[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 7623]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          VOICES OF CRITICISM

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, this week has reminded us that war is serious 
business. Each day we see our brave soldiers on TV making great 
progress against Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime. Now, more than 
ever, the troops need our support and encouragement.
  Mr. Speaker, we should stay united behind our troops. Our troops do 
not need to hear criticism of their mission from this body or this 
Capitol. When their Nation's leaders question their mission, I can tell 
you, as a combat veteran, it is discouraging. It is tough to stay 
focused when the leaders you look to for strength are not in your 
corner.
  Most people disregard professional protestors, especially when they 
see their placards saying ``capitalism is the problem.'' But when they 
hear their leaders criticizing their mission to liberate the people of 
Iraq from a brutal tyrant and his thugs who rule by terror, that is 
disheartening.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stop making our Capitol building 
a platform to criticize the war and our troops. That only hurts our 
troops in the field.

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