Sen. Robert Byrd: 'Today I Weep for My Country'

Reuters via Yahoo News ^ | 3/19/03 | By Thomas Ferraro

[pubmom]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The oldest voice in the U.S. Congress rose on Wednesday to denounce as misguided President Bush (news - web sites)'s march to war with Iraq (news - web sites).

"Today I weep for my country," said West Virginia Democrat Sen. Robert Byrd. "No more is the image of America one of strong, yet benevolent peacekeeper. ... Around the globe, our friends mistrust us, our word is disputed, our intentions are questioned.

"We flaunt our superpower status with arrogance," Byrd said, adding: "After war has ended the United States will have to rebuild much more than the country of Iraq. We will have to rebuild America's image around the globe."

Byrd, who has been a leading foe on Capitol Hill of war with Iraq, spoke in a nearly empty Senate chamber about four hours before Bush's 8 p.m. EST deadline for Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) to leave Iraq or face a U.S.-led invasion.

"May God continue to bless the United States of America in the troubled days ahead, and may we somehow recapture the vision which for the present eludes us," Byrd said.

As the white-haired senator concluded his remarks, a number of people in the visitor's gallery rose and applauded before they were admonished to be quiet.

At 85, Byrd is now the oldest member of Congress as well as the longest serving. He was first elected to the Senate in 1958, after six years in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Byrd was among those who voted last year against the congressional resolution that authorized Bush to use force in his showdown with Saddam, and the senator has given frequent floor speeches since then warning against war.

Polls on Wednesday showed strong American support for a war but widespread opposition to it overseas.

"The case this administration tries to make to justify its fixation with war is tainted by charges of falsified documents and circumstantial evidence," Byrd said.

Despite administration suggestions to the contrary, Byrd said, "There is no credible information to connect Saddam Hussein to 9/11."

The senator said, "We cannot convince the world of the necessity of this war for one simple reason. This is a war of choice."

Byrd said that instead of negotiating, Washington demanded obedience or threatened recrimination. "Instead of isolating Saddam Hussein, we seem to have isolated ourselves."

He said many questions about the looming war were unanswered -- including how long it would last, what it would cost, what its ultimate mission was.

"A pall has fallen over the Senate chamber," Byrd said. "We avoid our solemn duty to debate the one topic on the minds of all Americans, even while scores of thousands of our sons and daughters faithfully do their duty in Iraq."

[True Grit]

Kaptur and Kucinich are both left wing idoits. McDermott is delusional and crazy as hell.

[rodeocowboy]

Polls on Wednesday showed strong American support for a war but widespread opposition to it overseas.

What these demonrats forget is that the liberals all over the world don't get to vote in our elections.

[WVNan]

This is so embarrassing. Sigh.....time for another letter. Ole Bob hates to see my return address on his mail.

[mountaineer]

Actually, he doesn't live in WV. Byrd lives year-round in the D.C. area. Come to think of it, so does Rockefeller. Our loss (just kidding).

[the_doc]

Byrd reminds me of this guy: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/868918/posts

[fishbabe]

he weeps for everyone except the blacks,jews,catholics and whoever else the kkk hate!!!!!!!

[Alberta's Child]

Rumor has it that Byrd is going to return to the Senate chamber just before Bush's address at 9:00 PM. He will call on President Bush to pull no punches, to use every weapon at our disposal, and to ensure that Iraq is nothing more than a distant memory before the night is through.

You see, I just called Byrd's office and told his staff that Saddam Hussein has just stepped down -- and Miguel Estrada is in charge of the interim government.

[small voice in the wilderness]

Sometimes I wish I lived in a Groucho Marx world. I would love to see byrd hobble up to the senate microphone, raise his hands heavenly, fix his steely eyes dramatically on the senate camera, open his mouth wide and say, "Today I weep..." SPLATTTT- a big cream pie lobbed into his face. Yes, if we have to live with liberals, that would be a good way to endure.

[Kevin Curry]

"After war has ended the United States will have to rebuild much more than the country of Iraq. We will have to rebuild America's image around the globe."

Our image was so much better when a Democrat was in the Oval Office.

[Brilliant]

The crochety old Byrd man ought to resign.

[MonroeDNA]

Anybody have his speech about the bird wing on a ball of steel?

Something about eternity, which he has cornered the market on.

[hope]

The rats are definately imploding...Sheez, if I were a democrat with these idiots in my party, I'd run the other way!

[get'emall]

It'll be cheaper to rebuild Iraq and bring it up to 21st century standards than it would be to do the same for West Virginia. Robert Byrd is as much a joke as the state that sends him to Washington.

[MJY1288]

The Rats are definately divided into 2 groups....DUMB & DUMBER

[tessalu]

Weep on Old Byrdie Boy! For twelve years you were silent while Saddam Hussein built his weapons of destruction, and you did nothing! You are guilty of not doing what you could to protect all of humanity, and not just the USA. It happened to be George W Bush who said, "enough is enough, and this just can not go on!" Tony Blair saw the foolishness of letting time pass and allowing Saddam to build weapons of mass destruction. Bush and Blair are now the heros that we need. You, Mr Byrd, are the old fool who fiddled while Rome was burning! Crawl back into your hole where you were when this started.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Today I weep for the poor fool that agreed to become this jerk's wife.

[leprechaun9]

Hey, Senator KKK Bobbie Byrd, I weep for my country every day when I realize that a KKK member such as you is held up as a model of democracy!

You and Le petite Tommie Dass Hole (D-paris) are prime targets for anyone who wants to give the United States an ENEMA!

[savedbygrace]

Treason is one of the few Constitutionally provided reasons that a senator or rep can be arrested in-session.

[Highway55]

Natalie Maines when asked to comment said, 'We are ashamed that Sen. Robert Byrd is from the state of West Virginia.' (Sarcasm)

[hope]

LOL!