May 17, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3021 We are fresh out of trust, Mr. Speak- during morning hour debates for 5 min- the ‘liberation.’ He miscalculated the er, in America, and around the world. utes. troop strength needed to stabilize the It is time for Rumsfeld to go before we Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, over the country. He left Baghdad and other try and hand off sovereignty to the weekend my hometown newspaper, the major cities unprotected from looters Iraqis. They will never be able to deal Asbury Park Press, ran an editorial and thugs. He left museums, hospitals, with our Secretary of war because no- calling on Secretary of Defense Donald government ministries and facilities body trusts him. Rumsfeld to resign. It was a stunning essential to a functioning civil society Mr. Speaker, at this point I will in- criticism from a newspaper that is not unguarded. He failed to provide the sert into the RECORD the newspaper ar- known to be partisan. And I would like necessary support and manpower and ticle I referred to earlier. to take this opportunity to simply read material for our military. And he al- [From the Los Angeles Times, May 12, 2004] the editorial. lowed our military prisons to operate ‘‘The United States needs to send with inadequate staffing, training, and ABUSE FLAP MAY RUIN BUSH TEAM’S ‘‘TRUST this message to the world. We remain a US’’ ARGUMENT ON DETAINEES oversight. civilized Nation. We respect inter- ‘‘After the fall of Baghdad, instead of WASHINGTON.—The photos of abused Iraqi national law. We respect the dignity of prisoners not only have shaken the Bush ad- trying to internationalize the occupa- ministration but also may have ruined its all individuals. We will at all times tion and the rebuilding effort, Rums- Supreme Court defense of its handling of ter- abide by the Geneva Convention gov- feld and other administration leaders rorism suspects, some legal experts say. erning the humane conduct of prisoner chose to go it alone, putting virtually ‘‘Their argument has been ‘trust us,’ and of war and apply that standard to all all the costs associated with the occu- that argument has been deeply undermined,’’ detainees. pation, financial and human, on Amer- said Yale University professor Harold Koh, ‘‘We hold ourselves to the highest ican soldiers. an international law specialist who served in moral standards and will not tolerate ‘‘To date more than 770 American the Clinton administration. those who do not. And we will hold our soldiers have died in Iraq. Another 4,100 Before the court last month, the adminis- leaders accountable when our conduct have been wounded. We have com- tration argued that the president and his falls short. That message should be ac- military commanders have exclusive power mitted more than $160 billion to the in- to decide the fate of those captured in the companied by the resignation of De- vasion, occupation, and reconstruction war on terrorism. fense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. If he of Iraq. Estimates suggest the cost The court has yet to rule. is not asked to resign by President could easily reach $600 billion even if Shortly after U.S. troops invaded Afghani- Bush, he should do the honorable thing the June 30 deadline for handing over stan, the administration declared that peo- and step down on his own. political control to the Iraqis is met— ple captured there and shipped to ‘‘The case against Rumsfeld, who has a dubious proposition. Guantanomo Bay, Cuba, were not entitled to overseen the conduct of the war in ‘‘Our leaders in Washington need to the protections of the Geneva Conventions: Iraq, transcends the prisoner abuses at send a clear message to the world that They were not prisoners of war but rather Abu Ghraib, but the scandal is an im- ‘‘unlawful enemy combatants,’’ falling out- we have not abandoned our ideals. side both international law and U.S. law. portant element of it. The photos and Rumsfeld’s resignation would help un- International legal specialists criticized accounts of the treatment of Iraqi de- derscore the point. More important, this decision to create ‘‘a law-free zone.’’ The tainees at the hands of American sol- our leaders need to reinforce that mes- Supreme Court surprised the Bush adminis- diers have shocked and disgusted sage with the American people who are tration by taking up the issue. Americans and the world. They have growing increasingly fearful that we During arguments April 28, administration brought the realities of war whose have lost our way.’’ lawyers told the court that, in wartime, the daily horrors have largely been kept That is the end of the editorial, Mr. federal courts have no power to hear claims from public view into the national con- Speaker. I just want to say that I to- from the imprisoned men. Only the executive sciousness. They have shown that we tally associate myself with the Asbury branch should decide their fate. ‘‘Suppose the executive says mild torture are not immune from committing evil Park Press editorial. I think they are will help get information?’’ asked Justice acts. absolutely right. I do not think any- Ruth Bader Ginsburg. ‘‘Over the past 2 years the Inter- body has ever said it so well. Committing such ‘‘an atrocity’’ against a national Red Cross, Human Rights Mr. Speaker, I recently called on prisoner would be a crime punishable by Watch, and Amnesty International Secretary Rumsfeld to resign and I court-martial, replied Deputy Solicitor Gen- have all raised concerns about patterns would urge my colleagues to do the eral Paul Clement. of mistreatment of detainees by U.S. same. Next, I would urge the President When pressed further, he added, ‘‘our exec- interrogators in Afghanistan, Iraq, and to take immediate steps to inter- utive doesn’t’’ commit such abuses. ‘‘You Guantanamo Bay. Rumsfeld’s expla- nationalize this conflict and build a have to recognize that in situations where nations for how the abuses were al- strong coalition of partners in Iraq. there is a war . . . you have to trust the ex- ecutive.’’ lowed to occur and how they escaped The President should convene an im- That same evening, CBS aired the first his attention for so long have not been mediate international summit on Iraq. photos of soldiers mistreating Iraqi pris- convincing. Punishing only those di- The United States must go in with a oners. Two days later, the Supreme Court rectly responsible for the inhumane ac- plan that provides for new inter- justices began working on their opinions in tions is not enough, not given the grav- national arrangements to manage the the case. ity of the offenses and the damage they political security and economic aspects ‘‘In a close and difficult case like this, this have done to our Nation’s reputation of Iraq’s transitions, and includes re- could tip the scales,’’ said Michael J. and our ability to win the war of ideas orienting American policy to reflect Glennon, an international law specialist at in the Arab world. those new international arrangements. Tufts University. ‘‘The overriding issue in ‘‘There are many other reasons why these cases has been to what extent can you We cannot simply continue to go it trust the executive to police itself.’’ it should be in America’s best interest alone. We must internationalize this A former Bush administration lawyer who for Rumsfeld to step aside. As Defense conflict. And I think that has also been advised the White House on wartime issues Secretary he has mismanaged the war a major part of what the Asbury Park said the Iraqi prison scandal should have no in Iraq every step of the way. He helped Press says in this editorial. effect on the court’s decision. sell the idea that Saddam Hussein was f ‘‘It is a false analogy. These are two sepa- working in concert with al Qaeda and rate and different kinds of detainees,’’ said posed a clear nuclear and biological THE WORK HABITS OF THE John C. Yoo, a law professor. threat to the United States. He ignored PRESIDENT f the advice of many of our long-stand- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- ing allies and top Pentagon officials to ant to the order of the House of Janu- SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DONALD continue what had been a successful ary 20, 2004, the gentleman from Massa- RUMSFELD SHOULD RESIGN strategy of isolating Saddam while chusetts (Mr. FRANK) is recognized dur- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- continuing our search for weapons of ing morning hour debates for 5 min- ant to the order of the House of Janu- mass destruction. utes. ary 20, 2004, the gentleman from New ‘‘Rumsfeld failed to anticipate the Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Jersey (Mr. PALLONE) is recognized hostile reception we received following Speaker, before I begin on my text I

VerDate May 04 2004 01:33 May 18, 2004 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K17MY7.004 H17PT1 H3022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE May 17, 2004 want to just correct the minority whip, who told the President apparently that THE HOUSE SHOULD NOT PASS the Democratic whip. He is a man with it was a slam-dunk that there were H.R. 3722, UNDOCUMENTED ALIEN whom I have a great deal of agreement. weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSIST- But I think he was wrong when he said Well, once again, we have a case on a ANCE AMENDMENTS OF 2004 the rigid ideology of the people in very important issue of the President The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- power today leads them to the view, and, to quote his words, all kinds of ant to the order of the House of Janu- my way or the highway. people in my administration were ary 20, 2004, the gentlewoman from I wish that were the case. Mr. Speak- charged with different responsibilities California (Ms. SOLIS) is recognized er, as you well know from your own and they would come in and say this is during morning hour debates for 5 min- committee position, the right wing ide- what is happening and this is not what utes. ology are on the point of saying, my is happening. Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, we heard way instead of the highway. Because so There is a serious problem, Mr. Presi- earlier from the gentleman from Cali- rigid are they in their right-wing ide- dent. The time has come for the Presi- fornia (Mr. ROHRABACHER) his senti- ology that we cannot even get a high- dent of the United States to admit an ments regarding H.R. 3722. This item is way bill passed this year, as we cer- error in this case, I know he does not on suspension and will be coming up tainly should, in the interest of the like to do that, to admit that relying before us. It is known as the Undocu- transportation needs of this country on Secretary Rumsfeld or CIA Director mented Alien Emergency Medical As- and the economy. Tenet or Secretary Thompson or a sistance Amendments. That title is But I want to talk beyond that about whole range of other people to give him somewhat misleading because, in fact, the work habits of the President. It is the information to brag about how he what it requires is that our local hos- clear that in addition to an excessively eschews independent, factual sources is pitals turn into what I see as law en- rigid ideology we have an administra- a great mistake and may explain some forcement agencies and INS agents, tion which is not very competent in a of the serious mistakes this adminis- INS Immigration Service agents that lot of things. I do not think we have tration has made. would soon be asking people who may seen a more incompetently executed Old sayings