February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1571 nothing to influence our strategy or We have three options to follow. The have the collective will to send one of our direction in the global war with first is to stay the course. I don’t know our own. radical jihadists. of anyone, including the President, The bipartisan resolution before us Secondly, it ill defines the enemy. It who is suggesting we take that route. asks the Members one straightforward does not recognize that we are in a The second is to increase the troops question to be answered. Do you ap- global war with radical jihadists who level, which the supporters of House prove of the President’s proposal to de- have attacked us around the world. Concurrent Resolution 63 are saying no ploy more than 20,000 additional troops Third, it omits recognizing key U.S. to. The only other option is to reduce in Iraq, or do you not? Thus, this reso- personnel that are serving, and serving troops. lution is a clarifying moment for the ably, in this global war with radical I would ask you who will support Members to say precisely where they jihadists. Why does it not recognize our House Concurrent Resolution 63, read stand on the President’s plan. intelligence professionals? Why does it the Baker-Hamilton report, a bipar- There is little doubt that our Iraq not recognize our Armed Forces and in- tisan report, that talks about the ef- policy is not succeeding. Our Com- telligence professionals serving in Af- fects that will occur if we do withdraw mander in Chief, President Bush, ac- ghanistan, throughout the Middle East, from Iraq. There will be widespread vi- knowledged on this floor last month Africa and parts of Asia? olence there, more than we are seeing during his State of the Union address Finally, most ironic, the bottom line today. And they warn us that a with- that, and I quote, ‘‘Whatever you voted of this resolution tells the President to drawal may require the U.S. to engage, for, you did not vote for failure.’’ stay the course. That is not good once again, in Iraq to stabilize that I voted for the authorization, and I enough. This is a tough enemy. We area. did not vote for failure. But the poli- need to develop and evolve our strategy So for those of you who would sup- cies being pursued by this administra- to be successful. port House Concurrent Resolution 63, I tion have not led to success. After nearly 4 years at war, after f again ask, what is your plan? ‘‘No’’ is not a plan. more than 3,100 of our finest sons and TIME TO SEND THE BUSH ADMIN- f daughters have given the ultimate ISTRATION A MESSAGE THAT A measure of sacrifice in Iraq, after more CHANGE IN DIRECTION IS NEED- IRAQ WAR RESOLUTION than 25,000 have been wounded, after ED IN IRAQ The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- the expenditure of more than $400 bil- (Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia asked and ant to section 3 of House Resolution lion on this war effort by the American was given permission to address the 157, proceedings will now resume on the taxpayer, our success seems as remote House for 1 minute.) concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 63) as ever. Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speak- disapproving of the decision of the Not surprisingly, two-thirds of the er, it is time to send a message to the President announced on January 10, American people oppose the President’s Bush administration that change is 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 addi- escalation plan. So do many current needed in Iraq. Mr. Speaker, the resolu- tional United States combat troops to and former senior military officials, tion we are debating this week here on Iraq. and Prime Minister Maliki has ex- the House floor is the first step in this The Clerk read the title of the con- pressed his disapproval as well. new Congress’ efforts to take Iraq in a current resolution. I oppose the President’s plan for sev- new direction. The SPEAKER pro tempore. When eral reasons. First, we simply cannot Last November the American people proceedings were postponed on Tues- ignore the many miscalculations made were clear that they wanted a dramatic day, February 13, 2007, time for debate by the administration about this war, change in Iraq. The President’s troop on the concurrent resolution on that from sending too few troops, to grossly escalation plan is not what they were day had expired. underestimating the cost, to failing to asking for. This week this House will Pursuant to the resolution, it is now properly plan for the postwar period. emphatically voice its opposition to in order for a further period of debate The President repeatedly said that the President’s plan. We hope that this on the concurrent resolution to extend his policies were working. He was trag- serves as a wake-up call and sends the not beyond midnight. ically wrong, just as he is wrong today, ‘‘Decider’’ a message that he can no The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. in my view, about this escalation. longer walk over Congress. We are not HOYER) and the gentleman from Michi- Secondly, this troop escalation does going to rubber-stamp his plans any gan (Mr. HOEKSTRA) each will control 5 not represent a new strategy. In fact, more. hours. we have tried at least four escalations This week’s debate is only the begin- The Chair recognizes the gentleman in the past, none of which has suc- ning, Mr. Speaker. House and Senate from Maryland. ceeded in quelling violence. committees have already conducted 52 Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I ask The time for more troops was 4 years hearings on Iraq. That is what the Con- unanimous consent to yield my time ago, 3 years ago, perhaps even 2 years gress is supposed to do, provide real for controlling the time to Mr. AN- ago, but not today. oversight on the administration. Un- DREWS or his designee. The fact is our commitment of forces fortunately for the first 3 years of this The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- has never, has never been commensu- war, congressional Republicans rubber- tleman from New Jersey is recognized rate with the risk the President says stamped the Decider’s Iraq plan. as the designee of the gentleman from exists. Never has the President, the Those days are over. Mr. Speaker, we Maryland. Commander in Chief, suggested the re- have an obligation to find a new course Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield sources necessary to succeed. This is in Iraq, and a military solution is now 1 minute to the distinguished majority too little, tragically, too late. Third, we cannot disregard the deep out of the question. And that is why leader, Mr. HOYER of Maryland. (Mr. HOYER asked and was given skepticism and warnings of our mili- this troop escalation plan should be de- permission to revise and extend his re- tary leaders. General Abizaid, not just feated. marks.) another soldier, but the former chief of f Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, 3 months the Central Command in charge of our b 1030 ago, the American people sent a re- effort in Iraq, has stated that, and I sounding message, a message for quote, ‘‘More American forces prevent WHAT IS YOUR PLAN? change. They voted for a new direction the Iraqis from doing more, from tak- (Mr. SALI asked and was given per- in our Nation, including a new direc- ing more responsibility for their own mission to address the House for 1 tion for the war in Iraq, which will future.’’ That is the consequence Gen- minute.) enter its fifth year next month. eral Abizaid believes of the President’s Mr. SALI. Mr. Speaker, for those who This week on this House floor the policy. would support House Concurrent Reso- Members of this great body can dem- Former Secretary of State Powell, lution 63, I ask, what is your plan? onstrate that we not only have heard one of the military leaders so success- ‘‘No’’ is not a plan. the voters’ message, but also that we ful in Iraq I, stated, and I quote again,

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:39 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.007 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1572 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 ‘‘I am not persuaded that another surge who is absolutely committed to pre- So I am speaking today in memory of of troops into Baghdad for the purposes vailing in the war on terror, to protect Paulie and his mother and his father of suppressing the communitarian vio- our people, to protect our country and, and his brother and those who are still lence, this civil war, will work.’’ That yes, to protect my three daughters, my fighting there for us and listening to is General Powell. three grandchildren, and my great what we have to say. And even Senator MCCAIN, who sup- grandchild, I am absolutely committed I will not speak by calling into ques- ports the President’s escalation none- to policies that will protect us from tion anyone’s patriotism or motives. theless, said just last week, ‘‘I don’t terror and defeat those terrorists who All of us, Republicans and Democrats think it enhances our chances for suc- threaten us. Continuing to support alike, recognize that much is at stake ceeding in Iraq.’’ failed strategy, however, weakens our in Iraq and, undoubtedly, we all feel It is obvious that there is not a mili- efforts in the war on terror. It does not passionately about doing our duty to tary solution to the violence in Iraq. strengthen them. move forward and address what I con- We need a diplomatic surge, a surge of Furthermore, our failure to imple- sider to be the issue of our lives, the Iraqi responsibility. ment an effective strategy in Iraq has worldwide war against terrorists and a We must implement an aggressive clearly, indisputably, resulted in en- battleground of that war, which is Iraq. diplomatic strategy, as suggested by couraging and enhancing the ability of The issue of responsibility in this our friend, FRANK WOLF, both within terrorists to recruit and to spread their war has been discussed during this de- the region and beyond. The Iraqis must twisted, hateful, violent ideology. bate, and I believe it is an important take the lead on security, and the mis- Finally, my colleagues, some assert issue when addressing Iraq and in ad- sion of American forces must shift that this resolution is a first step to dressing this resolution. from combat to counterterrorism, defunding our troops in the field. This b 1045 training and logistics. And we must is categorically false. begin the responsible redeployment of While the new majority will explore Certainly in the change of direction our forces. other opportunities to affect Iraq pol- the President has presented, the Iraqis Now, let me close by urging Members icy, our commitment to our men and have a clear responsibility to meet the to disregard the arguments of those women in harm’s way is unwavering. goals of securing their own future. who seek to mischaracterize this reso- Mr. Speaker, there is not a Member Likewise, Congress has a clear respon- lution. Some say that the resolution of this body, not one, on either side of sibility to produce meaningful legisla- will demoralize our troops. In a democ- the aisle, who does not pray for our Na- tion and provide effective oversight of racy it is proper and essential that we tion’s success in Iraq. our government’s actions, especially debate the tactics and strategy we are Our brave service men and women during time of war. employing when we are asking young have performed there with valor and Put another way, our citizens hold Americans, and some not so young with great honor. They have done ev- their elected Representatives account- Americans, to be at the point of the erything that a grateful Nation has able to craft legislation that results in spear. It is easy for us to talk about asked of them since the beginning of meaningful and positive change. That tactics and strategy, not so easy for this war. We will not abandon them. I is precisely what is so disappointingly those who are in harm’s way. say to them directly, we will not aban- unacceptable about this nonbinding The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of don you. We will support you and we bill, which fails to do anything, which Staff, General Pace, says this debate will assure that you are trained and holds no one accountable, and does not will not adversely affect morale if we equipped for the mission that we give move our country forward on this crit- make it clear, as we have made it clear you. ical issue. over and over and over again, that we This is a critical moment, I tell you, Frankly, those many who have criti- will not abandon, we will not my colleagues, in our Nation’s war ef- cized the administration for staying underman, we will not undersupply, we fort in Iraq. The President’s policy is the course too long are now presenting will not undertrain, and we will not failing and his most recent proposal us with a bill that is the ‘‘stay the defund those who we have put in promises more of the same. This reso- course’’ piece of legislation that both harm’s way. We will support our troops lution is a first step in our attempt to advocates failure and a position of sta- today, tomorrow and every day there- forge a new direction in Iraq, and I tus quo. More specifically, the bill ig- after. urge every Member to support it. nores two of the most important parts Some say that this resolution will Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, at this of our Nation’s role in Iraq: the con- demoralize our troops. Yet General time I would like to yield 10 minutes to sequences of failure and the principal Pace, as I said, says otherwise. the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. GRANG- support that we should provide our Others say that this resolution has ER). troops during times of war. not received adequate consideration. Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, on Sun- Let us say we do redeploy, which Yet, I tell my friends, in the first 6 day afternoon, I drove about 20 miles means quit. Or let us say the Congress weeks of this new Congress, we have to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Paul takes the next step that is being talked held 52 House and Senate hearings. For Balint in Willow Park, Texas. I had the about, and that is stopping the funding the last 4 years this Congress has been solemn honor of presenting them with in Iraq. Let us look clearly at the con- absent without leave, and the Amer- congressional remarks commemorating sequences of a failed state in Iraq, not ican people know it. We did not de- the noble and distinguished service of only for America but for the world. mand accountability. We did not look their son, Paulie. Let there be no mistake, Iraq is but at strategy. We did not question the The parents of Captain Balint did not one front in a long war against a fanat- President’s policies. Fifty-two hearings complain to me or ask me to vote to ical enemy who does not value human have been held to date, and Chairman end the war. They talked about the life and who seeks to destroy those who LANTOS has announced that he will pride of their son and his lifetime de- do. Failing to secure Iraq will result in hold a full committee hearing on all sire to serve in the military. massive instability in the Middle East, pending resolutions related to Iraq The Balints have never waffled in which will undoubtedly spill over to when we come back from the Presi- their belief that the war in Iraq is one the rest of the world. dent’s Day break. that demands our Nation’s full com- Consider the fractured nature of the Some say that this resolution is mitment. They experienced a loss no Middle East and the nature of the dan- merely symbolic. To them I simply one ever wants to share. Paulie was gerous threat we face. Iranian tele- state that the bipartisan expression of fighting to preserve our freedom and vision stations routinely broadcast the will of this House, when it mirrors our way of life. commercials that are designed to re- the views of the vast majority of the As I wished them well and turned to cruit would-be terrorists. In one ad spe- American public, cannot, must not, leave, the Balints asked me to bring a cifically for children, cartoon char- should not be casually ignored. message back to Washington. They acters entice them to be suicide bomb- Some say that this resolution signals said to tell you to stay firm because we ers. Imagine a society that views in- retreat in the war on terror. As one need to finish the job in Iraq. doctrinating 10-year-olds in the joys of

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:07 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.009 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1573 martyrdom as a positive action. And With all my heart I believe we stand Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield yet that is precisely the kind of hate- at a crucial crossroad where the deci- myself 111⁄2 minutes. filled enemy we face in this war, where sion we make will affect not just us, (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given again Iraq is just one battle. but our children and their children and permission to revise and extend his re- A failed Iraq would provide inter- generations to come. Our enemies have marks.) national terrorists fertile ground to demonstrated that they are willing to Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I sup- sow the seeds of just that type of ha- kill us even if they have to die them- port this resolution because it provides tred and extremist thought. These ter- selves. Thankfully, our servicemen and the affirmation and the change that I ror groups are cold and brutal and fully women are willing to bravely defend believe we need in Iraq. The affirma- dedicated to our destruction. our freedom as we in Congress go tion is essentially universal in this In a failed Iraq, terror organizations through the semantics of debating a House. It is an affirmation that we are would exploit a populace who is dis- nonbinding resolution. irrevocably committed to arm, sup- trustful of Western democracies, who For this reason and all the other rea- port, equip, and protect the troops that have turned their backs on them. sons I have outlined today, I will not we have sent to Iraq. We are com- These people would be ripe for terrorist support a resolution that sends any- mitted to stand by the young men and recruitment thing less than a clear message of sup- women who have made the choice to Just yesterday, many of us met with port for our troops who are deployed in make a sacrifice for this country. That the ambassadors of Jordan and Egypt harm’s way. Senator JOE LIEBERMAN issue is not an issue. who warned us of the consequences stated last week in the Senate, ‘‘This What is an issue is whether American should we take the next steps that bill is a resolution of irresolution.’’ policy is working in Iraq or failing in have been hinted at during this debate If you believe the President’s new Iraq. I believe it is failing, and I believe and meetings held in congressional of- strategy is unsound, then offer a better that a vote for this resolution is a vote fices. America cannot afford to repeat solution to win. If that is where your for change. the mistakes of the past by withdrawal convictions lie, then have the courage We have frequently heard, Mr. Speak- from a direct confrontation with rad- to act decisively and be ready to accept er, from the minority side that they ical terrorists. Should we retreat from the consequences of your convictions. would like to hear a plan. With all due the current fight, the enemy will con- Now, that would be a resolution. respect, Mr. Speaker, I suggest they tinue to intensify their attacks against The nonbinding resolution before us start listening to this debate and to America, just as they did following the is at best confusing, at worst immoral. the American people. 1983 bombings of the Marine barracks It pledges to support the troops in the Here is how you build a plan: First, in Beirut, the first World Trade Center field but washes its hands of what they you acknowledge reality by properly bombing in 1993, the 1996 attack on the are doing. We can’t have it both ways. defining the problem. The administra- Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, the We can’t say that our military men tion persists in rhetoric that defines U.S. Embassy bombings in Africa in and women have our full support while the conflict in Iraq as a struggle be- 1997, and the brazen attack against disapproving of their mission on the tween forces of civilization on one hand USS Cole in 2000. eve of their battle. The bill does not re- and the forces which wrought Sep- Many of the speakers on this resolu- solve to do anything. It doesn’t offer a tember 11 on the other. To some extent tion have cited the widely accepted solution. It only offers political expe- this characterization is accurate, but Iraq Study Group report, which pointed dient top-cover. It would be nice to to a great extent this characterization to the dire consequences that America, play the game of nonbinding actions, is inaccurate. indeed the world, would face should we but our soldiers and marines in Iraq A significant portion of the violence fail in Iraq. What they choose to ignore don’t have that option, and neither in Iraq is not the result of Islamic vio- is that the bipartisan authors of this should we. In fact, if the troops in Iraq lence against American troops, al- report stipulated that they would agree cared to watch what we were doing in though it exists. A significant portion with a short-term surge of American Congress this week, they would be out- of the violence in Iraq is the result of forces to bolster security and train raged. Fortunately for us, they have sectarian violence, Shiia against Iraqi forces, which is precisely what more important things to do and they Sunni, Sunni against Shiia, and occa- our new strategy does. live in a world where bullets are real sionally others against the Kurds. This Two weeks ago, the National Intel- and words alone carry little meaning. is not the position of the Democratic ligence Estimate on Iraq was pub- I will close by asking all of you to Party. This is the observation of the lished, and it largely concurred with picture yourselves as an 18- or 19-year- military and intelligence leadership in the findings of the study group of the old marine or soldier who is preparing public documents of this country. Sec- results that failure in Iraq would bring. for imminent battle in Baghdad. At tarian violence is the principal prob- Retreat from Iraq would result in this very moment, you would be fuel- lem in Iraq. pervasive instability in the Middle ing your Humvee; loading your ammu- If the problem in Iraq were that a East, encourage rogue regimes, and nition, checking your gear and equip- fragile but legitimate young govern- give terrorists a secure base from ment; taking time out to pray a pri- ment was struggling to hang on but which to launch attacks against free vate, quiet prayer. And if you are could not overcome the resistance, nations everywhere. lucky, you might be able to call family then this idea of a troop surge would No one disagrees that the situation and friends to tell them how much you make sense. The idea of sending more in Iraq has become more dangerous, love them. And all the while, the back fighters to defeat the resistance would but let me be perfectly clear. The con- of your hair is standing up and the make sense. This is not the proper defi- sequences of failure in this fight would back of your neck is itching because nition of the problem. The troop surge be catastrophic not only for America, the support that you feel that is nec- does not send more fighters to defeat but for the entire world. essary from your government is lack- the resistance. It sends more referees While this war is certainly a test of ing. As you prepare for battle, the best to inject themselves into the violence our resolve, America has faced tough that your elected Representatives back between Shiia and Sunni militia and decisions during critical war years in home in your Nation’s Capital can do is warfighters. The problem in Iraq is the past. In 1862 debate over the Civil to debate a nonbinding resolution that largely, not exclusively but largely, War threatened the success of the cam- has no real significance, except to call how to stop the sectarian violence. paigns that our troops were engaged in. into question the mission you are The second change that we must During the opening days of World War about to embark on. have is a change that vests the Iraqis II, while the troops were engaged in a Quit? Unthinkable. Stop the funding themselves with the primary responsi- fight for their lives in the Pacific, Con- while they are fighting? Immoral. Stay bility and eventually the exclusive re- gress bickered over strategies of isola- the course and do nothing? Outrageous. sponsibility to defeat that sectarian vi- tionism based in fear. And now in 2007, What the Nation and our troops de- olence. Sending more American troops we find ourselves in the fight of our serve is our best thinking and our best to do the job of the Iraqis is not the an- generation. support. swer. Insisting that the Iraqis do their

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:07 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.011 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1574 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 own job, defend their own country, tions: First, that the intelligence com- Last June I voted against the admin- fight their own fight is the answer. munity correctly assessed that Iraq istration’s ‘‘stay the course’’ resolu- Now, the United States should not di- had active stockpiles of chemical and tion that sought to conflate the war in vorce itself from that effort. The biological weapons and was pursuing a Iraq with the entire struggle against al United States, in my view, should not nuclear bomb; second, that President Qaeda, even as it failed to acknowledge immediately vest the Iraqis with all Bush would exhaust all diplomatic ef- that our strategy to stabilize the coun- that authority. But sending more forts to resolve the international com- try was not working and that its coun- young Americans to fight the fight for munity’s standoff with Iraq over its try was slipping into civil war. legitimacy of the Iraqi Government weapons programs; and, third, that if Now, against the advice of Congress, will not further the legitimacy of the the President determined that a resort the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, most Iraqi Government. It will defer it. It to force was necessary the prosecution military experts and the American peo- will weaken it. It will undermine it. of the war and its aftermath would be ple, President Bush has determined There is one way, and one way only, to competently managed by the President that victory in Iraq can be achieved by determine whether Iraqis themselves and his administration. deploying 21,000 additional combat are willing to fight for this govern- Each of these assumptions proved to troops to Baghdad and its environs. ment, whether Shiia are willing to be wrong. Iraq had no weapons of mass Regrettably, I cannot see how this fight Shiia militia, whether Sunni are destruction and no nuclear program; escalation can be successful. Instead, I willing to fight Sunni militia. And that President Bush did not exhaust all dip- believe it will further the cycle of de- is to let them do it, not to give the job lomatic efforts; and perhaps most trag- pendency that has allowed Iraq’s Shiite to more and more Americans. This is ically, his administration made ter- dominated government to avoid mak- the change that we need. rible, costly and repeated blunders in ing compromises with Sunnis and to And, finally, we need a change which its conduct of the war. avoid building capable security forces. recognizes that the principal problem I have been to Iraq three times to It will increase the strain on our mili- in reaching a unity government in Iraq visit our troops and to thank them for tary at a time when the Army and Ma- is political negotiation. Now, this is their service and their sacrifice. I have rines are already stretched to the not to say that diplomats alone can met the families of five soldiers and breaking point. And, most of all, it will solve this problem, but it is most cer- marines from my district who have deepen our military commitment to tainly to say that if those who are been lost in Iraq. I have visited with Iraq at a time when there is a national vested in the outcome of this civil war our wounded here and overseas. consensus that we should be taking are not brought to a conference table, Words cannot convey the admiration steps to reduce our combat role and re- invigorate the diplomatic process. brought to a negotiation, and com- that I have for the magnificent job The administration and the minority pelled or encouraged to reach a solu- that these men and women, many of them still in their late teens and early charge that those who do not support tion, I doubt very much that it will the escalation have no plan and that come. twenties, are doing on our behalf in Iraq. Whatever failings there have been this is the only possible path to suc- The United States has become the cess. I disagree. The Iraq Study Group guarantor of the status quo in Iraq, and in the prosecution of this war by the administration, our troops have per- laid out a strategy that centered the status quo is failing. The best way around a reduced American combat formed magnificently in wretched con- to serve the interests of the American presence in Iraq, increased efforts to ditions and against an often unseen troops is to engage in the democratic train Iraqi forces, increased pressures enemy that has targeted U.S. military debate for which they are fighting. on the Iraqis to make compromises and and Iraqi citizens without discrimina- Young Americans are fighting and a regional conference to hammer out a dying so that Iraqis will have the right tion. We must and we will continue to en- common approach to Iraq. to debate their country’s future. It This resolution is a clear message to sure that they have the resources they would be sadly and bitterly ironic if we the President that his approach has need to do their jobs and to come home abrogated our responsibility to debate lost the confidence of this House and our country’s future over what they safely, and once they are home, we will we need a change of direction. I hope should be doing in that country and provide them with the care and bene- he chooses to take our counsel. But he how long they should be there. fits that they have paid for in blood. should be aware that the days of a rub- Unlike some of my friends in the mi- ber-stamp Congress are over, and we b 1100 nority, I have never construed support are willing to take other steps to insist If you want to serve the troops, have for the troops to require a blind, un- on charting a new course in Iraq. the debate. And if you want to promote questioning and slavish devotion to the Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield the idea of avoiding failure in Iraq, Executive, even when the Executive is 6 minutes to my colleague from Texas then change the policy in Iraq. Do not wrong, even when its policies will not (Mr. CARTER). sustain the status quo. I believe that if achieve the desired result, and even Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank you want to change the policy in Iraq, when those very policies place our the gentleman for yielding. voting ‘‘yes’’ on resolution 63 is the troops unnecessarily and unproduct- Mr. Speaker, I spent many years of right first step. ively at greater risk. On the contrary, my life being a trial judge in the be- Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of on the contrary, an engaged Congress loved State of Texas, and as we are try- my time to my friend from California is essential to meaningful support for ing to make these decisions here today, (Mr. SCHIFF). the troops. I think there is a good parallel to be Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, it has On many occasions here on the House struck between the decisions that this been nearly 4 years since President floor, in committee and in meetings House is going to make and the deci- Bush ordered American military forces with senior officials, I have pressed for sions that a jury gets asked to be made into Iraq with the intention of toppling accountability, oversight and a more in the courtroom. the government of Saddam Hussein. vigorous commitment to force protec- The process always begins with Now, after more than 3,100 American tion. In October 2003, I voted against pleadings, and I have here in my hand troops have been lost and this Nation the $87 billion Iraq supplemental be- the pleadings of the majority party of has spent in excess of $365 billion, we cause I believed that it shortchanged the House of Representatives, pleading find ourselves at a crossroads. Do we security for our troops and allocated for relief from this body. endorse the President’s decision to es- too much for no-bid contracts. They begin by section 1, the Congress calate the conflict, or do we, as a co- Now, more than 3 years later, our re- and the American people will continue equal branch of government, exercise construction efforts in Iraq are a dis- to support and protect the members of our prerogative to force a change in aster and a national disgrace. Too the United States Armed Forces who course? many of our troops still ride into bat- are serving and have bravely served In October of 2002 I voted for the res- tle in vehicles that are not properly honorably in Iraq. olution authorizing the use of military protected against IEDs and other weap- Well, they are not really pleading for force in Iraq based on three assump- ons. any relief there. They are not actually

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:07 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.012 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1575 asking us for anything, other than Then we go on to see what also they dam Hussein and the terrorist attacks stating this is what they stand for. So are telling us that they want to do. on 9/11. we have to kind of fall back on our ex- They are just telling us that Congress The mission of our troops seems to perience and what we have experienced disapproves of the decision of President change and expand daily, but their cur- recently. George Bush, that President George rent mission appears to be to act as We have just experienced a con- Bush announced on January 10, 2007, to threatened referees in an increasingly tinuing resolution, as they called it, deploy more than 22,000 additional bloody civil war between the Sunni and which cut the military over $4 billion. United States troops in Iraq. Shiite Iraqis. But that is okay, it is going to be put Okay. What does that tell us? That As for international support, the back in the supplemental, we are told. tells us they don’t like what the Presi- American taxpayer has borne the vast Yet in the argument in this case, I dent’s decision was. That is what it majority of the costs to the tune of have heard many folks that step up tells us. Does it tell us why? Well, we hundreds of billions of dollars. Amer- there and start talking about they are have heard a lot of people tell us why. ican fighting men and women and their part of the Out of Iraq Caucus and they So I guess that is what we have to rely families have borne the vast majority wish to defund to get the troops back upon. Has it told us what alternative of the deaths and injuries to Coalition home. So if they are going to defund, they feel like we are going to have? troops, over 3,100 Americans killed, 18 when are they going to put that money Does what they are asking us to do from my district, and over 23,000 back? today give us an alternative? I find wounded. They say they support our troops. nothing else in this piece of paper that Even our staunchest ally, Great Brit- They, this Congress, has elected by its says that. I don’t find any solution pro- ain, plans to reduce the number of its vote, General Petraeus, an expert in posed. troops in Iraq to 4,500 by this June. Are we safer today than we were be- counterinsurgency, to give us a plan. So what should Americans expect fore the invasion of Iraq? Declassified And he has. He has told us, I need more from what is being asked for here CIA National Intelligence Estimates boots on the ground to back up the today? I think they should expect dis- indicate that the war in Iraq has be- Iraqi troops as they go in and clean out couraged troops. I think they should come a primary recruitment vehicle these militias and give some stability expect an encouraged enemy. But, to Baghdad. That is what he has asked for Islamic terrorists. Far from being more importantly, I think we as we the central front in the war on terror, us for. And he has also told us that this make this decision should realize that type of action by Congress will discour- as the President and his people say, what we may be doing is bringing this Iraq is the incubator and training age his troops. fight to the very people we are here to Secretary Gates has told us in his ground for new terrorists from around represent, so that when we stand in opinion this will encourage our en- the world. those metal detector lines at our malls emies, just this statement, this kind of Finally, the President has never thing that we are doing here today. we will know it all started with H. Con. clearly stated what is our strategy to And yet we hear arguments that is just Res. 63. Now we live in the unsafe world win in Iraq nor what is our exit strat- not true. that the Israelis deal in every day. egy. ‘‘Mission accomplished,’’ ‘‘Bring it Yet I don’t know, I have got a little Mr. Speaker, the relief sought here on,’’ ‘‘Stay the course,’’ or ‘‘We will note here that ABC News, certainly no- today is minimal, this action does stand down as the Iraqis stand up’’ are body’s conservative press, reports that nothing to help our troops or help our slogans, not strategies. they talked to some Army sergeants in effort, and the only solution, if it goes Our generals, our diplomats, the Iraq Ramadi. First Sergeant Louis Barnum bad, is prayer. We have a chance to Study Group even the White House, all says, ‘‘It makes me sick. I was born have a solution here today, and I would agree there is not a military solution and raised a Democrat. When I see submit that that solution is vote to the war in Iraq. Only a political res- that, it makes me sad.’’ against House Concurrent Resolution olution between the warring Iraqi fac- Sergeant Brian Orzechowski says, ‘‘I 63. tions could end the current violence. don’t want to bad mouth the President Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I am I do not believe that adding more at all. To me, it is treason.’’ pleased to yield 5 minutes to my friend American troops will do anything to Then in this morning’s paper, in the and colleague from Michigan (Mr. KIL- help foster that crucial political solu- Washington Times, Cal Thomas’ col- DEE). tion. In fact, it may hinder it. umn, Army Sergeant Daniel Dobson, Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Telling the Iraqi leadership and the 22, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, in his the gentleman for yielding. Iraqi people that they must solve their second tour in Iraq, says, ‘‘The Amer- Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of own internal problems without limit- ican military has shown a stone-cold House Concurrent Resolution 63, to less American assistance has a far bet- professional veneer throughout the stop the President’s escalation of our ter chance of success than continuing seething debate over Iraq. Beneath involvement in what has now become our current blank-check policy. that veneer, however, is a fuming vis- the Iraqi civil war. Mr. Speaker, President Bush either ceral hatred. We feel as though we have I voted no in 2002 when the Congress did not get or did not understand the been betrayed by Congress.’’ passed the resolution authorizing the message the American people sent last So the evidence seems to be that this President to invade Iraq. It was wrong November. Before the end of this year, does seem to discourage our troops. to start this war then, and it is wrong U.S. troops should be redeployed and And how will it encourage our en- to escalate it now. their efforts focused on support and emies? Let’s think about that. If the In 2002, I had several basic questions training the Iraqi Security Forces. It is majority gets its way and we pull out addressed to the President, questions their country, it is their fight, and it is of Iraq, the enemy will be able to say, that are still valid today. I asked then, their future. the jihadists of whatever faction they what is the nature and urgency of the Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield may be, will be able to say, ‘‘We de- Iraqi threat to the United States? 6 minutes to my colleague from Vir- feated the Russians in Afghanistan; we What is the mission of our troops? How ginia (Mr. TOM DAVIS). defeated the Shah and the United much international support will we Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. States of America in Iran; we have now have? Will this military operation in Speaker, in this debate, our first care defeated the United States of America Iraq decrease terrorism or increase ter- should be for the safety and morale of and its coalition partners in Iraq.’’ rorism? And what is the exit strategy the men and women serving in the Won’t this make a great recruiting to withdraw our troops from Iraq? American Armed Forces. Whatever the poster and slogan for those who seek way forward, nothing said here should further jihadists who wish to do us b 1115 be heard by friend or foe as disrespect harm? Mr. Speaker, we now know that Sad- for the work and sacrifice of those who So although their pleadings don’t dam Hussein did not have weapons of willingly fight our battles in a very call for anything other than a state- mass destruction. President Bush has dangerous world. ment of what they stand for, the con- since publicly acknowledged that there It took the United States and coali- sequences may be dire. was no link or connection between Sad- tion forces less than 3 weeks to topple

