ev- was unanimously agreed to and sup- NAYS—47 erything MoveOn is for. I think you ported by the group here to go and do probably know they try to come to Alexander DeMint Martinez this work and take over the war in Barrasso Dole McCain your aid from time to time, but I bet Iraq. This is the right guy for the right Bennett Domenici McConnell you do not know everything they advo- time. Huge successes are taking place. Bond Ensign Murkowski cate. I listened with some interest this Brownback Enzi Roberts In the days after the terrorist at- Bunning Feingold morning to the House Foreign Rela- Sessions tacks of September 11, it urged— Burr Graham Shelby tions subcommittee proceedings yes- Chambliss Grassley Smith MoveOn.org urged—a pacifist response Coburn Gregg terday, and the very people who were Snowe to al-Qaida. Cochran Hatch Stevens complaining that General Petraeus Coleman Hutchison They rejected the idea that govern- Sununu consulted with the White House to Collins Inhofe ments should be held responsible for come up with his information are now Corker Isakson Thune terrorists such as al-Qaida who operate Vitter saying he should have consulted with Cornyn Kyl within their borders. Craig Lott Voinovich White House and did not do it. You Crapo Lugar Warner This is the group that called defeat- can’t have it both ways. ing the PATRIOT Act ‘‘a success I would just say this: The vote we are NOT VOTING—3 story,’’ the group that ran an ad on its about to take is not a vote on an Allard Biden Cantwell Web site equating the President to amendment by Senator BOXER; it is a The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this Adolf Hitler, the group that thinks or- vote as to whether you agree with vote, the yeas are 50, the nays are 47. ganizations such as the U.N. will rid MoveOn.org coming in and saying the Under the previous order requiring 60 the world of al-Qaida. things they have articulated about one votes for the adoption of this amend- That is MoveOn.org. This is what we of our top military leaders. That is ment, the amendment is withdrawn. are dealing with. I cannot believe those what the vote is all about. f are the views of a vast majority of my I urge everyone to oppose the Boxer friends and colleagues on the other side amendment. CHANGE OF VOTE of the aisle. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, on Now, what do we know about General ator from Texas has 15 seconds remain- rollcall No. 343, I voted ‘‘yea.’’ I in- Petraeus? Commander of the Multi-Na- ing. tended to vote ‘‘nay.’’ Therefore, I ask tional Force-Iraq; been in Iraq for Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, when unanimous consent that I be permitted about 4 years; literally wrote the U.S. General Petraeus was confirmed, the to change my vote. This will not affect counterinsurgency manual; com- majority leader called him a great the outcome of the vote. manded the 101st Airborne Division

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