[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 2, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E650-E651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SUPPORTING OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE ARMED SERVICES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN M. McHUGH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 2, 2003

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, as every Member of this body knows, we face 
a very unsettling time today. With war declared against Iraq, I fully 
recognize, respect, and share the concerns many people have about the 
crisis at hand throughout the Middle East and Central Asia. I view any 
conflict as a decision of the greatest consequence and an act that 
should be pursued only when all other possibilities have been fully 
exhausted.
  During my more than ten years as a Member of the House Armed Services 
Committee, I have had the opportunity to visit our brave military men 
and women in hostile environments from Haiti, to Bosnia, to Kuwait, to 
Afghanistan, and beyond. I have seen the devastation that armed 
conflict can impart and witnessed the pain of our wounded troops who 
gave so bravely and unselfishly of themselves in the service to our 
nation. I assure you these experiences profoundly affect how I view any 
decision to commit ourselves to battle, thus placing our troops in 
harm's way.
  With respect to military action against Iraq, I would hope we all 
agree that Saddam Hussein is evil personified and poses a serious 
threat to peace, both in the Middle East and throughout the world. As 
the United Nations inspectors verified prior to their forced expulsion 
in 1998, Iraq under Saddam Hussein has pursued a frightening program of 
chemical and biological weapons development coupled with an undeniable 
record of repeated aggression against its neighbors and the documented 
use of outlawed chemical weapons even on its own people. Saddam Hussein 
is one of the greatest threats to peace that the world has ever known.
  For the past 12 years, and through a total of 17 United Nations 
resolutions, Saddam Hussein has repeatedly defied international law and 
relentlessly pursued a program of developing and stockpiling weapons of 
mass destruction. Had we allowed Saddam Hussein to continue unchecked, 
there is every reason to believe his next act of aggression would have 
been of a nature and scope of unparalleled destruction.
  When the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted 
Resolution 1441 on November 8 of last year, Saddam Hussein was given 
``one last chance'' to comply with international law and fully disarm 
and destroy his weapons of mass destruction. Yet, Iraq failed to meet 
the requirements in substance of cooperative disarmament. In short, 
Saddam Hussein responded to the demands of the world community with 
defiance and deceit.
  With Saddam Hussein's shameful record as background, and the 
continued failure of Iraq to fully comply with the repeatedly affirmed 
requirements of disarming, on March 18th--consistent with the 
Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 
2002--President Bush informed Congress that further diplomatic and 
other peaceful means alone would not adequately protect our national 
security against the continuing threat posed by Iraq nor likely lead to 
the enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council 
Resolutions.
  The President informed the nation on the evening of March 19th that 
American and coalition forces had begun the early stages of military 
operations to disarm Iraq, free its people, and to defend the world 
from grave danger. Now that military action has commenced, I pray for 
our military personnel, for the liberation of the Iraqi people from 
Saddam Hussein's tyranny, and for a world free from the threat of 
Iraq's weapons of mass murder. It is my sincere hope and desire that 
each and every American will stand behind our military personnel and 
their families during this difficult time. I think we can all agree 
that they deserve the respect and gratitude of the American people.

[[Page E651]]

  An editorial recently published in my upstate New York congressional 
district directs readers to organizations involved in relief efforts. 
While the thrust of the editorial is an analysis of the efficacy of 
anti-war demonstrations, let me be clear that it is not my wish to 
suppress anyone's right to express him or herself. Instead, I want to 
share this editorial with my colleagues because I embrace the overall 
conclusion--that demonstrating support for our troops and contributing 
to relief efforts is something that each and every one of us can and 
should do, regardless of our feelings about the military operation.

