[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 53 (Thursday, May 2, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H2021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING DEMOCRATIC WELCOME TO SPEAKER OF THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT

  (Mr. LANTOS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my good friend on the 
Republican side, Mr. Bereuter, to express to the distinguished Speaker 
of the Canadian Parliament Democratic support and appreciation of the 
generations-long friendship and solidarity the Canadian people have 
shown to us.
  There is no nation on the face of this planet which is a more 
dependable and a more solid and a more persistent ally and friend of 
the United States than is Canada. Through many wars we have stood 
together, and we have prevailed as we shall in this war on global 
terrorism.
  War inevitably entails losses. No losses are more tragic and more 
heart rending than the ones we call losses related to ``friendly 
fire.'' This means we kill our own by mistake, by error, through a 
tragedy. That is what happened, in Afghanestan, to four Canadian 
soldiers, and the American people are as one in expressing our 
heartfelt condolences to the families of these four heroes and to all 
of the Canadian people.
  We want to assure Speaker Milliken that Canada and the United States 
will stand together forever on behalf of defending freedom, democracy, 
human rights, the rule of law, the right of civilized societies to live 
in peace and security. We appreciate the friendship of our Canadian 
friends, and we want to assure them of our solidarity and respect.

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