Mica: Declaring That the United States Will Prevail in the Global War on Terror

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the men and women bravely defending our country against terrorism and tyranny. Regarding U.S. and allied actions against Saddam Hussein's Iraq, I believe it was appropriate for Congress on October 16, 2002 to authorize American military action and would vote again to provide President Bush this authority. The question of whether Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, WMD, is a moot point and a distraction from a host of evidence that the United States was justified in its actions against the former Iraqi regime. The facts are that Saddam Hussein had the capability to produce WMDs and had weapons in defiance of United Nations agreements to deliver nuclear, biological or chemical warheads. In fact, neither I nor the President knew for certain whether Saddam had WMDs at the time of our actions against Iraq. Many of us suspected he did possess that capability. Let me quote a few. "Saddam Hussein possesses chemical, biological weapons, and if events are allowed to run their course, will someday possess nuclear weapons." Sen. Evan Bayh (D.-Ind.), statement, Oct. 3, 2002. "I believe that Saddam Hussein rules by terror and has squirreled away stores of biological and chemical weapon[s]." Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D.-Calif.), floor speech, Oct. 10, 2002. "The people of the United States and the rest of the world are at risk as long as Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction. Last night, the President . . . made the most effective case to date that the risk of inaction is too great to bear." Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D.- W. Va.), statement, March 18, 2003. "For the last 12 years he's [Saddam's] ignored UN resolutions and embargoes while rebuilding his illegal chemical and biological weapons. . . . He is dangerous. I believe he needs to be disarmed." Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D.-Md.), floor speech, March 18, 2003. "In 1991, the world collectively made a judgment that this man should not have weapons of mass destruction. And we are here today in the year 2002 with an un-inspected 4-year interval during which time we know through intelligence he not only has kept them, but he continues to grow them. . . . The threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real, but as I said, it is not new." Sen. John Kerry (D.-Mass.), floor speech, Oct. 9, 2002. "On Monday night, President Bush, I think spoke for all of us. I know of no one who really disagrees at all. He described Saddam Hussein as a homicidal dictator who is addicted to weapons of mass destruction. It is that addiction that demands a strong response. We all agree on that. There is no question that Iraq possesses biological and chemical weapons and that he seeks to acquire additional weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons." Sen. Chris Dodd (D.-Conn.), floor speech, Oct. 9, 2002. "I believe if Saddam Hussein continues to refuse to meet his obligation to destroy his weapons of mass destruction and his prohibited missile delivery systems, that the United Nations should authorize member states to use military force to destroy those weapons and systems." Sen. Carl Levin (D.-Mich.), floor speech, Oct. 9, 2002. "He [Saddam Hussein] stockpiles biological and chemical weapons." Sen. Jon Corzine (D.-N.J.), floor speech, Oct. 9, 2003. Furthermore, the Saddam Hussein regime was marked by brutality, fear and terror. Over 270 suspected mass grave sites have been found by Iraqis and U.S. and allied forces. On September 23, 2004, Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said, "Like almost every Iraqi, I have many friends who were murdered, tortured or raped by the regime of Saddam Hussein. Well over 1 million Iraqis were murdered or are missing. We estimate at least 300,000 are in mass graves which stand as monuments to the inhumanity of Saddam's regime." The brutality of the former Iraqi regime knew no bounds. Victims of Saddam's torture chambers were subjected to vicious acts such as the gouging-out of eyes, severe beatings, electric shock, dismemberment and the cutting out of tongues. Documented chemical attacks by the regime from 1983 to 1988 resulted in some 30,000 Iraqi and Iranian deaths. Human Rights Watch estimates that Saddam's 1987 to 1988 campaign of terror against the Kurds killed at least 50,000. Saddam's ruthlessness even extended to his own family in which he had approximately 40 of his own relatives murdered.

Today there are many Monday morning Iraq quarterbacks. The U.S. did win the war against Iraq and captured Saddam Hussein. However, America and its allies have had difficulty in controlling insurgent attacks. No one anticipated Islamic extremists would make a stand bringing in al-Qaeda, Baathists and others. No one anticipated civil conflict between the Shi'a, Sunni and Kurd populations. However President Bush, Secretary Rumsfeld and U.S. military leaders have done their very best in a difficult situation and deserve our support and continued backing. Yes, we all want our troops home and an end to terrorism. Rhetoric and unwarranted criticism will not make that happen.