[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 69 (Friday, May 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE PRESIDENT TO REQUEST FORMER 
               PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER TO ASSIST THE ORHA

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 9, 2003

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
Concurrent Resolution designed to meet the most important promise we 
made to the people of Iraq--a promise to help them become self-
governing.
  Rebuilding Iraq will be a daunting undertaking. The Office of 
Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance has been established in 
Baghdad, and its leader, retired General Jay Garner, is responsible for 
coordinating humanitarian assistance, restoring the nation's 
infrastructure, and establishing an interim government.
  The ORHA is made up of retired generals and diplomats, government 
technocrats, and oil executives. Efforts to establish and maintain 
civilian stability and coordinate humanitarian assistance will 
monopolize the ORHA for some time to come; tasks that would be daunting 
enough if they had inherited an intact bureaucracy and police force. 
But the ORHA's biggest stumbling block may turn out to be that none of 
its members have any experience in forging cooperation amongst 
radically differing political, religious, and ethnic factions to 
facilitate even the beginnings of a self-governing nation.
  Iraq is the test case for our peacekeeping, nation building and 
humanitarian policies and success will demonstrate, to ourselves, and 
the rest of the world, that we can both win wars and transform 
societies. The three post-war initiatives of providing humanitarian 
assistance, restoring infrastructure, and establishing an interim 
government, must commence and progress simultaneously.
  The Resolution I introduce today calls on the President to request 
former President Jimmy Carter and members of the Carter Center to 
assist the ORHA in establishing an interim government in Iraq. Former 
President Carter is uniquely qualified to forge a peaceful, cooperative 
structure among Iraq's political, religious, and ethnic factions. He 
has dedicated himself to resolving conflicts and enhancing freedom and 
democracy throughout the world.
  Regardless of our opinions on the invasion of Iraq, we must keep the 
promises we made to the Iraqi people. U.S. and allied soldiers, 
civilians, and diplomats remain committed to what is certainly the most 
critical phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I urge my colleagues to join 
me in supporting this Resolution to ensure they have all the experience 
and expertise available to help ensure their success.

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