[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 8604-8606]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              WAR IN IRAQ

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Cole). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the tone 
that has been exhibited on the floor of the House. We must be mindful 
of what we say and what we do, because our children are listening. I am 
gratified that Members have come to the floor to indicate both their 
disgust and their rejection of the actions of some in the military in 
Iraq. But allow me to lay out my reasoning for opposing the resolution 
on the floor of the House that was supposed to be today a call by this 
Congress, a bipartisan call by this Congress to investigate those 
incidences.
  First of all, let me say that I follow in the tradition of Hubert 
Humphrey that says, in paraphrase, that we are the agitators to create 
a more perfect union. We are always seeking to make America better. We 
are always seeking to allow America to live up to its very special 
ideals of democracy and the Declaration of Independence that indicates 
that we all are created equal with certain inalienable rights of life 
and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
  Those actions in Iraq were not necessarily only those of the 
perpetrators and actors, but it showed the face of America and the face 
of our military and it was an unjust face. Martin Luther King reminded 
us that an injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere. So why do I 
come to the floor of the House announcing my opposition to the 
resolution that was on the floor and my ``no'' vote? Because it was the 
failure of the Republican leadership that I challenged, failure in 
betraying the trust of the American people. Those crimes in Iraq were 
not partisan. They were not Democratic; they were not Republican. They 
were all of us being shocked and outraged, and collaboratively we 
should have stood here on the floor of the House in a bipartisan way 
and laid out a road map for the American people on many instances.
  The first one is that it should be a bipartisan, complete and 
comprehensive investigation. We should investigate whether or not there 
was a violation of the Geneva Convention for the Committee on 
International Relations. We should investigate whether JAG officers and 
others who were interrogating these individuals followed certain rules 
and certain parameters that would be respectful of the human dignity. I 
know someone is saying now, look at the tragedies that happened to our 
civilian hostages and others who we saw glaring across the television 
screens just a couple of weeks ago. Let me say that we all protested 
that in outrage. But is it for us to follow suit to those whom we 
consider uncivilized and to be murderous terrorists? Is that the model 
that we are to follow? I think not.
  And so for this Republican leadership to put on the floor of the 
House a singular resolution that says that the Secretary of the Army is 
supposed to investigate this, no Judiciary Committee, no International 
Relations Committee, no Intelligence Committee, no Government Reform 
Committee, no committees of jurisdiction, no Homeland Security 
Committee, when the very fact that the individuals who will face the 
wrath and the ire of the world will be Americans who are traveling 
around the world, we must investigate this comprehensively.
  Mr. President, I disagree with you. I hope that your apology was 
forthright in the last hours that I have not been before the television 
screen. I hope you said something that we could understand. I clearly 
think that you are to be applauded for going before those in the Arab 
world. But I think the American people have to understand what 
happened. I have no apologies for not condemning in totality those men 
and women who were the perpetrators of, yes, criminal acts and they 
should be brought to justice. But they did not act alone. The 
hierarchy, the brass, the individuals who knew about this in November 
of 2003, who shared it with no one and absolutely no one in America, 
not even this United States Congress, not the Intelligence Committee.
  Where else does the blame lie? Directly at the feet of Secretary 
Donald Rumsfeld, the man who orchestrated this war and suggested to us 
that weapons of mass destruction were the cause of going to war in 
Iraq. He misrepresented and misled the American people then and he has 
hidden the truth from us now. He does not deserve to hold this office. 
Neither does Deputy Secretary Paul Wolfowitz.
  And so I would ask them in a tone that I hope will be respectful, in 
order to clean the slate and allow America to go forward and to truly 
have the kind of dignity and respect the United States military 
deserves, so that we can build again, so that the American people can 
be known for what they are, compassionate and loving and believers of 
democracy, so that our children would understand that we too are 
fighters for democracy, then it is appropriate, Mr. President, that you 
ask for Secretary Rumsfeld's resignation, along with Paul Wolfowitz'.
  This is not a time for loyalty. This is not a time for partisan 
politics. Mr. Rumsfeld failed you. He was derelict in his duty. He was 
aware of this and did not share this with the Congress. He knew it on 
Thursday of last week when ``60 Minutes'' showed it on television. What 
an insult. We could have avoided the controversy and the sadness that 
has permeated our leadership. The American people have put all of us in

