Online Chat with Guilford Central School

Sen Leahy: Hi this is Patrick Leahy How are you today?
Sen Leahy: Incidentally i do my own typing so please excuse any mistakes. Senators are notorious for being poor typists!
guilfordssc: We're doing well, thanks! We're from the 8th grade class and we're reporters from the Guilford Gazette, a student run community newspaper. Thanks for letting us chat with you
guilfordssc: If you'll forgive us, we'll forgive you!
Sen Leahy: I am happy to talk with you - I just wish I was in Vermont during this time of the year but hope to be home this weekend.
guilfordssc: Kim: Why do you think 9/11 happened?
Sen Leahy: Kim we are still trying to sort out all the information. It is obvious that there are people with a deep hatred of America and we know they want to do us harm. We don't have to fear a country coming against us because of our power - we are vunerable to attacks from a small number of well trained suicidal terrorists.
guilfordssc: Emily: Do you respect what president Bush is saying about going to war with Iraq/ Or are you totally opposed to the idea? Why?
Sen Leahy: Emily the Senate is now debating that issue and I left the Senate floor to join this chat. I know the President is concerned about the security of the United States as any President would be but I disagree with the idea of the USA declaring a war against Iraq. There are a lot of other countries that pose a greater immediate danger to us and we are not going to war against them. I do not think this type of unilateral action is one the US should take. We can defend ourselves without doing this. There is a speech on my web site about this that i gave yesterday.
guilfordssc: Everyone: Could you tell us who the other countries that pose a greater immediate danger are? What do you think we should do about them?
Sen Leahy: North Korea is potentially a very dangerous country and I think the efforts of South Korea and others to lower those tensions are important. There is a danger in the subcontinent because India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons - and both are allies. In that respect there are still terrorists in Pakistan who want to hit at us as there are in Saudi Arabia and some of the Gulf states. It is the terrorists in these countries that pose the biggest threat and unless we do more to work diplomatically at defusing the situation in No Koria I think they are a greater threat than Iraq
Sen Leahy: North Korea not No Koria
guilfordssc: Nick: Could you tell us your specific reasons for not wanting to go to war with Iraq?
guilfordssc: Did you see that the font increased in size? We didn't mean to yell, we're just trying to get a better view on the screen
Sen Leahy: Nick it would be better if you went to my website and read the whole speech. It took nearly a half hour to lay out all the reasons but they include my thoughts that we face greater dangers than Iraq e.g. with the terrorists still in Afghanistan and Pakistan. I don't think the U.S. should be in a position of basically taking unilateral action for a regieme change in Iraq and no one has considered the fact that it may cost us $200 billion dollars to fix up Iraq after we attack. If we have that kind of money to spend I can think of a lot in this country that needs fixing first
Sen Leahy: Web site is http://leahy.senate.gov
guilfordssc: Thanks. We'll be sure to go read the speech.
Kaiah: Do you think kids would be harmed in Iraq if we attacked?
Sen Leahy: Kaiah I know children and adult civilians will be harmed in a war in Iraq. I also know that terrorist groups will try to retaliate inside the U.S. against civilians as was done on Sept 11.
guilfordssc: Katy: If we do go to war with Iraq, how long would our military be there?
Sen Leahy: Katy no one knows how long we will be there. The Administration has said we will be involved in regime change there and that would mean we could be there for many years to come. The problem is is that no one knows and no one knows for sure how much a U.S. presence will effect the rest of the region
guilfordssc: Kim: Do you think the Air Force could get drafted? My oldest brother is in the Air Force.
Sen Leahy: Kim the Air Force will definitely be involved but than all services will be involved. Where is your brother now?
guilfordssc: Kim: He's in Germany.
Sen Leahy: You must be very proud of him
guilfordssc: Kim: I am.
Kaiah: Why have we waited until now to take action agains Iraq?
Katy: Won't it be a problem if we don't go to war? We've already announced to Iraq that we might invade them.
Sen Leahy: Kaiah and Katy - The President has announced that heintends to go to war against Iraq unless certain actions are taken. The Senate is now debating that and I am about to go back to that debate now. He will be given the authority to go to war even tho I think it is premature and within days Iraq will know that he will be able to go to war at any time he chooses. We have been taking actions against Iraq for years including maintaining an embargo and a no-flyzone against them. These efforts have done a lot to constrain Saddam Hussein.
Sen Leahy: It has been great chatting with all of you and I hate to leave but I do have to go back to work. I have been very impressed with your questions. It shows you are quite bright students and must also have very good teachers. I applaud you all!
guilfordssc: All: We are really thankful for your time and patience. We'll send you a copy of our article in the December Guilford Gazette.
Sen Leahy: I will look forward to receiving it.