Providing for the Safe Redeployment of United States Troops From Iraq -- Motion to Proceed -- Continued

Floor Speech

PROVIDING FOR THE SAFE REDEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES TROOPS FROM IRAQ--MOTION TO PROCEED--Continued -- (Senate - February 27, 2008)

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Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, in a few minutes we will have a procedural vote on another proposal by the junior Senator from Wisconsin, a bill that would direct the administration to produce in 60 days a new global strategy for defeating al-Qaida. But first, a word about the first Feingold bill which dictates withdrawal.

Last year's bold decision to launch a counterinsurgency plan under General Petraeus has renewed our hopes for a unified Iraq to govern, defend, and sustain itself as an ally in the war on terror. Our men and women in uniform have protected the Iraqi people, scattered al-Qaida, deterred militias, and helped to create an environment that has led to progress not only at the tactical level but in government and in reconciliation as well. We owe them all a great debt.

In September, General Petraeus outlined his plan for bringing these men and women back after a job well done and for transitioning our mission to one of partnership and overwatch. I might say parenthetically, I was just with General Petraeus's wife a few moments ago, who is at a reception here in the Capitol complex for people from the Fort Campbell area. Earlier in General Petraeus's career, he was the commander of the 101st Division of the storied Screaming Eagles who have been at the tip of the spear in both Afghanistan and Iraq over the last 4 years. General Petraeus has had three different assignments in Iraq. We are all thoroughly familiar with his current assignment, but his wife is a good soldier indeed as well, and I had an opportunity a few moments ago to thank her again not only for his contribution but for her sacrifice as well.

This reduction in forces that General Petraeus's mission has made possible has already begun, and the Iraqi people are prepared for provincial elections in October. Due to the success of the Petraeus plan, Sunnis now serving as Sons of Iraq and defending their own Nation will now have a real stake in those elections. When General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker return this April, we should listen to their recommendations to ensure that the hard-earned gains of the surge are maintained.

But one thing is already clear from the successes we have recently seen. Congress needs to stop considering this war in fits and starts and through piecemeal debates. We need to understand that our interests in the Persian Gulf and Iraq are long-standing and will not vanish because we have a Presidential election in November. We can't wish the dangers away.

This leads me to the second Feingold measure calling for a new strategy in defeating al-Qaida. We deal with global strategies and long-range plans through the national security strategy, the national military strategy, the Quadrennial Defense Review, and through the annual defense legislation. If the Senator from Wisconsin wanted to know how our global strategy to combat al-Qaida fits into the context of these reports and reviews, he might have asked the administration to produce such a document in the annual Defense Authorization Act. Also, I might suggest that one sure way of strengthening our fight against al-Qaida and other terrorists would be for the Democratic leadership over in the House of Representatives to stop blocking a vote on the bipartisan, Senate-passed FISA bill. We know there is a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives to pass the same bill that passed the Senate by a large bipartisan majority. A good way to strengthen our efforts against al-Qaida would be to take up and pass that bill.

It would be irresponsible to cut off funds for troops in the field. We will not pass a bill that does so. But we welcome debate on the al-Qaida report because we are ready to provide all of the resources required to defeat al-Qaida, to include quick passage of the Defense appropriations supplemental, full funding of the 2009 Defense Appropriations Act, and passage of a FISA bill that will allow our intelligence community to continue to hunt terrorists.

We must also consider the full cost of our Nation's global commitments and our need to modernize our ground, air, and naval forces. We should also give the administration ample time to complete this study which should serve as a sound guidance for the incoming administration.

So we welcome a debate on how to best hunt al-Qaida and defend the Nation, and if we are to get on this bill, we will be debating amendments that make this report more meaningful.

I yield the floor.

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