[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10981]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              IRAQI SECURITY FORCES GAINING GROUND IN IRAQ

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, as the House prepares to 
consider a resolution for victory in the global war on terrorism, I 
would like to congratulate U.S. troops and coalition forces for 
training Iraqi security forces.
  In 3 years, coalition troops have transformed hundreds of thousands 
of Iraqi volunteers into battle-tested Iraqi security forces. The 
Defense Department's quarterly report recently stated that there are 
more than 263,400 trained and equipped Iraqi security forces. 
Additionally, the Iraqi Army now controls 30,000 square miles of 
territory, an area roughly the size of my home State of South Carolina. 
Nearly two-thirds of combat operations are now conducted by Iraqis 
alone or jointly with coalition forces.
  Day by day, Iraqis are defeating terrorists and gaining control over 
their country. Progress in Iraq is helping to ensure security in 
America, and we must remain committed to completing this critical 
mission protecting American families.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September 11.

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