[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8062]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           THE UNITED NATIONS

  (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, last week U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan 
expressed his concern for Iraqi civilians during coalition military 
operations. I share his concern but want to know what he says about 
Iraq's treatment of civilians. American troops risk their lives to 
avoid civilian casualties. Saddam Hussein has surrounded himself and 
his troops with innocent civilians because he knows this is the only 
way to slow our advance through Iraq. What has Mr. Annan said about 
Hussein's use of human shields, or of hospitals as military 
headquarters? Nothing. While American troops are under extreme 
scrutiny, Saddam Hussein draws none from the United Nations.
  The lack of scrutiny during wartime is the same complacency employed 
by the U.N. since 1991. We should not be surprised but we should keep 
it in mind as we think about our role in the U.N. after this war is 
over.

                          ____________________