[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 54 (Thursday, April 3, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4817-S4818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, like so many of us in the Senate and the 
House, I try to get home as often as I can, not just because I miss the 
scenery, but because I would miss the opportunity to meet with my 
constituents as they share their perspective with me on the issues that 
concern them. I think of it as harvesting good old Wyoming common 
sense. After I get as much as I can, I bring it back with me to share 
with my colleagues.
  One of my constituents, Mr. Wallace Ulrich of Moose, WY gave me a 
copy of his presentation on Operation Iraqi Freedom that he shared with 
two groups of High School students at Jackson Hole High School in 
Jackson, WY.
  In his remarks, Wally addresses several issues about the conflict and 
his thoughts about them. To begin with, he correctly points out that no 
one is pro-war, but that responsible nations are occasionally called to 
step up and take action when a wrong cannot be solved or addressed 
through diplomatic measures.
  Saddam Hussein created just such a situation when he failed to abide 
by the agreements signed by his government at the end of Operation 
Desert Storm and refused to fully comply with the terms of several 
United Nations resolutions. It was only when a long diplomatic effort 
failed to produce the necessary results that the United States had to 
ensure that Iraq was disarmed and no longer a threat to the peace 
loving world.
  I hope all my colleagues will take a moment to read what Wally had to 
say to our young people in Jackson, WY. He has an interesting point of 
view and he presents his position well. I ask unanimous consent that 
his statement be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                    Statement by Mr. Wallace Ulrich

       Good Day.
       And thank you for that kindness. Some of you know that I am 
     also a ski patroller on Snow King--for the last thirty 
     years--and you've even been kind to me up there!

[[Page S4818]]

       First, I want to say that I am here not as a spokesman for 
     any party or entity or organization or group. While I have 
     held elected positions I am here, just like you, a citizen 
     (only a lot older and a little grey in the hair).
       I want you to know too, that I am neither a fan of nor a 
     practitioner of personal degradation when discussing issues. 
     I find it a sad trend in our politics. So you won't hear it 
     here from me.
       I admire the way Casey Baux persisted; his gracious and 
     helpful demeanor should benefit us all today. The way Casey 
     helped this event become reality is really, how ``political 
     things'' get accomplished. Your teachers are also to be 
     commended and the administration.
       It is a misnomer to be labeled pro war. Frankly, I don't 
     understand how anyone would take that position--but there 
     comes a time when despots who have the blood of hundreds of 
     thousands of people on their hands have to be stopped.
       In the early decades of the 20th century, the Turks 
     annihilated the Armenians. They asked the world for help, but 
     got virtually nothing. When Hilter was determined to wipe out 
     the Jews, he referred back to the fact that no one remembered 
     the Armenian genocide.
       Saddam Hussein wiped out the Sumerians. The culture no 
     longer exists.
       When he lost the 1991 war he agreed as a condition of his 
     surrender to disarm Iraq. He would not. And that is what 
     generated this war.
       A million Iranians are dead because of Saddam, 8000 Kurds 
     we know, his own people were gassed to death and his tortures 
     and barbarity continue unabated by international disgust.
       It is always easier to do nothing. You know that. But while 
     we stand by, hundreds of thousands of people are being 
     tortured and killed.
       Our country moving off the path of diplomacy that it has 
     traveled so long, personally touches me. My brother in law 
     and family live there, in the ``Scud Box'' zones of Saddam. 
     We speak almost daily about what they will do. But they're 
     some of the lucky ones. They can leave when it gets too 
     close.
       I hold simple yet solid beliefs that one can make a 
     difference. I have learned through experience, my own in high 
     school, and with students over the years since, that given 
     opportunity and information you make good decisions.
       I came today because my family has been deeply wounded by 
     war. I lost two uncles in WWII. My Uncle Wallace was one of 
     the first Wyoming casualties when the USS Houston was sunk. 
     The Japanese took prisoner the other when he was a year older 
     than some of you. Orral survived the cruel Battan Death 
     March. He was brutally tortured, bayoneted, and his gold 
     tooth removed, left alone and died on the compound dirt.
       My family can never forget the horror of war, because it 
     touched us personally.
       Yet, in 1960, President Eisenhower chose one of our large 
     fossil fish to be the National Gift of the American People of 
     the Japanese Emperor Hirohito. When our family sat at the 
     kitchen table to discuss whether we should accept the offer 
     given the damage to our family, My Father showed us what 
     courage and forgiveness was about in an eloquent explanation 
     of War and the difficulty of creating peace over time, one 
     family at a time.
       The kitchen table was my great spring board, because there 
     we were all allowed our own thoughts, ideas, solutions we 
     were accepted, though often confronted by solid debate and 
     fact. I hope you have a kitchen table, a family that talks 
     and listens for that is the beginning which you carry to 
     friends and school and business and life.
       You can be empowered to change public policy or to maintain 
     our policy. The system is simple and works.
       Assure we practice mutual respect in our politics because 
     we are largely citizens in all phases, from citizen 
     legislator to citizen soldier.
       I urge you to view and digest the remarkable objective 
     coverage of the Free American Press. And seek out the press 
     worldwide. One is always more enlightened by seeking 
     differing views and information.
       Be skeptical, but avoid the despair of cynicism. They are 
     very different things.
       Question. Ask questions. And listen.
       Seek out all sides and all sources before you find your 
     view, and know it may have a spectrum as wide as Wyoming and 
     change as often as Wyoming's weather.
       Travel. Travel the country, but more importantly travel the 
     world. You will be enlightened as to how well off we are.
       Trust.
       Trust that you will find your own truth about these 
     difficult times.
       Trust that you will be alright.
       Trust that just like those around you now as family, 
     teachers, police, forest rangers, on and on up the system 
     that Americans in leadership positions are decent, honest, 
     and caring--for you, our country, and others.
       Know this too, from NY Democrat Charlie Rangel, of the U.S. 
     Congress; when asked about his criticism of the President and 
     policy days before the war he said: ``That's what I am 
     elected to do! But let me tell you, when that flag goes up, I 
     salute, I'm there.''
       When at war observe that partisan politicians cease their 
     partisanship, that parents and brothers and sisters of 
     soldiers, and aviators, and sailors find solitude and prayer 
     to comfort their fear and the choking that comes in the night 
     from knowing that one's child is defending, by fighting with 
     their life, one nation, one people, made up of all the 
     peoples of Earth.
       And I close my comment with a quote from my favorite non-
     warrior Mahatma Gandhi. Said in 1931, ``Peace and disarmament 
     are not matter of reciprocity. When real peace and 
     disarmament come, they will be initiated by a strong nation 
     like America irrespective of the consent and cooperation of 
     other nations.''
       Thank you.

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