[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 28 (Wednesday, March 13, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H836]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CALLING FOR THE IMMEDIATE RETURN OF LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JOHN SPEICHER

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, we learned this week that there are credible 
reports that Saddam Hussein has been holding an American Navy pilot for 
the last 10 years. Lieutenant Commander Scott Speicher was shot down 
over Iraq during the Gulf War, and he has never been accounted for. 
Now, intelligence sources are saying Saddam Hussein captured him and 
has been holding him prisoner ever since.
  Mr. Speaker, we know that Saddam Hussein does not follow the rules of 
peace or war. The world knows that he is a tyrant who murders his own 
people, and we know that he has repeatedly invaded his neighbors. Now 
it seems he may be secretly imprisoning an American officer.
  To be clear, we do not know yet if this is true, but if it is, Saddam 
Hussein needs to return our pilot to us immediately. If he does not, 
the Government of Iraq will have to pay the consequences, and I do not 
need to point out that those consequences will be severe.

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