The Arrogance of Power

"The Arrogance of Power"

Senate Remarks by Robert C. Byrd (D)

March 19, 2003

I believe in this beautiful country. I have studied its roots and gloried in the wisdom of its magnificent Constitution. I have marveled at the wisdom of its founders and framers. Generation after generation of Americans has understood the lofty ideals that underlie our great Republic. I have been inspired by the story of their sacrifice and their strength.

But, today I weep for my country. I have watched the events of recent months with a heavy, heavy heart. No more is the image of America one of strong, yet benevolent peacekeeper. The image of America has changed. Around the globe, our friends mistrust us, our word is disputed, our intentions are questioned.

Instead of reasoning with those with whom we disagree, we demand obedience or threaten recrimination. Instead of isolating Saddam Hussein, we seem to have isolated ourselves. We proclaim a new doctrine of preemption which is understood by few and feared by many. We say that the United States has the right to turn its firepower on any corner of the globe which might be suspect in the war on terrorism. We assert that right without the sanction of any international body. As a result, the world has become a much more dangerous place.

We flaunt our superpower status with arrogance. We treat UN Security Council members like ingrates who offend our princely dignity by lifting their heads from the carpet. Valuable alliances are split. 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.

The case this Administration tries to make to justify its fixation with war is tainted by charges of falsified documents and circumstantial evidence. We cannot convince the world of the necessity of this war for one simple reason. This is a war of choice.

There is no credible information to connect Saddam Hussein to 9/11. The twin towers fell because a world-wide terrorist group, Al Qaeda, with cells in over 60 nations, struck at our wealth and our influence by turning our own planes into missiles, one of which would likely have slammed into the dome of this beautiful Capitol except for the brave sacrifice of the passengers on board.

The brutality seen on September 11th and in other terrorist attacks we have witnessed around the globe are the violent and desperate efforts by extremists to stop the daily encroachment of western values upon their cultures. That is what we fight. It is a force not confined to borders. It is a shadowy entity with many faces, many names, and many addresses.

But, this Administration has directed all of the anger, fear, and grief which emerged from the ashes of the twin towers and the twisted metal of the Pentagon towards a tangible villain, one we can see and hate and attack. And villain he is. But, he is the wrong villain. And this is the wrong war. If we attack Saddam Hussein, we will probably drive him from power. But, the zeal of our friends to assist our global war on terrorism may have already taken flight.

The general unease surrounding this war is not just due to "orange alert." There is a pervasive sense of rush and risk and too many questions unanswered. How long will we be in Iraq? What will be the cost? What is the ultimate mission? How great is the danger at home? A pall has fallen over the Senate Chamber. 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.

What is happening to this country? When did we become a nation which ignores and berates our friends? When did we decide to risk undermining international order by adopting a radical and doctrinaire approach to using our awesome military might? How can we abandon diplomatic efforts when the turmoil in the world cries out for diplomacy?

Why can this President not seem to see that America's true power lies not in its will to intimidate, but in its ability to inspire?

War appears inevitable. But, I continue to hope that the cloud will lift. Perhaps Saddam will yet turn tail and run. Perhaps reason will somehow still prevail. I along with millions of Americans will pray for the safety of our troops, for the innocent civilians in Iraq, and for the security of our homeland. 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.

Yawn, perhaps it was time for the president to get some balls and stand up for people getting mistreated in other countries and to protect his own. He may have balls but the rest of the us doesnt. Go imigrate to france you wimp.

You must be kidding... Your president needs to grow some brain before he could even start searching for balls. It's pretty damn easy to pretend you have balls when your country spends more money on weapons than all the other 15 countries on the list together. Protect people in other countries getting mistreated?! God, you people really haven't got the slightest perspective at all... Nobody asked you to interfere, you god-complexed nation! The people in Iraq won't be saved with your help, if a govermet or a dictator needs to be thrown, it's own people have to be the ones to do it! And to protect his own... Wow, a few thousand die on your ground for the first time in, what, 150 years, and suddenly you need protection and wipe all arabs off of this planet is how you're gonna get it? I come from a country that survived two world wars, and one additional war, on it's own ground. Maybe you need to see one war up close, just to know that you don't want it. There is no just cause for a war. There never was, there never will be. Get some freakin perspective...

ONce again im not american i am brittish i think you are french....

Chill, i can't be on all places at the same time.

Off course you think i'm french, you probably have no idea at all where or what Slovenia is. Amaze me, please.

She's from Slovenia, same country as myself, drycounty.com and Jovitalk!
It says in her profile, you just need to take a milisecond to read it.

peter

You missed the french thing, in fact completely.

It's not our fault. We hate Bush as much as the next person! Don't blame the American people for this. it's the government doing it all! We don't want it to happen!

Oh no, we get your simple sarcasm.
I just think it's stupid. At least France was brave enough to say no, and not sniff Bushes butt like some other countries.

You are partially right. I can't generalize, and neither can you.
Nice to see an american who isn't bloodthirsty, though.