Congratulating the Interim Government of Iraq on Its Forthcoming Assumption of Sovereign Authority in Iraq

CONGRATULATING THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ ON ITS FORTHCOMING ASSUMPTION OF SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY IN IRAQ -- (House of Representatives - June 24, 2004)

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the previous order of the House, and as the designee of the majority leader, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 691) congratulating the Interim Government of Iraq on its forthcoming assumption of sovereign authority in Iraq, and ask for its immediate consideration.

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Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

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Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, we live indeed in a very historic moment in history, and our world is engulfed in conflict of a very new and terrible kind. But it is remarkably consoling to come together today in unity, and we are certainly in bipartisan unity, on a resolution taking note of some very important accomplishments in the quest for freedom in the near east.

This resolution is cosponsored by the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) as the ranking Democrat on the Committee on International Relations; the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services; the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the ranking Democrat on that committee, as well as myself.

And that sponsorship should indicate the fact that there is agreement on the very important points made in this resolution. There is a new sovereign interim Iraqi government that is assuming power. Provincial governments are governing, courts are dispensing justice, political parties are forming, civil society is emerging, and independent media is operating, and preparations are being made for nationwide elections.

The interim Constitution states that Iraq's system of government will be republican, federal, democratic, and pluralistic and that federalism will be based on geography, history, and the separation of powers, not on ethnicity or sect.

On July 1, a new day will dawn on Iraq's future. Iraq will no longer be about the United States and its occupying role.
Rather, it will be about the new self-governing Iraq and the decisions Iraq's leaders will be making in order to further
the democratic ideals and principles.

This resolution, as I say, is bipartisan. It congratulates the interim government of Iraq on its forthcoming assumption of sovereign authority. It expresses its gratitude to the United States Armed Forces on their valiant service to their country, expresses its gratitude to the families of United States Armed Forces personnel, especially families of those who have lost loved ones. It expresses its condolences to the families of the innocent Iraqis who have been killed or wounded. It expresses gratitude to the coalition forces, the Coalition Provisional Authority, the Iraqi Governing Council, the current Iraqi cabinet government officials, and the many international bodies and voluntary organizations which have come to the aid of the people of Iraq.

It offers continued support to the U.S. Armed Forces, civilians associated with the U.S. Government, coalition forces, Iraqi security forces, and all of the people who are collaborating and making Iraq a new and democratic state.

So this is something that I cannot imagine anybody not being proud to vote for. And I look forward to an affirmative vote.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), the distinguished chairman
of the Committee on Armed Services, the cosponsor of the bill.

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Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter).

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Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).

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Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the majority leader.

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Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence).

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Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).

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Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the distinguished whip.

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Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

I want to thank the gentleman from California and everyone who has participated in this debate. As the gentleman from California said, robust debate is a hallmark of democracy and we have had that here. I have strenuously tried to keep politics out of this because I am so pleased this is a bipartisan resolution and truly it is one that is appropriate because it is a magnificent achievement to have a country such as Iraq under a dictator, a tyrant, turn into a working democracy where they are going to have free elections and have all of the additional assets that go with a democracy. I think it is a joyous occasion and one that no matter our differences we ought to be able to join in congratulating them.

Mr. Speaker, we did not start this war. On September 11, 2001, some people declared war on us and committed an act of war. Does anyone doubt if they had access to nuclear materials they would have used them? And then we would mourn the deaths of 3 million people, not 3,000 people. Does anybody doubt for one minute that chemical and biological warfare agents, if available to these people, they would not use them? They could poison an awful lot of water systems in this country and paralyze this country. War is different today. It is not declared. They do not put uniforms on and march in formation. They sneak up on you in the dark and stab you in the back. And so if you wait for the smoking gun, you might find one of your major cities is the smoking gun.

The fact that Libya threw its cards on the table and said we will not pursue weapons of mass destruction is glossed over as though that was not a substantial achievement. The fact that weapons of mass destruction have not been found in Iraq does not mean that they were not ever there or that there were not programs to develop these things. And the history of Saddam Hussein is one that indicates he would use them in a minute given the opportunity.

We are in a terrible war. We cannot win a war like this unless we are unified. I would ask all of us, Republicans and Democrats, when we start to argue this issue, think. Is what we are saying going to help us or not help us in this struggle that may last for generations? It is very important, because we all have children and grandchildren whose future ought to be a prime concern. Everything in this resolution is nonpartisan. It is praiseworthy. It recognizes one of the great accomplishments, the transformation of a country like Iraq into a functioning democracy and setting the example in that region of the world. And so let us join hands and acknowledge this accomplishment and join the Iraqi
people in celebrating their new democracy.

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Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.