[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 4534-4535]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SALUTING OUR SOLDIERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Burns) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago today, one of the world's most 
brutal dictators still sat on his throne and boasted that he would defy 
the world with impunity, protected by massive armies, and threatened 
terror through weapons of mass destruction. We sent brave young men and 
women into harm's way to contest that point.
  Where it is appropriate, we pause today and review the progress we 
made, not against the monstrosity and Saddam Hussein's regime but the 
total war on terror. Our troops have registered a string of unbroken 
victories. They have won every battle and every campaign. They have 
destroyed the staging areas and the hiding holes of those who attacked 
this Nation on September 11, 2001, and they have helped to restore the 
security of their fellow Americans.
  They have driven the Taliban from control of Afghanistan and are 
restoring the government of that country to its people. They have 
destroyed the Iraqi war machine and captured Saddam Hussein and are 
restoring the government of that country to its people. They have 
liberated a nation that has endured the darkness of tyranny and 
brutality ever since Saddam's Baath party seized control of that 
unfortunate nation some three decades ago.
  Coalition soldiers have purchased with their blood, their sweat, and 
their tears, the best and brightest chance for freedom and democracy 
that this Nation and these nations in the Middle East have ever known. 
These men and women are not just troops, they are my neighbors. They 
are my friends. They are my constituents. They are fellow Georgians. 
They are heroes to all Americans.
  For the Congressional Record and for posterity, the soldiers of 
Georgia's 12th District that have served in Iraq or Afghanistan thus 
far include the first of the 214th Field Artillery from Athens and 
Waynesboro, Georgia; the 878th Engineering Battalion from Augusta; the 
513th Military Intelligence Brigade, Fort Gordon; the U.S. Army Signal 
School, Fort Gordon; the Eisenhower Army Regional Medical Center, Fort 
Gordon, Georgia; the 3rd, and the proud, Infantry Division from Fort 
Stewart, Georgia, did a marvelous job in campaign Iraqi Freedom; the 
75th Engineer Detachment from Fort Stewart; the 165th Air Control Wing 
from Savannah, Georgia; the 117th Air Control Squadron from Savannah; 
the 165th Security Police Squadron from Savannah; the Air Combat 
Readiness Training Center from Savannah; and the first of the 75th 
Ranger Regiment, Rangers lead the way, from Hunter Army Airfield, 
Savannah, Georgia.
  ``Walk softly and carry a big stick,'' that is what Republican 
President Theodore Roosevelt said. These soldiers not only carried the 
stick for their countrymen, but they have swung it powerfully to 
convince the world that ours is not an idle threat, and because of 
that, we have won another victory.
  We have eliminated a decades-long threat of Libyan terrorism, without 
a single shot being fired or a boot on the ground.

                              {time}  2100

  Once the dictator of that nation witnessed the professionalism and 
the resolution of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, he capitulated to 
the world community. That speaks volumes to the power of the American 
will in bringing peace and conciliation around the globe without having 
to go to war.
  If those who threaten peace and freedom are convinced that we really 
mean business in defending it, they will back down. But make no 
mistake, they will test us. They have been doing that in Iraq and 
Afghanistan with pointless attacks on our troops and our allies. And

[[Page 4535]]

if they sense a weakening of our will, they will attack with even more 
frequency and ferociousness. If they sense a weakness, sacrifices and 
the victories that we have won honorably in battle by our troops will 
be lost dishonorably by politically motivated criticism of our war 
efforts.
  Not only will those who speak such words undermine and jeopardize our 
troops; they will likely invite terrorist attacks on our homeland. We 
need only look at the example of Spain to realize this is not mere 
conjecture.
  Mr. Speaker, every Member of this House has a mission in this war. 
Our mission is much more simple and more safe than that of the brave 
men and women who currently serve our country. We only have to show the 
world and our terrorist enemies that we are rock solid and that we will 
see this war through to final victory. We need to make sure our words 
of debate, both in this body and on the campaign trail, are chosen 
carefully to avoid even a hint of providing encouragement and aid to 
our declared enemies.
  Our ammunition consists of words, but rest assured they are powerful 
weapons that can support our troops or those of the enemy. Mr. Speaker, 
to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, let us commit today that 
every word spoken by us in this body and across the Nation will be in 
support of the American troops and not those of al Qaeda.

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