[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 72 (Thursday, June 8, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S5609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         KILLING OF AL-ZARQAWI

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, the Senate just finished honoring our flag 
with the Pledge of Allegiance, an innovation we added to the Senate 
proceeding several years ago upon the suggestion and urging of our 
former colleague, Senator Bob Smith of New Hampshire. As we pay respect 
to those stars and those stripes, the news this morning of the events 
in Iraq bring new strength to the patriotism reflected by the Senate 
for that flag and, indeed, for our country.
  Today, our military forces are to be commended for their dedication 
to eradicating the terrorist network in Iraq. Today's success in 
eliminating the terrorist, the butcher terrorist, the thuggish 
terrorist, al-Zarqawi, is a sure sign they are on the way to 
accomplishing that goal.
  In my own visits to Iraq, I have had the opportunity to see firsthand 
the amazing work our soldiers are doing there on the ground. We are 
proud of our military, proud of the tremendous work they are doing, and 
thank them for their efforts and their sacrifice for us each and every 
day.
  Al-Zarqawi was a man who was responsible for the beheading, the 
killing of hundreds and, indeed, thousands of innocent children, women, 
and men. He was responsible for the death of many Americans in uniform, 
men and women. For those reasons, we all know it is a great day for 
Iraq and, indeed, for the United States.
  Al-Zarqawi was the operational head. He is a symbolic head, we know, 
but equally importantly the operational head of al-Qaida in Iraq. Osama 
bin Laden called him the ``prince of Al-Qaeda.'' Reportedly, he 
masterminded the operations, the financial infrastructure, the 
financial underpinnings, and the strategic support for the terrorist 
network. While we all know there are many insurgents who remain in 
Iraq, this is surely a major blow to the terrorists who threaten both 
the safety and the security of Iraq and, indeed, the United States.
  It is also a significant day in the formation of the Government of 
Iraq, the appointment of the Ministers of Defense, of the Interior, and 
of National Security. It is a major step forward. The Prime Minister 
and most of the Cabinet have been in place for about 3 weeks. I think 
37 are in place with the completion of that Cabinet today. It is a 
major step forward. It has been a good morning. These developments are 
major steps forward. Although, as we all know, many challenges remain, 
I am more optimistic than ever that a free and stable Iraq can be 
achieved.

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