Monitor Lunch: Edward Kennedy

"I think he has done well on the war front. I think he has built the coalitions together, he has understood that this is multi-dimensional – in these areas – war, intelligence, financial, immigration. Those are the principal elements and obviously the economy – trying to stand for the stimulus package. There will be different elements in terms of the makeup but in terms of the overall and overarching issue I think he has been an inspiring figure and has been able to gain a good deal of respect and support in countries around the world and here at home."

"I support the decision and the judgment of the Joint Chiefs (of Staff) in terms of focusing our military efforts where they are... We are going to get into a situation at some time – we all hope it is sooner rather than later but I don't think it is predictable – where there will be some outcome in terms of that undertaking and then I think we will be able to get focus and attention on other kind of threats on terrorism. I think those will be based upon the judgement and the intelligence and the information we are going to have...This doesn't mean that we are not going to be involved, but I am prepared to wait until we have concluded taking this step by step. I think one of the very sensible things this administration has done is to move step by step. They haven't been rushed into decision-making. They have done this in a methodical kind of way. I am very supportive of that sort of concept."

"I came out of an event the other night ...and people asked me: Are we on more alert? I don't know how to get on more alert personally. How do you get on a higher alert? ...I don't see how we really have a higher degree of alert for citizens. And I think they do become sort of alarmed and concerned, and I think it has a particular impact with regard to children.

"I have seen this in a number of the places I have been around in Massachusetts where this has intensified children's anxiety. We had very interesting hearings with four physiatrists about what is happening to children in terms of our society. You know they made the judgment to go home from school when this terrorist attack (occurred) which is just the wrong thing – they went back and saw this (on TV) repeatedly, repeatedly, repeatedly. It really has had some very important impact. People around Boston and the other towns who talk about it feel the way I do: that we can't really personally do a lot more to get on higher alert. I don't know whether it really does a lot of good other than causing increased anxiety to people."

"We have joined with others in asking the Justice Department for both a report and a briefing and we have done this with a bipartisan panel request ...and we haven't heard back. I am expecting it to be next week to get either a report or a briefing. And we will have a good deal more information at that time. The fact that we have got (a request that is) bipartisan and bicameral enhances our opportunity to get to the bottom of it."

"Basically, we have bombed on other holidays. If they feel they have to bomb in terms of carrying out a mission, I am supporting it. One of the things we saw in terms of the most recent history in Kosovo is when we were involved in the bombing there were a lot of people that started criticizing what we were going to bomb here and what we were going to bomb there. There was a lot of second-guessing. ...

"I think it is a mistake to get back to that kind of situation where we are second-guessing the military. It is counterproductive in terms of reaching our aims and our goals. I don't know whether the judgment is going to be made to do it or not to do it, but I am not going to second-guess it."

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