John Warner

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, to return to the pending amendment offered by myself on behalf of the joint leadership of the Senate, this bipartisan amendment commends basically the U.S. Armed Forces, the intelligence community, and other agencies, along with coalition partners for the actions taken on June 7, 2006, that resulted in the death of Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq. The military operation that resulted in the death of Zarqawi was truly an extraordinarily professional accomplishment of the combined U.S. and coalition forces and the infrastructure of intelligence, both civilian and military, that supported the operation. It displayed the precision, perseverence, and professionalism of our Armed Forces, supported by a sophisticated and superb intelligence apparatus that included U.S., Iraqi, and coalition intelligence organizations. Behind the details that were made public so far, I assure all that there were months of coordinated hard work by analysts, human intelligence operatives, special operations forces, and military planners which were in place at the time various pieces of information with a precise direction to the whereabouts of Zarqawi came into the knowledge of the intelligence operators. The death of Zarqawi is certainly a significant blow to the terrorist network in Iraq, Osama bin Laden's international network, and the al- Qaida organization wherever they lurk in the world today in the shadows of death and destruction to the freedom of others. At Camp David yesterday the President was very careful to, with a sense of deep humility, commend the men and women of the Armed Forces and others who performed this mission, but he put the results of the mission in the context of the realities of the situation in Iraq. The press today reports from Camp David the following by the President: Zarqawi is dead, but the difficult and necessary mission in Iraq continues. We can expect the terrorists and insurgents to carry on without him. We can expect sectarian violence to continue. Yet the ideology of terror has lost one of its most visible and aggressive leaders. I will have further comments today with regard to that important conference in Camp David. Zarqawi was the most prominent insurgent in Iraq and the most active of any of Bin Laden's affiliates around the globe. While Bin Laden hides in mountain caves capable of making occasional audio tapes, Zarqawi was working to trigger a civil war, disrupt the newly unified democratic process of the new unity Government in Iraq, and then use Iraq as a base to launch attacks throughout the region. There is proof of that intent by Zarqawi. This amendment proudly salutes the brave and professional work of our military forces as well as the formidable efforts of our military, civilian, and allied intelligence operations for our efforts to end this brutal reign of terror. The operation that resulted in the death of Zarqawi was not an isolated act. It triggered 56 more raids against targets connected with Zarqawi's organization in the 48 hours after his death as U.S., coalition, and Iraqi forces capitalized on this mission by taking action to disrupt other parts of the al-Qaida network. This amendment also commends our coalition partners in Iraq's new government of national unity for their invaluable assistance in the operation and their extraordinary efforts to secure a free and prosperous Iraq. The amendment closes by most appropriately commending our civilian leadership, from the Commander in Chief on down, and military leadership for their continuing efforts to eliminate the leadership of al-Qaida in Iraq and elsewhere. In all, this was a very successful joint and combined military operation. This mission was planned and executed by talented and courageous Americans, Iraqis, and coalition partners. They all had one purpose--to eventually make Iraq safe and secure. The operation that resulted in the death of Zarqawi may have eclipsed a very significant political development, the appointment of Ministers of Defense and the Interior, thereby ending weeks of political debate and completing the formation of Iraq's first permanent unity government. The death of Zarqawi and the appointment of these two Ministers are two very significant events in our unrelenting effort, with the coalition forces, toward a free and prosperous Iraq. While Iraq's insurgency and its divisions along religious lines will not easily recede, the death of Zarqawi and the complete formation of Iraq's government of national unity are reasons for renewed confidence that 2006 is a period of transition in Iraq and that our objectives are achievable. I point that out because a year ago when we considered this bill, I, together with Senator Levin, put in an amendment which outlined the progress that had to be made in 2006. These are chapters toward achieving the goal we stated in that amendment which was part of our bill last year. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I see one of our distinguished colleagues seeking recognition for an important set of comments.

Mr. WARNER. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. WARNER. That is correct.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the Senator has the right to object. That would do it. I can certainly say that I will relay the Senator's concerns to my leader. If that would suffice for the moment to allow this unanimous consent agreement to go forward? Would that be sufficient?

Mr. WARNER. I have just been given a note indicating the leader will be fully briefed about the concerns of the Senator from Massachusetts.

Mr. WARNER. Yes, I believe, I say to the distinguished former leader, I have the floor, but I yield the floor to him.

Mr. WARNER. I propound the unanimous consent request.

Mr. WARNER. You have my full attention.

Mr. WARNER. If it is the desire of the Senator from West Virginia to object, I respect that right. The matter will now be put aside, if that is your desire.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the distinguished ranking member, my good friend, the Senator from Michigan, is correct. We laid down an amendment on this side under the understanding this is the amendment that he selected to be laid down. I am just wondering if we can try to get some idea of the magnitude of the debate? I am not able to assess it on my side. I judge you are not. So we have some understanding of the time that is likely to be consumed in the debate--this is an important amendment--we will work on that together, in hopes we can get some time agreement and therefore we can then move on to other amendments. I would simply ask unanimous consent that at the conclusion of the debate or the disposition of this amendment, that I be recognized to offer another amendment at that time.

