Emergency Supplemental Appropriations

EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I would like to share some of my thoughts on the administration's request for additional funding for Iraq and Afghanistan.

The majority of our attention has been focused on the situation in Iraq. Certainly this topic merits the attention it has received not only this morning but every morning it has received during morning business. In all of this, however, I would like to ensure that we do not overlook another very important aspect of this bill, which is increased assistance for Afghanistan.

The supplemental includes $11 billion for Operation Enduring Freedom: over $1 billion for training of the Afghan National Army and the construction of roads, schools, and health clinics.

Too often, as we focus on what is transpiring around the world—whether it is events in Iraq, the happenings in North Korea, the situation in Liberia—the news coming out of Afghanistan goes unnoticed: the cooperation between U.S. and Afghan forces in tracking down elements of the Taliban and al-Qaida; the progress USAID is making in strengthening the government; vaccinating Afghan children for measles; expanding educational opportunities for women and girls; and we must also remember the rehabilitation of numerous roads, bridges, tunnels, and related infrastructure.

There is also bad news as to what is happening in Afghanistan: reports of the resurgence of the Taliban and al-Qaida, increased poppy cultivation for opium production, and a yet uncertain relationship between the central and the provincial governments.

Our support for the progress in Afghanistan must continue. Many talk of the need to succeed in Iraq. The high price associated with that, if we fail, will be incredible. And I agree. The same holds true with Afghanistan. So I am pleased this supplemental is not just about Iraq but includes Afghanistan as well.

This past May, during his commencement address at the University of South Carolina, the President spoke to what the biggest accomplishment our presence in these two nations—Iraq and Afghanistan—can be, and that is the opportunity to replace old hatreds with new hope.

As the President said, when citizens have hope—when they feel as if they are invested in the future—then the extreme ideologies of terrorists hold no sway. But if there is no hope, if individuals think the future holds nothing for them or their families, the appeal of extremism is great.

That is the fight the United States faces today. What does the future of Iraq and Afghanistan hold for their citizens?

We have all heard of the recent Gallup poll taken in Iraq, which showed that 67 percent of Iraqis surveyed thought their lives would be better off in 5 years as a result of the U.S.-led invasion. Only 8 percent said their lives would be worse off.
The hope for the future is there.

The Iraqi people are not willing to give in to the evil of terrorism, but if the United States fails in its task, if we do not deliver on our promises to get the job done, we have perhaps opened the door to even further terrorism.

Make no mistake about it, if we go about our task in a halfhearted manner and do not provide the resources that are needed, then we are only sentencing our troops to continued danger and longer deployments. The fact is, the sooner we complete the job, the sooner our troops come home.

Despite what may be portrayed in the media, progress is being made. We see that on a daily basis. Towns and municipal councils have been set up.

Fifty-six thousand Iraqis have been trained and armed for the security of their nation. More Iraqis are being trained to serve in the Iraqi Army and the police force. Electricity has been restored to prewar levels. A new Iraqi currency was introduced just this week.

On the education side, on October 1, just a couple weeks ago, the children of Iraq returned to school. And with the assistance of the Coalition Provincial Authority and USAID, nearly 1,600 schools in Iraq have been renovated. Over 5.6 million math and science books, free of Saddam's propaganda, are being printed and will soon be delivered. U.S. universities are partnering with Iraqi universities. This is significant because over 40 percent of Iraq's population is under the age of 15.
These are kids who have known nothing but life under Saddam Hussein. These children are Iraq's future. Ensuring access to educational opportunities for both boys and girls is key. This will give the Iraqis the chance to develop the skills they need for their own personal advancement, to diversify Iraq's economic development, and to provide for the future of their nation and a future with hope, which is what we are all working toward.

I see the good Senator from Missouri is here. I yield the floor.