The War on Terror

THE WAR ON TERROR -- (Senate - June 28, 2006)

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I rise to speak today about one of the great issues that faces us in this era, the war on terror. I rise to speak in support of the efforts being undertaken by our soldiers in Iraq. I consider my place on the Armed Services Committee to be an honor and a privilege. American soldiers are deployed the world over, and it is my duty to serve and to support them.

Today, our country is at war against an ideology of hate and oppression that has turned a peaceful religion into a platform for war. Our soldiers have faced such adversities throughout our history and defeated them. That is why yesterday I voted in favor of a constitutional amendment to protect the flag, which represents what our soldiers have always fought for.

The fight to combat Islamic fascism has not ended. Our soldiers, alongside Iraqi security forces, are fighting against the enemies of a free Iraq--enemies like Zarqawi, who made war on Americans and Iraqis alike. Zarqawi butchered innocent Iraqis in the streets with the hopes that he could intimidate them into submission or spark a civil war where his ideology of hatred could live.

Zarqawi was wrong, and now he is dead.

Further, today we have reports that Iraqi security forces arrested a key al-Qaida figure who was involved in the destruction of the golden al-Askariya Mosque. Moreover, the Iraqis have not abandoned hope and neither should we. To the contrary, Iraqi and American forces are working together to bring a fledgling democracy into maturity. Iraqis are risking their lives so that their future generations can enjoy the freedoms of liberty.

While the Iraqis work toward unity, the U.S. Congress seems to be heading toward disunity. I am concerned over the increasingly visceral, unobjective, and unconstructive rhetoric launched by some on the other side regarding the global war on terrorism. I tried to remain silent on this matter waiting for the Democratic leadership to offer a constructive plan or enter into a constructive dialog. Unfortunately, neither of these things has happened.

To date, the Democratic plan for dealing with Iraq and the war on terror consists of simply quitting as soon as possible and launching a campaign of personal and negative attacks on the President and his administration. I suppose as we enter the beginning of an election year, the rhetoric will only get worse, and the issue will become more polarized.

The unfortunate victims of this Democratic charade are not the American people but the American soldier. Day after day, our soldiers see and hear people in this Chamber hammering away at the point that we are losing the war in Iraq, that Iraq is a lost cause or that this is a winless war, while all the time hiding behind the inconsistent mantra of opposing the war but supporting the soldiers. After visiting soldiers in both Iraq and Walter Reed Hospital, I am confident that for American soldiers there is no unwinnable war.

That is why I voted against Democratic amendments calling for troop withdrawals or artificial timelines. I believe the troops in Iraq are doing the work we have asked them to do, and that if we focus right now on artificial timelines, we will be doing them a grave disservice. I believe the calls that have come out of here are wrong for a couple of reasons.

First of all, they violate the spirit of the separation of powers doctrine that interferes with the President's ability to act as Commander in Chief.

Second, I think they turn what should be battlefield decisions into decisions made by politicians. Our commanders should make troop need decisions based on conditions on the ground.

The ``long war,'' as referenced by President Bush and also by Osama bin Laden, is not a war for Iraq, it is a war for hope, compassion, kindness, and a restoration of freedom to people the world over.

Now is not the time to send a message to Islamic fascists that they have won and we are pulling out because America has lost its resolve.

It is important to spur the Iraqis on, but we cannot force them to try and establish a working democracy by threatening to leave.

Since March of 2003, when American troops entered Iraq, there has been a great deal of advancement. While some on the other side take every opportunity to point out flaws and failures, I would like to point out that in January of 2005, 8 million Iraqis voted for a Transnational National Assembly, and in August Iraqi assemblymen presented a Constitution to their countrymen. In October, 80 percent of the people voted to ratify that new Constitution, taking their first steps to create a permanent government.

The people of Iraq have not undertaken this path to freedom without danger. They risk their lives standing in lines at voting booths and recruiting stations. Iraqis do these things because they know that they are taking the necessary steps which will govern their future.

While there have been positive advancements regarding the Government, the private sector has also seen improvements as well. There is much work to be done here. I will not stand before the Senate and state otherwise. However, the road to progress in Iraq is paved with growth. Oil production has increased from 1.5 million barrels per day to 2.25 million barrels per day. Electricity is also growing. U.S.-funded programs have added 2,700 megawatts to the national grid. It is clear that we need to inspire more Iraqi involvement, but that is not a farflung goal.

Since April 2003, 30,000 new businesses have started in Iraq, and their stock market is trading over $100 million per day.

I am very proud of what American soldiers have done in Iraq, and I believe more needs to be done. Every day we help Iraq move to a permanent government is another day we help Iraq become stable and no longer in need of America's servicemen. I will not abandon the idea that a free Iraq can be achieved or allow my actions to be governed by opinion polls or popularity contests.

It is not just Iraq that we are talking about, it is about the global war on terror and American security. Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, Iraq has become the front line in the war on terror, and those terrorists who are pinned down in Iraq are not planning and launching attacks against the United States.

In fighting and winning the war on terror, ``eternal vigilance'' is the operative phrase. Thomas Jefferson said: ``The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.''

Irrespective of how or under what circumstances we got there, we must now complete the mission. We must win. Failure means relegating future generations to a world of terror and fear where thugs and rogues rule and where freedom, as we know it, becomes a thing of the past.

The global war on terror is about not only bringing stability and freedom and democracy to that region of the world, it is also about ensuring that Americans can live in peace and security in the future. Every single day that our brave and courageous men and women are taking the fight to the terrorists in Iraq, it means we are not fighting them on American soil.

So I rise today again to congratulate and thank those brave men and women who are carrying freedom's torch in Iraq and doing the heavy lifting that is necessary to keep this country safe and secure for the future.

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