[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 11, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H2785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            MISMANAGEMENT IN IRAQ THREATENS AMERICAN TROOPS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Wynn) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, the scandal at Abu Ghraib prison is indeed a 
stain on our national honor and a grave disservice to the brave men and 
women of our Armed Forces. More importantly, it is a threat to their 
safety in the field, as these despicable pictures have increased the 
fury of our opponents as they fight against us.
  Only two items I think reflect in any form or fashion of positive 
sense for the United States. Actions speak louder than words. Two 
things may be positive actions. First, the apology of the President and 
the Secretary of Defense, in a rare display not of humility, but at 
least of a sense of concern for the feelings of others around the world 
and, in particular, in the Muslim world. This was a good thing. Second, 
and I think this is very important, the serious congressional hearings 
and investigations that are underway now are shedding a great deal of 
light on the scope and nature of abuses. We are showing the world how 
we respond when our misdeeds are uncovered, and that is a great example 
of our democracy: public, transparent hearings and investigations. 
Compare this, then, with the barbaric terrorists who hide behind masks 
when they commit acts of terrorism, assassination and, most recently, 
beheading.
  However, unfortunately, apologies and investigations are not enough. 
The Taguba report says we have in this country a failure of leadership 
at the highest levels. I find it ironic in this context, then, that the 
President says that Mr. Rumsfeld, Secretary Rumsfeld is a superb 
leader. I beg to differ.
  First, Secretary Rumsfeld was a party to false and misleading prewar 
intelligence and analysis. There are no WMDs, weapons of mass 
destruction, and we have not been viewed as liberators. I am someone 
who put aside partisanship based on representations made by this 
administration that there were, indeed, legitimate threats to our 
security.
  Second, we find that Secretary Rumsfeld engaged in inadequate 
planning for postwar transition. We simply do not have enough troops. 
Not just Democrats are saying this. Experienced retired generals have 
said, almost unanimously, we do not have enough troops to do the job 
that we are required to do.
  What about winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqis? We are losing. 
We are actually creating recruiting posters for terrorists, because the 
Iraqis have not seen us as liberators, they have seen us as an 
oppressive force. This administration has not done the things that 
would convince the Iraqi people that we are there to do them good.
  One minute the Baathists are out, the next minute the same old 
Baathist generals are back in. How does that work for an administration 
that describes Secretary Rumsfeld as a superb leader?
  This is the same Secretary Rumsfeld that set aside the Geneva 
Conventions and then wonders why we are having this problem at Abu 
Ghraib. Well, he set the tone. This administration and Secretary 
Rumsfeld bear the responsibility for inadequate planning of confinement 
facilities and for inadequately training our military police.
  We heard one of our colleagues on the Republican side talk about all 
of the great accomplishments that our troops have done. Unfortunately, 
those accomplishments are undermined by this scandal and these 
outrageous pictures of sexual abuse of prisoners at the hands of our 
own troops.
  What about the role of military intelligence in directing Army MPs to 
``set the conditions'' and ``soften them up?'' This too falls at the 
feet of Secretary Rumsfeld. This is a great disservice to our men and 
women in the field.
  Not only is this prisoner abuse a disgrace, it is the kind of 
behavior that we condemn on human rights grounds in other countries 
such as Cuba and other Third World countries. I am sure those countries 
now understandably scoff at our high-minded words.
  We have created tremendous anger and hostility towards the United 
States by the Iraqi people and around the world. This will make the job 
of bringing stability to Iraq much more difficult.
  What is to be done? First, we must hold those up the chain of command 
accountable. One of the things that concerns me as we review this 
scandal is that a few sergeants and privates are being made scapegoats 
for a failure of leadership at the highest level.
  Second, since we are about to turn over sovereignty to the Iraqis, 
perhaps now would be a good time to invite them in as a show of good 
faith and let them serve as observers, those who have been properly 
screened, in the prisons to say that yes, we are not only turning over 
sovereignty, we have nothing to hide.
  Finally, we need more troops. The generals have said it, the 
Democrats have said it. Most people realize we have not managed this 
war well. More troops would help us do a better job and help ultimately 
to protect our troops.

                          ____________________