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“TRIP TO IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S12571-S12574 on Oct. 15, 2003.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIP TO IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I just returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. I was accompanied on that trip by Senator Conrad Burns of Montana, Senator Larry Craig of Idaho, Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming, and Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island. I wish to share with the Senate some of my observations about the trip.
First, I am pleased to report that patriotism among United States troops is alive and well in Iraq and Afghanistan. Soldiers on the frontlines of the global war on terrorism--be they with the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq or the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan--serve America with honor and distinction.
This Senator is more grateful than words can express for the professionalism and dedication of our Armed Forces as America continues to bring the war on terrorism to the terrorists. We are fighting this war on our terms--and on their turf.
My hat is off to the President--our capable Commander in Chief--for his stalwart leadership throughout this war. There is no better man that could be at the helm during these dangerous times.
In Iraq, our service men and women are proud to have liberated an oppressed nation and are bound and determined to finish the job they started by turning over Iraq to the Iraqi people as soon as is possible. The bill before us will allow them to do just that--so long as the requested reconstruction funds are fully provided. It might interest my colleagues to know that the Screaming Eagles view these funds just as important as ammunition in destroying the enemy.
In Afghanistan, United States troops continue to pay back al-Qaeda and Taliban forces for the September 11 attacks on our shores. Morale is high, and our soldiers take great pride in constituting a new Afghan army that are already proving to be more formidable fighters than the terrorists they face on fields of battle.
Second, despite news reports to the contrary, America is making significant progress in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In Iraq, U.S. troops and civilians with the Coalition Provisional Authority, CPA, are perplexed by the lack of attention paid to accomplishments made on a near daily basis. More than 13,000 reconstruction projects have been completed in Iraq, with electricity generation exceeding prewar levels and a free press already exceeding those in neighboring countries. By one recent count, 170 newspapers are being published in Iraq. Baghdad residents have access to more local print media than residents of Louisville, KY.
Some 60,000 Iraqi security forces have been trained, and those that patrol jointly with U.S. troops are often cheered by their compatriots. American military and CPA officials are working tirelessly to work themselves out of a job in Iraq as quickly as possible. The shared objective of the interim Iraqi Governing Council, IGC, and the CPA is to draft and ratify a constitution and hold national elections, perhaps within the next year.
In Afghanistan, international efforts are ongoing to build security forces and a new Afghan army. While Provincial Reconstruction Teams and humanitarian organizations have access to most of the country, Taliban remnants, al-Qaeda fighters, and local militias continue to pose challenges to development activities in the southeastern part of the country. Afghan President Karzai and his cabinet are determined to lead the country out of decades of warfare and instability into a new era of prosperity and economic and social opportunity. They have America's support and assistance in this endeavor.
Funding in the supplemental bill is key to improving the lives of ordinary Iraqi and Afghan citizens and providing for the tools and technical training so that they guarantee their own security. Our reconstruction efforts in both countries can be best described as a partnership--one that is mutually beneficial to the security interests of Iraq, Afghanistan, and the United States.
Third, it is clear from talking to Iraqis and our forces on the ground that providing reconstruction assistance to Iraq in the form of a loan would be counterproductive and downright dangerous.
I do not doubt for a single moment that those elements that today attack coalition forces, the United Nations, and foreign missions in Baghdad would spin the extension of loan to Iraq as proof positive that the coalition toppled Saddam Hussein's regime for oil. This could spark a firestorm against the United States throughout the entire Islamic world--from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia--that even the most effective public relations campaign would fail to extinguish.
Further, the interim IGC is in no position to assume debt on behalf of the Iraqi people, much less award or manage reconstruction contracts. The CPA rightfully seeks to continue momentum in the reconstruction of Iraq, which will directly impact the ability of the U.S. military to bring our troops home. By saddling the Iraqi people with a loan--one that no one believes they are capable of repaying--we stymie such momentum and set a precedent for other potential donors to extend aid in the form of loans.
Fourth, we must do more to enlist the cooperation of Islamic nations in the global war on terrorism.
Jordan has long been an ally in this war, and its recent decision to train Iraqi police and military officials is yet another indication that the Hashemite Kingdom seeks peace and stability in the region. Jordan serves as a stellar example of the constructive role an Islamic nation can play in defeating the cancer of terrorism.
Turkey, too, deserves recognition for its recent approval to deploy armed forces to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While many of us wish Turkey had been more supportive prior to the initiation of hostilities, this news is welcomed and underscores a regional appreciation for the need to defeat terrorism in Iraq. Just last week, the Turkish Prime Minister acknowledged that terrorism has ``no race, religion, or creed'' and that we ``need to take all necessary steps against terrorism.''
