Speech delivered on the floor of the US Senate
March 19, 2003 3:45pm
I believe in this beautiful country. I have studied its roots and gloried in the wisdom of its magnificent Constitution. I have marveled at the wisdom of its founders and framers. Generation after generation of Americans has understood the lofty ideals that underlie our great Republic. I have been inspired by the story of their sacrifice and their strength.
But, today I weep for my country. I have watched the events of recent months with a heavy, heavy heart. No more is the image of America one of strong, yet benevolent peacekeeper. The image of America has changed. Around the globe, our friends mistrust us, our word is disputed, our intentions are questioned.
Instead of reasoning with those with whom we disagree, we demand obedience or threaten recrimination. Instead of isolating Saddam Hussein, we seem to have isolated ourselves. We proclaim a new doctrine of preemption which is understood by few and feared by many. We say that the United States has the right to turn its firepower on any corner of the globe which might be suspect in the war on terrorism. We assert that right without the sanction of any international body. As a result, the world has become a much more dangerous place.
We flaunt our superpower status with arrogance. We treat UN Security Council members like ingrates who offend our princely dignity by lifting their heads from the carpet. Valuable alliances are split.
After war has ended, the United States will have to rebuild much more than the country of Iraq. We will have to rebuild America's image around the globe.
The case this Administration tries to make to justify its fixation with war is tainted by charges of falsified documents and circumstantial evidence. We cannot convince the world of the necessity of this war for one simple reason. This is a war of choice.
There is no credible information to connect Saddam Hussein to 9/11. The twin towers fell because a world-wide terrorist group, Al Qaeda, with cells in over 60 nations, struck at our wealth and our influence by turning our own planes into missiles, one of which would likely have slammed into the dome of this beautiful Capitol except for the brave sacrifice of the passengers on board.
The brutality seen on September 11th and in other terrorist attacks we have witnessed around the globe are the violent and desperate efforts by extremists to stop the daily encroachment of western values upon their cultures. That is what we fight. It is a force not confined to borders. It is a shadowy entity with many faces, many names, and many addresses.
But, this Administration has directed all of the anger, fear, and grief which emerged from the ashes of the twin towers and the twisted metal of the Pentagon towards a tangible villain, one we can see and hate and attack. And villain he is. But, he is the wrong villain. And this is the wrong war. If we attack Saddam Hussein, we will probably drive him from power. But, the zeal of our friends to assist our global war on terrorism may have already taken flight.
The general unease surrounding this war is not just due to "orange alert." There is a pervasive sense of rush and risk and too many questions unanswered. How long will we be in Iraq? What will be the cost? What is the ultimate mission? How great is the danger at home?
A pall has fallen over the Senate Chamber. We avoid our solemn duty to debate the one topic on the minds of all Americans, even while scores of thousands of our sons and daughters faithfully do their duty in Iraq.
What is happening to this country? When did we become a nation which ignores and berates our friends? When did we decide to risk undermining international order by adopting a radical and doctrinaire approach to using our awesome military might? How can we abandon diplomatic efforts when the turmoil in the world cries out for diplomacy?
Why can this President not seem to see that America's true power lies not in its will to intimidate, but in its ability to inspire?
War appears inevitable. But, I continue to hope that the cloud will lift. Perhaps Saddam will yet turn tail and run. Perhaps reason will somehow still prevail. I along with millions of Americans will pray for the safety of our troops, for the innocent civilians in Iraq, and for the security of our homeland. May God continue to bless the United States of America in the troubled days ahead, and may we somehow recapture the vision which for the present eludes us.
"Robert Byrd official portrait" by U. S. Senate - http://byrd.senate.gov/newsroom/photos/byrd_formal_smile_highres.jpg. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Robert_Byrd_official_portrait.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Robert_Byrd_official_portrait.jpg
Comments
Senator Byrd was once a member of the KKK. Look it up f you don't believe me. He's just saying that so people will like him.
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OUR LEADERS WILL BE OUR DISTRUCTION......
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When it's all said and done. The war will still be here in the United States. And alot of people's children , wives , husband , parent all of the bove will feel this terrible war. And we as citizens of the United States will be at war with each other. So the war goes on. Allah i.e. ( God) help all of us deal with this terrible war. They say that our leaders will our distruction. May Allah i.e. (God) have mercy on all of us. My heart goes out to all the people around the world . Stop this terrible war.
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wonderful x 100000000Probably the best article I've seen on the subject.
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Oh how I wish all of our ELECTED politicians would echo this man!I am so utterly dismayed and ashamed of our Nation. The pain I feel is nowhere to be compared with the many that have died since the invasion or the millions that have died at our hands through our underhanded support of tyrants (when they were of use to us) in the last 20 years. We are undone!
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It's heartening to note that not everyone in Washington has lost their minds!
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asSalaamu Alaikum - May ALLAH continue to bless you and your family ... to be the Muslim that HE wants you to be!If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. - James MadisonAmericans used to roar like lions for Liberty; now we bleat like sheep for security - Norman Vincent Peale
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Sadly Bruce's comments is the very reason that hatred outways love, peace, harmony in the world. I'm sure that the protestors of war, don't think Saddam is innocent of terrible things, but neither is the government of United States. Dear Bruce there will come a time when bullying, military might will not prevail this country.At sometime we will have to use a diplomatic strategy to deal with our allies as well as our enemies. Did we learn anything from 9/11?There is a reason that the United States is hated so bad. We need to find out why. Through communication and un-bias dialogues we can began to bill bridges instead of bombs.We need to respect the ethic moral values and culture, and religious beliefs of other countries. We need to understand that western values can't be inforced on other people. The terrorist did not strike the United States because they want to impose their way of life on us. We were attacked because we are trying to impose our way of life on them, ( we seem to have a need to liberate the muslims especially their women). This illegal invasion in Iraq is not to liberate the Iraq people, this invasion is about taking control over natural resources, oil, converting and controlling the muslim world. If Saddam is removed who else will defy the United States, surely not Saudia Arabia. Islam is becoming to be the dominating religion, So if the non-believers can't prevent it, they sure are in the position to contain it. Sadly Afghanistan was just the start, they got rid of the taliban, ran the pipeline for oil that the taliban opposed, they set up their puppet government, hooked up the cable channels, converted some muslim, left some military personnel to so call pursuee Bin Laden but the country is more war torn then they found it, the rebuilding money pledged has not been received and now their off to Iraq in the name of bioligical weapons, that he may or may not have. Surely, we have them, Isreal, North Korea has them, how come Iraq must disarm. Also, Bruce mention suicide bombs the palestine people unleahes in Isreal. What about the occupation and the murders that go on everyday against the palestine people, women, children and ederly. Bruce we all are on a course of self destruction, everytime a child dies from hunger, a person is murdered for their beliefs, a country is raped for their resources we self destruct. If any country should be disarming it should be the United States, surely we have shown that we have big guns and we will use it on anybody we choose in the name of liberation. Whats the next muslim country to be liberated, for sure Afghanistan and Iraq are not the only muslim countries that the United States feels need to be liberated (especially their women from wearing sheets). Watch out Saudia Arabia, your time will come. When the Europeans come through your town, they steal, rape, convert and take over your country, If you want an example, just ask the African and Native Americans; we are the project of European liberation.
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I am so glad to see that someone else sees what is really going on. Yes America is potrayed as the bully now, not the friend and helper. May God help us from this path that America is taking.
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Senator Byrd speaks for Americans whose voices are not heard.
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