[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 128 (Thursday, September 20, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H6157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
    A WORLD AT PEACE, FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND THEIR GRANDCHILDREN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Woolsey) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, in April of the year 2004, I rose in this 
Chamber to speak for 5 minutes about my conviction that the war in Iraq 
was a dangerous, immoral policy, and it was hurting America and our 
national security.
  Since then, I've delivered a similar message nearly every day that it 
was possible when we were in session, and once the Iraq war finally 
drew to a close, I moved on to focus on the ongoing military occupation 
of Afghanistan, which soon will be in its 11th year, costing us more 
than 2,000 American lives and more than half a trillion dollars and 
counting.
  Today is my 440th 5-minute Special Order calling for an end of these 
wars and the safe return of our troops to their families right here at 
home. I'm not proud of having reached that number. I would much prefer 
that the speeches were no longer necessary.
  But since I'm retiring from the House at the end of this year, my 
20th year in Congress, one of my biggest disappointments is that we 
haven't shown the leadership, the courage, and the resolve to finally 
secure peace.
  We are still mired in this Afghanistan conflict, even though the 
evidence is overwhelming that it's doing more harm than good, even 
though it's emboldening terrorists and insurgents rather than defeating 
them, even though it's breeding resentment of America instead of 
winning hearts and minds. We are still mired in this conflict, even 
though a clear majority of the American people no longer want any part 
of it.
  I will not return to the House in 2013, so this will be one of my 
final opportunities to press this point. But as long as our troops 
remain in harm's way, and as long as this dreadful policy continues, I 
will continue to speak out and speak up.
  I know there are many proud and fearless opponents of this war on 
both sides of the aisle who will continue to lead this effort right 
here in Congress. Time and time again what I have advocated is not just 
an end to these wars, but the beginning of a new approach to combating 
terrorism and keeping America safe.
  We need to lead with American cooperation and compassion around the 
world, not American weapons and brute force. We need SMART Security, a 
plan that puts the focus on development and diplomacy. We need a 
strategy that gives people hope and improves their lives instead of 
invading and occupying their lands.
  This is not only the humane approach, Mr. Speaker, it's also the more 
pragmatic one, the one that will truly advance our national security 
goals, and it's a lot more cost-effective. Helping people costs pennies 
on the dollar compared to waging war. A lot of people have said to me 
over the years, Woolsey, your problem is that you think we can have a 
perfect world. Well, consider me guilty as charged.
  I don't believe there is anything wrong with idealism and ambitious 
goals because I'm absolutely certain that if we don't strive for a 
perfect world, we won't ever come close to providing a safe, secure, 
and peaceful world for our grandchildren and their grandchildren, and 
that's our job here in Congress.

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