[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 127 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H6076-H6079]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE FOUR UNITED STATES PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO DIED IN LIBYA
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the resolution (H. Res. 786) honoring the four United States public
servants who died in Libya and condemning the attacks on United States
diplomatic facilities in Libya, Egypt, and Yemen.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 786
Whereas, on September 11, 2012, terrorists attacked the
United States consulate in Benghazi, Libya, killing four
United States citizens, including the United States
Ambassador to Libya, John Christopher Stevens, Foreign
Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith, and
security officers Tyrone S. Woods and Glen A. Doherty, and
injured other United States citizens;
Whereas, on September 11, 2012, violent protesters stormed
the United States embassy in Cairo, Egypt, committing acts of
vandalism and violence and endangering the welfare of United
States diplomats;
Whereas, on September 13, 2012, violent protestors were
repelled from an attempt to storm the United States embassy
in Sana'a, Yemen;
Whereas Ambassador Stevens was a champion of the Libyan
people's efforts to remove Muammar Qaddafi from power, and
served as Special Envoy to the Libyan Transitional National
Council in Benghazi during the 2011 Libyan revolution;
Whereas, on a daily basis, United States diplomats,
military personnel, foreign service nationals and locally
employed staff, and other public servants make professional
and personal sacrifices to faithfully serve the United States
and its people to advance the ideals of freedom, democracy,
and human dignity around the globe;
Whereas many United States diplomatic facilities remain
threatened by terrorist attacks or violent protests in the
wake of these attacks; and
Whereas Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic
Relations obligates host governments to ``take all
appropriate steps to protect the premises of the [diplomatic]
mission against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any
disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its
dignity.'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the selfless commitment to United States
national security and to Libya's hard-won, transitional
democracy by the brave United States citizens who lost their
lives in the unjustified attack on the United States
consulate in Benghazi, Libya;
(2) expresses its deepest condolences to the families and
loved ones of those United States public servants killed in
Benghazi, Libya;
(3) condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorists
who planned and conducted the attack on the United States
consulate in Benghazi, Libya, and those who vandalized the
United States embassies in Cairo, Egypt, and Sana'a, Yemen;
(4) expresses profound concern about the security situation
in Libya, Egypt, and Yemen, and with the continuing threat
posed to the region and United States interests by extremists
and terrorists;
(5) appreciates the actions of those who sought to protect
the United States diplomats and diplomatic facilities;
(6) reaffirms that nothing can justify terrorism or attacks
on innocent civilians and diplomatic personnel;
(7) calls upon all governments to continue to work closely
with the United States Department of State to ensure security
of diplomatic facilities throughout their countries, to
secure their borders, and to aggressively combat terrorists
and extremists who operate within their sovereign territory;
[[Page H6077]]
(8) calls upon the Governments of Libya, Egypt, and Yemen,
in full cooperation with the United States Government, to
investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of these
attacks; and
(9) reiterates the United States commitment to promoting
its core values, including support for democracy, universal
human rights, individual and religious freedom, and respect
for human dignity.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.
General Leave
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and to insert extraneous material into the Record on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I want to thank Speaker Boehner, Leader Cantor, Leader Pelosi, and
Mr. Hoyer for spearheading this critical resolution about the recent
terrorist attacks.
Our thoughts and our prayers are with the families of Ambassador
Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glenn Doherty, and
all of those injured in the attack. Our condolences must also go out to
the entire U.S. diplomatic corps.
On the 11th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001, radical
Islamists attacked the United States mission in Benghazi, and our
Ambassador and three other State Department personnel were murdered.
Concurrently, in Cairo, our Embassy was assaulted by a mob of
extremists who breached its walls and desecrated our American flag.
Since that fateful day, Mr. Speaker, we have witnessed a dramatic
escalation of anti-American protests and actions throughout the region,
from assaulting the Embassy in Tunis to the attack on peacekeepers in
the Sinai.
The premise that the violence and the protests are solely based on
that obscure, hateful video is patently false. Rather, it is
symptomatic of a broader effort by our enemies in the region to foment
hatred of the U.S. Yet the hesitation on the part of this
administration and the schizophrenia in response to this latest crisis
is a cause for concern.
