[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11522]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      ACCOUNTABILITY FOR IRAQ WAR

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to proceed out of 
order and address the House for 5 minutes.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from 
Michigan is recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I come before you tonight after listening to 
the presentations that have been taking place all day, not only as a 
Member of this body but as a parent who has lost a child. My son, B.J., 
who passed away a little more than 6 years ago, would have turned 24 
tomorrow. Every time I learn about loss of life in Iraq, another son or 
daughter, mother or father, brother or sister, I can't help but think 
about my son B.J. and the profound pain and loss that will remain with 
us for the rest of our lives.
  That intense pain that we feel over the loss of B.J. is being felt 
every day by those families here in America who have suffered a loss in 
Iraq, and that is one of the reasons why I oppose this war and one of 
the reasons why I plan to oppose this resolution.
  But one of the other reasons I oppose this resolution deals with 
honesty and truth. Boake Carter is credited with saying that ``in time 
of war, the first casualty is truth.''
  Mr. Carter's statement is applicable to the resolution before us 
today. Like the one-sided resolution presented to the House last 
December, the Republican majority has refused to allow a true debate on 
the war on Iraq. The truth is 2,500 servicemen and -women have died in 
Iraq. The truth is the so-called coalition countries, including Great 
Britain, are drawing down their troops in Iraq. The truth is the 
Republican majority in its resolution today wants to blur the truth, 
that the cause and purpose of the war in Iraq is the same as the war in 
Afghanistan.
  The truth is the Republican majority in its resolution today wants to 
blur the truth that the cause and purpose of the war in Iraq is 
justified by the terrorist attacks of September 11.
  The truth is the Republican majority in its resolution today wants to 
blur the truth saying that we who oppose this war in Iraq are not as 
patriotic as those who support the war.
  The truth is the Republican majority in its resolution today wants to 
blur the truth saying that those who do not support Resolution 861 do 
not support our troops in Iraq.
  Resolution 861 continues the open-ended commitment of U.S. troops in 
Iraq and embodies President Bush's latest attempt to justify the U.S. 
involvement in Iraq.
  Last December the President and his congressional allies claimed the 
Iraqi parliamentarian elections were a ``crucial victory'' in 
establishing a democracy in Iraq. Thus, through this election, 
``victory'' was inevitable in Iraq. Even Vice President Cheney declared 
the insurgency was ``in their final throes.''
  America has heard this type of reasoning before from President 
Johnson during the Vietnam War. In 1967, the South Vietnamese freely 
elected their government. President Johnson then declared the 
Vietnamese election had established a democracy supported by the 
Vietnamese people. Even our Vietnam military leaders declared the war 
would be over soon as there was ``light at the end of the tunnel.''
  After this Vietnamese election, and the light at the end of the 
tunnel, 3,800 more Americans would die in Southeast Asia.
  Since May 1, 2003, when the President declared ``mission 
accomplished'' in Iraq, over 2,300 troops have died in Iraq. What is 
the victory that the President and his congressional supporters 
envision in Iraq for the U.S.? What is the strategy for the Iraqi war 
mission to be accomplished?
  This is not a war like our grandparents fought. This is an 
insurgency. There is no country to hoist a white flag of surrender. 
There is no recognized political entity that America can sign a peace 
agreement with. There is only an insurgency of fanatics who have no 
desire to reach peace with the United States.
  Our brave men and women in the military are trying to build a 
democracy in a country that views U.S. troops as occupiers. Almost one-
half of the Iraqi people believe it is justifiable to kill our U.S. 
troops. The U.S. military has been used to prop up a government being 
threatened by a guerrilla insurgency.
  With this Iraqi insurgency, I cannot envision an event, a goal or a 
date when victory in Iraq can indisputably be achieved.
  What has President Bush said about achieving victory in Iraq? The 
President said the United States will stay the course and the next 
President will have to withdraw our troops from Iraq. It will be 2\1/2\ 
years, or 30 months, before this President leaves office. Does this 
mean America will spend another $300 billion on the war in Iraq? Does 
it mean America will suffer 18,000 more young people to war wounds and 
another 2,500 killed?
  In October 2002, I warned that this administration would open a 
Pandora's box if the United States unilaterally went to war in Iraq. 
Mr. President, you opened Pandora's box with all its death and 
destruction of American and Iraqi lives. You cannot simply wash your 
hands of this war and leave it to the next President to withdraw our 
troops from Iraq.
  It is time for America to demand accountability from the President 
and the Iraqi Government. It is time for an Iraqi accountability plan 
to bring this war to an end.
  Because of America's sacrifice, the people of Iraq have been able to 
participate in a democracy by electing the leaders who will shape their 
young government and institute laws to protect them. This is a giant 
step towards accountability.
  The formation of a new government in Iraq is more than just filling 
out a cabinet. It is an opportunity for the people of Iraq to accept 
responsibility for governing their country. This responsibility extends 
beyond voting or forming a new government or killing Abu Musab al 
Zarqawi. Now, is the time for Iraqis to be accountable for themselves 
and their developing country.
  I believe that in order for the principles of democracy to take hold 
in Iraq, the target of the insurgency, our U.S. troops, must be removed 
as soon as possible!
  The President must develop a strategy to bring our troops home. I 
believe America should demand from the Bush administration an Iraq 
Accountability Plan that will set clear and measurable goals. The 
United States has provided the Iraqis with an opportunity for freedom, 
democracy and self-governance. But it is the responsibility of the 
Iraqi people to seize the opportunity and set forth these principles in 
their land.
  In this war; the truth lies in today's The Washington Post headline 
which states ``Iraq Amnesty Plan May Cover Attacks on U.S. Military.'' 
The war in Iraq has boiled down to amnesty for insurgents who attack 
and kill U.S. soldiers but no amnesty for the insurgents who kill Iraqi 
citizens. This amnesty proposal appears to have the tacit agreement of 
the Bush Administration for Iraqi government Officials stated, 
``There's some sort of understanding between us and the UNF-I [The 
U.S.-led Multi-National Force-Iraq] that there is a patriotic feeling 
among the Iraqi youth and the belief that those attacks [on U.S. 
military personnel] are legitimate acts of resistance and defending 
their homeland. These people will be pardoned definitely, I believe.''
  If you vote ``yes'' on this Resolution, you are supporting the Iraqi 
Government's belief that it is ``ok'' to give Iraqi's amnesty for 
attacking and killing U.S. troops!
  I cannot, and I will not support Resolution 861 which supports a 
government that pardons and justifies killing of 2,500 American 
personnel as Iraqi patriotism!
  I will not support a resolution that leaves our commitment in Iraqi 
``open-ended''; or which allows this President to hand over the Iraq 
war to the next President, 30 months from now; nor a resolution that 
does not have a strategy to end the war in Iraq.
  I urge my colleagues to reject this resolution!

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