[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 17, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H8288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           WINNING THE PEACE

  (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
express my great concern over the Bush administration's continued 
failure to broker an alliance with the international community and to 
win the peace in Iraq.
  Week after week administration officials have continued to reiterate 
that heightened international involvement is forthcoming. During his 
address on September 8, President Bush stated that we are committed to 
expanding international cooperation and reconstruction and security for 
Iraq.
  But week after week, it is American taxpayers who are shouldering the 
financial burden of our military engagement, and it is American 
servicemen and women who are paying with their lives.
  Since the war began on March 20, 456 service members have been 
killed, both in combat and noncombat operations, and more than 2,400 
have been wounded, many of them very seriously. But we know now that 
this cannot be sustained. Just last week the Congressional Budget 
Office released a report that stated the Army lacks sufficient active 
duty forces to maintain the current 150,000 troop strength in Iraq 
beyond next spring.
  Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that we internationalize the Iraqi 
campaign by presenting a viable U.N. resolution. Every passing week 
means billions of dollars and more American lives.

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