[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 25820]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                MOMENTOUS AND HISTORIC TIMES FOR AMERICA

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, these are momentous and historic times for 
America. In just 4 years, we have toppled two of the most brutal 
regimes in human history and liberated 50 million people from tyranny. 
Afghanistan and Iraq are now governed by the consent of the people 
under constitutions that have been ratified by the popular vote. Many 
people simply would not have believed that just several years ago.
  Next month, on December 15, the Iraqi people will vote to form a 
permanent government. On that day, they will show, once more, their 
tremendous courage, boldness, and fortitude in moving their country 
toward full democracy and independence.
  While the news media focuses on the terrorist activity and the 
terrorist insurgency, by any standard of history, Iraq and Afghanistan 
are making remarkable progress. Only 4 years ago, Saddam Hussein and 
the Taliban seemed like permanent, malignant fixtures in the Middle 
East, but today Saddam sits in prison on trial for his life, and the 
Taliban no longer rules the Afghani people.
  Meanwhile, progress is cropping up all over the region. Again, the 
news media simply does not cover it, and we always hear excuses why 
that might be the case. But if one just looks back, they will see that 
Egypt has just held its freest elections in history.
  I had the opportunity to be in Lebanon about a month after this, in 
April. But this spring, on March 14, the Lebanese people rose up in a 
remarkable protest that was indeed televised throughout the world. We 
all saw it. After 30 years of occupation, Syria was forced to withdraw. 
Libya has given up its weapons of mass destruction program and is now 
cooperating with international inspectors. Kuwait has granted full 
political rights to women, and democracy is slowly beginning to take 
root in Saudi Arabia.
  All of this has been made possible by the bravery, valor, and 
strength of our men and women in uniform. They deserve our deepest 
respect, gratitude, and our unwavering commitment to the success of 
their mission. These young people heard the call of duty and they went 
to the frontlines to defend America.
  Every day, at risk to their own lives, our soldiers are helping the 
Iraqis secure a democratic future. They are training Iraqi forces to 
defend and protect the Iraqi people, and real progress is being made. 
The Iraqis are getting stronger and they are getting more skilled at 
the dangerous work of facing down the terrorist enemy.
  In the recent Tal Afar operation, Iraqi forces outnumbered coalition 
forces for the first time in a major engagement. Eleven Iraqi combat 
battalions were independently employed in Tal Afar, twice the number 
than in Fallujah operations this year. That is progress.
  Currently, 116 Iraqi security forces are conducting operations, and 
Iraqi civilians are gaining confidence handling the matters there and 
in providing tips and information to help defeat the insurgents in the 
region.
  Meanwhile, Iraq continues to build and improve its infrastructure. 
Again, you don't see it on the nightly news or on the 24-hour coverage. 
Since the liberation, coalition forces have helped complete over 4,000 
reconstruction projects, including 3,400 public schools, 304 water 
projects, 257 fire and police stations, and 149 health facilities.
  Under Saddam, Iraq's infrastructure was in shambles. Citizens were 
not allowed free access to the media or to communicate freely with one 
another. Saddam maintained his iron grip by keeping his people fearful 
and totally cut off from the outside world. But now that has changed. 
Slowly but surely, under the democratic leadership, Iraq is emerging as 
a modern country. Internet subscribers have risen from 5,000 to 
196,000. It is opening up. Light is shining into the country and to the 
people of Iraq.
  Now over 4.5 million Iraqis have telephone service, and that is a 
fourfold increase to what it was before the war. Under Saddam there was 
nothing such as that. There was no independent media. Today, Iraq has 
more than 100 newspapers and magazines. There are over 40 commercial 
television stations broadcasting to an eager Iraqi public. They are 
hearing and seeing things for the first times in their lives.
  We hear the critics hurtle invective and level false charges against 
the administration. That is disappointing. We know some are, indeed, 
trying to rewrite history. We hear it on the Senate floor and we see it 
on the television news shows. This rewriting of history is wrong. It 
shows, to my mind, very little respect for the very things--the 
freedom, the democracy, the transparency, letting the light shine in--
the sort of things our men and women are fighting for overseas.
  At the same time that we hear this invective and these false charges, 
brave men and women--American and, as I just mentioned, Iraqi coalition 
forces, and Afghanis--are working hard to promote democracy and freedom 
in the heart of the Middle East. We salute them.
  Governments that were once sworn enemies of the United States are now 
sworn enemies of the terrorists they once harbored and people who 
feared their government are now active participants in its 
transformation. It is huge progress.
  The Defense authorization bill before us provides our soldiers with 
the resources and the training, the technology, equipment, and the 
authorities they need to win this global war on terror. From cutting-
edge technologies to personnel protection systems, the authorization 
bill keeps our military system strong so our men and women in uniform 
can keep America safe.
  I look forward to passage of the Defense authorization bill tomorrow. 
The Senate has no higher duty than to protect and defend our fellow 
citizens.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Missouri.
  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed as in 
morning business for up to 10 minutes.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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