[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 144 (Thursday, October 25, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H7326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           THE WAR ON TERRORISM AND THE FUTURE OF AFGHANISTAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, the war on terrorism continues; at home 
we deal with a chemical and biological attack, something that is 
unprecedented in our history; and overseas, our military forces are 
striking their targets in Afghanistan and they are involved in special 
operations in that country. This is a war on terrorism. This is a war 
in the truest sense of the word.
  But what is important for us at home now to fully understand is that 
before we can win the war, we must be able to define what victory 
means. That definition is as important now as is our efforts to win the 
war physically and militarily.
  Security at home is certainly an important goal that will mean 
victory or defeat. If we are not secure at home at the end of this 
conflict, there will have been no victory. Certainly we understand 
that: security and freedom for the United States of America.
  Number two, the war on terrorism as outlined by the President sets 
some very majestic and very admirable goals, goals that we should not 
forget. And as we pursue victory in this war, let us remember that, 
from this podium, the President has set these goals that we should 
achieve before we can claim victory has been achieved.
  One of those goals is setting a new definition for terrorism. Perhaps 
under George W. Bush, we will be at long last able to establish a 
definition of terrorism and unite the world behind the concept that it 
is no longer acceptable to target noncombatants in any type of 
conflict.
  So whether they are Palestinians blowing up noncombatants in front of 
a Pizza Hut, or whether it is Israeli troops involved with some sort of 
retaliation against unarmed civilians for an attack that they have 
suffered, or whether it is a bomb going off anywhere that kills unarmed 
people, or people who shoot unarmed people and kill them to achieve any 
end, that will no longer be acceptable in the civilized world. This is 
a laudable goal and a long-term goal.
  But before we can have peace, before we can have victory in this war 
on terrorism, there is at least one interim goal we must achieve; that 
is, peace in Afghanistan.
  Afghanistan for these last 20 years and the people of Afghanistan 
have lived under terror and repression and bloodshed in which so many 
of their noncombatants have been targeted. We must bring peace to the 
people of Afghanistan.
  Unfortunately, that country has been the target of so many of the 
other countries around it who wanted to dominate Afghanistan. This 
itself has led to the conflicts in Afghanistan, and the horrible price 
that we eventually had to pay for ignoring that ongoing tragedy in 
Afghanistan.
  Today I would submit that the King of Afghanistan, who has been 
exiled since the 1970s from that country, offers us the best hope, the 
only hope, of ending that ongoing tragedy.

                              {time}  1315

  There are many forces trying to offer other solutions. But if you 
look right below, as far as the other solutions, they are nothing more 
than the countries around Afghanistan trying to dominate through a 
strong individual or a puppet the people of Afghanistan.
  The King of Afghanistan is the most beloved person in his country. 
The people love him. For years and years they have seen his rule, which 
lasted for 4 decades, as a time of peace and prosperity. They know that 
he will watch out for their benefit and is not someone who will be 
dominated by the Pakistanis or the Uzbekis or the Tajiks or any other 
group, but instead will look out for the people of Afghanistan.
  He has pledged to head a transition government that will only be in 
place for a few years while a democratic process is instituted so the 
people of Afghanistan can determine their own destiny and that must be 
our goal: peace in Afghanistan, and the people of that country being 
permitted to control their own destiny through the electorial process. 
This is what will bring peace to the world. And I would ask our State 
Department to side with this strategy rather than being manipulated by 
other governments, like Pakistan, who are trying to still, in some way, 
dominate that country of Afghanistan.

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