[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 69 (Monday, May 23, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H3735-H3737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  WELCOMING HAMID KARZAI AND SUPPORTING STRONG AND ENDURING STRATEGIC 
           PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN UNITED STATES AND AFGHANISTAN

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 153) welcoming His 
Excellency Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan, on the occasion 
of his visit to the United States in May 2005 and expressing support 
for a strong and enduring strategic partnership between the United 
States and Afghanistan.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 153

       Whereas Afghanistan, a great nation located at the 
     crossroads of many civilizations, has suffered the ravages of 
     war, foreign intervention, occupation, and oppression;
       Whereas the Afghan people courageously resisted the decade-
     long occupation of their country by the former Soviet Union, 
     forcing a Soviet withdrawal in 1989 and thereby contributing 
     to the end of the Cold War;
       Whereas following the Soviet withdrawal, Afghanistan went 
     through a period of chaos and conflict, exacerbated by 
     insufficient attention from the international community, 
     during which time the Taliban militia seized control of much 
     of the country and provided a base of operations to Al Qaeda 
     and other terrorist elements;
       Whereas following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 
     2001, the United States launched Operation Enduring Freedom, 
     liberating the Afghan people from tyranny, transforming 
     Afghanistan from a haven for terrorists into a strategic 
     partner in the struggle against international terrorism, and 
     helping Afghans build a democratic government;
       Whereas the Afghan Constitution, drafted by a broadly 
     representative Loya Jirga, or Grand Council, and enacted on 
     January 4, 2004, provides for equal rights for and full 
     participation of women, mandates full compliance with 
     international norms for human and civil rights, establishes 
     procedures for free and fair elections, creates a system of 
     checks and balances between the executive, legislative and 
     judicial branches, encourages a free market economy and 
     private enterprise, and obligates the state to prevent all 
     types of terrorist activity and the production and 
     trafficking of narcotics;
       Whereas more than 10.5 million Afghan men and women voted 
     in national presidential elections in October 2004, 
     demonstrating commitment to democracy, courage in the face of 
     threats of violence, and a deep sense of civic 
     responsibility;
       Whereas Hamid Karzai, formerly the interim President, was 
     elected to a five-year term as Afghanistan's first 
     democratically-elected President in the country's history;
       Whereas nationwide parliamentary elections are planned for 
     September 18, 2005, and further demonstrate the Afghan 
     Government's commitment to adhere to democratic norms;
       Whereas the Government of Afghanistan has demonstrated a 
     firm commitment to halting the cultivation and trafficking of 
     narcotics and has cooperated fully with the United States and 
     its allies on a wide range of counter-narcotics initiatives;
       Whereas in addition to military and law enforcement 
     operations, President Karzai welcomes the United States and 
     the international community to assist Afghanistan's counter-
     narcotics campaign by supporting programs to provide 
     alternative livelihoods for farmers, sustained economic 
     development, and governmental and security capacity building;
       Whereas recognizing that long-term political stability 
     requires sustained economic security, Afghanistan is striving 
     to create an economic base to provide meaningful livelihoods 
     for all of its people, and the United States has a 
     cooperative interest in helping Afghanistan achieve this 
     goal;
       Whereas section 101(1) of the Afghanistan Freedom Support 
     Act of 2002 (22 U.S.C. 7511(1)) declares that the ``United 
     States and the international community should support efforts 
     that advance the development of democratic civil authorities 
     and institutions in Afghanistan and the establishment of a 
     new broad-based, multi-ethnic, gender-sensitive, and fully 
     representative government in Afghanistan'';
       Whereas on June 15, 2004, during President Karzai's visit 
     to the United States, President George W. Bush stated: 
     ``Afghanistan's journey to democracy and peace deserves the 
     support and respect of every nation. . . . The world and the 
     United States stand with [the people of Afghanistan] as 
     partners in their quest for peace and prosperity and 
     stability and democracy.'';
       Whereas on June 15, 2004, in his address to a joint meeting 
     of Congress, President Karzai stated: ``We must build a 
     partnership that will consolidate our achievements and 
     enhance stability, prosperity and democracy in Afghanistan 
     and in the region. This requires sustaining and accelerating 
     the reconstruction of Afghanistan, through long-term 
     commitment. . . . We must enhance our strategic partnership. 
     The security of our two nations are intertwined.'';
       Whereas on April 13, 2005, while receiving the visiting 
     United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, 
     President Karzai, in expressing the desire of the Afghan 
     people for a long-term strategic partnership with the United 
     States, stated: ``They want this relationship to be a 
     wholesome one, including a sustained economic relationship, a 
     political relationship, and most important of all, a 
     strategic security relationship that would enable Afghanistan 
     to defend itself, to continue to prosper, to stop 
     interferences, the possibility of interferences in 
     Afghanistan.''; and
       Whereas the people of the United States, and their elected 
     representatives, are honored to welcome President Karzai back 
     to the United States in May 2005 on a visit that will further 
     advance the close partnership between the United States and 
     Afghanistan: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That--
       (1) Congress welcomes the first democratically-elected 
     President of Afghanistan, His Excellency Hamid Karzai, as an 
     honored guest and valued friend upon his visit to the United 
     States in May 2005; and
       (2) it is the sense of Congress that--
       (A) a democratic, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan is a 
     vital security interest of the United States; and
       (B) a strong and enduring strategic partnership between the 
     United States and Afghanistan should continue to be a primary 
     objective of both countries to advance a shared vision of 
     peace, freedom, security, and broad-based economic 
     development between the two countries and throughout the 
     world.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).


