Senate Proceeding on Apr 21st, 2009 :: 0:57:45 to 1:04:20
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0:57:41 to 0:58:01( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: depa of the floor for duration of the debate on christopher hill. the presiding officer: wit objection, so ordered. mr. kerry: thank you. the presiding officer: the senator from maryland. mr. cardin: i take this time to urge my colleagues to confirm the nomination of christopher hill to be ambassador to iraq. i complement the distinguished chairman of the foreign affairs committee, senator kerry, for

0:57:45 to 1:04:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Benjamin L. Cardin

0:58:02 to 0:58:23( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: his comments. i agree with him on the urgency of our action. it is critically pointe have a confirmed ambassador in iraq. i will concur in the comments of senator lugar, the ranking member of the foreign affairs committee. we are at war and we should be coming together as senator

0:58:24 to 0:58:46( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: whitehouse has pointed out and acting on this nomination. i'm somewhat confused as to why this nomination has been held up seral clear over emwithing majority of the members of -- clear overwhelming majority of the members of the senate will vote for his confirmation. it is critically important we

0:58:47 to 0:59:08( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: have an experienced diplomat in iraq as our ambassador. christopher hill has devoted his career to service to our country as a diplomat. he first volunteered as a peace corps volunteer and special enjoy, later, in kosovo, a difficult part of the world. and

0:59:09 to 0:59:29( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: macedonia and headed the u.s. to six-party talks in north korea which will serve him well as ambassar to iraq. he has navigated complex dynamics in intractable conflict to promote peace and development in parts of the world we thought

0:59:30 to 0:59:50( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: we could not make progress, exactly the type of experienced diplomat the united states needs representing our interests in iraq. as has been pointed out, we need a career diplomat, someone who has the confidence of the community to be able to make the type of probl in iraq.

0:59:51 to 1:00:11( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: chris hill has the endorsements of the three prior ambassadors of the united states to iraq. as senator white house pointed out, they were appointed by a republican president. but quite frankly, ambassador hill appointment that has bipartisan

1:00:12 to 1:00:33( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: support in congress. again be, the right type of person -- again, the right type of person at this moment to represent the united states interests. let me talk a little bit about the urgency, why we need to move forward now and get ambassador hill confirmed as our ambassador. 140,000 american troops are

1:00:34 to 1:00:57( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: currently in iraq. they're entitled to have a confirmed ambassador to represent the u.s. interests in iraq. our soldiers are serving value valiantly, and they are entitled to have all the tools at their disposal to make sure the one of the most important tools to have a confirmed u.s.

1:00:58 to 1:01:20( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: ambassador. 8/81 american combat mission in iraq will end. that puts more urgency our diplomacy. there may be sot disagre there was disagreement as to the

1:01:21 to 1:01:41( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: surge of u.s. but there's no need about the need for troops in iraq. the united states needs to be represented by an experienced, confirmed diplomat. chris hill provides with us that type of an individual. i need to talk about a couple of other issues. the refugee issue i heard senator kerry talk b i was

1:01:42 to 1:02:02( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: recently in syria, saw firsthand the iraqi refugees that are currently living in sear yavment i have seen living in jordan. iraqis, a couple million within iraq, a couple million outside of iraq, mostly in the surrounding countries. one of the challenges to a

1:02:03 to 1:02:24( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: stable iraq will be dealing with that refugee issue. the united states has to play a critical role in that, a lead role in that. we know that. we need an ambassador in iraq on the ground advising the obama admistration as to what will be the most effective policies in dealing with the displaced individuals within iraq and the

1:02:25 to 1:02:46( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: refugees living in countries. we need an ambassador in now to represent those interests and give the president the best advice so we have our best chance of a successful mission within iraq. president obama stated our strategy in iraq. "grounded in a clear and achievable goal, shared by the iraqi people and the american

1:02:47 to 1:03:07( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: people, an iraq that is sovereign, stable, and self-reliant. to achieve that goal, we will work to promote an iraqi government that is just, representative, and accountable and that provides neither support nor safe haven to terrorists." i think we all agree with president obama's goals for

1:03:08 to 1:03:28( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: iraq. but it's clear to all of us that we need a career experienced diplom in iraq represents our interests at this critical mo so i'd urge my colleagues i quite frankly don't understand the delay. i really doovment and i think the vote is going to be

1:03:29 to 1:03:49( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: overwhelmingly in support of his confirmation. let's get on with it. let's get him confirmed. as senator kerry has said, let's get him on planeo iraq as quickly asossible so he can help serve u.s. interests as our ambassador to iraq fl irurge my colleagues to vote for confirmation and let's get that vote as quickly as possible to help the u.s. interests in iraq. with that, madam president, i

1:03:50 to 1:04:04( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: would yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.