Hyde Leads House Debate on Iraq and Global War on Terrorism

Hyde Leads House Debate on Iraq and Global War on Terrorism

H. Res. 861 passes House by a vote of 256 to 153

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H. Res. 861 by a vote of 256-153, a resolution sponsored by Rep. Henry J. Hyde (R-IL) declaring the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror.

Hyde, Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, who led ten hours of debate on the House Floor, said, "The subject of the debate was whether our liberation of Iraq and our prosecution of the broader War on Terror are in fact mistaken policies that should be abandoned. Many of the Democratic members focused on some setbacks in Iraq and lamented the fact that victory has not come easily or immediately, concluding that we should bring the troops home now and withdraw. Any such action, however, would have an incalculably negative impact on the War on Terror. We must not abandon our efforts in Iraq and against the terrorists merely because some in this country have grown faint-hearted and because a final victory has not been immediate. One inescapable lesson of history is that passivity in the face of a threat is an invitation to strike. The desire to run away only encourages pursuit. But the terrible result is that, by succumbing to the fear of terrorism, by doing too little in the fear that we are doing too much, we condemn ourselves to a future of unending assaults."

http://wwwc.house.gov/international_relations/109/news061606.htm