While Pakistan has also been a solid ally in the war on terrorism, it is only recently that Pakistani military forces have begun to crack down on al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters in remote provinces bordering Afghanistan. Pakistan must do all it can--in full cooperation and consultation with Afghanistan--to seek out and destroy domestic and foreign terrorists on its soil. Indeed, Pakistan should consider following the lead of both Jordan and Turkey and provide support for reconstruction efforts in Iraq.
Let me close with a final observation that America and its allies will win the war on terrorism, including ongoing battles in Iraq and Afghanistan. We will do so because of our military superiority and discipline of well-trained and motivated troops. We will do so because our cause is just and because it is in the interests of freedom loving people across the globe. And we will do so because America's greatness is rooted in the universal principles of liberty, justice, and human rights that two previous world wars have failed to extinguish.
President Bush is right that ``[a]s long as the United States of America is determined and strong, this will not be an age of terror; this will be an age of liberty, here and across the world.'' I say to our Commander in Chief that this Senator is determined to provide whatever assistance is requested and needed to win the global war on terrorism. I ask my colleagues to join me in this important endeavor.
I think they taught journalists in journalism school that good news is not news; that only bad news is news. We have sort of gotten accustomed to that in the United States. I would argue that in Iraq good news is news because prior to the fall of Saddam Hussein, almost nothing good ever happened. So the unusual in Iraq is something good happening. Clearly, 9 out of 10 things in Iraq are going in the right direction, contrary to the impression one would get from reading the daily newspaper or watching television news.
Speaking of newspapers, there are 170 newspapers being published in Iraq. That is certainly more choice than we have in my hometown of Louisville, KY, I can tell you that. Some of these papers are probably even more credible than the New York Times. So there is opinion being expressed all across Iraq, particularly in print media springing up everywhere, as they enjoy this new freedom they were previously denied.
In terms of security, the toughest issue, 60,000 Iraqis have been trained by us to begin to provide security, and some of those Iraqi security forces have thwarted some of these bombing attempts in the last 2 days. They are learning how to do it, and they are getting better. That security force is growing on a daily basis. When they conduct joint exercises with American troops, the patrols are frequently cheered by people in the countryside. They are happy they are there. They are excited by that.
Reconstruction: There have been 13,000 reconstruction projects completed to date, actually finished.
Schools: Back during the Saddam Hussein regime, they used schools to store ammunition. Today they are being used to educate young Iraqis. The schools are open. They opened a little over a week ago, and at least 1,500 of those schools--we are not anywhere near finished, but at least 1,500 of those schools have been refurbished by us.
We had a chance to visit a school in Baghdad--actually several schools. At one of them, I had a chance to talk with the principal. There is no way I can overstate how excited they are to, first of all, have their school fixed up and, second, have an opportunity to begin to teach these youngsters once again and to teach them in a more open and effective manner, unsupervised by some tyrant and his thugs in Baghdad.
Power: We finally have been able to get power production back to prewar capacity. That is still not nearly enough, but it is heading in the right direction. The ingenuity of the American commanders on the ground is really something to behold. General Petraeus, who is the division commander of the 101st Airborne, which is up north in Mosul, who, interestingly enough, has a Ph.D. from Princeton, has negotiated agreements with Turkish and Syrian officials to bring power from those countries into northern Iraq to help them meet their power needs.
New currency: I managed to pick up as a souvenir, as I left the country, an example of the old currency. This may be worth something someday. It has, of course, Saddam Hussein's face plastered on the front. These are no more. New currency is in the process of being issued in Iraq this week, and it begins the process of changing over to a different kind of currency. By the way, I think it is appropriate to note there will not be a single image of Saddam Hussein on any of these pieces of currency.
Going back to the 101st Airborne for a minute, they, of course, were also in Bosnia. The commander of the 101st said to us--and he was quite frustrated, as many of the soldiers were, about the perception that nothing was being accomplished there, that we were not heading in the right direction--he was in Bosnia as well, and we made more progress in Iraq in 6 months than we have made in Bosnia in 6 years. That is significant progress.
When he was talking about progress, he was not talking about the military part of it--that ended back in May; at least the intense combat portion ended--but he was talking about their efforts to deal with local people and these myriad of projects in which they are involved.
In northern Iraq, they had the first monitored provincial election in the Ninawa province. We had a chance to meet with the local council that had been elected in that province. There was an election held since Saddam Hussein fell from power.
With regard to security, there is no question that security is still a serious problem in Iraq. Regrettably, we see it on an almost daily basis. But I bet not many Americans know that more Iraqis have been killed during this period than people from outside the country.