                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on the concurrent 
resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  It is a pleasure to welcome His Excellency Hamid Karzai, the 
President of Afghanistan, to the United States and

[[Page H3736]]

to underscore the growing and strong friendship between our two 
nations.
  As we continue to lead the fight against the forces of terror and 
oppression, we are joined by courageous leaders such as President 
Karzai, and we are motivated and strengthened by the strong will of the 
Afghan people, who experienced, firsthand, what it is to live under 
these dual threats.
  Despite the Taliban's brutality and intolerable injustices that 
comprise the Taliban's legacy, their removal from power has generated 
clear and evident signs that the future of Afghanistan holds great 
promise. Millions of Afghans, once oppressed by the Taliban's terrorist 
regime, cast their ballots in their country's free elections in October 
of 2004 and elected Hamid Karzai as their leader.
  A defender of freedom, President Karzai has worked tirelessly to 
unite and rebuild Afghanistan during this time of transition and has 
strived to bring security and stability while working to improve daily 
life.
  Afghanistan has made great strides with respect to democracy, to 
reform, and to political openness. The women of Afghanistan, once 
forced to live as subhumans under a shroud that served as both a 
physical and symbolic instrument of the Taliban's oppression, are now 
vibrant and active participants in Afghan society. Afghans enjoy 
restored liberties and opportunities that were unheard of in recent 
memory. Schools have been reopened. A new banking law is in place. 
Businesses are blossoming around the country. But most importantly, 
there is hope for a better future.
  The United States has stood by the Afghanistan dilemma during this 
critical time. We have stood by the Afghan people, helping them with 
the construction of centers for women, schools, building up their 
infrastructure, providing assistance to promote political 
participation, and to improve human rights for all. The United States 
must continue to fulfill its role as a friend to Afghanistan by 
providing resources and expertise and assistance to the people and the 
government of Afghanistan as they struggle to reconstruct themselves 
socially, economically, and politically.
  I, therefore, Mr. Speaker, urge my colleagues to support this 
important resolution and clearly demonstrate to the people and the 
Government of Afghanistan that the United States stands firmly with 
them.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I, first, again would like to commend the gentlewoman 
from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), my good friend, and the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Ackerman), the Chair and ranking member of the Middle 
East and Central Asia Subcommittee, for introducing this important 
resolution.

