[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 11, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H2781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       WE MUST SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, first of all, in response, I found a 
different case from my constituents. The first woman who signed up for 
one of the drug cards, Mr. Speaker, was 85. She had a monthly cost of 
$409, and after the card was given and she was able to navigate her way 
through it, her cost was $13.61. Mr. Speaker, that hardly sounds like 
the drug industry is going to get a payoff.
  Mr. Speaker, I, like many, am profoundly disappointed in the photos 
and the actions of a handful of our soldiers, but I do not for one 
moment mistake the actions of a few to be representative of the many.
  On the floor of this House, Mr. Speaker, I have heard my colleagues 
from the other side of the aisle say that the war being fought in Iraq 
cannot be won and is, in fact, ``unwinnable.'' And yet with straight 
faces these same colleagues say that they support our troops.
  They have short memories, Mr. Speaker. They say they support our 
troops, and yet some of them earnestly voted against providing our 
troops with the very resources they need in the field, fighting not 
only for our liberty but for the freedoms of others.
  Mr. Speaker, the words and actions of these individuals do not 
indicate support for our troops, and I find it profoundly disappointing 
when some show such blatant disregard, dishonor, and disrespect for our 
troops. Some of my colleagues have made such comments without concern 
for the impact that it has on the morale of our troops who are 
currently fighting in Iraq as well as those who are poised to go to 
Iraq.
  Is this Election Year rhetoric and the partisan banter part of the 
Democrats' winnable strategy in Iraq? The bottom line is that some 
Members of the other party have become representative for retreat and 
appeasement. Mr. Speaker, appeasement and retreat has not worked in the 
past and will not work in the future with the terrorists. Mr. Speaker, 
we must win this war on terror. The stakes are too great for the future 
of humanity.
  I went to Iraq late last year and personally visited with our 
soldiers. The young men in this picture and the young women that I met, 
those are the soldiers in Iraq who are an all-volunteer force who are 
fighting so that our children and grandchildren do not have to live in 
a world where there is daily fear of terrorism. These men and women 
deserve the thanks of a grateful Nation and a grateful world. They 
deserve to have our unwavering support for their unwavering belief in 
liberty and their understanding of freedom.
  Since the American people will not hear these stories on the evening 
news, Mr. Speaker, I am here tonight to share true stories of 
astonishing bravery, courage, compassion, valor, and steel nerve. Mr. 
Speaker, I am talking about our soldiers and what they have done for 
America, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the entire world.
  The soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division have been working to make 
Iraq secure but also have been putting time and effort into helping 
towns and villages with their ``Operation Helping Hands'' program. With 
``Operation Helping Hands,'' our soldiers donate their own money to 
help provide families with food and health care necessities. Brigade 
Commander Colonel Ben Hodges came up with the idea of helping the poor 
families in the area. They have collected several thousand dollars, 
which goes a long way toward helping many Iraqi families.
  Mr. Speaker, our troops are compassionate. They are helping Iraqi 
families in a way that they have never been helped before. Soldiers are 
often out in Iraq communities to provide medical care and humanitarian 
assistance. A small, impoverished village about 10 miles from Baghdad 
was recently paid a visit by personnel from the Medical Civic Action 
Program. This program sends doctors and medics out to provide free 
medical care on a regular basis. Because of conditions under Saddam 
Hussein, soldiers are treating diseases we rarely see here at home such 
as tuberculosis, hepatitis, and polio.
  Mr. Speaker, we should also be proud of our troops for fighting for 
women's rights. For the first time in history, women in Mosul, Iraq 
were able to join the rest of the world in celebrating International 
Women's Day. The day recognizes coordinated efforts of women everywhere 
for equal rights and political and economic equality.
  The People's Assembly Building was rededicated as the Center for 
Iraqi Women. The center will serve as a meeting place for all women of 
Iraq where they can share ideas, offer training, coordinate 
communications, and build a safer homeland.
  And in Mosul, Iraqi police say they are grateful to the soldiers from 
the U.S. Army's 503rd Military Police Battalion for their assistance in 
rebuilding police stations. Coalition forces helped to renovate several 
police stations and enabled the Iraqi police officers to protect their 
fellow citizens. There are more than 1,600 policemen who have trained 
from scratch in an 8-week training program.
  Mr. Speaker, these are the stories of our young men and women in 
Iraq. These are the stories of the people who are fighting for freedom 
and fighting to rebuild a country. Mr. Speaker, the war on terror must 
be won.
  The new Iraqi Army is growing. In early March, more than 1,000 
recruits of the 4th Battalion graduated from the nine-week basic 
training program.
  These are our soldiers stories. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands 
more. I am proud of our soldiers and want to say ``thank you.'' These 
are not the stories that you will hear on the news, or in the 
newspapers--nor will you hear them during election year rhetoric.
  A U.S. soldier evacuated an Iraqi woman, Farha Abed Saad for medical 
treatment after she had been harmed by the thugs who wish to rob Iraqis 
of their right to freedom. ``Thank God, you have come here to Iraq and 
make us free,'' said Ms. Saad, kissing a soldier's hands. ``When I see 
you, I see my own sons! Thank you, thank you.''
  It is a sad day, Mr. Speaker, when some in this city who routinely 
ignore the great accomplishments of our soldiers only to politicize the 
war at their expense.
  We will win this war on terror, Mr. Speaker, there is no other 
option. This IS a winnable war--and we must stand behind our policy and 
our troops with a firm resolve.
  A world controlled by terrorists is not acceptable. If the United 
States of America cannot defeat terrorism, who in the world can? We 
will continue to fight against Al-Qaeda and Al-Qaeda affiliated 
groups--like the one who viciously beheaded 26-year-old Nick Berg. Nick 
Berg was a civilian who voluntarily went to Iraq to help rebuild Iraqi 
communication antennas. And my prayers are with his family.
  After 9-11, Mr. Speaker, America was called to a new destiny. Our 
destiny is to defeat terrorism and tyranny. Amid the towers of American 
tragedy, Mr. Speaker, emerged our soldiers as towers of American 
strength.
  And they shall have my eternal gratitude.

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