[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 79 (Monday, June 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DECLARING THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL PREVAIL IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON 
                                 TERROR

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. JOHN L. MICA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 16, 2006

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the men and women 
bravely defending our country against terrorism and tyranny.
  Regarding U.S. and allied actions against Saddam Hussein's Iraq, I 
believe it was appropriate for Congress on October 16, 2002 to 
authorize American military action and would vote again to provide 
President Bush this authority.
  The question of whether Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass 
destruction, WMD, is a moot point and a distraction from a host of 
evidence that the United States was justified in its actions against 
the former Iraqi regime. The facts are that Saddam Hussein had the 
capability to produce WMDs and had weapons in defiance of United 
Nations agreements to deliver nuclear, biological or chemical warheads.
  In fact, neither I nor the President knew for certain whether Saddam 
had WMDs at the time of our actions against Iraq. Many of us suspected 
he did possess that capability. Let me quote a few.
  ``Saddam Hussein possesses chemical, biological weapons, and if 
events are allowed to run their course, will someday possess nuclear 
weapons.'' Sen. Evan Bayh (D.-Ind.), statement, Oct. 3, 2002.
  ``I believe that Saddam Hussein rules by terror and has squirreled 
away stores of biological and chemical weapon[s].'' Sen. Dianne 
Feinstein (D.-Calif.), floor speech, Oct. 10, 2002.

  ``The people of the United States and the rest of the world are at 
risk as long as Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction. Last 
night, the President . . . made the most effective case to date that 
the risk of inaction is too great to bear.'' Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D.-
W. Va.), statement, March 18, 2003.
  ``For the last 12 years he's [Saddam's] ignored UN resolutions and 
embargoes while rebuilding his illegal chemical and biological weapons. 
. . . He is dangerous. I believe he needs to be disarmed.'' Sen. 
Barbara Mikulski (D.-Md.), floor speech, March 18, 2003.
  ``In 1991, the world collectively made a judgment that this man 
should not have weapons of mass destruction. And we are here today in 
the year 2002 with an un-inspected 4-year interval during which time we 
know through intelligence he not only has kept them, but he continues 
to grow them. . . . The threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass 
destruction is real, but as I said, it is not new.'' Sen. John Kerry 
(D.-Mass.), floor speech, Oct. 9, 2002.
  ``On Monday night, President Bush, I think spoke for all of us. I 
know of no one who really disagrees at all. He described Saddam Hussein 
as a homicidal dictator who is addicted to weapons of mass destruction. 
It is that addiction that demands a strong response. We all agree on 
that. There is no question that Iraq possesses biological and chemical 
weapons and that he seeks to acquire additional weapons of mass 
destruction, including nuclear weapons.'' Sen. Chris Dodd (D.-Conn.), 
floor speech, Oct. 9, 2002.
  ``I believe if Saddam Hussein continues to refuse to meet his 
obligation to destroy his weapons of mass destruction and his 
prohibited missile delivery systems, that the United Nations should 
authorize member states to use military force to destroy those weapons 
and systems.'' Sen. Carl Levin (D.-Mich.), floor speech, Oct. 9, 2002.
  ``He [Saddam Hussein] stockpiles biological and chemical weapons.'' 
Sen. Jon Corzine (D.-N.J.), floor speech, Oct. 9, 2003.
  Furthermore, the Saddam Hussein regime was marked by brutality, fear 
and terror. Over 270 suspected mass grave sites have been found by 
Iraqis and U.S. and allied forces. On September 23, 2004, Iraqi interim 
Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said, ``Like almost every Iraqi, I have many 
friends who were murdered, tortured or raped by the regime of Saddam 
Hussein. Well over 1 million Iraqis were murdered or are missing. We 
estimate at least 300,000 are in mass graves which stand as monuments 
to the inhumanity of Saddam's regime.''
  The brutality of the former Iraqi regime knew no bounds. Victims of 
Saddam's torture chambers were subjected to vicious acts such as the 
gouging-out of eyes, severe beatings, electric shock, dismemberment and 
the cutting out of tongues. Documented chemical attacks by the 
regime from 1983 to 1988 resulted in some 30,000 Iraqi and Iranian 
deaths. Human Rights Watch estimates that Saddam's 1987 to 1988 
campaign of terror against the Kurds killed at least 50,000. Saddam's 
ruthlessness even extended to his own family in which he had 
approximately 40 of his own relatives murdered.

  Today there are many Monday morning Iraq quarterbacks. The U.S. did 
win the war against Iraq and captured Saddam Hussein. However, America 
and its allies have had difficulty in controlling insurgent attacks.
  No one anticipated Islamic extremists would make a stand bringing in 
al-Qaeda, Baathists and others. No one anticipated civil conflict 
between the Shi'a, Sunni and Kurd populations. However President Bush, 
Secretary Rumsfeld and U.S. military leaders have done their very best 
in a difficult situation and deserve our support and continued backing.
  Yes, we all want our troops home and an end to terrorism. Rhetoric 
and unwarranted criticism will not make that happen.

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