Sep 26, 2006- GLOBAL TERRORISM

HON. MARCY KAPTUR 
OF OHIO
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2006
ClickHere To Watch Rep Kaptur's Statement
watch video

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, President George Bush, in creating fear aboutterrorists in the American people rather than understanding, often says, ``Ifwe don't fight terrorists over there, we will have to fight them right here.''He never bothers to explain in detail who the terrorists are or what motivatesthem or how his policies are creating more of them. The President'sexplanations are too simplistic, and they are wrong.

The President tried to convince us if we got Saddam Hussein and brought himto justice the battle for peace in the Middle Eastwould take a favorable turn. Indeed, the opposite has happened as Iraq descendsinto chaos. Indeed, despite the military firmness and bravery of our soldiers,the Iraqwar has actually failed politically by failing to win the hearts and minds ofthe people.

Equally bad, the Iraq warhas strengthened Iranand those loyal to it. By removing Saddam Hussein as a counterweight to Iran, PresidentBush has left a vacuum now being filled by increasingly radicalized Shiapopulations and disillusioned Sunnis. The Shia and Kurd factions inside Iraq and theoutnumbered Sunnis are now at one another's throats. Great instability is beingcreated in a region where rising religious fundamentalism, unleashed bySaddam's ouster, is the glue that is binding a rising revolution ofexpectations by formerly suppressed populations.

The President's own White House was forced this week to declassify anintelligence report that I am going to put in the record. This is a summary,called ``Trends in Global Terrorism, a National Intelligence Estimate,'' andthis report says the Iraqwar is shaping a new generation of terrorists.

Anyone who knows anything about what is causing rising levels of hatredagainst the United States inthe Middle East would have anticipated thiseventuality. The key question the President and we must address and face is,why do his policies yield more and more terrorists who want to harm us, andharm us in many places beyond the boundaries of Iraqand Afghanistan?

The complete story will show terrorists will continue to plot ways to harm America because more than wanting to come here,although some of them are capable of doing that, they want America andAmerican influence out of their countries and regions. They want us out ofthere more than they want to come here.

Rather than striking fear in the American people, the President ought to domore to explain the forces creating this anti-American and anti-Westernsentiment across those troubled regions. Which American interests have caused thisantagonism to our Nation? An important question to answer. In what countrieshas this hatred been fomented? Another important question to answer. And whatis the face there of Americathat is hated more and more?

Let me suggest part of that face involves U.S. oil alliances in cahoots withsome of the most repressive and brutal regimes and leaders who hold down thepotential of their own people. There is not a democracy over there, and we aretotally reliant on all of those oil kingdoms.

Let me suggest that the presence of U.S. military bases that ensure thestatus quo of those repressive regimes doesn't help.

Let me suggest America ishated more because we are not viewed as being evenhanded at arriving at fairand just peace settlements between Israel and the Palestinians andtheir neighbors. We need to do a better job of cultivating evenhanded diplomacyin the region.

Let me suggest our U.S.popular culture and many of its excesses are regarded as abhorrent to thefundamentalist legions that have gained even greater ascendancy after thedisgusting and outrageous behavior by Americans at Abu Ghraib.