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:39 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.014 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1576 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 a brutal Iraqi regime that had held an At this point, it seems clear to many main, as Winston Churchill admon- iron grip on power for almost 30 years. that only Iraqi interests, not ours, can ished, ‘‘decided only to be undecided, Since then, they have battled a grow- be advanced on the streets of Baghdad. resolved to be irresolute, adamant for ing insurgency and rampant sectarian U.S. and coalition forces were tasked drift, solid for fluidity, all-powerful to violence with professionalism and as protectors of Iraq’s hard-won sov- be impotent.’’ bravery. Of all the instruments of na- ereignty, not referees in unchecked Mr. Speaker, we must decide, and I tional power we could and should be sectarian vendettas. From here, the have decided, to support this resolution discussing today, diplomacy, economic surge looks much more like the status because it is the only option that has policy, intelligence and warfare, our quo on steroids than a serious alter- been made in order by the majority military is the only one that has per- native policy to reach a realistic goal. today to engage the House in formula- formed predictably, consistently, and Some way must be found to cut the tion of Iraq policy, but once troops are well. Gordian knot that ties us to an Iraq committed by the Commander in Chief Still, knowing what we know today, strategy that says we can neither win and we are engaging the enemy, sym- after almost four years of attempted nor leave. bolic gestures like this must confront nation-building on the shifting sands of Moreover, so long as American troops the more complex realities of how to Iraq, the plan to put 21,000 more Ameri- are the ones on the ground, taking the support those forces in the safe and cans in harm’s way there has to be fire and being objects for sectarian ter- speedy completion of their mission. viewed with a cold-eyed skepticism rorist hatred, other stakeholders who Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I am born of that hard experience. Putting have more at stake in the region than pleased to yield 5 minutes to my friend, American troops between feuding we will refuse to step forward. the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Sunni and Shia in the middle of Bagh- But whatever else it might accom- MCCARTHY). dad, in my judgment, is a mistake. plish, this resolution still does not do Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York. Mr. This is the appropriate place for Iraqis, enough to illuminate a new, sustain- Speaker, I thank the gentleman for able strategy in Iraq. It offers us few not Americans. yielding. The Iraq Study Group concluded alternatives, and I am disappointed in Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of that, ‘‘Sustained increases in U.S. that. The profound and complex issues House Concurrent Resolution 63. De- spite the brave efforts of our troops, troop levels would not solve the funda- central to our international position the situation in Iraq continues to dete- mental cause of violence in Iraq, which today cannot be reduced to simplistic riorate. Our troops have gone above is the absence of national reconcili- political statements. We took an oath and beyond the call of duty. Unfortu- ation.’’ They quoted a U.S. general who to uphold and defend the Constitution, not just strike poses on how that duty nately, they are caught in the middle said that if the Iraqi Government does applies to the key questions before us of sectarian violence. not make political progress, ‘‘all the as a Nation. In the end, these are pure- From the onset of the conflict, there troops in the world will not provide se- ly political statements, when the de- has been mismanagement and mis- curity.’’ I agree. handling from this administration. The Like many Members, Republicans bate we really need to have is about the most apolitical subject of all: na- administration was not prepared for and Democrats, I voted for the resolu- the violence following the removal of tion authorizing President Bush to use tional security in a time of global peril. Saddam Hussein. force in Iraq, just as I supported Presi- Today, the House sends a purely sym- In addition, the previous Congress dent Clinton’s decision to take mili- bolic message to the President. It is a did not do its job. The 110th Congress tary action against the former Yugo- message that will also be heard by our held the first oversight hearing since slavia. Four years ago, we were trying troops, by the Iraqi Government, by the invasion in 2003. That is 4 years to persuade Saddam Hussein to comply the Iraqi people who have relied on us, without any congressional oversight. with the United Nations resolutions on and by our enemies who are hoping we I have heard so many speeches here disarmament and weapons inspections. will quit the fight soon. It does not say saying that we support the troops. I Only a credible threat of force could enough. We should be debating the ele- think everyone, every single Member, possibly convince him that it was fi- ments of an effective policy to stem supports the troops. Yet all those years nally in his interest to respect the law- the tide of jihadism infecting growing that we were hearing from the families ful demands of the international com- swaths of the globe. This resolution and from our soldiers themselves, say- munity. says only what some Members are ing they did not have the equipment, Voting to support the President against, nothing about what we are for. they did not have certainly the equip- strengthened his hand in the diplo- The Iraq Study Group report put ment to keep them safe, where were matic effort to get the Iraqi regime to forth 79 specific recommendations, we? Where were we as Members in comply peacefully. Saddam Hussein many focused on the need for far great- making sure that our military had the chose not to comply, and when diplo- er engagement of regional powers, best equipment? macy fails, and military action be- friends and foes in taking realistic Since January, we have had 52 over- comes necessary, politics should stop steps to stabilize Iraq. I joined my col- sight hearings on Iraq. It turns out at the water’s edge and every American league, FRANK WOLF, in supporting cre- that nearly $12 billion from the Amer- should stand behind the Commander in ation of the Iraq Study Group, and I ican taxpayers have not been ac- Chief. wish he and others were allowed to counted for. That is $12 billion that But no grant of authority is a blank offer those recommendations for dis- could have been spent on our equip- check. Today, naive notions about a cussion by the House. Those are the de- ment to protect our troops. Our troops quick or tidy victory in Iraq have given bates and the votes I had hoped to par- deserve better. way to far grittier options on how best ticipate in today. The President explained his new plan to achieve our strategic goals in that The lack of substantive alternatives for Iraq last month. Again, I hear that nation, in the region, and in the global before us, particularly on the question we must stand by the President. Well, struggle against Islamic extremism. of adequate funding for deployed I was one that stood by the President. We want the President to succeed, troops, betrays the majority’s empty, I voted with the President. I voted for but we are disappointed our hopes and conflicted positions on Iraq: against every appropriation for the President, good intentions for Iraq remain unreal- the President, but for nothing. The and now he is doing the same thing. It ized. Many are frustrated by the mis- Senate majority attempted to straddle is not working. It has not worked. It is takes and missed opportunities that the same contradictions recently, con- time for a new plan. plagued this noble but star-crossed ef- firming without dissent the new com- He called for an increase of 20,000 fort. Poor planning for occupation and manding general for Iraq, while at the more troops in Iraq and, unfortunately, reconstruction of a devastated nation, same time claiming to be against the I am afraid that this is a little bit too and missteps by the Coalition Provi- very same mission they know he has late. We needed hundreds of thousands sional Authority, allowed the insur- been ordered to undertake. of troops in the beginning. That is gency and long-simmering factional On the genuine questions of security when the generals asked for those hatreds to erupt and to take root. and strategy in Iraq, we cannot re- troops and they were denied.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:39 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.015 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1577 The truth of the matter is we did this coming into Iraq while the Iraqi Gov- United States has Congress passed a war on the cheap. We did not do it ernment tries to solve their own prob- resolution expressing an opinion on a right in the beginning, and now we are lems. battlefield strategy for an ongoing op- eration that Congress has approved? It all paying the consequences. b 1130 Throughout the conflict our troop is like June 13, 1944, D–Day plus seven: levels have changed. We have sent We can go back into Afghanistan and Congress passes a resolution that says, more troops in when our generals make sure that we shore up that coun- ‘‘We support the troops, but Eisen- called for them. Then they were made try so more insurgents and military hower should never have landed in Nor- smaller. To no fault of our troops, the equipment are not coming from that mandy. And, besides, he doesn’t have extra numbers did not calm the situa- country. the right number of people to hit those We must show the American people tion. I do not believe that putting more beaches anyway.’’ and our allies, by the way, who are of our brave men and women in harm’s Mr. Speaker, I can only conclude leaving, they are not supporting us, it way is the solution to this conflict. that this resolution is more about po- is not just Democrats and a lot of our President Bush emphasized his inten- litical posturing than it is about any- Republican colleagues that feel that we tions of placing more authority and re- thing else, and I think every American should get out. Our strategy has been sponsibility on the Iraqi Government. ought to be saddened and disappointed wrong, it is time to work together, and Well, it is about time. We have spent a by it. We have a spectacle going on in I am hoping after all these debates, lot of money to train the police offi- this country where a group of people when we come back from our break, we cers, to train their military, and yet running for President try to outdo one can actually go to our committees and they are not standing up for their own another to see who can be the most come up with a way to solve these country. against our involvement in Iraq. Now problems, not only for America, but be- Prime Minister Maliki has not prov- we come to add to that spectacle with fore the world. a nonbinding contrary resolution. en that he can stop the violence that is Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield going on in his country. That should Just put yourself in the shoes of 5 minutes to my colleague from Texas, those men and women going into battle not mean that our troops should be a member of the Intelligence Com- there. Our troops are trained for a war, in Baghdad. Does this resolution en- mittee (Mr. THORNBERRY). courage you or discourage you? Put not to settle political differences in Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I that country. He has failed to bring yourself in the shoes of those people have listened to much of the debate who do not want stability in Iraq, our equal representations of the Sunnis yesterday and today, and I appreciate and the Shiites into the Iraqi Govern- adversaries. Does this resolution en- the efforts of my colleague from Michi- courage you or discourage you? Put ment. This shortfall has fueled sec- gan to remind and educate us all about tarian violence, putting our troops in yourself in the shoes of those families what is at stake for our security and like Ms. GRANGER, just visited, or the greater harm. how Iraq fits into the larger war Poor planning by civilian leaders Britt family in Wheeler, Texas, or the against radical Islamic terrorists. That Das family in Amarillo, Texas who within the administration has placed is serious work. our brave men and women in harm’s have lost their sons in this effort. Does Unfortunately, this resolution is not this resolution encourage you, or does way. Our troops have gone above and serious work. I believe we have to start it discourage you? Who is helped by beyond the call of duty. They have by asking a basic essential question: this resolution? served our country bravely and honor- Why are we doing this? What is the Mr. Speaker, I do not want to be mis- ably, and we all know that. Many of purpose of this resolution? What good understood; mistakes have clearly been these troops have served their full will come from passing it? I cannot made with regard to our involvement tours of duty in Iraq, and they have find an acceptable answer. in Iraq, and Members should be part of left behind family and friends to defend The struggle in Iraq and the larger a serious study to learn from them. this great Nation. war against radical Islamic terrorists There are a good many questions that More than 3,000 of our men and is, in my view, the preeminent national need to be asked, and there is very women have made the ultimate sac- security issue facing our country. It is good reason for skepticism that this rifice, and not one of them, in my opin- important for Congress to devote seri- new strategy is really going to work. ion, has died in vain because they were ous, meaningful attention to it. But We should ask those questions. We doing their duty. We sent them there, whatever we do should have a purpose, should hold Iraqis accountable for and they have lived up to that, and a purpose that makes the United doing what they say they are going to thousands more have suffered debili- States stronger, a purpose that will do. I know there are some people who tating injuries. help us be successful, a purpose we can say we don’t need to ask any more It is time to shift the burden of this explain and be proud of in years to questions, they have already made up conflict to the Iraqis themselves. We come. their mind; they are ready to vote to have a responsibility in Congress to Here we have a nonbinding resolu- leave today. Fine, let’s vote on that. It make sure that our troops are not put tion, which means it does not have the is a serious vote, with consequences, unnecessarily in harm’s way. force of law. It conveys an opinion. and people that vote that way ought to President Bush has made his deci- Now, we do that from time to time. We be ready to shoulder the responsibility sions without consulting enough ex- congratulate a sports team, we express for the consequences that come from perts and retired generals. Where was concern about curing a disease, we pat that sort of vote. all the information that we needed somebody on the back. We do express But this resolution is not serious, it years ago as far as bringing the ex- opinions. is just political posturing, pure and perts, knowing what the culture was in What is the opinion in this resolu- simple. the Middle East? That is something tion? It is that we support the troops, Mr. Speaker, this struggle is going to that we still are not addressing here. but we do not support their mission. require the best of us for years and pos- Decisions have not been clearly We support the troops, but we do not sibly decades to come. It will require thought out and our troops have paid support their new commander, who is that we put aside the political tempta- the price. And after much thought, I this Nation’s preeminent strategist and tions to get a momentary partisan ad- have come to the conclusion that a expert on counterinsurgency, who just vantage. It requires that we do our phased redeployment of our troops is wrote the manual for counterinsur- constitutional duty not to be a rubber the best option. gency, who was just approved by the stamp to any administration, but to be No one is really talking about Af- Senate unanimously. We support the an independent branch of government ghanistan either. When we started, we troops, but we don’t support him or her committed to serious, thoughtful work. were winning in Afghanistan. When we or what he is trying to do. Now, what To prevail over these radical Islamic took those troops out of Afghanistan, is the purpose of expressing that kind terrorists and protect our people, we we started seeing the insurgents com- of self-contradictory opinion? are going to have to bring the full ing in. We can put our troops along the And I continue to be troubled when I array of national assets. Yes, our mili- borders. We can stop the insurgents think, when in the history of the tary, but also our diplomats and our

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:39 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.016 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1578 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 foreign assistants and our ideas and Bush, who is now President Bush, said tion. Early on, virtually no one was our ideals. All of that is going to have about the nonbinding resolution. This even remotely considering withdrawal. to be at our best. But it is going to re- was in The Washington Post, March 27, I believe withdrawal is not unsound for quire the best of us, too, and we are not 1999. I quote Mrs. Hughes speaking for the reasons I have previously cited. giving our best with this resolution. Governor Bush at the time, criticizing Some Americans and perhaps some in Hopefully, we can do better. President Clinton, and this is a quote. this body oppose the Iraqi operation Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, in the ‘‘If we are going to commit American because they dislike President Bush. I, spirit of bipartisanship, I yield 1 hour troops, we must be certain that they however, do not march to that drum. I of our time to my friend and colleague, have a clear mission, an achievable am personally very high on President the gentleman from North Carolina goal, and an exit strategy.’’ Bush. But on the matter of troop esca- (Mr. JONES), and I ask unanimous con- With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 lation, I am not in agreement. sent that he be allowed to control this minutes to the gentleman from North The noted British statesman Edmund hour of time. Carolina, my colleague and friend (Mr. Burke, while addressing Solicitors at The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there COBLE). Bristol many years ago said, ‘‘As your objection to the request of the gen- Mr. COBLE. I thank the distin- representative, I owe you my industry, tleman from New Jersey? guished gentleman from North Caro- but I also owe you my judgment. And if There was no objection. lina. I sacrifice my judgment for your opin- Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Mr. Speaker, I oppose deploying ion,’’ he said, ‘‘I have not served you Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 20,000 additional troops to Iraq. Oh, if well.’’ New Jersey. And I apologize for my you oppose the surge, the troops will be Some of my constituents will em- voice. demoralized, we are told. The five ‘‘d’’ brace my vote as demonstrating sound Before I yield time, I want to take words will be prominently exposed this judgment. Others will likely reject my just a couple minutes and remind the week as my friend just mentioned: de- vote as a result of flawed judgment. House that, yes, we are here today to bate, dialogue, discipline, deliberation, Not only do I owe my best judgment talk about resolution 63, but to remind and democracy. to my constituents, but to our troops the House that why we are in Iraq is The troop morale will be adversely as well, who we continue to remember the question. affected because we are involved with in our thoughts and prayers. I want to start my comments by these disciplines? I think not. I believe I thank the Speaker and I thank the sharing with the House that I met with they would more readily be demor- distinguished gentleman from North a real marine general hero that very alized if we were willy-nilly rubber- Carolina. few people on the floor know his name; stamping every issue confronting us. Mr. HOEKSTRA. At this time, I yield his name is General Gregory Newbold. I approved of removing Saddam Hus- 6 minutes to our colleague from Ten- And I want to quote him from Time sein because it is my belief, and I con- nessee (Mr. WAMP). magazine, April 9, 2006, ‘‘Why Iraq Was tinue to believe it is the general con- 1145 a Mistake.’’ I will be brief. sensus of this Congress, that Saddam b Two senior military officers are was indeed an international terrorist. I Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, I want to known to have challenged Defense Sec- regret that we were inept in formu- first say, since I am coming at this retary Donald Rumsfeld on the plan- lating a post-entry strategy. I am not point in this time, that I am a Repub- ning of the Iraq war. Army General convinced that any particular strategy lican who opposes this resolution. Most Eric Shinseki publicly dissented and was ever in place. importantly, because this resolution is found himself marginalized. Marine It is unfortunate and, yes, unfair, nonbinding, I am one of the ranking Lieutenant General Greg Newbold, the that many people, strike that, some members on the Appropriations Com- Pentagon’s top operations officer, people, perhaps many people, are blam- mittee who will fight to make sure voiced his objections internally and ing President Bush, the United States, that, no matter what, funds are not re- then retired, in part out of opposition Great Britain, Australia, and our other stricted or reduced or cut from the men to the war. Here, for the first time, allies for the civil unrest in Iraq. Sad- and women in harm’s way on behalf of General Newbold goes public with a dam was removed and a free election this country in the future days, regard- full-throated critique. I want to quote was conducted, so the Iraqi people were less of what is said on this floor. this to the House from General New- given a choice between freedom and I want to make some general obser- bold. civil war. Unfortunately, they chose vations. First, the war on terror is the ‘‘I was a witness and therefore a the latter. They rejected freedom and worst-named war in the history of our party to the action that led us to the chose civil war. And the longer we country. We are at war with Islamic invasion of Iraq, an unnecessary war. maintain a presence there, the more jihadists, fundamentalists, radicals. We Inside the military family, I made no they will rely upon us. The time has need to be more clear as to who we are secret of my view that these zealots’ come, in my opinion, for the baton to fighting. Frankly, my view is that this rationale for war made no sense, and I be handed to the Iraqis. is a religious conflict. People may ask think I was outspoken enough to make Finally, permit me to discuss cutting in Tennessee or Texas, why are we in- those senior to me uncomfortable. But and running. Oh, you cannot leave; you volved? I now regret that I did not more openly will be accused of cutting and running, Well, for the first 1,350 years of this challenge those who were determined we are told. If we had removed Saddam, religious conflict we were not involved. to invade a country whose actions were which most Iraqis wanted, and then But history shows that a man named peripheral to the real threat, al withdrew 4 or 5 weeks later, or even 4 Qutb, the Wahhabi leader, a radical, Qaeda.’’ or 5 months later, that would have con- over 40 years ago, came to this coun- I mention that, Mr. Speaker, because stituted cutting and running. But we try, was educated, went back and in- today this is an important debate. And, have been there for years, Mr. Speaker. doctrinated a man named Azzam and yes, my friends on the other side I re- Over 3,100 of our troops have given the taught a man named bin Laden that spect and have great love and affection. ultimate sacrifice, in excess of 25,000 Western liberalism, freedom, self-gov- But I remember in 1999, when we were have suffered injuries, many perma- ernment would actually bring about on the floor as the majority party nent disabling injuries. This is sac- apostasy or ungodliness. criticizing President Clinton for going rifice, not cutting and running. And I That is the truth. He indoctrinated into Bosnia, that was a nonbinding res- insist that we do not maintain an eter- the Sunni radicals that your way of olution. nal presence in Iraq if for no other rea- life, self-determination, would create That is what the Congress is about: son than the cost to the taxpayers, ungodliness, and that it must be debate, disagreements, agreement, de- which has been astronomically unbe- stopped, and at that point we were bate. That is our constitutional respon- lievable. brought into this religious conflict, the sibility. In excess of 2 years, Mr. Speaker, I split there in the Arab and Persian Let me tell you what Karen Hughes, have stressed the importance of retain- world created by the 1970s, organiza- who was speaking for then-Governor ing troop withdrawal as a viable op- tions in Iran that overthrew the Shah,

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:39 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.018 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1579 and it gave them the first Islamic state troops we have had over the last sev- community for their bravery, their when Ayatollah Khomeini was brought eral years is from 136,000 to 160,000. We professionalism and their stunning back in 1978, and, unfortunately, our are down to the lower level. This is competence in Iraq and Afghanistan leaders in the country helped bring going to bring us back to the upper under very difficult circumstances. that about in the late 1970s. level, about what we had when the Those young men and women have Khomeini took over, and within a few elections were held. It is not a surge, it eliminated terrorist training camps months they took our hostages in is reinforcement. and gotten rid of Saddam Hussein and Tehran. That was a low point in this Three, the commanders tell us that his band of terrorists, who for years country’s history and my life, and from reinforcement will, quote, will save have brutalized the Iraqi people and 1978 forward 30 times our interests have lives and reduce violence. Reinforce- many people, many thousands of people been attacked around the world, and ments militarily, always there is a grid in the region. twice they have been attacked domes- that shows that reinforcements save They have eliminated the potential tically in the United States. lives and reduce violence. for weapons of mass destruction, these It is important to remember this. We Four, there are two tracks here. One young men and women, and we are are at war with Islamic jihadists. Al- is troop strength and security. The proud of that. The Taliban is disbanded Zarqawi and Zawahiri were talking other is diplomacy. You will see in the and al Qaeda is on the run. These are while al-Zarqawi was still alive, and he coming days diplomacy break out in our troops and the intelligence commu- said we need to expand the caliphate the region. I say to all my colleagues nity. from Indonesia to Morocco. They be- who have great concern, that are afraid Where are we now? We find ourselves lieve they can go north to Europe and we are not talking to Iran and Syria, now, the war on Iraq, and the global all the way to the former Soviet Union. just stay with us. I believe you will see war on terrorism, in a new phase, the This is where the Arabs have had influ- dialogues at every level take place in President understands that phase. The ence, this is their agenda. the region in the coming weeks, and I Congress is grasping with that phase. It is interesting to me that this only have been meeting with some of the ad- We now know the war in Iraq is in a became very difficult in the last 12 ministration officials. new phase, and a global war on terror months in Iraq. This week was the 1- Then let me say this, and I know continues, so how do we respond? year anniversary of the Samara what the distinguished majority leader How do we approach this new phase? mosque bombing. That is when the sec- said, and I respect him, and I believe Let’s look at the recent past. Let’s go tarian violence broke out. They are at- many, many people, if not everyone in back to the 1950s. President Eisen- tacking each other. Moqtada al-Sadr’s this House, have good intentions. If hower said, for the United States to be uncle is buried at that mosque. He was this resolution is followed by a funding safe and secure we need a strong mili- killed by Saddam Hussein. cut, more Americans will die, and the tary, the best intelligence, and con- One year ago, they blew up that sacrifices to date will be lost. We must sensus and dialogue. mosque in sectarian violence. What is do better, but we better not retreat in President Eisenhower implemented Moqtada al-Sadr doing today? He is Iraq. all of those practices, especially after fleeing. Why? Because he hears that we Too much is at stake. Our problems Nikita Khrushchev pounded his shoe at are going to increase security, put are not going away. Let’s not be fool- the podium of the United Nations and more boots on the ground in Baghdad. ish. Let’s not retreat from this chal- pointed to the Western diplomats and He is fleeing to Iran. lenge. Let’s stand together and unite said, ‘‘we will bury you.’’ What does that say about all of this? for the fight of our lives. It is a Eisenhower’s response? He invited Well, it says to me that we are begin- generational struggle, and we must Khrushchev to the United States for a ning to do the right thing. The region’s pull together and meet in defense of dialogue. leaders told us this week partition of liberty and our way of life. President Kennedy was told there Iraq is not acceptable in the Arab Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Before were armed nuclear warheads in Cuba. world or the Persian world or the re- I introduce my friend from Maryland, I What did President Kennedy do? Pro- gion. A partition will not work. It will want to read a statement from Marine ceed with dialogue and talking with make things worse. They also said ‘‘a General Joseph Hoar, former Com- the Soviets. We did not go to war. precipitous withdrawal will be cata- mandant of U.S. Central, when he ap- Nixon went to China. strophic.’’ peared before the Senate Foreign Rela- Who during that period of time did I remind my colleagues and the tions on January 18 of 2007. This Ma- we not have a dialogue with? It was Ho American people, we were not in Iraq rine general said, and I quote, the pro- Chi Minh; 53,000 Americans died in the before September 11. We were not in posed solution is to send more troops, Ten Thousand Day War. Hundreds of Afghanistan before September 11. This and it will not work. The addition of thousands were wounded, and millions problem is not going to go away if we 21,000 troops is too little and too late. of Vietnamese were killed. What if we leave Iraq. This is a generational chal- Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the had a dialogue with Ho Chi Minh about lenge. gentleman from Maryland (Mr. ending the French colonial period and As a matter of fact, I will say this, GILCHREST), himself a former Marine, encouraging Vietnam to have self-de- and this may be the most dramatic always a Marine, who served during termination, that which we fought for thing said on this floor, and I am Vietnam and was wounded for this in World War II? What would have hap- briefed at a pretty high level. I believe country. pened? we haven’t been attacked domestically Mr. GILCHREST. I thank the gen- Fifty-three years of dialogue with since September 11 for two reasons. tleman from North Carolina for being North Korea just now may be yielding One, we are better than we have ever generous with his time. I also want to results, 53 years of dialogue. Ask your- been at intelligence again, and I am sincerely thank the gentleman from self this question. Is a century of dia- glad. North Carolina for his effort to resolve logue without resolution better than Two, they don’t want to see us united the issue successfully and for bringing one day on the battlefield? Don’t be like they saw us after September 11. those of us who are speaking here this quick to answer that, but ask that Our enemies love the dissent and the morning together and for organizing question to yourself. division. They do not want to see us this time. The world, rich and poor, the people come together again, because when we Mr. Speaker, I am going to vote for of the world, are intimately familiar do we are the best in the world. this resolution for many reasons that I with American history, especially with Five points, Iraqi troops are showing will explain, but this resolution is not the following man. They know the up, progress is being made. This morn- a retreat from Iraq. This resolution is words of Thomas Jefferson. ‘‘We hold ing, a story out, several Iraqi battal- understanding the new phase that we these truths to be self-evident: that all ions now exceed the 75 percent meas- find ourselves in with the war in Iraq men are created equal; that they are urement on participation. For them and the war on terrorism. So it is a endowed by their Creator with certain that is very good. step forward in the right direction. inalienable rights; that among these Two, reinforcement is what this is. It I want to begin by commending our are life, liberty, the pursuit of happi- is not a surge. The spread on how many American troops and the intelligence ness.’’

VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:39 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.020 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1580 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 They know Lincoln’s words, ‘‘with Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I was here on we cannot do that and we know it. And malice toward none and charity for the floor yesterday and thought I yet for political expedience this body is all.’’ They know Martin Luther King, would only speak once. As I heard the pretending to be military experts. Jr.’s, words, ‘‘You should be judged by debate of thoughtful Members on both Mr. Speaker, I will close simply by the content of your character.’’ sides of this issue, I was reminded of reminding this body of something we America is the race of races. The something I said yesterday that needed do know about. This is a body filled melting pot has become a common her- to be said again. Although the people with people who understand history. itage with the world’s people. Our en- you are hearing from mean well on Under fascism; we took on Japan, Ger- emies are ignorance, arrogance and both sides, less than a third of the many, Italy and their allies. And it dogma. Monstrous certainty has been Members speaking on this House floor took 4 years before we did it, while and is the tragedy of mankind. The served in the U.S. military, although they grew, and 4 years to defeat them. new phase of the war in Iraq and the everyone was eligible, and less than a And it took a decade or more to turn global war on terror not only includes third have traveled to Iraq, although those countries into functional democ- the military, it not only includes the everyone was eligible. Perhaps we will racies. intelligence community, but in this in- give the freshmen a pass. Yet America stayed the course. And stance it must include a surge of diplo- This is, in fact, a debate by people we had troops deployed there and we macy, to integrate the Middle Eastern who are not military experts. I count have troops deployed there today, even countries in a diplomatic dialogue myself among those, who although I though they are functional democ- about the stability of the region, in- served in the military and have been to racies. cluding reconciliation, economics, Iraq, I am not a military expert. I don’t Mr. Speaker, for more than 50 years trade issues, medical and educational pretend to play one on television and we fought the other ‘‘ism,’’ com- exchanges, et cetera, et cetera. This before the American people, and yet munism. China, the Soviet Union, and must be and is a necessary part of that that is what we are doing here for four the rest of the Soviet Bloc stood there complete strategy to make America solid days. threatening annihilation, but the American people put up with unspeak- safe and secure. The blueprint, the b 1200 starting point, is to vote ‘‘yes’’ today able amounts of money and significant on today’s resolution. We are in fact, pretending to be mili- loss of military lives, over 100,000 in The second phase of that is to under- tary experts. Well, Mr. Speaker, this two side battles of the Cold War. stand the words which is the blueprint morning I had a military expert in my We spent countless billions. Some- for this new phase, the Iraq Study office, Staff Sergeant Bain. He is only times as much as 50 percent of our gov- Group. What do we do with U.S. troops a staff sergeant. How is he an expert? ernment’s budget went to the military. in the Middle East? There are strong He is just finishing 3 years in Walter And we did it. Now we are being asked recommendations for that. What do we Reed, 3 years of recovery from terrible to deal with radicalism. And I cannot do about training and equipping the wounds. He came in doing a very good name a country of radicalism. And I Iraqi Army and making them prepared? job with his artificial leg. He came in cannot say radical Islam or radical Is- That is in the Iraq Study Group. and shook my hand, even though he lamic fascism, I simply say radicalism, What is the framework for coopera- cannot feel with that hand. because these radicals come from dif- tion with the Iraq people, the Iraq Gov- All I could do was thank him for his ferent sects of Islam, but they have one ernment, and the problems with sec- service and hand him a coin and wish thing in common: They seek to con- tarian violence? That is in the Iraq him well in his civilian life. But he quer countries to put an ‘‘ism’’ onto Study Group. took the time to tell me that he dis- them that is not of their choosing, and What about a new diplomatic initia- agreed with the President sending without freedom. tive with all of Iraq’s neighbors, in- 20,000 troops to Iraq. Won’t the American people stand cluding Iran and Syria? How about con- He said, I am sorry I can’t be there here today with the Congress rep- sultation with Congress? Vote for this for that. He said, they ought to send resenting them and stand against this resolution, and we can move on to end 100,000. What we did there we need to ‘‘ism’’ for at least as long as we stood the violence, the sectarian chaos, the finish. Staff Sergeant Bain got it right. against fascism and at least as long as foolish, bitter electronic exchanges be- The United States military and its ex- we stood against communism? tween countries, electronic exchanges, perts believe we need to get this fin- Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. instead of face-to-face conversations. ished and get it right. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I That effort, fully implemented, will Now, the staff sergeant is 3 years out may consume. bring our troops home sooner. They of Iraq, so I will forgive him for not Mr. Speaker, I would like to quote a will have a brighter future, and the being sure about whether it should be military expert, General John Abizaid, generations to come for the people in 20,000, as our military leaders, includ- former commander of the U.S. Central Iraq and Afghanistan. ing General Petraeus, have asked for, Command, who said during a Senate We as Members of Congress are at the or whether it should be 20,000 more if Armed Services hearing on November controls. We are able to control the necessary, or 100,000. But it is impor- 15, 2006, ‘‘I believe that more American policy. How? With our vote. Do we tant that Staff Sergeant Bain be heard. forces will prevent the Iraqis from know how to use the military? Do we Because in fact what you have here doing more, from taking more respon- know how to use the intelligence com- are a bunch of people, most of whom sibility for their own future.’’ munity? Do we know the possibilities did not serve in the military, most of General Abizaid is not in favor of this of consensus and dialogue with all the whom have not bothered to go to the surge. He is a military expert. countries of the region? If our young combat zone, and those of us who did Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the men and women are brave enough to go for the most part had a relatively gentleman from Delaware (Mr. CAS- into Iraq and Afghanistan, then we as quick tour in and out. We have not ex- TLE). Members of Congress must be brave perienced what our troops have experi- Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank enough and informed to start a dia- enced. the distinguished gentleman from logue in Damascus, in Tehran, in the And I know there is some disagree- North Carolina for yielding to me. entire region, to hasten peace. ment among those who have been Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of The first step is an ‘‘aye’’ vote on there. But, Mr. Speaker, I ask the the Iraq war, one of my foremost con- this resolution. American people to ask a vet of this cerns has been the long-term stability Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield war, their own vet, their own neighbor- of the Middle East, and the potential 5 minutes to a Member from California, hood, and they are going to find out impact that chaos in this region could a member of the Intelligence Com- they want to win this peace just as have on our security. mittee (Mr. ISSA). they won the war. Our men and women in the United (Mr. ISSA asked and was given per- They toppled Saddam, and now they States military, among the hundreds of mission to revise and extend his re- are being told to cut and run. That is Delawarians, are doing extraordinary marks.) what this is leading to. Mr. Speaker, work under very complex and difficult

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:07 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.021 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1581 circumstances. We owe them an enor- forward, based on the pragmatic style minutes to my colleague from Michi- mous debt of gratitude. of diplomacy that helped us win the gan (Mr. ROGERS). Notwithstanding the heroic efforts of Cold War. Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. our military personnel, the Iraqi Gov- For this reason, I have joined Con- Speaker, this is a pretty important de- ernment has been unable to overcome gressman FRANK WOLF and some of my bate, and I have to tell you I am a lit- the constant instability and sectarian colleagues in introducing legislation tle confused by my friends’ resolution. violence that has marked much of the that endorses the Iraq Study Group’s It is a very complex problem. last 4 years. We have increased top lev- call for an integrated diplomatic ini- When you look at the problem in Iraq els in the past, including Fallujah in tiative. In focusing on a true strategy today, you have really two distinct 2004, and Baghdad this past July, with for achieving stability in Iraq, this res- problems. One is the ethnosectarian vi- mixed results. olution seeks to improve our global olence that is self-sustaining now in Despite the incredible efforts of our standing and concentrate our efforts on Baghdad. It was a precursor to al brave solders, it is clear to me that an funding an end game based on a gen- Qaeda activity to actually create con- increase in American forces alone can- uine commitment to diplomacy. flict between the Sunnis and the Shias, not resolve this conflict. Therefore, I To obtain these goals, the Wolf reso- and unfortunately, it has raised to a will support this resolution, because I lution seeks to lift our debate above level that it is self-sustaining. believe that the surge will be unsuc- the existing political rhetoric and pur- And you have an al Qaeda-Sunni in- cessful without a comprehensive diplo- sue a comprehensive strategy to build surgency happening west of Baghdad matic strategy to engage the inter- regional and international support for that certainly warrants our attention, national community and turn the re- stability in Iraq. and the troops there have called for re- sponsibility over to the Iraqi Govern- It is equally crucial that we do every- inforcements. They said, give us rein- ment. thing within our ability to accelerate forcements, we need them badly. Al That being said, I am disappointed the training of Iraqi troops and provide Qaeda is settling in to make safe haven that today’s discussion has been struc- them with the resources necessary to here. And part of the plan or the surge in tured in such a way that Members are assume control of their own destiny. fact says that we are going to reinforce limited solely to an up-or-down vote on Mr. Speaker, as we speak, thousands those soldiers who are fighting al the troop increases. On Friday, after of our Nation’s bravest and brightest Qaeda, and they have asked to be rein- Congress passes this resolution, we will are risking their lives to serve our forced. still lack the strategy necessary to sta- country in Iraq. Protecting American The simplicity of the resolution con- bilize the Middle East and bring our soldiers must continue to be our great- cerns me greatly. I am not in favor of soldiers home. est priority. I will oppose any attempt sending American troops, the other This Congress owes the American to cut off funds for our troops who are 16,000, into the streets of Baghdad to people a truly complete and com- serving in harm’s way. intervene in the sectarian violence. I prehensive discourse regarding our fu- Therefore, it is crucial that we ad- am not. ture in Iraq. The situation facing our vance constructive strategies, such as I am in favor of supporting the sol- soldiers is extremely complex, and it is those identified by the Iraq Study diers who have asked and should re- unfortunate that the Democratic reso- Group, to end the violence and bring ceive reinforcements fighting al Qaeda lution fails to accurately reflect that our troops home to their families. in the west. reality. b 1210 This resolution really makes no dif- In December, the bipartisan Iraq ference in that fight. It makes no dif- Study Group presented a comprehen- Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, before ference in the complexities and how we sive blueprint to achieve stability in I yield to my colleague from Michigan, win and get our soldiers home. This the region and transfer responsibility let me make just a couple of com- resolution does not bring one soldier over to the Iraqi Government, which I ments. home. This resolution does not make have in my hand and I went back and I think, as we all know, the Iraq one soldier safer. This resolution does reread this week. I would encourage ev- Study Group did allow for a surge in not bring to justice one terrorist. This eryone to reread it. troops on a temporary basis to allow us resolution offers not one alternative. In my opinion, one of the important to achieve our objectives. I think we made some devastating recommendations made by the group Also, as a previous speaker, I was mistakes in Iraq: The extent of our de- was to call for a robust diplomatic ef- negligent in not acknowledging the Baathification, and what that has fort to stabilize Iraq and ease tensions comments of my colleague from Mary- meant for us winning the peace, the in the region. In fact, some of our Na- land when he recognized the contribu- dismissal wholesale of military units tion’s greatest military minds, includ- tions that were being made by our in- and what that has meant to our ability ing former Secretary of State Colin telligence folks in Iraq and around the to sustain peace, the shuttering of Powell, have joined the group in rec- world. nearly 300 state-owned enterprises and ommending that every country with an There are some who believe and are what that has done for unemployment interest in averting a chaotic Iraq, in- confused by what they may believe or and not allowing us to sustain the cluding all of Iraq’s neighbors, Turkey, perceive to be the callous omission of peace, our failure to focus our national Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran and any reference to the contributions power on solving some of these basic Syria among them, participate in this being made by our intelligence folks in problems. important dialogue. Iraq today. It is a significant short- We, in fact, and this is up to us, have The group also recommended that we coming of this resolution, and I am allowed politics to creep onto the field engage the United Nations Security thoroughly confused as to why they of battle, and that has created some Council, the European Union and other would be omitted in this resolution, very real problems for us and our sol- international institutions in launching and their contributions. They are diers. We have seen, because of that this new diplomatic offensive. The in- working side by side each and every politics that has crept into the battle- tensive diplomacy recommended by the day with our Armed Forces, and this field in Iraq and what that has meant, Iraq Study Group should be familiar to resolution forgets to even recognize it has created some inefficiencies. I, all of us who remember the Cold War. that contribution. the other day, have counted up 12 dif- One of the best examples of this ap- With that, Mr. Speaker, I would now ferent groups or agencies or Depart- proach to diplomacy was evident when like to recognize my colleague from ments that have some ability to pro- a week after President Reagan asked Michigan, a member of the Intelligence vide reconstruction money in Iraq. General Secretary Gorbachev to ‘‘tear Committee, who thoroughly recognizes Twelve. That is a problem. down this Wall,’’ he sent his adminis- and has met with these people in Iraq Some conflicting policies. Our sol- tration to Moscow for diplomatic talks. and Afghanistan and understands their diers will tell you that they feel that The Iraq Study Group’s recommenda- contributions. He is as confused as I they are handcuffed. They at least have tions are by no means a panacea. But am as to why they do not want to rec- one hand cuffed behind their back be- their report does represent a new path ognize their contributions. I yield 7 cause of the politics that have crept in

