Statement by US Senator Robert Byrd
Senate Floor Speech, Wednesday 12 February 2003
We Stand Passively Mute
"To contemplate war is to think about the most horrible of human
experiences. On this February day, as this nation stands at the brink of
battle, every American on some level must be contemplating the horrors of
war.
Yet, this Chamber is, for the most part, silent -- ominously, dreadfully
silent. There is no debate, no discussion, no attempt to lay out for the
nation the pros and cons of this particular war.
There is nothing.
We stand passively mute in the United States Senate, paralyzed by our own
uncertainty, seemingly stunned by the sheer turmoil of events. Only on the
editorial pages of our newspapers is there much substantive discussion of
the prudence or imprudence of engaging in this particular war.
And this is no small conflagration we contemplate. This is no simple
attempt to defang a villain. No. This coming battle, if it materializes,
represents a turning point in U.S. foreign policy and possibly a turning
point in the recent history of the world.
This nation is about to embark upon the first test of a revolutionary
doctrine applied in an extraordinary way at an unfortunate time. The
doctrine of preemption -- the idea that the United States or any other
nation can legitimately attack a nation that is not imminently threatening
but may be threatening in the future -- is a radical new twist on the
traditional idea of self defense. It appears to be in contravention of
international law and the UN Charter. And it is being tested at a time of
world-wide terrorism, making many countries around the globe wonder if they
will soon be on our -- or some other nation's -- hit list. High level
Administration figures recently refused to take nuclear weapons off of the
table when discussing a possible attack against Iraq. What could be more
destabilizing and unwise than this type of uncertainty, particularly in a
world where globalism has tied the vital economic and security interests of
many nations so closely together? There are huge cracks emerging in our
time-honored alliances, and U.S. intentions are suddenly subject to damaging
worldwide speculation. Anti-Americanism based on mistrust, misinformation,
suspicion, and alarming rhetoric from U.S. leaders is fracturing the once
solid alliance against global terrorism which existed after September 11.
Here at home, people are warned of imminent terrorist attacks with little
guidance as to when or where such attacks might occur. Family members are
being called to active military duty, with no idea of the duration of their
stay or what horrors they may face. Communities are being left with less
than adequate police and fire protection. Other essential services are also
short-staffed. The mood of the nation is grim. The economy is stumbling.
Fuel prices are rising and may soon spike higher.
This Administration, now in power for a little over two years, must be
judged on its record. I believe that that record is dismal.
In that scant two years, this Administration has squandered a large
projected surplus of some $5.6 trillion over the next decade and taken us to
projected deficits as far as the eye can see. This Administration's domestic
policy has put many of our states in dire financial condition, under funding
scores of essential programs for our people. This Administration has
fostered policies which have slowed economic growth. This Administration has
ignored urgent matters such as the crisis in health care for our elderly.
This Administration has been slow to provide adequate funding for homeland
security. This Administration has been reluctant to better protect our long
and porous borders.
In foreign policy, this Administration has failed to find Osama bin
Laden. In fact, just yesterday we heard from him again marshaling his forces
and urging them to kill. This Administration has split traditional
alliances, possibly crippling, for all time, International order-keeping
entities like the United Nations and NATO. This Administration has called
into question the traditional worldwide perception of the United States as
well-intentioned, peacekeeper. This Administration has turned the patient
art of diplomacy into threats, labeling, and name calling of the sort that
reflects quite poorly on the intelligence and sensitivity of our leaders,
and which will have consequences for years to come.
Calling heads of state pygmies, labeling whole countries as evil,
denigrating powerful European allies as irrelevant -- these types of crude
insensitivities can do our great nation no good. We may have massive
military might, but we cannot fight a global war on terrorism alone. We need
the cooperation and friendship of our time-honored allies as well as the
newer found friends whom we can attract with our wealth. Our awesome
military machine will do us little good if we suffer another devastating
attack on our homeland which severely damages our economy. Our military
manpower is already stretched thin and we will need the augmenting support
of those nations who can supply troop strength, not just sign letters
cheering us on.
The war in Afghanistan has cost us $37 billion so far, yet there is
evidence that terrorism may already be starting to regain its hold in that
region. We have not found bin Laden, and unless we secure the peace in
Afghanistan, the dark dens of terrorism may yet again flourish in that
remote and devastated land.
Pakistan as well is at risk of destabilizing forces. This Administration
has not finished the first war against terrorism and yet it is eager to
embark on another conflict with perils much greater than those in
Afghanistan. Is our attention span that short?
Have we not learned that after winning the war one must always secure the
peace?
And yet we hear little about the aftermath of war in Iraq. In the absence
of plans, speculation abroad is rife. Will we seize Iraq's oil fields,
becoming an occupying power which controls the price and supply of that
nation's oil for the foreseeable future? To whom do we propose to hand the
reigns of power after Saddam Hussein?
