Date: 2003-10-16
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. a great challenge lies before this Congress as we debate a supplemental spending package for the reconstruction of Iraq. American forces bravely liberated an oppressed population from decades of terror and the evil rule of Saddam Husseins regime. While freedom may have been born on the streets of Iraq after the fall of the regime. its longterm survival clearly depends on our commitment to help the Iraqi people establish a government and infrastructure that will allow freedom and democracy to grow. History highlights situations where wars may have been won. but longterm peace and security clearly was not. In the 1980s. for example. the United States helped Afghanistan defeat the Soviets. but failed to follow through to ensure longterm security and stability. Just 20 years later. Afghanistans governing bodythe Talibanprotected and housed Osama Bin Laden and the Al Qaeda terrorist network. Abandoning Iraq without ensuring stability will only provide opportunities for terrorists and extremists to eliminate Iraqs hopes for freedom and democracy. This will ultimately bring a greater threat to the United States and our allies. Americas commitment to freedom and democracy is unwavering. The soldiers that bravely liberated the Iraqi people and brought an end to an evil regime. demonstrated this commitment to freedom and democracy that America has fought for throughout its history. We must not turn our backs on the very principles this nation fought for. We must not return the Iraqi people to a state that sponsors terrorism. lacks all regard for human rights and poses an international threat to peace. As Members of Congress we must support measures that will ultimately protect America and the American people. Along with President Bushs support. this body has passed major initiatives to protect Americans since September 11. The authorization to use force against Saddam Husseins regime was one such initiative. However. those effortsand the successes since the fall of the regimewill be meaningless if we abandon Iraq and allow for similar regimes to emerge. Initiatives to protect Americans must exist far beyond our borders. Threats to our security are developed far from our borders and should be addressed long before they have a chance to reach one of our major cities. We must not allow Iraq to become another breeding ground for antiAmerican terrorist dictators that will not only abuse its people. but also seek to destroy the United States. Some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have expressed concerns with this reconstruction package. Such hesitation is reminiscent of similar hesitation on this very floor in 1947. while the House and Senate were debating the Marshall Plan after the conclusion of World War II. At that time. some Members had concerns that the Marshall Plan was expensive. poor policy and would ultimately fail. One Senator claimed that the American people "are thoroughly disgusted with the whole program. when they know anything about it. or when it is explained to them. and when they understand that it may lead to the destruction of the United States." Another Senator stated that "the TrumanMarshall Plan will be no more successful than our previous adventures in foreign policy." One Member of the House even referred to the plan as a "campaign of propaganda." As history recorded. the Marshall Plan became one of the most successful foreign policies in American history. We were able to secure an unstable region of the world. build longterm international relations and ensure the security of America and our allies. A comprehensive assistance program was essential in securing the stability of Europe. especially Germany. Had America and our allies walked away from Europe after we fought to liberate it. destabilization would have certainly been a consequence. Like the Marshall Plan. our reconstruction package seeks to ensure the longterm stability of a region that plays a major role in the security of America. We must ensure that future generations are not faced with the same threatening regimes we have faced. The only way to make that assurance. however. Is to help rebuild a nation that has been significantly damaged by a government which had no regard for its own citizens. I proudly stand in support of this Initiative. which will create longterm stability in Iraq and will ensure that a terrorist regime will never reemerge. We own this to the people of Iraq and to all Americanshere and abroadthat must be protected from every threat to their security and safety. I encourage my colleagues to join me in voting for this legislation. which will protect our troops. the principles of freedom and democracy. and will ultimately eliminate a major threat to the United States that has existed for decades.