Online Chat With 12th-Grade Students Of Springfield High School
April 30, 2003

Senator Patrick Leahy: Hi - I just got back from the vote. It is still going on and I voted against Mr. Sutton
Springfield High Dave : Good
Springfield High 3 : Nice to chat with you today, Claire has the first question
Springfield High Clair: Hi! This is Claire, and I was wondering if you could start us out with a brief statement about your position on war with Iraq.
Senator Patrick Leahy (12:41:38 PM): The best way for a statement on the war is to look at my website as it goes into better detail than a short simplistic statement. While I had opposed entering the war absent stronger international support I am pleased it ended as quickly as it did and with as little loss of life as it did. Now comes the hard part with rebuilding and convincing the Arab world that we are not undertaking an imperialistic effort. We have to turn Iraq back to them as soon as possible and make a greater effort to settle the Israeli-Palestinian fight.
Springfield High Clair (12:42:21 PM): When do you think a war with Iraq would have been necessary?
Senator Patrick Leahy (12:44:37 PM): Claire many would argue war was not necessary . We had contained Saddam Hussein and, if he had had the terrible weapons everyone said he would use against us we have to ask why didn't he. There are a lot of places in the world that are greater threats to us than Iraq e.g. North Korea and the terrorists now based in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan but we will not go to war there.
Springfield High Dave (12:46:24 PM): What makes you say that we won't go to war with any of those countries? Especially North Korea?
Senator Patrick Leahy (12:47:35 PM): The President has said he has ruled out war with North Korea and we are allied with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan even though they harbor many members of Al Quaeda
Springfield High 3: What are your feelings regarding UN support in funding Iraq's reconstruction?
Senator Patrick Leahy : Brigham we would be wise to include the UN and as many countries as possible . They have the experts and will be able to add credibility to the argument that this was not a war of America against Islam. In any event the U.S. taxpayers will have to pay hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq by the time we leave there.
Springfield High Clair (12:50:46 PM): Speaking of funding, do you think that "no child left behind" will, over all, have a negative impact on Vermont schools?
Claire the people who understand the Vermont system the best tell me that the "no child..." is such a large unfunded mandate that it will hurt us in Vermont. Because I see no committment to fund it adequately I voted against it.  I am going to have to go back to the Senate in a few minutes but have time for another question
Springfield High Clair : What do you think about the issue of ethnicity being taken into consideration in college admissions?
Senator Patrick Leahy : In college admissions they take into consideration regions, whether you are related to alumni, whether your family gave a lot of money and so forth. I agree with a lot of business and military leaders that we need to consider  ethnicity too if we want to improve things for all of us.
Springfield High Clair (12:56:13 PM): Thanks very much!
Springfield High 3 : Thanks for chatting with us today!!
Springfield High Dave (12:56:24 PM): Good talking to you
Senator Patrick Leahy (12:57:22 PM): I am impressed with your questions and enjoyed being with the three of you. Best to Claire,Dave and Brigham. Enjoy the day. Pat Leahy