[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 34 (Tuesday, March 4, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S3077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S3077]]
             PAKISTAN'S COOPERATION IN THE WAR ON TERRORISM

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Madam President, I draw the attention of my colleagues 
to an event that happened yesterday which was very impressive--catching 
a key terrorist in Pakistan. It was the front page top story in 
virtually all of our newspapers around the country, probably around the 
world, with his picture. This is a person we have sought for some 
period of time. This was a big catch.
  I do not want to focus on the individual. What I want to focus on is 
the cooperation we received from Pakistan and from the Pakistani 
authorities in making this possible. This capture could lead us to many 
more terrorists in the al-Qaida network who plague us, and it is very 
important for us.
  I particularly want to thank the Pakistani authorities, the Pakistani 
Government, President Musharraf, and others who helped in this 
cooperation to get this done.
  President Musharraf and his government, in facing a population in 
Pakistan that is frequently not pro United States, has worked very 
closely and very carefully with us in dealing with terrorists and now 
has yielded one of the largest, if not the largest, terrorist captures 
we have had in recent times, if not in recent memory altogether. That 
is something we should take note of, and we should be appreciative of 
those who have cooperated with us. Not all governments around the world 
cooperate with the United States. Not all are in as difficult a 
situation as Pakistan is where a substantial portion of the population 
does not want their government to be working with the United States, 
and yet we had the two come together taking on the issue of terrorism, 
even though it is difficult in their own country to do it, and we 
netted a major terrorist capture. We still want and we are still 
looking for, if he is alive, which he apparently probably is, Osama bin 
Laden, but second to him, this is probably the largest capture we could 
ask to have taken place.
  I appreciate the indulgence of my colleagues. I do say thank you to 
the Government of Pakistan for its help in this capture of a major 
operative in the war on terrorism.
  Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. FRIST. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________