| Lynn's Introduction of H.Con.Res 35 |
| Wednesday, January 26, 2005 |
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REP. LYNN WOOLSEY
SMART SECURITY &
THE CASE FOR LEAVING IRAQ, PART 2
5 MINUTES
JANUARY 26, 2005
MR. SPEAKER, THE UNITED STATES INVASION AND OCCUPATION OF IRAQ VIOLATES AMERICA’S CORE VALUES OF HONESTY, RESPONSIBILITY, SECURITY, JUSTICE, AND FREEDOM.
THIS HAS BEEN A DISHONEST WAR FROM THE WORD GO. THE PRESIDENT SAID HE HAD HARD EVIDENCE OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN IRAQ. IT TURNS OUT HE DIDN’T. TO DATE NO WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION HAVE BEEN FOUND. THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF HAS OFFICIALLY CALLED OFF THE HUNT FOR WMD IN IRAQ.
IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN A GUIDING PRINCIPLE OF THE ADMINISTRATION’S BEHAVIOR IN LEADING THE NATION TO WAR IN IRAQ.
SPECIFICALLY, WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE OF OUR LEADERS WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED FOR MISLEADING THE COUNTRY, OR FOR SENDING AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN TO THEIR DEATHS WITHOUT AN IMMINENT THREAT TO AMERICAN SECURITY, OR FOR KEEPING OUR NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS IN IRAQ FOR MANY MONTHS LONGER THAN THEY AGREED TO, OR FOR SIGNING OFF ON ORDERS THAT LEAD TO TORTURE IN AMERICAN PRISONS?
OUR LEADERS DO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAILURES. INSTEAD, THEY CHANGE THE SUBJECT, MAKE EXCUSES, OR, WORST OF ALL, BLAME AN UNDERLING. NOT A SINGLE ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL HAS RESIGNED AS A RESULT OF THE MISTAKES THAT LED US INTO A MISGUIDED AND DANGEROUS WAR.
GEORGE TENET RECEIVED THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM. ALBERTO GONZALES AND CONDOLEEZA RICE ARE UP FOR PROMOTIONS. AND DONALD RUMSFELD IS STILL THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.
THE IRAQ INVASION HAS MADE THE MIDDLE EAST A MORE VIOLENT AND UNSTABLE PLACE, AND IT HAS MADE AMERICA LESS SECURE AT HOME BY CREATING A TERRORIST BREEDING GROUND IN A COUNTRY THAT WAS NOT A HAVEN FOR ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS BEFORE WE INVADED IT.
IT SEEMS TOO IRONIC TO BE TRUE: AFTER OUR NATION WAS ATTACKED ON 9/11 BY ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS, THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION’S RESPONSE WAS TO BOMB AND KILL CIVILIANS IN ONE OF THE FEW COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST THAT WAS INHOSPITABLE TO ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS.
THERE IS NO JUSTICE IN AN OPERATION THAT HAS CAUSED THE DEATHS OF 1,400 AMERICANS AND UNTOLD THOUSANDS OF IRAQIS FOR THE PURELY IDEOLOGICAL REASON THAT OUR LEADER DID NOT LIKE THEIR LEADER.
NOR DO WE SERVE THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM BY KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE IN A COUNTRY THAT DID NOT ASK FOR OUR HELP, BY DESTROYING A NATION’S ROADS, SCHOOLS, AND HOSPITALS; IN THE PROCESS WE HAVED CREATED A PLAYGROUND FOR ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS.
FREEDOM IS VERY IMPORTANT TO AMERICANS. THE PRESIDENT’S RECENT INAUGURAL ADDRESS MADE A MOCKERY OF THE WORD “FREEDOM.” HE SHOULD ASK THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ, MANY OF WHOM HAVE SUFFERED BECAUSE THEY LOST A LOVED ONE OR HAD A FRIEND MAIMED BY FOREIGN BULLETS, IF THEY FEEL FREE.
SOME SAY THAT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ TO KEEP OUR TROOPS THERE, THAT WE MUST NOT ABANDON THEM. THIS BELIEF MISSES THE POINT. OUR VERY PRESENCE IN IRAQ IS THE CAUSE OF MUCH OF THE VIOLENCE. WE HAVE A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAVE IN ORDER TO STEM THE VIOLENCE.
WE OWE THIS TO THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ, WHO ARE BEING KILLED BY THE THOUSANDS, AND TO OUR TROOPS, WHO ARE SITTING DUCKS FOR TERRORISTS. THAT IS WHY LATER TODAY I WILL INTRODUCE LEGISLATION CALLING FOR A WITHDRAWAL OF U.S. MILITARY FORCES FROM IRAQ.
IN THE 108TH CONGRESS I ALSO INTRODUCED A SMART SECURITY RESOLUTION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY, WHICH CALLED FOR A SENSIBLE, MULTILATERAL, AMERICAN RESPONSE TO TERRORISM. ADOPTING THIS TYPE OF FOREIGN POLICY WILL HELP US AVOID THE MANY MISTAKES THAT HAVE CHARACTERIZED THE WAR IN IRAQ.
SMART SECURITY CALLS FOR THE U.S. TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF TERRORISM BY ENGAGING OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS AND THE HUMANITARIAN COMMUNITY IN ALL INTERNATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION AND POLITICAL TRANSITION PROCESSES.
SMART SECURITY CALLS FOR INCREASED DEVELOPMENTAL AID PROGRAMS, INTEGRATED WITH PEACE-BUILDING AND CONFLICT PREVENTION MEASURES. BY WITHDRAWING U.S. MILITARY FORCES FROM IRAQ, WE CAN SPEND SOME OF THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS – WHICH FORMERLY PAYED FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS – ON HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE, SUCH AS: NEW SCHOOLS FOR IRAQ'S CHILDREN; WATER SALINIZATION PLANTS; AND IMPROVED ECONOMIC AND CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE.
MR. SPEAKER, THE U.S. MUST STOP ENGAGING IN A RECKLESS NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY, BECAUSE OUR CURRENT PATH ONLY ENCOURAGES FUTURE TERRORIST ACTIVITIES.
IT IS TIME WE PURSUED A SMART SECURITY STRATEGY FOR AMERICA BY WITHDRAWING OUR TROOPS FROM IRAQ. IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO MAKE THE SMART CHOICE. |
