Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan Security and Reconstruction, 2004-Continued

EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN SECURITY AND RECONSTRUCTION, 2004—CONTINUED

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from South Carolina for an excellent amendment. There is no ally of the U.S. and the world that benefits more, as the Senator from South Carolina pointed out, from the fall of Saddam Hussein than our good friends, the Israelis. They have watched over the years during the Saddam Hussein regime when he paid people to go into Israel and engage in suicide bombings. They are extremely grateful that there is one less terrorist state in the region to threaten Israel and the United States. In fact, you could argue that Israel benefits every bit as much, if not more so, from the change of regime in Iraq than we do in the United States.

I think this amendment is extremely important. Remember, Saddam Hussein was launching Scud missiles into Israel during the Persian Gulf war. So by changing the regime in Iraq, we have made the situation in Israel dramatically safer than it would have been on top of all of the other reasons why the change in regime in Iraq was in our own best interests. So I thank the Senator from South Carolina for a very important amendment that illustrates the significance of the fall of Saddam Hussein and peace in the Middle East and a chance down the road for there to be a final settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.

Mr. President, I am happy to yield the floor at this point.