House Proceeding on Feb 14th, 2007 :: 4:29:49 to 4:34:47
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4:29:27 to 4:29:49( Edit History Discussion )

off, you know, so they we could regroup or correct the mistakes. but you can't do that when you are in the middle of two wars. this is a different mission and we ask our soldiers to do the

4:29:49 to 4:30:06( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: best that they can and then we ask, you know, and we say we need for the iraqis to step up so we can stant down. my friends, if we cannot even equip our military, how can we expect to equip

4:29:49 to 4:34:47( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Rick Renzi

4:30:06 to 4:30:24( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: the iraqis so they can stand up. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. orr tooze: thank you. mr. fortenberry: i'm pleased to yield 10 minutes to miss wilson. the speaker

4:30:24 to 4:30:43( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: pro tempore: the gentlewoman from new mexico is recognized for 10 minutes. mrs. wilson: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mrs. wilson:

4:30:43 to 4:30:58( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: thank you, mr. speaker. i come to the floor here today disappointed. over the next few months the united states will make some very important decisions, probably the most important national security

4:30:58 to 4:31:11( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: decisions we will make in this decade, that will affect the size, composition and equipment of our military. they will impact our relationships with our allies, the perception of our enemies

4:31:11 to 4:31:28( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: and the stability of the persian gulf region. these are serious and difficult issues that demand thoughtful leadership and the careful exercise of our considerable responsibilities under

4:31:28 to 4:31:45( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: the constitution. the resolution that we have before us today is not pind in a law school sense. we're not exercising any real power here. but i think it is worse than that. the words in

4:31:45 to 4:32:00( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: these two brief sentences are vague enough to allow people with very different views on what we should do to feel satisfied whenever way they vote. the language in this resolution is clever.

4:32:00 to 4:32:16( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: but this isn't a time for clever. whether i support this resolution or oppose it, this body should say something, say something that matters about what our vital national interests are, about how

4:32:16 to 4:32:31( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: we should pursue those interests, about what the risks are, what the tradeoffs are and the potential consequences. we should say whether we intend to buy the bullets and the body armor for

4:32:31 to 4:32:44( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: those who are about to deploy and take on the challenges that we face as a nation. with power comes responsibility. and rather than do the hard work of building consensus here in the

4:32:44 to 4:32:59( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: house and leading the way, it's easier to punt, to be vague and clever. to frame political issues rather than confront forthrightly the difficult problems we face as a nation. for that reason,

4:32:59 to 4:33:39( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: i believe this resolution represents a lost opportunity that we cannot afford to lose. i believe that too nauven the last 3 1/2 years our goals in iraq have been described in the lofty

4:33:42 to 4:33:51( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: and idealistic terms that go far beyond america's vital national interests. there's been a tendency to move beyond the hard-nosed and clear-eyed view of what america's national interests are

4:33:51 to 4:33:59( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: in iraq. we've come to emphasize the loftier dreams for the american people. to be sure, i am glad that saddam hussein is dead and gone. and i hope that the iraqi people seize this opportunity

4:33:59 to 4:34:07( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: to create a unified state that respects minorities and has robust democratic institutions. but there is a difference between what we would wish for the iraqi people and what is vital for america's

4:34:07 to 4:34:47( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Renzi: national security. in thinking about america's vital interests in iraq, i think it really boils down to two things. first, iraq must not become a safe haven for al qaeda, and, second, iraq