The U.S. has nothing for which to apologize, including the exercise
of freedom of expression. Surrendering our principles before an unruly
mob or violent extremists will only embolden the likes of al Qaeda and
reinforce the notion that more attacks against the United States will
change core American policies and American principles.
The perpetrators of the attacks must be held accountable by our
allies in the region, and the administration must take the lead. There
is no excuse whatsoever for attacking diplomatic missions and murdering
diplomats. The administration must place the governments on notice that
their conduct during this crisis will determine the nature of our
relations moving forward.
The Libyan and Yemeni Governments have both apologized for and
strongly condemned the attacks on U.S. diplomatic posts in their host
countries. They have been fully cooperating with us. By contrast, the
Egyptian Government took over a day to issue a weak statement
discouraging violence against foreign embassies, but it was, alas, too
little, too late.
This cannot happen again, and Congress will be closely monitoring the
ongoing protests and reassessing our assistance packages and our
approaches based on the responses of the governments to assaults on our
embassies and our institutions.
The lack of a firm response will undermine our U.S. interests in the
region. We must clearly articulate and implement a policy that rewards
our allies, encourages moderate forces within the region, and punishes
our enemies.
At this critical moment, Mr. Speaker, the United States must reaffirm
support for our friends and allies and clearly differentiate them from
our enemies.
{time} 1430
The United States must continue to stand up for American values and
stand with the voices of moderation.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume,
and I rise in strong support of this resolution honoring Ambassador
Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, and Tyrone Woods, four
patriotic Americans who lost their lives in a cowardly and despicable
attack on the United States consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
On a daily basis, the men and women of the State Department assume
great risks in dangerous locations all over the world. They conduct
diplomacy, promote democracy, build civil society, educate, mediate,
negotiate, and defend U.S. interests worldwide. They are the face of
America abroad; and our country is safer, freer, and more prosperous
because of what they do.
Ambassador Stevens was one of our best and brightest--and most
courageous. He had served in Israel, Egypt, Syria, and Saudi Arabia;
but Libya became the centerpiece and defining mission of his career. He
was on the ground in Benghazi leading U.S. diplomatic efforts from the
earliest days of the revolution. He worked tirelessly on behalf of
U.S.-Libyan relations and the well-being of U.S. citizens living in
Libya. I am particularly angry that this sickening attack occurred in a
country that the U.S., with Chris Stevens in the lead, did so much to
liberate.
Ambassador Stevens will be missed for his knowledge of the Middle
East, his exemplary commitment to service, his warming and welcoming
personality, and his basic human decency.
Sean Smith, a Foreign Service information officer, was a father and
10-year veteran of the U.S. State Department. Prior to arriving in
Benghazi, he served in Brussels, Baghdad, Victoria, Montreal, and The
Hague.
Glen Doherty was a former Navy SEAL from Boston. He was killed while
serving on the Ambassador's security detail and helping to evacuate the
wounded.
Tyrone Woods spent two decades as a SEAL, was a father of three, and
had worked protecting diplomats in dangerous posts for the past 2
years.
Mr. Speaker, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all
the dedicated public servants whose lives were lost.
Libya owes the American people a full investigation of this incident,
in complete cooperation with U.S. authorities. The killers must be
found and brought to justice. I stand by ready to assist in any way I
can.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio
(Mr. Kucinich).
Mr. KUCINICH. I certainly join with my colleagues in mourning the
passing, under tragic circumstances, of Ambassador Stevens, as well as
the deaths of Sean Smith and security officers Tyrone Woods and Glen
Doherty, as well as all those who were injured. I think that all of us
can agree that what happened to Ambassador Stevens and the rest of the
diplomatic staff should concern everyone, concern all Americans. These
attacks were wrong, and it's appropriate that we honor Ambassador
Stevens.
The resolution, as I read it, is not complete, though, because this
discussion that we're having here on the floor is missing some
elements; and I'd like to bring them forward right now.
