[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H1201-H1202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         AMERICAN SOLDIERS REMAIN COMMITTED TO SUCCESS IN IRAQ

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Ralph Waldo Emerson once 
said that an ounce of action is worth a pound of theory. As I listen to 
theories of doom and gloom about our military operations in Iraq, I am 
proud that American soldiers remain focused to successfully accomplish 
their mission to protect American families. Last week, the U.S. 
director of the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office reminded us of 
the tremendous progress that has been made in Iraq over the last 3 
years.
  Ambassador Daniel Speckhard reported that Iraq's per capita annual 
income increased from $500 per person in March 2003 to $1,200 today. 
More than 30,000 Iraqi businesses have been registered in the past 
year. Iraq now has a free press, more than 2,000 Internet cafes, and 
more than 5 million cell phone users.

[[Page H1202]]

  While naysayers focus on a civil war in Iraq, our troops are 
committed to creating a civil society in Iraq which protects American 
families.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September 11.

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