[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 22155]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 WHAT WOULD THE DEFEATISTS HAVE US DO?

  (Mr. POE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, instead of praising and encouraging our 
troops in their relentless fight against the terrorist insurgents and 
seeing the success of U.S. troops, some choose to focus on the 
negative. They seem to preach gloom, doom and despair. They come across 
as defeatists, retreatists, and losers.
  Do these people really want us to lose this war? Is their retreat 
political agenda more important than America's safety agenda? Now is 
the time, more than ever, that this Nation be behind our soldiers in 
this fight.
  The dangers to freedom do exist. Right now in Afghanistan, Taliban 
forces are holding 22 civilians from a South Korean church. They have 
executed one hostage and plan to murder more. These Islamic radicals 
kill in the name of religion. Now, what would the surrender advocates 
have us do? Hide?
  Fanatical militants are a threat to the security of free nations and 
the United States. It is the American troops, however, that are making 
a difference in beating back the forces of hatred and oppression. Our 
patriots deserve thanks, respect and our total commitment, not 
naysayers' words of criticism, contempt and complaining.
  And that's just the way it is.

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