VerDate Aug 31 2005 01:52 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.022 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1582 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 that changed the way they are allowed physical training test for the United That is from General Colin Powell, who to engage the enemy as they see him States Army and go back to Iraq. And also noted that he had not heard any and protect themselves. Politics crept he was going through all that very generals on the ground in Iraq ask for onto the battlefield. painful process of getting it fitted and more troops. The turf battles between the State going through the physical training Mr. Speaker, the original mission of Department and DOD, I wish they and trying to rehabilitate himself. U.S. troops in Iraq was to liberate the didn’t exist. We all know they do. We And as I got ready to leave, I said, is country and turn it over to the Iraqi took a very large, bureaucratic, civil- there anything that I can do for you as people. We need to get back to that ian organization and set it down in the a Member of Congress? And he turned original mission. Our brave troops have middle of Baghdad and wondered why and said yes, sir, there is. Just don’t done an absolutely heroic job of liber- it has some inefficiencies. But these give up on us. ating the people of Iraq. Now our are things that we can change. We can Now, if this soldier can believe in troops should get back to the original do that. this mission, and he can get up every mission of training Iraqi security And my mother told me that if you day and fight through the sweat and forces so they can secure their own are going to tell me what I am doing the pain and the anguish of a lost limb country and turn it over to the Iraqi wrong, you better be prepared to tell so that he can get back in the business, people. General Casey has long argued me how to do it right. if he can roll up his pant leg every day that the principal emphasis of Amer- The resolution before us today says and fit that prosthesis, isn’t there a ican policy should be training Iraqi se- nothing of an alternative. We have sol- way, and shouldn’t we do better and curity forces and handing over respon- diers who are getting up every day en- roll up our sleeves to work together to sibility to the Iraqis. gaging themselves in the fight for lib- find a solution? We got in this to- Mr. Speaker, the resolution author- erty and defense and going after al gether, we must get out of it together. izing the use of force in Iraq that we Qaeda targets in the west and trying to We need to stop the division that this passed in the fall of 2002 was never in- find al Qaeda elements locating and resolution brings to this House and tended to authorize the use of Amer- spurring on to self-sustaining ethno start working together. Our soldiers ican troops to police a civil war. It was sectarian violence. It does nothing to deserve better. America deserves bet- never intended to provide justification tell them that we, A, support them ter. The future of this country and for sending 21,500 more American and, B, will give them all the tools and safety and security deserve better. troops into the middle of a civil war. Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. make the changes that we know we can As former Navy Secretary in Virginia, Speaker, would you please tell us how to make it possible for them to come Senator JOHN WARNER, put it: ‘‘Whom much time is left? home to their families soon. do they shoot at, the Sunni or the The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. This afternoon I am going to do that. Shia?’’ With 325,000 Iraqi security THOMPSON of California). The gen- I am introducing a resolution, it is forces already trained, Mr. Speaker, tleman from North Carolina (Mr. fairly comprehensive, that will allow that is according to our Defense De- JONES) has 41 minutes remaining. The us to focus our national power without partment, it is time for Iraqi troops to gentleman from Michigan (Mr. HOEK- sending 20,000 troops to Iraq. It will step up to the frontlines in Baghdad, STRA) has 4 hours, 131⁄2 minutes. Anbar province, and Fallujah. It is help target the unemployment that we Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. know is fueling terrorism in Iraq time to accelerate the training of Iraqi Speaker, I would like to yield 5 min- security forces and the turnover of se- today. Clear rules of engagement for utes to the gentleman from Minnesota our troops, calling for the repatriation curity to the Iraqis so our troops can (Mr. RAMSTAD). of the one to two million Iraqis who come home with their mission com- Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, the pleted. It is time for enforceable bench- are middle class Iraqis, their doctors President has said for more than 4 and lawyers and engineers and their marks to measure the progress of Iraqi years that he would follow the advice security forces. Mr. Speaker, it is time teachers who fled Iraq in this turmoil of his commanders on the ground with for a surge in diplomacy, not a surge in to engage our allies to get them back respect to troop levels in Iraq. That is troops to mend a broken country. It is and invest them in the future of Iraq. why I am both surprised and dis- time for a stepped-up regional peace ef- What disturbs me most, Mr. Speaker, appointed the President did not follow about this resolution, is its clear pur- fort in the Middle East to settle this the advice given as recently as 2 conflict. pose is to divide those of us in this months ago by the Army and Marine Mr. Speaker, Congress should listen Chamber. Corps Chiefs of Staff, as well as Gen- to our commanders on the ground. We As I said earlier, I don’t support the eral John Abizaid, General George should follow the advice of the Army surge in Iraq that targets sectarian vi- Casey, and General Colin Powell. All of and Marine Corps Chiefs of Staff. We olence in Baghdad. I think that must these highly respected commanders ex- should follow the advice of General have an Iraqi face for that to be suc- pressed their opposition to increasing Abizaid, General Casey, and General cessful, and I think we can provide lo- the number of U.S. troops in Iraq. Powell when they spoke up in Decem- gistics and command and control and As General Abizaid, the top com- ber. It is time for Congress to step up we can provide combat air support and mander in the Middle East said, an in- and express our strong support of our special operation support to make crease in U.S. troops would be counter- brave troops, our continued support of them successful as they move through productive because it will perpetuate the original mission, and our opposi- Iraq. I think we can do that. the dependency of Iraqi forces, create tion to the increase of U.S. troops to But this resolution does nothing to more targets and stretch our military police a civil war in Iraq. bring Members together to solve this too thin. I urge a ‘‘yes’’ vote on the resolution. problem. If you win this vote today, Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, at this 1220 and this passes, we will have solved not b time I would like to yield 6 minutes to one problem for one soldier who gets up Until recently the top ground com- Mr. HENSARLING from Texas. this morning hoping and praying that mander in Iraq, General George Casey, (Mr. HENSARLING asked and was he can accomplish his mission and has said that sending more American given permission to revise and extend come home to his family, not one. It troops into Baghdad and Anbar prov- his remarks.) truly seeks to find the differences of ince would increase the Iraqi depend- Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, I those of us in this Chamber on how we ency on Washington. As General Colin believe that this is a sad day for our in- move forward in Iraq. There is nothing Powell, one of the most respected mili- stitution, the House of Representa- constructive in that, nothing construc- tary leaders of our generation put it, a tives, and I think it is a sad day be- tive in that. surge was already tried in Baghdad last cause I sense this debate has very little There is a young soldier that I met, I fall and it failed. Now it will only fur- to do with coming together as a Nation visited him down in Brooks Army Med- ther delay Iraqis taking control of to face the greatest threat that we ical Center. He asked that his leg be their own security. have faced since the Cold War. But in- amputated so that he could have full ‘‘It will only further delay Iraqis tak- stead I sense and I fear it has much to range of motion so he could pass the ing control of their own security.’’ do with politics as usual.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:07 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.024 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1583 I have heard speaker after speaker with the mothers of fallen soldiers. trying to micromanage this war. I am come to the floor to decry faulty intel- Their burden and sacrifice is solemn just a Member of Congress, not a four- ligence, to decry how our Nation be- and profound. But I never, never, never star general. But I have listened to came involved in Iraq in the first place. want to meet with the mothers whose what our country’s most well-respected I have heard speakers decry how the children may perish in the next 9/11 if four-star generals have to say about war had been conducted. But, Mr. we accept defeat in Iraq. Iraq must be this matter, and Generals Abizaid, Speaker, regardless of how we got into seen in the larger context of this war McCaffrey and Colin Powell have all Iraq, regardless of whose war it might with jihadism, with radical Islam. said that sending more troops into have been once, today it is an Amer- Whether we like it or not, the battle Baghdad now is not the answer. ican war, and we must accept that fact. lines are drawn in Iraq. And don’t take Some people will say, if you are not As the people’s elected Representa- my word for it. Take the jihadists’ for surging more American troops into tives, certainly we should look at this word for it. Osama bin Laden has said, Baghdad now, what are you for? What new strategy. We need to take an open ‘‘The epicenter of these wars is Bagh- is your plan? and honest look at it. And certainly we dad. Success in Baghdad will be success I am for a different kind of surge. I are all disappointed that the previous for the United States. Failure in Iraq is am for a surge of Iraqi troops to take strategy has not yielded the desired re- the failure of the United States. Their out al-Sadr and his militia, especially sult. But, Mr. Speaker, very, very defeat in Iraq will mean defeat in all since the Iraqi security forces out- much hangs in the balance. their wars.’’ number the Sadr militia by a ratio of 5 I myself do not know if the new Mr. Speaker, we must soberly reflect to 1. That is 325,000 versus 60,000. I am strategy will work. I think it can work. on the challenge that we face. Listen for a surge of political process by the I hope it will work. And I know it is at to al Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s Iraqi Government to finally reach a least a strategy that has been rec- number two in command: ‘‘Al Qaeda deal on sharing oil revenue. I am for a ommended by the Iraqi Study Group has the right to kill 4 million Ameri- surge of action in implementing the and our new battlefield commander, cans, 2 million of them children.’’ Lis- Iraq Study Group recommendations, General Petraeus. So until such a time ten to Hassan Abbassi, Revolutionary which were adopted in a bipartisan, as somebody brings to me a more com- Guard’s intelligence adviser to the Ira- unanimous fashion. I am for a surge of pelling strategy or until such a time nian President: ‘‘We have a strategy gratitude by the Iraqi people, 61 per- that somebody convinces me that drawn up for the destruction of Anglo- cent of whom think it is okay to kill American troops and 79 percent have a somehow the security of my country Saxon civilization.’’ Listen to Iraqi mostly negative view of the United and the security of my family is some- Ayatollah Ahmad Husseini: ‘‘Even if how made better off by our immediate States. this means using biological, chemical, Some people argue that we should withdrawal and the subsequent implo- and bacterial weapons, we will conquer sion of Iraq, I feel we must support the support President Bush’s decision. I the world.’’ like and respect President Bush. I want new strategy. Defeat is not an option. So what are the options, Mr. Speak- b 1230 him to be successful. Three years ago I er? Clearly many, if not most, of the This is the enemy we face, Mr. could have voted for this surge. But the Democrats call for withdrawal from Speaker, and we face him foremost in situation on the ground in Iraq today is Iraq, as do several of my very respected Iraq. very different than it was 3 years ago. Three years ago, Iraq was not in a Republican colleagues. And I respect The consequences of failure in Iraq civil war. Now it is. Three years ago, their views when they are heartfelt. are immense, the beginning of a Sunni- Iraq did not have 325,000 of its own se- But, Mr. Speaker, since Democrats now Shiite genocidal clash as American curity forces to defend itself. Now it control both Houses of Congress, why troop convoys flee the country. The does. Three years ago, we didn’t know are we not voting on a withdrawal res- battle for Baghdad will undoubtedly spill over to the entire country. Shiites whether surging more American troops olution? And that is one of the reasons into Baghdad would give us a long-last- will most likely win. They will draw in this is such a sad day. ing impact. Now we know the answer, I mean, think about it, Mr. Speaker. Jordan and Saudi Arabia to the defense because we tried the same thing last How do you look a soldier in the eye of Sunni Iraqis. Iran will rise to the de- summer. The benefits were temporary. and say, You know, I don’t believe you fense of Shia Iraqis. An entire regional The body bags were permanent. can succeed in Iraq. I don’t believe in war could easily ensue, and what is left We are now told we should trust the your mission. I don’t believe you can of Iraq would become a safe haven for Maliki government. I have been down win this war. And I have the power to the recruitment, training and financ- that road before. I personally went to bring you home, but I refuse to do it. I ing of radical Islam. Baghdad and met with the Maliki gov- refuse to do it. Where is the courage in Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. ernment officials last summer. I was that resolution? Where is the convic- Speaker, the Members of this House told by December of 2006 they would tion in that resolution? If you truly be- take great pride in saying that this is have enough security forces that they lieve in your heart of hearts that our the people’s House. An AP poll on Jan- would need to defend themselves and soldiers are needlessly risking their uary 11, 2007, says 70 percent of the we would then be in a position to start lives, don’t you have a moral obliga- American people are opposed to the bringing our troops home. Now they tion to bring them home? So with lives surge. say, give us another year. hanging in the balance, with our na- With that, I yield 6 minutes to the We were told when America sent tional security hanging in the balance, gentleman from Florida (Mr. KELLER). 15,000 of its own troops to surge in we have a nonbinding politics-as-usual Mr. KELLER of Florida. Mr. Speak- Baghdad last summer that the Iraqi resolution. er, the Iraq war is the central issue of troops would be right there beside Mr. Speaker, it is not really all that our time. We are spending $2 billion a them. Well, Iraqi troops didn’t show easy to figure out exactly what it is week and we are losing 100 American up. The benefits of the surge were only that the Democrats support. But if lives a month. Under these conditions, temporary. they don’t put forth their own strategy I feel I owe my constituents my best Mr. Speaker, I voted to authorize the and yet they want to vote against the judgment. use of force in 2002 because I did not new strategy, that says one and only Interjecting more young American want Saddam Hussein to give weapons one thing. It says stay the course. It troops into the cross-hairs of an Iraqi of mass destruction to al Qaeda. Now says status quo. If you don’t have an civil war is simply not the right ap- Saddam is dead and there are no weap- alternative and you want to vote proach. If the President sends these ons of mass destruction in Iraq. against this new strategy, then you are troops anyway, I will support their We have remained in Iraq for 4 years voting to stay the course. The stakes funding 100 percent so they have the because we want a unified and secure are too high to stay the course. bullets and equipment they need to de- Iraq, so it doesn’t become a haven for Now, we all know that fighting this fend themselves. terrorists. Unfortunately, it seems the war is very costly. And like many I approach this decision with a great Americans want a unified and secure Members of this institution, I have met deal of angst and humility. I am not Iraq more than the Iraqis do.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 01:52 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.027 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1584 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 Let me give you an analogy. Imagine The first stage of this process is to them to succeed in Iraq by giving the your next-door neighbor refuses to expel the Americans from Iraq, accord- buildup a chance to succeed.’’ mow his lawn and the weeds are all the ing to al-Zawahiri. Mr. Speaker, I think the commander way up to his waist. You decide you are The second stage, establish an Is- of the national VFW is absolutely going to mow his lawn for him every lamic authority or an emirate, to de- right, and I thank the gentleman for single week. The neighbor never says velop it and support it until it achieves yielding time. thank you, he hates you, and some- a level of a caliphate over as much ter- Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. times he takes out a gun and shoots at ritory as you can spread power in Iraq. Speaker, I yield 51⁄4 minutes to the gen- you. Under these circumstances, do The third stage, he says, is to extend tleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. you keep mowing his lawn forever? Do the jihad wave to the secular countries ENGLISH). you send even more of your family neighboring Iraq. Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania. Mr. members over to mow his lawn? Or do The fourth stage, it may coincide Speaker, with regard to the current de- you say to that neighbor, you better with what came before, he says, the bate on the floor on Iraq policy, I step it up and mow your own lawn, or clash with Israel, because Israel was es- would like to offer the following obser- there are going to be serious con- tablished only to challenge any new Is- vations. sequences for you. lamic entity. First, I respect the President’s con- stitutional role as Commander in Chief Mr. Speaker, sending more young b 1240 American troops now into the middle of the Armed Forces, and I appreciate of Iraqi civil war violence is not the an- So clearly, the al Qaeda leadership President Bush’s offer to entertain sug- swer. I will support the troops 100 per- believes that Iraq is part of the global gestions from Congress regarding Iraq cent. But we are not going to solve an situation that we refer to as the global policy. Iraqi political problem with an Amer- war on terror, and if that is right, and I understand that success in Iraq de- ican military solution. And that is my I think at least for me I have to as- pends on bipartisan support at home. best judgment. sume that that is their intention, Iraq I applaud U.S. troops who are serving May God bless our troops, our Presi- is certainly part of the global war on in Iraq with professionalism and brav- dent and our country. terror from a Western perspective. And ery. They deserve the support of all Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield so what the President has suggested is Americans. 61⁄2 minutes to my colleague, Mr. to take advantage of the assets that we It is becoming self-evident that mul- SAXTON. have developed, while training Iraqi tiple, extended deployments to Iraq Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank soldiers to provide for their own secu- and Afghanistan have strained the the gentleman for yielding. rity, and send three brigades into the military. Current deployments and Mr. Speaker, it has been said here on Sunni Triangle, mostly in Baghdad, to those to come will have lasting im- the floor by more than one speaker, or be supported by the 21,500 Americans pacts on recruiting, retention and read- suggested at least, that the war in Iraq who he has proposed to send. I heard iness of the all-volunteer military. is not part of the war on terror. I dis- yesterday that the Iraqi brigades are, Unfortunately, sectarian violence in agree. I could not disagree more with in fact, showing up in Baghdad at a 75 Iraq between Sunni and Shia Muslims that statement. But if you agree with percent level, which is better than any- is increasing, and the failure of Iraqis that statement, and if you are casting one expected, at least better than I ex- to reach political settlements and sup- your vote because you think that is a pected. Maybe others expected better. port a unified government greatly con- rationale upon which you can justify So I think if we are going to take on tributes to the increased violence. your vote, I hope you are sure. this effort to develop a caliphate, as I believe it is time for Iraq’s govern- I would say I would hope you are sure one of the previous speakers said before ment and security forces to step for- because I am in my 23rd year, and I it gets here, then maybe we ought to ward and bear primary responsibility know how this place works. It is a won- do what the commander of the national for internal security. derful system, because we almost al- VFW suggests. As the gentleman from North Caro- ways have a chance to come back and The commander of the national VFW lina noted, the former head of the U.S. correct our mistakes. A vote on tax put out a press release, and I have the Central Command, General John policy? I happen to favor lower taxes. text of it here. ‘‘The national com- Abizaid, told Congress last November But if we make a tax vote that is a bad mander of the Nation’s largest organi- that sending in more U.S. troops would vote, we can come back next year and zation of combat veterans is very con- not contribute to success in Iraq be- fix it. Or if we spend too much money cerned that the ongoing debate in Con- cause it would prevent the Iraqis from on transportation this year, we can gress about the planned troop buildup taking more responsibility. come back next year and reduce it. will be perceived by those in uniform It is clear that Iraqi public sentiment This resolution takes us down a dif- as a sign that America’s lawmakers opposes the continued U.S. troop pres- ferent road. This starts us down a road have given up on them and their mis- ence. where, at some point, we won’t be able sion in Iraq. In November, the Iraq Study Group to come back next year and just fix it. ‘‘My generation,’’ he said, ‘‘learned called for new diplomatic and political You don’t have to believe me. But lis- the hard way that when military deci- efforts in Iraq and the region and a ten to what our enemies say. I have sions are second-guessed by opinion change in the primary mission of U.S. here the text of a letter that was writ- polls or overruled by politicians, it’s forces that will allow the United States ten on July 9, 2005, from Ayman al- the common soldier and their families to ‘‘begin to move its combat forces Zawahiri, the author, the second in who pay the price. out of Iraq responsibly.’’ command in al Qaeda, to al-Zarqawi, ‘‘There is no question,’’ he said, Unfortunately, the Iraqi Government the person who at that time was the ‘‘that mistakes have been made in the has made little progress toward assum- leader of al Qaeda in Iraq. ‘‘Our in- prosecution of the war in Iraq,’’ but ing more responsibility for security, tended goal in this age is to establish a ‘‘there is no playbook to fight an un- disbanding militias, reconciling sec- caliphate in the manner of the proph- conventional war against an unconven- tarian differences and improving essen- et.’’ tional enemy that wears no uniform tial services. Now, I don’t claim to be an expert in and acts without conscience, yet our Therefore, I have reluctantly con- Islam, but I am told that at one time forces have adapted and are performing cluded that I have to disagree with the under this establishment of a caliph- brilliantly,’’ and I agree with him. President’s plan to send in an addi- ate, the caliphate stretched from Spain ‘‘We fully respect congressional over- tional 21,000-plus combat troops. While through the Middle East and Northern sight and the first amendment rights of I applaud the President’s reassessment Africa to Central Asia and to India. all Americans to debate issues of na- of U.S.-Iraq policy, I joined with sev- That is a vast stretch. If that is the tional importance, but the VFW is very eral of my colleagues in January in in- goal, then we ought to be aware of it, concerned with the tone and timing of forming the White House that I did not because it becomes a very serious mat- it,’’ he said. ‘‘We need to send the mes- support an expansion of American ter. sage to our troops that America wants troop strength on the ground, and

VerDate Aug 31 2005 01:52 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.028 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1585 nothing that I have learned since has I have noted that this obviously is Our soldiers are fighting. They are caused me to reconsider my position. the best that the Democrats have to fighting every day. They are fighting Nevertheless, Congress should not offer when it comes to national secu- the insurgents in the field, they are take any action that would endanger rity and to their thoughts on how we fighting the battle of ideas; and the U.S. military forces in the field, in- deal with the situation in Iraq, and battle of ideas is a very, very powerful cluding the elimination or reduction of that is a disappointment to me. fight in Iraq at this point in time. funding for troops in the field. b 1250 Now, too many in this Chamber want Most Americans fundamentally un- to add another fight to our military derstand the long-term security inter- I think that the question that we men and women, to their agenda every ests of the United States would be best have to ask is, whose side are you on? day. They want them to have to fight served by an Iraq that can sustain, gov- Whose side are you on? Are you on the the battle of public opinion here in the ern and defend itself and serve as an side of winning? Are you on the side of United States. I see that as a disservice ally in the war against extremists. freedom? Or are you on the side of al- to the men and women in uniform. This Overall U.S. military, diplomatic, lowing the terrorists to get an upper legislative body does have a role in hand? and economic strategy should not be oversight of the war, but I do believe, I And as I begin my remarks, I do want regarded as an open-ended commit- personally believe it is inappropriate, to thank the troops that live in my dis- ment but should be conditioned upon trict, those of the 101st Airborne at Mr. Speaker, that we try to micro- the Iraqi Government’s meeting bench- Fort Campbell, members of the Na- manage from the comforts of Wash- marks, including the deployment of ad- tional Guard who have served with dis- ington. I do believe that we should be ditional Iraqi troops in Baghdad, equi- tinction, Reservists who have been de- listening to our troops and our com- table distribution of resources without ployed more than once. I want to manders in the field. regard to sect or ethnicity, the use of thank their families, and I want to General David Petraeus, who has oil revenues to benefit all Iraqi citizens thank the veterans that served in an taken the command, accepted the coa- equitably, and granting military com- advisory capacity to me as we look at lition flag this Saturday, said it very manders authority to make decisions these issues and as we make decisions well and I will enter his comments for without political interference. about how best to approach preserving the RECORD. He reminds us that Mr. Speaker, with very minor edits, freedom, preserving liberty, and pre- progress is being made and lays that the remarks you have just heard from serving the sovereignty of this great out, and I will enter that for the me summarize the resolution on Iraq Nation as we know it. I thank them. I RECORD and have the opportunity to offered by Senator WARNER in the am grateful for their sacrifice. I am talk about it again later. I think that other body. It is one of the alternative grateful for their service to this Na- what we have to do is realize the reso- resolutions we should be debating here tion, and I want it to be noted on this lution before us, Mr. Speaker, will not today. Unfortunately, the majority day. They have a commitment and a build morale with the troops on the leadership does not want to allow a full perspective and a love of freedom that ground, and it does give the terrorists and fair debate on Iraq. few Americans will ever know. I wish just what they want. We have to fight When the Democrat leadership in the that we all did. back. We have to realize sacrifices do other body tried to force a vote on the I am grateful also that they can ar- have to be made in order for us to fur- resolution without an opportunity to ticulate so fluently their mission and ther the cause of freedom and liberty offer meaningful amendments, the mi- what they are called on to do every day in this great land. nority was able to insist on their right in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and in the 30 The situation in Iraq is exceedingly chal- to a real debate rather than this phony countries around the globe where lenging. The stakes are very high. The way pretense. Unfortunately, we do not Americans fight to preserve freedom. ahead will be hard and there undoubtedly have that ability in this Chamber. They articulate this in e-mails and will be many tough days . . . however, ‘‘hard’’ So I will vote in favor of the resolu- is not ‘‘hopeless’’; indeed, together with our blogs, and even in notes and letters to Iraqi partners, we can and we must prevail. tion before us as offered, as narrow and their Member of Congress. as inadequate as it is, but I cannot help (General David Petraeus, Commander MNF– I also, Mr. Speaker, want to recog- I, 2/10/07.) but express my frustration that the nize the Kurdish community that calls WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: GENERAL PETRAEUS leadership of the House has squandered Nashville, Tennessee home, and recog- TAKES COMMAND an opportunity to allow a full and fair nize their commitment and their ap- This Mission Is Doable: ‘‘Our job in the debate with real amendments, not just preciation to our U.S. troops. One of months ahead, supporting and working with to Republicans, but to all Members of the points that many of them make to Iraqi forces will improve our security so tht the House, including their own Mem- me regularly and also one of the points the Iraqi government can resolve the tough bers whose voices are stifled by this de- that our men and women in uniform issues it faces and so that the economy and cision to put political calculations make regularly is to remind us of why basic services can be improved. These tasks ahead of the national interests and a we are in this fight, why we are in this are achievable, this mission is doable.’’ (Gen- robust debate. fight and providing the historical per- eral David Petraeus, Commander, MNF–I, 2/ I am not sure what the leadership of 10/07) spective that is so important. This Enemies Who Brag of Inhuman Acts the majority party is afraid of. If they didn’t begin on September 11. It did in- Against Fellow Human Beings: ‘‘Tragically, have the votes to reject alternatives, deed begin long, long, long ago. barbaric enemies have prevented Iraq from then they lose nothing by allowing Indeed, the radical Islamists have making the most of the abundant blessings them to be offered. If they do not, they fought Judaism and Christianity not bestowed by the Almighty on Mesopotamia. will quickly learn, as we did, that if for decades but for centuries. This is These are enemies who brag of inhuman acts you need to use procedural games to something that we all know. The Is- against fellow human beings, who invoke re- avoid a tough vote, you have already lamic radicals did get a toe-hold in ligious justifications for actions that no God lost on the underlying issue. Iran in the late 1970s with the approach could countenance, who try to drive wedges at that point by President Carter, then between religious and ethnic groups that I thank the gentleman from North have lived together in harmony in the past, Carolina for allowing me to be a part of President Carter, and those around and who in recent weeks have even targeted this debate. him. And now those radicals tell us, a girls’ school, innocent laborers, market- Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield they tell us that Iraq is indeed the cen- places and pet shops in their efforts to spark 6 minutes to the the gentlewoman from tral front in the global war on terror. sectarian violence.’’ (General David Tennessee (Mrs. BLACKBURN). We know that they want to change the Petraeus, Commander, MNF–I, 2/10/07) Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I Middle East and then they want to Together We Can Defeat The Enemies of thank the gentleman from Michigan change the world. And, Mr. Speaker, Iraq: ‘‘Surely the Iraqi people realize that for yielding the time, as we come to that is not the type change that we these enemies do not want the best for Iraqi’s citizens, and surely now is the time the floor to debate this nonbinding, no want. I want my children and grand- for all Iraqis to reject violence, crime and confidence resolution that is going to children to live in freedom. I want corruption and to rise up against those who serve to discourage our troops and em- them to know an America that is free employ such methods to further their agen- bolden our enemies. and strong and independent. das. It is against these enemies that all

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His recruitment of Is- ning of the war and the wrong treat- have? lamic extremists has been greatly en- ment was prescribed. Refusing to reas- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- hanced by our occupation of Iraq. sess our mistakes and insisting on just 3 tleman from North Carolina has 25 ⁄4 Unfortunately, we continue to con- more and more of a failed remedy is minutes. centrate on the obvious mismanage- destined to kill the patient. In this Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. ment of a war promoted by false infor- case, the casualties will be our lib- Speaker, this resolution 63 is first to mation and ignore debating the real erties and prosperity, here at home, thank the troops for their service, and issue which is this: Why are we deter- and peace abroad. we all support them. The second part of mined to follow a foreign policy of em- There is no logical reason to reject the resolution is to oppose the surge. pire building and preemption which is the restraints placed in the Constitu- I quote a great military general, unbecoming of a constitutional repub- tion regarding our engaging in foreign Colin Powell: ‘‘I am not persuaded that lic? conflicts unrelated to our national se- another surge of troops into Baghdad Those on the right should recall that curity. The advice of the founders and for the purposes of suppressing the the traditional conservative position of our early Presidents was sound then, communitarian violence, this civil war, nonintervention was their position for and it is sound today. would work.’’ He supports our position. most of the 20th century, and they ben- We shouldn’t wait until our financial He opposes the surge. That is Colin efited politically from the wars care- system is completely ruined and we are Powell. lessly entered into by the left. Seven forced to change our ways. We should Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the years ago, the right benefited politi- do it as quickly as possible and stop gentleman from Texas (Mr. PAUL). cally by condemning the illegal inter- the carnage and the financial bleeding (Mr. PAUL asked and was given per- vention in Kosovo and Somalia. At the that will bring us to our knees and mission to revise and extend his re- time, the right was outraged over the eventually force us to stop that which marks.) failed policy of nation building. we should have never started. Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the It is important to recall that the left We all know in time the war will be gentleman for yielding, and I rise in in 2003 offered little opposition to the defunded one way or another and the support of the resolution and in opposi- preemptive war in Iraq, and many are troops will come home. So why not tion to the escalation in Iraq. I want to now not willing to stop it by defunding now? thank the gentleman from North Caro- it, or work to prevent an attack on Mr. HOEKSTRA. At this time I would lina for his very determined and prin- Iran. like to yield 5 minutes to my colleague cipled effort to end this ill-advised and from Ohio (Ms. PRYCE). dangerous war, and I am very pleased b 1300 Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. I thank the gen- that he brought together a group of The catch-all phrase the ‘‘war on ter- tleman for yielding. And I especially Members today who are representing rorism’’ in all honesty has no more thank you for your leadership on the the traditional conservative position meaning than if one wants to wage a floor through this very important de- on war and peace and I deeply appre- war against criminal gangsterism. Ter- bate, a hard debate for us here in the ciate that. rorism is a tactic. You can’t have a war House of Representatives and a hard Mr. Speaker, this grand debate is against a tactic. It is deliberately debate for this country. welcomed, but it could be that this is vague and nondefinable in order to jus- But, Mr. Speaker, a new plan is being nothing more than a distraction from tify and permit perpetual war any- implemented, a new plan with polit- the dangerous military confrontation where and under any circumstances. ical, economic and military compo- approaching with Iran, which is sup- Don’t forget, the Iraqis and Saddam nents. Reinforcements are on their way ported by many in leadership on both Hussein had nothing to do with any even as we speak. The Iraqis do need to sides of the aisle. This resolution, un- terrorist attack against us, including do their part, we know that. President fortunately, does not address the dis- that on 9/11. Maliki tells us that they will. And if aster in Iraq. Instead, it appears to op- Special interests and the demented we reinforce now, they will take it pose the war while at the same time of- philosophy of conquests have driven over. They will stand up because they fering no change of the status quo in most wars throughout all of history. must, and then we will come home. Iraq. Rarely has the cause of liberty, as it Mr. Speaker, not everyone believes As such, it is not actually a vote was in our own Revolution, been the that this is a good plan. It is sophisti- against a troop surge. A real vote driving force. In recent decades, our cated, it is comprehensive, but not ev- against a troop surge is a vote against policies have been driven by eryone agrees that it is the right plan, the coming supplemental appropriation neoconservative empire radicalism, and I understand that. which finances it. I hope all my col- profiteering in the military-industrial This war certainly hasn’t achieved leagues who vote against this surge complex, misplaced do-good inter- its intended results. The President said today will vote against the budgetary nationalism, mercantilistic notions re- ‘‘stay the course,’’ and some said no. surge when it really counts, when we garding the need to control natural re- The President now says, ‘‘change the vote on the supplemental. sources, and blind loyalty to various course,’’ and the same folks say no. The biggest red herring in this debate governments in the Middle East. That’s fair; we have room in this great is the constant innuendo that those For all the misinformation given the Nation to disagree. But if that is the who don’t support expanding the war American people to justify our inva- case, that you don’t want to stay the are somehow opposing the troops. It is sion, such as our need for national se- course or change the course, then use nothing more than a canard to claim curity, enforcing U.N. resolutions, re- the tools and the powers available to that those of us who struggled to pre- moving a dictator, establishing a de- you to stop the course. vent the bloodshed and now want it mocracy, protecting our oil, the argu- The tools are at your disposal, the stopped are somehow less patriotic and ment has been reduced to this: If we power of the purse to defund the effort. less concerned about the welfare of our leave now, Iraq will be left in a mess; You could repeal the authorization military personnel. implying the implausible, that if we that most of us voted for this in 2002. Osama bin Laden has expressed sadis- stay, it won’t be a mess. You could require troop withdrawal. tic pleasure with the invasion in Iraq Since it could go badly when we You have that power and you have that and was surprised that we served his leave, that blame must be placed on right. But, Mr. Speaker, with the world interests above and beyond his dreams those who took us there, not on those watching, with Islamic fundamental- on how we responded after the 9/11 at- of us who now insist that Americans no ists, jihadists, just waiting, and with

VerDate Aug 31 2005 01:52 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A14FE7.001 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1587 our troops working tirelessly to pro- decision to go to war in Iraq was not a Now we have had more than 3,000 tect and defend us, don’t pass this conservative decision historically.’’ Americans killed, many thousands pointless resolution. And he added that it ‘‘asked Repub- more wounded horribly and have spent If it meant anything, it would be a licans to behave like a different people $400 billion and the Pentagon wants different argument, but it won’t bring than they intrinsically are.’’ $170 billion more. And as one previous one soldier home sooner and it won’t William F. Buckley, Jr. wrote in 2004 speaker said with all the added medical change the course of this war. It has no that if he had known in 2002 what he and veterans’ costs, the ultimate cost teeth, no muscle; but most of all, it has knew then, he would have opposed the of this war could reach $2 trillion. no positive value whatsoever for us as war. And in 2005 he wrote that to con- There is nothing fiscally conservative a Nation at war. Some people say it tinue there beyond another year would about this war. Most of what we have sends a message to our Commander in indicate ‘‘not steadfastness of purpose spent has been purely foreign aid in na- Chief, and I believe that that is true. but, rather, misapplication of pride.’’ ture, rebuilding Iraq’s infrastructure, But that message pales compared to What about this surge? The conserv- giving free medical care, training po- the message it sends to our enemies; ative columnist George Will wrote in lice, giving jobs to several hundred our enemies, who pledge that their opposition to it and said it would take thousand Iraqis and on and on and on. jihad will last until their religion pre- a miracle for it to succeed. Our Constitution does not give us the vails in the world; not until we are out Very few people, Mr. Speaker, pushed authority to run another country as we of Iraq, until their religion prevails in harder for us to go to Iraq than the col- have in reality been doing in Iraq. With the world; our enemies, who believe it umnist, Charles Krauthammer. A few a national debt of almost $9 trillion, we is their religious duty to bring hos- weeks ago he wrote that the Maliki can’t afford it. To me, our misadven- tility to the West and to America. government we have installed there ture in Iraq is both unconstitutional They are tuned in today, Mr. Speaker, cares only about making sure the Shi- and unaffordable. Some have said it you better believe it, and no doubt ites dominate the Sunnis. was a mistake to start this war but that now that we are there we have to, they are cheering. b 1310 But what this message says to our quote, finish the job and we cannot cut enemies and to the President and to ev- ‘‘We should not be surging troops in and run. Well, if you find out you’re erybody else in the world is nothing defense of such a government,’’ going the wrong way down the inter- compared to what it says to our troops. Krauthammer wrote. ‘‘Maliki should be state, you do not keep going, you get This resolution says, Your cause is made to know that if he insists on hav- off at the next exit. lost. This impatient Congress says, ing this sectarian war, he can well have There is no way, Mr. Speaker, we can Thanks, but we have had our fill. This it without us.’’ keep all of our promises to our own resolution says to our troops that your But listen to what the enlisted men people on Social Security, veterans’ cause is no longer worthy and your say: Specialist Don Roberts, 22, of benefits, and many other things in the friends have died in vain. And today we Paonia, Colorado, now in his second years ahead if we keep trying to run learn that this is only the first step in tour in Iraq, told the Associated Press: the whole world. As another columnist, the slow-bleed strategy. ‘‘What could more guys do? We cannot Georgie Anne Geyer, wrote more than 3 We can’t say in the first paragraph pick sides. It is like we have to watch years ago, Americans, quote, will inevi- that we support them and in the next them kill each other, then ask ques- tably come to a point where they will paragraph that we can’t reinforce tions.’’ see they have to have a government them. We can’t say that first we honor Sergeant Josh Keim of Canton, Ohio, that provides services at home or one our troops and their service, and in the also on his second tour said, ‘‘Nothing that seeks empire across the globe. We should help other countries dur- next breath say that their cause really is going to help. It is a religious war ing humanitarian crises and have trade isn’t worth it after all. and we are caught in the middle of it.’’ Mr. Speaker, our military leaders PFC Zack Clauser, 19, of York, Penn- and tourism and cultural and edu- have a plan. They don’t have guaran- sylvania, told the McClatchy News cational exchanges. But conservatives tees, there are no guarantees in war. Service: ‘‘This isn’t our war. We’re just have traditionally been the strongest General David Petraeus asked for these in the middle.’’ opponents to interventionist foreign policies that create so much resent- troops. I met him when I was in Iraq. Sergeant Clarence Dawalt, 22, of ment for us around the world. We need He is one of the country’s most quali- Tulsa, Oklahoma said, ‘‘They can keep to return to the more humble foreign fied, brilliant military leaders. He says sending more and more troops over policy President Bush advocated when this is what is needed. here, but until the people here start This plan gives our troops the help working with us, it’s not going to he campaigned in 2000. Finally, Mr. Speaker, we need to tell they need and gives the Iraqi Govern- change.’’ all these defense contractors that the ment a last chance to stand up and And Sergeant First Class Herbert time for this Iraqi gravy train with take over. This resolution rejects the Gill, 29, of Pulaski, Tennessee, said: their obscene profits is over. It is cer- ‘‘Sunnis and Shiites have been fighting only plan on the table. If we reject this tainly no criticism of our troops to say for thousands of years’’ and he said plan, then what should we do? We will that this was a very unnecessary war. that after our raids melt insurgents be at the status quo. What should we It has always been more about money away, ‘‘2 or 3 months later when we do to keep this country free from ter- and power and prestige than any real leave and say it was a success, they’ll ror for another 5 years? What should threat to us or to our people. And this come back.’’ we do to show solidarity? Nothing? war went against every traditional Saddam Hussein was an evil man, Mr. What we should do, Mr. Speaker, is de- conservative position I have ever Speaker, but he had a total military feat this resolution. Don’t demoralize known. our troops. budget only a little over two-tenths of It is time, Mr. Speaker, to bring our Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. 1 percent of ours, most of which he troops home. Speaker, I yield 51⁄2 minutes to the gen- spent protecting himself and his family Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I tleman from Tennessee (Mr. DUNCAN). and building castles. He was no threat yield 5 minutes to the distinguished Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, Dick to us at all. As the conservative col- gentleman from Texas (Mr. SESSIONS). Armey, our former majority leader, umnist Charley Reese has written sev- Mr. SESSIONS. I appreciate the gen- said in an interview with a major news- eral times, Iraq did not threaten us tleman from Texas (Mr. THORNBERRY) paper chain last week that he deeply with war. They did not attack us and for yielding me the time. regretted voting for the war in Iraq. were not even capable of attacking us. Mr. Speaker, on Monday night the Mr. Army said, ‘‘Had I been more true But even before the war started, For- Rules Committee met and after hours to myself and the principles I believed tune Magazine had an article saying of testimony from members of both in at the time, I would have openly op- that an American occupation of Iraq parties, the Democrat members of the posed the adventure vocally and ag- would be ‘‘prolonged and expensive’’ committee voted along party lines to gressively.’’ Chris Matthews, on and would make U.S. soldiers ‘‘sitting shut out every opportunity for amend- MSNBC on election night, said, ‘‘The ducks for Islamic terrorists.’’ ments to be a part of this debate of this

