LCWR Assembly Statement on US-DPRK Crisis

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, during World War II, a wise admonition from our military read: ``Loose lips sink ships.'' In other words, beware of unguarded talk.

Of late, our world has witnessed an unprecedented escalation in tension with North Korea and its deranged tyrant, including North Korea's recent firing of a missile over Japan. Yet President Trump's reaction to the ongoing North Korean crisis has been an unguarded yielding of dangerous words of war. His improvised remarks have stunned experts, allies, and even his own advisers.

Instead of thorough diplomatic pressure and international consensus building, President Trump has done the opposite. His unpredictable rhetoric lacks strategic thought. It puts American troops stationed in South Korea and our regional allies at greater risk.

This administration is understaffing the State Department, weakening its ability to handle the sort of diplomacy I am speaking of. In the President's 2018 budget, the State Department is really an afterthought, with major accounts cut to the bone.

Thankfully, there are voices of reason, including the respected Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record their statement against fear-mongering and advising dialogue is more productive than rhetoric, and connection more transformative than threats of destruction.

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