[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 26 (Monday, February 12, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H1426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SUPPORTING THE IRAQ MISSION

  (Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. Barrett of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, this week we will debate 
a non-binding resolution that will do nothing more than undermine the 
mission in Iraq, weaken the morale of our troops, and embolden our 
enemy.
  No doubt mistakes have been made in the battle with Iraq. With every 
war mistakes are made. The question before us is, Are we going to learn 
from the mistakes and correct them and move forward with a plan of 
success, or are we going to retreat in defeat?
  Mr. Speaker, the terrorists themselves believe Iraq is a central 
front in the war on terror. Al Zawahiri, al Qaeda's deputy leader, has 
repeatedly said Iraq and Afghanistan are the ``two most crucial 
fields'' in the Islamists' war. A policy of retreat and defeat would 
result in pervasive instability and embolden radical Islamist 
terrorists and rogue regimes to expand new areas in the region.
  Mr. Speaker, the stakes are real and they are high. And the American 
people deserve leadership, not partisan politics. I will continue to 
support our troops by continuing to support their mission.

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