VerDate Aug 31 2005 01:52 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.037 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1588 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 resolution today that we will be debat- guarantees that we will continue to stop the killing and aggression towards ing for the next 2 days. fund their heroic efforts; no guarantees Americans in Iraq, I would support it. Our colleague from Texas, Congress- that Congress will heed the advice of If I thought that the presence of 21,500 man SAM JOHNSON, brought an amend- the Iraq Study Group, which notes on new American troops would cause the ment that would have clarified that page 73 of their report that it would Maliki government to get their house Congress and the American people sup- ‘‘support a short-term redeployment or in order and their country in order and port our troops and that funding for surge of American combat forces to make the Iraqis step up and do their our Armed Forces serving bravely in stabilize Baghdad, or to speed up the duty to protect their country, I would harm’s way should not be cut off or re- training and equipping mission.’’ Nor support it. stricted in any way. does this resolution provide the Amer- Instead, we find ourselves with an Our colleague from Virginia, Frank ican people with a clear picture of our Iraqi security force that has more time Wolf, also brought to the Rules Com- direction in Iraq. It simply says ‘‘no.’’ in training than the young people that mittee a very comprehensive amend- It says ‘‘no’’ to the only strategy for we are sending from our country to de- ment that would have made clear that success that has been placed forward. fend theirs, yet they cannot get the job Congress supports the recommenda- President Bush said, ‘‘If you disagree done. It is time to ratchet up diplo- tions of the Iraq Study Group, with its with me, then come outthink me.’’ macy, make the Iraqis accountable for emphasis on providing American com- This resolution in its simple form does their own security, and kick off the manders serving in Iraq with the strat- not do that. training wheels that we have tethered egy and tactical means that they need Mr. Speaker, I think Congress can do them to. for success and accelerating coopera- better than this nonbinding resolution Even the Pentagon has warned that tion with Iraqi leaders to meet specific for the status quo of Iraq. I know that an escalation of troops in Baghdad goals, as the strategy for moving for- a number of my Republican colleagues could fuel the jihadists, cause an up- ward to success in Iraq. tried to improve this legislation but tick in attacks and embolden al Qaeda A number of other Members also were denied that opportunity. But I even more. What shakes me to the spent a lot of their evening sitting in know that our troops serving in harm’s core, however, is that we plan to send the Rules Committee waiting to share way and the American people deserve these additional troops into harm’s their ideas about how to improve this better than this simplistic resolution way without adequate equipment and resolution which thus would help that provides no new ideas, outlines no vehicles. General Speakes, the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Force Devel- America in our message to not only the strategy for victory, and makes no opment, recently laid out a bleak sce- President but also the world. However, guarantees that we will continue to nario, a surge without enough armor the 13 members of the Rules Com- stand behind our troops with funding. I kits and without enough up-armored mittee are the only ones who had the am greatly disappointed in this resolu- trucks. benefit of hearing and debating these tion and the Democrat majority’s ef- good ideas because none of them were Others within the military add there forts to prevent this body from consid- won’t be enough up-armored Humvees, given the opportunity to be considered ering meaningful amendments. and voted on by the House. Instead, which even as fortified as they are offer Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. no match for the destruction and the rather than allowing this body to con- Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gen- sider good ideas, today we are con- power of the IEDs that are used against tleman from Ohio (Mr. LATOURETTE). our troops. One senior Army official tinuing debate on the floor with a com- (Mr. LATOURETTE asked and was pletely closed process to debate a non- speculated that the only way, the only given permission to revise and extend way, there will be enough Humvees for binding resolution with no teeth and his remarks.) serious logistical flaws. this surge is if five brigades of up-ar- In two short paragraphs, without ex- b 1320 mored Humvees fall out of the sky. This prognostication takes me back plicitly stating that funds will not be Mr. LATOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, to what I thought was one of the most cut off for our troops that serve in first of all, I want to thank my friend insensitive remarks uttered by a public harm’s way, the resolution asserts that and classmate, Mr. JONES of North official during the course of this war, Congress and the American people will Carolina, for yielding me the time, and the former Secretary of Defense in 2004, continue to support the members of the also for his leadership on this issue, who indicated you go to war with the Armed Forces who are serving in Iraq. and had the President followed his very Army you have, not the Army you This nonspecific language is something respectful letter of January 10, we want. that every single Member of this House would not be having this debate on this Mr. Speaker, I can’t believe that 26 already supports. It also states that resolution drafted by the Democratic months later we are going into a surge Congress disapproves of the President’s leadership. with what we have got instead of what plan to deploy 20,000 reinforcements to Mr. Speaker, like most Americans, I we need. It is not fair to the men and Iraq to bolster the mission and provide desperately want us to succeed in Iraq, women already in Iraq, nor those on additional support to the troops al- and I was heartened by the Iraq Study the way, and the costs are too high, ready there serving on the ground. This Group report, and I was heartened both in American lives and also the resolution gives no direction on how we when the President of the United toll on the American spirit. Make no should proceed in Iraq. Instead, it set- States said we were going to take a mistake, like all Americans I support tles for some generic language about fresh approach in Iraq. I fear, however, our troops and am eternally grateful supporting the troops without guaran- that this is not a fresh approach, that for their courage and their sacrifice, teeing that Congress will continue to this is more of the same. I also fear and I hope and I pray that we succeed fund their efforts and stand behind that our course of ‘‘more of the same’’ in Iraq. them as they remain in harm’s way. could lead to the deaths of more Amer- Some of the troops that will be part And it simply amounts to a vote for icans. of the surge are already in Iraq. I wish the status quo. I know that the President believes in our President had chosen a different Mr. Speaker, this is a serious debate his heart that the surge will succeed. I path, but he did not. I wish my Demo- about the serious challenges that like and respect the President of the cratic colleagues had chosen a different America faces in not only this fight in United States, but we tried last year a approach and allowed my party to offer Iraq but also against Islamic terrorism. surge of about 12,000 troops in Oper- alternative language, but they did not. We all understand the cost of failure in ation Together Forward. The result has It is what it is, but that does not Iraq is too great to bear. It would em- been an escalation of sectarian vio- change my resolve that this surge is bolden radical Islamic terrorists and lence and attacks on our troops that not in the best interests of this Nation. give them a base from which to train has been unprecedented and unrelent- May God bless our country, our from and to attack America for genera- ing. troops in the field, and the President of tions. But with this resolution, my col- If I thought that the presence of the United States. leagues on the other side of the aisle 21,500 additional American troops in Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I provide the troops with nothing: no Iraq would quell sectarian violence and yield 51⁄4 minutes to the distinguished

VerDate Aug 31 2005 01:52 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.039 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1589 gentleman from Arizona (Mr. SHAD- MORE TROOPS, PLEASE—‘‘NOT LOSING’’ ISN’T the city and we were frequently greeted by EGG). THE SAME AS WINNING locals with the question, ‘‘Where have you (By First Lieutenant Pete Hegseth) been?’’ Americans can’t of course be omni- Mr. SHADEGG. I thank the gen- present; but we should at least be there when tleman for yielding, and I rise to dis- I’ve heard President Bush repeatedly state he will send more troops to Iraq if the com- it matters. When Americans are there, either cuss a part of this debate that relates manders on the ground ask for them. I think, the insurgents are not or they are on the los- to the Intelligence Committee, and I having returned home from Iraq two months ing side of a firefight. Second, because of a lack of troops, Amer- think it is important that I thank ago, that there must be a breakdown in com- ican military leaders are forced to make a them for yielding me time. munication somewhere along the line. choice between mission objectives and self- Maybe units on the ground are painting too Mr. Speaker, I have argued on this preservation. Many of our leaders are opting rosy a picture for the generals. Perhaps the to guard supply routes and coagulate on floor that this discussion and debate generals aren’t asking because it goes sprawling military bases, rather than con- ought to be about more than just Iraq, against the ‘‘can do’’ ethos of the Army. Pos- sistently moving into dangerous areas and indeed, that it is about the worldwide sibly the military is being squeezed by the fighting the insurgency. In our case, we had jihadist movement to attack us. I have Pentagon to do more with less. Or maybe the 500 soldiers stationed outside Samarra who argued and quoted many jihadist lead- White House doesn’t want to admit more made infrequent trips into the city center. troops are needed. In any case, while I do not ers who have said their goal isn’t just There is little reason why most of these have the answers nor do I seek to place to win in Iraq, but to take that fight to troops were not stationed inside Samarra, blame, it is painfully obvious there’s a dis- Westerners and, in turn, ‘‘unbelievers’’ canvassing every neighborhood with platoon- connect. throughout the world. I volunteered to serve in Iraq because I be- sized patrol bases and suffocating insurgent But I am not alone in that view. This lieve in our mission there. I share the presi- operations. Rather than take the risks nec- essary—like small patrol bases and frequent is the language of the National Intel- dent’s conviction about the Iraq war—we can and must win, for the Iraqi people, for the fu- foot patrols—our unit opted to secure itself ligence Estimate written last April, and its supply routes rather than commit re- and it warns America in very simple ture of our country and for peace-loving peo- ple everywhere. But I’m frustrated. America sources inside the city. And while this ap- terms. It sets the case forward in two is fighting with a hand tied behind its back. proach is safer in the short run, it only pro- clear sentences, which I hope all of my Soldiers have all the equipment we need—ar- longs mission accomplishment, ultimately colleagues have read and thought mored humvees, body armor for every body endangering more troops. We often specu- through. part, superior technology, etc.—but we sim- lated our unit would be back next year, driv- ing the same streets with even fewer guys. The first sentence is, ‘‘We assess that ply do not have enough troops in Iraq, and we need them now. I believe that ‘‘the safety of America de- . . . perceived jihadist success [in Iraq] After witnessing two national elections pends on the outcome of the battle in the there would inspire more fighters to during three months in Baghdad, my Army streets of Baghdad.’’ Why then do we have continue the struggle elsewhere.’’ What unit moved north to Samarra, where we just enough troops in Iraq not to lose? Amer- does that tell you? If they are success- spent eight months sowing the seeds of icans understand a defeat in Iraq would have ful, if the jihadists who hate us in Iraq progress. While we had success in uprooting horrible consequences for America and its al- lies for decades to come. America has the ca- are successful there, they will carry the insurgency and building the local gov- ernment, it wasn’t enough. We had just pacity to win. that struggle on elsewhere. Ask your- Why then are we pursuing a bare minimum self, where is elsewhere? I would sug- enough troops to control Samarra and secure ourselves, but not enough to bring lasting approach? gest to you elsewhere is Great Britain. stability or security. ‘‘Not enough’’ became Mr. SHADEGG. Pete Hegseth served I would suggest to you elsewhere is the story of my year in Iraq. in both Baghdad and Samarra for a Japan. I would suggest to you else- The future of Samarra, and Iraq as a year. He was an infantry platoon leader where is the United States of America whole, ultimately lies in the hands of her in Iraq. He fought both on the streets and the streets of your hometown. people—their sympathies are the ultimate of Baghdad and Samarra, and here is prize in this war. No matter how many insur- I have challenged my colleagues on gents we kill, city leaders we meet or police- what First Lieutenant Pete Hegseth the other side of this debate to name men we enlist, it is all for naught if we can- said about the surge. He never heard for me a single jihadi or Islamist lead- not provide security and stability. Tribal the term ‘‘surge,’’ but he described the er, name one, name me just one who sheikhs told us that even within Samarra— struggle he faced. He said, and I quote, has said if we withdraw from Iraq, if we deep in the Sunni triangle—a vast majority ‘‘America is fighting with a hand tied pull our troops back, they will stop. of people just want peace and order and will behind its back.’’ ‘‘We simply do not Name me one who has said that if we side with whoever can provide it. Right now have enough troops in Iraq, and we leave Iraq they will walk away and not Samarrans rightfully question who that will need them now.’’ That was last Octo- be. carry their fight to the rest of the The end goal is for Iraqis to do everything ber. world. for themselves. But their government and se- Discussing his situation in Samarra, But I am not alone in saying this curity forces are not ready. Insurgents use Lieutenant Hegseth went on. There in issue is bigger. Let me tell you what death threats and murder to assert power Samarra, he goes on to say, and I the National Intelligence Estimate, over anyone working with the City Council quote, ‘‘We had just enough troops to or joining the police force. This atmosphere control Samarra and secure ourselves, written by our Nation’s best and forces moderate Samarrans to keep their brightest intelligence experts in every but not enough to bring lasting sta- mouths shut, and their silence abets the in- bility or security.’’ intelligence agency we have, said next. surgents who live and fight in Samarra. De- They said, ‘‘Should jihadists leaving spite killing scores of insurgents, we are un- He goes on and says, ‘‘Two things are Iraq perceive themselves, and be per- able to provide lasting security, and so the to blame for our predicament. The first ceived, to have failed, we judge fewer Samarran street slips away. reason is that we did not have enough fighters will be inspired to carry on the Two things are to blame for our predica- troops in Samarra,’’ and I quote ‘‘the fight.’’ That is the national intel- ment, one a corollary of the other. The first second, because of a lack of troops, reason is that we did not have enough troops American military leaders,’’ those on ligence community giving us a simple in Samarra. The skill and courage of 150 message. If we prevail in Iraq, the the ground, those engaged in this fight, American soldiers prevented chaos, but was ‘‘are forced to make a choice between world will be safer. If we are defeated never enough to fully secure a city of 120,000 in Iraq, the world will be more dan- people or maintain the rule of law. The sol- mission objectives and self-preserva- gerous. diers in the city were preoccupied with de- tion.’’ He goes on to complain that all fending themselves and conducting night too often that choice that they are Now, I would argue that there ought raids, and were therefore largely unable to forced into is protection of our troops, to be some attention given to the regularly patrol during the day—thus giving not mission objectives. words of the troops in the field, and I insurgents reign to move freely and intimi- Let me tell you how he concluded, want to devote the rest of my remarks date the local population. A visitor in because I think it is pertinent to this to a column written by First Lieuten- Samarra on an average day would be hard- debate, where what we seek to do is to ant Pete Hegseth last October. pressed to point out a single American humvee traversing local neighborhoods. The disapprove the surge of 20,000 troops. Mr. Speaker, I would ask to insert same is true for Baghdad. I believe that the safety of America this column by First Lieutenant Our four-vehicle civil-affairs patrol was depends on the outcome of the battle in Hegseth in the RECORD. often the only American presence deep inside the streets of Baghdad. Pete Hegseth

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:07 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.040 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1590 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 asks, and I quote, ‘‘Why then do we It is almost a daily routine for me today to support this resolution. In have just enough troops in Iraq not to when I see a man or woman in uniform closing, I want to again say this resolu- lose?’’ at the airport, the cafeteria, at home, tion is simple and to the point. The To conclude, he says ‘‘Americans un- anywhere, Bethesda, Walter Reed Hos- most important point is to say, Thank derstand a defeat in Iraq would have pital, I take a moment and thank them you, men and women in uniform; you horrible consequences for America and for their sacrifice and their service. are great, you are magnificent, we are its allies for decades to come. America Our troops need all of the equipment behind you 100 percent. has the capacity to win.’’ He wrote, to make sure that their safety can be The second part deals with the surge. ‘‘Why then are we pursuing a bare min- as secure as it can be. This week I e- Two very quick stories. Six months ago imum approach?’’ mailed a number of our troops that I Gene Taylor and I went to Walter I urge my colleagues to vote against have met that are overseas. I talked Reed. We went into a room that we this dangerous and ill-advised resolu- about this resolution, including the were carried into and saw a mother tion. policy of the surge. And many of them with tears in her eyes, a father, and we Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. responded at length. I want to share shook their hands. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I part of their stories and responses Then the Army colonel took us to may consume. without using their names. the bed to speak to the Army sergeant Mr. Speaker, this resolution is, first One of my Army captains said this. who had been wounded in Iraq. We of all, to thank our men and women in ‘‘Bringing in more Americans will thanked him. We told him he was a uniform. They are absolutely magnifi- force us into more confrontational hero. And he was just great. His fiancee cent. They are the real heroes of Amer- roles. This is not the way to win. More was sitting at the end, at the foot of ica, not the football players, not the American soldiers on the ground will the bed. We met her. Then he said, I basketball players, and not the base- not win the war, it will only delay the don’t know if my opinion matters to ball players. It is our men and women enemy’s reaction. If the people do not you gentlemen. And we assured him it in uniform, and that is what H. Con. believe that their government can pro- did matter. It mattered greatly. Res. 63 says. We appreciate you. We tect them, they will look for one that He said, well, let me share this with will be with you today, tomorrow, and they believe will.’’ you. I have been to Iraq three times. in the future. Mr. Speaker, these folks are on the He said, I don’t care if you are there 5 ground. They know what is going on. years or 10 years, you cannot change b 1330 The generals on the ground, too, said the people. If you look at the history, The second part is that we are op- that more U.S. troops would be coun- he is probably right. But then after he posed to the surge. Let me read very terproductive and in fact only increase said that you cannot change the peo- quickly, before I introduce the next or deepen the threats on our U.S. ple, Mr. Speaker, he pulled the sheets speaker, General Barry McCaffrey be- troops. down from his waist and we saw that Let’s face it, this is a civil war. It is fore the Senate Foreign Relations above his knees his two legs were gone. real anarchy. And in fact the Iraqis do Committee on January 18, 2007, and I In his third tour in Iraq he lost his not want us there. Nearly 80 percent of quote General Barry McCaffrey, former legs. them in Baghdad say that the Amer- commander of the Southern Command. I close by sharing this in this debate. ican troops provoke more violence than He said, ‘‘There the current adminis- I quoted five generals that have said in they prevent. And these same polls tration is going to try to muscle this the last 6 months this surge will not show that Iraqis overwhelmingly want thing out in the next 24 months with work, it is not the right policy answer. an urban counterinsurgency plan that I U.S. troops gone within a year. In fact, we know that a majority on I don’t think anyone can say it any personally believe, with all due re- both sides, Shia and Sunni, believe better than retired Army General Jay spect, is a fool’s errand.’’ that it is okay to kill our troops. So Garner, the first U.S. official in charge That is a military professional. A much for being a liberator. In other of postwar Baghdad. January 7, 2007. military professional. words, we are viewed as part of the This is his quote. ‘‘I don’t know that Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the problem, not the solution. the Iraqi Government has ever dem- gentleman from Michigan (Mr. UPTON). Mr. Speaker, all of us, all of us sup- onstrated an ability to lead the coun- Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I know port our troops. But there are many of try, and we should not be surprised. that Iraq has been on all of our minds us that believe that this surge strategy You will never find in my lifetime one for a long, long time. Many of us here will fail and will only prolong the day man that all of the Iraqis would coa- have visited Iraq on multiple occa- that the Iraqis will finally pick up the lesce around. Iraqis are too divided sions. Many of us have also visited Be- baton and lead their own government. among sectarian, ethnic and tribal loy- thesda Naval Hospital as well as Walter The Baker-Hamilton unanimous bi- alties’’ he said, ‘‘and their loyalties are Reed and tried to comfort our brave partisan report labeled the situation as regional, not national.’’ and caring servicemen and women. grave and deteriorating. It called for Mr. Speaker, as I close, and this is Yes, many of us have grieved with regional cooperation and a new direc- my close, let’s pass this resolution. the families that have lost a loved one tion. Mr. Speaker, I am one that be- Let’s work with the President to find at a gravesite back in our districts. Mr. lieves that the vote authorizing the an end point to the strategy, and let’s Speaker, we had a breakthrough this war was based on evidence that was not put our men and women in the week in North Korea. It was a diplo- flat-out wrong. middle of a civil war to make them ref- matic success. And our country led the Let’s not continue to ignore the real erees. effort to engage other countries in the situation and the mistakes of the past. God bless America, and God bless our region: Russia, South Korea, Japan and It is time, it is time for the Iraqis, not men and women in uniform. Please, China. The Six Party Talks helped see the United States, to lead after 4 years. God, continue to bless this country. a negotiated settlement that made We need to send a message to our Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I sense and the world today is a better troops that, yes, we support them, and, yield 51⁄2 minutes to the gentleman and safer place. Diplomacy won again. for this administration, a signal for from New Mexico (Mr. PEARCE). Now, one of our big problems in Iraq them to pursue a diplomatic surge in- Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, it is a is that we have not pursued the diplo- volving the region. very dark time for the Nation. The matic angle like we should have. We For these reasons, I too support the President is at an unpopularly low rat- have not seen a diplomatic surge like resolution. ing, unprecedented in our history. We we ought to. Let’s talk about this reso- Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. are involved in an unpopular war. lution. The first finding, of course, is Speaker, first I would like to thank Elected officials on both sides are call- that the Congress and the public will Chairman SKELTON and Chairman LAN- ing for us to get out of the war. I am continue to support and protect those TOS for allowing me to be part of this not talking about this war, I am talk- serving in Iraq. That tells me that we resolution, H. Con. Res. 63. ing about the civil war, when President are not going to cut off the aid for the Also I want to thank the 10 Repub- Lincoln had the courage and the vision brave folks that are there. licans who came to the floor to join me to hold onto that concept that we must

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:25 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.048 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1591 let liberty triumph. And because of his There are those who claim that Gen- happens in 6 months or a year or 5 courage, we have a Nation that has set eral Abizaid has said we can’t win the years. the course for liberty for the entire war. President Lincoln was faced with Our troops won the war, God bless world. the same thing, generals who listened them. But the problem with the Presi- Exactly what are we involved in too much to the public. He had to fire dent’s plan is that it calls upon our here? This is far broader than a war in General McClellan and replace him troops to do something they do not Iraq. This is a war with radical Islam. with General Grant. have the power to do, and that is to It is not the first time we have engaged Many recall those words of President convince the Iraqi factions to stop kill- with radical Islam. The first time that Lincoln saying, if you will not use the ing each other and work together on a comes to my attention was 1786. troops, sir, can I borrow them? political compromise. b 1340 We have replaced the general who Instead of the President’s surge, in was in charge of Iraq with a new gen- my view, we should set a rough target Thomas Jefferson goes to find out eral. I am sorry, but he is a troop. He for repositioning our troops out of the about the Barbary Coast. He comes is a commander. He is the commander, area. We should recognize that Sunnis, back and he reads the letter about why he is the supreme troop in Iraq, and he Shiites and Kurds, will never join to- the Barbary pirates were fighting ev- says, I could use more troops. Please, gether in a strong central government. eryone in that region. He buys his own don’t leave me dangling. book of the Koran to understand, but We should tell the Iraqis that if they And yet, this Congress, with this that letter that he had and brought do not amend their Constitution to leadership, is going to say, we support back says that it was founded, he is allow for a loose confederation with an the troops but we are not going to sup- talking about Islam, it was founded on oil sharing agreement between the port the troops. The mental gym- the laws of their prophet, that it was Sunnis and the Shiites, that we will nastics, the political gymnastics are to written in their Koran that all nations leave them to each others’ tender mer- appease the very shrillest of their pro- who should not have acknowledged cies. We should participate in regional ponents, the very shrillest of their sup- their authority were sinners; that it discussions with all parties, including porters. But everyone knows they will was their right and duty to make war Syria and Iran. We should resume ag- not be content with this nonbinding upon them wherever they could be gressive leadership to resurrect a found. That same principle is holding resolution. Those supporters will be meaningful Middle East process, peace today. We read it on all the Web pages like the tiger at the door, eating their process, and Congress should pass legis- of the radical Islamists. own if it does not escalate from here. lation prohibiting an attack on Iran Now, we can wish that it weren’t Have the courage to bring the troops without authorization by this Con- true. We can wish that the attacks on home, my friends, if you are not going gress. the Cole did not happen. We can wish to let the generals run the war. Let the Given the chaos that the administra- that 9/11 did not happen. But they did. military run the war. tion’s policy has produced, none of And now we are involved in a very dif- The greatest mistake we made in this these suggestions may work. But all of ficult, unpopular war with the Presi- House in Vietnam was trying to man- them would be better than continuing dent, again, at historic low ratings. age it with people who are elected rath- to be stuck in another 5-year period in I rise today, Mr. Speaker, in opposi- er than military leaders, and it was an an endless war with endless promises tion to this dangerously misguided res- abysmal failure. to the American people and with end- olution which will only embolden our Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 less failures on the ground. enemies and demoralize our troops. minutes to my friend, my colleague Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 Our friends on the other side of the and chairman of the Appropriations minutes to my friend and colleague, aisle claim to support our troops, and I Committee, the gentleman from Wis- the chairman of the Readiness Sub- do not discount that. I do not question consin (Mr. OBEY). committee of the Armed Services Com- their sincerity. I question their judg- Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, 4 years ago mittee, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. ment. this Congress voted to authorize the ORTIZ). I will tell you that the political gym- President to engage in a preemptive at- (Mr. ORTIZ asked and was given per- nastics that are required to come this tack to Iraq, a country that had not at- mission to revise and extend his re- soon after they campaigned against tacked the United States. I supported marks.) stay the course, to present a resolution the military action against Afghani- Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in that supports our troops who are in stan because they gave sanctuary to support of this bipartisan resolution. Iraq, and yet says that we will not Osama bin Laden and those who at- I could ask a question, were we ready change the tactic, we will not increase, tacked us on 9/11. But I opposed the to go to war? I don’t think so. if we are not going to get out, if they President’s unilateral and preemptive I just want to put a little of the his- have turned down those resolutions attack on Iraq, because I believed that tory of Iraq in context. And we prob- which would bring us home, and if they this action would destabilize the Mid- ably remember these names, Specialist do not want to declare to defund the dle East, isolate us in world opinion, Edgar Hernandez, Specialist Joseph war, if they do not want the surge, and weaken our influence in the world. Hudson, Specialist Shoshana Johnson, then we are involved in a resolution Our opposition was vilified. Our patri- PFC Jessica Lynch, PFC Patrick Mil- today that is nonbinding, but says stay otism was questioned, and that con- ler and Sergeant James Riley. They the course. tinues today. were all members of the 507th Mainte- Do tell. Stay the course is what they We are told that if we oppose the nance Company that went missing had to campaign so hard against in the President’s intensification of the war, after an Iraqi ambush in Nasiriya on last elections. we are giving aid and comfort to the March 23, 2003. I served in Vietnam when elected of- enemy. Well, I, for one, am tired of They were a maintenance company. ficials were on the floor of this House those who have been consistently They weren’t supposed to be in front of having these same conversations, and I wrong about this war lecturing those of the infantry. And, of course, we under- will tell you it is extraordinarily dis- us who have been right from the start. stand this is war and there is a confu- tressing from the point of someone I am tired of the manipulation of intel- sion. serving in harm’s way to have the ligence by this administration. I am elected officials playing games. tired of the stubbornness of an admin- b 1350 My friends, if you don’t want to sup- istration that didn’t have a clue about They were taken prisoners. But this port the effort in Iraq, you have the the Middle East realities when they got illustrates for us again that we were majority, call the troops home. It is us into this mess, and don’t have a clue not ready for this war from the begin- within your capability. Have the cour- now about how to get us out. ning. We went in with too few soldiers, age of your convictions. Stand for what Sadly, there will be no happy endings who, by the way, were not greeted with you believe. Do not put this resolution to this war. The President’s policy has flowers or parades. This administration in front of us that simply encourages done so much damage that there is no went against the recommendations of our enemies and distresses our troops. good way for us to get out, whether it the Chief of Staff of the Army, General

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:07 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.043 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1592 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 Shinseki, who said, you know what, we today, disappointed. Over the next few what they do not include. Perhaps need no less than 250,000 troops to over- months, the United States will make most significantly, I don’t believe it is whelm the enemy. So what happened? some very important decisions, prob- vital to America’s national interests to We went in with less than that. What ably the most important national secu- stop all sectarian violence in Iraq. was the goal? To go straight to Bagh- rity decisions that we will make in this We admire our military because they dad. And we left the left flank, the decade. These decisions are going to af- are forward leading and ‘‘can do’’ peo- right flank completely open. Not only fect the size and the composition and ple. But in this instance we cannot do that. With thousands of ammunition the equipment of our military. It will for the Iraqis what they will not do for dumps all over the place in Iraq, you impact our relationships with our al- themselves. know what? They were ready for war. lies, the perception of our enemies, and The President is sending an addi- They were ready for us. But we were the stability of the Persian Gulf re- tional 20,000 troops to Iraq. The prob- not ready for them. Because a lot of gion. These are serious and difficult lem isn’t the numbers. The problem is things went wrong in this war. The in- issues that demand thoughtful leader- the mission and setting the conditions telligence was flawed. It was wrong. ship and the careful exercise of our to be able to accomplish that mission. And, my friends, I am saying this be- considerable responsibilities under the Some of these troops are going to cause we cannot afford to make a an- Constitution. Anbar, and I think that we do need to other mistake such as this. The resolution that we have before us enforce our troops in the Sunni heart- I was just at a hearing about an hour today is not binding in a legal sense. land to fight al Qaeda and to make it ago, 2 hours ago, and let me read to We are not exercising any real power less likely that they will be welcomed you what the Chief of Staff of the here. But I think it is worse than that. there for the long term. But I am skep- Army, Schoomaker, said just a few mo- The words in these two brief sentences tical about the Baghdad mission. Oper- ments ago. He said, ‘‘After years of in- are vague enough to allow people with ation Together Forward, the effort to sufficient investment in the Army, very different views on what we should secure Baghdad last year, failed. The many of our units were underequipped do to feel satisfied whichever way they idea was to clear, hold, and build; but and not ready for deployment, espe- vote. The language in this resolution is the Iraqi units did not show up in cially in our Reserve units. To meet clever, but this isn’t a time for clever. enough numbers to be able to hold combatant commanders’ immediate Whether I support this resolution or what America had cleared. In the early wartime needs, we pulled equipment oppose it, this body should say some- days of this surge in Baghdad, there from across the force to equip those thing, say something that matters are too many indications that this will soldiers deploying into harm’s way, a about what our vital national interests be happening again. The resolution we are considering practice that we are continuing today are, about how we should pursue those this week contains only two thoughts. to meet current operational needs.’’ interests, about what the risks are, It is only two sentences long. First, My friends, we are at war. We sup- what the trade-offs are and the poten- that we oppose increasing troop levels port our soldiers. The men and women tial consequences. We should say in Iraq by 20,000. As I have said, I sup- in uniform are in dangerous places whether we intend to buy the bullets port increasing troops in Anbar, even around the world to do their duty on and the body armor for those who are though I am skeptical about the likeli- behalf of all of us, military, civilian, about to deploy and take on the chal- hood of success in Baghdad. Republicans, Democrats, and independ- lenges that we face as a Nation. ents. With power comes responsibility. b 1400 This resolution is very simple: Con- And rather than do the hard work of But the second thought is notable for gress and the American people will building a consensus here in the House what it omits. The resolution says that continue to support and protect the and leading the way, it is easier to this House will fund our soldiers and members of the United States Armed punt, to be vague and clever, to frame our veterans if they are there now or if Forces who are serving or who have political issues rather than confront they have been there before. served bravely and honorably in Iraq; forthrightly the difficult problems that This begs the most important ques- and Congress disapproves of the deci- we face as a Nation. For that reason I tion about our real power here in the sion of the President of the United believe this resolution represents a lost Congress. What about the five brigades States, George W. Bush, who an- opportunity that we cannot afford to of young Americans who are now pre- nounced on January 10, 2007, to deploy lose. paring their families and packing their more than 20,000 additional United I believe that too often in the last 31⁄2 gear to deploy? What about them? States combat troops to Iraq. years our goals in Iraq have been de- What are you saying to them? Will we Now, it is going to take more than scribed in the lofty and idealistic buy body armor for them? Will we have 21,000 soldiers. You have got to send terms that go far beyond America’s armored Humvees for them? Will they support troops. So I think sometimes I vital national interests. There has been have trucks to take them to their as- wonder whether if we could just pause a tendency to move beyond the hard- signed place of action? Will they get or take time off so that we could re- nosed and clear-eyed view of what the bullets and the night scopes and group or correct the mistakes. But you America’s national interests are in the sleeping bags and the chow? What can’t do that when you are in the mid- Iraq and we have come to emphasize about them? Will they get their com- dle of two wars. the loftier dreams for the American bat pay? Will they get their family sep- This is a different mission, and we people. aration allowance? ask our soldiers to do the best that To be sure, I am glad that Saddam I believe that the majority in this they can, and then we say that we need Hussein is dead and gone. And I hope House and the sponsors of this resolu- for the Iraqis to stand up so we can that the Iraqi people seize this oppor- tion would support a clear statement stand down. My friends, if we cannot tunity to create a unified state that re- that we will fund the troops and the even equip our military, how can we spects minorities and has robust demo- mission they are being ordered to un- expect to equip the Iraqis so that they cratic institutions. But there is a dif- dertake. But, of course, perhaps half of can stand up? ference between what we would wish the Democrats in the Congress, from Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I for the Iraqi people and what is vital the far left of America’s political spec- am pleased to yield 10 minutes to the for America’s national security. trum, want to stop the funding. distinguished gentlewoman from New In thinking about America’s vital in- In this war on terrorism, the greatest Mexico (Mrs. WILSON), a member of the terests in Iraq, I think it really boils burdens have fallen on the shoulders of Intelligence Committee and a veteran down to two things: First, Iraq must the relatively small number of Ameri- and retired officer herself. not become a safe haven for al Qaeda; cans who have volunteered to take (Mrs. WILSON of New Mexico asked and, second, Iraq must not be a source great risks on our behalf. As leaders of and was given permission to revise and of instability in the region. These vital this Nation, this House abdicates its extend her remarks.) interests are actually quite narrow. responsibility if we fail to make clear Mrs. WILSON of New Mexico. Mr. Some might argue that they are too to them that they will have the equip- Speaker, I come to the floor here narrow. But they are most notable for ment they need to do the job and come