What does that mean? It means that the Baathists, who are probably the principal organizers of these violent activities, are trying to get power back. They are not just after the Americans. They want to get power back. They are going to try to kill anybody in the way. Frankly, if we left tomorrow, they would be after whatever Iraqis were in charge because they want to get the power back. They want to control the country. They want to go back to their abusive tactics that they engaged in for 25 years.
So they are indiscriminately attacking anybody who is directly involved in replacing them: the Iraqi Governing Council, the Turks after saying they would send in 10,000 troops--there was an attempt on their embassy yesterday. There was an attack on the Jordanian Embassy and the U.N. earlier. This is not just an attack against Americans but against anybody who is helping the Iraqis move in the direction of having a normal, democratic, responsible country.
There have been some demonstrations. People have said this is outrageous; it must mean they do not like the fact that Saddam Hussein is gone. Well, these demonstrations--which by the way could not have occurred under Saddam Hussein because he would not have allowed it--are related to unemployment and delayed pay. Sounds like the sort of thing that would demand a demonstration in this country. Those are some of the conditions obviously that need to be dealt with.
So let's put everything in perspective. One would be hard pressed to find an Iraqi who would say they were better off under Saddam than they are now.
I have heard some reporters suggest that maybe we were sold a bill of goods while we were over there and only heard what people wanted us to hear. Let me say to that, it would be impossible to organize all of the youngsters we passed in the streets who were waving at us--not because of us but because of the American soldiers we were with--giving a thumbs up and smiling. Nobody could have organized all of that. Clearly, the young people, who are a reflection of their parents' views, are excited that the American troops are there and happy that Saddam Hussein is gone.
Another noteworthy observation that certainly could not have been created in order to give us a good impression of what was happening is that commerce is springing up everywhere. Business men and women are selling their wares along the sides of the streets. The Iraqis are not only well educated, they are quite entrepreneurial. These are the kinds of talents that are going to give them an opportunity to build an Iraq of which their citizens can be proud. We have a free Iraq now but we do not have everything we need to have.
I conclude by making an observation about the package that we have been debating. Twenty billion dollars of the $87 billion is for reconstruction. At some point I know we are going to have amendments related to what conditions ought to be placed on that $20 billion, but let me say how important that is.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for 1 additional minute.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. McCONNELL. If we look at the $87 billion, $66 billion of it is for troops. The stationing of troops overseas is very expensive. So I say to our colleagues who are concerned about the costs, the sooner we can get the troops home, the sooner it will cost us dramatically less. That is why the reconstruction project part of it is so important. Getting the country structured in such a way that they have adequate power, clean water, and are able to move forward with their infrastructure is the key to getting the troops home. So the $20 billion part of this package is critically important.
I know we will be having amendments about whether it ought to be conditioned. I think the President is correct. I think it ought to be a grant. I think we ought to make it clear that we did not go in there to put them in debt beyond where they are already. But we will have that debate in the coming days on the supplemental.
I am thankful for the opportunity to share my observations about my recent trip with Members of the Senate.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Louisiana has 2 minutes 20 seconds remaining.
Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, there is hardly any point that my colleague from Kentucky so ably made this morning that I disagree with, or that most people on this side--not all but most--would disagree with. The issue is not whether we can stay and finish the job. Obviously, we have to do that, for any number of reasons, for our own security, for the stability of the region. We are a powerful nation that makes promises and keeps promises. That is not the question.
The question is, How should we pay for it? This administration has basically said it is our way or the highway: no loans, no modification of the tax cut, and no oil revenues can be used. The President is telling the American people, and the Republican leadership is saying to the American people, basically, that there is only one way to pay for this, and it is to dig deeper into our own basic deficit: borrow against our children's trust funds, borrow against paying for schools, hospitals, or colleges, and pay for it by increasing the deficit to our children and grandchildren.
Some of us are saying there is a better way. We could lend the money and establish a way for Iraq to build itself out of its own situation with our help and support, not by indebting Iraq, but by freeing up their natural resources to pay for a reconstruction that can sustain itself.
The point I want to make is there is no quick fix for nation building. The Rand study, a balanced independent study--they are not Democrat or Republican--says no previous case of nation-building was successfully completed in less than 7 years.
We will need something that we can sustain. This is a democracy in the United States, not a dictatorship. The people will need to support this effort. They are not going to support going into greater debt. They are not going to support having our children make sacrifices for Iraq's reconstruction. If someone has to make sacrifices, let the adults in this country make the sacrifices, not the children. And our greatest generation has already made enough sacrifices, let's not rob their social security trust fund.
This is a chart depicting Iraq. This is the southwestern portion of the country. We have not even explored for oil there and the experts--
again, Louisiana knows something about oil because we have a lot of it--say there is more oil in the southwest section than here. Here are the fields. They are not even fully developed. This has not even been explored, yet the President wants us to use the Social Security trust fund instead of these reserves. I think that is wrong. I think there is a better way.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas controls the time.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, how much time is remaining on our side?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Nine minutes forty-six seconds.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I yield the entire time to the Senator from Montana.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana.
