[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 6980-6981]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                THE ADMINISTRATION IS SUCCEEDING IN IRAQ

  Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I want to address the repeated attacks 
towards the Bush administration's role in Iraq. Yesterday, one critic 
claimed that our unilateral policy in Iraq has steadily drifted from 
tragedy to tragedy and made America less safe. The very mention of Iraq 
and the current situation there incites what I have begun to call the 
``liberal naysayers'' to launch into steady streams of empty rhetoric 
against our plans in Iraq. Just this week these critics said that our 
troops are paying the price for flawed policy. These brazenly political 
claims have no basis, in fact, and serve no purpose other than to 
undermine the administration in a time of war.
  In liberating Iraq, we have rid the nation and the rest of the world 
from the danger of Saddam Hussein. 46 of the 55 of his most wanted 
regime members have been captured or killed. In removing this tyrant 
from power and undermining his regime, we have brought about increased 
security in a nation that at one time barely comprehended the term. 
Today, over 150,000 Iraqis, including 75,000 new police personnel, are 
protecting the Iraqi people. Recently the Iraqi Governing Council 
signed the Transitional Administrative Law. This unprecedented 
framework promises long overdue civil rights for all Iraqis. It ensures 
freedom of religion and worship, the right to free expression, the 
right to peacefully assemble, the right to be treated equally under the 
law, the right to stand for election and cast a ballot secretly, the 
right to privacy, and the right to a fair, public and speedy trial. We 
have removed many barriers in the Iraqi society and allowed women to 
finally play a role in every day life--including the new Iraqi 
government.
  To abandon our mission in Iraq today would undermine all we have 
accomplished up until now. We would leave behind a devastating breeding 
ground for terrorists. More importantly, it would give the insurgents 
in Iraq reason to believe they have won--that they finally succeeded in 
driving us out and halting the process of peace. The recent surge of 
violence in Iraq is not indicative of failed policy--rather it is proof 
that terrorists see freedom arriving there--and it terrifies them. Just 
recently I read of that fear firsthand in a memo written by captured al 
Qaida operative Zarqawi. Concerned that the Mujahidin may lose its 
footing in Iraq he wrote:

       There is no doubt that our field of movement is shrinking 
     and the grip around the throat of the Mujahidin has begun to 
     tighten. With the spread of the Army and the police, our 
     future is becoming frightening.

  The very idea of freedom incites fear in the hearts of terrorists 
across the world. Insurgents from Syria, Libya, Iran and other 
countries continue to cling to the fruitless hope that their violence 
will force the coalition forces out and allow the eradicated reign of 
terror back in. They don't just hate freedom--they fear it. These 
terrorist cells infiltrating Iraq know that the introduction of 
democracy and peace in the Middle East is only the beginning of the 
annihilation of terrorism worldwide.
  The accomplishments are many, and the truth is the liberation of Iraq 
is just one battle in the war on terror. The process of creating a 
democracy and turning the government over to an entire new governing 
council will take time. But we are a nation of our word. President 
George Bush has told the world that we would return power to the Iraqi 
people on June 30, and we intend to stick to that deadline. Our desire 
is to restore sovereignty to the people of Iraq--and ensure peace and 
stability in the transfer. To abandon Iraq prior to either of those 
goals being accomplished would be a failed mission--and that simply is 
not an option.
  While it is important to note the administration's successes in Iraq, 
Americans should also be aware that our actions in Iraq have made us 
safer here in the U.S. President Bush recognized that in order to 
contain the growing threat of terrorism from Iraq we had to eliminate 
it at its source. Our President chooses to allow the war on terror

[[Page 6981]]

to be fought in Kabul and Baghdad, rather than Washington, DC, or New 
York. As he so boldly explained just recently, his desire was not to 
stand idly by. He said:

       I made a pledge to this country; I will not stand by and 
     hope for the best while dangers gather. I will not take risks 
     with the lives and security of the American people. I will 
     protect and defend this country by taking the fight to the 
     enemy.

  I applaud our administration for carrying out their mission in Iraq 
so effectively. Our role in Iraq has brought about freedom to 50 
million Iraqis and Afghans and underscored America's character in 
keeping our word. Former secretary of State George Shultz said it best 
this week when he wrote:

       Above all, and in the long run, the most important aspect 
     of the Iraq war will be what it means for the integrity of 
     the international system and for the effort to deal 
     effectively with terrorism. The stakes are huge and the 
     terrorists know that as well as we do. That is the reason for 
     their tactic of violence in Iraq. And that is why, for us and 
     for our allies, failure is not an option. The message is that 
     the U.S. and others in the world who recognize the need to 
     sustain our international system will no longer quietly 
     acquiesce in the take-over of states by lawless dictators who 
     then carry on their depredations--including the development 
     of awesome weapons for threats, use or sale . . . September 
     11 forced us to comprehend the extent and danger of the 
     challenge. We began to act before our enemy was able to 
     extend the consolidate his network.

  The war on terror will not easily be won, but America is up to the 
task. May God bless our brave men and women in uniform fighting for 
democracy and freedom--and God bless this land of the free, America.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, how much time remains in morning 
business?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. There remain 3\1/2\ minutes.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I may speak 
up to 10 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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