The Dean of the Congress
The West Virginian of the 20th Century
U.S. Senator Robert Byrd
Senate Remarks: Making the Military a Stage Prop for Politics
In my 50 years as a member of Congress, I have had the privilege to witness the defining rhetorical moments of a number
of American presidents. I have listened spellbound to the soaring oratory of John Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. I have
listened grimly to the painful soul-searching of Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon.
Presidential speeches are an important marker of any President's legacy. These are the tangible moments that history
seizes upon and records for posterity. For this reason, I was deeply troubled by both the content and the context of
President Bush's remarks to the American people last week marking the end of the combat phase of the war in Iraq. As I
watched the President's fighter jet swoop down onto the deck of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, I could not help
but contrast the reported simple dignity of President Lincoln at Gettysburg with the flamboyant showmanship of President
Bush aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
President Bush's address to the American people announcing combat victory in Iraq deserved to be marked with solemnity,
not extravagance; with gratitude to God, not self-congratulatory gestures. American blood has been shed on foreign soil
in defense of the President's policies. This is not some made-for-TV backdrop for a campaign commercial. This is real
life, and real lives have been lost. To me, it is an affront to the Americans killed or injured in Iraq for the
President to exploit the trappings of war for the momentary spectacle of a speech. I do not begrudge his salute to
America's warriors aboard the carrier Lincoln, for they have performed bravely and skillfully, as have their countrymen
still in Iraq, but I do question the motives of a deskbound President who assumes the garb of a warrior for the purposes
of a speech.
As I watched the President's speech, before the great banner proclaiming "Mission Accomplished," I could not help but be
reminded of the tobacco barns of my youth, which served as country road advertising backdrops for the slogans of chewing
tobacco purveyors. I am loath to think of an aircraft carrier being used as an advertising backdrop for a presidential
political slogan, and yet that is what I saw.
What I heard the President say also disturbed me. It may make for grand theater to describe Saddam Hussein as an ally of
al Qaeda or to characterize the fall of Baghdad as a victory in the war on terror, but stirring rhetoric does not
necessarily reflect sobering reality. Not one of the 19 September 11th hijackers was an Iraqi. In fact, there is not a
shred of evidence to link the September 11 attack on the United States to Iraq. There is no doubt in my mind that Saddam
Hussein was an evil despot who brought great suffering to the Iraqi people, and there is no doubt in my mind that he
encouraged and rewarded acts of terrorism against Israel. But his crimes are not those of Osama bin Laden, and bringing
Saddam Hussein to justice will not bring justice to the victims of 9-11. The United States has made great progress in
its efforts to disrupt and destroy the al Qaeda terror network. We can take solace and satisfaction in that fact. We
should not risk tarnishing those very real accomplishments by trumpeting victory in Iraq as a victory over Osama bin
Laden.
We are reminded in the gospel of Saint Luke, "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required." Surely
the same can be said of any American president. We expect, nay demand, that our leaders be scrupulous in the truth and
faithful to the facts. We do not seek theatrics or hyperbole. We do not require the stage management of our victories.
The men and women of the United States military are to be saluted for their valor and sacrifice in Iraq. Their heroics
and quiet resolve speak for themselves. The prowess and professionalism of America's military forces do not need to be
embellished by the gaudy excesses of a political campaign.
War is not theater, and victory is not a campaign slogan. I join with the President and all Americans in expressing
heartfelt thanks and gratitude to our men and women in uniform for their service to our country, and for the sacrifices
that they have made on our behalf. But on this point I differ with the President: I believe that our military forces
deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, and not used as stage props to embellish a presidential speech.
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