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:25 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.049 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1593 home again. The short two sentence uncertain and divided as the country is on Sunni (32–37 percent) Muslims. Shiite popu- resolution we will vote on here this what is best to do in the Middle East. Rather lations constitute a majority in Iran, Iraq, Bah- week doesn’t address any of these im- than do the hard work of building consensus rain and Azerbaijan. Worldwide, about 10– portant issues. and leading the way, it is easier to punt, to be 15% of all Muslims follow the Shiite branch of If you are asking the wrong question, vague and clever, to frame political issues Islam. Sunnis and Shiites share most basic re- perhaps any answer will do. But we will rather than confront forthrightly difficult prob- ligious tenets. Their differences have some- vote anyway, and it will make head- lems important to the security and future of times been the basis for sectarian violence lines, and it will accomplish nothing of this country. and political infighting. the hard work we have in front of us. For that reason, this resolution represents a GOVERNANCE What are our vital national interests in lost opportunity that we can ill afford to lose. The Iraqi people have made substantial Iraq, and what is not vital? What strat- REVIEWING IRAQ POLICY progress in governing themselves over the egies can we use to protect and pro- Over the last 3 months, I’ve spent a lot of past two years. They have written a Constitu- mote those vital interests? What are time thinking about Iraq, reading widely from tion, conducted elections under that new Con- the resources that are required to pur- both classified and unclassified sources, meet- stitution and formed a government. The Iraqi sue those strategies? What are the ing with experts inside and outside of govern- people as a whole voted in the face of death risks and the costs and the choices we ment, spending time with our intelligence threats and Iraqi elected officials serve in spite must make? Are there ways to miti- agencies and our men and women in the mili- of risks to themselves and their families. If you gate those risks? tary listening to what they think and drawing are wondering whether there are Iraqi’s who These are the important questions, on their experience. are willing to take great risks to build their fu- and in the short two-sentence resolu- At the New Year, I returned to Iraq. I went ture, you should visit the military hospital at tion, they remain unresolved, leaving to Falluja, al Kut, Baghdad and Balad. Balad. Two thirds of the casualties brought to the House with nothing very important At each stop along the way, I was reminded our great surgeons and trauma teams are to say about what matters to America of how fortunate we are to have such dedi- Iraqi, not American. and what we should do. cated, capable and decent men and women Our admiration for their progress and their I have made my position clear in serving us in uniform. They are all committed courage cannot blind us to some other reali- ways that this resolution fails to do. I to their missions and they are performing ad- ties. will seek to provide leadership in this mirably. The central government in Iraq is weak. In House to address these important ques- Our forces have the ‘‘can do’’ attitude that part, that weakness is inherent in the Constitu- tions, to influence this administration we have come to take for granted but never tion under which the Prime Minister does not and to focus on what is vital to Amer- should. They are doing difficult work a long form his own government. Ministers of Health, ica. It is for these reasons that I must way from home and have been at it for a long Interior and Defense for example are chosen oppose the resolution in front of us time. separately and do not serve at the pleasure of today. There are good reasons to be restrained in the Prime Minister. THE RESOLUTION AND THE CONGRESS public comments about military strategy and Ministers are loyal to different parties and I come to the House floor today dis- operations when we have young Americans in factions. Corruption, a long established prac- appointed. combat. Honest debate about policy can be tice in that region of the world, is endemic. Over the next few months, the United States confused with lack of support for the troops. Both the Ministry of the Interior and the Min- will make some of the most important national There have been times that I have ques- istry of Defense are heavily penetrated by mili- security decisions of this decade. Those deci- tioned the administration’s conduct of the war tias loyal to factions rather than loyal to the sions will play out principally in Iraq, but will over the last 31⁄2 years—the inadequacy of national government. As one officer involved affect our broader national security and foreign force levels immediately after the fall of Sad- in training local Iraqi police told me, ‘‘The head policy. dam, the decision to disband the Iraqi army of training for the police in this province has The decisions we make will affect the size, and the slow reconstitution of the Iraqi Army, no experience and is not qualified for the job. composition, and equipment of the American the need to expand the size of the active duty He has the job because he is a member of the military for many years. Army and Marine Corps, and the failure to un- Badr Organization.’’ These decisions will impact our relationships derstand the strategic significance of treatment Another officer involved with training the with our allies, the perceptions of our enemies, of prisoners at Abu Ghraib. All of these deci- Iraqi border patrol said, ‘‘The commander in and the stability of the Persian Gulf region. sions were made at senior policy levels, not my sector was given a list by the Ministry of These are serious and difficult issues that by people in the military doing the job. the Interior of 42 people he was supposed to demand thoughtful leadership and the careful I’m from the old school that believes par- hire. They were all militia.’’ exercise of our considerable powers under the tisan politics should stop at the water’s edge. The Iraqi central government and its min- Constitution. The security of this country is too important to istries do not have the capacity and, in some We have to do more than debate. We have make it subservient to domestic political cases, perhaps the will to support operations to take a stand; we have to make tough deci- maneuvenng. in the 18 provinces. Even though the central sions; we have to clearly articulate what Amer- It was clear to me in late October that it was government has money, it can’t seem to ica’s vital interests are. We have to do things time for a complete review of American strat- spend it. There is no national banking system that matter and build a broad consensus mov- egy in Iraq. That means we must: Fully under- so soldiers and police are paid sporadically ing forward. stand the situation we face in Iraq and be hon- and in cash. They must travel home to give The resolution we have before us today is est with ourselves and the American people their pay to their families. not binding in a legal sense—we are not exer- about the challenges we face; clearly define The combination of factionalism within the cising any real power here. But it is worse and build a broad consensus on exactly what ministries and weak logistics systems are than that. The words in these two brief sen- the vital national interests of the United States used to undermine units in the field. As an- tences are vague enough to allow people with in Iraq are and, conversely, what is not vital; other officer told me, ‘‘If I train a really good quite different views on what we should do to and develop strategies, plans, and resources Iraqi police SWAT team that’s going after the feel satisfied with whatever way they vote. to pursue those vital national interests fully ‘wrong’ people, they can be strangled by logis- The language in this resolution is clever. But vetting the alternatives and the risks of those tics. No bullets. No gasoline. No SWAT team.’’ this isn’t a time for clever. We are better than alternatives. The national police are heavily infiltrated by this. Whether I support a resolution or oppose THE SITUATION IN IRAQ the militias, particularly Jaish al-Mahdi or JAM, it, this body should say something about what Iraq is a country of 26 million people in a which is loyal to Shia firebrand Muqtada al- our vital interests are, about why this matters, land area about twice the size of the state of Sadr. about what we do recommend and what we Idaho. About 6.5 million people live in the cap- A principal characteristic of a sovereign gov- do not recommend, about whether or not we itol, Baghdad. ernment is that it has a monopoly of the use will buy the bullets and the body armor for the Ethnically, Iraq is 75–80 percent Arab and of force within its borders. The central govern- troops for the next rotation of troops, about the 15–20 percent Kurdish with the remainder ment of Iraq has not yet consolidated this mo- risks and the challenges we face to best pro- Turkoman, Assyrians and others. nopoly for itself. tect our Nation. Iraq is 97 percent Muslim by religious faith. The Iraqi Army is more reliable and has With power comes responsibility. And per- It is one of four countries in the world where made significant progress over the last 18 haps the real truth is that the Congress is as there are more Shi’a (60–65 [percent) than months. But the quality and capability of its

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:25 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.051 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1594 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 units varies. Even units that are fully manned In summary: The overall security situation in external threats for a long time and we should usually have half of their soldiers on leave at Iraq is grave and is not improving. Strategies not define success this broadly or even raise any time. During Operation Together Forward, to quell violence have not been effective; while the possibility of arming them with indirect fire the joint Iraqi-American operation to secure some violence is anti-coalition, the most dan- weapons, tactical air forces and so forth. Baghdad this summer, some Iraqi Army units gerous trend has been the rise of sectarian vi- It is not vital to American interests that Iraq refused to be deployed to Baghdad, a clear in- olence between Sunni and Shiite militias and remain unified except to the extent dissolution dication of the weakness of the central gov- death squads in a cycle of violence and retal- of Iraq as a strong nation contributes to re- ernment and the questionable effectiveness of iation; while the unity government of Nouri al- gional instability or creates ungoverned areas these units. Maliki says all the right things, there are where al Qaeda could thrive. Iraq was created LEVELS OF VIOLENCE strong doubts about the ability of the unity after World War I from three Ottoman prov- There is not a single insurgency or source government to reduce widespread sectarian inces of Baghdad, Basra, and Mosul. The of violence in Iraq. There are a number of violence; further political evolution in Iraq is country has a history of instability as a result interrelated and overlapping conflicts. likely as factions maneuver for power relative of ethnic, religious and regional rivalries. It is In the south, while there has been less vio- to one another and decisions are made on not vital to American national interests that we lence, different Shi’ a factions, principally critical issues including federalism, distribution resolve these tensions and probably not rea- those associated with Muqtada al-Sadr (JAM) of oil revenues, and the militias. Iraq will make sonable to expect to do so. and the Supreme Council for Islamic Resist- more and more of its own political choices, There are a variety of governing models ance in Iraq (SCIRI) (the Badr organization) less and less influenced by America. from a loose confederation to de facto local periodically fight each other for local advan- AMERICA’S VITAL INTERESTS arrangements that are consistent with the vital tage and attack coalition forces as well. Too often in the last three and a half years, national interests of the United States. In the northern Kurdish region the Kurdish our goals in Iraq have been described in lofty The Iraqi constitution allows for regional ar- Peshmerga has made the area mostly secure and idealistic terms that go far beyond Amer- rangements and we need not spend too much and stable. We can expect violence to in- ica’s vital national interests. capital resisting new arrangements that might crease in Kirkuk in the run-up to the ref- Most of us in the Congress voted to author- emerge. erendum on whether this oil rich city will be ize the use of force against Saddam Hussein Perhaps most significantly, it is not vital to associated with the Kurdish region. because the intelligence said he had or was American interests to stop all sectarian vio- Anbar province, the large province in west- seeking to acquire chemical, biological and lence in Iraq. Certainly if sectarian violence ern Iraq that borders Syria, Jordan, and Saudi nuclear weapons and that he intended to use escalates to a conflagration that affects sta- Arabia, is predominantly Sunni. While there is bility in the region, it could affect our vital in- a Sunni insurgency and rejectionists in this re- them against the United States. In my case, it was the intelligence on bio- terest in regional stability. But the Iraqi’s must gion, it has also been fertile territory for al logical weapons that was the deciding factor, decide to quell sectarian violence. While we Qaeda in Iraq and foreign fighters. In recent reaching the high threshold required for pre- might assist and support Iraqi efforts, we can- months, some key Sunni tribal leaders have not and should not do this for them. They started working together to resist al Qaeda in emptive military action. As we all now know, the intelligence was must take the lead. this region, opening opportunities for United wrong in several important respects. Perhaps We admire our military because they are States forces to work more cooperatively with in part because it was wrong, there has been forward leaning and ‘‘can do’’. But in this in- local leaders to fight al Qaeda. stance, we cannot do for the Iraqi’s what they Overlaying these regional fights is a rise in a tendency to move beyond a hard-nosed, clear-eyed view of our national interests in will not do for themselves. sectarian violence that has increased substan- There are other things that do not appear in tially since the bombing of the Golden Mosque Iraq to emphasize loftier dreams for the Iraqi people. a clear statement of America’s vital interests in Samarra in February 2006. Anger and dis- like making Iraqi into a model of democracy in trust between Sunni and Shiite is very high To be sure, I’m glad that Saddam is dead and gone, and I hope the Iraqi people build a the region and ensuring its economic pros- and plays out in death squad killings, torture, perity. Both of these things are desirable. Iraq intimidation and what amounts to ethnic unified state with a society that respects mi- norities with robust democratic institutions. But certainly has the oil, natural gas, and two fer- cleansing of neighborhoods in Baghdad. tile river valleys to sustain itself and prosper This summer, the Iraqi government with the there is a difference between what we would economically. But these desirable things are multinational force in Iraq launched Operation wish for the Iraqi people and what we need for not vital to America’s national interests and Together Forward to reduce widespread sec- American security. what is vital should drive American strategy. tarian violence in Baghdad. U.S. Forces, in- The American military should only be used If everything is a priority, nothing is a pri- cluding the American striker Brigade, were to protect America’s vital national interests, ority. What is vital, it seems to me, boils down sent to Baghdad as part of an effort to ‘‘clear under American command, with the resources to two things: No al Qaeda safe haven and an and hold’’ those neighborhoods. The operation necessary to win and come home again. Iraq that is not a source of instability in the re- failed, as did Operation Together Forward II When it comes to clearly defining our vital gion. this fall. Levels of sectarian violence are high national interests in Iraq, we have lost our way and are not improving. in mushy rhetoric. These words matter be- AMERICAN STRATEGY The concept was for U.S. forces to ‘‘clear’’ cause they set the goals we ask our military The shear breadth of the policy options for violent neighborhoods and the Iraqi Army to achieve and drive the strategies and re- Iraq put forward in recent months by thought- would ‘‘hold’’ the neighborhoods providing se- sources to achieve them. There has been far ful people is striking. curity after they had been cleared out. The too little debate and discussion on what our Quit and withdraw. Reposition in neigh- Iraqi Army forces didn’t show up in the size re- vital interests are and what they are not in boring countries. Increase U.S. forces tempo- quired and were not able to provide security. Iraq. rarily. Increase forces substantially and with As one Army officer told me, ‘‘It wasn’t clear Every discussion of what path forward we no deadline. and hold. It was clear and fold.’’ should choose in Iraq should start with clearly Side with the Shia because they are likely to Confidence in the ability of the central gov- defining our vital national interests. As the win. Befriend the Sunnis. Destroy the Sunnis. ernment, the Army and the national police saying on the classroom wall goes, ‘‘If you Withdraw U.S. forces from the cities. Start force to provide security has declined causing don’t know where you are going, you’re likely with Baghdad and the cities first. people to rely on local militias and neighbor- to end up somewhere else.’’ Divide the country into three pieces. Insist hood security to protect their families. In some In thinking about America’s vital interests in on unity. cases, JAM, Muktada al-Sadr’s militia, has Iraq, it seems to me there are only two: Iraq These debates are healthy when they get built confidence and support by blocking emer- must not become a safe haven for al Qaeda beyond the brainstorming stage—which they gency response by the central authorities or its affiliates; Iraq must not be a source of rarely do—but the breadth of the options out while JAM members help victims, thereby in- instability in the region. there is partially due to a lack of clarity and creasing local trust of the militias and further These vital interests are really quite nar- consensus about America’s vital interests. undermining the credibility of the government. row—some might argue too narrow—and We should also be clear that no strategy is Finally, while the Sunni insurgency may probably most notable for what they do not in- without risk. There are no easy or obvious have been spurred by al Qaeda in Iraq and clude. paths here. various Shi’a groups get support from Iran, at It’s not vital to America that Iraq be able to DENYING AL QAEDA SAFE HAVEN this point, the violence in Iraq is largely inter- defend itself from outside powers. Iraq is un- Al Qaeda in Iraq principally thrives in the nal and self-sustaining. likely to have an Army that can defend against Sunni regions of the country. Defeating al

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:25 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A14FE7.006 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1595 Qaeda and denying them sanctuary must be a ple, the vast majority of whom live in the Eu- expect that the police will be effective as other central objective for U.S. Forces in Iraq. This phrates river valley. An intense than a mechanism to employ and occupy must be an area of focus and, to some extent, counterinsurgency strategy in the Sunni areas young men anytime soon. we have lost that focus over the last six can help to root out al Qaeda today and make SUPPORT THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT AS THEY ADDRESS months as we have emphasized the fight for their brand of extremism unwelcome for the SECTARIAN VIOLENCE Baghdad. long term. I do not believe that the United States Using U.S. special forces, conventional U.S. Strengthen both technical intelligence collec- should take the lead in resolving sectarian vio- military forces and American intelligence capa- tion and human intelligence collection in the lence between Shi’a and Sunni or between dif- bilities, the United States should target, kill or Sunni regions of Iraq. ferent militias vying for power in Shi’a areas. capture and detain al Qaeda leadership in Intelligence is the first line of defense in the The Iraqi government and Iraqi leaders must Iraq. war on terror and we are doing a lot of things take the lead. We cannot and should not do U.S. forces have had some significant suc- right. But there continues to be a need to this for them. cess in recent months capturing middle and strengthen technical intelligence, surveillance I told the President this before he an- high ranking al Qaeda operatives in Iraq in and reconnaissance collection so that more nounced his new plan for Iraq and I have spite of the reduction of emphasis and fewer requirements can be met. been clear about this publicly both in New troops in the Sunni dominated areas of the More importantly, we continue to lag behind Mexico and here, in Washington. country. in human intelligence collection capability. American soldiers should not be in a situa- But there is an infuriating fact seldom dis- We are five years after 9/11 and we still are cussed: fully half of the high value al Qaeda tion as reportedly happened on October 24th desperately short of linguists in strategic lan- when they raided an area looking for a leader targets in Iraq have been captured and re- guages. We need more soldiers trained in leased before. As one senior officer put it, ‘‘I of a Shi’a militia group and were told by the basic 30 and 60-day language programs in Iraqi government to stand down. have great photographs of half the people we order to effectively conduct a counter-insur- are hunting. They are wearing orange We cannot do for the Iraqis what they will gency effort. not do for themselves. If they do not choose jumpsuits in the mug shots we took of them At a higher level, we need more military to disarm the militias and stop the death when we captured them the first time.’’ members and intelligence specialists who are squads, Baghdad will continue to be a violent Weare operating a catch and release pro- fluent in languages like Arabic, Farsi, Pashtun place. gram for al Qaeda in Iraq. This is inexcusable and Dari. Heretofore, this has just not been a I believe it is unlikely that this violence will and frustrating as all get out for our men and national priority and it must change. women in the fight. rise to a level where Iraq becomes a source TRAIN AND EXPAND THE IRAQI ARMY American soldiers are capturing terrorists of regional instability even if it does threaten trying to kill Americans and Iraqis and they are The training of the Iraqi Army has gone the internal stability and political direction of turned over to an Iraqi run detention system slower than any of us want. They are still the country. As cold as it sounds, the sec- that is likely to release them. heavily dependent on the U.S. for logistics and tarian violence is not something we can stop Indeed, some officers whose opinions I trust their capability and effectiveness is limited by by getting in the middle of it and it is not vital describe detention as training camp for al the practice of allowing military members to go to American national interests that we do so. Qaeda where they share information and con- home for about two weeks of each month. This is where we are at most risk, again, of tacts improving their skills and enhancing their Still, the Iraqi Army offers the best possibility losing our way by reaching beyond our grasp. position within al Qaeda when they are re- for the Iraqi government to consolidate its au- thority and quell violence. THE SURGE leased. The President is sending an additional We cannot afford to spend half our re- The United States should continue to accel- 20,000 troops to Iraq. The problem isn’t the sources hunting al Qaeda members we have erate training and equipping the Iraqi Army so numbers. The problem is the mission and set- already caught before. We need to change our that they can take responsibility for internal se- ting the conditions to be able to accomplish detention policy so that there are no high curity. that mission. value targets with orange jumps suit mug I am not convinced that embedding large Some of those troops are going to Anbar, shots in ‘‘wanted’’ posters hanging on the numbers of U.S. soldiers in Iraqi units is the and I think we do need to reinforce our troops walls in the operation centers of our special most effective way to train Iraqis. I’m not con- in the Sunni heartland to fight al Qaeda in Iraq forces units in Iraq. vinced that it is not effective either. There are Using classic counter-insurgency strategies differing views by thoughtful people and I don’t and strengthen relationships that will make it and tactics, the United States military and in- have the experience to know. But it is an im- less likely that they will be welcome there over telligence services should build relationships portant question for the military and its training the long term. with tribal and local leaders in the Sunni-domi- elements to assess. We should pursue train- But I am skeptical about the Baghdad mis- nated regions who will deny al Qaeda safe ing strategies that are most likely to make sion. haven for the long term. Iraqi units effective and independent in the Operation Together Forward, the effort to We are having some recent and fragile suc- shortest time. secure Baghdad, failed because there was no cess with this approach to security in al Anbar. There are two disadvantages of embedding ‘‘holding’’ after a neighborhood was ‘‘cleared’’. Sunni tribal leaders, with the support and en- Americans in Iraqi units. First, it is harder to The Iraqis did not show up. And the ‘‘building’’ couragement of U.S. forces, are recruiting protect and support the Americans to the never really happened at all. It was a failed men from their tribe into security units. standards we expect for our soldiers when approach without adequate resources from the These counter-insurgency efforts building on they are detached. Second, some American Iraqis to follow through. We probably made established local tribal relationships and indig- trainers who have been embedded express plenty of enemies without making people feel enous leadership must be supported finan- concern that it is difficult to get the Iraqis to safer or more confident in the ability of their cially directly by the U.S. military. Large U.S. stand on their own and take responsibility be- government to protect them. aid programs run at the national level have cause they think the Americans will do things Rather than ‘‘clearing’’ neighborhoods where been slow and ineffective at engaging the Iraqi for them. An embedded American trainer told there is sectarian violence, we should focus people and getting things done. me, ‘‘I have to decide that I’m not going to do on strengthening indigenous security in co- The American military has the capability to the maintenance for them even though I can. operation with the Iraqi government and the use funds to support counter-insurgency oper- That’s hard to do.’’ Iraqi Army in neighborhoods and villages ations at the community level rapidly and Assist the Iraqi Army and Ministry of De- where there is stability or leadership to work where needed without a lot of hassle. This fense in establishing logistics and service sup- with. This is an inside-out approach that builds mechanism has been used successfully in Iraq port for the Army. indigenous capacity rather than an outside-in before, although it is not universally supported. While we have focused on training military approach. It’s a turf and power thing. To a certain de- units—and Iraq may need more of them than In the Kurdish region, the Peshmerga pro- gree, we have a choice. We can micro-man- they initially planned—the systems for payroll tect the Americans, not the other way around. age contracts from Washington and Baghdad and logistics support just do not exist. We That is a relationship we built over a decade. or we can get things done rapidly and effec- need to put effort into helping them develop Al Qaim on the Syrian border used to be a tively giving authority within broad guidelines those systems so that the Iraqi army is fed, hotbed of foreign fighter activity. Now it is for Lieutenant Colonels to use their judgment. paid, has gasoline and trucks and uniforms. largely peaceful and led by strong local tribal While al Anbar is a very large area, it is The Iraqi police and border patrol are infil- leaders who cooperate with the Americans sparsely populated with about 1.2 million peo- trated by militia and ineffective. We should not and own their community.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:25 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A14FE7.008 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1596 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 In 2003 and 2004, immediately after the fall to carry out. But, of course, perhaps close to is also the chairman of the Sub- of Saddam when there was no Iraqi govern- half of the Democrats, from the far left of the committee on Oversight and Investiga- ment, I believe a large U.S. presence that took American political spectrum, want to stop tions of the Armed Services Com- charge and visibly controlled the streets killing funding. mittee. or disarming any Iraqi with a weapon would In this war on terrorism, the greatest bur- Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank have made a difference. When it comes to oc- dens have fallen on the shoulders of a rel- the chairman for yielding. cupation, quantity has a quality all of its own. atively small number of Americans who have With all due respect to my friend But we are beyond that now. Iraq has its volunteered to take great risks on our behalf. from New Mexico, I want to make the own government with an Army that is getting As leaders of this nation, this House abdicates point that this resolution does not do better. They must own their own neighbor- its responsibility if we fail to make clear to anything to stop funding for the hoods. We can help them, but we cannot do them that they will have the equipment they troops. As a matter of fact, it was this it for them. need to do the job we are asking them to do. administration that sent 140,000 troops In the early days of this ‘‘surge’’ there are IN CLOSING into harm’s way without up-armoring too many indications that we will be doing this The short two sentence resolution we will Humvees. There is nothing in this to for them. Two units of Iraqis have showed up vote on this week does not address any of cut funding for the troops. But this ad- to help secure Baghdad, and they are at about these important issues. If you are asking the ministration sent 140,000 troops into half strength. wrong question, perhaps any answer will do. harm’s way without up-armored Like Operation Together Forward, the units But we will vote on it anyway, and it will Humvees, without Kevlar vests. And committed by the Iraqi government have make headlines and accomplish nothing of the what did Secretary Rumsfeld say? He shown up far below strength, which means the hard work we have in front of us. It is a dis- said you go to war with the Army you effort is unlikely to have enough reliable sol- appointing abdication of our responsibility to have, not the Army you wish you had. diers and police to conduct an effective grapple seriously with defining and protecting We are the United States of America. counter-insurgency in a city of 6 million peo- vital US national interests in the Persian Gulf. We should never go into harm’s way, ple. What are our vital national interests and never go into harm’s way, without up- Perhaps more importantly, as projected by what is not vital? What strategies can we use armored Humvees and Kevlar vests. the intelligence community in Congressional to protect and promote those interests? What The Washington Post did a front page testimony, the Jaish al-Mahdi militia loyal to resources are required to pursue these strate- piece just the other day. It says that Muqtada al Sadr seems to have decided to lay gies? What are the risks and the costs of the we still don’t have the most effective low, put away their arms and wait out the choices we might make? Are there ways to up-armored Humvees that are available surge calculating that they can afford to bide mitigate those risks? These are the important in the United States. It is not accept- their time. questions and, in this short two sentence reso- able. It is inexcusable and indefensible. In contrast, the Sunni insurgents have esca- lution, they remain unresolved leaving this I will be going to Iraq in a few days. lated their attacks in recent weeks. As a re- House with nothing very important to say I expect to see a country, unfortu- sult, it is possible that U.S. forces will con- about what matters to America and what we nately, that has gotten worse and centrate on putting down Sunni insurgents and should do. worse in terms of the level of violence possibly rogue elements of Sadr’s Shiite militia I support increased troops in al Anbar—the than the one I visited in 2003 and in who don’t keep their heads down. The irony Sunni region where al Qaeda thrives. These January of 2005. here is that we risk strengthening radical anti- forces are part of the 20,000 referred to in the When I came back in January of 2005 American cleric Muqtada al Sadr in the me- resolution. It is vital to U.S. interests that we I presented a strategy, a white paper, dium and long term by taking out his enemies destroy al Qaeda in Iraq and deny them a entitled ‘‘Iraq: The Light at the End of now while his militia lays low waiting for Amer- safe haven from which to operate. The resolu- the Tunnel.’’ Many of those rec- ica to leave. tion makes no distinction or even reference to ommendations were included in a bi- While this scenario is not inevitable, we these forces. partisan Iraq Study Group with distin- need to understand that US forces in the I am skeptical that increasing U.S. forces in guished experts on foreign policy and midst of sectarian violence may be helping Baghdad in the quantity and with the mission military affairs. They didn’t call for consolidate the power of a radical anti-Amer- and tactics described by the President and his more troops in Iraq. What they called ican Shiite. military commanders will quell the sectarian vi- for was for America to go into the FUNDING THE TROOPS olence between Shia and Sunni, nor do I think background. The resolution we are considering this week it is vital to America’s national interests to do The simple facts bear out a true grim contains only two thoughts. First, that we op- so. The Iraqis must resolve these sectarian ri- reality. We are told that we are going pose increasing troop levels in Iraq by 20,000. valries. The President believes the Baghdad to rebuild the country’s infrastructure. The second thought is notable for what it security plan is the most realistic path forward. But here are the facts. Iraq has less omits. The resolution says that this House will I disagree with the President on this point and electricity than it did before the war. fund our soldiers and veterans if they are I have told him so directly. It’s not about the Residents of Baghdad get 41⁄2 hours of there now or if they have been in Iraq before. troop numbers, it’s about their mission. electricity now, one-quarter of what This begs the most important question about The resolution intentionally leaves unan- they expected before the war. our real power as the Congress. swered the question of whether we will fund We were told that oil revenues would What about the five brigades of young the bullets and body armor for troops who are pay the entire cost of the way. But Americans who are now preparing their fami- not there yet but are going. I believe a major- here are the facts. Iraq produces less lies and packing their gear to deploy? Will we ity of this House would vote to equip and sup- oil today than it did before the war. In- buy body armor for them? Will they have ar- port the men and women being sent there, stead of funding the war, oil is turned mored Humvees and trucks and bullets and even if they question the President’s strategy. out at about half the rate it was when night scopes and sleeping bags and chow? The resolution’s silence on this important reas- Saddam was in power. Will they get their combat pay and their family surance to our troops and their families brings The bad news continues. Sky- separation allowances? discredit on this House. rocketing unemployment, decreasing Most of you know that I served in the United I have made my position clear in ways that levels of drinkable water and a security States military. I’m the only woman in the this resolution fails to do. I will seek to provide situation that has deteriorated into a House or Senate who has. Some of you know leadership in this House to address these im- full-blown civil war. that I am married to a man who continues to portant issues and to influence the administra- Now the President wants, in face of serve as a drilling reservist in the Air Force tion to focus on what is vital to America. We the recommendations of experts, to Reserve. A lot of our closest friends in the must adopt strategies, tactics and apply re- send 21,500 more troops into this situa- world still wear the uniform. These are not idle sources to secure those vital interests and tion. Does the President really think questions if you are the parent or the spouse garner the support of the American people for that the surge will stabilize the secu- or the child of a soldier who is being called up doing so. It is for these reasons that I will op- rity system long enough to undo all to do their duty. pose the resolution before us. the failures of the last 4 years? I can- I believe the majority of this House would Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 not honestly believe that this is the support a clear statement that we will fund the minutes to my friend the gentleman best strategy and the collective wis- troops and the mission they are being ordered from Massachusetts (Mr. MEEHAN), who dom of the Department of Defense, of

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:25 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A14FE7.010 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1597 the State Department and of the intel- Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank certainty, at a time when our enemies ligence community. my colleague for yielding, and I just are numerous, unpredictable and dan- You know what I see? I see a Presi- wanted to address a point that my gerous, this administration has made dent who seems to be desperate to di- friend from Massachusetts just made. the wrong choice. vert attention away from the missteps, He said that we always need to have I believe this approach damages our away from holding people accountable, up-armored Humvees in any war that military readiness today and damages and to just hold on to Iraq as long as he we enter into. We had at the end of the our ability to prepare for threats in the can and let the next administration Clinton administration about 112, as I future. deal with it. When I watched his recall, up-armored Humvees, only for This war has strained our ability to speech, when I listened to Secretary VIPs and for diplomats. We have today train here at home with functional Gates describe it, I saw nothing that 15,000 up-armored 114s. This is the first equipment. It has strained the ability gave me the impression that the esca- war in our history since the beginning of our services to recruit for the future. lation would do any good in the long of this country in which we have had It has strained our ability to prepare a term. up-armored tactical vehicles. defense budget that can prepare us for When we need to encourage them, With respect to the SAPI vests, that 21st century threats. Shias, Sunnis and Kurds, instead we is, the bulletproof vests and body Every State in this Union, including are alienating. When we need to be armor that our troops wear, we had at Washington State, has National Guard standing up Iraqi security forces so our the end of the Clinton administration units that are depleted. They do not men and women can stand down, in- this many, zero pieces of body armor have the equipment that they need to stead we are undercutting. When we for our troops. We have today over train and are forced to leave equipment need to be engaging Iraq’s neighbors, 400,000 sets. That is enough sets for two in theater, making it harder to do their instead we are on a war path with Iran. sets for everybody who is in theater, job at home. In Washington State, 90 percent of We need to fundamentally change our and everybody has them. approach in Iraq, and this plan is more I have said for the last several years the Army National Guard and 65 per- of the same. if there is anybody who has a son or cent of the Air National Guard have de- ployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and I admit that the escalation we are de- daughter who does not have body performed admirably and honorably; bating will accomplish a number of armor who is in theater, call me per- but at home, they only have 55 percent things. It will endanger more American sonally at my office. In the last 2 of their required equipment on hand, lives. It will continue to erode our na- years, I have received zero calls. equipment that is integral to the train- tional security. It will continue around So we have, we feel, the new equip- ing of these Guardsmen. the world to keep America up front in ment, not just up-armored Humvees the war in Iraq, creating more terror- The President’s escalation plan will but body armor, which incidentally is not solve these problems. It will make ists and more insurgents, not less. It very heavy and, to some degree, does will deplete our military’s resources, them worse. The President’s plan will result in some degradation of mobility, not decrease our strategic risk. It will which are already stretched to the but we have put in hundreds of new limit. And this plan will again ask our exacerbate it. systems, weapons and equipment sys- Units at home are struggling just to soldiers and marines to leave their tems, since the year 2000 which have families and return to the war zone meet the training requirements nec- accrued to the benefit of our troops. essary to deploy to Iraq. With this es- that they have just left. I just wanted to set the record I stand here today with a simple mes- calation plan, units at home will suffer straight. I appreciate the gentleman sage: Mr. President, the American peo- as the Army and Marine Corps are for yielding. ple want a policy that changes direc- forced to take more of their equipment Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 to supply the additional brigades going tion. We urge you to rethink this pol- minutes to my colleague, the gen- icy of escalating the war in Iraq. into Iraq, depleting their training op- tleman from Washington (Mr. LARSEN) Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such portunities. who is also a member of the Armed time as she may consume to the gen- Equipment shortages at home are Services Committee. tlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. WIL- what we hear about most, but the war’s Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. SON) to respond. effect on our prepositioned equipment Mrs. WILSON of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman abroad may be as serious a threat. Speaker, I wonder if my colleague from SKELTON for yielding time, and I rise The Army relies on prepositioned Massachusetts, given his comments today certainly in support of this reso- sets of equipment in strategic locations about the resolution and the support lution. around the world. This equipment en- I rise also today in support of a for the troops we are deploying, would sures that our troops are able to deploy strong U.S. military, a military that is join me in a unanimous concept re- at a moment’s notice. A large portion ready to combat terrorists and a mili- quest to amend the resolution to ex- of this equipment has been taken to tary that is ready for the challenges of press our intent and the intent of this support the troop increase, increasing this century. And for these reasons, I House to support those in the U.S. the chance that equipment will not be have to oppose the President’s plan to Armed Forces who are serving and who available in the case of an emerging escalate the war in Iraq and support will serve in Iraq. crisis. Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, if the the resolution before us. I personally have lost confidence in gentlewoman will yield, if I may, we The President’s announcement to add the Iraqi Government to fulfill its com- have supported the troops. In fact, if it 21,500 U.S. troops to Iraq is a step in mitments to the United States. I want were not for this Congress working in a the wrong direction. The American our women and men in the military to bipartisan way with Republicans and public does not want an escalation of know that we have a strategy that is Democrats, we never would have got- the Iraq war, especially without an ex- worthy of their individual actions and ten up-armored Humvees into the field. planation of what we are trying to sacrifice and that they will have the We never would have gotten Kevlar achieve. The President promised a new resources necessary to do their job. But vests. approach, but more troops does not most of all, I am concerned that the equal a new way forward. President’s decisions have led us away b 1410 The United States has a choice. We from our greatest national security Mrs. WILSON of New Mexico. Re- can stay in Iraq to keep a lid on Iraq’s threat; that is, fighting terrorists who claiming my time, this is exactly my civil war or we can devote enough time will do us harm. point, is the gentleman will not sup- and attention to fighting terrorists Make no mistake, while some of us port those who are deploying, and the wherever they are and securing a mili- support this escalation and some of us resolution does not do so. I thank my tary that is prepared to protect our na- oppose it, all of us can agree on the colleague from Arizona for the time. tional security. need to support our women and men in Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such I choose the latter. At a time when the military, honor their commitment, time as he may consume to the gen- we need to manage our strategic risk and make sure they get the resources tleman from California (Mr. HUNTER). in the face of terrorists and nuclear un- they need to do their jobs.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:25 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.052 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1598 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 I recently heard from a friend of My friend, the former chairman of the Mr. HUNTER. That is inaccurate if mine who, I will conclude with this, committee, just got up and said he has you refer to the historic amount of who served in the Army Reserve in Iraq not gotten any calls lately, but we got body armor that our troops have had. and likely will return. This is what he a lot of calls in in 2003 and 2004 and Mr. HOYER. Reclaiming my time. said. 2005. And today, Chairman MURTHA of Mr. HUNTER. Then I would say, yes, ‘‘Here I am, socially and culturally the Appropriations Committee is say- that is inaccurate. The way the gen- aware of the greater world. I am edu- ing we do not have the armored tleman stated and if he is not going to cated and a father of two beautiful Humvees for these new troops that are qualify it, then that is inaccurate, be- children, children who have not been going to be deployed or in the process cause we have never had body armor touched by war or tragedy. People tell of being deployed. until this war. me I should get out of the military be- Mr. HOYER. Reclaiming my time, is b 1420 cause I have done my part, I don’t need the gentleman asserting that all of the to serve again; but I do because if not So when you come to the floor, my troops who were in Humvees in 2003 and me, then whom? I serve as an instru- friends, debate the substance of this 2004 had armored Humvees or that they ment of the State because I believe in policy, but do not hide behind the had all of the troops deployed in the institution which is the Army and troops, do not assert that anybody on harm’s way, and, by the way, being in in turn with what that institution sup- this floor does not have every intention Iraq is in harm’s way wherever they ports. As an officer, I have a duty to and commitment to supporting to may be, had sufficient body armor? Is provide leadership to those under my whatever degree necessary our young that what the gentleman is asserting? command, and if it means I give my men and women and, as I have said, Mr. HUNTER. The gentleman and I life at the expense of my children and some not so young, who are deployed in are good enough friends, if the gen- all the things I love and hold so dear in harm’s way at the point of the spear. tleman will allow me to make a one- life, then that is what I will have to do. Because no one in this Congress, and sentence answer. I do not seek this action blindly. I am our troops ought to know, that no one The answer is, not since 1776 until cognizant of the dangers inherent in in this Congress will not support them just a few years ago have American soldiering and understand the risks and when they are deployed at the point of troops in Vietnam and Korea and rewards involved. As a soldier, I will al- the spear. World War II, in any war, had what is ways pray for peace, but in a time of Mr. HUNTER. Will the gentleman known as ballistic body armor. It is a war, I am willing to move towards the yield? brand-new thing. And we have got yet sounds of the guns. I will fight for the Mr. HOYER. I will be glad to yield to new systems that we are going to be Army and I will fight for my country, my friend. putting into the field shortly. So they but most importantly, I will fight so Mr. HUNTER. I thank the gentleman don’t have the newest and they didn’t others will not have to experience the for yielding. The point that I made—— have the newest. They now have 400,000 mental anguish and soul-crushing re- Mr. HOYER. I was not referring to sets. But to imply that that lack of ality which is war. For in the end, I you, my friend. I want to make that having them from 1776 to 2000 made know that I can love the Army all I clear. them into some type of an unequipped want, but the Army and this country Mr. HUNTER. I am talking about the force is also not fully true. will never love me back, no matter armor issue. The point that I made is Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman what the sacrifice. I am at peace with the idea of coming to the floor and im- for his observation. But, of course, my this dichotomy.’’ plying that somehow there was bad assertion was not 1776 to 2000; it was We owe my friend and his brothers- faith in this government for not having 2003 and 2004. in-arms the training and equipment he the new body armor that our troops But the point that I will make, and if deserves, and we owe him a national presently have to the tune of 400,000 I can conclude, Mr. Chairman, I appre- strategy that honors our military and sets, that somehow that was a derelic- ciate the time. The point that I wanted our safety. That is why I ask everyone tion of duty is also a disservice, not to make, though, is irrespective of that to vote for H. Con. Res. 63 to show that only to the former Congresses, but also assertion one way or the other, I be- this escalation is a step in the wrong to the former administrations. Because lieve every one of our colleagues, what- direction. the last administration in the year 2000 ever their view on this resolution Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 had zero sets of body armor. might be, all 435 have every intention minutes to the majority leader. Body armor is a new advent, it is a and will in fact do whatever they need Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank new system. We now have hundreds of to protect and promote the safety of the chairman for yielding. I was watch- new systems that we have injected into our men and women in harm’s way. ing this debate from my office, and I the warfighting theater. So the idea And the assertion, I tell my friend, was constrained to come to the floor. that we had a ragtag military moving that was made by the gentlewoman There are legitimate issues raised by across the berm into Iraq is also not from New Mexico that the verbiage of this resolution as to whether or not accurate. this resolution says, because serving, it you support or do not support the esca- And I would hope that the gentleman does not mean those who will serve, ob- lation that has been proposed by the would admonish his colleagues who viously, as soon as they are sent into President. But no one ought to hide be- come to the floor who imply that our theater, they are serving in Iraq and hind the troops. No one ought to come people went across that berm they are covered by this resolution. to this floor and say that this Con- unequipped is also not accurate. I There ought to be no confusion on that gress, 435 of us, will not support what- thank the gentleman for yielding. issue by anybody on the floor or any- ever soldier or sailor or marine is de- Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman body who might be listening to this de- ployed to Iraq. Whether it is today or for his observation. I am not sure the bate. tomorrow, they will have our support. gentleman and I agree. I am not an ex- Mr. HUNTER. Will the gentleman And when we say in this resolution pert in this area; I do not serve on the yield one last time? they are serving, it means if they are subcommittee or the committee. But Mr. HOYER. I will be glad to yield to serving, if the Commander in Chief has the information that I have is that the my friend. sent them there, we will support them. troops that we sent in 2003 and 2004 on Mr. HUNTER. I thank the gentleman And very frankly, for my friend from the ground did not have sufficient for yielding. And let me say to my New Mexico to come to this floor and quantities of body armor for each one friend, and I listened to the gentle- make the representation that somehow of them. Now, that may be inaccurate, woman’s discussion. The gentlewoman we have limited that support to those and if the gentleman thinks that asser- is a very careful Member of Congress, who currently are on the ground is not tion is inaccurate I would be glad to and she looked at the words and she an honest representation, in my opin- yield. asked the question: Does this include, ion. Mr. HUNTER. My point is to the gen- because it appeared that it refers, the There are those of us who disagree as tleman. equipage language refers to people who to what supporting the troops means. Mr. HOYER. Is that inaccurate? are presently there but does exclude,

