[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11621]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          REDEPLOY OUR TROOPS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, we were promised another chance to debate 
our policies with respect to the war in Iraq. Yesterday and today we 
had that debate. But those who listened to that debate need to 
understand that it was mere theater.
  We had before us today a resolution that could only be voted up or 
down, yea or nay. If I wished to offer an amendment giving voice to my 
desire and that of the majority of my constituents to redeploy our 
troops from Iraq, I could not. You heard me correctly, the rules of 
this debate that we had today precluded me from taking any substantive 
action.
  I believe that one of the fundamental functions of the Congress is to 
act as a check and a balance to the executive branch. Yet here we are 
in the people's House, the people's House, unable to do the people's 
will.
  Mr. Speaker, America is the lone superpower in an increasingly 
interconnected and interdependent world. Along with that awesome and 
unprecedented power comes responsibilities to humankind and the planet 
itself.
  America's reasons for maintaining her superpower status must be to 
export the best of our democratic system of governance and the hope of 
the American dream to the rest of the world. But these cherished ideals 
cannot be exported through force. We must teach and lead by example. 
Leading by example means modeling the behaviors that we want others to 
emulate. We must respect the rule of law. We must respect civil rights 
and liberties. We must stand firmly for human rights, renouncing in all 
circumstances the use of torture, assassinations, kidnappings as 
political tools, illegal detention, and cruel and unusual punishment.
  Mr. Speaker, we must renounce the preemption doctrine. President 
Kennedy had this to say about the use of America's military force: 
``The United States, as the world knows, will never start a war. We do 
not want war. We shall be prepared if others wish it. We shall be alert 
and try to stop it, but we shall always do our part to build a world of 
peace where the weak are safe and the strong are just.''
  Mr. Speaker, I voted against authorizing use of force in Iraq. I 
believed then, as I do today, that Iraq posed no threat to America's 
security. I agree with the 9/11 Commission members that there was no 
credible link between Iraq and the 9/11 terrorists. I feared that war 
in Iraq would divert our attention from anti-terrorism efforts and 
serve to make us less safe and secure.
  I called upon the President to tell Congress and the American people 
what circumstances would be required in order to bring home our troops 
from Iraq. My letter demanding articulable milestones and an exit 
strategy was sent to the President before the war even started, and to 
this day that letter remains unanswered.
  Mr. Speaker, since that time I have participated in fearful troop 
sendoffs and joyous homecomings. I have nothing but respect for our 
brave soldiers. During the past 4 years, I have embraced and stood and 
prayed with Wisconsin families as they said their last good-byes to 
brave sons, fathers and brothers.
  As of yesterday over 2,500 young men and women of our military have 
given their lives in Iraq. During the past 4 years, I have also heard 
from parents who clearly see that it is their children and 
grandchildren who will pay the $320 billion that this war has cost to 
date.
  Mr. Speaker, I am a member of the Out of Iraq Caucus and a proud 
cosponsor of Mr. Murtha's resolution, H.J. Res. 73, to redeploy our 
troops. I only wish it was that resolution that we had debated over the 
past 2 days.

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