[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 10 (Thursday, February 3, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S965-S966]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE IRAQI ELECTIONS AND U.S. POLICY IN IRAQ

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak of the historic Iraqi 
elections and the President's message last night.
  This past Sunday, the world watched as millions of Iraqi people 
headed to the polls to participate in their first free election in more 
than 50 years.
  In doing so, the Iraqis defied the terrorists and they risked their 
lives for what was, for most, the first exercise of democracy in their 
lifetimes.
  Not only did the Iraqi people defy the terrorists, but they defied 
the skeptics--some of whom could be found in Iraq itself, many others 
throughout the international community, and, disappointingly, even here 
at home. Many said that the elections were too soon, that the Iraqi 
people wouldn't dare come out of their homes to vote, and worse, that 
the Iraqi people weren't ready and didn't desire freedom.
  Though the votes have yet to be tallied, the millions of Iraqi voters 
that turned out on Sunday underscore the truism that people desire to 
be free.
  And one of the most fundamental political freedoms is the freedom to 
choose your government. What we saw on Sunday should not surprise 
Americans: When given the opportunity to be in charge of their own 
destiny, citizens of all nations will not only turn out in great 
numbers, but they are willing to sacrifice their own lives for the 
opportunity to live in a free society.
  I agree with one of America's most perceptive analysts on the region, 
Fouad Ajami, who said that on Sunday we bonded with the Iraqi people, 
because they were doing the most American act: voting.
  As a strong supporter of our President and his policy in Iraq, I am 
always encouraged by my fellow Utahns who believe America should stay 
the course, fight on, and finish what we started. Utahns appreciate the 
sacrifice and courage of our troops, and those of the Iraqis who deeply 
appreciate our commitment.
  Earlier this week, I read that the mayor of Baghdad even wants to 
erect a statue to President Bush, calling him the ``symbol of 
freedom.'' When asked if he was concerned about the many threats on his 
life, Mayor Ali Fadel said, ``My life is cheap, everything is cheap for 
my country.''
  He also said, ``We have a lot of work and we are especially grateful 
to the soldiers of the USA for freeing our country of tyranny.''
  We saw this gratitude again last night when the daughter of a man 
killed by Saddam Hussein's thugs was hugged by the mother of a Marine 
who gave his life in Fallujah.
  Some may erroneously dismiss that as crafted drama. For me, that 
moment in the State of the Union will forever capture America's mission 
of spreading freedom in this world.
  I have tears in my eyes because I remember many years ago receiving 
notice that my brother had been killed in the Second World War fighting 
for the freedom that Sergeant Norwood fought for over in Iraq--fighting 
for the freedoms for Europe and the world.
  Many of our soldiers risking their lives in Iraq are my fellow 
Utahans. I am both proud and impressed with their willingness to serve 
their country and help the Iraqi people establish a free and democratic 
government.
  Just yesterday, a group of 100 Utah National Guard men and women, in 
addition to the 500 that left just a week before, were deployed to 
bases in the U.S. for training, after which they will move to Iraq, 
where they will continue to serve for 1 year.
  We have had Utahans over there serving beyond the term they were 
supposed to serve.
  We have had Utahans over there serving beyond the term they were 
supposed to serve. I know they will serve well and, I pray for their 
safe return home to their loved ones and families.
  We all understand that this election was just one more step on the 
path to a free and democratic Iraq. But, it was an enormously important 
step.
  I commend our President, our brave men and women in uniform, and 
especially, the freedom-loving people of Iraq.
  President Bush began his speech last night recognizing that he serves 
at the privilege of the voters, and that, today,

[[Page S966]]

an Iraqi government is forming based on the voters' selections, as a 
new government is in place in the Palestinian Authority, and in 
Afghanistan.
  One of the President's greatest virtues, in my opinion, is his 
humility, and the recognition that we serve at the voters' behest is 
the fundamental virtue of leadership in a democracy.
  To recognize that humility is to accept the responsibility that 
democratic leadership must always be open and transparent and 
compelling to the electorate.
  Over the past 4 years, President Bush has often spoken directly and 
honestly to the American people, about the uncertain threats before us, 
and about the responsibilities we need to shoulder to defend our 
freedoms.
  At the beginning of my remarks I said that one of the most 
fundamental political freedoms is the freedom to choose your 
government.
  An even more basic political freedom is the freedom from tyranny or 
terror.
  To be secure from the carbombers, from the dreaded knock on the door 
in the middle of the night, from the capricious order of the dictator, 
are necessary for freedom to be sustained.
  Last night the President again stated his vision of how our security 
is dependent on expanding the zone of freedom to regions of the world 
where for too long threats to our security incubated.
  Iraq will never be fully free until the Iraqi people can provide for 
their own security, and the President made it plainly clear again last 
night that our mission will not be finished until we have trained an 
effective Iraqi force to assume their security. To leave before then, 
or to announce a departure before we know we have achieved this goal, 
is to undermine our mission and devalue our sacrifices.
  Those who call for an exit date before knowing we have succeeded care 
not for our success nor our security.
  We know there remains much work to be done. No one called for an exit 
date before we had victory in World War II, a war where America made 
enormous sacrifices, including my only brother.
  No one called for an exit strategy during the twilight years of the 
Cold War.
  No one, after the collapse of the Soviet Empire, set an exit date for 
our efforts to support democratic transition in central and eastern 
Europe. We build our policies on victory, magnanimity, democracy and 
freedom
  While we will not set an exit date, we do have an exit strategy; that 
is, once we have trained enough security people and police people to 
take over and to protect and care for their own country, once we have 
helped to bring up their structure, witnessing that there is a degree 
of security, peace, and freedom in Iraq beyond where it is now, we are 
going to pull our young men and women out of there. Let us hope that 
happens sooner rather than later.
  Listening to President Bush's speech last night, I know he 
understands how to protect America's security. Even more, he 
understands America's role in a challenging world. President Bush has 
charted a course as bold as he is, and it is incumbent upon the 
Congress and the American people to support him in this most important 
effort.

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