[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14270]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATING THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 24, 2004

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, it is a bit surreal for Congress to pass 
a Resolution congratulating a peaceful Iraqi transition on one of the 
bloodiest days of the insurgency movement. This Resolution seems more 
an exercise in self deception. I am hopeful that in the coming days, 
Congress and this administration will focus instead on how to stem the 
violence that continues to escalate, and to address the deep questions 
about our policies and management.
  Congressional oversight is needed to examine the long term costs and 
consequences, and to determine what went wrong and how to fix it. It is 
critical to improving the safety of our soldiers and the people of Iraq 
who are struggling to rebuild their country.
  Until we can be honest with our soldiers, the American public and the 
Iraqi people I think it is decidedly inappropriate to continue with 
resolutions of this nature.

                          ____________________