US Sen. Robert Byrd: 'Today I weep for my country'-- [Iraq]

Reuters | Wednesday, March 19, 2003 | By Thomas Ferraro

[JohnHuang2]

US Sen. Robert Byrd: 'Today I weep for my country'

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - The oldest voice in the U.S. Congress rose Wednesday to offer a final pre-war warning that President Bush's march to battle is dangerously misguided.

"Today I weep for my country," said West Virginia Democratic 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, 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 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."

[Petronski]

"I am deeply
saddened."

[oyez]

I weep because we have people in the Senate like Byrd who profane that body by their very presence.

[moodyskeptic]

The old Cracker should weep for the Democrat party, as they self destruct before the eyes of the world.

[JohnHuang2]

Re: #21 -- ROFLOL!!!

[FrdmLvr]

"No more is the image of America one of strong, yet benevolent peacekeeper.

Peacekeeper? That's something the UN dreamed up.

[CARepubGal]

Somehow, being on the wrong side of Grand Dragon Byrd makes me feel better.

[Professional]

I hope they play this over and over, like Daschle's words. Let people hang themselves with their own stupidity. Byrd looks really messed up, along with coming across like a kook. His hands were really shaking.

[vikingcelt]

Was he drunk when I saw him on television tonight? Looked like it.

[American84]

Senator Byrd is nothing but a senile KKK idiot..who should weep for all the blacks he has hurt during the days of his KKK leadership.

[Quix]

I wonder if we could pray for some angelic force or otherwise to

pluck Byrd's feathers and severely trim his beak.

. . . and perhaps tie his tongue into a permanent knot.

What a hideous duplicitous excuse for a human being.

[cactusSharp]

ole squat to pee Chrissy Matthews said on HARDBALL
that his boss, Tip O'Neil called Byrd " SHEETS"......
....that say's it all...

[Theophilus]

Maybe he can use some of his influence to pave his country, if he is finished paving his state.

[Gabz]

We will have to rebuild America's image around the globe."

Stick a sock in it Byrdbrain - at least we won't have to be rebuilding America - which appears to be what you are looking for.

[TUX]

Sen. Pork and little Tommie are saddened and weeping because there is no more pork and cash coming their way. Politics is who get what and when, THATS what they are crying about.

[JohnHuang2]

His hands were really shaking.

Yes, and his face looked soooo Deeply Saddened...lol

[Rasputin_TheMadMonk]

Senility didn't sneak up on this old man, it ran up, stabbed him in the kidney, mugged him and left him bleeding in the gutter.

Boid is an abomination that even the hard core leftists are embarrassed to associate with. I think his constituency reelects him just for the entertainment value. I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy a KKKlown.

[nmh]

I weep too when I saw a man making an arse out of himself. It's tragic that people would vote for such a bipartisan schmuck.

Was he weeping when ole bill was bombing Serbia? Weeping when he bypassed the U.N.? Totally ignored ANY kind of diplomatic action? Bet you he had his head somewhere ... .

[Morgan's Raider]

Hey, Sheets - why don't you make yourself useful for a change? I understand Saddam could use some more human shields.

And while you're at it, take Daschle, Kennedy, Clinton (both of 'em), Pelosi, McDermott, John Conyers and Pete Stark with you. Hell, just take your whole sorry-assed democrat caucus.

[jt8d]

Makes me think seriously about forced euthanasia--Somebody should put that old dirt bag to sleep. Should be an easy task... They would only have to kill one brain cell.