John Warner

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, could I ask a brief question before the Senator proceeds to the amendment?

Mr. WARNER. Our colleague from Connecticut raises a very valuable question: Is he manufacturing these weapons of mass destruction for the defense of his sovereign nation? The clearest evidence this Senator finds to show that he is not doing that is the excessive amounts. During the inspection regime, while it was somewhat functional in the early 1990s, they discovered records of clearly documented biological and chemical weaponry that had been made. To this day, it has never been unearthed, never been discovered, never been acknowledged by Saddam Hussein. So the question is important, and the Senator from Arizona answered it very carefully. I suggest that those who have any doubt address the excess quantities of all of these weapons. And for what reason would he need a nuclear weapon? That is a question to which none of us have an answer.

Mr. WARNER. At the appropriate time, could I pose a question on the United Nations to my colleague?

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I see the distinguished assistant leader. I apologize to the Chair. I understand he has a unanimous consent request.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, there is no objection. While the leader is in the Chamber--I had the opportunity to speak with the leader just a minute ago--the pending amendment is by the distinguished Senator from West Virginia, Mr. Byrd. I hope, in order to keep the momentum going on this bill, that we can move forward towards debate on that amendment and its terms such that, should there be those on our side who wish to table or otherwise move along--we have 13 amendments here, and a number of them have been determined by the Parliamentarian to be germane. Given cloture tomorrow, of which the assistant leader is familiar, I am just suggesting strongly that the Byrd amendment be the pending amendment. Is there a possibility in the assistant leader's mind that we might address that amendment tonight by way of a vote?

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, it is obvious to the leader, but the amendments, I respectfully say, are on his side of the aisle. Therefore, his assistance is vital in helping us move these amendments along so that they can be given a proper amount of consideration, and before they are acted upon by a vote, for those that require a vote.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the distinguished Senator from Nevada, the assistant leader, has been eminently fair in working with Senator McCain and myself in the management of this, as well as Senator Lieberman who also has taken quite an active role in the management. I think we have had a good debate. The pending amendment laid down by the distinguished Senator from West Virginia is a matter that I think should be addressed as early as we can possibly arrange, and possibly dispose of it tonight, one way or the other, so that we can move on with this volume of some 13 amendments, many of which are germane.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I will work in consultation with leadership on that side. Does the Senator think there is an option by which Senator Levin's amendment can be disposed of?

Mr. WARNER. Just a rough calculation--would that be at approximately 8 o'clock?

Mr. WARNER. I listened very carefully.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Madam President, of course, we go into recess at 12:30.

Mr. WARNER. For one short question.

Mr. WARNER. Madam President, I simply say to my colleague, most respectfully, I feel this was not a cut-and-paste job. Senators Lieberman, Bayh, McCain, myself, and other Senators have contributed. Senator Lott had an open-door policy to engage persons on this issue. I draw your attention, most respectfully, to section 3, authorization for the use of force. This is not a blank check. It restricts this authority clearly to Iraq, and if I might read it: Authorization. The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to, one, defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; two, enforce all relevant United Nations security resolutions regarding Iraq. That is a very clear mandate, and once those two criteria are met, this authority ceases. Madam President, my understanding is that at the hour of 12:30 p.m., the Senate will stand in recess.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Madam President, will the Senator yield? I just wish to express my profound appreciation for the support of the Senator from Florida for the Lieberman-Warner-McCain-Bayh resolution. He is a valued member of the committees here in the Senate. Certainly he has worked hard on our committee. I listened carefully as he stated the case. He stated it clearly. I join with my colleague from Oklahoma in commending him for the fight on behalf of that brave airman, Captain Speicher.

Mr. WARNER. I yield the floor.

Mr. WARNER. I am not challenging the Senator. I was not able to hear him as he spoke. I tender an apology. Since the Senator referred to the letter, and if it is declassified, perhaps it should be a part of the Record so those who are following this debate can read the letter in its entirety.

Mr. WARNER. I apologize to the Senator.

Mr. WARNER. The Senator has been referring to a classified document, is that it?

Mr. WARNER. The Senator has been speaking to it and reading excerpts from it. I am unfamiliar with the letter. I am not familiar--I heard the Senator addressing a letter from the CIA. I was under the assumption it was a declassified document. Is it a classified document?

Mr. WARNER. I beg your pardon?

Mr. WARNER. I would ask unanimous consent that the letter to which Senator Wyden referred be printed in the Record. Is that possible?

Mr. WARNER. This is an amendment to the matter that is pending before the Senate?

Mr. WARNER. I see. Could I ask my colleague: We have been trying to work in a very cooperative way, Senator Lott and Senator Daschle, Senator Reid and myself, on the timing of these things. Has this matter been taken to the leadership?

Mr. WARNER. And his views on it are?

Mr. WARNER. I see. Could I ask the distinguished majority whip about the procedure at this point in time? I know on this side we have tried very hard to stay within the framework, although it is not clearly established, but the framework as to how this Iraq debate would go on and the timing of the introduction.