[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 88 (Wednesday, June 23, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI--PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB SIMMONS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 2004

  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reflect on the recent visit 
of Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan, to Washington, DC. In his 
address before Congress on Tuesday, June 15th, President Karzai spoke 
movingly about the troubled past, the current progress, and the 
promising future of Afghanistan. He called upon Congress to continue 
aiding Afghanistan in rebuilding a society that has been caught in an 
ideological crossfire for the past 25 years.
  The United States was duly congratulated for completed work toward 
rebuilding Afghanistan and admonished for ignoring the Taliban's 
oppression until the regime's extremism was manifested so tragically in 
the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In his speech, 
President Karzai affirmed the importance of our presence in 
Afghanistan. We are in Afghanistan today not to dictate what 
Afghanistan will become, but to ensure an environment of stability and 
freedom that fosters democracy and true self-determination.
  I commend President Karzai for the progress that already has been 
made--most recently the opening of the International Press Centre, 
which marked an important step toward the development of a free press. 
Today, five million Afghan girls and boys are attending school. The 
economy is estimated to have grown by 20 percent this year, and 3.8 
million people have registered to vote, of which 35.4 percent are 
female. Health centers have been developed to provide basic services, 
especially to women and children.
  The national army and the national police are being rebuilt. Three 
million refugees have returned to the country. Girls are returning to 
schools where their presence was once forbidden. Women, invisible under 
Taliban rule, are returning to the public sphere, where they can once 
again be productive members of society, contributing to cultural and 
economic growth. In the parliament, 25 percent of the seats have been 
reserved for women. Slowly but surely, Afghanistan is being rebuilt.
  Despite this progress, our job is not yet complete. Our presence is 
needed until fair elections under a democratic system can be guaranteed 
to the people of Afghanistan. Private militias must be disarmed and 
disbanded. The production of narcotics must cease. Clean water and 
electricity must reach the Afghan people and health care must improve.

  ``Afghanistan is open for business and American companies are most 
welcome,'' Karzai stated. ``Together, we will make Afghanistan a great 
success and an enduring example of a prosperous democratic society. Our 
shared success in Afghanistan is vital to achieving victory over the 
greatest menace the world faces today--terrorism and extremism.'' 
Afghanistan deserves to make its goals a reality. We must ensure that 
Afghanistan has the dignity that is afforded by democracy and that is 
the right of every human being.
  As someone who served in a war zone, I was most struck by President 
Karzai's gratitude to the American people: ``I thank you and the people 
of this great country for your generosity and the commitment to our 
people. You have supported us with your resources, with your leadership 
in the world community, and most importantly with the precious lives of 
your soldiers.'' He recognized the sacrifice and valor of the American 
soldiers who volunteered their lives so that an oppressed people in a 
distant land could be free.
  Upon hearing President Karzai's words, I was reminded of Pat Tillman, 
the National Football League recruit who gave up a multi-million dollar 
contract to serve as an Army Ranger and lost his life in Afghanistan. 
Tillman refused interviews on the grounds that he was no better than 
any soldier who had volunteered to serve in the Armed Forces. His 
humility, his willingness to give up a comfortable life for a difficult 
one, his commitment to protecting American values and fighting tyranny 
proved him to be a true American hero.
  I congratulate President Karzai on the progress he has made toward 
rebuilding Afghanistan. Our troops will continue to serve in that land 
so that a long-suffering people can prosper freely. I offer my whole-
hearted support to him and the people of Afghanistan in building a 
nation where power lies once again in the hands of its people.

                          ____________________