[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 22]
[Senate]
[Page 30783]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              AFGHANISTAN

  Mr. FRIST. On Monday, Afghanistan's first democratically elected 
Parliament in more than 30 years convened before the eyes of the world. 
It was an emotional moment and one of great pride for the Afghan 
people.
  As President Karzai told his audience of 351 new parliament members, 
with Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne listening in the 
front row, ``This dear Afghanistan has risen again from the ashes.''
  Here in the United States, we are full of hope for the Afghan people 
and we share in their joy.
  They have suffered a long and difficult journey.
  Twenty years of civil war. Nearly another decade of total repression.
  But they have finally reached the shores of freedom, and the future 
spread out before them is one of hope, progress, and limitless 
possibility.
  We are proud to count Afghanistan as a free country, a fellow 
democracy, and a friend of the United States of America.
  This past year has been one of extraordinary events in the Middle 
East.
  We have seen amazing images of people celebrating their newfound 
liberty--cheering, dancing and singing in the streets that they, too, 
are now free.
  From the cedar revolution in Lebanon to the historic elections in 
Iraq, the winds of democratic change are blowing across Arab lands.
  A new report by the highly respected human rights group Freedom House 
finds genuine stirrings of democratic progress: local elections in 
Saudi Arabia; women's new voting rights in Kuwait; improved elections 
in Egypt and the Palestinian territories.
  The organization's director of research notes that, ``Many people 
predicted that American policy in Iraq and elsewhere would set back the 
cause of freedom. This year's results suggest that hasn't been the 
case.''
  Indeed, I would go further to say that President Bush, our brave men 
and women in uniform, our coalition partners, and courageous citizens 
across the Middle East deserve tremendous credit for advancing the 
cause of freedom.
  That freedom is bringing hope and optimism to millions of people long 
oppressed.
  Last week's ABC News poll found that Iraqis believe their lives are 
going well, and nearly two-thirds expect things to improve in the year 
ahead.
  Average Iraqi household incomes have skyrocketed by 60 percent in the 
last 20 months. Iraqis are quickly joining the swift current of modern 
life with cell phones and the Internet, cars, washing machines, and 
satellite dishes.
  Another new poll in Pakistan found that in that Muslim country, 
public opinion toward the United States has dramatically improved.
  Favorable opinion toward the United States has more than doubled 
since May to nearly half of those polled, while support for al-Qaida 
has plunged to its lowest level since 9/11.
  Times are changing, and they are changing for the better.
  It is true, we still face a terrorist enemy who targets innocent 
civilians with bombings and beheadings, who dreams of inflicting 
massive violence on the American people.
  These same enemies sent suicide bombers to murder innocent Jordanians 
only a few weeks ago. They despise freedom, and they are bending every 
effort to derail the democratic process.
  But they will not succeed.
  I am confident that America and her allies will prevail. I am 
confident that we will defeat the terrorist enemy and bury its twisted 
aims.
  And all the while, we will continue to stand behind Iraq, Afghanistan 
and all champions of freedom as they work to secure the blessings of 
liberty.

                          ____________________