[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 21, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H2205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        LAMENTING BASRA ATTACKS

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. Speaker, we are challenged to mourn with those who mourn and 
grieve with those who grieve. As I rose this morning to learn that 
suicide bombers had killed at least 68 people, many of them small 
children en route to school, in coordinated strikes on four police 
stations in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, I grieved and I mourned.
  Scarcely 1 month ago, I walked the streets of Basra as a part of the 
first congressional delegation to visit that ancient city. Although 
Basra is the second largest city in Iraq, it has been relatively 
peaceful and secure since coalition forces liberated it from 30 years 
of tyranny of Saddam Hussein.
  Our prayers go out to the families affected by today's horrific 
bombings and to our British allies charged with their security. Today's 
attacks on Iraqi men, women, and especially children, in the city of 
Basra, shows the utter depravity of our enemies and the enemies of 
freedom in Iraq.
  The good people of Basra, with whom I spent the day 27 February, 
2004, deserve better. They are freedom-loving and decent people, and we 
and our allies will not waver in our commitment to deliver it to them.

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