[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 119 (Thursday, September 19, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H6413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     LONELY IN THE QUEST FOR 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, sometimes the well of the 
House is lonely in both appearance and the substance of which one comes 
to speak. Today I speak about a matter that has troubled me from the 
time that the first pronunciations came from the White House as we 
moved toward the summer recess and then went home to our respective 
districts to be with our constituents and to listen to their viewpoints 
and to do their bidding; from that moment in June, I stood on the floor 
of the House and asked for concern and reconciliation on issues dealing 
with Iraq. In February of 2001 I stood on the floor to ask that we not 
abandon the crisis in the Mideast and, to my dismay, for 9 months, 
there was no attention to the proliferation of suicide bombings and 
killings, and even in the last 24 hours tragedy occurred in the State 
of Israel, our friend, with the suicide bombing. The war of terrorism 
still wages in Afghanistan, and President Karzai is depending upon the 
United States remaining strong and fighting against terrorism, building 
the Nation, helping the men and women and children that want democracy 
in Afghanistan. Based on the resolution that I supported after the 
terrorist acts, the horrific acts, and my own personal visit to 
Afghanistan visiting with the people, walking the streets, seeing the 
landmines and the devastation, I remain committed to fighting 
terrorism.
  But it costs $1 billion a month, and we realize that the horrific 
act, as we have just seen, that occurred on September 11 occurred 
because we needed to do some things better, intelligence-sharing and 
information, and I hope that the families will get the truth.
  But now we come with a pronouncement that we are prepared to make a 
unilateral attack on Iraq. As I read the resolution that the President 
has now offered to us, there are some things that I agree with, that 
Iraq persists in violating resolutions of the United Nations Security 
Council by continuing to engage in brutal repression of the civilian 
population. I agree. Whereas members of al Qaeda as organizations being 
housed, or the responsibility for attacks in the United States may be 
known to Iraq, I agree. But they may be known as well to Saudi Arabia 
and Pakistan.
  We must realize that in this determination, we are better, as 
Americans, if we work through this process through reconciliations and 
the United Nations Security Council. What are we to do when nations 
around the world disturb us? Is it our responsibility to, on behalf of 
the American people, send our young men and women into harm on a 
unilateral basis? Are we to continue operating on a deficit where there 
is no money to wage war without substance?
  I ask the President, as this resolution is sent forward, let us sit 
down at the table and really enunciate a policy that brings no shame to 
this Nation. For there are no wimps in this Nation; not a one of us 
would shy away from a fight to defend this land. I may not be in a 
position to go, but you could ask any one of us who would accept to go, 
but those young men and women are already on the frontline. I have seen 
them. I have seen the body bags in Afghanistan. Those of us who know 
history know how we left the marine troops in Lebanon where 200-plus 
died. Those of us who know history know about Vietnam and the body 
bags, 56,000 that came home.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no intent to argue against an administration that 
wants to do what is right for America; I want to follow the 
Constitution that says this body must declare war.
  This resolution in its language allows the President the opportunity 
to do unilateral attack on Iraq with no support from our multinational 
allies and to do a preemptive attack. I will go home this weekend to 
hold a citizens forum to listen to the constituents of the 18th 
congressional district. Whoever is hearing my voice, I ask you to join 
around kitchen tables, PTA meetings, churches and synagogues and 
mosques. Begin the discussion. Do not be acted upon. This is America.
  Mr. Speaker, though this is a lonely place, I would much rather stand 
here today on September 19, 2002 and raise my voice, for I will never 
forget Secretary MacNamara's words post the Vietnam War: he wished he 
had said something. He wished he had stood up. He wished he was counted 
against a war that may not have been what we all thought it could have 
been; not against those heroes who died, Mr. Speaker, we will always 
respect the Vietnam vets, but I will come to this well lonely so that 
we can hear the truth and that peace will survive.

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