[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 3, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H4847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                COMMENDING THOSE FIGHTING WAR ON TERROR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Beauprez) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to 
support House Concurrent Resolution 177, recognizing and commending 
people of freedom for having played such a crucial role in the ongoing 
success in the war on terror.
  Mr. Speaker, people of freedom come in all different shapes and 
sizes. They do not come from one nation, but from all nations. They do 
not go to the same house of worship, but they all have hearts filled 
with hope. They do not all carry a rifle, they do not all go into 
battle, but every single man or woman who believes in freedom also 
believes we can leave this world just a little better than we found it.
  Mr. Speaker, the success of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation 
Iraqi Freedom is not just a plan, it is not just training, it is not 
just willpower or determination; it is all of that and much, much more. 
It is about young men and women who displayed heroism in the face of 
grave danger. It is about leaders who redefine the very nature of 
conflicts, it is about a disciplined military equipped with cutting-
edge technology capable of delivering surgical strikes with razor-sharp 
precision. It is about a fighting force filled with compassion, a force 
capable of delivering the fist of justice and the outstretched hand of 
comfort at the same time.
  I have heard some disturbing things lately, Mr. Speaker. I have heard 
that the conflict in Iraq was unjustified. I have heard that uncovering 
mass graves is somehow not a good enough reason for freedom in Iraq. I 
have heard that mobile bioweapons labs do not count as real evidence of 
weapons of mass destruction. I have heard that life under one of the 
most brutal regimes in history really was not all that bad. That is 
nonsense, pure nonsense. Furthermore, it is an insult to the brave men 
and women now returning home.
  Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues to commend not only our troops but 
the entire military community, for without the people in the 
background, the encouragement of a family, the expertise of a 
scientist, the commitment of a President, the situation in Iraq today 
and in the free world's war against terror might be very, very 
different.
  May God bless the men and women of our Armed Forces, and may he also 
bless those who give them aid and comfort.
  Mr. Speaker, I call on all people of freedom to join us in 
celebrating our brave troops returning home. I ask them to join us in 
celebrating the liberation of the Iraqi people. While there is much 
work to be done, and while we will continue to bring justice to those 
who perpetrate terror, it is wholly appropriate to take this 
opportunity to congratulate our soldiers whose sweat and blood has made 
freedom a reality for oppressed people around the world, as well as the 
communities who support them.

                              {time}  1830

  And so, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in sending a 
clear message of thanks by voting in favor of House Concurrent 
Resolution 177.

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