sometimes can be look or appear as though they are un- national security policy of a major sort overdone. Sometimes they have some documented to provide some proof or than Iraq in our history. verification that they are, in fact, full And I wonder why we get such poor truth. There is a saying that ignorance is bliss. Well, Mr. Speaker, there may citizens of the United States. execution, even given that I disagree We do not do that in our schools. be context in which ignorance is bliss, with some of the things they are trying Why do we have to do that in our hos- but the Presidency of the United to execute. Now it does become clear pitals, especially when people are al- States is not one of them. one of the problems may be the Presi- ready fearful of coming forward to, say, dent’s work habits. The time has come for the President a local hospital and having to fill out On December 16 in an interview on to acknowledge the fact that his meth- forms and then being told that, well, ABC News with Diane Sawyer, the od of getting information only from you do not qualify because you are not President boasted about how he does people within his own administration, a U.S. citizen or you are undocumented not need to read the newspapers or, who may have their own motives for therefore we are going to call the INS presumably, watch television. He gets misrepresenting or not giving him in- or Homeland Security and deport you? his information, he says, from mem- formation that might be embarrassing What kind of fear does that place in bers of his administration. When Diane to them, that that has broken down, a community? Sawyer said, ‘‘Is it just hard to read and the time has come for the Presi- Well, I can tell you in a community constant criticism? He interjected, dent to dip into the budget that he gets like mine in Los Angeles, California, ‘‘Why even put up with it when you get and buy a subscription to some news- where the make-up of my district is the facts elsewhere? I am a lucky papers and watch the TV news. largely Hispanic or Latino, that is not man,’’ the President said. ‘‘I have got, Mr. Speaker, I will insert into the to say that they are all undocumented it is not just Condi and Andy, it is all RECORD at this point the excerpt from and that is not to say that they do not kinds of people in my administration the interview with Diane Sawyer. work and pay taxes; in fact, on the av- who are charged with different respon- DIANE SAWYER. First of all, I just want erage I would say that the local immi- sibilities. And they come in and say to ask about reading. Mr. President, you grants in our communities pay about this is what is happening, this is not know that there was a great deal of report- $1,300 in taxes. They do not get that what is happening.’’ ing about the fact that you said, first of all, money back in some cases because they Well, Mr. President, you are being ill that you let Condoleezza Rice and Andrew may not be documented. We know that. served by this refusal to get inde- Card give you a flavor of what’s in the news. That has been happening here in the PRESIDENT BUSH. Yes. pendent sources of information. You U.S. DIANE SAWYER. That you don’t read the got a lot of people who confuse what is stories yourself. But they pay into our tax base sys- happening with what is not happening PRESIDENT BUSH. Yes. I get my news tem whether it is to go down and buy and sometimes they do not tell you from people who don’t editorialize. They give a gallon of gas at $2.40 or $2.50 a gallon anything. me the actual news, and it makes it easier to now in Los Angeles, if they go down Most recently we have the Secretary digest, on a daily basis, the facts. and buy goods at the market or Home of Defense who forgot to tell you that DIANE SAWYER. Is it just harder to read Depot, they are paying sales tax. All we had a major debilitating problem constant criticism or to read—— that then goes into our piggy bank, so coming up with regard to the mistreat- PRESIDENT BUSH. Why even put up with to speak, for the government. That ment of prisoners. And he did not tell it when you can get the facts elsewhere? I’m money then is set aside for public you that. a lucky man. I’ve got, it’s not just Condi and health care institutions and private Last year, in what I think you con- Andy, it’s all kinds of people in my adminis- tration who are charged with different re- health care institutions. sider to be, Mr. President, the single sponsibilities, and they come in and say this I would like to tell you that in my most important domestic accomplish- is what’s happening, this isn’t what’s hap- district alone I received letters from ment in the administration, did some- pening. some of our private for-profit hospitals one forget to tell you that the bill you that were adamantly opposed to this were telling us was going to cost $400 f piece of legislation because they see it billion over 10 years was, in fact, going again as something that is going to to cost $540 billion and that all of the provide another layer of bureaucracy. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER additional billion would go to the pro- It will make them become INS agents. PRO TEMPORE viders and none of it to the recipients? They will have to fingerprint, photo- Did someone forget to tell the Presi- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mem- graph, take digital photos and keep dent or did the President forget to tell bers should bear in mind that remarks files for 5 years on anyone that they us? in debate should be addressed to the believe may be undocumented. Then, of course, we have the com- Chair and not to others as in the sec- And I have to tell you that the kind ment by CIA Director George Tenet ond person. of feeling that I get when I hear about

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