Posted on 02/26/2003 6:30:22 AM PST by mountaineer
Returning to the United States following a week-long mission to Great Britain, Italy, Qatar, Pakistan and Afghanistan, U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. held a conference call Tuesday with media representatives to review the trip and answer questions on national security issues and other matters.
Accompanying Rockefeller were sens. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Carl Levin, D-Mich., and John Warner, R-Va., the chairman, ranking member and chairman, respectively, of the Senate's Intelligence and Armed Services committees. "In my opinion, al- Qaida, North Korea and the Kashmir region between Pakistan and India pose larger threats to the U.S. than Iraq," Rockefeller said. "Having said that, through my meetings with (Secretary of Defense) Don Rumsfeld, (National Security Advisor) Condolezza Rice and other of the president's people, I'm convinced that he has made up his mind to go to war with or without the (U.N.) votes."
Rockefeller, the ranking member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said he had the opportunity to visit with many West Virginians in the National Guard, reserve and regular military units and was impressed with the "cooperation" and resolve exhibited by the servicemen and women.
"I was really struck with the level of cooperation between the military, diplomats and intelligence communities," Rockefeller continued. "It may not be working in Washington, but it is working on the front lines."
A disturbing fact that Rockefeller observed while speaking with the troops centered on the anti-war demonstrations both at home and abroad.
"I asked a group of servicemen to raise their hands if they thought the American public was behind them in a war with Iraq," Rockefeller said. "Not one hand was raised."
The senator is also fearful of the troops "losing their cutting edge" if diplomacy and negotiations continue for a "prolonged" period of time.
Rockefeller also said the "tide is running against us, both here and abroad" in the war on terrorism.
"I spoke with a chief of Pakistan's intelligence forces about terror and he pointed to a map of Africa and South America," Rockefeller continued. "There, he said, are the next areas. It's the concept of poverty. The terrorist groups are offering to take them in, train them and pay them. The link between poverty and national security, we have to come to grips with that."
Concerning Afghanistan, Rockefeller said "... it is more desolate than I can describe to you."
German and French forces, although their respective governments oppose a war with Iraq, continue to help create a modern Afghan state. "They are training a national army that will eventually replace the warlords and tribal units that have for hundreds of years controlled Afghanistan," Rockefeller said. "And they are helping to rebuild Kabul and other centers of the country."
The Beckley Register-Herald adds:
Rockefeller said he's convinced that internationally the "tide is turning against" the U.S., partly because of what Rockefeller called a certain "bravado" in Bush's overseas policies.
"It's sort of a coming together of years of resentment about the United States as now the only world super power," he said.
"The president has put forth a ... pre-emptive philosophy (that the U.S. can) spread democracy and freedom wherever we want.
"It plays very badly out there. They think we're arrogant," the senator said. source
They, Senator? Or you?
Congratulations Senator.Couldnt have been done without you and the rest of the RATS.
Who knows what he meant by that. I'm sure he doesn't.
Impressed, and probably surprised, despite his best efforts to obtain the exact opposite. Goes to show ya that he knows nothing about our military. And never will.
He demonstrates a remarkable lack of respect for the military, considering his adopted home state (just kidding - he doesn't really live in WV) has a higher concentration of veterans than any other state. Of course, this zillionaire son of privilege didn't have to worry about being drafted or anything messy like that when he was a young man.
I bet that was a real battle of wits.
Robert C. Byrd--Armed Services Committee. (no military service)
Did you forget about the Klan? Isn't that military service?
I am lucky to be in Texas where we have had great representation in the Senate for the last 25 years. Sometimes I wish I could vote against the likes of Byrd and Rockefeller.
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