"I have come here today to express my view that America should not go to war against Iraq unless and until other reasonable alternatives are exhausted. But I begin with the strongest possible affirmation that good and decent people on all sides of this debate, who may in the end stand on opposing sides of this decision, are equally committed to our national security. The life and death issue of war and peace is too important to be left to politics. And I disagree with those who suggest that this fateful issue cannot or should not be contested vigorously, publicly, and all across America. When it is the people's sons and daughters who will risk and even lose their lives, then the people should hear and be heard, speak and be listened to. But there is a difference between honest public dialogue and partisan appeals. There is a difference between questioning policy and questioning motives. There are Republicans and Democrats who support the immediate use of force - and Republicans and Democrats who have raised doubts and dissented."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Democratic Party (United States) politiciansAcademics from the United StatesMembers of the United States SenatePoliticians from BostonUnited States presidential candidates, 1980
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Speech at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies opposing the buildup to the Iraq War (27 September 2002)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ted_Kennedy
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Ted Kennedy
politician, lawyer, autobiographer
1932 – 2009 · United States
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy (22 February 1932 – 25 August 2009) was the senior Democratic U.S. senator from Massachusetts. In office from November 1962 to August 2009, Kennedy was, at the time, the second-longest serving member of the Senate, after Robert Byrd of West Virginia. He was the younger brother of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, and the uncle of Caroline Kennedy.
389 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Ted Kennedy →
Related Quotes
"His partnerships with his fellow Senators are well-known and oft-recited, testimony to his skill and to his convictio…"
"Since Biden circa 2022 is often compared to 1970s Jimmy Carter due to a combination of sluggish job approval ratings,…"
"Senator Kennedy began his career setting a high standard when it comes to birthdays. It was when he reached the minim…"
"Run down the list--the rights of the disabled a most personal cause for Ted--who for far too long were left in the sh…"
"Ted Kennedy is the most prolific legislator in American history, but he is something more. Robert Kennedy once said t…"
"Without Ted, 18-year-olds might not be able to vote. There might not be a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Meals on Wh…"
"I think that John McCain and Ted Kennedy represent what the Senate has been at its best ... what it can be again, a p…"
"I think Senator Kennedy will go down as one of the giants in the Senate. While he has had a rather tumultuous life wi…"
"That sentence is not constructed lightly--it is the measure of a public servant who doesn't know the meaning of the w…"
"Ted Kennedy’s wit and stories, his passion for a cause and his country, and his love for the Senate just made you wan…"