[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 11, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         EL SALVADOR ELECTIONS

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                           HON. PAUL C. BROUN

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 11, 2009

  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Madam Speaker, El Salvador is a good friend and 
ally of the United States. After we suffered the attacks of 9-11, most 
Salvadorans kept us in their prayers . . . But one group felt 
differently.
  The Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), an extreme 
left-wing party, issued a communique that the U.S., for its policies, 
was itself to blame for being attacked. The U.S. Embassy publicly 
denounced the FMLN's declaration.
  Four days after 9/11, the FMLN had a march in their capital city to 
celebrate the attack by Al-Qaeda and to burn the American flag. The 
leader of that march was Salvador Sanchez Ceren, who today is the 
FMLN's candidate for Vice President. The FMLN political party in El 
Salvador supports designated terrorist organizations, such as the FARC 
and State Sponsors of Terror, such as Iran and Cuba.
  The FMLN has a long history of hostility towards us. If the FMLN 
should take power in El Salvador, it will be urgent for Congress to 
review our policies in order to assure the national security of the 
United States. Under current law, the election of a pro-terrorism party 
in El Salvador would have real consequences. Since the 9/11 attacks, 
the U.S. has enacted stronger tools to fight terrorism and those who 
funnel money to support it.
  I want to make clear that these actions would not be punitive; they 
are not meant to chastise Salvadorans, but the U.S. will not aid 
sponsors of terrorism. We have an obligation to protect the U.S. and 
our citizens against those seeking to do us harm.

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