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Daschle's Comments About Diplomacy
Sen. Tom Daschle and Press Corps
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Q: Senator Daschle, as you know, some Republicans are saying very harsh things about your statements yesterday. Senator Frist said that to suggest that the president might have cost lives by failed diplomacy is irresponsible. And Speaker Hastert said that your statement came close to lending support to our adversary. How do you respond to those reactions to your statement?
A: SEN. DASCHLE: Well, I stand by my statement. I don't know that anyone in this country could view what we've seen so far as a diplomatic success. A diplomatic success is what we saw in 1991. A diplomatic success is getting a broad coalition of countries. We had nearly 20 countries in 1991. A diplomatic success is having 200,000 international troops present instead of the 225,000 U.S. troops, which are present today.
A diplomatic success is getting other countries to pay 90 percent of the costs incurred. All of that happened in 1991; none of that is happening in the year 2003. Let me just simply say, as a veteran, there is no question that I stand strongly with the troops. I always will. I feel very strongly about our obligation to support the troops, and I have said in every way, shape and form that will continue. But I do think we have to be honest and open in a democracy.
I think to do anything less is unpatriotic. And I'm going to continue to speak out where I think I have a responsibility to do so.
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