Barbara Lee's speech

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart,
one that is filled with sorrow for the families and
loved ones who were killed and injured in New York,
Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Only the most foolish or
the most callous would not understand the grief that
has gripped the American people and millions across
the world.

This unspeakable attack on the United States has
forced me to rely on my moral compass, my conscience,
and my God for direction.

September 11 changed the world. Our deepest fears now
haunt us. Yet I am convinced that military action will
not prevent further acts of international terrorism
against the United States.

I know that this use-of-force resolution will pass
although we all know that the President can wage a war
even without this resolution. However difficult this
vote may be, some of us must urge the use of
restraint. There must be some of us who say, let's
step back for a moment and think through the
implications of our actions today--let us more fully
understand its consequences.

We are not dealing with a conventional war. We cannot
respond in a conventional manner. I do not want to see
this spiral out of control. This crisis involves
issues of national security, foreign policy, public
safety, intelligence gathering, economics, and murder.
Our response must be equally multi-faceted.

We must not rush to judgment. Far too many innocent
people have already died. Our country is in mourning.
If we rush to launch a counter-attack, we run too
great a risk that women, children, and other non-
combatants will be caught in the crossfire.

Nor can we let our justified anger over these
outrageous acts by vicious murderers inflame prejudice
against all Arab Americans, Muslims, Southeast Asians,
or any other people because of their race, religion,
or ethnicity.

Finally, we must be careful not to embark on an open-
ended war with neither an exit strategy nor a focused
target. We cannot repeat past mistakes.

In 1964, Congress gave President Lyndon Johnson the
power to ``take all necessary measures'' to repel
attacks and prevent further aggression. In so doing,
this House abandoned its own constitutional
responsibilities and launched our country into years
of undeclared war in Vietnam.

At that time, Senator Wayne Morse, one of two lonely
votes against the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, declared,
``I believe that history will record that we have made
a grave mistake in subverting and circumventing the
Constitution of the United States.........I believe
that within the next century, future generations will
look with dismay and great disappointment upon a
Congress which is now about to make such a historic
mistake.''

Senator Morse was correct, and I fear we make the same
mistake today. And I fear the consequences.

I have agonized over this vote. But I came to grips
with it in the very painful yet beautiful memorial
service today at the National Cathedral. As a member
of the clergy so eloquently said, ``As we act, let us
not become the evil that we deplore.''