We have to ask the question: Why was that consulate in Benghazi,
Libya, so lightly defended to begin with? Did anyone know that Benghazi
was still a flash point? I mean, we overthrew the government. Did
anyone know that when the government fell, al Qaeda's flag was flying
over Benghazi? Did anyone know about al Qaeda's presence in Libya that
came after the war? That would have been a constant factor to be
mindful of with respect to protecting those who serve. Why wasn't more
care given to protect U.S. personnel?
The other thing is, there were warnings in diplomatic circles,
specifically with respect to Libya, because of the ferment that has
been going on in the broader Muslim world. These are concerns that
should be discussed by the
[[Page H6078]]
Congress. It doesn't take away anything from the sacrifice that was
given, but we have to ask some questions here.
We also have to be aware that U.S. policy in Libya is murky at best
and a huge mistake at worst. We had debates on this floor about Libya,
and we know that Congress was not consulted. The current issue of
Vanity Fair is worth the attention of every Member of Congress because
it made it abundantly clear on what is a prime constitutional
responsibility of Congress. Article I, section 8, the power to declare
war, was essentially usurped by the administration. This is not a small
matter. Would we have been in Libya if Congress had had an upfront vote
immediately?
Two days ago, we celebrated Constitution Day. Are we celebrating the
Constitution every day or just one day? There are consequences for not
following the Constitution; there are consequences for our citizens
here at home and citizens abroad. This needs to be brought up in the
context of this debate.
We cannot pretend that United States policy--which often lacks
congressional involvement--with drones flying over Yemen and Somalia
and Pakistan and Afghanistan and innocents killed, that there's not
going to be blow-back or a backlash. It is wrong for any of our people
to have their lives on the line where they lose their lives. It's
awful.
I stand here today in support of this resolution only because I want
to be on record as joining my colleagues on this matter of making sure
that we pay tribute to those whose lives were put on the line for this
country. But let me tell you, we cannot ignore the deeper questions
here: Why wasn't that consulate well defended? We cannot ignore the
question: Why wasn't Congress consulted on the decision to go to war
against Libya? There are consequences for these things.
The whole country should mourn Ambassador Stevens' death and the
deaths of all of those who proudly serve this country who were taken in
this fit of outrage that swept across Libya, but we need to remember a
few other things too about how we got there and why those people who
put their lives on the line to serve, why their lives were put in
jeopardy.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to yield 1 minute to
our esteemed majority leader, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor).
Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentlelady for her leadership in bringing
this resolution forward.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution to condemn
the violence against our diplomatic missions in Libya, Egypt, Yemen,
and elsewhere.
We acknowledge and honor the personal sacrifice of the brave
Americans who gave their lives in service to our Nation. U.S.
Ambassador Chris Stevens, Foreign Service Information Management
Officer Sean Smith, and Security Officers Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty
tragically lost their lives far from home in Benghazi, Libya, where
they were promoting American interests and helping the Libyan people
secure the hard-fought gains of the revolution. These heroes died
upholding the liberty, democracy, and moderation we value as a Nation.
In the wake of their deaths and the ongoing protests and violence,
Americans want to know what our strategy is for protecting our
diplomats, our interests, and our values in a region that is undergoing
a profound--and unfortunately sometimes violent--political
transformation.
{time} 1440
Americans are rightly worried about the anti-Americanism and Islamic
extremism that has reared its head. I share the concern that Americans
have about the situation in the Middle East, and I believe the
President should explain his strategy for navigating the uncertain
waters before us.
But I know that one policy we must not pursue is to turn our back on
this troubled region. Withdrawing from the region would embolden the
extremists and justify Osama bin Laden's strategy, leaving the
moderates who share our values and who desire democracy to combat the
forces of violence alone.
We are not alone in this fight. From Morocco to Indonesia, there are
brave Muslims who oppose violence, who desire good relations with the
United States, who respect religious freedom, and who risk their lives
by preaching tolerance and moderation. We should redouble our efforts
to stand with these Muslims who seek to protect a great religion from
being subverted by extremists.