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And her worry, lions, fiercely defending our people, fe- refugee exodus into Jordan and Syria and I think it was a sincere concern, is rocious in the face of enemy.’’ and the surrounding regions. that people who may be sent by the You know, unfortunately, this non- My friends, should we lose our re- President in the future may end up see- binding resolution is a political whim- solve, it is likely death squads will ing a cutoff of funds, of supplies, O&M per rather than a roar of support for roam and will become immediately dollars, as a result of this Congress. our troops. The language undermines more emboldened and more murderous, So if the gentleman is assuring us our battlefield plans, it fails to offer and what is now referred to as violence that that is not going to happen, I any alternatives, it offers no hope, en- in Baghdad will quickly regress into think that is good news to the gentle- courages no victory, and contains no mass killings. woman from New Mexico. solutions. Mr. Speaker, genocide is what caused Mr. HOYER. Reclaiming my time, I Mr. Speaker, this resolution is a our involvement in the Clinton admin- am glad that it is good news. I will re- cruel message to our brave soldiers on istration to put us into Bosnia. Eventu- peat: No one in this Congress, not the front lines and it undermines their ally the cry from mass slaughter of in- Chairman SKELTON or Chairman MUR- fighting spirit and their morale. It nocent civilians in Baghdad could THA or any Member on this side, will pushes for an abrupt exit to Iraq, side- cause us to reenter Iraq. We need to take any action that will put at risk steps the dire consequences of leaving take responsibility, all of us, for our the men and women whom we have Iraq, not just of the country but of the words and our actions. We need to un- placed at the point of the spear in people. derstand the effect this flawed resolu- harm’s way. I make that representa- On a recent trip to Baghdad I was tion has on the morale of our soldiers tion to you, that assertion, and I make stunned by the honorable Iraqi families overseas, and the effect it will have on it as strongly as I can possibly make it. who live in the Sunni-Shia fault line the desires of our allies to team with neighborhoods, families who have lived This is about a policy, a policy as to us in the future. whether or not we ought to send 21,000 together despite ethnic differences and Finally, we need to take responsi- additional people. And as the gentle- religious differences. These are neigh- bility, all of us, for the encouragement woman from New Mexico said she her- borhoods that are a model for religious this resolution gives to our enemies. self has great reservations about that tolerance. Can you imagine enduring I was up in Bilad recently with Gen- policy, but rationalizes voting against religious bigotry and living peacefully eral McCrystal. After a long briefing the resolution which opposes that pol- alongside a different Muslim sect, and and discussion, we were ready to depart yet in exchange for your moderation icy on an assertion that I think was the region and General McCrystal said and understanding your family is hunt- not correct. And if she wanted that to me, You know, tell the folks back ed, you are forced to move by armed clarification, I am glad that I could home that I am going to stay and fight militia at gunpoint, and these are the give it to her. I thank the gentleman. until somebody makes me leave. same radicals that pursue and round up I thank the gentleman for yielding. General McCrystal, today we are try- your husbands and your sons and tor- Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate ing to stop that from happening until ture them and kill them? the dialogue, and I thank the gen- your work is done. tleman from California. I yield myself b 1430 Mr. Speaker, the American people such time as I may consume. And then you are left as a single must demand that the authors of this I also could benefit from the wisdom mother in downtown Baghdad with resolution tell us what their better of the gentleman from Maryland. In de- children, and all you have to hold on to plan is for al Anbar province. Tell us fense of my neighbor from New Mexico, is a fledgling government and Amer- what your better plan is for the tribal she articulately pointed out that the ican soldiers, these same American sol- authorities who have just joined us in resolution also talks about the fact diers that are already deployed and the fight against al Qaeda in our na- that the flawed language in this resolu- being sent and are already on their way tional interests. Tell us, my colleagues, tion, and I quote, says that Congress to Baghdad to protect your home and explain to me the consequences of disapproves of deploying more than your children’s future. And yet this withdrawing from downtown Baghdad 20,000 additional United States combat morning you awake in Baghdad, you and the slaughter that that could have troops to Iraq. await the news of politicians in Wash- on the tens of thousands of innocent Certainly you do not disapprove of ington arguing about taking away this families. the several thousand troops that will little bit of security that you have. Tell me what we say to the Salva- be sent to al-Anbar province. I mean, And if you can’t imagine that, and a dorans serving with us on the Iraq-Ira- after all, that is where we are engaging lot us have traveled together who have nian border if we are about to leave al Qaeda, the folks who attacked us. I been to the Iran-Iraq border, go with that border unguarded. Please explain mean, after all, that is where the gen- me to al-Kut, where we are developing to me how this measure of discourage- erals are asking for those several thou- evidence of Iran’s active engagement in ment, this flawed resolution, doesn’t sand troops. exporting weapons and money and sup- affect the performance and the morale So you throw out a number of 20,000 port for radical Islamists. Could the of our troops. Please tell me how this troops. Not all of them are going to news be true that the Americans are political debate doesn’t weaken the re- downtown Baghdad. Many of them are talking about leaving the border, about solve of our country to win, to endure, going to al-Anbar. A funny thing about leaving the several hundred El Salva- and to prevail. al-Anbar province and Fallujah. The doran and multinational forces that Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 tribal authorities in that area who are serving there with us? Those are minutes to my colleague, a fellow were with al Qaeda have now turned the El Salvadorans from our own hemi- member of the Armed Services Com- against al Qaeda. They are looking to sphere. These are the El Salvadorans mittee, the gentlelady from California join the American forces. They are that survived death squads in their (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ). looking to take advantage of this new own country. These are the El Salva- Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of Cali- enthusiasm, this new troop deploy- dorans who will return home. And what fornia. ment. will they say about America? Did we Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support Certainly when you put down 20,000 leave too soon? Did we leave that bor- of this resolution and in opposition to troops, you don’t mean the 4,000 or der unguarded? Did we turn it over to the President’s decision to send more 5,000 going to fight al Qaeda that at- the Iranians? Did we allow that little of our troops to Iraq. tacked us. Do you? Because that por- city called al-Kut to revert back to the I was against this war from the tion of the resolution is flawed. city named ‘‘Little Teheran’’? onset. On October 10, 2002, I was one of

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The President fails to and deployed military forces on our tion bill to give our troops what they grasp that military action alone is not homeland or around the world, in all need to achieve their mission. sufficient to stabilize Iraq. And with- those years, in that entire history of So here we are, more than 4 years out a legitimate diplomatic compo- the United States, we never had body later, and what do we have to show for nent, there will be no end to the civil armor. I never had body armor in Viet- this war? Violence in Iraq continues to war in Iraq. But the President has re- nam. Nobody ever saw it. We had no skyrocket. This past December was the fused to engage the powers in the re- body armor in Korea. We had no body deadliest month for Iraqi civilians gion. He has outright rejected the no- armor in World War II, except perhaps since the war began. tion of dialogue with Iran and Syria, a in very, very specialized operations Over the course of this war, 45,000 to key suggestion from the Iraq Study where perhaps specialized custom-made 65,000 Iraqi civilians have lost their Group. It is not the role of Congress to body armor, that is, bulletproof armor lives, maybe more; we really don’t command our forces. That is the con- would be manufactured for some spe- know, because nobody is counting here stitutional responsibility given to the cial forces teams or special operations. in America. And over 3,000 brave Amer- Commander in Chief. But he has to do Now, I have in front of me a compari- ican troops, men and women in our it right. And we have to hold him ac- son. This comparison is between a sol- Armed Forces, have lost their lives. My countable for our failures in Iraq. dier in 1999, at the end of the last ad- home State of California sends the As Commander-in-Chief, that responsibility ministration and the equipment that most to the services. We alone have is up to President Bush. he has, and a soldier today. Now, as lost 325 men and women in Iraq, and we The President must be frank with Congress you can see, this is a soldier in 1999. He have sustained about 2,500 injuries to and with the American people, and admit that has a number of accessories. In fact, he our military personnel, more than any the strategy in Iraq to date has been a com- has an M–16; he has a flak jacket; he other State in the United States. plete failure. has gloves; he has load-carrying equip- And Iraqis have paid the price. Our The President must come up with a new ment; he has protective goggles. He military, their families; the families of strategy to stabilize the situation in Iraq, one does have a night vision device. He has our military are the ones sacrificing in that ends with the redeployment of our troops also got a helmet and accessories that this war. They have paid the price, and home. What is his plan? can be utilized when he is in combat. My message for the President is this: our country has paid the price for this Now, the soldier today has a lot The voters have told you, Mr. President, President’s war. more. That soldier has, for example, in- that they have had enough of your failed strat- Yet Iraq is less secure than ever, stead of an M–16, he has an M–4 car- egy in Iraq. bine. He has now body armor, including even before the President’s ‘‘mission And today, Mr. President, this Congress is an outer tactical vest body armor. He accomplished’’ declaration. There is no telling you that we too have had enough of has enhanced small arms protective in- functioning infrastructure, no banking your failed strategy in Iraq. system, zero economic stability. Iraq is Our troops deserve more from you. You serts, called SAPI plates. He has del- not secure, Baghdad is not secure. The have ignored the American people’s wishes. toid auxillary protection and side Iraq Study Group reported that the You have ignored the Iraq Study Group’s rec- plates. He has knee pads. He has more President’s strategy in Iraq is failing. ommendations. sophisticated aiming equipment and It is failing. Today, I hope you will not ignore this Con- night vision equipment than his coun- And how does our President respond? gress. I hope you will not send any more of terpart of just a couple of years ago. With more of the same. He wants to our Armed Forces into harm’s way, until you My point is that whenever new sys- send 21,500 more of our men and women have a plan to win. tems are introduced into the force, and into Iraq to carry out the same failure. Our military is the strongest and most capa- the first thousand or so systems or sev- The President has failed to articulate ble in the world, but they cannot continue to eral thousand systems go into the force what these new troops will do that is be overextended and asked to participate in and a battalion or even a brigade has different from what has been done over your failing strategy. those pieces of equipment, you can by the past few years. What is his plan? Mr. President, I ask you to listen to the definition say that everybody else that Four surges? Four surges that didn’t American people, the Iraq Study Group, and doesn’t have them is now deficient in work. He wants to do it again? this Congress. equipment. But, in fact, they are not And believe me, sitting on the Armed We are telling you clearly that we do not deficient in equipment. This point was Services Committee, I have been here want you to send any more troops to partici- made by a leader in the 101st Airborne to see it. I was the one in the first few pate in a failing strategy. It is your responsi- who pointed out that one of his battal- months who told General Franks, this bility as the Commander-in-Chief, to come up ions that they looked at, which was is an insurgency, it is guerrilla war- with an actual plan to stabilize Iraq and begin rated the top level of readiness, that is fare. He refused to call it that. I was bringing our troops home to their families. C–1 readiness, ready to go, ready to the one that went to Iraq when General Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield fight, in 1999. If you took all of the new Odierno told me there were only 359 in- myself such time as I may consume. equipment that troops have today and surgents left, that we were almost ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE put that new equipment on as a re- there, while the day before, his boss, The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. quirement for that same battle-ready Abizaid, had said he thought there CROWLEY). Will the gentleman suspend battalion in 1999, they would be ren- were about 5,000. That was 2 years ago. momentarily. dered C–4, or unready for battle by defi- I was there when Secretary Rumsfeld The Chair will remind all persons in nition because they don’t have the new was saying we have trained 89,000; 2 the gallery that they are here as guests equipment. days later, 95,000; a week later, 160,000 of the House and that any manifesta- So I think one thing we need to do, Iraqi Army. This was 2 years ago. Just tion of approval or disapproval of pro- as we lean on the Army, the Marine pulling numbers out of the air, that is ceedings or other audible conversation Corps, and the other services to move what they were doing to America. is in violation of the rules of the equipment into the field quickly, let’s And I was there in Iraq the day that House. not penalize them, and when they move General Petraeus, who was successful The gentleman from California may the first several thousand sets into the in Mosul, and then Mosul fell because proceed. field, let’s not say, Congratulations, he pulled his troops from there to Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, thank you’ve just rendered on paper the rest Fallujah, and to try to take Fallujah. you, and I wanted to take this couple of your units unready because they And he said to me with tears in his of minutes to expand on my conversa- don’t have the new stuff you’re moving eyes, We couldn’t hold Mosul because tion with the majority leader. in. That will have a chilling effect on

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Don’t look at the bullets that equipment to the field. who had warned against doing exactly are flying here at you, because if you I wanted to just make that point. what we are doing today when he said do you are going to die on this beach What I would like to do at this point this: ‘‘Do not have efforts that end in and you are going to lose everything is yield as much time as he may con- the production of nothing but paper, you believed in. sume to the gentleman from Virginia but we must contrive to produce ac- What he told them to do, he said, (Mr. FORBES). tion, not paper, if our goal is victory, Look at that hill. We have got to take Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise this not defeat.’’ that hill. He said, Rangers, lead the afternoon among a sea of voices that I way. Americans, lead the way. You b 1450 quickly confess I do not understand. know what? They took that hill, and Now, some of them are my friends and Mr. Speaker, they described how they won the greatest military victory some of them are very good people and when General Eisenhower, one of the in the history of this country. As a re- I don’t want to make any mistake most beloved generals of our time, sult, they saved the world. about it. I understand the pressures when he was strategizing that great vi- Mr. Speaker, I hope and I pray that they are under. I understand what it is sion, his own generals disagreed with we will continue to birth voices that like when you have major news media him on many issues. In fact, some of say don’t look down, don’t look at the outlets who will not even take individ- them threatened to quit because there mistakes, look at that hill. We have uals who attack innocent civilians in were different strategies. Some said got to take this hill, and we have got the United States and destroy our don’t go today, some said go today, to save the world from this threat of property and they won’t even call them some said do it a different way. terrorism that so threatens us. terrorists. I understand the pressure But then as they watched that inva- Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, may I when they control much of the media sion, greatest victory of all times, let inquire about the time that has been that we get across the country. me tell you what happened early that consumed and the time remaining, I also understand what it is like, Mr. morning. Our airborne men, some of please? Speaker, when we have Web sites that them were dropped into the flooded The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- are filled with hate, that spew poison lowlands, and they drowned without a tleman from Missouri has 3 hours, 3 out throughout all of our congressional bullet ever being fired on them because minutes remaining. The gentleman districts, and I understand the pressure we dropped them in the wrong places. from California has 3 hours and 4 min- that we get when we have people who Some of them were dropped in the utes remaining. don’t want to listen but simply want to midst of German positions, and they Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield scream, who stand outside and protest were captured or they were killed. myself such time as I may consume. at our offices. I understand those pres- Less than a half of the 82nd Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to note sures. What I don’t understand is the Airborne’s gliders ever reached their that this debate is about so many response that I am seeing here today assigned landing fields. By early morn- things other than the resolution that is on this floor. ing, 4,000 men of the 82nd and 60 per- before us. Simple, straightforward, in Just a few years ago, I had the privi- cent of their equipment was unac- plain English language, two points. lege of traveling with then Speaker counted for. The first is, we in this Congress fully DENNY HASTERT to the 60th anniver- The high seas that day swamped support those wonderful young men sary of one of the greatest military many of our boats, and we lost our ra- and women in uniform. achievements the United States has dios in the bottom of the sea, and only Secondly, we do not agree with the ever seen, and that was the invasion of three out of 16 of our bulldozers sur- addition of 21,500 troops into Iraq. That Normandy. Almost every historian vived. But what was worse, in the first is what we ought to be debating. agrees it was the battle that literally 4 minutes we had 97 percent casualties I listened to my good friend from Vir- saved the world. It was of particular on that beach. The Germans were elat- ginia speak of Normandy, I was there importance to me because my dad had ed. with him. I saw my friend, Dr. Tommy died just a few months before and he Mr. Speaker, as I have listened to MacDonnell, with a worn Purple Heart was there during World War II. Mr. this debate, I could only think what and a Cluster and his Silver Star in his Speaker, I sat that day in the sun would happen if the leadership control- uniform that day. Great memories, among a sea of heroes who didn’t come ling this floor had been on the com- great American victory. But what in up to the microphone and pound the mand ships sitting off of Omaha Beach, the world is the debate involving other desk and they didn’t speak in shrill because you and I know what would battles, other days, other conditions, voices. They sat with quiet silence be- have happened. One by one, they would when we ought to be talking about cause they had done the hard work and could came up to the podium, they this? This is a simple, straightforward they had literally saved the world. And would have grabbed a microphone, they debate. after that ceremony, I had the honor of would have pounded, and they would Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my just walking with them, in the same have looked at all the things that hap- friend and colleague, the gentleman presence with them, as we walked down pened. At the end of all that, do you from Georgia, a member of the Armed on the beach at Omaha Beach and know what it would have resulted in? Services Committee (Mr. MARSHALL). stood there literally speechless as the It would have had a note that they Mr. MARSHALL. I thank the gen- military historians first told us that would have passed to the 29th Division, tleman. that was a victory that didn’t nec- and those young boys on that beach, Mr. Speaker, we are debating today a essarily have to be a victory, that we some of them 17, 18, 19 years old, who nonbinding resolution to disapprove could have easily lost that battle. And were hunkered down on that beach in the Iraqi-American military surge in if we had lost Omaha Beach, we would the sand, some of them paralyzed with Baghdad. We do so knowing Congress have lost that invasion. If we had lost fear not knowing what to do. That note cannot manage a war, let alone micro- that invasion, Germany would have would have said, we love you, we sup- manage one. We do so knowing the signed a treaty and Europe would have port you, we just want to let you know surge has begun, and we will continue looked much different than it looks we disagree with the action that you despite our debate and vote. We do so today. are taking. We don’t know what to tell hoping our debate will not discourage And they told us about the guns that you, we just disagree with the action those called upon to execute the surge, were pointed up and down Omaha that got you here. but we also do so knowing that it Beach, huge cannons and the machine But fortunately, that was not the might. guns locked on the front that created leadership that governed that day. The Mr. Speaker, that is enough for me to virtually killing fields for our young leadership that governed that day was oppose the resolution. I will vote ‘‘no’’ men that would have to come on that people like Brigadier General Cota who on the anti-surge resolution, despite beachhead. went up and down that beach and he the fact that for 3 years now I have

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:38 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.060 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1602 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 consistently contended that we should so many others who have fought for us rity and stability in a region of the have fewer troops in Iraq, not more. in Iraq and elsewhere. I am a good bit world that we can ill afford to abandon. Clearly, the surge is inconsistent with older. It has been 40 years since I was As a member of the Armed Services my general view with how to make our in combat. When I look back at com- Committee, I know about the pressure effort in Iraq sustainable and winnable. bat, I remember the things that I on our active duty and National Guard But the anti-surge resolution is akin failed. I forget the things that went and Reserve soldiers. They lack enough to sitting on the sidelines booing in the particularly well. equipment and training. They are expe- middle of our own team’s play because Don’t fail, do as well as you can. riencing multiple or extended deploy- we don’t like the coach’s call. I cannot Don’t be discouraged by this debate, ments and limited time at home be- join mid-play naysaying that might and we will continue to have additional tween deployments. But to be success- discourage even one of those engaged debates. There will be laws, et cetera, ful our men and women must be prop- in this current military effort in Bagh- passed. Just do your duty as best you erly trained, equipped, and ready to de- dad. can. ploy worldwide quickly. To those soldiers and marines who Shortfalls in personnel, equipment, b 1500 are engaged, I would say the following. or training increases the risk to our Don’t be discouraged by this debate Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speak- troops and to their mission. In short, and vote. It is birthed by the very de- er, I yield myself 6 minutes. this administration’s policies have mocracy that you are defending. If you Mr. Speaker, I want to also acknowl- brought us to the point where we not are successful, Iraqis may one day edge Mr. MARSHALL and the powerful only cannot sustain an escalation in enjoy the same right to debate and sentiments he just shared with all of Iraq, but also we are not fully prepared vote like we are debating and voting. If us. Mr. Speaker, this debate is long for other contingencies. they do, they may well look back at overdue. It is our first extended and But that is not the only reason I op- you as having birthed that right for substantive debate on the war in Iraq pose the escalation. I do not think the them. since Congress gave the President the President’s rationale for it makes Nearly 40 years ago, I was a grunt authority to invade more than 4 years sense, no matter our readiness levels. platoon sergeant in Vietnam, a kid who ago. The just-released National Intelligence dropped out of college and enlisted spe- But if we do nothing more than de- Estimate on Iraq agrees that the term cifically to go to Vietnam. And at the bate the President’s escalation plan, ‘‘civil war’’ accurately describes what very time that I was fighting insur- we will not keep faith with the Amer- is happening in Iraq, and suggests that gents in Vietnam, our country was torn ican people who rightly expect this new the conflict may in fact be worse than by antiwar protests and debate. I didn’t Congress to bring our costly involve- a civil war. worry about that. You should not ei- ment in Iraq to a close. And while the Putting more Americans at risk is ther. I didn’t let it discourage me. You resolution before us is largely symbolic not a recipe for victory. And as a new should not let it discourage you. You and nonbinding, it can be, I think it Foreign Relations Council report should simply do your duty and be should be, the opening part of a longer, notes, we bear responsibility for devel- proud of the fact that you have done it. thoughtful debate about our long-term opments within Iraq, but are increas- Do it to the best of your ability. national interests not only Iraq but the ingly without the ability to shape I made tons of mistakes, failed many, entire Middle East. those developments in a positive direc- many times to do what I should have So this resolution is a start. And I tion. done. But do what you can to discharge will vote for it because I agree with the So what should be the way forward? your duty on behalf of the country and message it sends. The resolution ex- For one, I believe a reduction of mili- let others, the President and the Con- presses disapproval of the President’s tary forces in Iraq and a phased rede- gress, debate what that duty actually sending more troops to Iraq, an action ployment of our Armed Forces to bor- is. There are legitimate differences of that is contrary to the wise advice of der regions like Anbar and the Kurdish opinion in the United States among the the Iraq Study Group, critical members areas of Iraq would be effective. That leadership concerning the best way for- of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and experi- can give us flexibility to act militarily ward in Iraq, how to get to the best enced military commanders like in Iraq if necessary, but will also in- possible result. Don’t worry about that. former Secretary of State Colin Pow- crease the pressure on the Iraqi Gov- No doubt you have your own ideas. I ell. ernment to move toward political rec- certainly did when I was in Vietnam. The President’s escalation is most onciliation. While in combat in Vietnam, I was con- likely too small to be effective, and I do not think an immediate with- vinced that the tactics that we were adopting new counterinsurgency tac- drawal of American forces or setting a using needed to be dramatically tics comes 2 years too late. The resolu- date certain for withdrawal makes changed. But, nevertheless, I continued tion, in my opinion, represents the cor- sense, but neither does an open-ended to do the best I could as I was in- rect response to these facts. It ex- commitment for American blood and structed to do. presses support for our brave men and treasure. And as bad as the situation is I gave a eulogy for Sergeant Victor women in uniform, but disagreement in Iraq, we must work to avoid a col- Anderson of the Georgia National with the policy of military escalation. lapse in the region. Not only because Guard about 2 years ago, 39 years old, Mr. Speaker, as we speak here today, we have a moral obligation to the peo- disqualified because of diabetes when the death toll in Iraq rises, and the war ple of Iraq, but also because our na- the National Guard was called up. He continues to drain our national Treas- tional security has been badly com- fought his disqualification, he went to ury, stretch our Armed Forces, and promised by the Bush administration’s Iraq. weaken our capacity to effectively failures. The week before he died, hit by an counter Islamic terrorism. Congress We should adopt the main policy rec- IED, he saw some of his men killed. He needs to send the message that things ommendations of the Iraq Study sent an e-mail back to his family. In must change. Group, including stronger efforts of di- that e-mail, he explained this, people I opposed the Bush administration’s plomacy in the region. It is not in the ask me why I fight. I do not fight for decision to go to war in Iraq, and I interests of any nation to have Iraq de- some ideology. I fight for that man to have never once regretted that vote. scend into further civil war and chaos. my left and the one to my right. They But today we must focus on the future. As challenging as diplomacy is in the are men of their honor. When called, We cannot move the clock back, but we Middle East, I believe the sacrifice of they responded and did their duty. need to avoid making a bad situation our soldiers demand that we engage in They did not run away. If you believe worse. We should not be scaling up our serious regional talks, including those in nothing else, believe in them. military mission in Iraq, we should be with our adversaries Syria and Iran. It is that kind of spirit that I hope scaling back. We need to make the U.S. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I am convinced you have. I hope, in fact, that I can military footprint lighter, not in order we must reach for bipartisanship in look at you when you come back from to hasten defeat or failure in Iraq, but crafting our policy in Iraq. Mr. Speak- Iraq and be as proud of you as I am of to salvage a critical measure of secu- er, the stakes in Iraq are very high.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:38 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.062 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1603 The outcome in this region will have equipment, or training increase the risk to our Iraq, but I will also offer proposals that are consequences for future generations troops and to their mission. By all measure- aimed at finding common ground. I will be in- that will long outlive those of us who ments, we are not in a position to sustain an troducing legislation that looks beyond the are in Congress today. escalation of troops. ‘‘surge’’ and toward the necessary and inevi- Great leaders acknowledge mistakes, But I don’t believe the President’s rationale table contingency planning that will be needed learn and chart a new course. For the for the ‘‘surge’’ makes sense, no matter our if we are to avoid deeper and more cata- sake of future generations and to keep readiness levels. The just-released National strophic scenarios in Iraq and the region. faith with the generations that built Intelligence Estimate on Iraq agrees that the Mr. Speaker, the stakes in Iraq are very America, let us be a Nation of great term ‘‘civil war’’ accurately describes aspects high. The outcome in this region will have con- leaders. of the Iraq conflict and goes further in sug- sequences for future generations that will long Mr. Speaker, this is the first significant de- gesting that the conflict may in fact, be more outlive those of us who are in Congress today. bate we have had on the war in Iraq since complicated and worse than a civil war. Put- Great leaders acknowledge mistakes, learn, Congress passed the President’s request for ting more American troops at risk in this kind and chart a new course. For the sake of future an authorization to invade Iraq more than four of setting is not a recipe for victory; it is only generations and to keep faith with the genera- years ago. And even though our debate today a prescription for quagmire. As a new Foreign tions that built America, let us be a Nation of is on a largely symbolic question—a non-bind- Relations Council report notes, we bear re- great leaders. ing resolution disapproving the President’s an- sponsibility for developments within Iraq, but Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield nounced plan for moving additional troops to are increasingly without the ability to shape such time as he may consume to the Iraq—I believe it ought to serve as the begin- those developments in a positive direction. gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. ning of a deeper and more thoughtful debate So what should be the way forward? How SAXTON). about our long-term national interests in the should Congress respond? Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank Middle East, and Iraq. I believe a policy aimed at escalating diplo- the gentleman for yielding me time. If all we do is debate the wisdom of a surge, matic and political efforts is preferable to one First, let me begin by saying that I have observed several speakers here we will not keep faith with the American peo- that continues to rely on our soldiers to carry during this debate who I am sure in ple, who rightly expect this new Congress to the heavy burden of nation-building—a mis- good faith made the representations bring our costly involvement in the Iraq war to sion that soldiers are ill-equipped for without that they did, that the short-term re- a close. strong international support, particularly in the deployment or surge was not a rec- Nevertheless, I will support this resolution midst of civil war and sectarian violence. That disapproving the president’s call for additional ommendation of the Iraq Study Group. is why I favor a reduction of military forces in This is a copy of the report of the troops in Iraq because it runs contrary to the Iraq, and a phased redeployment of our armed Iraq Study Group. On page 73 there is a wise advice of the Iraq Study Group (the forces to border regions in places like Anbar discussion of increasing troop levels in Baker-Hamilton Commission), critical members province and the Kurdish areas of Iraq, which Iraq. And the Iraq Study Group did in of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and experienced should give us some flexibility to respond mili- fact suggest that a substantial increase military commanders like former Secretary of tarily should circumstances require it, but will of 100,000 or 200,000 troops would likely State, Colin Powell, on the best strategic ap- also increase the pressure on the Iraqi gov- be not a good idea. proach in Iraq. The President’s plan calls for ernment to move toward political reconciliation However, they say this, and I quote. an infusion of additional soldiers—probably too and stability. ‘‘We could, however, support a short- few to have the desired outcome—and uti- I do not believe an immediate withdrawal of term redeployment or surge of Amer- lizing counterinsurgency tactics that are two American forces or setting a date certain for ican combat forces to stabilize Bagh- years too late and that I believe will be ineffec- withdrawal makes sense, but neither does an dad, or to speed up the training and tive in the context of the civil war that has open-ended commitment of American blood equipping mission if the U.S. com- emerged in Iraq. and treasure. mander in Iraq determines that such We are also expecting General David As bad as the situation is in Iraq, however, steps would be effective.’’ Petraeus and our troops to operate under a we must work to avoid a collapse in the re- And so I would say to my friends that complicated joint command structure with Iraqi gion—not only because we have a moral obli- is in fact the case. And so I hope that forces and political leaders that is unprece- gation to the people of Iraq, but also because that puts that matter to rest. Mr. dented in our military history and undermines our national security has been so badly com- Speaker, this resolution, I suspect, has the ‘‘unity of command’’ rule in warfare. And promised by the Bush Administration’s failures been drawn up as a well-meaning reso- all this comes at a time when the death toll in there. The President’s decision to take the Na- lution. There have been some sugges- Iraq is rising and the war continues to drain tion to war has made our country less safe. tions here today that it is political in our national treasury, stretches our armed We need to change course and chart a path nature. I do not know if that is true. forces, and decreases—rather than en- that enhances our national security and sets But I would hope that it is a good, hances—our ability to wage an effective war the right priorities for the war on terrorism and well-meaning resolution. against Islamic terrorism. Even as we debate struggle against extremists. I have been here now for well over 20 a ‘‘surge’’ in Iraq, we should not forget Af- To do this, I believe Congress should pass years, I am in my 23rd year. I have ghanistan. We will win there if we redouble a resolution that embodies the main policy ele- learned a lot about the House. This is a our efforts now. ments of the Baker-Hamilton Commission, in- great system. We do great work here. I opposed the Bush Administration’s deci- cluding a call for stronger efforts at diplomacy And we usually do it right. Sometimes sion to go to war in Iraq and I have never in the region and internationally. It is not in the we make mistakes. once regretted that vote. Today, we cannot interests of any nation to have Iraq descend On many issues we make corrections move the clock back, but we can surely avoid into further civil war and chaos. As challenging to those mistakes. When we pass tax making a bad situation worse. We should not as diplomacy is in the Middle East, I believe bills, months later or a year later we be scaling up our military mission in Iraq—we the sacrifice of our soldiers demands that we will make some technical corrections should be scaling back. We need to make the engage in serious regional talks, including to the tax bill, because we did not do it U.S. military footprint lighter—not in order to talks with our adversaries, Syria and Iran. quite right. In many other cases, if we hasten defeat or failure in Iraq, but to salvage Finally, I believe we must reach for biparti- spend too much money in an appropria- a critical measure of security and stability in a sanship in crafting our policy in Iraq. The tions bill this year, we can come back region of the world that we can ill afford to President misguidedly took us into war on the and reduce it in a future year. abandon. eve of a bitter national election. We must try But I would suggest to my friends I say this as a Member of the Armed Serv- hard not to compound this error by turning a who support this resolution that it is a ices Committee who understands the pres- debate on Iraq into a partisan game of one- start down a road; it is a start down a sures on our active duty and National Guard upmanship where legitimate disagreement road that at some point could have dis- and reserve soldiers, including a lack of equip- with the Administration’s plan for escalation is astrous effects. So we want to make ment and training, multiple or extended de- called a betrayal of our troops or where resist- sure, I am sure you want to make sure, ployments, and limited time at home between ance to immediate withdrawal is called war- that you get this right. I would like to deployments. To be successful, U.S. forces mongering. walk you through some reasons why I must be trained, equipped, and ready to quick- For my part, I intend to speak out loudly and think that this takes us in the wrong ly deploy worldwide. Shortfalls in personnel, often for a responsible withdrawal strategy in direction.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:38 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.063 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1604 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 In fact, there is a bunch of evidence hearted Americans, in 1992 and 1993, we said, because this is a great country, to point to the fact that the enemy is decided to save the starving Somalis, and because I want my family to have watching what we are doing, that they and we initiated Operation Restore the same opportunities I have had. have learned from our past mistakes, Hope. In May 1993, the U.N. assumed This is my son Marty and his wife and that they are in fact hoping that the mission from the U.S. as an inter- and their little gal, my granddaughter this resolution passes, for some fairly national mission. In October of 1993 the Allie. This is my daughter, Jen, this is obvious reasons. Let me go through battle for Mogadishu took place. Eight- Kate, and this is Jacqueline. four case studies that we have made een Americans were killed. The U.S. I will admit the artist got a little about similar situations. stops operations against Aidid, and in carried away because they made a First, a situation in Lebanon. Leb- March, 1995, both U.S. and U.N. forces montage out of this picture and they anon was a wonderful country. It was a withdraw. It was later confirmed that put my grandchildren on here two or democracy. It had a Parliament. Had al Qaeda supported Aidid’s militia. three times each. But I will tell you Christians and Muslims living together There is evidence that the U.S. with- what, if we go down this road to the sharing power. In the middle 1970s, drawal inspired bin Laden’s first bomb- point where we can’t correct a mis- things began to change. The big change ing of the World Trade Center. The take, I wonder what the future is going was that fundamentalist Islam came to Islamist fundamentalists filled the to be for my family and for your fam- town and Hezbollah came to town. void once again. ily. b 1510 Let me move to my fourth case And so this resolution today is an study, the Israeli withdrawal, again, important one. It may be only 97 words And in 1975, a war erupted, which has from Lebanon. Preceding the Israeli in- or whatever it is, and it may have only been called a civil war. There was the vasion in 1982 the PLO was conducting two statements in it, but we are headed emergence of multi-sided militia attacks on Israel from south Lebanon. down a road, and it is a dangerous one, groups, sectarian violence and civilian In 1982, Israeli forces invaded southern in my opinion. massacres. Sounds familiar. Lebanon in response to an assassina- Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speak- In 1982, the U.N. sent in a multi-na- tion attempt by Abu Nidal against er, at this time I yield 5 minutes to my tional force to try to quell the vio- Israel’s ambassador to the U.K. After friend and colleague, the gentleman lence. And on October 23, 1983 the Ma- attacking PLO, Syrian and Muslim from the great State of Oklahoma (Mr. rine barracks was bombed by Hezbollah Lebanese forces, Israel occupied south- BOREN), a member of the Armed Serv- with the support of Iran. The best de- ern Lebanon. ices Committee. scription of it I have heard or read If you want to read a great account Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise comes from a description by some Navy of this, read the book entitled ‘‘Be- today in support of our men and SEALs who were sleeping in their cause They Hate.’’ It is a book written women in uniform, and in support of bunker on the beach, not in the bar- by a Christian woman by the name of this resolution. racks. And the magnitude of the explo- Brigitte Gabriel, who is now living in Nearly 230,000 Americans are cur- sion, to hear them describe it, was the U.S., and she tells the story of liv- rently deployed to the Middle East something to behold. And it shocked ing in a bunker, living in a bunker fighting the war on terrorism. Three America. And in 1984 we withdrew our until the war was over, not a nice thing thousand of those are from my home Marines. The remainder of the peace- to do. State of Oklahoma. These men and keeping force was gone by April of 1984. In 1982 to 1984, the multi-national women are fighting for their country, There was no serious U.S. retaliation peacekeeping force came to Lebanon. not as Democrats or as Republicans, for the Beirut bombing. The civil war The PLO withdrawal in 1982 is replaced but as Americans. continued until 1990. Hezbollah by a strengthening of Hezbollah. In I was not in Congress nearly 4 years emerged from a loose coalition of Shia 1985, Israel moves to the security zone ago when the war in Iraq began, but in groups and, with Iranian assistance, in southern Lebanon. And in 2000, the 2 years since I have served here I quickly grew into a strong fighting Israel withdraws. have not once encountered a colleague force in Lebanon. That is case number I only need to point to the events of who does not support our troops. We one. last summer in Lebanon to say, once have our disagreements over strategy, Case Number two. We have got troops again, the fundamentalist Islamists, spending and even the war itself, but today in Afghanistan. If things had Hezbollah, filled the void. when it comes to support for the self- happened somewhat differently a cou- We are embarked today on a discus- less Americans serving in uniform, we ple of decades earlier, they might not sion of another potential road to with- are unanimous. be there at all. But in the mid-1980s the drawal. And I don’t represent that this For anyone, and I repeat, anyone to Afghan resistance builds momentum resolution does that, but it puts us in suggest anything to the contrary just with Muslim fighters to recruit a jihad that direction. Evidence of our failure distracts from this serious, serious de- against the Soviets. And we all have to respond to terrorism has bate. read about that resistance movement. emboldened al Qaeda for years. This b 1520 It was fierce, and we actually helped withdrawal would be another one, if it them. And in 1989 the Soviets had had goes that far. As many of my colleagues have al- enough, just like we had had enough in In 1993, the World Trade Center ready noted, our troops are not the Lebanon, and the Soviets withdrew. bombing took place. We didn’t respond. problem. They have done an out- From 1989 to 1992, the Afghan civil In 1996, the Khobar Tower bombings standing job executing the mission war continued until the government of took place and we didn’t respond. In that they have been given. The prob- Afghanistan fell. In 1993 and 1994, the 1998, the U.S. embassy bombings in lem is with the administration’s strat- Taliban came along, and they gained Kenya and Tanzania occurred and we egy. We owe it to the men and women power. In 1996, Osama bin Laden moves didn’t respond. In 2000, the attack on of our Armed Forces to pursue a policy back to Afghanistan and forges an alli- the USS Cole occurred and we didn’t that offers them the best possible ance between al Qaeda and the Taliban. respond. The result, New York City, 9/ chance at success, not a plan that re- Since then, we know the history very 11. peats past mistakes. well of Afghanistan. A void was there People ask me why I am so concerned The President’s decision to deploy an to be filled, and the fundamentalist about this. People ask me why, Saxton, additional 21,500 American combat Islamists filled it. you have been on the floor too much. troops to Iraq is not the first time that Now, I would like to turn to the third Let me show you the next chart. This we have had a surge of troops in this case study, the case study involving is why I am concerned. This is my fam- conflict. In April of 2004, January and Somalia. In 1980, the Somalia Govern- ily. October of 2005, and again in October of ment becomes increasingly totali- When I first ran for Congress in 1984 last year, we saw temporary esca- tarian and resistance movements the steering committee asked me why I lations that provided no long-term re- emerge across the country, which leads wanted to be a Member of Congress. I ductions in violence. I am concerned to a civil war in 1991. Being great big- said, because I have had a good life. I that this latest plan is a renewed effort

