On his August 2003 trip to Iraq,
John visited with Major David Dickey, United States Marine Corps
at Camp Babylon, located just note of the city of Al Hillah,
Iraq. Dickey’s mother, Lucie Brown, lives in Salem.
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During his August 2003 stop at
the Combined Joint Task Force 180 Headquarters at Bagram Airbase,
Afghanistan, John visited with Marine Lt. Col. Tim Bailey of
Hampton.
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National Security
• Iraq/Afghanistan
Our men and women in uniform deserve thanks and praise
for their unwavering dedication - in the face of grave danger and
death - in the continuing mission to bring freedom and stability
to Iraq and Afghanistan.
In August of 2003, while on an official tour of Iraq with Members
from the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees,
John saw first-hand the bravery of our soldiers, while also hearing
detailed briefings on the reconstruction effort and the progress
toward establishing a new Iraqi government. The group also visited
Pakistan and Afghanistan, John’s second official visit to those
Central Asian countries. In January of 2002, while serving in the
U.S. House of Representatives, John joined the House Foreign Operations
Appropriations Subcommittee for stops in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan,
Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
John strongly supports the actions of American troops and their
coalition partners, which were necessary to disarm Saddam Hussein,
capture him, and liberate the Iraqi people from his brutal regime.
Since 1991, Hussein had violated each of the 17 resolutions that
the United Nations (UN) passed to compel him to disarm and to eliminate
the threat he posed to other countries in the region. As a result,
coalition forces were obligated to confront Hussein in an effort
to force him to comply with the final UN Resolution 1441.
The Iraqi people continue to face many difficult challenges, but
the United States is committed to supporting them in their efforts
to build a country based on democratic principles and the rule of
law. We will continue training Iraqi security forces so this rising
democracy can eventually take responsibility for its own future.
In time, Iraq’s progress will be an example to all freedom-starved
counties throughout the Middle East and the world.
• Defense
Our armed forces face many challenges in carrying out their various
missions around the globe. Important policy and funding initiatives
that will bolster our national defense, now and in the future, are
contained in the Department of Defense Authorization and Appropriations
Bills each year. These pieces of legislation address key issues
including military pay and benefits, further development of a missile
defense system and other weapons systems, research and development
funding to allow the United States to continue to field a precise,
mobile fighting force; and aid in homeland defense initiatives.
As New Hampshire continues to send its sons and daughters into harm’s
way, in-state companies provide our military with technology and
equipment for use in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other parts of the world.
Department of Defense-related bills reflect the state’s contribution
to national defense. John is proud of the strong federal support
awarded to New Hampshire firms for the production of equipment to
be used by soldiers on the battlefield today and for the development
of new systems to be used by the soldiers of tomorrow.
Further information regarding the United
States Department of Defense can be found at: www.defense.gov
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