[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15584]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       30-SOMETHING WORKING GROUP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania). Under the 
Speaker's announced policy of January 4, 2005, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt) is recognized for the balance of the time 
until midnight.
  Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I am not going to consume all of the time. 
I thought that I was going to be joined by my colleagues from the 30 
Something Group, but it would appear tonight that only the 
``something'' is here and the 30s have taken the night off.
  But I had listened to my dear friend from Iowa earlier, and I thought 
that I would stay for a few minutes to make some observations. He spoke 
eloquently and sincerely about anti-Semitism.
  I know he decries anti-Semitism, as I believe every Member in this 
body does. But he specifically alluded to western Europe and anti-
Semitism. I think it is important for us to note the remarks just 
recently of the Speaker of the House of the new Iraqi Parliament.
  Those remarks, I dare say, can only be interpreted as anti-Semitic, 
and they are in my judgment disturbing, and, yes, even dangerous. So 
while we speak of the new Iraqi Government and what we are told they 
are about, I think it is extremely important to listen, to educate 
ourselves, and inform the American people.
  I, myself, and several of my colleagues will be introducing a 
resolution condemning, condemning the remarks of the Speaker of the 
House of the new Iraqi Parliament.
  Mr. Speaker, let me read what he had to say. ``Some people say,'' 
these are his words, ``we saw you beheading, kidnapping and killing. In 
the end we even started killing women who are our honor. These acts are 
not the work of Iraqis, I am sure that he who does this is a Jew, and a 
son of a Jew. I can tell you about these Jewish Israelis and Zionists 
who are using Iraqi money and oil to frustrate the Islamic movement in 
Iraq, and come with their agent and cheap project. No one deserves to 
rule Iraq other than Islamists.''
  The same Speaker by the way, had this to say. Listen carefully to 
these words, Mr. Speaker, ``The U.S. occupation is butcher's work, 
under the slogan of democracy and human rights and justice''. This is 
the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, our ally, whose prime minister has 
been invited to speak to this House this week. I dare say he ought to 
immediately, upon landing in Washington, D.C. condemn these words.

                              {time}  2330

  I find them disturbing and I am sure, Mr. Speaker, all of our 
colleagues will find them disturbing.
  I am also disturbed by the words of the Iraqi foreign minister who 
had this to say, Mr. Speaker: Iran doesn't claim that they want to 
obtain a nuclear weapon or a nuclear bomb, so there is no need that we 
ask them for any guarantee now. Every country has the right to have its 
nuclear technology, every country like the Islamic Republic or any 
other country. I also find that disturbing. We ought not even to pose 
the question to Iran, according to the Iraqi foreign minister.
  And let me finally note the words of the prime minister of Iraq who 
will address this House this week. And, again, he said these words in 
reference to the Israeli response after Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli 
soldiers and killed others, as well as for 2 days continued to fly 
their rockets into civilian Israeli communities on the border between 
Lebanon and Israel: I condemn these aggressions and call on the Arab 
League foreign ministers meeting in Cairo to take quick action to stop 
these aggressions. We call on the world to take quick stands to stop 
the Israeli aggression.
  Mr. Speaker, is this new Iraqi Government an ally of the United 
States? We should reflect on that. Particularly since we have spilled 
the blood of thousands of Americans on Iraqi soil, where we have given, 
not loaned, Mr. Speaker, as some of us recommended, but rather given to 
date $30 billion in the reconstruction of Iraq. And just this week we 
are told by the Comptroller General of the United States, David Walker, 
the head of the Government Accountability Office, that some 50 billion 
additional dollars are going to be needed simply to restore the oil 
facilities and the electric grid in Iraq, and that the American 
taxpayer would have to pay for all of it.
  We ought to be thinking carefully about this, Mr. Speaker. These are 
facts, where the military deployment of Americans has cost in excess of 
$300 billion and is escalating every day with no end in sight.
  My friend from Iowa talks about Iran. We ought to be aware, Mr. 
Speaker, there appears to be a special relationship now evolving 
between Iran and Iraq. There has been agreement after agreement 
concluded between Iran and Iraq, and the Iranian foreign minister has 
visited in Baghdad and consulted with the new Iraqi Government. Iran 
has agreed to construct a new airport in Iraq; they have extended loan 
credits in the amount of $1 billion to Iraq. And, Mr. Speaker, I think 
this is especially important for the American people to know, they have 
concluded a bilateral military cooperation agreement. Yes, Iran and 
Iraq have concluded a military agreement. And this week we will be 
hearing from the Iraqi prime minister.
  I could go on and on, Mr. Speaker, but I thought it was important 
after listening to my friend and colleague that I introduce new 
information for us to reflect on and to analyze and be honest with the 
American people.
  It is not going well in Iraq, Mr. Speaker. We heard from General 
Abizaid just this week where he said there has been serious sectarian 
violence, and our ability to control it is very much in doubt.
  So when we discuss the issues that implicate the Middle East and 
beyond the Middle East, it is important that we put forth all of the 
facts.

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