November 8, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE 25329 of torture, and they ought to take the percent, a sizable feat; we had unem- this Nation a shining light of freedom high road in bringing our troops home ployment before Katrina go to 4.9 per- without secret, black ops demanded by from Iraq and returning Iraq to the cent, one of the lowest percentages on someone who was never elected Presi- Iraqi people. record, and even in the last quarter, dent. The Bush administration can never with the incredible natural disaster Throughout our history, Presidents take back the many mistakes that that we faced in the gulf coast and in have led this Nation through wars at have been made over the past several Florida, we had a remarkable 3.8 per- home and abroad by remaining true to years: A failed war in Iraq, heinous cent economic growth. They do not America’s principles and values. In the acts of torture around the world, and a want to talk about the jobs that have mid-19th century, America had never shamefully cynical foreign policy that been created under this policy. before faced a more ferocious enemy has put Americans at greater risk than So we do have a plan. We have a plan than the one from within that reduced ever before. this week or soon to reduce some us to the Civil War. President Lincoln But we are at another crossroads, and spending. We have balanced the budget never lost sight of what we were fight- it is not too late to take the right path. before; we can do it again. We can ing for. He said: ‘‘Our defense is in the If we do not, we risk suffering another bring about the reforms, and some of preservation of the spirit which prizes Yogi Berra prophecy: ‘‘De´ja´ vu all over those are tough reforms, but we have a liberty as a heritage of all men in all again.’’ plan. It involves reform, and it will re- lands everywhere. Destroy this spirit, f sult in savings and we will see contin- and you have planted the seeds of des- ued growth, economic growth in this potism around your own doors.’’ REPUBLICANS HAVE A PLAN country, and fulfill the dreams of In the early 20th century, America Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani- Americans who want better jobs, who had never before faced a ferocious foe mous consent to have 5 minutes in want lower taxes, less government reg- like the one that plunged the whole place of the gentleman from North ulation, and less litigation. All of those world into war, but President Woodrow Carolina. things, higher taxes, more government Wilson did not forget what America The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there regulation, and litigation, we know stood for. He said: ‘‘The present and all objection to the request of the gen- drive jobs and opportunity out of this that it holds belongs to the nations and tleman from Florida? great Nation. the peoples who preserve their self-con- There was no objection. So Republicans have a plan. We will trol and the orderly processes of gov- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a make reforms. They will result in sav- ernments; the future to those who previous order of the House, the gen- ings and better opportunities for all prove themselves the true friends of tleman from Florida (Mr. MICA) is rec- Americans as opposed to the rhetoric mankind.’’ ognized for 5 minutes. that we have had here on the floor this In the mid-20th century, America had Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I did not afternoon. So I am pleased to present never before faced an enemy more like plan to use these 5 minutes; but as we those items to the House in response to one that had plunged us again into a hear Bush-bashing and bashing of the the rhetoric we have heard. world war, but Franklin Delano Roo- Republicans as you walk through the f sevelt never wavered in his defense of Halls of our Chambers here, I think it his country: ‘‘The only thing we have is appropriate that we do take a ONE NATION—TWO PRESIDENTS to fear is fear itself.’’ minute to respond. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a And with the world on the brink of We just heard more Bush-bashing previous order of the House, the gen- nuclear terror during the Cuban Mis- about accusations of torture in Iraq. I tleman from Washington (Mr. sile Crisis, John Kennedy kept America wonder where some of these same peo- MCDERMOTT) is recognized for 5 min- free and safe without subverting Amer- ple were when Abu Ghraib prison had utes. ican values. JFK knew a lot about win- the torture of thousands of innocent Mr. MCDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, ning a war without losing the peace. He Iraqi civilians and other people in that across the country today, Americans said: ‘‘When at least at some future society who had their limbs lopped off, are going to the polls to vote for can- date the high court of history sits in who were taken to the precipice out- didates and issues. A year ago, the judgment on each one of us, our suc- side of the prison and lined up, to deal Americans went to the polls and voted cess or failure in whatever office we with prison-crowding. A former Iraqi for a President, but they got two in- may hold will be measured by the an- prisoner told some of us Members of stead. We have George W. Bush, the swers to four questions: Were we truly Congress they would line up the pris- President of domestic policy, like ap- men,’’ and I would add women, ‘‘of oners and then shoot them in front of a pointing a self-described fashion God courage, men and women of judgment, ditch and then bury them. One escaped who left the gulf coast unprotected; men and women of integrity? Were we who had been shot several times and he and we have DICK CHENEY, the Presi- truly men and women of dedication?’’ told us that story. dent of foreign policy, including secret Presidents Lincoln, Wilson, Roo- The Bush administration has wanted CIA presence around the world. sevelt, and Kennedy knew a thing to stop the torture of people in that Now, today the President of foreign about freedom and liberty; and they prison and the loss of life in that coun- policy is trying to round up votes in knew a lot about America. We are the try. They do not want to talk about the Senate to exempt the CIA from an land of the free and not the home of the 300,000 mass graves that we have amendment that would ban the torture the afraid. But the President of foreign uncovered in that country, the slaugh- and inhumane treatment of prisoners. policy would have it otherwise. His de- ter of his own people that Saddam Hus- It is a sure sign that America has lost mands for black ops is a black eye on sein conducted. its way when we even have to talk this Nation. American history, not the Then we heard the previous speaker about banning torture and inhumane unelected President of foreign policy, talk about how bad things are in Amer- treatment of prisoners. should be our guide. ica under the Bush administration and America has never had two Presi- Great American Presidents have led Bush policy. They did not tell us that dents until now, and America has never this Nation in times no less frightening under the policy of President Bush we had a question about its moral integ- than today. Ask any veteran of the have actually, in just this last fiscal rity, until now. The President of for- Second World War what was at stake. year that ended the end of September, eign policy would have us believe that They called it a world war for a reason. we have $100 billion in additional rev- we must become the enemy to defeat They did not shrink from their duty, enue into the United States Treasury. the enemy. Like so much from this ad- and we must not forget that we did our That is a plan of failure? In one year ministration, this is not true. Amer- best and we are the best hope of this we have reduced the deficit, the pro- ica’s moral imperative is true enough, world. We keep America free without jected deficit a year ago by some 25 strong enough, and safe enough to keep losing America’s moral integrity.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 08:23 Mar 02, 2017 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 0687 Sfmt 0634 E:\FDSYS\2005BOUNDRECORD\BOOK19\NO-SSN\BR08NO05.DAT BR08NO05 ejoyner on DSK30MW082PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE 25330 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE November 8, 2005 The unelected President of foreign ters knows that the Counterproliferation Di- Thousands have mobility issues and policy wants an exemption on an vision is part of the Directorate of Oper- are without housing because they can- amendment that would ban torture and ations—the covert side of the CIA, where not get up and down the stairs to their most everything and everyone are classified. inhumane treatment of prisoners. He If Fitzgerald were successful in flipping apartment. The list goes on and on, wants the CIA to be free to do what- Libby—and that seems pretty clearly to be and it is truly heart wrenching. ever they want. his intention—then Cheney himself would Just last week I was delivering meals We have come a long way from the face charges of violating the espionage act. to seniors in my district who could not days of great Presidents to arrive at The outcome? Libby will probably hold get out of their third floor condomin- the day of an unelected President. He fast through the 2006 election, his lawyers iums. Even though it was 5 days after acts not in the shadow of the White dragging out the case by interviewing re- the hurricane struck South Florida, House, but standing in front of the per- porters, etc, and then Libby, if convicted, the residents there said that no one son elected President. We used to shine can expect a pardon. As for Cheney, he could save face, resigning for health reasons—that had heard from FEMA, no one had seen light into the darkness of regimes suspect ticker of his coming to the rescue. FEMA and, worse yet, no one knew where people disappeared into secret At that point, Bush could appoint a new how to get in touch with FEMA to prisons, gulags. Now, the unelected vice president to serve out the remainder of make sure things did not get any President of foreign policy would have his term. This appointment would require worse. us become the custodians of gulags. majority approval of both houses of Congress And why do I fear that things could For a long time, people have won- under the 25th Amendment. get worse? Because of problems like dered just how President Bush could Meanwhile, its business as usual, Bush this. This is a third floor apartment, drifting from day to day with the currents. get it so wrong so often. Now we know: Yesterday just as Bush uttered his denial of that is the ceiling of the apartment, he has help. America has a second torture, the army charged five Rangers with and as we can see, you can look right President we never elected. abusing prisoners in Iraq. This morning, through the ceiling at the sky. Mr. Speaker, I will include for the Italian state TV aired a documentary de- This is the woman’s master bedroom RECORD an article from the Village scribing how the U.S. used white phos- and literally during the storm, 1 Voice. phorous bombs against civilians in Falluja. minute after she walked out of that PRESIDENT SHOULD DUMP CHENEY The U.S. admits using the weapons to illu- master bedroom the ceiling came down minate battlefields. We are not signatories (By James Ridgeway) on her bed. The roof caved in. A minute to a treaty banning the use of white phos- WASHINGTON, D.C.