Roy Blunt: “Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to have a discussion with the new President of Iraq, President Yawar, about his…”

“Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to have a discussion with the new President of Iraq, President Yawar, about his vision of a stable, sovereign, and democratic Iraq. All of us who joined with him in this building that day were impressed by his resolve and, frankly, impressed by his courage, the courage of Prime Minister Illawi, and the courage of hundreds of others who have demonstrated great bravery and resolve by taking the reins of the Iraqi Governing Council in the aftermath of Izzedeen Salim's assassination in mid-May, in the face of daily attacks, and this desperate attempt of tyrants and tyranny to prevail in a part of the world that has experienced tyranny for far too long. Why, in the prime of their lives, are Iraq's new leaders risking everything, including their very lives, for such a cause? It is because, Mr. Speaker, they desire liberty. It is because they desire freedom. The men and women who will officially become Iraq's interim leaders June 30 all share a vision of their native land free at last of Saddam Hussein's brutal oppression. This vision respects the rule of law and will listen to the voice of the people.”