Steny Hoyer: “I believe that all of us are united today, hopefully, in saluting the courageous Iraqi people who turned out to vote on…”

“I believe that all of us are united today, hopefully, in saluting the courageous Iraqi people who turned out to vote on Sunday. I know that every Member of the body commends the bravery and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform whose patriotism and professionalism made this important day possible. We must hope that 50 years from now a future generation of Iraqis can look back at this election, this event, as a turning point in the history of their nation and as a victory for freedom over tyranny, for democracy over despotism. After toiling under the boot of Saddam Hussein for decades and weathering a vicious terrorist insurgency over the last 2 years, the Iraqi people said no, no to intimidation, and yes to the most basic democratic right, the right to vote.”