Mr. BURNS. I thank the Chair and I thank my friend from Texas. I also thank my friend from Louisiana because I think she brings up some very valid points.
If one visits Iraq--especially the neighborhoods, which are just like some of the neighborhoods across this country--one will see poverty that is rampant, as well as poor living conditions. These neighborhoods are no place that I know that any American, having the choices we have in this country, would choose to raise their children. But they will get better because of the benevolence of a great country, the United States of America. We opted to make that choice after World War II in the rebuilding of a destroyed axis, both east and west. As it turned out, it was a very wise investment.
We have the same opportunity now in a part of the world where great changes are starting to take place. Because of our presence in Iraq and the actions we are taking there, Saudi Arabia is for the first time in its history going to offer elections. Have they done that because of what we didn't do in Iraq? I think one would have to question that.
I congratulate my friend from Kentucky. When he goes on a working trip--we had 8 days in the field. I mean it is getting up early in the morning, catching an airplane, and flying into an area where let's say most of the action was centered, working all day, and then flying back and getting a hotel even without dinner. That is all right. I can afford to miss a dinner or two. I can afford to miss a few meals. But we were ground level.
Central services are being reestablished in Iraq way ahead of schedule and are now at the same level or beyond what they were prewar. The plan that has been laid out--and everybody knows it and everybody reads it--is working. Fifteen hundred schools have now been refurbished and another 1,500 will be finished by the first of the year. We now see schools open, with kids and parents very happy. An Iraqi contractor used 30,000 Iraqi carpenters, painters, and people who refurbish in that endeavor. Iraqi people are picking up their own neighborhood because they have the freedom to do so and telling us that if we leave now, they cannot go with the job only partly done.
Is there a timeline? There is never a timeline for this kind of an operation. That is kind of like me going out and saying I am going to build a fence until the 10th day of November. Bad weather comes, and a lot of things intervene. I don't get the fence done. Come the 15th of November, am I going to quit building the fence? I don't think so.
So timelines on projects such as this are very slow but they are moving forward.
Are we talking about a lot of money? You bet we are. It is money that sometimes we think we don't have. But sometimes we make investments in things with money which we don't think we have either.
There is a powerplant that would be shut down in this country in a New York minute. There are six turbines and only two are operating. It was built in 1928, and not a nickel was ever invested in the O&M of that plant. There are no computers nor control rooms; it is entirely manually operated. Efficiency of producing electricity and even conserving electricity is not there. Central services of water, telephone, and even health care are back beyond what they were prewar.
We found out one thing: Saddam Hussein did two things really well. He built great palaces. We were in a couple of them. They are pretty good digs. He also built a good road system. But that is where it stopped. Irrigation systems around Mosul and along the Euphrates River are falling apart--not because of damage in an armed conflict but because of no investment in O&M. Now we are restoring those irrigation systems; people will be able to feed themselves.
We are making an investment in people who are educated and motivated and who want to have something to say about their own fate when it comes to the economy and to their political freedoms. That is what this is about.
Is this about establishment of a government that will look like ours? No. It will not look like ours. But at least it will be a representative form of government--another one in that region that changes the mindset of the entire Middle East. Elections in Saudi Arabia are just part of that. This is the cradle of terrorism. This is where it starts. This is where it is planned, and this is where it is financed. But with economies of scale, as they grow, terrorism diminishes. We take the fear out of doing business or going to school or doing shopping or even in recreation.
It will be Americans who will do that. Money is just a tool. It can be used for good. It can be used for evil. We have chosen to use it for good.
Talk to the parents of those children going to school. I talked to a lad of about 10 or 11 years. I asked him if there is any difference this year. He said: Yes; there are a lot of girls in my class. He had never experienced that before. Their eyes are bright; they are eager to learn; and their parents are happy that we are there. That is at the neighborhood level. It is not in some headquarter being briefed by the State Department or the military people.
Talk to the soldiers on the street. Do they understand what the mission is? Yes, they do. Are they motivated to carry it out? Yes. They understand that there is great risk, but there is always great risk with freedom. We have assumed that risk in this country. We assume a high level of risk for that very precious thing called freedom.
We have to rebuild the infrastructure with these appropriations, get their economy going, and then bring our troops home. They can come home faster than if we say we are just going to leave them alone. What kind of a signal does that send to the meeting next week in Madrid where we are calling the world's nations together to participate with us in rebuilding an infrastructure for a people who actually deserve it and which was denied by a tyrant for the last 25 or 30 years?
This is what America is about. I am proud to be a part of it.
I yield the floor.
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