[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 88 (Thursday, June 27, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1156-E1157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TURKEY NATO AND AFGHAN PEACEKEEPING

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 26, 2002

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, last week, the command of the 
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan was 
handed over to Turkish military forces after a successful six months, 
under the command of British forces.
  As the Chairman of the Europe Subcommittee, I want to first 
congratulate and commend the British forces for the excellent work they 
did to establish an atmosphere of calm and security at the critical 
time in which the people of Afghanistan were consolidating their 
political and economic future. The Brits are owed a great deal of 
thanks.
  The arrival of the Turkish command marks a new period for the ISAF 
operation, for the new government of Afghanistan and for Turkey itself. 
The leadership of Turkey, a predominately Muslim state sends a clear 
message that the international campaign against

[[Page E1157]]

terrorism does not have anything to do with Islam as a religion and 
reinforces the effort we have been trying to make that the United 
States has Muslim allies in this effort. For Turkey, taking command of 
ISAF is an acknowledgment of Turkey's important position in that region 
and the role it can play in the Muslim world. It is also a signal of 
the important prestige Turkey has accumulated both here in the United 
States and in the West. The government in Ankara should be commended 
for its willingness to take on this critically important role. We 
congratulate Turkey and wish their military contingent the best of 
success.
  Finally, I would be remiss if I did not point out for commendation 
all of the other nations whose military forces are currently serving in 
Afghanistan. ISAF does have some 5,000 troops serving in Afghanistan 
and they all deserve our thanks and continued support. I think it is 
also important to note that the majority of the nineteen countries who 
have contributed forces to ISAF are not only European, but are from our 
NATO partners or NATO candidate countries. I believe this is an 
important point that is often overlooked by those who have criticized 
Alliances such as NATO for not being willing or capable of conducting 
missions abroad. The Afghanistan campaign was not a NATO mission but 
the fact that so many of our NATO partners have sent troops there is a 
testament to the importance of the Alliance and why we in this country 
should continue to strongly support NATO. Consider where we would be 
today if NATO was no longer relevant to our security needs. Whose 5,000 
troops would be patrolling the streets of Kabul and ensuring the 
peaceful transition of that country.
  So, again we salute the British forces for a job well done. We 
congratulate and welcome the Turkish leadership of ISAF and we thank 
our NATO allies and European friends for their continued support in 
Afghanistan and in the campaign against global terror.

                          ____________________