[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 158 (Tuesday, November 4, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H10319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                GAME PLAN FOR WINNING THE WAR ON TERROR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, in 1983, the United States embassy in 
Beirut was bombed. Sixty-three were killed; 120 were wounded. In 1983, 
the U.S. Marine barracks were bombed in Beirut. Three hundred troops, 
nearly all United States troops, were killed. In 1988, Pan Am 103 was 
bombed; 259 were killed. In 1993, the World Trade Center was bombed. 
Six killed, 1,000 injured. In 1996, the Khobar Towers was bombed. 
Nineteen U.S. soldiers killed, 240 injured. In 1998, the U.S. embassy 
in Kenya was bombed; 361 were killed, 5,000 injured. And in 2000, the 
USS Cole was bombed in Yemen. Seventeen sailors were killed and 39 were 
injured.
  In those seven attacks, more than 1,000 people were killed. This was 
double our losses in Afghanistan and Iraq at the present time which 
total roughly 435. Yet during those seven attacks and after those seven 
attacks, there was very little response from the United States. As a 
result of those attacks, we withdrew from Lebanon in 1983 and from 
Somalia in 1993. I believe that this conveyed a very clear message to 
those who believe in terrorism. The message was this, that when 
attacked consistently over time, the United States will back down, will 
lose its will, and, of course, these attacks then led up to 9/11.
  Following the loss of more than 3,000 Americans on September 11, 
2001, we finally took a stand. The overwhelming majority of us in this 
body gave the President the authority to move aggressively against 
terrorism. We knew that this was hazardous. Sometimes we get the 
impression that we did not really know what we were doing. Yet I for 
one, and I think many people here, assumed that there might be some 
biological and chemical attacks against our troops, that taking Iraq 
was going to cost at least thousands if not tens of thousands of lives. 
Yet the results were remarkable. We gained control of Afghanistan and 
Iraq in a few months, and we lost less than 500 troops. I would say 
that a military accomplishment of this kind is pretty much 
unprecedented in military annals.
  We also knew that securing the peace is always difficult. After World 
War I, after World War II, Kosovo, it was not easy at all; and it took 
a long time, and there was loss of life. Yet statements emanating from 
the Congress that we should pull out, that we should bring the troops 
home, that this war was created to boost the President's numbers, 
reading letters from those who have suffered loss or are discouraged, 
stating there is no plan for reconstruction, all encourage terrorists 
to believe that if they persist that we will fold, that we will lack 
the will and the resolve to win the war.
  To not see this through is to dishonor the memory of every soldier 
lost and to render meaningless their families' suffering. To not see 
this through will leave Iraq open to Saddam's return and a betrayal of 
Iraqis who have helped. I am sure this is one thing that they all fear. 
It happened after the Gulf War. Many Iraqis who extended themselves to 
help the United States and allied forces suffered retribution. I think 
in the back of their minds is the idea that maybe this will happen 
again. The only satisfactory solution is to win. To lose will invite 
ever-increasing terrorism, and I think most people in this Chamber 
understand that.
  To achieve victory in the swiftest possible manner with the least 
loss of life, this country and this Congress needs to stand united. We 
did so for a period of time after 9/11. This was the most encouraging 
period of my short tenure here in Congress. Because what I saw was that 
party loyalties and personal ambitions were put aside. I think the 
overwhelming motivation for everyone in this body was to simply serve 
their country the best that we could. Unity of purpose and a collective 
will to win will prevail. Division and second-guessing and finger-
pointing and politicization will only serve to prolong the struggle and 
cause further loss of life and suffering.
  From my perspective, failure is not an option. I hope the Congress 
can pull together. The threat is as real today as it was on 9/11.

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