May 3, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 153, Pt. 8 11213 As the President said this week, we and I want to quote his words again. our first amendment, but its effect is cannot define success in Iraq as the ab- The President, in thanking the leaders the same. sence of violence. The day that freedom for coming down, said, ‘‘Yesterday was For Americans, this day should spur wins, whatever that day would be, the a day that highlighted differences. us to consider the role that journalists day that we can know with a moral Today,’’ he said, ‘‘is the day when we play in our society and to ponder what certitude that this new democratically can work together to find common our Nation would be like if this corner- elected government in Iraq is able to ground.’’ But he also added, ‘‘It is very stone of our liberty were to be cur- defend itself, able to defend its people, important we do this as quickly as we tailed. the day we have the moral certitude possibly can.’’ And he expressed con- Although most Americans take the that they can do that and we can begin fidence that we can reach agreement. concept of a free press for granted, I be- then to come home in good conscience, I will close with that, Mr. Speaker. I lieve that an unfettered press is vital there will likely be insurgent and al truly believe in all my heart that it is to America’s national security and to Qaeda violence taking place somewhere possible for a majority of this Congress our democracy here at home. in Iraq. Therefore, we cannot define to come together in a manner that we A year ago today, my colleague from victory as the absence of violence, but can deliver to our soldiers the re- Indiana, Mr. Spence, and Senators we can define victory as the presence of sources that they need within a con- CHRIS DODD and RICHARD LUGAR joined me in launching a new bipartisan, bi- a stable democratic, constitutional re- stitutional framework that doesn’t in- cameral caucus aimed at advancing public that can defend itself. And that, trude on the President’s role as com- press freedom around the world. The it seems to me, beyond the issues that mander in chief, in a way that reflects Congressional Caucus for Freedom of the President raised when he vetoed fiscal discipline and in a way, also, the Press creates a forum where the the legislation, is the most compelling that continues to provide the resources United States Congress can work to argument for finding a way forward, that if, in fact, the modest progress we combat and condemn media censorship finding the common ground necessary are beginning to see continues to widen and the persecution of journalists to get our soldiers the resources they through the summer, that we, in fact, around the world. The launch of this need to get the job done and to come provide the resources for an expanding new caucus sends a strong message success for the surge, an expanding home safe. that Congress will defend democratic success for Iraqis stepping forward to This is a tough time in Iraq. General values and human rights wherever they oppose al Qaeda and insurgency in Al- Petraeus told me on the ground in are threatened. Baghdad a month ago, he told Members Anbar, and ultimately a success for In launching the caucus, we were en- of Congress gathered in a bipartisan freedom in Iraq. I am confident of this, couraged by the wide range of organi- briefing last week that there are dif- I am confident the common ground is zations and individuals, such as Re- ficult days ahead, that there is no there; and it will be my hope and my porters Without Borders, Freedom guarantee that the surge, which seems prayer and my pledge to work with col- House, the Committee to Protect Jour- to be beginning to take hold in Bagh- leagues on both sides of the aisle to ac- nalists, Musa Klebnikov, the widow of dad, will ultimately succeed. But it complish just that. Paul Klebnikov, the editor of Forbes seems to me the fact that, despite the On behalf of the Republican Study Russia, who was shot to death outside recent wave of insurgent bombings, or Committee and our many members, I of his offices 2 years ago, and the leg- the fact that sectarian violence is down thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank endary Walter Cronkite, all of whom in Baghdad, the fact that Ramadi and the Republican leadership for yielding enthusiastically endorsed our effort. al Anbar province appears, because of us this hour. Freedom of the press is so central to Sunni Iraqi leadership and U.S. and f our democracy that the Framers en- Iraqi forces, al Anbar province appears WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY shrined it in the first amendment of to be taking a turn for the better, how- our Constitution. At the time, there ever modest, that that argues for us The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. was little in the way of journalist eth- finding a way forward, finding common COHEN). Under the Speaker’s an- ics, and newspapers were filled with ground where we can give our soldiers nounced policy of January 18, 2007, the scurrilous allegations leveled at public the resources they need. Because in gentleman from California (Mr. SCHIFF) figures. Even so, our Founders under- Baghdad, despite the recent bombings, is recognized for 60 minutes as the des- stood its importance to advancing the sectarian violence is down. ignee of the majority leader. new Nation’s experiment in democracy. Baghdad is not safe, but it is safer be- Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, today is In the Virginia Report of 1799–1800, cause of the presence of more than two World Press Freedom Day, a day that touching the alien and sedition laws, dozen U.S. and Iraqi joint operating the international community has set James Madison wrote that, ‘‘Some de- centers in that capital city, more than aside to honor the work and sacrifice of gree of abuse is inseparable from the 40 joint operating centers now spread journalists around the world. proper use of everything, and in no in- throughout Ramadi, and the fact that World Press Freedom Day was first stance is this more true than in that of in al Anbar province, more than 20 designated by the United Nations Edu- the press. It has accordingly been de- Sunni sheiks across the region have cational, Scientific, and Cultural Orga- cided by the practice of the States that united together to oppose insurgency nization in 1991 as an occasion to pay it is better to leave a few of its noxious and al Qaeda. tribute to journalists and to reflect branches to their luxuriant growth upon the role of the media in general in than by pruning them away to injure b 1700 advancing fundamental human rights the vigor of those yielding the proper This war is not lost. Congress should as codified in international law, re- fruits. And can the wisdom of this pol- find the common ground necessary to gional conventions and national con- icy be doubted by any who reflect that give our soldiers the resources they stitutions. to the press alone, checkered as it is need to get the job done, to stand up The Universal Declaration of Human with abuses, the world is indebted for this government, to ensure this new de- Rights, which is the foundation of the all the triumphs which have been mocracy in Iraq can defend itself, and postwar human rights movement, gained by reason and humanity over then lay the framework for us to come states the principle broadly in article error and oppression, who reflect to the home. 19. ‘‘Everyone has the right to freedom same beneficent source. The United Mr. Speaker, I thank you for this of opinion and expression. This right States owes much of the lights which time. It is my fondest hope that what includes freedom to hold opinions with- conducted them to the rank of a free the President called us to in his re- out interference and to seek, receive and independent nation and which have marks from the Cabinet room this and impart information and ideas improved their political system into a week will characterize much of the de- through any media and regardless of shape so auspicious to their happi- bate between now and Memorial Day, frontiers.’’ It may not be as eloquent as ness.’’ VerDate Nov 24 2008 10:01 Apr 27, 2010 Jkt 059102 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR07\H03MY7.002 H03MY7 WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with BOUND RECORD 11214 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 153, Pt. 8 May 3, 2007 Throughout much of our history, only five countries: China, Cuba, Eri- the gulags, the miserable performance Madison’s argument has guided our na- trea, Ethiopia, and Burma. of the Soviet economy and the endemic tional attitude toward the media. Jour- These countries which imprison jour- corruption of Soviet society were laid nalists have jealously guarded their nalists for straying beyond the bounds bare. There is little doubt that the So- rights, and American courts have, in of official censorship are not the most viet media’s revelations were a cata- the main, carved out broad protection dangerous for journalists, however. lyst in the disintegration of the Soviet for the press. In the United States, the Since 1992, more journalists have been Union.