[[Page 8605]]

the same boat, Democrats, Republicans, Congress Members, House Members, 
Senate Members, administration.
  It is interesting. When they were ready to rise up against William 
Jefferson Clinton in the impeachment over discretions in his personal 
life, everybody was speaking about it in the United States. Everybody 
was outraged. Where is the outrage now? What a shame and a travesty.
  And to the American people, I would say you too have a responsibility 
to ask the hard questions. In these letters to the President, Secretary 
Rumsfeld and to the Speaker of the House, I have asked for Secretary 
Rumsfeld's resignation. That is the honorable thing to do. Or be 
terminated. And I have asked the Speaker to convene a full body before 
he leaves to tell us the honest truth.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask in a tone of simplicity and humbleness, where are 
the American people? Where are our voices? It is time now to stand for 
truth and to stand for those troops who are fighting for us all over 
the world.


                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 6, 2004.
     Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
     Speaker of the House,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Speaker Hastert: It has become evident that due to the 
     recent abuses of Iraqi soldiers by members of the U.S. 
     military, that the Congress should get involved in calling 
     for an immediate investigation of these atrocities. An 
     investigation led by Major General Antonio Taguba, reported 
     widespread abuses in the detention of Iraqi prisoners 
     including incidents in which detainees were threatened with a 
     pistol and with military dogs, prisoners were being sodomized 
     with a chemical light and broomstick and soldiers were 
     forcing naked prisoners into compromising positions. Members 
     of Congress were never told the true extent of the abuses 
     taking place; instead we were left to find out the truth when 
     it was revealed to the general public. It is inconceivable 
     that Secretary Rumsfeld would leave both the Executive and 
     Legislative branches of our government in the dark regarding 
     a critical foreign policy issue. His actions clearly go 
     against the dictates and procedures of his position as 
     Secretary of Defense.
       Secretary Rumsfeld's failures in managing the war in Iraq 
     go beyond the abuses of Iraqi prisoners. It has become clear 
     that he has no control over the thousands of private 
     contractors and private security companies in Iraq. In fact, 
     the Pentagon has no records as to the number of private 
     individuals who are in Iraq working on behalf of the United 
     States Government. In addition to the extreme danger many of 
     these individuals are being placed in, there are numerous 
     reports that many of these individuals are taking part in 
     highly illegal activities. Indeed, privately contracted 
     individuals are suspected as being involved with the abuses 
     that took place in the Abu Ghraib prison. Another disturbing 
     issue that is just now coming to light is that there are 
     currently fourteen different investigations into prisoner 
     deaths that took place in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet another 
     indication that Secretary Rumsfeld has known about the severe 
     mistreatment of prisoners and has failed to act.
       The severity of Secretary Rumsfeld's actions pose grave 
     consequences for our Nation. Let me be clear, I have always 
     supported the men and women of our Armed Forces. It is my 
     belief that the abuse of prisoners in Iraq has been the work 
     of a small number of disgraceful American soldiers. However, 
     as the Secretary of Defense, he bears the burden of the 
     actions of the Armed Forces that he was sworn to oversee. The 
     grotesque images of U.S. soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners are 
     being shown around the world and no amount of words can 
     change the effect of those images. In the short term our 
     soldiers abroad now face even greater danger in fighting this 
     war. In the long term our Nation now must address the outlook 
     for our war in Iraq that only seems to become more difficult 
     by the day. As the Secretary of Defense, your leadership 
     should help guide our Armed Forces to victory, instead your 
     tenure as Secretary has brought disrepute and a greater 
     burden upon our Nation.
       In conclusion, it is absolutely essential that the entire 
     United States Congress get involved in the investigation of 
     these atrocities because it affects each and every one of us 
     as we represent constituents who currently serve in Iraq.
           Sincerely,
                                               Sheila Jackson-Lee,
     Member of Congress.
                                  ____



