[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 93 (Monday, July 17, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S7625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          CONDEMNING HEZBOLLAH

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of a 
resolution the Senate is expected to soon consider, and which I have 
cosponsored, along with Senator Frist, who is the lead sponsor, and 
Senators Reid, Biden, Santorum, Nelson of Florida, Kyl, Bond, and 
Levin. It is a resolution that condemns Hezbollah and expresses support 
for Israel's right to self defense.
  All of us are watching in horror what is happening there, and I think 
it is important that the United States Senate speak forcefully in 
support of our President. The G-8 leaders have spoken this week to 
condemn Hezbollah and terrorist activities and to ask the Government of 
Lebanon to help find the Israeli soldiers who are being held hostage 
and free them and to disarm Hezbollah.
  Mr. President, there should be no misunderstanding. Israel has fully 
complied with the United Nations mandate. They have no forces in 
Lebanon and yet they have continued to withstand attack after attack 
from Hezbollah.
  We watched with sadness last year when Lebanon's former Prime 
Minister was assassinated by terrorists.
  I think we have to put the blame where we believe it lies. We know 
Iran and Syria are infiltrating Lebanon with support for Hezbollah and 
Hamas.
  We know Hezbollah and Hamas are committed to the destruction of 
Israel. Since 1948 it has been forced to continually fight for its very 
existence, and yet in the middle of this it has stood as a democratic 
form of government, with a free economy. Israel has never backed away 
from its fundamental commitment to freedom and human liberty.
  So, Mr. President, I think this is something the United States Senate 
should stand firm with this bipartisan resolution that says we do 
support our President and the G-8 leaders and condemn Hezbollah. We 
encourage the Government of Lebanon, to stop these attacks on Israel, 
and locate and return the soldiers who have been taken hostage. Let's 
add our voice to that of the unified leaders of the world who are 
saying this should not be allowed to happen.
  We must speak together, we must stay together, we must support 
Israel's right to self-defense and understand that they should have the 
support of a unified world community, saying to the terrorists and the 
governments that are supporting the terrorists--Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, 
Syria supporting them--that the world is not going to sit by and let 
people be terrorized. This is a global war on terror, and we must 
speak.
  I thank the distinguished Senator from Kansas for allowing me to 
speak. I know I am speaking during the stem cell debate. The resolution 
will be considered soon, and I wanted to speak on the floor because I 
think it is so important what is happening in the world today, and we 
must speak as a unified voice in the Senate.

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