Thank you!
Posted on 11/22/2005 5:34:39 PM PST by Interesting Times
Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, in a few minutes we are going to send a message to our troops. And for our last speaker, we have a gentleman who knows a lot about freedom. He knows a lot about a lack of freedom. He knows a lot about American resolve and sometimes the lack of American resolve. He has been awarded two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star with valor, two Purple Hearts, four air medals and three outstanding unit awards. He is one of our real heroes, Sam Johnson of Texas.
Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Thank you, Mr. Hunter. You are a great man yourself. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the American men and women in uniform and their families. I did spend 29 years in the Air Force, and I served in Korea and Vietnam and spent 7 years as a POW in Vietnam and more than half of that in solitary confinement. I know what it is like to be far from home, serving your country, risking your life, hearing that America doesn't care about you as happened in Vietnam.
Your Congress does not care about you. Your Congress just cut off all the funding for your war. They are packing up, going home, and leaving you here.
When I was a POW, I was scared to death when our Congress talked about pulling the plug that I would be left there forever. I know what it does to morale, I know what it does to the mission, and so help me God, I will never, ever let our Nation make that mistake again.
Our men and women in uniform need our full support. They need to know that when they are in Iraq driving from Camp Blue Diamond to Camp Victory that the Congress is behind them, to give them the best armored trucks they can drive, the best weapons they can fire, and the best ammunition they can use. They need to have full faith that a few nay-sayers in Washington will not cut and run and leave them high and dry. They need to know these things because that is mandatory for mission success and troop morale.
America, and the Congress, must stand behind our men and women in uniform because they stand up for us every minute of every day.
Any talk, even so much as a murmur, of leaving now just emboldens the enemy and weakens the resolve of our troops in the field. That is dangerous. If you do not believe me, check out al Jazeera. The withdrawal story is on the front page. We cannot do that to our fellow Americans over there.
Mr. Speaker, we are making great progress in Iraq. Remember in January how we saw pictures from Iraq of that first election. For weeks, the media predicted gloom and doom. Remember that? What did we see? We watched people as they waited in line for hours, defying death threats just to cast their vote for democracy.
Remember the picture of the woman in the black hair cover flashing her purple finger in the ``V'' after voting in the first Iraqi elections? It was a breakthrough for democracy, and it was just the beginning.
Remember the recent vote on the referendum when people came out in droves to make their voices heard? You would not have known about it because there was so little mention of it in our press, but the people got out there and they voted and they showed their support for democracy, a new government, hope, and a future.
These people are thirsting for something more. They are risking their lives in the name of a new government, and we must stay the course if we want to foster a stable Iraq and create hope for millions in the Middle East.
Our work is paying off, not just at the ballot box. Remember when we were waking up that Sunday morning in shock as we caught Saddam Hussein cowering in a rathole? He is gone. And you know what? At least 46 of Hussein's 55 most-wanted regime members are either dead or incarcerated. Nationwide, thousands and thousands of police officers have been hired, and nearly 200,000 Iraqi soldiers are trained and serving their country. It is going to take time, but our guys on the ground are working with other nations to make inroads to create leadership and inspire democracy in a country that has only known hate, fear, and death from a ruler.
However, sadly, some here want to embolden the enemy by saying we just cut and run. That is just irresponsible and unconscionable.
I have to ask, what would Iraq be like if the United States pulled out, allowing dangerous people like the head of al Qaeda, Zarqawi, to run the country? What would that mean for the region, the world? Al Qaeda rules with death, fear, terror, and blood. Al Qaeda takes innocent people hostage, and then beheads them, and then brags about it on the Internet. Al Qaeda has no respect for human life. They prey on innocent people to do their dirty work, because they know we do not target schools and hospitals and mosques; yet those are the exact places they run for cover.
Al Qaeda will kidnap loved ones, especially very young children, of people trying to build democracy, to scare them out of helping the country. They are taking kids hostage because parents want a new life and a better life for their children.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). The gentleman's time has expired.
Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson) be allowed to have 3 more minutes.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Johnson) is recognized for 3 additional minutes.
Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask, What part of al Qaeda do you want operating here in America? Al Qaeda is a worldwide organization and a worldwide threat. I do not want any part of this. Americans do not want, need, or deserve al Qaeda. Our troops are over in Iraq fighting not just for our freedom and protection, but the freedom of the world.
We must fight the bad guys over there, not over here. We must support our troops to the hilt so they do not go to bed at night covered in talcum-powder-thin white sand wondering, Does America really support me?
In case people have forgotten, this is the same thing that happened in Vietnam. Peaceniks and people in Congress, and America, started saying bad things about what was going on in Vietnam, and it did a terrible thing to troop morale.
I just pray that our troops and their families can block this noise out and know that we will all fight like mad to make sure our troops have everything they need for as long as they need it to win the global war on terrorism.
Withdrawal is not an option. To our men and women in uniform, I simply say, God bless you. I salute you. All of America salutes our troops.
Ping for a hero.
I salute you, Senator Johnson. Those are important words that need to be repeated and echoed by your colleagues.
bump for a great set of remarks by Mr. Johnson.
(has anyone seen a transcript of Murtha's House floor attacks on our military capabilities?)
You can probably track it down via the Library of Congress search link at the top of the thread.
I saw and read about this speech in the MSM. Not! Murtha, the new MSM hero, was the only one covered. You all need to copy and send this to all of your liberal friends!
"...I did spend 29 years in the Air Force, and I served in Korea and Vietnam and spent 7 years as a POW in Vietnam and more than half of that in solitary confinement. I know what it is like to be far from home, serving your country, risking your life, hearing that America doesn't care about you as happened in Vietnam..."
Sam Johnson Viet Nam Vet Hero AND POW gets it PING!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1527080/posts
JOHN O'NEILL Viet Nam Vet Hero STILL GETS IT PING!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1526505/posts
"...To us, Mr. Kerry's comments meant that no one should do to Mr. Murtha that which Mr. Kerry did to all of us and our fellow Vietnam veterans, living and dead. Mr. Kerry's disgraceful comments on many occasions in 1971 (while we were locked in combat), claiming falsely that we were "murdering" hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese and committing rape and mayhem on a daily basis, are a part of the public record for which he has never apologized. This might be called "Kerrying" our soldiers..."
Lifelong Independent Voter AND a Viet Nam Vet
helping the Republican Party, again,
just like on Nov 2 2004 PING
Too bad the "Move On FReepers" are still on FR and not
DU where they came from!
DU loves "Move On FReepers" who howl and scream,
just like Howard Dean
DU loves "Move On FReepers" who attack honorable
Viet Nam Vets rather than the dishonorable hanoi kerry.
DU loves "Move On FReepers" who "swore"
klintoon, hitlery, hanoi kerry, sanbdi ber(bur)glar, al bore, jane beno,
would be prosecuted for
pardongate, chinagate, the bribes in upstate NY in the 2000 NY Senate race, waco, etc, etc,
"when" the "time was right".
Do me a favor - ping your list to the post below? Dr. Patty really appreciates even cards/notes to include in her packages. If there are angels on earth she's one of them!
This was an incredibly moving speech. It SHOULD have been the headline in the morning papers, and would have if we had a real media instead of the media branch of the DNC.
MUST READ speech by Rep. Sam Johnson!
And I salute the MSM who ignore him but not with the Army salute I reserve for Sam Johnson and those like him. I salute the MSM with one use often in the Bronx.
And a "RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!" to Ranger Duncan Hunter.
Sorry,..couldn't help it. Old habits.
Welcome Home Brother
bump
This website has the entire record from Friday's events. If that's when it happened, you can find it here.
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/crecord/05crpgs.html
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