[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 157 (Thursday, December 8, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H11226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         A TIME FOR EVERYTHING

  (Mr. SODREL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SODREL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to respond to the critics of 
our Iraqi policy. No one questions their right to criticize our 
commitment to the Iraqi people or the rate of progress being made. It 
is not their right I question but rather their responsibility. For 
every liberty there is a responsibility, and for every freedom a duty.
  I just returned from Iraq. Much progress is being made towards a 
stable Iraq and a democratically-elected government. It is to me 
irresponsible to enter into the current debate on the very eve of the 
Iraqi election, the most important election in the history of that 
country.
  Our words should be words of encouragement. Our words should lend 
support to this important election. Words do have meaning and ideas 
have consequences. At this critical time, our words should support the 
Iraqi people, our soldiers and the process.
  In Ecclesiastes it is written, ``There is a time for everything.'' 
The critics are using the wrong words to express the wrong idea at the 
wrong time.

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