[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9804-9805]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                 JORDAN

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, for the past week, I have come to the 
Senate floor to briefly discuss my recent factfinding mission to the 
Middle East, having had the opportunity to travel to Israel, the West 
Bank, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan 2 weeks ago.
  I will conclude these Mideast reports with a very brief discussion of 
my time in Jordan.
  We began the Jordan leg of our trip with a visit to King Abdullah. 
Son of the much admired King Hussein, King Abdullah has been a trusted 
and valuable friend to the United States and a steadfast partner in the 
war on terrorism.
  We discussed Jordan's progress toward economic reform. Jordan is 
embarking upon free market reforms and encouraging the growth of small 
business and entrepreneurs. We know in the American experience that 
entrepreneurship is that engine of economic and job growth. I am 
encouraged by the progress that King Abdullah is making, and I am 
hopeful the Jordanian economy flourishes. As it does so, it will become 
a model of reform throughout the Middle East.
  We also talked about the importance of the U.S.-Jordanian partnership 
in the peace process. King Abdullah's father exhibited great courage 
and foresight as he led his nation to peace with Israel in the 1990s.
  Because of Jordan's relations with Israel and its special ties to the 
Palestinians, Jordan can be a substantial contributor to the peace 
process. By coordinating our efforts, I believe Jordan and the United 
States can help the parties build momentum toward a peaceful 
resolution.
  During a dinner meeting with King Abdullah, we were joined by Jim 
Wolfenson, the former head of the World Bank. Dr. Wolfenson was 
recently selected, as my colleagues know, by President Bush to handle 
the upcoming Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, focusing on the 
quartet of partners and building the appropriate support. I applaud the 
President for his choice in this emissary. Not only is Dr. Wolfenson 
eminently capable, but he knows many of the important players directly, 
professionally, and personally, and he appreciates the stakes and I am 
confident he can get the job done.
  Dr. Wolfenson understands the transition must go well. If it does 
not, violent unrest and instability could destroy this, what I believe 
is a historic chance for peace. The Jordanians have been an invaluable 
partner in Operation Enduring Freedom. They have made tremendous 
contributions to the Iraqi people's efforts to secure a free and 
prosperous Iraq.
  We have witnessed the extraordinary bravery of the Iraqis at the 
polling booths and at the police recruitment centers. They have been 
willing to defy the terrorists and assume an active role in securing 
democracy.
  Many of those courageous Iraqis are acquiring the training and skills 
needed to defend their country by completing a security course and 
police training regimen in Jordan.
  We had the opportunity, while in Jordan, to visit the Jordan-Iraq 
Police Training Center, a truly unique effort where 16 countries have 
come together, including the United States, Jordan, Britain, Canada, 
Finland, and others, to train the Iraqi security force--to train the 
Iraqi police. The director of the facility is John Moseby, a highly 
qualified veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

[[Page 9805]]

  The center's goal in Jordan is to train 32,000 Iraqi police by 
December 2005. Already, the center has graduated over 15,000 recruits, 
who have gone back to Iraq to serve in security positions. There are 
currently 40 Iraqi trainers at the site in Jordan, and the center hopes 
to add another 60. It sits on about 450 acres and can train about 3,500 
cadets per session.
  I wanted to go to the Jordan-Iraq Police Training Center to see 
firsthand how those exercises are conducted because there has been some 
question in the past as to the adequacy and the quality of that 
training. Having had the opportunity to meet the cadets, both an 
incoming class and classes that were leaving, viewing many of the 
exercises, viewing, with the leaders there, the commitment to a quality 
curriculum, I am very reassured they are doing an outstanding job in 
training those Iraqi recruits to go back and keep their communities and 
their streets safe.
  The Iraqi cadets told us of their hope and appreciation for America's 
help in building a new Iraq. I am confident that by their courage and 
their commitment, freedom will prevail in Iraq and the dark forces that 
now threaten their country will be defeated.
  The trip throughout the Middle East was fascinating and informative. 
We met many vibrant and thoughtful people. Again and again, you hear, 
throughout all the countries, this expressed hope, the universal dream 
of hope that the people of the Middle East will one day be truly free--
free from violence and oppression, free to express their will through 
democratically elected leaders, free to express themselves in the town 
square without fear of violence or terrorism.
  I do applaud President Bush for his vision and for his unwavering 
belief in the dignity and rights of all people. From Darfur to 
Damascus, from Baghdad to Beirut, liberty is the hope of mankind.
  Here in the Senate, I encourage and urge my colleagues to continue to 
do our part to ensure that these principles help shape the future of 
the Middle East. I believe together, with our partners around the 
globe, we can spread prosperity and peace. I believe it is the only 
way.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

                          ____________________