[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 28, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H750]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, last week this Nation and the entire world 
turned a new page. Instead of a foreign policy based on preemptive 
strikes, military might and bullying, the United States, led by 
President Obama, will return to our national ideals of diplomacy and 
international cooperation. Like most Americans, I'm heartened by the 
prospect and look forward to the chance for peace and justice 
throughout our world. Besides, our policies have nowhere to go but up.
  In a groundbreaking study, the Council for a Liveable World has 
outlined the good, the bad and the ugly of the past administration. 
Sadly, the list of the ``goods'' is much shorter than the ``bads'' and 
the ``uglies.''
  On the good list, the Bush administration did not resume nuclear 
testing and did not withdraw the U.S. signature from the Comprehensive 
Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. Second, there was no war in Iran.
  Sadly, Mr. Speaker, the foreign policy missteps of the past 
administration make a much longer list. Some of these wrong-headed 
policies may take years to fix. Some have seriously undermined the true 
ideals of America and its commitment to peace. The list goes on and on.
  Here are some of the so-called ``greatest hits'' of the past 8 years. 
The administration refused to request congressional ratification of the 
Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. The United States-India nuclear 
deal that undermined longstanding antiproliferation efforts was 
approved. The nuclear nonproliferation treaty was undermined by the 
administration's walking back from key promises the United States made 
in 1995 and 2000. The war in Iraq still continues after 6 years. There 
were virtually no negotiations with Iran. There were 8 years of 
unilateralism. The military budget skyrocketed by 86 percent. The 
United States has failed to pay all its dues to the United Nations. In 
March 2008, the United States was $1.6 billion behind in its treaty 
obligations which could have a negative impact on key U.N. operations 
including jeopardizing the 19 U.N. peacekeeping missions around the 
world. Finally, Cold War-era weapons systems continue to be funded such 
as the F-22 Raptor, Virginia-class submarine and the V-22 Osprey. None 
of them have any purpose in the current security environment.
  Now we can't let the mistakes of the past get in the way of progress 
or hope for a more secure and peaceful world. I was very encouraged and 
inspired by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's testimony before the 
Senate when she said that if she were confirmed, which she has been, 
the State Department will be firing on all cylinders to provide 
forward-looking, sustained diplomacy in every single part of the world.

                              {time}  1830

  Talk about a breath of fresh air.
  ``Our incoming President Obama can count on me,'' she said. And I say 
he can count on me, as well, and countless Members of Congress to 
promote and advance a foreign policy founded on smart security, founded 
on diplomacy, and founded on cooperation.
  The world is waiting with great hope and expectations. On January 20, 
it was the beginning of a change in Washington, and its results will be 
felt far beyond our borders.

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