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:38 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.064 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1605 for more of the same that does little to GILLIBRAND), a member of the Armed ceives a stake in the oil revenues and a encourage the Iraqis to take responsi- Services Committee. plan for oversight and accountability bility for their own future. As one gen- Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. Speaker, I to reduce fraud and corruption and to eral told the Iraq Study Group, ‘‘All thank Chairman SKELTON for yielding. disrupt the black market for oil. the troops in the world will not provide It has been an honor to serve on his Right now only a small portion of the security if the Iraqi Government does committee. Iraqi oil revenues has been used for re- not make political progress.’’ Rather Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my construction; yet billions of American than laying out a plan that establishes strong support for this resolution. Last dollars have been spent. We need ac- solid benchmarks for Iraqi security and November the voters in upstate New countability and real answers to ensure the corresponding redeployment of U.S. York spoke loudly and clearly in de- the Iraqis leverage the oil revenue ef- troops, the President is pursuing a manding a change in direction in Iraq, fectively to bring all of the parties to strategy that history shows does not and I will cast my vote in favor of this the table. work. resolution to fulfill my duty to rep- And where is the accountability with Former Secretary of State and Chair- resent their will. the war spending? We need a Truman- man of the Joint Chiefs Colin Powell, As a freshman Member of this new style committee to investigate these Commander of the U.S. Central Com- Congress, I can think of no higher re- billions of dollars of no-bid contracts mand General John Abizaid, Marine sponsibility than to debate the merits being awarded in Iraq, and we should Corps Commandant General James of the President’s plan to escalate bring the war funding process com- Conway, and many other current and American involvement in this war in pletely under the regular appropriation former military leaders have said more Iraq. And I am pleased to see that structures. troops is not the answer. Our Nation’s every Member of Congress has been We have also not seen a plan to military is already stretched thin. This given 5 minutes to voice their view and transfer the reconstruction contracts open-ended plan to increase American to speak on this measure. to the Iraqis. The Iraqi 20-year-olds troop levels in Iraq would exacerbate Today’s debate is not about what is should be the ones that are rebuilding the overextension of our Armed Forces best for Democrats or best for Repub- the bridges and the roads and the and cripple our ability to respond to licans. It is about what is best for our schools and the hospitals, not fighting other crises around the world. Because troops, for our national security, and each other and not attacking our we don’t know what the future holds, for all Americans, as it should be. I be- troops. we have to be ready for anything. lieve the sentiments will be reflected And where has the progress been U.S. and coalition forces successfully in the bipartisan support this resolu- made on the political stability? Where removed Saddam Hussein from power, tion will ultimately receive. is the plan to develop a special envoy and the world is a better place for it. As I have traveled throughout my and to engage others in the region to But we now find ourselves locked in district doing town hall meetings and bring forth peace and stability? the middle of an Iraqi civil war. The ‘‘Congress on Your Corner’’ to invite In my view, the testimony provided Iraq of today is vastly different from comments from my constituents and in the several hearings that the Armed the Iraq we entered nearly 4 years ago, listen to their issues, I hear a con- Services Committee has had have re- yet our strategy remains the same. We sistent message. People say to me, we vealed an insufficient commitment to need to succeed in Iraq, but we need to need a new direction in Iraq. We need a these very targets that both General redefine what success really is. plan for success. We need to make sure Pace and Secretary Gates have testi- For over a year now I have joined our we bring stability to the region; and fied are required for success. Yet the great chairman, Chairman SKELTON, in when will our troops come home? All of President continues to push forward his call for solid benchmarks in Iraq. these issues I couldn’t agree with more and send in more troops. We need a mechanism to measure our strongly. Unfortunately, the Presi- Our men and our women in the mili- progress toward an Iraq that is respon- dent’s plan is not a change in direction. tary have served admirably and have sible for its own security. It is in our It is, rather, more of the same. done everything we have asked them to interest, it is in Iraq’s interest, and it As a member of the House Armed do. They have fought bravely under is in the interest of the region to en- Services Committee, I have had the daunting circumstances, often at times sure that Iraqi personnel are trained unique opportunity to question both without the proper equipment that and ready to take control sooner rath- Secretary Gates and General Pace and they need. They have made sacrifice er than later. Realistically, some of the to listen to their testimony on this after sacrifice in leaving their families more than 140,000 troops we already proposed escalation. At no point has and loved ones behind to do the job have in Iraq to secure the Iranian bor- anyone from the administration been that we have asked them to do. And der would do more to further our goals able to articulate to me clearly that how do we repay this sacrifice and pa- in Iraq than sending more Americans this is a strategy that will effectively triotism? By continuing to extend into Baghdad. And that is a plan, my undermine terrorism, promote lasting their tours indefinitely, cutting their friends. stability, and be successful in rede- veterans benefits when they return At the end of the day, military com- ploying our troops. What is so clear to home. The dedication and sacrifice of mand decisions rest with the Com- so many of our military advisers, the men and the women in the Armed mander in Chief. This resolution and former and current military generals, Forces deserves responsible leadership. this debate are not about microman- and a majority of this body and the They have given us everything they aging the war or forcing a withdrawal American public at large does not seem have, and in turn we must give them a of troops. Public opinion polls should to be shared by this administration, new direction for success. not dictate war strategies. The facts that the answers in sustaining peace in There are those out there that will should. And the facts are that surges Iraq lie in the political, diplomatic, use this debate as a partisan wedge. haven’t worked in the past and experts and economic solutions, not in the That type of rhetoric undermines the agree it won’t work this time. military ones. core values of our democracy. In fact, The President knows we are all in In our hearings I have worked hard to it was Thomas Jefferson who declared this together. That is why I was very bring to light whether the President that dissent is the highest form of pa- disappointed to see the administration has a plan for Iraqi oil revenues and re- triotism. move forward with such a dramatic es- construction contracts to create calation despite strong bipartisan op- progress in the economic and political b 1530 position in Congress. Without a clear arenas. Both Secretary Gates and Gen- Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield mission or effective benchmarks, it is eral Pace testified that the President’s such time as he may consume to the too big of a gamble to take with so current plan has no chance of success gentleman from Alabama (Mr. EVER- many American lives. unless there is significant progress in ETT). Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 both of these arenas. I call upon the ad- Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, I thank minutes to my colleague, the gentle- ministration to produce a real plan to my ranking member, a combat veteran woman from New York (Mrs. ensure each of the sectarian groups re- from Vietnam and a great American.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:38 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.069 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1606 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor our fight against the terrorists is to Mr. Speaker, Mr. Wood has a number today to pay tribute to my ranking have failed to learn the lessons of 9/11 of other examples here, and that is the member and chairman, and to the serv- and to revert to a policy that allowed reason I will include the letter for the ice of all men and women who are serv- two decades of escalating violence. RECORD. ing in the Armed Forces and those who That policy resulted in the death of NO COMPARISON BETWEEN VIETNAM AND IRAQ have prior service, many who serve in thousands of Americans, as was so well WARS this distinguished body. And thank documented by the gentleman from (By Wayne Wood) goodness. I say thank goodness, be- New Jersey (Mr. SAXTON). As I watch the current debate over the war cause I find that in this body we have Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that we in Iraq, I remember sitting in the day room too few people who have ever worn a defeat this enemy, whose sole desire is at Fort Sill, Okla., with my buddies and uniform, but we have an awful lot of to kill Americans anywhere, in any watching the collapse of South Vietnam and opinions about how to wear a uniform. way they can. Today the theater is Saigon in 1975. I was thinking of, and I know We have heard from many of these Iraq. But if we retreat from this war, as my buddies were thinking of, all the guys we Members on both sides of the aisle. those on the other side of the aisle knew who’d gone over to fight for the Viet- Some served in Vietnam, some in the namese who didn’t come back. We cursed the have advocated, then we will fight ARVN soldiers as cowards because they first gulf war, and some in the war that them in the cities and in the towns. Ei- would not stand and fight for their country. we are currently fighting in Iraq and ther way, this war will be fought. We were angry that the sacrifice of all those Afghanistan. They cite their firsthand Mr. Speaker, I have a guest essay good—no, great—Americans was in vain. experience in serving our country as from my hometown newspaper, the It was only years later that I learned, to justification for why they believe we Dothan Eagle, from a war veteran by my dismay, that it wasn’t the ARVN who be- cannot afford to lose the war or why we the name of Wayne Wood, and I would trayed my fellow soldiers’ blood, it was their should not support the Commander in like this complete essay entered into very own elected representatives in Congress who voted to cut funding for the defense of Chief’s reinforcement proposal or, in the RECORD after I speak. But first I the Republic of South Vietnam. some cases, why we should bring the want to quote a couple of things from We are being told the Iraq situation is troops home immediately and cut off it. This is, as I said, from a former unwinnable. We were told we had lost the funding. combat veteran, Wayne Wood. war in Vietnam. Mr. Speaker, I respect every Member ‘‘As I watch the current debate over After TET in 1968, Walter Cronkite, ‘‘the in this Chamber who has served our the war in Iraq, I remember sitting in most trusted man in America,’’ went on the country with honor and distinction. the day room at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, air and said so. Americans said, ‘‘If Walter Each of them brings a different per- with my buddies and watching the col- Cronkite says we’ve lost, it must be so.’’ spective to the debate. However, today lapse of South Vietnam and Saigon in Now, our media tells us the same thing. We are being told of how hopeless the situation I would like to bring another perspec- 1975. I was thinking of, and I know my is in Iraq. What are the American people sup- tive to the debate, and it is that of buddies were thinking of, all the guys posed to think? Army pilot Keith Yoakum from Coffee we knew who’d gone over to fight for But the picture I get from former students Springs, Alabama, in my district. Chief the Vietnamese who didn’t come back. who have served Iraq tells another story. Warrant Officer Yoakum was killed We cursed the ARVN soldiers as cow- They are frustrated that the good things February 2 in Iraq when the Apache ards because they would not stand and they see happening in Iraq aren’t being helicopter he was flying was forced to fight for their country. We were angry shown, that the people only see the bad. land during combat operations in sup- that the sacrifice of these good—no, There’s a genuine fear they won’t be allowed to finish the job. Their sacrifice would be in port of Operation Iraqi Freedom. great—Americans was in vain. vain. While his death is a tragedy, his fam- ‘‘It was only years later that I From a distance, the situation as shown ily is taking comfort in the fact that learned, to my dismay, that it wasn’t looks grim. But, as a soldier who has seen Chief Warrant Officer Yoakum was the ARVN who betrayed my fellow sol- war up close, I know war is a grim business. doing what he loved, defending the diers’ blood, it was their very own I remember the words of Marine Gen. Julian country that he loved. This Army avi- elected representatives in Congress Smith, speaking of the Battle of Tarawa in ator was proud of what he was doing in who voted to cut funding for the de- World War II: ‘‘We were losing until we Iraq, and told his father that there was fense of the Republic of South Viet- won!’’ no other place he would rather be until nam. Yes, I get saddened when I read the cas- ualty reports and see the pictures of the dead the war was over. ‘‘We are being told the Iraqi situa- in the Army Times. No one knows better Much of his pride came from his abil- tion is unwinnable. We were told that than a soldier that if a nation goes to war, it ity to protect our guys on the ground we had lost the war in Vietnam. owes it to the soldiers, sailors, airmen and using his Apache helicopter who were ‘‘After Tet in 1968, Walter Cronkite, marines to fight to win so their sacrifice executing the dangerous missions of ‘the most trusted man in America,’ isn’t wasted. I think of my own son in uni- ridding the neighborhoods of those who went on the air and said so. Americans form. I can only pray for him and be proud wanted to kill his fellow troops as well said, ‘If Walter says we’ve lost, it must that he has ‘‘stepped up to the plate’’ to as innocent Iraqis. However, equally as be so.’ serve his country, particularly in time of important was Keith Yoakum’s belief ‘‘Now, our media, and others, some in war. Today, politicians and pundits just know that he was making a difference in this this body, ‘‘tell us the same thing. We we are losing in Iraq. Walter Cronkite and fight to make this world a better place are being told of how hopeless the situ- others just knew we’d lost the war in Viet- for his daughters to live. ation is in Iraq. What about the Amer- nam after TET. If only we had known that Chief Warrant Officer Yoakum is not ican people? What are the American Ho Chi Minh and General Giap didn’t know alone in his belief. The hundreds of sol- people supposed to think? they’d won. diers that I have visited with share his ‘‘But the picture I got from former They were about ready to throw in the view of this war. Whether it was during students who have served in Iraq tells towel after TET until the anti-war people in a solemn sendoff of our brave men and another story. They are frustrated that America told them otherwise. Well, we left Vietnam and millions of people died in women or an emotional welcome home the good things that are happening in Southeast Asia in the turmoil caused by the ceremony, the soldiers I talk to believe Iraq aren’t being shown, that the peo- power vacuum. Who can tell what might hap- in this mission and that we must pre- ple only see the bad. There’s a genuine pen if we withdraw from Southwest Asia. vail in this war. fear that they won’t be allowed to fin- In 1975 it didn’t matter to most of Amer- They recognize the dire consequences ish the job. Their sacrifice would be in ica. The deaths were far away and the Viet if we don’t succeed in Iraq. If we with- vain. Cong couldn’t cross the ocean to attack us. draw prematurely, the terrorists will ‘‘From a distance, the situation as Nor did they care to. have an unchecked sanctuary from shown looks grim. But as a soldier who Unfortunately, we don’t have that luxury which they can launch attacks to kill has seen war up close, I know war is a today. We fight an enemy who will stop at nothing to destroy us and our way of life. If more innocent Americans, similar to grim business. I remember the words of we leave Iraq, they will follow us home and what existed in Afghanistan prior to Marine General Julian Smith, speaking it won’t be millions of Cambodians or Viet- our toppling the Taliban regime in Op- of the Battle of Tarawa in World War namese dying in the killing fields of South- eration Enduring Freedom. To abandon II: ‘We were losing, until we won.’’’ east Asia, it will be Americans in the streets

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:38 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.071 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1607 of our cities. Can we afford to be so smug in since the President first decided to go constitutional duty and hold this ad- our knowledge? it alone and make his stamp upon his- ministration accountable for its war We may not like the president. We may not tory, for better or worse. policy in Iraq. The day I was sworn in like war. We may not like this war or the Although I must admit, it has even as a new Member of Congress, I accept- way it has been conducted. But now that we’re in it, this is one war we cannot afford become difficult to remember the exact ed this responsibility, and I rise today to lose. reason the President used to justify his in opposition to the President’s esca- In one thing I heartily agree with U.S. decision to take us to war in Iraq; but lation of the war and in support of H. Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry: allow me to briefly summarize for you Con. Res. 63. America can certainly not afford another the reasons that the President has Make no mistake about the signifi- Vietnam in Iraq. given the American public in his at- cance of what is happening this week. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues, tempt to justify his decision to go to America’s new Congress will go on and I urge my colleagues on the other war. record for the first time in opposition side, if we are not going to cut funding Number 1, weapons of mass destruc- to the Bush administration’s 4-year from this war, then bring up Congress- tion. There were none. Number 2, the legacy of mistakes and misjudgments man SAM JOHNSON’s amendment that nuclear threat. There was none. Num- in Iraq. This will be in sharp contrast says we will neither cut nor restrict ber 3, links to al Qaeda. There were to 8 months ago when the prior Con- funding for this war. I ask my col- none. And yet now, when we debate the gress did exactly the opposite. That leagues to stand with Chief Warrant wisdom of sending more than 20,000 Congress lined up in lockstep with a Officer Yoakum and the thousands of young men and women into battle in war resolution written by and for the other soldiers who believe in their mis- this so-called surge, we are expected to White House. sion and want to see it through to com- trust an administration which has been That resolution completely brushed pletion, and vote against this resolu- so consistently wrong. It is difficult to over the misleading and manipulated tion. It can only do harm to our troops remember that we are in Iraq fighting intelligence that got us into this con- and bring aid and comfort to the ter- for a war whose justification has not flict, the strain of this war on our rorists. yet been justified at all. brave men and women in uniform, and Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 So at this point, when we look at the the drain on our Nation’s military minutes to the gentleman from Geor- state of the readiness of our military, readiness that is undercutting critical gia (Mr. JOHNSON), a member of the it has been called into question. Re- efforts in Afghanistan and our overall Armed Services Committee. cruiting, the Army has failed to defense infrastructure. Instead of doing Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speak- achieve its recruitment goals by 17.8 their constitutional duty, the 109th er, I thank the chairman. percent in 2006, and moreover, recruit- Congress instead just rubber-stamped Mr. Speaker, before I begin my com- ment quality has suffered. The percent- the administration’s rhetoric and fail- ments, I must admit that it seems that age of Army recruits with high school ing policy. our friends from across the aisle have diplomas has declined. The above-aver- Opponents of today’s resolution are forgotten what the subject of this de- age middle category test scores of our claiming that it will damage our bate remains. I was under the impres- recruits have declined, and the number troop’s morale. As a member of the sion that we were here to debate a res- of recruits scoring in the lowest ac- Armed Services Committee, I believe olution opposing the President’s so- ceptable middle category has in- the opposite is true. called surge plan. Yet I keep hearing creased. Our retention rates are soft. Let us be very clear about where the commentary that appears to be de- We have got over 3,000 killed in Iraq, 20,000 new troops will come from. Presi- signed to distract the American public 20,000-plus wounded; meanwhile we are dent Bush cannot simply dial 911 and from the real reason that we are gath- having problems with our equipment 20,000 fresh new troops appear. This es- ered for a conversation on our future shortfalls, which are glaring in the calation can only happen by extending involvement in Iraq. combat theater, and also for our non- the deployments of soldiers already in Let it be known, Mr. Speaker, that deployed personnel who are in the proc- Iraq, beyond their promised commit- when it comes time to vote, HANK ess of training to be deployed to Iraq ments, or accelerating the arrival of JOHNSON will be voting in favor of and who cannot be properly trained preexisting rotations. Upon close ex- House Concurrent Resolution 63. without adequate equipment. amination, it is clear that the impact Now, ‘‘help is on the way.’’ Those Then we have got the issue of mul- of this surge lands squarely on the were the watchwords of a former Presi- tiple deployments, people having been backs of our men and women in uni- dential campaign 7 years ago. Yet here deployed three and even four times to form who have already borne an unfair we are, neck deep into the second term the theater, but yet this President pro- burden. of the Bush-Cheney administration. poses to send an additional 22,000 As we debate this resolution, there And when one considers the current troops, plus support personnel, into are nearly 1,900 men and women from state of our military’s readiness, our this civil war in Iraq, where we are my State of Connecticut, including 962 proud military’s readiness, one has to simply sitting ducks and falling victim from Connecticut’s National Guard, wonder, where has the help gone? to ever more sophisticated improvised serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They Where is the help? explosive devices, i.e., roadside bombs. have all honored our Nation with their This killing is continuing at exorbi- service and sacrifice, and they have b 1540 tant rates, and so this is what we are done all that has been asked of them If this was the help that was prom- here to talk about with this resolution. and more, and their families have ised us 7 years ago, at the current state It is important for the American public shown awe-inspiring strength in their of our readiness, I would be reluctant to know that we support our military. absence. to see what not helping our fine mili- We definitely want to see them do the Earlier this month, I was forwarded tary men and women would mean. job that they must do. However, this an e-mail from a constituent serving in I must point out that I, along with troop surge is wrong. Two wrongs do Iraq which demonstrates the con- each of my colleagues in this distin- not make a right. sequences of these unsustainable poli- guished body, do support our troops. Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank cies. In it he described how the morale But the issue at hand is whether, un- the gentleman from Georgia. I yield 5 in his unit fell when they found out like campaign promises of the past, we minutes to my colleague on the Armed that their tour was being unexpectedly intend to back our rhetoric with ac- Services Committee, the gentleman extended another 4 months. He wrote: tion. from Connecticut (Mr. COURTNEY). ‘‘These guys have seen so much of We are now engaged in a debate Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, today the fighting here. To see the looks on about committing more troops to what we are here, exactly 100 days after a these soldiers’ faces was heartbreaking. can only be described as an ill-con- historic watershed election in this A lot of these guys had plans made al- ceived, poorly planned, and misguided country, in which the American people ready with their loved ones, like wed- attempt to bring some sort of stability spoke loudly and clearly that they dings, trips, or family that traveled to a region that has suffered terribly wanted a new Congress to rise to its from far away to see them get off that

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:38 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A14FE7.018 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1608 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 plane. There are children that were all Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Speaker, 1 year ful phrase I heard often when deployed excited, holding signs they made, wait- ago, I retired from the U.S. Navy after to that region throughout the years, ing to see their fathers again only to 31 years in our military, serving our Anshala, Bugra: God willing, tomor- have that shattered. How much more Nation during the challenges of peace row, good enough any longer. can soldiers like this take? These guys and in the fury of war, including com- So, yes, I will vote for this resolu- deserve the right to go home. They manding an aircraft carrier battle tion, because sending more troops to earned it.’’ group of 30 ships and 15,000 sailors in Iraq and remaining there indefinitely Letters like these demonstrate the combat operations in Afghanistan and will only increase the dependence of real impact on our troops from the Iraq. Having worn the cloth of this Na- the Iraqis on America, both politically President’s policy. And they are rein- tion for so long, I know that our mili- and militarily, at a time when they forced by the testimony I have heard at tary is a national treasure that cannot should be shouldering increased respon- Armed Services. Over and over again, be hoarded like miser’s gold if it is to sibility for their country, while im- we have heard about the deterioration be a force for peace and progress, but pacting our degraded military and stra- of our military readiness caused by nor can it be used recklessly. And now, tegic security readiness further. overdeployment of our troops. Consider as a Member of the House of Represent- But I also believe we need to go a that today, as a result of the strain of atives, I am conscious that war is a step further and pursue an alternative strategy, which is why last week I in- the war, we currently have no active shared responsibility in our Constitu- troduced binding legislation setting duty or Reserve brigades considered tion between the President and Con- the end of 2007 for our redeployment combat-ready in the Continental U.S., gress, as are the respective responsibil- from Iraq. The rationale for doing so is leaving our Nation dangerously unpre- ities of the executive and legislative clear: Redeployment from Iraq will en- pared and vulnerable if needed to re- branches to ensure U.S. security, and hance our security by allowing us to spond to other global threats or domes- to provide for our common defense. properly address other potential chal- tic emergencies. My experience leads me to be con- lenges around the world, and by allow- Despite the huge costs to our troops cerned for U.S. security because of ing us to resolve the concerns about and our national defense, the President Iraq, a tragic misadventure that does the readiness of our Armed Forces here has opted to aggravate the holes in our not permit us to best address more im- at home. defense with a plan to escalate the portant security challenges throughout Rather than leading to a spiral of vi- number of troops in Iraq. And for what? the world. My experience also says olence, redeploying from Iraq will Yesterday, I read the new classified don’t double down on a bad military serve as the necessary catalyst for the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq. bet by using more troops as the Presi- Iraqis to assume responsibility for What I found in this report was the dent has proposed, when an increase their country, with regional nations same as the unclassified version that has not worked before; have confidence then interested in ensuring stability has been reported in the press; that we in our diplomatic ability to lead re- when the United States is outside that have a deteriorating security situation gional negotiations for stability, even country, but remaining with strength in Iraq whose fundamental causes were with Syria and Iran; and, set a date in the region. The needed reconcili- identified as political, not military. certain for redeploying out of Iraq, this ation will only come about when the This finding completely dovetails with year, to serve as the necessary leverage Iraqi political leaders are forced to the findings of the Iraq Study Group to have the Iraqis accept the reality of take the difficult political steps needed who came to the exact same conclu- the personal consequence of not assum- to cease the violence in their country, sion. ing responsibility for their nation. such as building coalitions among com- Instead of absorbing the rec- What concerns me about Iraq is the peting sects, ensuring minority rights, ommendations of the Iraq Study Group continuing use of our national treasure balancing power between provincial report and the National Intelligence in what is an inconclusive, open-ended and central governments, and sharing Estimate and surging diplomacy and involvement within a country where oil revenues among all regions in Iraq. political solutions, the President in- the long-term benefits do not match And regional nations’, particularly stead has opted to escalate the war by what we need to reap, and where the Syria’s and Iran’s, incentives change sending 21,500 more troops into the tradeoffs in benefits of not focusing toward stability when the United middle of a violent sectarian conflict. elsewhere is harming our future pros- States is no longer in the midst of the Where are the plans to equitably di- perity, interests, and values. civil war, and these nations will have vide oil revenue or revisit the Iraqi We need to apply our resources else- to bear the consequences of further Constitution which was left incomplete where in the world, where terrorists strife, with refugee flows to their coun- 2 years ago, or the push to create a real come from, including Osama bin tries, and the possibility that these rel- power-sharing arrangement between Laden, who is still on the loose, or atively allied nations could then be the Shia and the Sunni? Nowhere do we where emerging nations such as in the joined into a proxy battle to their det- see any effort to get to the root causes Western Pacific have growing political riment, as one is primarily Sunni and of the violence. Instead, the Bush plan and economic interests, and therefore the other Shia. is more of the same, asking our brave influence, that may challenge ours. Only by a strategy of setting a date troops to do the impossible, settling a An alternative strategy is just what certain, a deliberate timetable for re- sectarian conflict that goes back cen- is needed, because remaining in Iraq deployment, are we able to create a turies in time. means less security and a greater stra- catalyst for the political leaders in President Bush has made his choice. tegic security risk for America. It neg- Iraq to acknowledge and accept that Now it is Congress’ turn as a coequal atively impacts the readiness of our they must undertake the difficult po- branch of government to make ours. Armed Forces and hinders our ability litical steps necessary to cease the sec- to adequately focus on other security b 1550 tarian violence, as they understand priorities here at home and throughout that they otherwise would bear the I firmly believe that the passage of the world, including the global war on consequences of not assuming the re- this resolution will go down in history terror and regional challenges from Af- sponsibility for their country. as the first stirrings of life from a Con- ghanistan, North Korea, and Iran to Iraq is not the central front in ter- gress that has been in an Iraq strangle- the Western Pacific and Middle East rorism. Rather, it is a result of our hold for 4 long years. It is an honor to regions. leadership forgetting the age-old axiom be part of this history on behalf of one The fact is we have fostered a culture that ‘‘successful generals win, then of the districts that had the courage to of dependence in Iraq, and it is time for they go to war.’’ In short, we did not vote for change last November 100 days Iraqi leaders to be responsible for their accurately plan before we went into ago, and I will support resolution 63. own country. They must make the dif- Iraq, and we should redeploy. Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 ficult political compromises that will The only way is to use our redeployment as minutes to the gentleman from Penn- stop the civil war we are refereeing and the catalyst for Iraqis and other regional na- sylvania, a member of the Armed Serv- bring about stability. We cannot do tions to accept their responsibilities for a rel- ices Committee (Mr. SESTAK). this work for them. Nor is that wonder- ative peace. U.S. interests in the world do not

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:07 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.076 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1609 include pouring endless amounts of our na- ultimate goals. A resolution of force the military. Mr. Speaker, it wasn’t tional treasure of lives and money into elusive, implies something less, and it allows that long ago that our Nation faced an- endless goals when there is an alternative Members of Congress who did that to other global war for freedom, it was a strategy, and when we have so much else to say, yes, I agreed with force but I different type of war, but a war that achieve in this world. didn’t expect it to be used this way. Or, was won because we held firm. There Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I would I wasn’t really that serious. Or I didn’t were a lot of people who said we like to yield to the gentleman from expect it to be anything more than a couldn’t win; they said that prag- Utah (Mr. BISHOP) 5 minutes. little war taking place. It is a process matism dictated we would compromise Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I that allows you to be deeply shallow. our values and our beliefs. President appreciate the gentleman from Cali- This resolution may clear the con- Ronald Reagan told our Nation that we fornia yielding me this time. science of some people, it may put po- needed to hold firm because ultimately I suppose I speak to you here and de- litical distance between others, but it our values and beliefs would prevail in clare it first a nonconflict of interest. I does noting for soldiers, it does nothing cold war then, and ‘‘hot war’’ now. was not here on this floor when the towards a U.S. victory, to benefit this President Reagan said, ‘‘The ulti- original resolution to approve the use country, or to improve the body poli- mate determinant in the struggle now of force was made; therefore, I took as tic. Our words, our actions, our votes going on for the world will not be my role and responsibility when I came will be looked on in history with con- bombs and rockets but a test of wills in here to make sure that we did every- tempt, for they are indeed in this issue and ideas, a trial of spiritual resolve, thing in our power to make sure that deeply shallow. the values we hold, the beliefs we cher- our policy objectives were indeed fol- In conclusion, I would like to de- ish and the ideals to which we are dedi- lowed through and successful. scribe the good that will come from cated.’’ This quote was in context of You know, in the other Chamber, in this resolution for our Armed Forces. the cold war, but it is applicable today the original House floor there is a Yes, that about sums it up. in our present hot war against terror- Mr. Speaker, with disdain of the beautiful sculpture sitting up there ists. This resolution shows a lack of process of this flawed message that is which is a clock made out of a chariot. will to win. This resolution hurts our so limited in its scope it does nothing The clock is actually the wheel, then troops and it helps our enemies. there is a chariot. And in that chariot to help those Members on either side of Mr. Speaker, similar to debates from is the muse of history with this tablet the aisle explain their nuances of their years ago during the cold war, I have in hand writing down what we do on belief or this situation. heard speakers on the other side say, Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I would the people’s floor, the subject and our all we need is a strategy based on di- like to yield 5 minutes to the gen- actions in history. plomacy. Mr. Speaker, I am all for tleman from North Carolina (Mr. Perhaps it is good that that still peace and for diplomacy and for co- HAYES). stays out those doors and down the operation and for working things out, hallways and is not here today, because b 1600 but al Qaeda is not, suicide bombers when the muse of history records what Mr. HAYES. I thank the gentleman are not, terrorist executioners are not. we are doing today and yesterday and from California, my friend, Ranking That is reality, and our foreign policy tomorrow, and maybe Friday, that his- Member DUNCAN HUNTER. has to be based on reality. tory is going to be written with an ele- Mr. Speaker, today I rise to vigor- Terrorists thrive on poverty, despair, ment of contempt. ously oppose and to speak against the violence and fear. And the bottom line There are some people who have op- resolution at hand; a resolution that is is they cannot afford for freedom and posed this war from the very begin- being watched by friend and foe alike; justice to succeed. Conversely, we can- ning; they still oppose it now; and I a resolution that I feel will serve to not afford to allow freedom and justice give them credit to their commitment embolden those who promote and use to fail. That is reality, and one-sided to consistency, although I don’t nec- violence in Iraq, and across the world diplomacy is not a strategy. Where is essarily agree with their decision. for that matter; a resolution that sends the other side’s strategy for victory? Some of those have also criticized this a message to our troops at home and There is none in this resolution. resolution as also being too weak of a deployed that we are not supporting Mr. Speaker, I have concerns with resolution, for indeed the resolution the mission that we are conducting. the situation in Iraq. No one wants to today is a nonbinding resolution. By Mr. Speaker, I don’t know of a single see the Iraqis stabilize the security of definition, it means it does nothing. It Member in this Chamber who is satis- their nation more than I do. The re- changes nothing, but allows us all to fied with the existing situation in Iraq. ality is we have troops over there in make statements for media consump- In fact, with the escalating violence harm’s way. Troops from the 82nd Air- tion and allows some of those who and an increase in terrorist activity, borne, stationed at Fort Bragg in my made the original vote to use force the we shouldn’t be satisfied with the situ- district, are part of this surge deploy- ability to shirk the responsibility of ation in Afghanistan either. But Iraq ment. that particular action. has become intensely political, and Mr. Speaker, they are watching. I Yesterday, I had the opportunity of that is unfortunate. Make no mistake have received their e-mails letting me going back to Baltimore and watching about it, this is the beginning of know in no uncertain terms that they a play, ‘‘Wicked.’’ And in the play, the defunding our military and our na- are paying attention to what we are main character, the male lead, Fiero, is tional security. doing today. One soldier wrote to me in love with Elphaba. And she tries to Mr. Speaker, in this age when the using this quote from the ancient distance herself from him by saying, Internet and global newscast are an in- Athenians, which he thought was ap- ‘‘Yeah, but you’re thoughtless and tegral part of warfare and propaganda, propriate to this debate. This soldier shallow.’’ And Fiero says, ‘‘I know, but it is naive to think that the resolution said, ‘‘I will not disgrace the soldier’s I am a deep shallow.’’ is not being watched and its outcome arms nor abandon the comrade who This resolution is a deep shallow. It won’t be used to further embolden the stands at my side, but whether alone or may have words aimed at the White resolve of those who use indiscriminate with many, I will fight to defend things House and the White House action, but violence to advance their radical agen- sacred and profane. I will hand down regardless of those words, when history da. my country not lessened, but larger is written the finger of accusation will When you recruit homicide bombers, and better than I have received it.’’ not point to the executive branch, who they need to feel that their ultimate As my colleague from South Carolina has been consistent, it is going to point sacrifice is meaningful, and I fear this quoted a soldier in his district yester- back here to Congress, to our actions. resolution will be used as an additional day, he said, ‘‘This is my war.’’ That is Our Constitution gives Congress the recruiting tool to show that our re- a soldier’s attitude and should be our responsibility of the declaration of solve is wavering in the face of their attitude. It is our war against brutal, war. Instead, we passed a resolution ap- acts. ruthless terrorists. proving force. With a war declaration, In some instances, Members have I will not support a resolution that there is a commitment to action and to made no secret of their desire to defund tells our soldiers that the United