We should not abandon Libya because terrorists seek to undermine a
government that is making progress towards establishing a democracy and
that is joining the fight against terrorism.
Egypt's democratic revolution is unfinished, and much work remains to
ensure that its first election is not its last. We should work with
Egypt's leaders to help them build a democracy that respects individual
rights, women, and religious freedom while being clear that we will not
tolerate policies that give any ground to terrorists or undermine our
security or that of our ally Israel.
American assistance is not an entitlement, and Congress expects
Egypt's new leaders to respect the parameters and conditions of our
generous aid.
America must not abandon its partners, just as we should not
apologize for our perceived sins. We must demonstrate leadership. We
should lead a coalition against the radical mullahs in Iran who foment
instability and support extremists throughout the region. America
should combat Iran's support for terrorism and thwart its aspirations
for nuclear weapons.
America should be leading an international effort to bring
overwhelming pressure on the Assad regime in Syria to end, once and for
all, its state sponsorship of terrorism and to bring about a new
government in Syria before that society fractures beyond repair.
Mr. Speaker, America has long been a force for good and stability in
the Middle East. When we have retreated in the past from playing this
role, we have paid dearly. Withdrawing from Lebanon in the 1980s ceded
that country to Syria and Hezbollah. Failing to respond to al Qaeda's
attacks in the 1990s led Osama bin Laden to believe he could attack the
American homeland.
The extremists in the region believe today, as bin Laden believed
then, that we do not have the stomach to defend our friends and our
interests, that we will abandon the Middle East. We must prove them
wrong by responding to this challenge with purpose and strength. We
must stand with our friends and hold our enemies to account.
Mr. ENGEL. I have no further speakers. I yield back the balance of my
time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to reinforce a few points.
First, our thoughts and our prayers are with the families of the
American diplomats murdered in Libya as we stand with them in this
difficult time.
Secondly, there is no excuse whatsoever for attacking diplomatic
missions and murdering diplomats.
Third, the U.S. has nothing for which to apologize. Let us not
apologize for the exercise of freedom of expression. The perpetrators
of these attacks must be held accountable.
Finally, the United States Congress will be reassessing our
assistance packages based on the responses of the various affected
governments to assaults on our embassies and our institutions. Nothing
can justify the terrorist attacks carried out against our fellow
Americans, our diplomatic posts, and our U.S. interests around the
world.
The Americans killed were committed to helping the Libyan people,
committed to help them secure a better, more stable, more peaceful
future. Yet, radicals, the radicals who seek to hijack such freedom,
security, and prosperity from the people of the Middle East and in
North Africa, those who deny their own people basic human rights and
universal freedoms, answered our dedication and our commitment of these
courageous Americans by burning our mission and killing our diplomats.
So let us be clear: no apologies are needed. Nothing justifies these
violent actions.
And to the people throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and
throughout the world who are oppressed, the United States and our
personnel overseas stand with you. We stand for freedom, despite the
threats from extremist elements.
[[Page H6079]]
With that, Mr. Speaker I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you and the
other members of our House leadership for introducing this important,
bi-partisan resolution.
Tragically, our country will now be commemorating not only the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, but also the attacks on the
United States consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that occurred on the same
date last week.
The four U.S. citizens who lost their lives, especially Ambassador
John Christopher Stevens, and those who were injured in this
unjustified act of violence demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to
our country's national security and Libya's democracy. I would like to
convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.
I also want to express my ongoing support and gratitude for all the
Foreign Service men and women who are promoting American values and
interests abroad. It is on occasions such as this that we are reminded
of the many sacrifices that they make in service to our country. In
addition to living in foreign lands away from their families and
adapting to new cultures and languages, many of them daily face the
possible ultimate sacrifice of their lives. The violence that occurred
last week at our diplomatic missions in several countries must renew
our national commitment to doing our best to ensure their safety.
Mr. Speaker, there is no justification for the recent attacks on U.S.
diplomatic missions and the taking of innocent American lives in
Benghazi. All governments must take appropriate measures to ensure the
security of U.S. diplomatic facilities within their borders, and to end
these acts of terrorism.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 786.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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