Deploring Abuse of Persons in UNited States Custody in Iraq

DEPLORING ABUSE OF PERSONS IN UNITED STATES CUSTODY IN IRAQ -- (House of Representatives - May 06, 2004)

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 628, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 627) deploring the abuse of persons in United States custody in Iraq, regardless of the circumstances of their detention, urging the Secretary of the Army to bring to swift justice any member of the Armed Forces who has violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice, expressing the deep appreciation of the Nation to the courageous and honorable members of the Armed Forces who have selflessly served, or are currently serving, in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

-BREAK OF TRANSCRIPT-

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson), a great member of the 173rd Airborne in the Vietnam War.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the chairman and his colleagues on that side of the aisle on their debate today and associate myself with the remarks that they have made. I agree that this debate should not be limited to the actions of those responsible for these inhumane acts.

It is also about the tens of thousands of U.S. military personnel who are performing their jobs honorably and bravely in the face of danger every single day. It is important for us to focus on these men and women today, Mr. Speaker, because the system that broke down and the system that is responsible for these inhumanities has just placed an even larger target on each of their foreheads. For the 138,000 brave men and women, and for the countless other Americans in Iraq today, their lives have become even more perilous with every new disclosure of atrocity.

This Congress was kept in the dark for months, but now the lights have been turned on. For every minute we take to find our voice, to take a bold action, to demonstrate to the world that American democracy and humanity are more than words that we teach to schoolchildren, is another minute that our soldiers face more danger and even greater odds than they would have faced otherwise, and they exacerbate their chances of getting back home to see their families again.

If this debate is truly about them, I say to my colleagues; if this debate is truly about them, they deserve more than a few words on this floor today. They deserve accountability, and they deserve action, and they deserve it now.