Phil Gingrey: “I had the great opportunity to visit Iraq on two occasions: in December of 2003, five days after the capture of Saddam…”

“I had the great opportunity to visit Iraq on two occasions: in December of 2003, five days after the capture of Saddam Hussein, and then again in February of this year with my colleagues on the Committee on Rules. I want to say what I noticed in Iraq, in the theater of operation, was I met soldiers' soldiers and I met commanders' commanders; and I want to say, too, that the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), the chairman of our Committee on Armed Services, is a chairman's chairman. It was said earlier by other speakers the sacrifice he made himself while serving in Vietnam, and his sons now serving in Iraq. This is the kind of support that we need to show and let those young soldiers who are over there right now, maybe some of them are having a needed break, an opportunity to get out of harm's way and possibly watching the deliberations that are occurring right here this evening as we praise them and give them our support. {time} 2045 In the previous 5-minute litany that we heard from the other side, I think it was just the opposite. It was a little sad to hear them read names and then condemn the Commander in Chief, to condemn the cause. And, Mr. Speaker, I would like to throw out a couple of names of young soldiers that gave their life in Iraq. I could mention Specialist Justin Johnson from Armuchee, Georgia, just 2 years out of high school.…”