[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19725-19726]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    PROSECUTING GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Chocola). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the tremendous job 
our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines have been doing in 
prosecuting our global war on terror.
  Just recently, I returned from a trip where I visited both the Afghan 
and Iraq theater of operations. Last year, I made a similar trip to 
Iraq, and now I can say with some certainty that we have made 
demonstrable progress.
  Americans should not think we are without friends in this region. 
President Musharraf of Pakistan has been a brave and determined ally in 
the fight against terrorism. Strong leaders such as President Karzai 
and Prime Minister Allawi are beginning to emerge in Afghanistan and 
Iraq. They have put their lives on the line and trusted the word of the 
United States. We must not

[[Page 19726]]

let them down, for our security is linked with their success in 
rebuilding their countries and defeating terrorists.
  Mr. Speaker, with respect to Iraq, U.S. forces are achieving daily 
successes in confronting terrorists while Iraqi troops and police are 
starting to undertake the tough everyday work of rebuilding and 
defending a civil society. In a recent Armed Forces hearing, Army 
Colonel Michael Linnington, former brigade commander with the 101st 
Airborne Division, testified that it was not uncommon for his troops to 
be building schools by day and patrolling for insurgents at night. Or 
for that matter, it was not uncommon for U.S. troops to be fighting 
insurgents in one part of a town while helping with elections in 
another part. The troops believe in their mission and are committed to 
seeing it through.
  Mr. Speaker, our troops have met with daily success in Iraq. However, 
some observers have not accurately portrayed the results of their 
efforts. Moreover, it is important to note that we are not the only 
country suffering casualties in the fight for a free Iraq. In addition 
to our Coalition allies, hundreds of Iraqi policemen and national guard 
members have been killed as they fight to ensure the future of their 
own country.
  With respect to Afghanistan, it is quite clear that the Afghani 
government is progressing in securing modern rights for its people 
every day. Mr. Speaker, over 10 million people have registered to vote 
in the upcoming October presidential election in Afghanistan, and 5 
million Afghanis are now enrolled in school. There are many civilian-
military projects under way, and infrastructure reconstruction is 
beginning to reappear. The Coalition forces have changed the lives of 
the Afghanis and are providing them with opportunities that they never 
dreamed they could have.
  Mr. Speaker, in Afghanistan, we met with interim President Hamid 
Karzai. He was effusive in his thanks to America and the work of U.S. 
troops. In particular, he praised the work of Oklahoma's 45th Infantry 
Brigade that has worked so hard to train the Afghan Army. This is just 
one example of the countless accomplishments of our citizen soldiers 
from across our Nation. The Afghani Army is now fighting hard and 
performing well in the hunt for al Qaeda and the Taliban.
  Mr. Speaker, I do not pretend to know when our global war on 
terrorism will end. This is not a war we sought. We engaged in 
hostilities only after being attacked. This is a war which has far-
reaching implications and will determine the kind of world we leave for 
our children and grandchildren.
  America has a clear choice. We can go the way of some who suggest 
that we withdraw into isolationism, or we can secure the peace for our 
progeny by expanding the frontiers of liberty and democracy into the 
Middle East. While the debate surrounding our actions is legitimate, I 
truly believe that the answer is clear if one takes the time to look at 
the implications of not vigorously prosecuting this war. To be secure 
at home, we must act forcefully abroad. In the war on terror, ``fortune 
favors the bold.''
  Mr. Speaker, I am happy to report that our servicemen and citizen 
soldiers are doing fine work in representing the very best America has 
to offer.

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