A Soldier's Perspective

Troops Mentioned on House Floor

This was a statement given by Roscoe Bartlett ( R – MD) given today during general debate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5122, a truly bipartisan bill that supports our troops.

As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Projection Forces, I want to recognize the outstanding service rendered to our great Nation by our men and women in uniform around the globe who are meeting every challenge with true dedication and professionalism and I also want to thank all Americans, especially the families of deployed service members, for their unwavering support of our service men and women.

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I am pleased to report that the National Defense Authorization Act that we consider today takes bold steps to ensure our nation’s continued ability to safeguard American interests, and when necessary project U.S. military power around the globe.

We have taken action to provide our troops with the capabilities they need to meet current and emerging threats. But we have also taken precautions to ensure that current capabilities are not permanently or prematurely retired to fund future replacement capabilities that are either undefined or unaffordable.

Earlier this week, the Associated Press reported that recently discovered Al-Qaida in Iraq documents demonstrate that the terrorists are "concerned about disorganization within its cells in the capital area, with one extremist describing them as simply a 'daily annoyance' to the Iraqi government."

In one document, a terrorist "complains that the Americans and the Iraqi government forces 'were able to absorb our painful blows,' raise new recruits, and 'take control of Baghdad as well as other areas, one after another." The document also stated "this is why every year is worse than the previous year, as far as the mujahedeen's control and influence over Baghdad."

Today, Congressman Joe Wilson, Co-Chair of the Victory in Iraq Caucus, made the following statement regarding Al Qaida's self-reported disorganization:

"These documents demonstrate that American troops and Iraqi Security Forces are breaking the will of the terrorists in Iraq," said Congressman Wilson. "Our troops' brave battles are helping ensure that American families don't face terrorists again in our own country."