[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 13 (Tuesday, February 7, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S743-S744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  WAR ON TERROR: PROGRESS AND OUTLOOK

  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, as the U.S. Senate gets started for the 
second legislative session of the 109th Congress, I would like to take 
this opportunity and concentrate our attention on the milestones 
achieved in the global war on terror and take a look at the road ahead.
  Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, we and many others in the 
international community have been united in our effort to defeat 
terrorism wherever it has taken hold in the world. September 11 proved 
without a doubt that a network of extremists preaching hate and 
oppression were determined to cause our Nation great harm. It is clear 
these extremists were and continue to be committed to nothing less than 
the total destruction of our Nation and our way of life. This network 
of terrorism is embedded in many countries. It has penetrated hard 
working communities, valued institutions of education, and sacred 
places of worship.
  As in any previous world conflicts, the global war on terror cannot 
be successfully prosecuted without extensive cooperation of the members 
of the international community. Given the potential catastrophic 
consequences of terrorist attacks, President Bush worked with our 
international partners and allies to identify terrorist networks, 
reduce their ability to communicate and coordinate their plans, and 
disrupt attacks before they occur.
  With America in the lead, a full scale international campaign began 
in 2001. A total of 136 countries, including members of the European 
Union, Russia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Australia, countries of Asia and 
Africa provided and, in many instances, still continue to provide a 
range of intelligence and/or military assistance. As a result of this 
unprecedented multilateral cooperation, we have been able to kill or 
capture more than one half of the known al Qaida leaders and prevent 
possible terrorist attacks both in the U.S. and abroad.
  Despite the many difficulties in this war, our Nation has not 
retreated nor walked away in the face of adversity. We sought out 
terrorists, cut off their funding, and disrupted their plans. Under the 
steadfast leadership of President Bush our country has taken the battle 
to the enemy and achieved significant successes.
  In October 2001, the coalition forces launched a military campaign 
against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. The regime was successfully 
removed from power and all known al Qaida training camps were 
destroyed.
  With the help from the international community, the people of 
Afghanistan, many for the first time in the history of their nation, 
tasted the initial seeds of freedom. Let me pause here for a second. 
For the first time in history millions of people in Afghanistan are now 
able to express their opinions without a fear of retribution or 
punishment.
  After several national elections, the people of Afghanistan adopted a 
new constitution, elected a president and held successful parliamentary 
elections. Efforts to revitalize Afghanistan's economy and education 
system have already produced significant results. Agricultural 
production, which is a way of life for 70 percent of Afghanistan's 
people, has nearly doubled. New roads are being built. Teachers are 
being trained and an increasing number of people, including women, have 
access to education.
  Afghanistan was devastated by decades of war and neglect and is now 
being turned into a young democracy that will be an example to others 
in the troubled region.
  A year after September 11, the President challenged the United 
Nations to confront another protector of terror: Saddam Hussein. Saddam 
Hussein failed to comply with more than a dozen of United Nations 
Security Council resolutions and he gave every appearance of continuing 
to hide large stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction.
  Based on Saddam's reported weapons of mass destruction and support 
for terrorism, Iraq represented a dangerous nexus that the 
international community could no longer ignore. President Bush bravely 
made the decision to liberate Iraq from the most brutal regime in the 
country's history and plant the seeds of freedom in the land that had 
only known decades of tyranny and oppression.

  It is clear today that the terrorists view Iraq as the major 
battleground against the coalition forces, against the rule of law, and 
against peace and prosperity. During the last 2 years they have tried 
to derail the democratic process and threatened to kill those 
participating in it. Undeterred, the majority of the Iraqi people have 
bravely ignored this threat and joined the emerging Iraqi political 
process.
  By the millions, Iraqis lined up to choose a transitional government 
that

[[Page S744]]

drafted the most democratic constitution in the Arab world. By the 
millions, Iraqis approved that constitution in a national referendum. 
And by the millions, Iraqis elected a new Iraqi government under the 
Iraqi-written constitution for the Iraqi people. Let there be no doubt 
about it: the establishment of a meaningful political process and 
lasting democratic institutions will decide Iraq's future.
  We can be proud of the fact that each national vote in Iraq has 
experienced less violence and produced bigger and broader voter 
turnout. President Bush put it best when he stated:

       In all three aspects of our strategy--democracy, security 
     and reconstruction--we are learning from our experiences, and 
     we are fixing what hasn't worked. . . . we have witnessed a 
     transformation in Iraq that is virtually without precedent.

  Iraqi security forces continue to show improvements in defending 
their fellow countrymen. In October of last year, Iraqi police and army 
personnel secured polling sites around the country, quickly suppressing 
any incidents of violence.
  Growing in size and strength, Iraqi military units have become more 
capable and able to defend their country's emerging democracy. Today, 
Iraqi security battalions have assumed control over entire sectors of 
Iraq. These accomplishments demonstrate the willingness of Iraqis to 
stand up to insurgents and protect their fellow countrymen. Iraqis are 
gradually taking over the frontline in defense of their communities.
  With each Iraqi soldier trained and equipped to carry out the 
mission, Iraq draws closer to being able to stand on its own and 
protect its own freedom.
  A free society cannot exist without an independent and impartial 
judicial system. With slow but steady progress on all fronts, the Iraqi 
people are carefully building one of the country's most important 
institutions: its judiciary. With the help from the international 
community, the Iraqi people have begun the trial of one of the most 
brutal dictators in history, Saddam Hussein. Although none of Hussein's 
victims had a luxury of due process, the new Iraqi government decided 
to adhere to the highest standard of the rule of law and allowed its 
former dictator to stand trial by his peers.
  None of these successes would have been possible if not for the 
sacrifice of America's finest men and women in uniform. Their pride, 
patriotism and perseverance have been the deciding factor on the 
battlefields far away from home. They have answered the call of duty in 
a noble but difficult task. Some have made the ultimate sacrifice. 
Their families will always be in our thoughts and prayers. We should 
honor their lives by defeating the terrorists.
  The successful strategy for prosecuting the global war on terror set 
forth by President Bush is steadily moving forward. The road ahead will 
require additional sacrifice from America's leaders, members of the 
military and the American people. We must continue to unite behind our 
Commander-In-Chief, make the necessary adjustments, and move forward on 
the path of complete victory. The Global War on Terror demands nothing 
less.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Burr). The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. In my capacity as a Senator from North 
Carolina, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be 
rescinded.
  Without objection, it is so ordered.

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