[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 40 (Thursday, March 21, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E412-E413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                SUPPORTING THE KARENNI FREEDOM FIGHTERS

                                 ______


                         HON. DANA ROHRABACHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 20, 1996

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, Karenni freedom fighters are in battle 
today against the hired thugs of the Burma Army. Heavily outnumbered 
and outgunned, the Karenni are fighting to defend their homes along the 
Thai-Burma border from the inhuman onslaught of the SLORC regime. The 
SLORC regime is using air attacks and heavy artillery against the 
Karenni, a peace-loving Christian nation, who defend themselves with a 
few rifles.
  Last year, thousands of SLORC troops attacked the Karen in 
neighboring territory. Then, the SLORC used brutal methods to 
systematically terrorize thousands of innocent hilltribe families. That 
tragic scene is now being replayed in the Karenni State.
  Over 6,000 SLORC troops are relentlessly attacking less than 1,000 
Karenni farmers, fisherman, and schoolteachers. These men and women are 
desperately fighting an honorable battle to defend their families, 
heritage, and identity. Although they may think that they are in the 
jungle alone, our spirit is with them. The heroes in the wilderness 
should know that we condemn the SLORC regime for its brutal aggression, 
and that we support their noble struggle for freedom and democracy.
  In the past, the SLORC regime has justified aggression against the 
Karenni as a necessary first step before it could control the 
activities of Khun Sa, the infamous drug thug. Now, the SLORC regime 
has allowed Khun Sa to retire in luxury, while the aggression 
continues. It shouldn't surprise anyone that the SLORC regime was 
lying. Their entire system is based on lies.
  I intend to visit the Karenni during the upcoming Easter break. Until 
then, I wish them success against their evil oppressors. Freedom loving 
people in the United States are on their side, and we will remember 
them in our prayers. Because they are striving for democracy and 
justice, they should know, that their victory is our victory.

[[Page E413]]



               HONORING BRIG. GEN. LEONARD F. KWIATKOWSKI

                                 ______


                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 20, 1996

  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend Air Force Brig. Gen. 
Leonard F. Kwiatkowski, who is retiring after 29 years of distinguished 
service to his country. General Kwiatkowski is the program director for 
the Military Satellite Communications [MILSATCOM] Joint Program Office, 
Space and Missile Systems Center, at Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA.
  General Kwiatkowski began his service to the Nation at a time when 
the space program was beginning to mature. He managed technology 
development programs that fielded some of the weapons systems we saw 
perform so well in the gulf war. In his first Air Force assignment, he 
was involved in the Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program, at the Los 
Angeles Air Force Base, which is in my district. This began his highly 
successful and distinguished career, which has been primarily devoted 
to the development, acquisition, and fielding of our country's most 
advanced weapon systems. He has been directly associated with the 
development of the F-15 air superiority fighter and the delivery of the 
first F-100 engines for the F-15 and F-16 fighter aircraft. He has also 
been responsible for the development and fielding of our country's most 
technologically advanced command, control, communications computer, and 
intelligence systems supporting all of our Nation's services. 
Additionally, he served with distinction with our NATO allies while 
assigned to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe [SHAPE], 
Belgium. In these assignments he directly contributed to our deterrent 
posture during the cold war era and also was responsible for delivering 
key C4I systems to our forces during the gulf war. The systems General 
Kwiatkowski developed, enabled us to rapidly communicate reconnaissance 
information, vastly improving the combat effectiveness of our 
warfighters.
  In this, his last, Air Force assignment General Kwiatkowski returned 
to Los Angeles AFB and the Space and Missile Systems Center to direct 
our Military Satellite Communications Systems. He managed the 
congressionally directed restructure of the MILSTAR communications 
system and has guided the program from its restructure through the 
Defense Department's acquisition decision process, through the launch 
of the first two satellites and the design and manufacturing of the 
restructured block II satellite.
  General Kwiatkowski has been a leader in acquisition reform issues, 
as well. His efforts have been praised by TRW, the first level 
subcontractor building the MILSTAR communications satellites for the 
DOD. The first two satellites are in orbit now. They were launched on 
time, on budget, and are 100 percent effective. His efforts to reduce 
the number of military-unique specifications and requirements have 
encouraged TRW to find lower cost, less complex manufacturing 
requirements, and saved the taxpayers significant amounts of scarce 
Defense resources.
  High-level TRW officials said they will miss General Kwiatkowski's 
innovations and close working relationship, but they will miss his 
leadership skills most of all. He was one of the first Defense 
Department acquisition personnel to use integrated contractor/
government development teams to assess areas of potential risk and word 
to reduce the risk as the system was designed. Knowing where to devote 
such risk reduction efforts is already paying dividends as the next-
generation advanced military communications satellites are being 
designed.
  The general has also served as mission director of the first MILSTAR 
launch and the Defense Satellite Communications System [DSCS] III 
launches. In the latter case, under his leadership, the Defense 
Department completed the full operational capability milestone of the 
DSCS III constellation. He has also been a vigorous, enthusiastic, 
catalyst in reforming and streaming the acquisition process. Under his 
extraordinary leadership, the MILSTAR Program has underrun its budget 
projections by $1.5 billion and is meeting all of the warfighters' 
requirements of our country's most complex, secure communications 
satellite system.
  General Kwiatkowski has served his country in a truly outstanding 
manner. Combat aviators, sailors, and soldiers will be more informed, 
capable, and most important, more likely to survive any future 
conflicts because of him. That's legacy we can all admire. We all wish 
General Kwiatkowski, his wife, Carol, and his children, Karen, Michael, 
and David, the best as this career closes and a new one begins.

                          ____________________