[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 72 (Thursday, June 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO U.S. ARMED FORCES AND INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THELMA D. DRAKE

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 2006

  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, this morning we woke up to the news that Abu 
Musab al-Zarqawi, the vicious terrorist who has beheaded innocent 
civilians and murdered women and children in furtherance of his 
perverted view of peaceful religion, was killed by a U.S. precision 
guided air-strike.
  I would like to take this moment to thank the men and women of our 
Armed Forces and the intelligence community for their tireless efforts 
in striking the sword of justice deep into the heart of the terrorist 
threat. I want them to know that their work has saved the lives of 
Americans and Iraqis.
  While there is the possibility that someone will attempt to rise and 
take Zarqawi's place, I am hopeful that confusion and fear will now 
reign supreme amongst the terrorists and that Iraq's newly formed 
government can use this to their advantage and continue moving Iraq 
forward. There is still work to do, and we must remain vigilant. The 
global war on terror is not about an individual, but about combating a 
perverted ideology that hates freedom, democracy, justice and equal 
rights for all.
  Again, I congratulate our military and the Iraqi people for this 
success and hope that Zarqawi's death will lead to peace and stability 
in Iraq.

                          ____________________