>> as i said at the outset of my speech, mr. abe was just one speech. it does not replace all the hard work that will have to be done. that was done before the speech and will have to be done in the years to come in order to solve what has been a 60-year problem. i am under no illusions that would ever statements i have put forward somehow are going to supplant the need to do that work. i think that what is different now is number one, you are seeing a u.s. administration and an american president engaged this issue almost on the day that i took office. we have only been in office five months. and yet we have seen extraordinary activity already on this issue. and that has sent a signal to all parties in the middle east that we are serious. i have assigned george mitchell, my special envoy who has met repeatedly with all players in the region, and who will be going back next week in the wake of my appearance in cairo to follow up with each of the individual parties on a whole host of negotiation points. and potential confidence- building measures that ca

mr. berman: they cannot. if the gentleman is yielding on his time to me. they cannot. you know, abe lincoln used to tell the story if you call a tail a leg, how many legs does a sheep have? and the answer is four because calling a tail a leg doesn't make it one. no matter how many times the spector is raised this office cannot -- specter is raised, this office cannot and has no intentions or plans of doing anything to promote abortions, coercive abortions, fund abortions, lobby on abortion policy. it is a office that is focused generally on the issues of women's political empowerment, should women have the right to vote? should they be able to run for office? do they -- are they treated as equal citizens under the law? it serves as a promoter of better education for women and girls and a series of causes that you are known for caring about. and it does not -- >> reclaiming the time. the chair: the gentleman from new jersey controls the time. >> on the issue of multilateral organizations, like the organization for american states, the african union and others what can the role of thi