[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 97 (Friday, July 21, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CONDEMNING THE RECENT ATTACKS AGAINST THE STATE OF ISRAEL

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 19, 2006

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 921 
condemning recent attacks against Israel. The attacks and kidnapping of 
Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah have precipitated a crisis in the region. 
Like any sovereign power, Israel has the right and responsibility to 
defend herself against unprovoked attacks.
  United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 calls for the 
dismantling of all independent militias in Lebanon. That resolution has 
never been enforced. Consequently, the Hezbollah militia has been able 
to operate freely in Lebanon, especially in the southern area bordering 
Israel, and has amassed a large arsenal of weapons, including an 
estimated 13,000 rockets. During the past year, Hezbollah has launched 
at least four separate rocket attacks into Israel. The latest round of 
rockets have fallen indiscriminately on civilians in Haifa and other 
population centers.
  Hezbollah's terrorist operations not only pose a threat to Israel, 
but they also threaten the security of Lebanon. The majority of people 
in Lebanon strongly resent Hezbollah for dragging Lebanon into a 
conflict with Israel. They understand that Israel did not initiate 
these hostilities and has a right to defend herself. Israel also has a 
right to destroy the military and terrorist apparatus employed by 
Hezbollah in its attacks on Israel. Israel must make it absolutely 
clear that its efforts are focused on that objective. Every effort must 
be made to prevent civilian casualties. Actions perceived by the people 
of Lebanon to unnecessarily target civilian infrastructure will have 
the unintentional consequence of transforming Lebanese anger at 
Hezbollah into anger at Israel. The United States and Israel must not 
unwittingly hand Hezbollah a propaganda victory and strengthen the 
hands of the extremists in the region.

  Unfortunately, recent American actions in the Middle East and 
Southwest Asia, especially the war in Iraq, have had the unintentional 
but very foreseeable consequence of inflaming anti-Western sentiment 
and strengthening the position of the most radical Islamic forces. 
Among the biggest beneficiaries of the situation in Iraq has been 
neighboring Iran. Iran has exploited the chaos and instability in Iraq 
to advance its own radical agenda and expand its influence in the 
region. It has also further strengthened its leverage and reach in the 
region through its continued support of Hezbollah. The United States 
must do more to rally the international community to pressure Syria and 
Iran to end their support for Hezbollah and Hamas. However, our 
leverage has been considerably weakened by the situation in Iraq and 
the perception that the United States is bogged down there.
  In a speech delivered at the American Enterprise Institute in 
February 2003, a few weeks before invading Iraq, President Bush 
declared that going to war in Iraq would promote democracy and 
stability in the Middle East, reduce the influence of the hardliners 
and help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Specifically, the 
President said, ``Success in Iraq could also begin a new stage for 
Middle Eastern peace and set in motion progress toward a truly 
democratic Palestinian state. The passing of Saddam Hussein's regime 
will deprive terrorist networks of a wealthy nation that pays for 
terrorist training and offers rewards to families of suicide bombers 
and other regimes will be given a clear warning that support for 
terrorists would not be tolerated.''
  Unfortunately, but predictably, we have seen the opposite result in 
the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq. The prospects of achieving an 
Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement are far more remote today than 
they were when we invaded Iraq. While we engaged militarily in Iraq, 
this Administration disengaged from any serious effort at re- 
establishing an Israeli-Palestinian peace process. This Administration 
must confront the fact that its failed policies in Iraq and the region 
are further destabilizing and inflaming an already volatile region. We 
must lead not just by the might of our military, but by the power of 
our example. It is time to begin rebuilding our credibility around the 
world.

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