[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16102]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         WELCOMING IRAQI PRIME MINISTER AL-MALIKI TO WASHINGTON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 26, 2006

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, just 3\1/2\ years ago, 
Iraq was controlled by a brutal dictator who killed an average of 300 
people a day. Iraq has now been liberated, and a fledgling democracy 
has taken root. The Iraqi people--in the face of terrorist threats--
turned out in droves to ratify a constitution and elect their 
representatives. Today, this Congress and the American people have 
heard from the democratically elected leader of Iraq, Prime Minister 
Nouri al-Maliki.
  I am grateful for the Prime Minister's address, as I appreciate his 
message of hope and progress. The training of Iraqi Security Forces is 
advancing rapidly. The parliamentary cabinet has been completed. Iraq 
has become a civil society.
  Having visited Iraq six times, I have witnessed firsthand the 
progress being made. While there is still a long road ahead, the United 
States will continue to stand with the Iraqi people which protects 
American families. We will together make Iraq the graveyard of 
terrorists.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September 11th.

                          ____________________