Supplemental Appropriations

SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS -- (Senate - February 15, 2005)

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from South Dakota is recognized.

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I recently had the good fortune to travel to Iraq with my colleagues Senator Inhofe and Senator Isakson. With my own eyes, I saw the political genesis of a nation moving from tyranny to liberty. This process was made possible by the skill and determination of our troops, the strides being made by the Iraqi security forces, and the growing determination of the Iraqi people to engage in the democratic process.

I cannot say enough about the sacrifice and dedication of our troops. Their professionalism and devotion to duty are truly inspiring. And I am convinced now more than ever the United States has the finest military in the world. To those who know it best, our military's might is not defined only by its sheer firepower but by the individual soldiers who all play their part in making a multifaceted operation like this possible.

Of course, our service members perform their military responsibilities with pride, with diligence, and with professionalism. But many of them also work hand to hand with the Iraqis every day trying to bridge the gaps in language, culture, and community, to forge a common bond cemented by freedom. In doing so, our men and women in uniform represent all that is good about our country.

My fellow Senators and I also visited wounded American soldiers in a military hospital in Germany on our way back from Iraq. These brave men and women who have already sacrificed so much for the cause of freedom were mostly and primarily concerned with getting back together with their units and for the well-being of their peers who are still in Iraq. That warrior spirit among these brave men and women is inspiring and gave me pause to consider what is clearly at stake for the Iraqi people.

Our National Guard and Reserves are also playing a critical role in Iraq. Three days ago I was honored to be able to welcome home the Second Battalion, 147th Field Artillery of the South Dakota National Guard from Iraq. These citizen soldiers put their lives on hold for over a year to provide critically needed support. They performed their mission effectively and honorably, and I applaud their selfless sacrifice.

The Iraqi people also deserve our admiration and thanks. While in Iraq we met with General David Petraeus who is in charge of training Iraqi securities forces. He was upbeat about their progress and the efficiency that is beginning to take root. General Petraeus's convictions were legitimized by the effectiveness shown by the Iraqi security forces on election day. Those forces were the first line of defense in successfully protecting over 5,000 polling stations throughout Iraq, none of which were penetrated by the insurgents. Some of the Iraqi security forces even gave their lives so their fellow countrymen could vote.

Perhaps the bravest of all on election day were the Iraqi citizens who also risked their lives by taking that critical first step on their journey to self-determination. The insurgents and terrorists grossly underestimated the Iraqi people's courage and thirst for freedom. The Iraqi people did not buckle under threats of violence and murder. Instead they spoke out with a great voice that has been heard throughout the world and well into the annals of recorded history. They have demanded their right to self-determination, their right to live their lives as they see fit, free from tyranny, free from fear, free from extremism. On election day, they earned that right.

Let me be clear, there is still much work that needs to be done, and there are still enemies to fight. But freedom's light does not shine without a price. The Iraqi people know this. They understand a new Iraq must not be dominated by only one ethnic or religious sect. Many Iraqis I met with, including

Shiites and others, expressed the belief that for democracy to work, the Sunnis, who now find themselves the minority, must be a part of and represented in an inclusive Iraqi government.

Of course we all look forward to a free and stable Iraq. But we should not attempt to impose an artificial time line on this goal. Instead we should focus on a conditions-based schedule that allows for a responsible transfer of responsibility from American to Iraqi troops. Our generals support that concept, not arbitrary deadlines. When the conditions are right for us to leave, we will know and so will a free and sovereign Iraq.

I believe the recent elections and the self-confidence they have inspired in the Iraqi people may represent a turning point in the struggle for democracy in Iraq. With the bravery and the dedication of our troops and the courage of the Iraqi people and their security forces, we can look forward to the day when our troops come home with the honor they have earned.

We will soon be debating legislation that will provide funding and resources for our troops to complete their mission. It is critical that in the course of this debate we understand what is happening today in Iraq and what it means for American troops who are bringing about freedom and democracy. We must make sure they have the resources, the equipment, the training, and the weaponry to succeed in this mission.

The insurgents, who continue to prey upon the fears of the Iraqi people, who resort to tactics and thuggery and indiscriminately kill innocent people, are not going to go quietly. It is important that we complete this mission. It is important that we win and secure the freedom of the Iraqi people. It was clear to me, having traveled to Iraq and listened firsthand to the stories that have been shared and conveyed by Iraqi voters, who for the first time were able to take that ink-stained finger and mark a ballot, that they are committed to the cause of freedom and democracy in their own country.

We heard statements such as "we are profoundly grateful." We heard statements talking about how the mission is succeeding, but it is still fragile, how we need to continue to focus on training and equipping Iraqi security forces, and that the reconstruction needs to move faster.

Engagement with the Iraqis is the way for us to succeed, and giving the Iraqis the opportunity to govern, which is what the elections were all about. Giving the Iraqis the opportunity to defend the freedom they secured when they voted on election day should be our mission in Iraq. It is important as a nation, as a Congress, and here in the Senate, that we take the steps necessary to ensure that our troops-our young men and women who are bravely and courageously setting and laying the foundation for a safe, strong, and free Iraq-have what they need to complete that mission.

I yield back the remainder of my time.

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