John Warner

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. We will try and package, for the moment, two items. The Senator from Massachusetts will now proceed on his amendment. We cannot predict how long it will take because we do not know of the potential for second degrees. That will take place under the underlying unanimous consent. At 2:30 we take up the amendment of the Senator from South Carolina and proceed on that.

Mr. WARNER. So let us get those two locked in for the moment.

Mr. WARNER. And Senator Burr needs 5 minutes. Within that period of time we will accommodate the three colleagues for the matters they wish.

Mr. WARNER. Further, I wish to inform Senators that the likelihood of any votes between, say, the hour of 12:45 and 2 o'clock is most unlikely. As a matter of fact, I ask unanimous consent there be no votes during that period of time to accommodate a number of Senators on both sides.

Mr. WARNER. No.

Mr. WARNER. 2:15.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the Executive Calendar.

Mr. WARNER. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate immediately proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 410. I further ask unanimous consent that the nomination be confirmed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and finally that the Senate then return to legislative session. This has been cleared on both sides.

Mr. WARNER. That is correct.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Madam President, I was grievously concerned when the Senator said we are locked down in a quagmire in Iraq. I have made a number of trips there and completed a trip there several weeks ago with Senator Stevens and Senator John Kerry. Our troops are not in a quagmire. They are fighting a very courageous war against international terrorism. The movement sparked by Osama bin Laden, Zarqawi, and others is a worldwide movement. It goes from Spain to Indonesia. And they have selected, in the last 6 or 8, maybe a year's time, Iraq as the focal point to where they will challenge the free nations of the world in this struggle against terrorism. By no means, by no stretch of any measure of military analysis, can it be said that our troops are bogged down in a quagmire. They are fully mobile. They are working better than ever with the Iraqi security forces, largely trained by the coalition forces, who are now fighting side by side with coalition forces and engaging the enemy wherever they can find them. Iraq is a nation with vast borders which are unsecure. There is really no way to secure them to the point you can stop total infiltration. But these infiltrations of insurgents throughout the world are responding to a worldwide challenge to the free nations. We awakened in the last few days, or in just 24 hours or less, to an attack in Jordan, again sparked by the worldwide move in terrorism, against the Kingdom of Jordan. So I say to my friend, I would hope that this comment about ``in a quagmire'' is not relative to the courageous performance of the men and women of the Armed Forces in this war on terrorism in Iraq. They are fully mobile. They are selecting their field of battle. They are assisted by the Iraqi forces. And they are taking a toll on the terrorists. I ask my colleague, do you disagree with that analysis?

Mr. WARNER. Madam President, I am perfectly willing to, at this point in time, conclude this colloquy. I certainly feel I have had adequate opportunity to make my point. So unless the Senator so desires, we will proceed on with the bill.

Mr. WARNER. Madam President, I will simply state to my colleague and fellow member of the Senate Armed Services Committee that it is well recognized that certain intelligence that was used by not only our President but the Prime Minister of Great Britain, the President of France--we could go on and on--was universally accepted at that point in time. History has shown that a good deal of that intelligence turned out to be inaccurate. But there were many reasons for going to war in Iraq, not the least of which our forces were trying to enforce the United Nations resolution prohibiting Iraq from taking certain actions to the north and to the south. They were actually firing on our aircraft that were trying to patrol and enforce U.N. resolutions. Saddam Hussein ignored consecutive resolutions of the United Nations. That whole structure was before the world, and he was flaunting it. Most recently, I note that the United Nations Security Council has extended the basis on which operations are now being conducted by the coalition of forces in Iraq today. With regard to the administration, I commend the administration for putting out, for example, this report called ``The Special Inspector General for Iraq and Reconstruction.'' It is very truthful with the American people and, indeed, the world on the successes and the lack of success in certain areas. This administration is being accountable for its participation as one of the several nations in the coalition in putting the facts down. But when the Senator says it is all for naught, I say to myself, Iraq is in a struggle to establish its own government. We have just seen the referendum on the constitution. They have adopted the constitution. The constitution is subject to further rework as the next government stands up in the aftermath of the December 15 elections--free elections, free elections that have not taken place in Iraq in several decades. Much has been accomplished to try to stabilize that nation to enable it to select, by the freedom to vote, its own government and the degree to which it wishes to join the rest of the nations in exploring the challenges of democracy, particularly in that area of the world. I salute the men and women of the Armed Forces who have made this possible. Yes, we always hope that diplomacy can solve the disputes between nations. Diplomacy can be no stronger than the will to back it up and enforce the decisions of the diplomats. That has been done bravely by the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States and other coalition forces. I yield the floor.

Mr. WARNER. Madam President, parliamentary inquiry as to the status of the Senate at this time.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, we would need to examine the second-degree amendment by the distinguished Senator.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I would defer to the distinguished chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I believe that we are dealing with an important unknown; that is, the content of what the distinguished Senator from Delaware wishes to put on. May I make this suggestion, without any prejudice to this colloquy and honest effort to resolve it, if we were just to lay aside the Kerry amendment, go to another amendment, and then at such time as there is reconciliation of viewpoints, I think we could then perfect his amendment to whatever is needed and proceed.

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

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, if the Senator from South Carolina would defer to the managers, I would like to address the Senate in connection with a unanimous consent request. My understanding is that it has been cleared on both sides. I ask unanimous consent that it now be in order for Senator Graham to offer a perfecting second-degree amendment. I further ask unanimous consent that at 4:30 the Senate proceed to a vote in relation to the Graham second-degree amendment; further, that following that vote Senator Bingaman be recognized and it be in order for him to offer a motion to strike; further, that the Senate proceed immediately to a vote on the motion to strike. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that if the motion to strike is agreed to, it be in order for Senator Graham to offer a further amendment.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I appreciate the patience of all of our colleagues, wherever they may be. We are continuing to make considerable progress. That progress will hopefully lead to final passage tonight. Consistent with those objectives, I ask unanimous consent that the Roberts amendment now be modified with the changes that are at the desk; provided further that the amendment be agreed to. I further ask consent that no later than the hour of 4:45, the Senate proceed to votes in relation to the following amendments: the Kerry amendment, as amended; Lautenberg No. 2478, as modified with the changes at the desk; Graham amendment 2516; the Bingaman motion to strike is under the previous order; conference report to accompany the foreign operations bill; further, that no second degrees be in order to the Kerry or Lautenberg amendments prior to the vote; and that there be 2 minutes equally divided before the votes, with the Lautenberg amendment getting 8 minutes equally divided before the vote. I further ask that after the first vote, all subsequent votes be 10 minutes.

Mr. WARNER. I hear no further comment or objection.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I see that the Senator from Kansas says 5 minutes, and the Senator from Massachusetts is indicating some time to help our colleague.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, have the yeas and nays been ordered?

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask for the regular order.