[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14923]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             WAR WITH IRAQ

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 8, 2004

  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address some dangerous and 
potentially harmful conjectures that have been made by some of our 
colleagues in Congress regarding the reasons for going to war with 
Iraq.
  Our decision to go to war with Iraq and remove Saddam Hussein from 
power was the right decision. The record shows that at various times 
the defeated Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein possessed biological and 
chemical weapons and desired to possess nuclear weapons. Failure to 
oust Saddam Hussein would have put the American people at a grave risk.
  Some have questioned the quality of intelligence that U.S. policy 
makers received prior to the start of the war in Iraq. I agree that 
this is a matter of grave importance that requires a complete and full 
public evaluation. Any faulty intelligence on such grave matters is a 
serious problem. If we are relying on the same potentially faulty 
intelligence to protect the lives of our troops still serving in Iraq, 
or to consider military action elsewhere in the world, that is a 
dangerous risk to our security and a grave flaw in our foreign policy 
decision making processes. While these matters are investigated, 
however, it is crucial that we do not recklessly suggest alternate 
reasons that the war was pursued.
  Some Members of Congress have made statements claiming that the true 
reason for this war was to move along the Administration's plan to 
secure a peaceful Israel. These statements are baseless, and quite 
divisive. While Israel, like the rest of the World, will surely benefit 
from a stable, democratic Iraq, this war was not entered into for 
Israel's benefit. Granted, a democratic force in the region will be 
welcome by the Israeli government, but a stable Iraq will be no means 
ensure an end to the dangers faced by our allies in Israel. Suggesting 
that the United States waged this war solely to advance its Middle East 
policies will only serve to increase the anti-Semitism that already 
permeates the area, and potentially increase the violence that the 
Israeli citizens have been forced to endure for years. It is true that, 
prior to the commencement of the War with Iraq, President Bush stated, 
``A new regime in Iraq would serve as a dramatic and inspiring example 
of freedom for other nations in the region.'' I fully agree with this 
statement, and feel that it is important to recognize that the spread 
of freedom and democracy in the region is of great benefit to the 
entire world, not just Israel. The spread of democracy will directly 
lead to the spread of peace. There has not been one instance in modern 
history where a democratic government has gone to war with another 
democratic government--not one. Achieving such a peaceful existence is 
of monumental importance to the United States, Israel, and all other 
nations opposed to violence and terror tactics.
  While I certainly do not expect each of my colleagues to agree with 
me on the question of whether or not we should have entered this war, I 
do urge all Members of Congress to think carefully about the potential 
effects that their statements may have, both on the war and on other 
subjects of a sensitive nature.

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