[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25749]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM

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                            HON. SAM GRAVES

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 24, 2003

  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of President Bush, 
Operation Iraqi Freedom, and our country's efforts to bring peace and 
stability to Iraq. I also rise in support of the Pence amendment. This 
amendment would ensure that we will recoup some of our investment as we 
work to stabilize Iraq's future.
  We supplied our troops with the tools they needed to free Iraq from 
the Hussein regime. Now we must supply our troops with the tools they 
need to complete the Iraqi reconstruction and return home. Iraq is in 
the middle of an international terrorism hotbed. If we fail to support 
our troops and their efforts, Iraq may regress, and the sacrifice would 
be for naught. I cannot, and will not, let this happen. Our troops have 
fought too hard to liberate Iraq.
  Just as our troops make sacrifices for a successful Iraqi government 
and secure Iraqi economy so must we, the American taxpayers, make a 
financial sacrifice to invest in the future of a free Iraq. A stable 
Iraq strengthens the safety of our own homeland, and this security is 
worth the price. This investment is an investment in the future of 
democracy.

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