[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E640]]
                            LIBERATING IRAQ

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 1, 2003

  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as I speak, our brave 
men and women in uniform are risking their lives in order to remove 
decades of oppression from the backs of the Iraqi people. Our coalition 
partners--49 nations in total--join America in our fight to liberate 
the people of Iraq.
  As this battle continues, we are reminded of the importance of a 
coalition of countries that are dedicated to the liberation of an 
oppressed population. This coalition not only represents the impressive 
effort of multiple military forces, but also highlights a global 
commitment to removing the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein and his 
weapons of mass destruction.
  The nations involved in this coalition are led by men and women that 
are dedicated to peace and freedom and understand the threats posed by 
Saddam Hussein and his weapons of terror. At the same time, they 
support the principals articulated in UN Resolution 1441, which called 
for disarming Saddam and removing his weapons of mass destruction.
  While I come to the floor to praise the members of this coalition for 
their commitment to the Iraqi people and the security of the world 
community, I must also express my concerns about the actions of some 
nations that have created challenges, obstacles and roadblocks in the 
path towards Iraq's liberation.
  Nations like France--who America liberated twice--are now questioning 
the actions of the coalition while we fight to liberate another 
population from oppression and dictatorship. Like the French, the Iraqi 
people deserve to be free. They deserve to walk the streets of Baghdad 
without fear. They deserve to voice opposition to their government 
without consequence. These freedoms that the people of France enjoy 
each day are soon to be a reality to the Iraqi people because of 
coalition actions.
  Fifty nine years ago, 58,000 men lost their lives while liberating 
the French from the tyranny of Adolf Hitler. On the 40th Anniversary of 
that liberation, Ronald Reagan went to Normandy and proclaimed, ``there 
is a profound moral difference between the use of force for liberation 
and the use of force for conquest.''
  While the battles in Iraq are taking place thousands of miles from 
the battlegrounds of Normandy, the soldiers share a similar desire to 
liberate a people from an evil regime. They share a similar commitment 
to fighting for a cause that will end years of brutal oppression and 
will lead to the freedom of an entire population. While the 
battleground has changed, the outcomes have not.
  Those that have criticized the coalition that currently fights in 
Iraq remind me of the criticism received by Winston Churchill and the 
Allied Forces before taking military action against Adolf Hitler. 
People labeled them as war mongers and protested their policy to deal 
with Hitler militarily. Today, as history remembers, we thank those 
brave leaders and troops for taking that action so that nations like 
France can stand in freedom without the rule of a harsh regime.
  As American troops work to liberate the nation of Iraq, we stand side 
by side with nations that stood with us over half a century ago in 
France. On the wall in my office stands a picture my brother took of a 
field of grave stones--American soldiers that died during the 
liberation of Europe. It serves as a reminder of the sacrifices this 
nation is willing to make for our freedom and the freedom of others. 
While others may, let us never forget the principles we as a nation, a 
coalition and a free people share. These principles will lead to 
liberation and these principles will prevail.

                          ____________________