—Politicians across the phorous weapons. The film is being broadcast earlier and it would have caved in on political spectrum are hoping against hope on the first anniversary of the U.S. attack on her. that President Bush can take control of the Falluja, which destroyed much of the city Obviously, this apartment is un- nation and jumpstart a second term, kicking and displaced its population of 300,000. inhabitable. However, this is a three- out chief adviser Karl Rove—who remains at Tomorrow, Ahmed Chalabi, a deputy prime story building. If we delay the disaster risk in the Plame Affair—and changing pol- minister of Iraq, the man who fed the gul- response, if we do not get FEMA tarp icy in Iraq, where U.S. soldiers continue to lible American press wrong information on die. But as everyone in Washington knows, distribution centers set up right away, Saddam’s possession of weapons of mass de- if we wait weeks before we deliver indi- Rove isn’t the real problem here. The real struction, is visiting Washington to address problem for Bush is Vice President Dick Che- neocon headquarters at the American Enter- vidual assistance, then not only are we ney—it’s Cheney’s now former chief of staff, prise Institute. Chalabi also is to meet with saying to the woman that lived in this Scooter Libby, who has been indicted in the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. A thor- unit, tough it out, you are on our your Plame Affair, and it’s his pushing that has oughly disgraced liar, the conduit of so much own for now, but we are also making the administration taking a hard line on the of the phony information that led us to war, the problem worse because there are handling of detainees. And the best way, per- a man with no political base outside the con- two floors below this apartment unit. haps the only way, for Bush to take charge niving neocon circles, Chalabi is now seri- of the country is to dump the vice president, If it rains through this massive hole ously discussed in Washington as a possible in the ceiling in this woman’s apart- forcing him into retirement before he can be American-backed compromise candidate for charged by Plame Affair prosecutor Patrick Iraqi prime minister because he might ap- ment, then it will leak down onto the Fitzgerald with violating the espionage laws. peal of the Shiite southern part of the coun- apartments on the second floor and These last few days, while Bush wandered try. As it stands, he is now in control of the possibly weaken the structure, leading around South America from one fruitless oil industry, and in the minds of U.S. policy- to the evacuation of everyone in that meeting to another and fended off charges of makers, that counts for a lot. part of building. And that is beginning prisoner abuse in Iraq with bland statements such as ‘‘We do not torture,’’ Cheney was f to happen; this is what is happening. Our ineffective response is not only ir- busily working away behind the scenes seek- b 1400 ing to persuade Congress not to impose re- responsible, but it also costs the tax- strictions on the CIA torture interrogators. HURRICANE WILMA AND payers more money than necessary. The Washington Post revealed last week the RECONCILIATION Now, I have been talking about a nat- CIA was running interrogations in secret Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. ural disaster, which is Hurricane jails for suspected terrorists in eastern Eu- Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to Wilma. But I also want to talk a rope. minute about a man-made disaster Cheney, even more than Defense Secretary claim the time of the gentlewoman Donald Rumsfeld, is the man behind the Iraq from the Virgin Islands. that is coming, something that will war. Fitzgerald’s indictment of Libby blunt- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there victimize once again the victims of ly states that Cheney’s top aide learned Val- objection to the request of the gentle- Hurricane Wilma, Katrina and Rita. I erie Plame, the covert CIA agent, was ad- woman from Florida? am talking about the Draconian budget ministration critic Joe Wilson’s wife from There was no objection. cuts proposed by the Republican lead- Cheney. Given that, how can Cheney avoid The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a ership in their so-called budget rec- testifying in a Libby trial? He does not have previous order of the House, the gentle- onciliation package. the immunity of a president. Last week, the papers in South Flor- ‘‘Libby is the firewall protecting Vice woman from Florida (Ms. WASSERMAN President Cheney,’’ writes John Dean in his SCHULTZ) is recognized for 5 minutes. ida blared the news that over 5,000 peo- FindLaw column: Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. ple’s homes had been condemned, much The Libby indictment asserts that ‘‘[o]n or Speaker, I rise today to talk about a of it affordable housing. In Broward about June 12, 2003 Libby was advised by the crisis in South Florida. County the median price of a home is Vice President of the United States that Wil- The third most destructive hurricane $348,000, making many homes and even son’s wife worked at the Central Intelligence ever to hit this country struck my con- rental apartments out of reach for Agency in the Counterproliferation Division. gressional district just over 2 weeks thousands of south Floridians. Libby understood that the Vice President had learned this information from the CIA.’’ ago. Thousands of people are still with- While the loss of 5,000 homes dam- In short, Cheney provided the classified in- out power, thousands still have holes aged by Hurricane Wilma is terrible, I formation to Libby—who then told the press. in their roofs that threaten to condemn would like to point out that the budget Anyone who works in national security mat- their houses with every new rain. reconciliation package endorsed by the

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