Mr. WARNER. I say to my distinguished colleague, it is my hope then we could alternate from side to side, so we could consider your amendment which would follow the third amendment, which I will put on.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I yield such time as the distinguished Senator from Oklahoma may require. He will be speaking with regard to a very important trip to Iraq. It bears directly on the pending measure; that is, a resolution on the success of our military in eliminating al- Zarqawi. I yield to the Senator such time as he desires.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, at the present time the bill is being amended by the amendment which you just addressed, and there is a pending amendment offered by the minority. That is the next order of business. This afternoon, I think there would be opportunity for additional amendments.

Mr. WARNER. If the Senator so desires. But, Mr. President, I first inquire as to the allocation of time on the pending measure.

Mr. WARNER. If the Senator would like to take a minute or two, I would be happy to have you alert the Senate as to some of the matters you will be bringing up.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum and ask unanimous consent that the time be charged equally to both sides.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Sessions be added as a cosponsor of amendment No. 4208.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I concur in that recommendation, and it is my hope that I can be a cosponsor on this side of the aisle because the amendment is very important.

Mr. WARNER. I move to reconsider the vote and I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I am anxious to consult with the distinguished ranking member of the committee here, so, for the moment, I will just ask for a quorum call before I put in the unanimous consent request. Mr. President, I withdraw that request.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, before the distinguished Senator departs, I say to the Senator, you made mention of his heroic service, together with that of yourself and Senator Inouye in World War II. But I think the Record should reflect how you and I and others in the Chamber-- Senator Inouye--supported him in the World War II Memorial. This was something that was very dear to his heart, and he became the national public president figure to really raise those funds--almost all of the dollars from the public sector: dollars from veterans, dollars from all across America, and, indeed, some from beyond our shores. To his credit, every time I pass it--and I am sure you view that magnificent memorial--I always remember his contribution in erecting it.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank my distinguished colleague. I played a very minor role in World War II in the last year, the closing year, when my class of 17, 18-year-olds joined. And I say to the Senator, you, sir, were a great hero in that war, as was Bob Dole. Mr. President, I also thank our colleague, Senator Smith, for initiating this recognition on the 10th anniversary of Bob Dole's retirement from the Senate. When I came to the Senate--it is hard to believe--28 years ago, he very soon became a figure to whom I would turn from time to time to seek advice and counsel. He had a magnificent ability to reach across the aisle. And he very firmly believed in the concept of trying to do as much business as we could in a bipartisan way. Much has been said about trips we take in the Senate. I value the trips I took with Senator Dole. I remember one very vividly when he quickly put together a delegation to visit Boris Yeltsin when he rose to the top position in then the Soviet Union, watching Bob Dole with that new world leader, the two of them together trying to reach common ground and common understanding in the midst of the Cold War between the United States and the then Soviet Union. He was a man who wisely thought about how this is one world in which we live today. Be it the means of our national security or otherwise, we have to have the vision to look abroad. I also remember another day very clearly. That was in connection with one of the anniversaries of the landing of D-Day. He asked me to accompany him. He spoke in Italy that day. Then we doubled back and went up to Normandy. We also incorporated in that trip a visit to a small village on the top of a mountain. All the way up the side of the mountain, the old bus we were in was zigzagging up a narrow road. There were little signs: Welcome home, Bob Dole. After a luncheon, he took me and one other Member of the Senate and we walked a short distance from the hotel up on a hillside where there was a small stone wall. We stood there and joined him in a silent moment of prayer. Prayer was very important, as it is now, to Bob Dole. That is where he fell wounded and survived under extraordinary circumstances, largely owing to one of the civilian partisans who helped him get back to receive medical care. I will remember that moment always. I also draw to the attention of my colleagues--I am not here to sell books--a great book he wrote called ``Great Political Wit: Laughing (Almost) All the Way to the White House.'' In it he talks about himself. I particularly like this. This was in the last page of the book called ``Great Political Wit'': Don't feel too bad for me. The appearance of this book coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of Harry Truman's stunning upset of Tom Dewey in 1948, which not only changed the course of American history but produced a patron saint for every political underdog since. Like Truman, I have a Midwestern preference for plain speaking, and a sometimes impolitic habit of laughing at pomposity. Although there have been times when I have been forced to eat my words--or swallow my pride--I still find it hard to take too seriously people who take themselves that way. What people often forget is that the last laugh doesn't belong to the victorious candidate--it belongs to the late- night [show] comics. In that book, he also told a story. I think this is applicable to close out my brief remarks this morning. As presiding officer of the United States Senate, Vice President Calvin Coolidge declared his intention to master the rules governing the world's greatest deliberative body. This didn't take long, said Coolidge, who quickly discovered that the Senate has but one rule, which is that the Senate will do whatever it wants whenever it wants to. I yield the floor.