                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 6, 2004.
     Hon. Donald Rumsfeld,
     Secretary of Defense,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Secretary Rumsfeld: I am writing to you today to ask 
     that you resign as Secretary of Defense in light of your 
     actions regarding the abuse of prisoners in Iraq. It has 
     become clear to me and many of my colleagues in Congress that 
     your continued leadership and management of the war in Iraq 
     is no longer in the best interest of our Nation. In my 
     qualified opinion there has been a dereliction of duty on 
     your part as Secretary of Defense and I believe you have an 
     obligation to the American people to resign your office.
       As the Secretary of Defense it is your sworn duty and 
     responsibility to oversee and direct the actions of our 
     Nation's Armed Forces. It has become evident that not only 
     have you failed to prevent the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, but 
     in fact you have made a concerted effort to cover up the 
     extent of the abuses taking place. You knew as far back as 
     November 2003 that Iraqi prisoners were being treated in a 
     way that was inhumane and illegal by any standard. Only now 
     more than 6 months later is the truth finally being revealed. 
     An investigation led by Major General Antonio Taguba, 
     reported widespread abuses in the detention of Iraqi 
     prisoners including incidents in which detainees were 
     threatened with a pistol and with military dogs, prisoners 
     were being sodomized with a chemical light and broomstick and 
     soldiers were forcing naked prisoners into compromising 
     positions. This information was known to you long ago and yet 
     the first time that anyone ever heard of these incidents was 
     in the release of the horrific photos taken in the Abu Ghraib 
     prison. Members of Congress were never told the true extent 
     of the abuses taking place; instead we were left to find out 
     the truth when it was revealed to the general public. The 
     most galling indication of this cover up was the fact that 
     even President Bush, our Nation's Commander-in-Chief, first 
     found out about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners while watching 
     national television. This incident shows that you have failed 
     the Commander-in-chief as Secretary of Defense and should 
     relieve yourself of the responsibilities of your office. It 
     is inconceivable that you would leave both the Executive and 
     Legislative branches of our government in the dark regarding 
     a critical foreign policy issue. Your actions clearly go 
     against the dictates and procedures of your position as 
     Secretary of Defense.
       Your failures in managing the war in Iraq go beyond the 
     abuses of Iraqi prisoners. It has become clear that you have 
     no control over the thousands of private contractors and 
     private security companies in Iraq. In fact, the Pentagon has 
     no records as to the number of private individuals who are in 
     Iraq working on behalf of the United States Government. In 
     addition to the extreme danger many of these individuals are 
     being placed in, there are numerous reports that many of 
     these individuals are taking part in highly illegal 
     activities. Indeed, privately contracted individuals are 
     suspected as being involved with the abuses that took place 
     in the Abu Ghraib prison. Another disturbing issue that is 
     just now coming to light is that there are currently fourteen 
     different investigations into prisoner deaths that took place 
     in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet another indication that you have 
     known about the severe mistreatment of prisoners and have 
     failed to act.
       I sincerely hope you realize the severity of your actions 
     and the consequences they pose for our Nation. Let me be 
     clear, I have always supported the men and women of our Armed 
     Forces. It is my belief that the abuse of prisoners in Iraq 
     has been the work of a small number of disgraceful American 
     soldiers. However, as the Secretary of Defense you bear the 
     burden of the actions of the Armed Forces that you were sworn 
     to oversee. The grotesque images of U.S. soldiers abusing 
     Iraqi prisoners are being shown around the world and no 
     amount of words can change the effect of those images. In the 
     short term our soldiers abroad now face even greater danger 
     in fighting this war. In the long term our Nation now must 
     address the outlook for our war in Iraq that only seems to 
     become more difficult by the day. As the Secretary of Defense 
     your leadership should help guide our Armed Forces to 
     victory, instead your tenure as Secretary has brought 
     disrepute and a greater burden upon our Nation.
       I am asking that for the sake of our Nation you resign 
     immediately as the Secretary of Defense. The men and women of 
     our Armed Forces, our Nation, and indeed the world deserve to 
     know that there is accountability for failure and reckless 
     conduct from America's leaders. I hope you will take my words 
     to heart and resign your office for the good of our Nation.
           Sincerely,
                                               Sheila Jackson-Lee,
     Member of Congress.
                                  ____



                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 6, 2004.
     President George W. Bush,
     1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear President Bush: I am writing to you today to ask that 
     you call for the resignation or terminate Donald Rumsfeld as 
     Secretary of Defense in light of his actions regarding the 
     abuse of prisoners in Iraq. It has become clear to me and 
     many of my colleagues in Congress that his continued 
     leadership and management of the war in Iraq is no longer in 
     the best interest of our nation. In my qualified opinion 
     there has been a dereliction of duty on the part of Secretary

