[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 11777-11778]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                  IRAQ

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I want to take a few moments to comment on 
the debate that has been underway on the Defense authorization bill. In 
particular, I want to draw attention to the heroism, courage, and great 
work of our soldiers on the frontline. Every day they are risking their 
lives to defend our freedom. They are taking that battle to the enemy 
so that the enemy does not bring that battle to us on our own soil.
  No one would have guessed almost 5 years ago that we would be free 
from having suffered another major terrorist attack. We have been 
extraordinarily fortunate. We remember 1993, the World Trade Center 
attack, Khobar Towers, our embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, the USS 
Cole, and then that day on 9/11. We have been safe because of our brave 
men and women, Americans who are putting their lives on the line to 
protect this country. Then there was that day on 9/11 where our enemy 
declared war. They slaughtered innocent citizens right here on American 
soil. They judged us to be weak, to be vacillating. They believed we 
would cower in the face of brutality. They were wrong.
  Out of the black smoke and ashes of that terrible day, America stood 
up strong, united, and determined. And after careful deliberation, we 
answered back. We toppled the Taliban in Afghanistan, where al-Qaida 
had trained. We toppled Saddam Hussein, a real and continuing threat to 
the security of our Nation and to our allies. Since then we have 
continued the hard work of draining the swamp that nurtured and 
festered these monsters. It hasn't been easy. The last 3 years have 
strained our patience as we have watched the terrorists' counterattack. 
Innocent Iraqis, coalition forces, humanitarians, and journalists have 
been targeted simply for trying to secure a free and open Iraq. But the 
enemy's effort to plunge Iraq into chaos will not succeed.
  Slowly, freedom is gaining ground. The Iraqi people are emerging from 
three decades of brutal repression and claiming their right to stand 
among democratic nations. Last year, millions of Iraqis defied the 
threats of Abu al-Zarqawi and streamed to the polls in three national 
elections. Iraq's Sunni population participated in greater numbers each 
time. On June 8, the new democratically elected Prime Minister Jawad 
al-Maliki named the last three members of his Cabinet--the Ministers of 
Defense, Interior and Security--thereby completing formation of his 
unity government. What huge progress. The new government is committed 
to facing the challenges of terrorism and corruption and to move Iraq's 
fledgling democracy forward on the path to freedom. I believe they will 
succeed as long as we do not break faith with them.
  It was a week ago the Iraqis formally asked the United Nations 
Security Council to maintain the U.S.-led coalition with these words:

       While great achievements have been gained by the people of 
     Iraq in the realm of political development, the continuation 
     of the mandate of the multinational force in Iraq remains 
     necessary and essential for our security.

  Far from the rhetoric that is being used by some today, the Iraqi 
people want us, and they need us to help them. If we don't, if we break 
our promise and cut and run, as some would have us do, the implications 
could be catastrophic. Not only would it be a dishonor to our 
Americans, a dishonor of historic proportions, the threat to America's 
national security would be potentially disastrous. If large parts of 
Iraq were to fall into the hands of terrorists, there would be no end 
to the threats we might face. Iraq could become a terrorist base for 
attacking us and undermining our allies. Many of Saddam Hussein's 
weapons scientists are still in Iraq, and the destruction of 9/11 would 
pale in comparison to the devastation terrorists could inflict with 
weapons of mass destruction produced in Iraq using their experience.
  Leaving Iraq to the terrorists is simply not an option. Surrendering 
is not a solution. Zarqawi's elimination on June 7 was a profound 
victory. Coalition forces have captured or killed 161 of Zarqawi's 
leaders, key elements in the command and control of the terrorist 
network. Iraqi troops and the Iraqi people are working ever more 
diligently to defeat the terrorist enemy. In July of 2004, there were 
no

[[Page 11778]]

operational Iraqi Army division or brigade headquarters. In just 2 
years, 2 divisions, 14 brigades, and 57 battalions control their own 
area of responsibility. That is progress. Also, 28 authorized national 
police units are in the fight with 10 battalions in the lead. Over 
254,000 trained and equipped Iraqi security forces are taking the 
battle to the enemy. These are just a few of the positive indicators. 
With our help, Iraq is making steady and impressive progress every day.
  America has faced great challenges before. We rose up to defeat 
Naziism, one of the ugliest ideologies in modern history. It took 
terrible sacrifice and great pain, but we defeated the Nazi scourge. 
Through the Marshall plan, we rebuilt a continent of democratic and 
independent states. For the next four decades, we battled the Cold War 
against Communism, a long battle we ultimately won. In the great wars 
of the 20th century, our ideals carried us through even when victory 
seemed far from assured. Young American men and women who had never 
seen the world came to be its bravest defenders.
  As we continue the war on terror, we cannot retreat, we cannot 
surrender, we cannot go wobbly. The price is far too high. The strength 
we show now is the security we earn for the future. As the President 
has explained, America's troops will stand down as the Iraqi troops 
stand up. They are gaining strength every day. By keeping a steady eye 
on the ultimate goal, by having flexibility and patience, I am 
confident we will succeed. No less than America's security depends on 
it.
  I yield the floor.

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