[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5027]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TALKS WITH IRAN AND SYRIA

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, the Secretary of State made news this week. 
During testimony before Congress she announced that the U.S. will join 
high level talks with Iran and Syria to work towards stability of the 
Middle East. Madam Speaker, this is a welcomed step in the right 
direction.
  Diplomacy must not be the only option available to us, but it should 
certainly be one of them. President Reagan understood this principle. 
In dealing with the Soviets, he never shied away from publicly 
denouncing their acts of aggression and their disregard for human 
rights. Even so, he maintained open lines of communication with his 
Soviet counterparts throughout his Presidency. Reagan did so because he 
understood a very important principle, when done in the right way, 
tackling with your enemies is a sign of strengthen, not a sign of 
weakness. You don't have to give anyone away in order to dialogue.
  The same can be true today. Talking with Iran and Syria and 
continuing to promote stability in the region can go hand in hand if 
done in the right way. This is the right move, and I applaud the 
administration for making it.

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