Will our war inflame the Muslim world resulting in devastating attacks on
Israel? Will Israel retaliate with its own nuclear arsenal? Will the
Jordanian and Saudi Arabian governments be toppled by radicals, bolstered by
Iran which has much closer ties to terrorism than Iraq?
Could a disruption of the world's oil supply lead to a world-wide
recession? Has our senselessly bellicose language and our callous disregard
of the interests and opinions of other nations increased the global race to
join the nuclear club and made proliferation an even more lucrative practice
for nations which need the income?
In only the space of two short years this reckless and arrogant
Administration has initiated policies which may reap disastrous consequences
for years.
One can understand the anger and shock of any President after the savage
attacks of September 11. One can appreciate the frustration of having only a
shadow to chase and an amorphous, fleeting enemy on which it is nearly
impossible to exact retribution.
But to turn one's frustration and anger into the kind of extremely
destabilizing and dangerous foreign policy debacle that the world is
currently witnessing is inexcusable from any Administration charged with the
awesome power and responsibility of guiding the destiny of the greatest
superpower on the planet. Frankly many of the pronouncements made by this
Administration are outrageous. There is no other word.
Yet this chamber is hauntingly silent. On what is possibly the eve of
horrific infliction of death and destruction on the population of the nation
of Iraq -- a population, I might add, of which over 50% is under age 15 --
this chamber is silent. On what is possibly only days before we send
thousands of our own citizens to face unimagined horrors of chemical and
biological warfare -- this chamber is silent. On the eve of what could
possibly be a vicious terrorist attack in retaliation for our attack on
Iraq, it is business as usual in the United States Senate.
We are truly "sleepwalking through history." In my heart of
hearts I pray that this great nation and its good and trusting citizens are
not in for a rudest of awakenings.
To engage in war is always to pick a wild card. And war must always be a
last resort, not a first choice. I truly must question the judgment of any
President who can say that a massive unprovoked military attack on a nation
which is over 50% children is "in the highest moral traditions of our
country". This war is not necessary at this time. Pressure appears to
be having a good result in Iraq. Our mistake was to put ourselves in a
corner so quickly. Our challenge is to now find a graceful way out of a box
of our own making. Perhaps there is still a way if we allow more time.
What inspiration to fight even harder for peace!
By JOSEPH COLEMAN, Associated Press Writer
In South Korea, a major U.S. supporter in Asia,organizers said they will
send seven representativesto Iraq to be "human shields" —
occupying buildings to
Armed forces being brought home dead; and
WHEREAS, Prior to the commencement of any military action it should
be clear that the seven principles of a just war have been met:
(1) a just war can only be waged as a last resort;
(2) a war is just only if it is waged by a legitimate authority;
(3) a just war can only be fought to redress a wrong suffered;
(4) a war can only be just if it is fought with a reasonable chance of
success;
(5) the ultimate goal of a just war is to reestablish peace;
(6) the violence used in the war must be proportional to the injury
suffered;
(7) the weapons used in war must discriminate between combatants and
noncombatants; and
19 WHEREAS, As many citizens of Maryland and the United States are torn
between war and peace, these individuals are praying for the President of
the United States to lead them with justice and peace; and
22 WHEREAS, The citizens of Maryland and the United States are apeople of
promise and hope; and
24 WHEREAS, While it is undeniable that the citizens of Maryland and the
United States feel anguish and fear at the prospect of war and the
inevitable loss of loved ones, we give our unconditional support to United
States' military personnel serving at home and abroad in their tireless
battle against global terrorism, and should our military forces be sent to
Iraq, we give our unyielding support to our young men and women serving in
our nation's military, even if we oppose the policy that sent them there;
now, therefore, be it
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 18
RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the General Assembly
joins with numerous communities in at least Other states in this nation, in
opposing a war with the country of Iraq, prior to taking all available
measures to cooperate with the United Nations in removing all weapons of
mass destruction; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the General Assembly urges the United States government to
explore all diplomatic solutions and to work through the United Nations
Security Council and to reaffirm our nation's commitment to the rule of law
in international relations; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department
of Legislative Services to the Honorable George W. Bush, President Of the
United States;
and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded
by the Department of Legislative Services to the Maryland Congressional
Delegation:
Senators Paul S. Sarbanes and Barbara A. Mikulski, Senate Office
Building, Washington, 20510; and Representatives Wayne T. Gilchrest, C. A.
Dutch Ruppersburger III, Benjamin L. Cardin, Albert R. Wynn, Steny Hamilton
Hoyer, Roscoe G. Bartlett, Elijah E. Cummings, and Christopher Van Hollen,
Jr., House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department
of Legislative Services to the Honorable Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., Governor of
Maryland; the Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., President of the Senate
of Maryland; and the Honorable Michael E. Busch, Speaker of the House of
Delegates.
Bravo, to
our Shirley! She is not "passively mute" like so many timid US
politicians. We are proud of this daughter of Jamaica who stands up for her
beliefs.