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:07 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A14FE7.014 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1610 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 States Congress is not supporting what the streets of Baghdad and other Iraqi overdue. We as a new Congress, led by they are doing. cities. a new Democratic leadership team, Mr. Speaker, I ask that everyone Day after day, U.S. service people are must communicate that we are placing pray for our troops, for their safety and being killed and injured by bullets and a firmer hand on the tiller of this ship for their victory. May God continue to bombs traded by Shiite and Sunni zeal- of state and that we are demanding bless America and the magnificent men ots for reasons that predated our in- greater accountability for both the pol- and women in uniform who protect her. volvement and which will likely endure icy and funding of the Iraq war. This Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 long beyond the time we finally leave new direction starts with a brief and minutes to my friend for years and my Iraq. declarative statement, that ‘‘Congress colleague, the gentleman from Wash- For the past 4 years, I regret that the disapproves of the decision of President ington (Mr. DICKS), who is the vice Republican leadership of Congress has George W. Bush announced on January chairman of the Defense Subcommittee abdicated much of its oversight respon- 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 ad- on Appropriations. sibility for the Iraq war and its fund- ditional United States combat troops Mr. DICKS. Thank you, Mr. Chair- ing. To date, the Bush administration to Iraq,’’ but it must be followed by has not adequately explained to Con- man, for your kindness. that harder task of guiding our mili- gress or the American people the rea- The resolution that is being consid- tary policy through aggressive over- sons for our continued military in- ered in the House of Representatives sight and more careful direction of our volvement in Iraq. In announcing his today expresses a very clear message to political and military leadership by all intention to send more than 21,000 ad- the American people that it is time to of the relevant committees here in change the direction of our policy in ditional troops to Iraq, last month the President said it is time for the Iraqi Congress. Iraq. That is our task ahead, Mr. Speaker, The meetings and communications Government to act, to take charge of their security and to begin to govern and as a member of the Defense appro- that I have had with people from the priations subcommittee, I am prepared Sixth Congressional District from the themselves. What we in Congress are saying now to do my part. State of Washington have made it clear is that we believe the Maliki govern- Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I would that the people I represent want to ment in Iraq will be more apt to ac- like to yield to the gentleman from hear from Congress. My resolve in this complish that goal if we do not send North Carolina, but first I would like is strengthened by the loss and grief I more American troops into Baghdad to recognize the gentleman from New have heard from families in my district and if we signal to Iraqis that we are York (Mr. MCNULTY) for purposes of a whose loved ones have been lost or in- planning for a phased withdrawal from unanimous-consent request. jured in this conflict. their country. That is what we must do (Mr. MCNULTY asked and was given I also deplore the mistakes by this to change the policy that keeps our permission to revise and extend his re- administration: failing to deploy forces acting as the local police officers marks.) enough troops to stabilize Iraq, dis- on the streets of Baghdad, and to give Mr. MCNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in banding the Iraqi Army, failing to pro- the Iraqi people greater incentive for strong support of House Concurrent vide jobs and economic restoration. taking charge so that our troops can Resolution 63. Those are but a few. begin to come home. This was a view of I strongly support H. Con. Res. 63, oppos- It has been 4 years since U.S. and Co- the bipartisan Iraqi Study Group, ing the President’s proposal to send 21,500 alition Forces invaded Iraq based on which pointed to a compromise rec- additional American troops into the middle of what was faulty intelligence. The ommendation calling for gradual draw- a civil war in Iraq. premise for our military action against down of U.S. troops from Iraq. More than 5 years after the worst terrorist the Saddam Hussein government in It is instructive to recall the views attack in the history of our country, the mas- Iraq was that he had weapons of mass expressed by many of the generals on termind behind it—Osama bin Laden—is still destruction, and even the President has the ground, including General Abizaid, alive, free, and planning another attack on our now acknowledged that this determina- General Casey, General Petraeus, that country. And the President rarely even men- tion resulted from an incorrect inter- this conflict cannot be won militarily; tions his name. pretation of intelligence information. it will require a political solution. Instead, he pursues a failed policy in Iraq. With more than 3,000 U.S. military That political solution requires the in- The number of American soldiers killed in Iraq personnel killed and thousands more volvement of other regional govern- now exceeds the number of lives taken on wounded, people across the Nation, in- ments, including Syria and Iran. September 11, 2001, and this war has now cluding many Members of Congress, are All Americans, certainly every Mem- lasted longer than our involvement in World questioning our continued involvement ber here in the House of Representa- War II. very seriously and very legitimately, tives, wants the Iraqi Government to The President’s response is to send more especially since the President has now succeed and to become the stable de- troops. This surge is nothing more than an es- ignored the advice we know he received mocracy we had hoped to achieve at calation of the failed policy that has been tried from many senior military advisors the outset of our involvement. None of several times already. I couldn’t disagree more and has decided to increase the number us want Iraq to fall into chaos and to with the President. of military troops deployed to Iraq. It become a haven for terrorists, includ- The Bush policy in Iraq will, in my opinion, is time for this Congress to speak ing al Qaeda. But the current U.S. pol- go down in history as one of the biggest blun- clearly and forcefully in opposition to icy and the proposed escalation of a ders in the history of warfare. Why? Because this escalation and in support of chang- number of American troops offers little the terrorist who attacked us is still at large promise, I am convinced, of accom- ing course in Iraq. and the situation in Iraq gets worse by the In this resolution we are clear that plishing those goals. Even the recently completed Na- day. Simply put, we went after the wrong guy! our determination that American So what should we do now in Iraq? A target forces have accomplished everything tional Intelligence Estimate on Iraq, which the President presumably relies date for redeployment of our troops should be they have been asked to do in Iraq cou- set, and their withdrawal from Iraq should rageously and with the professionalism upon, concludes that the war, as it is currently being prosecuted, will not or begin now. Then the Iraqis who say they sup- the Nation expects of the best-trained cannot bring about these results. My port their new government will have the incen- and best-equipped military in the colleague, Mr. MURTHA, has also sug- tive to step forward and volunteer for military world. These troops have not let us gested that it will be up to the Iraqi service—something they will not do as long as down, to be sure; but in many ways people themselves who will expel what we offer to take all the enemy fire. they have been let down by a policy remains of al Qaeda in the country, and As others have said, ‘‘The Iraqis need to that ignores the reality of their situa- I believe there is merit in his argu- demonstrate that they want this new govern- tion, and by a Commander in Chief ment. ment more than we do.’’ whose only response to what is unmis- It’s decision time for the Iraqi people. takably a civil war in Iraq is to place b 1610 The President has submitted a supple- more American troops in harm’s way This is an important debate, Mr. mental budget request for almost $100 billion while sectarian violence plays out in Speaker, and one that is perhaps long to further fund the war in Iraq. If Congress

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:07 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.079 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1611 does not amend this proposal to include an of our national objectives. The Presi- Some have argued that our troops exit strategy, I will—as I did on the last Iraq dent’s surge plan does not meet these must remain in Iraq to prevent intoler- war supplemental on March 16th, 2006—vote criteria, and Congress should oppose it. able outcomes. But the outcomes that ‘‘no.’’ The question before us today is we have most feared—a civil war, a PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY whether an escalation of as many as training ground for terrorists, an as- Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, par- 48,000 American troops is the best way cendant Iran—have already become re- liamentary inquiry. to turn things around in Iraq. However, ality, despite the continuing presence The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. this question is part of a much larger of our troops. While a military pres- RANGEL). The gentleman may inquire. debate that this country and this ence may delay even worse outcomes, Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I under- Chamber must conduct, a debate about it cannot prevent them. If we are to stand at 4:30 we are going to break for the future of the U.S. military mission. avoid a regional war or an exponential some time for the Norwood resolution, There cannot be a simply military increase in Iraq’s carnage, our best which is absolutely appropriate. I just solution to the challenges that we, and hope is the increased political and dip- wanted to see if you could give us a the Iraqi people, face in Iraq. The size lomatic effort that I have proposed. split on the time, how much time we of our military presence will not make Mr. Speaker, how we leave Iraq does have left, we both have Members who the difference, because any solution to matter. A well-planned withdrawal can are squeezed to get their remarks in, Iraq’s problems will still be political, enhance our ability to protect our make sure we get an even split on time not military. troops and prepare Iraqis to assume to half past the hour. The recent National Intelligence Es- control. We must not make the same I would like to work with my friend timate (NIE) on Iraq confirms this con- mistake ending the war that we did in from Missouri to make sure we do that. clusion. The unclassified report noted beginning it, pursuing a strategy with- Mr. SKELTON. Yes. that even the term ‘‘civil war’’ is not out adequate planning. But we should I have one remaining speaker, Mr. grave enough to convey the complexity not hide behind this imperative. We Speaker. of the security challenges in Iraq. More can’t allow an exit strategy to prevent The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- to the point, the NIE noted that there or postpone an exit. tleman from California has 2 hours and were three ‘‘identifiable elements that I urge my colleagues to consider H.R. 35 minutes. The gentleman from Mis- could help to reverse negative trends’’: 645, which I believe offers the best way souri has 2 hours and 31 minutes. broader Sunni acceptance of the fed- to pursue American national security Mr. HUNTER. We needed to know eralist political structure, Shia and interests in Iraq. how much time we had before the 4:30 Kurdish concessions to Sunnis, and ‘‘a Let me close on a note of caution. break, Mr. Speaker, because we have bottom-up approach to help mend The resolution we are debating here folks, but if we just have one speaker frayed relationships between tribal and today is necessary, but it is not suffi- there, that is fine. religious groups.’’ Note that none of cient. The President should hear our The SPEAKER pro tempore. The these elements can be achieved by message, which expresses the convic- Chair recognizes the gentleman from military force. tion of the majority of the American Missouri. The outgoing commander of Multi- people that the time to end our occupa- Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 National Forces Iraq, Lieutenant Gen- tion of Iraq has come. However, if he minutes to my friend and colleague, eral Peter Chiarelli, recently stated, doesn’t take steps to bring our troops the gentleman from North Carolina ‘‘We need to get out of thinking that home, the President should be under no (Mr. PRICE), who is the Chair of the this is solely a military conflict. All of illusion that this nonbinding resolu- Subcommittee on Homeland Security our Nation’s strengths—diplomatic, tion exhausts Congress’s role. Rather, on the Appropriations Committee. economic, political—must be leveraged it is a first step in holding him ac- (Mr. PRICE of North Carolina asked to help the Iraqis find their way countable and reversing a failed policy and was given permission to revise and through this process.’’ Other military that has made our Nation less safe, and extend his remarks.) leaders have echoed this sentiment. has cost us so dearly in blood and Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. My colleague from North Carolina, treasure. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the es- BRAD MILLER, and I have proposed such Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I would calation of troop levels, to call for an an approach in our bill, H.R. 645. like to recognize the gentleman from end to the American occupation of Our bill would dramatically strength- Florida (Mr. MILLER) for 5 minutes. Iraq, and to support the resolution be- en U.S. political and diplomatic ef- Mr. MILLER of Florida. I thank the fore the House. forts. It would send special envoys to chairman for yielding. The two clauses of this resolution go the region to encourage Iraq’s neigh- Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise in support of hand in hand. There should be no doubt bors to play a more productive role in victory in Iraq and in support of our about the support from this Congress resolving the conflict and to facilitate troops. But I also rise to oppose this and indeed from the American people a national reconciliation process in Democratic defeatist resolution and I for those who risk their lives to defend Iraq. It would also authorize a program hope to provide some historical per- this Nation. As a Nation, we have to get would-be insurgents off the spective to help the American people learned to sincerely honor the warrior, streets and into the workforce. And it understand what the Democrats plan even when we disagree with the war. would provide ongoing support for the to do this year. I have personally been moved by my development of democratic institu- Make no mistake about it, this reso- own interactions with our troops. I tions, particularly at the local level. lution is about polls. National polling have been honored to meet with them While enhancing our political and before November’s elections showed a here at home, in Iraq, in Afghanistan, diplomatic efforts, our bill would de-es- majority of Americans were opposed to in Kosovo, and in numerous other calate our military commitment. It cutting off funds for the war but were places where they are serving honor- would terminate the authorization for generally unhappy with events on the ably. And I have mourned with their the war at the end of this year, and re- ground. Now, this polling data led the families when their service has led to quire President Bush to develop an exit Democratic message machine to create the ultimate sacrifice. No one who strategy for bringing our troops home a ‘‘we support the troops, don’t support spends time with the members of our by that date. the war but won’t cut off funding’’ po- Armed Forces can fail to be impressed We can no longer ask our troops in sition. Much like Majority Leader by the dedication and valor with which Iraq to do the impossible. In fact, their HOYER’s empty promises to allow a Re- they carry out their duty. presence is fueling the insurgency and publican alternative to this defeatist In addition to guaranteeing that they is a magnet for international ter- resolution, the Democrats are now fol- have the resources, equipment and rorism. It is time for the American oc- lowing polls and slowly, piece by piece, compensation they need, supporting cupation of Iraq to end, and for Iraqi bit by bit, revising their stance on our troops also means ensuring that leaders to assume responsibility for defunding the war. the missions we ask them to perform their country’s future, for better or for Due to their majority status, this are viable and well-designed in terms worse. resolution will pass, and soon after the

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:45 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A14FE7.019 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1612 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 passage, I suspect that Congressman stituents that the recent developments filling prophecy for the Democratic party—a MURTHA and others will move to defund in Iraq will result in a quick or certain party fixated on the 2008 election and ‘‘intoxi- the war the same way the Democratic- victory in Iraq. But I can assure my cated’’ by their new majority status. controlled Congress defunded the Viet- constituents and my colleagues that The only difference between what the nam War over a several-year period. Democrats cannot say with absolute Democrats will soon attempt to do and what They will do so in a piecemeal fashion certainty that there is no military so- they did in the late 60’s and early 70’s is they with various amendments to appropria- lution to the war in Iraq. will continue to say publicly they support the I must also point out several other tion bills, always avoiding the term troops, as Senator KERRY did in front of a con- ‘‘defunding’’ at all costs. recent Democratic statements that I gressional committee, of the atrocities of the take issue with, like the one from over b 1620 so-called ‘‘baby-killers.’’ The poisonous atmos- this weekend, where a Senator with phere of those times resulted in the military Before we have even concluded this Presidential ambitions said that more prohibiting all military personnel in the Metro- debate, our Speaker has already said a than 3,000 lives were wasted. Of course, politan Washington area from wearing their vote of disapproval will set the stage he clarified his remarks, because he uniforms in public, out of safety concerns. for additional Iraq legislation, which forgot about the secret Democratic will be coming to the House floor. I ask memo that this isn’t the 1970s any Two of the most crippling amendments of our Speaker, what is your additional more, and trashing the military is no the Vietnam war were passed in 1969 and Iraq legislation? longer acceptable. 1973. In 1969, Senator John Sherman Cooper The only difference between what the It reminds me of a former Presi- (R–KY) cosponsored an amendment prohib- Democrats will soon attempt to do and dential candidate who said that those iting the use of ground troops in Laos and what they did in the late 1960s and who joined our Army were only stupid Thailand. In August 1973 the Congress early 1970s is that they will continue to people. Of course, after the polls came passed the Fulbright-Aiken amendment which say publicly that they support the in, he clarified his remarks because he cut off all funding for U.S. military forces in, or troops, instead of speaking, as Senator saw they were not being taken very over, or from the shore of North Vietnam, KERRY did, in front of a congressional well. South Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia. committee of the atrocities of the so- Back to the polls, only 15 percent of President Nixon’s approval ratings in 1973 called baby killers. The poisonous at- the public expressed initial support for were dismally low and he was close to resign- mosphere of those times resulted in the the first President Bush to invade Iraq ing as a result of the Watergate scandal. His military prohibiting all military per- in 1991. Many in my own Republican weakened position emboldened Democrats to sonnel in the metropolitan Washington Party vehemently opposed FDR in take extreme actions. Some of their actions area from wearing their uniforms in World War II. During the Civil War, may have bordered on treasonous, but have public out of safety concerns. there was a congressional committee never been judicially challenged. Our current Now, two of the most crippling that met officially and unofficially on President has an approval rating nearly as amendments of the Vietnam War were a regular basis to critique President low; and now, as they did then, Democrats are passed in 1969 and 1973. In 1969, Senator Lincoln’s performance in nearly every feeling emboldened to challenge our Com- John Sherman Cooper of Kentucky co- battle the Union waged. Does history mander-in-Chief during a time of war, for polit- sponsored an amendment prohibiting now reflect these? ical gain. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the rest of the use of ground troops in Laos and Last week the Democratic-controlled United my comments be inserted in the Thailand. In August of 1973, the Con- States Senate attempted to debate various RECORD. gress passed the Fulbright-Aiken non-binding resolutions about the Iraq war. I Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of victory in amendment, which cut off all funding must admit I found it interesting to hear Major- for U.S. military forces in or over or Iraq and in support of our troops. I rise to oppose this Democratic defeatist ity Leader REID say that voting on a non-bind- from the shore of North Vietnam, resolution and I hope to provide some histor- ing resolution would show the American peo- South Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia. ical perspective to help the American people ple where they stood on the war. Senator REID President Nixon’s approval ratings in understand what the Democrats plan to do and the Democratic leadership of both the 1973 were dismally low, and he was this year. House and Senate have made it very clear close to resigning as a result of the Wa- Make no mistake about it—this resolution is where they stand on the war—they are op- tergate scandal, and his weakened posi- about polls. National polling before Novem- posed to winning the war, claim they were tion emboldened the Democrats to take ber’s elections showed a majority of Ameri- tricked into supporting it and will do anything extreme actions. I would say that some cans were opposed to cutting off funds for the in their power to cut off all funding to the war. of their actions may have bordered on war, but were generally unhappy with events I encourage Democrats to put forth a bill treasonous, but they have never been on the ground. that eliminates all funding for the Iraq war judicially challenged. This polling data led the Democratic mes- along with an accompanying statement of non- Our current President has an ap- sage machine to create a ‘‘we support the support for the deployed troops. This would proval rating nearly as low now as they troops, don’t support the war, but won’t cut off show their true colors and allow the Demo- did then. Democrats are feeling funding’’ position. Much like Majority Leader crats to be intellectually honest. emboldened to challenge our Com- HOYER’s empty promises to allow a Repub- It has been said this non-binding resolution mander in Chief during a time of war lican alternative to this defeatist resolution, the will not affect troop morale. If so, why not specifically for political gain. Democrats are now following polls and slowly, amend this nonbinding resolution to send It has also been said that this non- piece by piece, bit by bit, revising their stance every man and woman fighting in Iraq a copy binding resolution will not affect troop on defunding the war. of it, along with the recorded vote. morale. If so, why not amend this non- Due to their majority status, this resolution binding resolution to send a copy to will pass and soon after the passage, I sus- Oh—that’s right, no amendments. every man and woman fighting in Iraq, pect Congressman MURTHA and others will This would also stand in stark contrast to along with a record of each vote. That move to defund the war in the same way the their most recent act of hypocrisy—voting to is right, we don’t get a chance to have Democratic controlled congress defunded the confirm General David Patraeus, wishing him any amendments. Vietnam war over a several year period. They luck and then moving to undercut his efforts What is important here are the Presi- will do so in a piecemeal fashion with various soon after he left the Capitol to begin his jour- dent’s words and his actions. He has or- amendments to appropriations bills and avoid ney to Iraq. dered more combat forces to Iraq. He the term ‘‘defunding’’ at all costs. Before we More importantly, we need to achieve real has extended the tours of some forces have even concluded this debate, our Speaker progress in Iraq. We have come to a critical already in country. Let us be perfectly has already said, ‘‘A vote of disapproval will juncture and must make sure the price that clear, 14 of the 18 provinces in Iraq are set the stage for additional Iraq legislation, has been paid—the blood of our young men secure. These additional forces will which will be coming to the House floor.’’ I say and women—results in victory. To ensure a help restore overall order and provide a to Speaker PELOSI what is your additional Iraq real and enduring victory, our Commander-in- stable environment for the political legislation? Chief is moving forward with a new plan. process from within which to work. This immoral approach will slowly squeeze Some in Congress and the media are debat- Now, I cannot assure all of my con- off funding and support and become a self ful- ing whether it is a new strategy, a new set of

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:45 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K14FE7.085 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE February 14, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1613 tactics or no change at all. This political pos- join with us in voting for this resolu- in harm’s way, and will rather likely turing is unimportant to the Specialist or Cor- tion, then we will avoid the crises of result in the wrong message to many of poral walking point in Baghdad or Al-Anbar the Constitution that he talks about our soldiers, our partners and, avoid- province. and, instead, we will shock this Presi- ably, the enemy. What is important are the President’s words dent into giving us a new direction in I believe this debate is dividing the and his actions. He has ordered more combat Iraq. Congress. I believe this debate is divid- forces to Iraq and has extended the tours of POINT OF INQUIRY ing the American people and sending some forces already in the country. Their mis- Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, a point of the wrong message to our soldiers in sion is to restore order to the 4 provinces in inquiry. the field, who may question our unwav- Iraq that remain volatile. Let us be perfectly The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- ering support on their behalf. I con- clear, 14 of the 18 provinces are secure. tleman from California is recognized. tinue to be awe struck and proud of the These additional forces will help restore over- Mr. HUNTER. This is not an un- valor of our servicemen and -women of all order and provide a stable environment for friendly request. I just want to note Iraq. However, this debate sends a the political process within to work. one of our Members has a relative’s fu- mixed message to them, their families, Today we have received reports from var- neral he wants to go to. He has just a and the families of those who were lost ious sources that the radical cleric Al-Sadr few minutes. I know my friend Mr. in the global war on terror. We could may have fled to Iran as a result of the Amer- OBERSTAR is waiting to speak. Is there have, and we should have had a debate ican and Iraqi forces cracking down on his mi- any chance you could yield to Mr. that sends a strong message to support litias and top aides. Iraqi forces are showing LOBIONDO so he could get his 4 minutes our troops in their commitment, but up to their appointed duty locations in excess in before the deadline? the majority has chosen against us. of 70 percent of the time. The Iraqi govern- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- While I do not support the Presi- ment is taking the politically difficult step of tleman will inquire. dent’s latest strategy, I believe the forcing some Baghdad residents to vacate Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. OBERSTAR. American military should not serve as homes they unlawfully moved into during the Mr. OBERSTAR. I am happy to yield a referee in the sectarian conflict that war. There is also talk of stricter curfews and to the gentleman from California. has lasted for centuries. It is the re- closing the borders with Syria and Iran for 30 The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- sponsibility of the Iraqi Government to days—all of this talk coming from the Iraqis. tleman from California is recognized. take a stronger role to set benchmarks I cannot assure my constituents these re- Mr. HUNTER. I want to thank my and not let the American military and cent developments will result in a quick or cer- friend, Mr. OBERSTAR, very much for our forces be caught in the middle. tain victory in Iraq. I can assure my constitu- that. This resolution is silent in its require- ents and my colleagues that Democrats can- Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the ments to the elected Iraqi Government not say with absolute certainty that there is no gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. and to the Iraqi people, and holding military solution to Iraq. I also must point out LOBIONDO). their own destiny in their hands. several other recent Democratic statements Mr. LOBIONDO. Mr. OBERSTAR, thank As a member of the Armed Services that I take issue with. you very much. The circumstances are Committee, I have listened to the gen- One Senator with Presidential ambitions difficult. erals and military experts, administra- claimed that the more than 3,000 lives lost in Mr. Speaker, it is more than 5 years tion officials, tell us that Iraqi forces the war had been wasted—he then imme- that we are into the global war on ter- are ready for greater responsibilities in diately clarified his remarks because he had ror. Since the horrific attacks to our securing Iraq. However, after being to forgotten the secret Democrat memo stating country on September 11, we are fight- Iraq five times myself, and talking that this isn’t the 70’s and trashing the military ing a faceless enemy, an unbelievably with a number of soldiers in the field, is no longer acceptable. This reminds me of a ruthless enemy, an enemy who is the reality on the ground is that Iraqi former presidential candidate’s comments al- undeterred in their hatreds for our forces are not being used to the extent leging that only stupid people end up in the freedoms and our way of life. that they should at this point. I think Army and in Iraq. Of course, another ‘‘clarifica- We must remain strong in our resolve that needs to change. tion’’ was issued soon after these comments to defeat the enemy, and it is no acci- I would like to also say that it is since 2–3 days of polling indicated that the re- dent that our Nation has not been at- with great regret that I will not be marks were not well received. tacked since September 11. It is not be- here at the conclusion of the debate Back to polls—only 15 percent of the public cause the enemy and its supporters this week. Unfortunately, my father- expressed initial support for the first President have not wanted to bring destruction in-law passed away after a battle with Bush to invade Iraq in 1991. Many in my own to America, it is because we as Ameri- cancer, and I will be heading out to the Republican party vehemently opposed FDR in cans have remained committed to the World War II and during the Civil War there funeral with my wife and the family. defense of our homeland. I wanted to be on record before leav- was a congressional committee that met offi- It is because we have remained vigi- ing as to what this critical motion cially, and unofficially, on a regular basis to lant in working with our international means. This debate cannot and should critique President Lincoln’s performance in partners to prevent terrorists from not be the end of what we are talking nearly every battle the Union waged. Does history now reflect that these three being successful, and it is mostly be- about, and for the reasons stated before conflicts were wrong for America to engage cause of our brave men and women in all future debates must be substantive in? I think not. Resolute leaders bucked short uniform, who have taken the fight to on policies. It is clear to me the major- term public opinion for the good of the country the enemy. Likewise, our commitment ity has a strategy that many have in the long term. That is why we elect Presi- to the troops on the battlefield, wheth- talked about that reflects far beyond dents and that is what we should demand of er in Iraq or Afghanistan, or wherever just the surge in Iraq and what it may them. the global war on terror may take our mean, but has implications for funding. To date, mistakes have been made and the brave young men and women, must run Mr. Speaker, let me make it per- President has acknowledged them. We must, deep. Our commitment must include fectly clear. I support the troops, but however, win this war. I believe immediate that our soldiers have all the necessary on the basis of the message that this is withdrawal will destabilize the region and equipment and armor that they need. sending to our partners, to the troops, cause us to return there in the future, as we Mr. Speaker, I come to the well, to to their families on this nonsub- have had to do in many regions throughout the podium today very troubled. For 3 stantive resolution, I cannot support our history. We cannot fight a war based on days, the majority will have us debat- it. polls and emotions. We must take actions that ing the very critical issue of the war in I will close by saying that I received will preserve and enhance our national secu- Iraq, but this debate is really without a call from a father, who has two chil- rity now and beyond the next election, the real substance. dren that are in Iraq. One felt so next news cycle or the next opinion poll. This debate is without an alternative strongly that he sent a letter to our Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise strategy that many of us acknowledge local newspaper, Specialist Matthew J. to assume the Democratic time. we desperately need to be discussing. Smith of Hopewell Township, and I I would just comment to the gen- This debate will not bring about one have just a few excerpts from his let- tleman from Florida that if he would positive change for our men and women ter. ‘‘I personally feel as if I am here

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:45 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A14FE7.016 H14FEPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with HOUSE H1614 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 14, 2007 for a great purpose and goal that our We have spent and are continuing to EXPRESSING SORROW OF THE Commander in Chief has ordered us to spend $9 billion a month in Iraq; 3,122 HOUSE AT THE DEATH OF THE achieve. I have never felt it would be of our servicemen and -women have HONORABLE CHARLIE NORWOOD, an easy task, nor should those at home been killed; 23,550-plus have been MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM living their comfortable lives. Have we wounded; tens of thousands more Iraqis THE STATE OF GEORGIA forgotten that this great country of killed and wounded. The violence is es- Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ours was not handed to us on a silver calating, our troops are the targets. offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. platter? I am asking everyone, please 159) and ask for its immediate consider- I do not think this resolution pre- don’t allow those of us who have died ation. to die in vain. When we have completed judges anything. The facts speak for The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- the mission and have been successful in themselves. And the people are saying lows: defending freedom, we will come bring the troops home with honor. I did H. RES. 159 home.’’ not support this war at its outset. We Resolved, That the House has heard with b 1630 had Saddam Hussein contained. Al profound sorrow of the death of the Honor- Qaeda was not in Iraq. We had a job to able Charlie Norwood, a Representative from Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I just do in Afghanistan. I supported going the State of Georgia. want to thank the gentleman. I want into Afghanistan to capture Osama bin Resolved, That a committee of such Mem- to thank the gentleman for yielding bers of the House as the Speaker may des- Laden. But I saw no clear rationale for this time to Mr. LOBIONDO. As this ignate, together with such Members of the Member gets time in the coming de- sending troops into combat in Iraq. Senate as may be joined, be appointed to at- bate, we owe you one. The resolution does offer a statement tend the funeral. Resolved, That the Sergeant-at-Arms of The SPEAKER pro tempore. The of support for the troops. Their service the House be authorized and directed to take House of Representatives extends its is an extraordinary gift. They volun- such steps as may be necessary for carrying deepest sympathy to the gentleman teer to leave their homes and families out the provisions of these resolutions and from New Jersey. and risk their lives every day, at the that the necessary expenses in connection Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield order of the President. All they ask is therewith be paid out of applicable accounts 5 minutes to the very patient and the of the House. that we never ask them to go to con- Resolved, That the Clerk communicate very distinguished gentleman from flict unless that conflict is absolutely Minnesota, the chairman of the Trans- these resolutions to the Senate and transmit necessary and in the national interest. a copy thereof to the family of the deceased. portation and Infrastructure Com- Resolved, That when the House adjourns mittee (Mr. OBERSTAR). Lieutenant General William Odom, today, it adjourn as a further mark of re- Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, this is in a recent article in The Washington spect to the memory of the deceased. the moment that a majority of Ameri- Post said, about the question that we The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- cans who voted last November have have to continue to fight in order to tleman from Georgia (Mr. DEAL) is rec- been waiting for, a time when Congress support the troops, has anyone asked ognized for 1 hour. does something about Iraq. And that the troops? During their first tours, Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I something that the people asked of us many may have favored staying the yield 30 minutes of time to the gen- is to get us out of Iraq. course. But now in their second, third, tleman from Georgia (Mr. LEWIS) and The resolution before us will not of fourth tours, he writes, many are thank him for arranging for this reso- itself get U.S. forces out of Iraq, but to changing their minds. lution to be heard at this time today. paraphrase Winston Churchill, if it is Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 min- We see no evidence of that in the not the end, it is at least the beginning utes. of the end. news stories about unhappy troops Mr. Speaker, as we all know, we lost Our President is having trouble un- being sent back to Iraq. The strangest a true champion in the House of Rep- derstanding the message from the aspect of the rationale, General Odom resentatives on yesterday: CHARLES American people. It is a simple mes- writes, for continuing the war is the NORWOOD from Georgia. CHARLIE, as he sage that I hear every time I go back implication that our troops are some- was known by most of us here, was home to Minnesota. Time to bring our how responsible for deciding to con- truly a friend across party lines and troops home with honor. The people tinue the President’s course. across State lines. He was a true pa- are telling me our mission in Iraq is ac- That political and moral responsi- triot. He served in the dental services complished. The President already de- bility belongs to the President, not to in the U.S. Army in the combat zone of clared victory. The goals of the U.S. in- the troops. Didn’t Harry Truman make Vietnam. vasion have been met. He returned to a private dental prac- it clear that the buck stops in the Oval Iraq’s army was defeated, Saddam tice in Georgia, and then in the elec- Hussein removed from power and Office? The President keeps dodging it. tion cycle of 1994 was elected to this brought to judgment. The Iraqi people Where does it stop, General Odom asks, House of Representatives. He came held elections to establish a new gov- with Congress? And that is why we are with a passion for many things. Health ernment. Mission accomplished. Time here today to say it is up to us to make care was at the very top of his list. to bring the troops home with honor. a definitive statement with this resolu- Education was very shortly thereafter. No weapons of mass destruction were tion, a statement that it is time to end And he worked on both of those issues found, despite extensive searches. The the U.S. involvement in Iraq, to bring with all of his heart. Iraqis have a government, they have an the troops home with honor. And then He inspired many people in this army, a police force. There is no fur- if the President does not heed, then we House because he was indeed pas- ther purpose of American policy to be must take more vigorous steps, steps sionate about everything that he did. If served by a continued military pres- that I voted for in coming to end the he was your friend, you knew he was ence in Iraq. U.S. involvement in Vietnam over 32 your friend. If you were on the opposite What remains in Iraq is religious years ago. side of an issue from him, he let you warfare between Sunni and Shia, with know that as well, but he was still your our troops caught in the crossfire. This If that is what it takes, then we have friend. is not the job our troops signed up for. to say that the buck stops with us in All of us watched as we observed This is not the war President Bush sold the Congress to stop the U.S. engage- what had been diagnosed in 1998 as an to Congress. People are telling the ment in Iraq. incurable disease. And following that President, it is time to bring the troops diagnosis, he underwent lung trans- ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE home and to do it with honor. plant surgery. That was a process that President Bush has said he is con- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- most of us probably would have had cerned this resolution is prejudging the ant to section 3 of House Resolution great difficulty undergoing. But CHAR- outcome of our involvement in Iraq. I 157, further proceedings on the concur- LIE did it with courage. He rebounded would say the outcome is not in doubt. rent resolution will be postponed. with the same kind of determination

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