[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 8554-8555]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HEARINGS ON ABUSE

  (Mr. OWENS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, the House should hold hearings on the abuses 
in the Iraqi prisons. The most powerful military machine that the world 
has ever seen quickly won the hot war in Iraq. It is the occupation of 
Iraq that is unwinnable. The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha) 
is on target with his analysis. The incompetent, improvised occupation 
of Iraq, guided by the Department of Defense, is unwinnable. Our troops 
in Iraq have been betrayed by the blundering of this administration and 
their top command.
  An unqualified Secretary Rumsfeld improvising this occupation has 
thrown untrained soldiers into the role of prison guards. We owe it to 
our soldiers in the ranks to have a full investigation, to openly let 
the American people see exactly what happened. Yes, this is an un-
American approach, un-American activity, and it probably involves only 
a few, but that few operate under top command.
  Mr. Speaker, let us have a full investigation. The top command must 
accept responsibility. Hearings will reveal this truth. Let us have 
hearings as soon as possible.

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