American Troops Working to Improve Iraq

AMERICAN TROOPS WORKING TO IMPROVE IRAQ -- (House of Representatives - May 11, 2004)

(Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and
extend his remarks.)

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, while we are all appalled and outraged by the actions of a few soldiers, let us not forget there are 135,000 honorable American troops, along with 23,000 courageous coalition partners, working day and night in Iraq to improve the Iraqis' quality of life. These fine men and women in uniform have built and repaired schools, reopened thousands of run-down hospitals and clinics, restored and improved electricity and water supplies, and put a new currency in place.

The positive progress which I saw firsthand last month in Iraq has been astounding, despite daily terrorist attacks that seek to prevent democracy from taking root. The terrorists know that if freedom prevails in Iraq that it will spell the beginning of the end of their quest for tyrannical hold on the Middle East. Yet their desperate attempts will fail, and the American military will continue their noble work to make sure that Iraqis live in a free Iraq to protect American families from future acts of terrorism.

In conclusion, may God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.