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Congressman Barrett supports troops in Iraq -- H. Res. 572

Friday November 18, 2005

Washington, DC –

Mr. Speaker,

I rise in support of the rule, H. Res. 572, and we have talked a lot about exit strategy, about withdrawal. If I can say one thing tonight, Mr. Speaker, I want to say do not believe all the crap that you see on the TV. Do not believe all the crap that you hear in the news.

I have had an opportunity to go to Iraq. I have seen the soldiers. I have seen the leaders. I have seen the people, and I look at the faces out here tonight, Mr. Speaker, and the faces that I see, the biggest majority, are not the faces like myself, gray-haired and receding hairline.

They are 18- and 19- and 20-year-old heroes a couple of years older than my oldest son; soldiers that are getting on Blackhawks with faces painted and M-16s getting ready to go on a mission at 120 knots above the tree level, 18- and 19- and 20-year-old heroes; soldiers that are kicking in doors with NVGs, and scared to death, but they are rooting out terrorists, 18- and 19- and 20-year-old heroes; guys that are humping rucks. They are tired, and they are cold, and they miss their mama and their wife and their family and everything they know and everything they love, 18- and 19- and 20-year-old heroes.

When I was sworn in as a United States Congressman, I raised my right hand, put my left hand on the Bible and said I would support and defend the Constitution of the United States. I will support and defend this country. I will support and defend my soldiers. As long as I am a United States Congressman, I will not cut and run on the people of Iraq. I will not cut and run on the soldiers fighting the battle. I will not cut and run on the United States of America.

Let us not talk about an exit strategy. Let us talk about freedom. Let us talk about democracy. Let us talk about victory.

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