Condemning the November 6, 2007, Terrorist Bombing in Afghanistan
CONDEMNING THE NOVEMBER 6, 2007, TERRORIST BOMBING IN AFGHANISTAN -- (House of Representatives - November 13, 2007)
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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bipartisan resolution before us condemning the cowardly suicide bombings in Baghlan, Afghanistan, recently which killed at least six members of the Afghan Parliament and dozens of innocent men and women and children. Countless others were wounded.
Those who oppose the emergence of a free, democratic and stable Afghanistan mistakenly believe that through such nefarious acts they can deter the Afghan people from realizing their goal of a viable and independent Afghanistan that is secure and free from terrorism. This cowardly act will not deter us, nor will it deter the people of
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Afghanistan from achieving those vital goals. It only strengthens the will of the Afghan people to not revert back to the days of totalitarian rule by the Taliban and its radical allies.
Last month, the committee met with the Speaker of the Afghan Parliament here in Washington and we discussed the challenges and common goals we all face and share in Afghanistan. I am confident that he and his colleagues, both men and women democratically elected by the people, will carry on, despite the loss of their colleagues in this brutal attack.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that President Karzai of Afghanistan spoke for all of us when he condemned the attacks and noted it was against Islam and said, ``It is the work of the enemies of peace and security in Afghanistan.''
This brutal attack is a solemn reminder that Afghanistan continues to be subjected to a campaign of unrelenting violence by the Taliban, Hizb-I Islami, and other terrorist organizations. The security climate has the potential to further compromise reconstruction and relief efforts by the United States, our allies and the international community.
In particular, the poppy cultivation and opium production, which directly supports local warlords and sustains and finances insurgents, militias and terrorist organizations behind these attacks, continues to increase at a staggering rate. In response, this critical resolution demonstrates the continued commitment from the United States and the international community to support the people of Afghanistan in their time of need.
I want to thank Congressman Price and Congressman Dreier for their leadership in ensuring that this resolution was considered by the House in a unified, expeditious manner.
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