Senate Floor Speech
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
September 23, 2003 -- Page: S11779

MRS. HUTCHISON. I think a lot has been said here about the words of Senator Kennedy. I don't think anyone on the floor has cast aspersions on the Senator. He certainly has a right to say anything he wants to say. But I also think many of us who believe the President is trying very hard to do the right thing for our country have the right to take up for our President, stand up for our President, and talk about the issues.

I think Senator Kennedy would be the first to say he should stand by his words, he must take responsibility for his words. It is my opinion that when you use words such as "fraud'' and "bribery'' in talking about the policies of the United States, it is fair game for us to respond to that and say I think it is absolutely wrong to say we are bribing political leaders all over the world by giving them American dollars.

We are giving foreign countries American dollars for a variety of reasons. Is it a bribe that we would make a loan to the country of Turkey after Turkey has just led the command and control of the security forces in Afghanistan, doing a great service for all of the people of the world to try to help keep the peace and security in Afghanistan, which was very costly to a relatively small country? That we would be making loans to Turkey, is that a bribe? I don't think so. Is it a bribe to give money to Russia for part of its economic improvement? I don't think so. I think Russia has shown it can be quite independent. So has Turkey. No one is accusing them of doing everything the United States has asked them to do. But foreign aid is part of American policy and, in most instances, foreign aid goes for buying American products. It gives them the money to buy American products to help our economy.

So I think when people use words, they should be able to take responsibility for those words, and I don't think it casts aspersions on anyone's patriotism.

But if anyone questions my right to stand up for my President who is speaking before the United Nations as we are talking on the floor today, then I think they are wrong. Of course, we are going to stand up for him. Why would that be a surprise? We are in a terrible war on terrorism. We are doing everything we can to support the President as he prosecutes that war. It is not for helping other countries exclusively. It is for helping America. It is for American security that we are in Iraq and Afghanistan--to keep terrorists on their soil so they do not come to American soil again.

The President has not forgotten 9/11. Sometimes I think when I hear people talking that they have forgotten America was attacked.

People are talking about an $87 billion package. It is a big package. Many of us are trying to ask for contributions from other countries to help defray the cost of rebuilding Iraq and Afghanistan. But let me remind you about the cost of 9/11. The cost of 9/11 is estimated at $300 billion, and that was one incident. What will be the cost if we allow terrorists to come in here because we haven't contained them in Iraq and Afghanistan? What will be the cost to the American people?

We have a right to stand up for our President, and that is exactly what we are doing. We are trying to talk about the policies that are important to our country.

Mr. President, there is one thing I must object to that was said recently by Senator Kennedy, when he said that the war is "a fraud that was made up in Texas to give the President a political boost.'' I have great respect for Senator Kennedy and every Senator who represents his or her State in this body. But that is a slur on my home State of Texas, to say this plot was made up in Texas.

I remind the people of America that Texas is a patriotic State, that Texas has 1 in 10 Active-Duty military. On the very day that statement was made, a plot in Texas to help a political campaign of a President, in fact, on that very day, three Texas soldiers were ambushed in Iraq and lost their lives serving our country. Those are great Texans. The 4th Infantry Division from Fort Hood, TX, is there now, as we speak.

As I traveled through Afghanistan and Iraq, I met Texans who were serving their country. I don't think there should ever be a slur on another State when we are talking about foreign policy or the policies of a President.