[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 8343]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           PRISONERS IN IRAQ

  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, the world has witnessed something in the 
last few weeks about the treatment of prisoners in Iraq that does not 
represent what America is all about. It doesn't represent our cause. It 
doesn't represent our mission. It doesn't represent our hopes and 
dreams for the Iraqi people and for all of us--ultimately for democracy 
in Iraq.
  I applaud the President of the United States for his speaking out, 
condemning without qualification what has occurred. He, as I understand 
it, went forth to speak to the Arab world, face to face, the leader of 
the free world speaking to the Arab world to let them know this is not 
what America is all about. I think that is important. We all, at every 
level, have to reject it. Those who are responsible at every level have 
to be held to account. I know the Commander in Chief will do that.
  As we deal with this terrible situation, I hope we do not lose focus 
on our mission. Our men and women are in harm's way and our mission is 
freedom and security in Iraq. The critics of this war, do they want us 
to cut and run? Do they want to create a place of instability, a haven 
for terrorism? I can't believe that.
  Someone once said a critic is someone who thinks he knows the way but 
doesn't know how to drive the car. It is not a time for critics. Let us 
deal with this terrible incident. Let us show America has standards and 
America is there for a reason. The reason is one of hope. The reason is 
one of freedom. What occurred is something that will never occur again. 
I am confident our President will make sure of that.
  At the same time, we have to stand with our President, stand with our 
troops. Teddy Roosevelt once said it is not the critic who counts, but 
it is the person in the arena. It is a tough arena right now. But the 
cause is just. We have lost life and it is a sacrifice, but the cause 
is just. We have seen that with Qadhafi giving up his nuclear weapons 
programs, Iran understanding the serious consequences of their action.
  Let us be true to the cause. Let us ferret out those who committed 
these reprehensible acts. Let us support the President going forth to 
the world, to the Arab community, to say this is wrong. Let us continue 
to stay true to the course, to understand that the lives that have been 
sacrificed have not been sacrificed in vain, that the world is safer 
today. It is safer with Saddam gone. It will be safer with peace and 
stability and democracy in the Middle East.
  I yield the floor.

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