[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMARKS ON THE SITUATION IN IRAQ

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                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2005

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, we may soon know the official 
count from the elections in Iraq but it is already very clear we will 
not know the real long term impact and results for some time.
  Will the election unite the Iraqi people or further divide them? Will 
the new government represent the interests of all sectors of Iraqi 
society? Will the rights of minorities be protected? Will the new laws 
of the land be promulgated on a secular or religious basis?
  The elections do nothing to increase the legitimacy of our so-called 
``preventive war.'' The official end for the search for weapons of mass 
destruction confirms what a majority of the American people have known 
for some time: we were misled as to the need for military action in 
Iraq.
  There was no link between Saddam Hussein and 9/11. U.N. sanctions and 
inspections were, in fact, highly effective in disarming Iraq after the 
1991 war.
  There is no doubt that those Iraqis who did vote, and already the 
controversy is growing over what share of the population participated, 
were expressing their profound hope for an end to the violence, for an 
improvement in the quality of their lives, for a say in their own 
futures and an end to the occupation of their country.
  And why not? Estimates by reputable experts such as the British 
medical journal, The Lancet are that more than 100,000 Iraqis have died 
as a result of the war and the on-going violence under the occupation.
  The Iraqi government has reported that malnutrition among young 
children has doubled since the war began and that they are experiencing 
soaring rates of disease exacerbated by a decimated health system.
  Iraq is no closer to a stable democracy today than it was two years 
ago. The Iraqi insurgency appears to be growing significantly faster 
than the security forces we have attempted to train. It is questionable 
if Iraqi security forces can ever achieve authority as long as our 
troops have the real responsibility for maintaining order.
  The presence of more than 130,000 U.S. troops has, in fact, become a 
rallying point and an endless source of fodder for propaganda by 
terrorists.
  At a time when American prestige and leadership is more necessary 
than ever, when the light of hope for a peaceful, just and lasting 
solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people once 
again flickers to life, U.S. ability to serve as a broker for peace has 
been crippled by the perception of many of our actions in Iraq.
  We face the massive and difficult task of rebuilding international 
alliances and renewing the mechanisms of international diplomacy and 
security. And what has been the cost to America? As of yesterday, 1,449 
American troops killed. 10,740 wounded as of the end of January. 
Extended time of service for tens of thousands of service men and women 
and reservists at immense cost to families.
  The diversion of tens of billions of dollars from homeland security, 
health, education, housing, and a host of other needs have left some of 
our most urgent needs here at home untended and unaddressed. The long 
term impact on our military has not yet been examined, but based on our 
experience after Vietnam there is good reason to expect that there will 
be a negative impact.
  Mr. Speaker, in the interests of stabilizing the situation in Iraq, 
in the interests of peace and security in the region, in the interests 
of our homeland security, and in support of our troops, it is time to 
bring our troops home.

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