[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 9, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H1135-H1136]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       AMERICA SHOULD PRACTICE ENGAGEMENT TO PROMOTE WORLD PEACE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I just want to add my 
congratulations to those of the distinguished gentleman from Maryland. 
I, too, was proud of those young men as very fine examples for the 
young people of America. Congratulations again for both of their 
success stories.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe this is an important time as we return back 
from the work recess that Members were just participating in. I believe 
it is an important time because we have many challenges before us 
besides the domestic economy. We have the issue of peace. I do believe 
that Americans want peace. I believe the world wants peace, and that 
peace we want to be found in the Mideast.
  I want to bring to the attention of my colleagues an editorial in the 
Houston Chronicle today, Tuesday, April 9. It reads: ``Weapons Check. 
Measure of trust and hope in IRA announcement.''
  The first two paragraphs read, ``While so much attention is focused 
on the near-war in the Mideast, one of the world's other long-running 
sectarian struggles got a bit of good news with the announcement on 
Monday of further weapon decommissioning by the Irish Republican Army.
  ``This week marks the fourth anniversary of the signing of the 
historic `Good Friday Agreement,' through which the British government 
offered to trade a number of significant governance concessions in 
exchange for similar moves from the Irish Republican resistance, 
including the `decommissioning,' or putting out of commission, of 
illegal explosives and other weapons.''
  While the op ed goes on to raise concerns on whether or not they are 
making sure that all the Ts are crossed and the Is are dotted, it did 
end with the emphasis that we must have trust and we must have hope.
  I cite this opinion because I want to discuss this evening the value 
of diplomacy and the value of negotiations. I believe the tragedy which 
faces us in the Mideast has come about for a number of reasons, and I 
am sure that policymakers proficient in foreign policy issues as it 
relates to the Mideast over a long period of years will have many, many 
analyses on the Mideast crisis. But I certainly would point to one that 
I believe and hope we can turn around, and that is the lack of 
engagement.
  On the floor of the House on February, 2001, I spoke to this issue. 
It was shortly after the unfortunate lack of agreement on the agreement 
that had been negotiated by the past administration, a very effective 
agreement that Prime Minister Barak and we would have hoped that 
President Arafat would have considered as one of the best opportunities 
for trust and hope.
  It was not consummated, but in the lack of consummating that peace 
treaty, I believe this administration made an egregious error. Upon 
coming into office, their quick response was, let them handle it; let 
them solve it.
  We see now some 12, 13 months later that, tragically, that did not 
work. We have seen the loss of lives of women and men and children, of 
Israelis and Palestinians. Any of us who care for human life and love 
people are tragically, tragically upset that we have lost so many lives 
over the period of time.
  Advocates for the survival and existence of Israel, our friend and 
ally, recognize that no loss of life, no matter who it is, should be 
accepted, the loss of life of those who lived in the Palestinian areas 
or in Israel.
  We recognize that we who are Americans have both benefit and burden. 
When I speak to my constituents, I explain to them the importance of 
foreign policy and the appropriation of the small percentage that we 
utilize to engage in diplomacy and friendship around the world. And 
most of them, people of good will, people who are willing to think 
outside of the box, understand that we who have the benefit of living 
in this country also have the burden of engagement; no, I did not say 
sending troops everywhere around the world, but diplomacy. Diplomacy 
works.
  Tragically, as I attended a Passover seder this past Passover holiday 
with my friends, a very blessed time, we were facing tragedies of 
suicide bombers in Israel. We cannot tolerate that, as we cannot 
tolerate the continued warring that is going on, and the loss of life.
  Today it is reported that 13 Israeli soldiers were killed, again by a 
suicide bomber. None of this brings about peace. I am reminded by the 
words of President Lyndon Baines Johnson 40 years ago who said that the 
guns and bombs, the rockets and warships, all are symbols of human 
failure. That means it is most important that this administration turns 
around and begins to look long-term at engagement.

[[Page H1136]]

  The sending of Secretary Powell is a good step, but it cannot be a 
short-lived step or a 24-hour step. We have to engage the brilliance of 
our diplomacy and make it work. I believe if we sit down at the table 
of reconciliation, recognizing that this has turned into a crisis, it 
has been a festering sore from lack of attention for over a year 
because somebody else had the policies.
  I want peace. I want to be one that promotes love and affection, and 
I am not someone, Mr. Speaker, as I close, I am not someone that 
misreads the tea leaves. I know what we are dealing with in the 
Mideast, but I have hope and I believe we can have trust. I believe 
through engagement and diplomacy we can bring a stability to that area.
  I ask the administration and the Congress, I ask Americans, to really 
get behind the idea of peace in the Mideast.

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