[[Page 8606]]

     Rumsfeld and as Commander-in-Chief I believe you have an 
     obligation to the American people to remove him from office.
       As the Secretary of Defense it is Secretary Rumsfeld's 
     sworn duty and responsibility to oversee and direct the 
     actions of our nation's Armed Forces. It has become evident 
     that not only has he failed to prevent the abuse of Iraqi 
     prisoners, but in fact he has made a concerted effort to 
     cover up the extent of the abuses taking place. He knew as 
     far back as November of 2003 that Iraqi prisoners were being 
     treated in a way that was inhumane and illegal by any 
     standard. Only now more than six months later is the truth 
     finally being revealed. An investigation led by Major General 
     Antonio Taguba, reported widespread abuses in the detention 
     of Iraqi prisoners including incidents in which detainees 
     were threatened with a pistol and with military dogs, 
     prisoners were being sodomized with a chemical light and 
     broomstick and soldiers were forcing naked prisoners into 
     compromising positions. This information was known to 
     Secretary Rumsfeld long ago and yet the first time that 
     anyone ever heard of these incidents was in the release of 
     the horrific photos taken in the Abu Ghraib prison. Members 
     of Congress were never told the true extent of the abuses 
     taking place; instead we were left to find out the truth when 
     it was revealed to the general public. The most galling 
     indication of this cover up was the fact that you yourself, 
     our nation's Commander-in-Chief, first found out about the 
     abuse of Iraqi prisoners while watching national television. 
     It is clear that the Secretary of Defense has failed the 
     Commander-in-Chief and now decisive action must be taken to 
     remove him from his office. It is inconceivable that 
     Secretary Rumsfeld would leave both the Executive and 
     Legislative branches of our government in the dark regarding 
     a critical foreign policy issue. His actions clearly go 
     against the dictates and procedures of his position as 
     Secretary of Defense.
       Secretary Rumsfeld's failures in managing the war in Iraq 
     go beyond the abuses of Iraqi prisoners. It has become clear 
     that he has no control over the thousands of private 
     contractors and private security companies in Iraq. In fact, 
     the Pentagon has no records as to the number of private 
     individuals who are in Iraq working on behalf of the United 
     States Government. In addition to the extreme danger many of 
     these individuals are being placed in, there are numerous 
     reports that many of these individuals as taking part in 
     highly illegal activities. Indeed, privately contracted 
     individuals are suspected as being involved with the abuses 
     that took place in the Abu Ghraib prison. Another disturbing 
     issue that is just now coming to light is that there are 
     currently fourteen different investigations into prisoner 
     deaths that took place in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet another 
     indication that Secretary Rumsfeld has known about the severe 
     mistreatment of prisoners and has failed to act.
       The severity of Secretary Rumsfeld's actions pose grave 
     consequences for our nation. Let me be clear, I have always 
     supported the men and women of our Armed Forces. It is my 
     belief that the abuse of prisoners in Iraq has been the work 
     of a small number of disgraceful American soldiers. However, 
     as the Secretary of Defense he bears the burden of the 
     actions of the Armed Forces that he was sworn to oversee. The 
     grotesque images of U.S. soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners are 
     being shown around the world and no amount of words can 
     change the effect of those images. In the short term our 
     soldiers abroad now face even greater danger in fighting this 
     war. In the long term our nation now must address the outlook 
     for our war in Iraq that only seems to become more difficult 
     by the day. As the Secretary of Defense his leadership should 
     help guide our Armed Forces to victory, instead his tenure as 
     Secretary has brought disrepute and a greater burden upon our 
     nation.
       I am asking that for the sake of our nation you ask for the 
     resignation or terminate immediately Secretary Rumsfeld as 
     the Secretary of Defense. The men and women of our Armed 
     Forces, our nation, and indeed the world deserve to know that 
     there is accountability for failure and reckless conduct from 
     America's leaders. I hope you will take my words to heart and 
     remove Secretary Rumsfeld from office for the good of our 
     nation.
           Sincerely,
                                               Sheila Jackson-Lee,
     Member of Congress.

                          ____________________