Senate Proceeding on Sep 19th, 2007 :: 3:45:07 to 3:52:47
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3:35:38 to 3:58:17( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: John Warner

3:45:04 to 3:45:18( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: sectarian violence.| the criminal elements that are strike ing against our forces, if nothing for a few bucks under undertaking to put at risk the grave lives of our soldiers, airmen, marines, and soldiers.

3:45:18 to 3:45:32( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: but i felt that that iraq iraqi force should take on that and that we should concentrate more on the security of that nation to maintain its sovereignty and integrity of its borders and tighten its borders.

3:45:32 to 3:45:45( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: and i won't go into the details, but i questioned the wisdom of the surge. once the decision was made, i like most senators felt i should support the president. and that i have tried do. back again

3:45:45 to 3:45:59( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: to the force structure problem, at the time i felt that we should send a signal to the iraqi government, putting some teeth in what the president had repeatedly said; namely, we're not going to be

3:45:59 to 3:46:12( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: there forever. and the ambassador at that point in time had said something to the effect that, at the time that i announce ed the recommendation to reduce the forces and have that reduction take

3:46:12 to 3:46:23( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: place so that they could be home by christmas, ambassador crock ir er had said, you know, we're not giving you a blank check. they were just verbal statements directed at the al-maliki government

3:46:23 to 3:46:40( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: and all levels of the iraq government to say that we're not going to be there photographer. but you had to put teeth in t and i felt that if we first a announced that we're going to take the first

3:46:40 to 3:46:51( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: group home -- and i also carefully said that the president should consult with the ground commanders before he accepted any recommendation from me or anybody else to educe e reduce force levels and send

3:46:51 to 3:47:08( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: people back such that they be back with their families before christmas and that the president obviously did because in his message of a week or so ago he indicate ed -- not necessarily that he agreed

3:47:08 to 3:47:24( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: withgr me but he agreed with the concept, after consultation with general petraeus and others other un unseen commanders, that they could, now, based on certain success of the operation of that surge,

3:47:24 to 3:47:39( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: success that the intelligence committee verified that there's visle success -- and indeed senator levin and i in our trip a few weeks ago we saw with our own eyes where there had been measurable success

3:47:39 to 3:47:57( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: of the surge and, consequently, the president agreed with the thought that troops could begin to depart iraq ahead of schedule and come home. and there are further details of that well-known to members

3:47:57 to 3:48:13( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: of this body. so first and foremost, i asked for that. the administration and the uniformed side agreed with it, and it was done. that put me in a different posture because i felt that my thought, it's time

3:48:13 to 3:48:28( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: to bring some people home, was accepted and therefore, my thoughts then turn turned to the webb amendment and the need to go back and get a clear understanding from the united states military, the uniformed

3:48:28 to 3:48:44( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: side, of the consequences of the well- well-intentioned principles of the webb amendment. i'd like to also digress momentarily to talk about politics. the senator felt challenged -- i wasn't here for

3:48:44 to 3:49:05( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: the earlier debate; i was holding a briefing with senior members of the military from the department of defense on this very subject, the webb amendment. and i can tell you without any e equivocation

3:49:05 to 3:49:22( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: whatsoever, knowing senator webb as i do, politics is not a factor in his judgment. he honestly believes -- he honestly believes, based on his long experience and his current knowledge of the ready iness,

3:49:22 to 3:49:37( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: of the situation of our armed force forces today, that we need a policy and we need it now of a one-month home for every month served abroad in a cnombat zone. as i said, i agreed with him. but in that

3:49:37 to 3:49:56( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: subsequent period of time, i've had consultations with a lot of senior military -- and just conclude ed a briefing with the chief of staff of the joint staff and the chief of staff operations --

3:49:56 to 3:50:07( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: excuse me, chief of operations of the joint staff, chief of operations for the arm y -- three-star generals -- who i invite ed to come over here and brie and brief immediate and several other -- and

3:50:07 to 3:50:21( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: brief me and several other senators. they are not politically moat motivated. they're moat motivated by what they have to do to be fair to those serving in iraq today and it is their professional

3:50:21 to 3:50:38( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: judgment that if this amendment were to be adopted and become law -- and i'll put aside all of the other issuese of possibly veto andhat that; we just -- i just don't want to see another veto scenario

3:50:38 to 3:50:54( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: here rig in the middle of a war lrks that's another -- right in themiddle of a war; that's another reason -- but they have now effectively convince ed me that they cannot effectively put in to force that

3:50:54 to 3:51:05( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: amendment at this time without cause ing severe problems within the existing forces and these those that are serving there. t one of the consequences could be to change in some fashion the very

3:51:05 to 3:51:26( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: thing that i advt ocate ed; namely, let's bring some of the troops home by christmas. that might not be feasible if this amendment were adopted. the announce ed schedule of withdrawals, bringing

3:51:26 to 3:52:06( Edit History Discussion )

John Warner: the force structure by july down to what we call the pre-surge level -- that being announce ed by the presidt and general petraeus -- that might the not be achieve able. the reason being, mr. president,