                              {time}  1700

  Mr. Speaker, Afghanistan has made real progress toward becoming a 
stable, peaceful, and democratic state. The Taliban has been forced 
from power. The presidential election last October was an unqualified 
success with a massive turnout among men and women in defiance of 
Taliban threats, and progress has been made in restoring the basic 
human rights of Afghan women.
  Before we even heard about the Taliban, Mr. Speaker, I was talking 
about them when they were in control when they were denying religious 
freedom to Hindus and others and talking about some of their despicable 
acts which, unfortunately, the world had then come to know.
  But even today, Afghanistan is far from out of the woods. The Taliban 
and al Qaeda remnants have used recent events to further their agenda 
of undermining the peace and stability that President Karzai aims to 
bring to Afghanistan and its people. Progress in reconstruction and 
development, which is crucial to bringing economic opportunity and hope 
to millions, is painfully slow. But the biggest obstacle to democracy 
and development is the unprecedented scale of opium cultivation and 
narco-trafficking.
  Mr. Speaker, in the face of these obstacles, President Karzai has 
remained steadfast and determined to bring democracy, prosperity, and 
security to the people of Afghanistan; and the United States must help 
President Karzai achieve this goal.
  This resolution welcomes President Karzai upon his visit to the 
United States this week and recognizes that a democratic, stable, and 
prosperous Afghanistan is a vital national security interest of the 
United States. The resolution wisely states that a strong and enduring 
partnership between our two countries must remain a primary objective.
  President Bush met today with President Karzai in the Oval Office. I 
am sure the President continued to offer the strong support of the 
American people to President Karzai. It is my hope that President 
Karzai offered his thoughts on how efforts against illegal drugs can 
and will be intensified.
  Mr. Speaker, we cannot allow Afghanistan to lapse into chaos, war, 
and ruin once again. The United States must demonstrates its long-term 
commitment to a strong and enduring partnership with Afghanistan. 
President Karzai is Afghanistan's best chance at achieving peace, and 
we must do everything to help him realize this goal.
  I had the pleasure of meeting President Karzai when he was last in 
town and met with members of the Committee on International Relations, 
and I must also add on a personal note that a very good friend of mine 
is a first cousin of his, so he does have strong family ties to the 
United States as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud 
cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 153, which welcomes His Excellency Hamid 
Karzai, the President of Afghanistan, on the occasion of his visit to 
the United States in May 2005 and expresses support for a strong and 
enduring strategic partnership between the United States and 
Afghanistan. As the Co-Chair for the Congressional Afghan Caucus along 
with my colleague Chairman Ney, I am proud to welcome President Karzai 
back to the United States. I want to thank my colleague Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen for introducing this appropriate concurrent resolution.
  While there will be those who have the view that the war in 
Afghanistan is over and we should shift our view, the truth is that 
Afghanistan is as vital to our nation now as it was shortly after 
September 11th. Operation Enduring Freedom was a success in removing 
the Taliban leadership and giving the Afghan people new hope, however 
our work there is far from done. We must ensure that Afghanistan has a 
bright and productive future ahead of itself, in which peace and 
prosperity, will be possible. We can not make the same mistake we made 
in Afghanistan after the conclusion of the Cold War. The brave Afghan 
warriors defeated the Red Army, stopping them for completing another 
brutal assault upon an innocent nation. However, we rewarded their 
bravery by ignoring Afghanistan and allowing it to be a place where 
extremists like the Taliban and Al Qaeda could take refuge and indeed 
have sanctuary to build upon. We can not allow ourselves to make that 
same mistake again, we must show the Afghan people that we stand with 
them even after our own short term interests have been fulfilled. I 
have traveled to Afghanistan on a couple different occasions and I have 
seen the faces of the Afghan people and I know they are ready to 
embrace us, if only we can really support them for the long term.
  I want to applaud President Karzai; he is a man of courage and 
vision. More than 10.5 million Afghan men and women voted in national 
presidential elections in October 2004, again giving credence to the 
fact that they have embraced democratic reform. The Afghan people have 
chosen Hamid Karzai, formerly the interim President, for a five-year 
term as Afghanistan's first democratically-elected President. I 
congratulate President Karzai for this victory, his job has not been 
easy and surely there were few who would have been willing to assume 
the burden of leadership that he did. His goals and aspirations will be 
for the long term health and security of Afghanistan and to get to that 
point he needs and deserves the full support of our nation.
  Again, let me welcome President Karzai back to the United States, I 
stand among many Members who admire his will and resolve on behalf of 
his people. His accomplishments despite all the obstacles are certainly 
praiseworthy and deserving of recognition from the United States 
Congress. Let us all hope that this pattern of progress and success 
continues for President Karzai and Afghanistan as we move forward.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H3737]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren of California). The 
question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 
Ros-Lehtinen) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 153.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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