[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 164 (Wednesday, November 12, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14857-S14858]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                             101ST AIRBORNE

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, ``Iraqi Destiny,'' which is the 101st 
Airborne Division's weekly newsletter, runs a feature on its last page 
called ``Man on the Street.'' The 101st Airborne is based in Tennessee 
and Kentucky, right on the border. I and my colleague, Lamar Alexander, 
and the distinguished colleagues from Kentucky have a particular 
interest in the men and the women with the 101st Airborne and their 
families and their support groups. It is fascinating to receive this 
weekly newsletter. In it was run a feature on the last page called 
``Man on the Street.'' It features the 101st soldiers and Iraqi 
citizens answering a question of the week. The questions range from 
light hearted to the much more serious, such as, ``What will you do 
with the extra money you are making?'' to, ``What do you think of the 
new schools that are opening?''
  A few weeks ago, soldiers were asked, ``What Arabic words have you 
learned while in Iraq?'' Most had conventional responses, things you 
would expect: ``Hello, how are you.'' But I was very interested to 
learn that a certain Screaming Eagle, Sergeant Thomas Baker, has 
learned the word, ``Habibi,'' Arabic for ``Sweetheart.'' Now, I won't 
speculate as to how or why Sergeant Baker has learned the word, 
``Habibi.'' But I do think we can take it as an encouraging sign of the 
progress that is being made in Iraq.
  I take special, home State pride in the 101st Airborne Division. It 
is based at Fort Campbell, 60 percent of which is located in Tennessee. 
It goes without saying that Fort Campbell is integral to the Tennessee 
community, and especially to Clarksville where many of Fort Campbell's 
families reside.
  I've had the privilege of visiting Fort Campbell numerous times, 
actually staying overnight in the army barracks and traveling to Fort 
Campbell on another occasion with the President of the United States.
  Under the leadership of Major General David Petraeus, a friend and 
someone I had known prior to coming to the Senate, the 101st is doing 
extraordinary work. You may remember that it was the 101st that found 
and dispatched Uday and Qusay Hussein in Mosul. Since then, the 101st 
has moved more quickly than any other American unit in training guards 
and policeman for the new Iraqi Civil Defense Corps.
  They've also shown the Iraqi people tremendous generosity and heart 
in helping to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure, civic institutions and, 
even more fundamentally, the people's pride and hope in their future.
  Take for example the story of the Avgani Clinic. Located in the 
north, the clinic serves 60,000 Iraqis from the town of Avgani and 50 
outlaying villages. Under Saddam Hussein, the clinic was allowed to 
fall into disrepair. It had cracking walls, poor electricity, no 
bathroom. The clinic's director says that the clinic was ``a sad 
place.'' That, however, was before the arrival of First Lieutenant 
Michael Lefler and the Screaming Eagles.
  In 3 months time, with just $25,000--in America, the price of a mid-
size sedan--Lefler and his team led the renovation of the entire 
facility.
  They installed new desks, chairs, computers, curtains, and yard 
tiles. They constructed several new rooms and bathrooms. The clinic is 
now fully operational, with twice the funds it previously had. The 
director of the clinic says the facility is now a ``very happy place.''
  The 101st soldiers list among their values: ``Duty, Respect, 
Selfless-Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage, and 
Professionalism.'' All of these virtues have been on sterling display. 
From organizing book drives for Iraqi schoolchildren, to restoring 
water and power, everyday the 101st is showing the Iraqi people 
exceptional character and America's commitment to Iraq's future.
  I'd like to close with a story about a soccer game, not too long ago, 
in the town of Al Qosh. With the help of the 101st, the Lady Virgin 
Orphanage of Al

[[Page S14858]]

Qosh hosted the championship soccer tournament of the season. For the 
event, army engineers cleared an area adjacent to the orphanage to 
create a soccer field.
  Seven teams from around the region, along with their families, 
gathered at the new field, cheering and blowing kazoos as the Screaming 
Eagles faced off against the Iraqi Sharafeya team. The Screaming Eagles 
won 2 to 1, and the crowd of spectators ran onto the field with cheers 
and laughter.
  Among the happy fans were children from the orphanage wearing 
personalized soccer uniforms. Earlier in the summer, the 101st had 
given each child their own soccer uniform with the child's name printed 
across the back, and ``Screaming Eagles'' in Arabic emblazoned across 
the front. I suspect those uniforms will be treasured for years to 
come, and that is what this struggle is all about--the years to come. 
We have undertaken an extraordinary task to change the course of 
history, to bring peace and democracy to Iraq. We know that democracies 
do not export terror. Tyrannies do. So, we have toppled a despotic, 
terror-sponsoring regime and set out to transform a brutalized nation.
  It is an ambitious undertaking worthy of a great country. America is 
a great country, and through the noble efforts of men and women like 
those of the 101st, Iraq is on the road to freedom.
  Not too long ago, President Bush signed the historic $87 billion 
wartime supplemental that will help the Iraqis realize their dream. He 
also gave a very important speech to remind us of the fundamental 
nature of democracy, and America's role in the world.
  He said:

       The advance of freedom is the calling of our time; it is 
     the calling of our country. We believe that freedom is not 
     for us alone, it is the right and the capacity of all 
     mankind. The establishment of a free Iraq in the heart of the 
     Middle East will be a watershed event in the global 
     revolution.

  President Bush has set a brave and courageous course. And I am 
confident that twenty years from now, Iraqis will fondly recall 
moments, like the Al Qosh championship soccer match of 2003, with the 
special pride of having been there when the liberation came.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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