Date: 2005-02-02
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: hearts

of all who love freedom. My faFlorida. I thank the distinguished gen- vorite was that of a woman holding up tlewoman for yielding me this time. the victory siM accentuated by the Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support blue ink on her finger indicating that of this resolution brought forth by our she had voted. That victory sign stands majority leader and others commemo- for victory over dictatorship. for vicrating. celebrating the extraordinarily tory over terror. victory for demochistoric accomplishment of the Iraqi racy. victory for freedom. people last Sunday. There have also been some stateAs our majority leader stated in a ments from voters showing what they meeting where we were able to hear think of their newfound freedoms. One him speak just a few minutes ago. what voter remarked. "I moved to mark my we saw. what the world saw in Iraq on finger with ink. I dipped it deep as if I Sunday was more than an accomplish- was poking the eyes& of all the worlds ment. It was a miracle. But it was a tyrants." miracle made possible by the leader- The Iraqi people have spoken with a ship of President Bush and the Armed loud voice. and once again freedom is Forces of the United States and the co- on the march. This is thanks to the alition that have stood firmly for the dedication not only of the people of security of a people who were oppressed Iraq but certainly for all the service for decades and who made it known to and the sacrifice of our brave men and the entire world last Sunday that those women in the armed services. thugs who seek to cloak themselves in So I do find it amazing that some on some sort of sector of Islamist thought the other side of the aisle and throughare nothing but a bunch of gangsters. out our Nation are calling for a quick thugs and gangsters whb seek to in- pullout of our troops from Iraq. We all timidate through violence and through want our troops to come home. and terror. they will. as soon as their mission is So the world was able to see on Sun- accomplished. as soon as it is comday the gangsters and the thugs for pleted. They will not leave early and what they are. a pathetic group dedi- allow dictatorship and repression to recated to terror and intimidation. The turn to fill the vacuum left by their deworld has seen and was able to see. by parture. the courage of the millions and. mil- Many of these advocates of an early lions of Iraqis who. despite the threat withdrawal were also in opposition to to their own lives. stood in line and the President Ronald Reagan when he lines refused to be broken. As our ma- stood strong for freedom against Soviet jority leader stated so eloquently in communism. These same detractors the meeting that we had. as I stated say that we should not overhype the before. earlier today. the lines refused election in Iraq. In 1989. Were they sayto break even when the bombs came ing that we should not overhype the and the attacks came and the injured fall of the Berlin Wall? Tell that to the were taken to hospitals and the dead people of the former East Germany were mourned. Yet the lines remained who now live in freedom. tell it to the to demonstrate to the world that the people of Poland. tell it to the people Iraqi people not only seek but appre- of the Czech Republic. tell it to the ciate and will stand for their freedom people of Hungary. or to the people of and that the gangsters and thethugs the Ukraine. all of whom live in freeare simply pathetic believers in vio- dom because of the steadfast deterlence. mination of the American people to I am a firm believer in the Bush doc- spread liberty. trine. All people want to be free and all Theflag of freedom has been raised people deserve to be free. There are a high in Iraq. and we cannot and must handful of tyrannies in the world. not leave Iraq before freedom and deTheir day will soon come. also. mocracy take root. Because. just as in Just 90 miles from the shores of the Europe. the idea of freedom will resoUnited States there is a tyrant who for nate throughout the Middle East. 46 years has oppressed a people. also Let freedom ring. through the same gangster tactics that Ms. ROSLEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker. I these thugs in the Middle East use. Un- yield such time as he may consume to fortunately. he has all the weapons. the gentleman from California (Mr. and his people are unarmed. His day ROYCE). a member of the Committee on will soon come as well. International Relations. This is a great day for history. for . Mr. ROYCE. I thank the gentlepeace that we are celebrating today woman for yielding me this time. with this resolution by the gentleman Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support from Texas . That is why I of this resolution celebrating the free so strongly support it. elections held in Iraq this past week-