[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20495]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       PALESTINIAN SUICIDE BOMBER

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, as the Senate debates the resolution 
authorizing the use of force against Iraq, yet another Palestinian 
suicide bomber killed himself and an innocent bystander in Israel. 
Twenty-nine others were reportedly injured in that attack.
  Those who believe that Saddam Hussein's murderous regime poses no 
immediate threat to America or our allies would be wise to consider the 
evidence seized by Israeli forces in their own war against terrorism. 
According to recent press reports, Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin 
Ramadan personally directed the transfer of funds to the families of 
suicide bombers in amounts ranging from $10,000 to $25,000. The 
delusional butchers in Baghdad may view this money as a sort of 
``martyr fund'', in reality it is no more than a ``murder fund.''
  Palestinian and Iraqi extremists are cut from the same cloth as the 
al-Qaida terrorists who attacked our shores. As a threat to human life 
and decency, there is only one way to deal with these fanatics and that 
is to destroy them.
  The innocent victims of this latest suicide bombing are in my 
thoughts and prayers. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring 
all those killed by terrorists in the United States and abroad, 
particularly in Israel.

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