[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 24535-24536]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       SCHOOL FOR IRAQ'S CHILDREN

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, one of the biggest successes in Iraq 
in the past month has been the first day of school for millions of 
Iraqi children. America's service men and women worked with local 
partners to refurbish the schools that were destroyed under Saddam 
Hussein's regime so these children could experience the freedom that 
comes with learning. One example of this progress involves soldiers 
from the 1st Armored Division's 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, who 
did an immense amount to improve the quality of life for Iraqi 
children. Led by Squadron Commander LTC Charles Williams, the soldiers 
focused their efforts on 25 schools around the rim of Baghdad. The 
schools had been neglected by the former regime.
  They were in a sad state when 1AD forces arrived in Baghdad several 
months ago. The desks were in pieces. The blackboards were broken. 
There were no doors on the rooms and there were no ceiling fans. There 
was very poor lighting or no lighting at all. The squadron took charge. 
Their engineers came forward. American contractors and local Iraqi 
contractors worked together to repair the schools.
  Over the past few months the schools underwent a dramatic change: 
Walls were painted. Electrical wiring and plumbing were fixed. Glass 
was replaced. Security bars were installed in windows and school 
supplies were issued.
  I have some pictures that show better than any words could some of 
the progress that is being made. This is a picture of Mahmoud Al-
Jabouri, a former Iraqi Army general who worked with the 1st Squadron, 
1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division in repairing the schools in 
Baghdad. He is giving a speech for the first day of classes at Dufaf 
Al-Neil primary school. The progress our troops have been making in 
working with Iraqi citizens enabled this school to open. It was a joint 
effort. We can see the children at the opening day of the school with 
our soldiers and the former Iraqi general.
  Look at the excitement on the Iraqi faces as soldiers from the 1st 
Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment helped an Iraqi schoolgirl cut the 
ribbon at a ceremony celebrating the first day of school. These 
children are so excited, as they see their world opening up. Iraqi 
children at Dufaf Al-Neil school hold up the markers they received 
along with other gifts from soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Regiment. 
Everyone can see that these school supplies have opened a new world for 
these children. Their liberation cannot be overemphasized.

[[Page 24536]]

  Aside from the new facilities, there is something else the American 
forces have provided for these children. They have ended the fear and 
terror that Saddam Hussein instilled in Iraqi schools. I want to read 
an excerpt from a National Review article from October 13. This is 
stunning.

       . . . there will be no mysterious disappearances from the 
     classrooms. No teachers and pupils will be found dead in 
     school doorways. . . . Teenage school girls will not be 
     abducted and taken to one of the many harems maintained by 
     Uday, Saddam's sadistic elder son. . . .

  We could hardly imagine how these children went to school living in 
fear that they might be abducted and taken into Uday's harem; that 
their teachers might be killed in the doorway for something that they 
could not even imagine they had said or done wrong. Not only are we 
opening these schools with new school supplies and painted walls and 
lighting, but we have taken the fear from these children that when they 
go to school, something horrible will happen.
  Our Armed Forces are performing heroic acts every day, trying to 
ensure that the Iraqi people are free and working toward self-
government. Step by step, normal life in Iraq is being established as 
basic services are restored and hope is reborn.
  What we are doing in Iraq is going to change the Middle East. It is 
going to give people in this country a taste of freedom, and others 
will see it. It will be a message bigger than anything we could say 
would happen. It is the results that we are working for, and the 
President is committed to that result.
  That is why we are debating a supplemental appropriation that would 
bring freedom to this country and begin to spread it throughout the 
Middle East.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Graham, of South Carolina). Under the 
previous order, the Senator from Louisiana is recognized for 10 
minutes.

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