[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 78 (Friday, June 16, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H4138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  0915
            SUPPORT OUR TROOPS AND THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of visiting our troops in 
Iraq last month. I asked General Casey, the commander of our troops, 
how the political carping in Washington affected the troops. He 
responded, It doesn't really affect the troops so much, but it really 
grates on their families back home.
  During Vietnam, I will never forget, as a young Air Force officer 
flying combat, how much we despised the politicians in Washington who 
were undermining the war effort. We visited the Iraqi leaders and Prime 
Minister al Maliki said, Welcome to a free and democratic Iraq. He 
said, Please tell the American people of our deep gratitude for the 
sacrifices that your sons and daughters have made to give us our 
freedom. He said, Please finish the job. Don't abandon us. Don't go 
backward.
  Mr. Speaker, I don't question the patriotism of our opponents in this 
manner, just their judgment. The cause of freedom is too important to 
quit. The world and the terrorists are watching. Let's not lose our 
resolve.

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