              [From the Eagle Newspapers, March 26, 2003]

                    Time For Protest Has Long Passed

       Even as our forces fight in Iraq, protesters in Upstate New 
     York and elsewhere continue the futile banner waving that 
     started months ago, when Saddam Hussein made it clear he 
     would ignore United Nations mandates and President Bush 
     quickened the march toward war.
       We make no suggestion that protestors shouldn't have a 
     right to speak their minds, but protestors should realize 
     that no sign, no chant, no assembled multitude will cease 
     military action in Iraq. If the goal is to ensure the well-
     being of the Iraqi people, it's time to turn futile displays 
     into real action. Several reputable organizations have been 
     set up to aid in Iraqi relief efforts following the military 
     strikes. The U.N. runs a Humanitarian Information Center for 
     Iraq, which will help coordinate humanitarian efforts in that 
     nation. Church World Service and World Vision are two 
     Christian-based humanitarian organizations dedicating time 
     and money to relief efforts.
       Support for our fighting forces is most important now. Our 
     troops are following orders. Whether we approve or decry the 
     actions of the Bush Administration, whether we believe one 
     motivation over another, whether we think other countries' 
     approval is important, we must honor the commitment of our 
     troops. It's time to lay down the signs, the banners and the 
     unproductive rhetoric and take action that can make a 
     difference. For more information on relief organizations, 
     visit www.agoodplacetostart.org,
     www.churchworldservice.org or
     www.worldvision.org.
 The Department of Defense website is another resource 
     offering suggestions about how we can support our troops. It 
     says:
       Thousands of Americans are asking what they can do to show 
     their support for servicernembers, especially those serving 
     overseas in this time of war. Below are Web sites for several 
     organizations that are sponsoring programs for members of the 
     Armed Forces overseas. While it would be inappropriate for 
     the Department to endorse any specifically, servicemembers do 
     value and appreciate such expressions of support:
       ``Gifts from the Homefront'' Certificates now allow you to 
     send a gift certificate to a loved one, family member or dear 
     friend associated with the military. These certificates are 
     redeemable by Authorized Patrons of the PX/BX and are 
     redeemable at all locations around the world including 
     deployed areas. If you're looking for the perfect gift to 
     give that special individual anytime and anywhere, then 
     ``Gifts from the Homefront'' Certificates are the perfect 
     choice, go to (http://www.aafes.com/docs/homefront.htm).
       Donate to ``Operation USO Care Package'' at (http://
www.usocares.org/home.htm).
       The Gift of Groceries program at (http://
www.commissaries.com/certificheek/index.htm) helps meet the 
     family needs of our Guard and Reserve troops fighting the war 
     on terrorism.
       Donate a calling card to help keep servicemembers in touch 
     with their families at Operation Uplink at (http://
www.operationuplink.org).
       Send a greeting via e-mail through Operation Dear Abby at 
     (http://anyservicemember.navy.mil) or 
     (www.OperationDearAbby.net).
       Sign a virtual thank you card at the Defend America Web 
     site at (http://www.defendamerica.mil/nmarn.html).
       The ``Stars and Stripes'' newspaper includes a daily 
     ``Messages of Support'' section giving family and friends of 
     deployed service members a chance to pass along greetings, 
     announcements, and words of encouragement. Such messages 
     (LIMITED TO 50 WORDS OR LESS) will be printed on a first-
     come, first-run basis. Messages may be sent to: 
     ([email protected]).
       Make a donation to one of the military relief societies:
       Army Emergency Relief at (http://www.aerhq.org) Navy/Marine 
     Relief Society at (http://www.nmc.org) Air Force Aid Society 
     at (http://www.afas.org) Coast Guard Mutual Assistance at 
     (http://www.cgmahq.org).
       Support the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency 
     Services at (http://www.redcross.org/services/afes).
       Purchase a Patriot Bond at (http://www.ustreas.gov).
       Volunteer at a VA Hospital to honor veterans who bore the 
     lamp of freedom in past conflicts.
       Reach out to military families in your community, 
     especially those with a loved one overseas.
       Please do not flood the military mail system with letters, 
     cards, and gifts. Due to security concerns and transportation 
     constraints, the Department cannot accept items to be mailed 
     to ``Any Servicemember.'' Some people have tried to avoid 
     this prohibition by sending large numbers of packages to an 
     individual servicemember's address, which however well 
     intentioned, clogs the mail and causes unnecessary delays.
       The support and generosity of the American people has 
     touched the lives of many servicemembers, over 300,000 of 
     whom are deployed overseas.

  Mr. Speaker, I trust my colleagues and my fellow Americans will find 
this information helpful. Showing our support for the men and women in 
uniform is the least we can do. After all, they are, at this very 
moment, putting their lives on the line to defend our freedom.

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