[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14283]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              IRAQ BECOMES SOVEREIGN NATION AND U.S. ALLY

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, last week on June 28, Iraq 
became a sovereign nation as control was handed over from coalition 
forces to a new Iraqi Government headed by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi 
and President Ghazi al-Yawer. This is an extraordinary achievement for 
President George W. Bush, the American military, and our coalition 
partners.
  Despite attacks from political opponents, President Bush firmly acted 
to protect American families from future terrorist attacks by 
liberating Iraq from one of history's most brutal dictators. Today, 
only 15 months after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, Iraq has 
turned from an enemy to a developing democracy. No longer a supporter 
of international terrorism, today's Iraq, along with Afghanistan, 
represents a beacon of hope in the Middle East for freedom and 
democracy.
  As the Iraqi people continue their struggle for a better future, our 
brave men and women in uniform continue to work with Iraqi forces to 
hunt down and stop the depraved enemy who is desperate to stop the 
march for freedom.
  In conclusion, may God bless our troops; and we will never forget 
September 11.

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