Relating to the Liberation fo the Iraqi People and the Valiant Service of the United States Armed Forces and Coalition Forces

RELATING TO THE LIBERATION OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE AND THE VALIANT SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AND COALITION FORCES -- (House of Representatives - March 17, 2004)

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 561, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 557) relating to the liberation of the Iraqi people and the valiant service of the United States Armed Forces and Coalition forces, and ask for its immediate consideration.

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Ms. HARRIS. I thank the distinguished gentleman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 557, which reaffirms the morality and justice of Operation Iraqi Freedom. One year ago, our brave men and women in uniform began to liberate a proud and resilient nation from an unspeakable 30-year nightmare. They also delivered a clear message to terrorists and tyrants alike: the United States will not tolerate a regime that pursues tools of mass murder and destruction. Operation Iraqi Freedom reversed more than a decade of failed diplomacy which exacted a devastating price. Because the world permitted Saddam Hussein to violate 16 U.N. resolutions with impunity, the terrorists became convinced of our weakness. Meanwhile, Saddam continued to murder, torture, mutilate and rape men, women and children by the millions. After routing Saddam Hussein's forces from Kuwait in 1991, we urged the Iraqi people to rise up and rebel against this brutal dictator. Then, because United Nations and international opinion required us to leave Saddam in power, we betrayed them.

During the Pryce delegation's mission to Iraq last fall, we listened to the victims and witnesses describe the horrors of this wicked regime. Incredibly, however, the faces of the Iraqis with whom we met reflected a new hope, born from the blood, sacrifice, heroism, and successes of our troops. Even as they endure the attacks of the enemies of freedom, they know that by working together, we will win the twilight struggle for their future.

In the heart of the Middle East, we are replacing the oppression and despair that breeds terrorists with the freedom and hope that defeats them. Mr. Speaker, this stunning transformation is the very essence of the war on terror and let us not permit the rhetoric of an election year to obscure this fundamental truth.