House Proceeding 06-10-09 on Jun 10th, 2009 :: 0:26:00 to 0:30:00
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0:25:57 to 0:26:18( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: mr. berman: thank you, mr. chairman. i'm very pleased to yield three minutes to the vice chair of the house foreign affairs committee, the chairman of the subcom south asia, mr. ackerman. the chair: the gentleman from new york is recognized for three minutes. mr. ackerman: thank you, mr. chairman. i rise in strong support of h.r. 2410, the foreign

0:26:00 to 0:30:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Gary L. Ackerman

0:26:19 to 0:26:39( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: relations authorization act, and i want to commend our chairman, the gentleman from california for his commitment to this legislation which i believe is a reflection of the gentleman's enormous dedication to this institution and its role under the constitution. for many years the foreign relati been held hostage to debates about abortion and family planning, to the inability of the other body to get 60 of

0:26:40 to 0:27:01( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: their members to agree to anything, and to a general feelg that it just wasn't essential to do. the result has been an insidious decay of the effectiveness of our diplomatic capabilities and our capacity to influence events around the world. some might askwhat does this have to do with my constituents and why is it that we have a

0:27:02 to 0:27:23( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: strong -- why isn't it that we have a strong military to protect us? isn't that their role? the simple answer is that our diplomats and our development professionals are not a luxury, nor a fancy affection of power. these are not aristocrats sipping tea while wearing striped pants and ascots. these are the people on the front lines of our defense, not

0:27:24 to 0:27:47( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: the army, not the navy, not the air force, the marine or the coast guard. it's the foreign service that lives always full time out in the ugly and dangerous parts of the world representing our interests, building alliances, monitoring and reporting on events that may affect our security and helping to diffuse crisis and tensions before they sometimes burst into armed

0:27:48 to 0:28:10( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: conflict or war. there is a simple reason both secretary of defense gates and admiral mullen, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, repeatedly insisted on rebuilding and strengthening e state department. it will save the lives of the people for whom they are responsible. it will allow the armed

0:28:11 to 0:28:32( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: services to avoid conflict and allow them to focus on security and negotiations not governance -- focus on security, not negotiations and not governance. this is about our national security. it's about the safety of this nation and our ability to protect and advance our

0:28:33 to 0:28:53( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: interests around the world. military power is essential. the united states would not be the country that it is if we did not have such an extraordinary military. but our armed forces exist chiefly to deter and defend. whatever the last few years suggested, we are not a nation that believes in starting wars

0:28:54 to 0:29:15( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: to solve problems or in the use of force to resolve conflicts. a strong state department and revitalized u.s. agency for development are not favors we do for others. these are institutions that are essential to our national security and our national interest. the bill is in fact merely a down payment on a process of rebuilding that should have

0:29:16 to 0:29:37( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: begun years ago. if you want to bring our troops home from iraq, you know that iraqis have to improve their own internal cooperation and performance in their government. who is supposed to help them with that? if you want to help afghanistan and get our troops home from there, you know that problem is about poppy farming and police corruption and has to be addressed.

0:29:38 to 0:29:58( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: who is supposed to help them with that. another 30 seconds? mr. berman: i -- the chair: the gentlewoman from californ. ms. ros-lehtinen: i'm pleased to yield two minutes to mr.

0:29:59 to 0:30:01( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: burton, on the subcommittee on the middle east and south asia.