[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13924]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             IRAQ'S FUTURE

  (Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, June 30 is not the 
beginning of the end of Iraq, as some would want us to believe but, 
rather, the beginning of their future.
  There is no doubt that challenges lay ahead, but I am optimistic 
about Iraq's future. I am optimistic because just 15 months ago, Saddam 
Hussein was a threat to the world and Iraqis had no voice.
  Today, thanks to the brave and selfless sacrifices of American and 
coalition troops, Saddam is no longer in power and millions of Iraqis 
are shaping their own destinies by participating in Iraq's political 
process.
  The Iraq people are showing tremendous courage as they face enemies 
of freedom. Neither the will of the Iraqis nor the coalition will be 
deterred by violence and terror.
  Mr. Speaker, next week Iraq officially becomes a sovereign Nation, 
and I am optimistic because this is no doubt that a free Iraq will be a 
decisive blow to terrorism and a victory for the civilized world and 
the security of America.

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