Cliff Stearns: “I rise again to pay tribute and support to our troops, particularly in Afghanistan. We should be reminded that there is…”

“I rise again to pay tribute and support to our troops, particularly in Afghanistan. We should be reminded that there is a lot of inordinate negative press and that Americans have been apprised of the situation in Iraq, and I think there is a lot of good things happening also in Afghanistan. Just one of the accomplishments is they are continuing to attack the narcotics trade to prevent proceeds from being used to fund terrorists and insurgents. We are helping the Afghans provide for their own security and rebuilding provinces shattered by more than 20 years of war, tribal fighting, and Taliban oppression. Afghanistan's presidential and parliamentary elections are slated for October 2004 and 2005, respectively. Those are just a few of the accomplishments of our troops engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. But there is one other thing: one of the accomplishments, obviously, is that their actions overseas and in Iraq have prevented another terrorist attack here in the United States. So I am proud of our courageous troops defending our Nation, and encourage my colleagues to join me in singing their praises also.”