[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 83 (Thursday, June 20, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5835-S5836]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               INTERNATIONAL PEACE TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I love to read. I love to especially read 
history. One of the fine experiences I have had was reading a book by 
James Michener entitled ``Caravans.'' It was about the history of 
Afghanistan. I read this book many years ago. Michener had already 
written ``Hawaii'' and some other books that were very famous, but this 
was a bestseller, and rightfully so.
  I really developed a strong, positive feeling about the people of 
Afghanistan after having read that book.
  As a result of what has happened to our country being so heavily 
involved in Afghanistan in the last 15 years, 20 years, I have 
reflected many times, since I read that book and since we have been so 
heavily involved in Afghanistan, about the people of Afghanistan and 
what has happened to them. Of course, I have given speeches on the 
Senate floor about how the reign of terror of the Taliban was a reign 
of terror to everyone in Afghanistan, but especially women. And during 
that period of time, women suffered irreparably in many instances.
  The reason I mention this today is that during and since the Loya 
Jirga that has been held in Afghanistan, delegates who have spoken out 
for human rights, including the Minister of Women's Affairs, have been 
threatened and in many instances intimidated.
  These threats going on in Afghanistan today, along with continued 
reports of violence and intimidation in the provinces, point to the 
imperative need for U.S. support for the immediate expansion of peace 
troops in Afghanistan. We need peacekeepers. I am disappointed that the 
administration is saying: Fine, we will make sure we have a presence in 
Kabul, but the rest of Afghanistan can try to fend for itself.
  As I have indicated, in the provinces outside of Kabul, there are bad 
things happening to a lot of Afghan people but especially the women. 
Despite pleas from the United Nations, the Afghan interim government, 
and the women's rights community and people from throughout the world, 
governments throughout the world, the Bush administration has refused 
to expand the international security assistance force

[[Page S5836]]

beyond Kabul. The restoration of democracy and of rights for women in 
Afghanistan depends on maintaining security, reestablishing democracy, 
and creating a functional central government that can provide services 
and oversee reconstruction to that country that needs reconstruction.
  Without an expansion of the International Security Assistance Force 
and without adequate resources for reconstruction, Afghanistan will 
again descend into chaos--not ``could'' or ``might,'' but ``will.'' The 
United States cannot again abandon the Afghan people, especially Afghan 
women who have suffered so much. We cannot allow terrorism, al-Qaida, 
the Taliban, and human rights violators to thrive again in Afghanistan.
  As I reflect back as I stated when I started my remarks today to 
reading this book of these people who are so strong and had such a 
great tradition and see what has happened to them, it is sad.
  I urge President Bush, Secretary Rumsfeld, and Secretary Powell to 
provide full U.S. support for the expansion of an international peace 
force in Afghanistan. To do less is to indicate that we do not care 
about Afghanistan and to underscore that we do not care what is 
happening to the women of Afghanistan as we speak.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Corzine). The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEVIN. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call 
be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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