Pete Domenici: “I rise to comment on where we are with reference to the war. I was very pleased to read in the New York Times yesterday…”

“I rise to comment on where we are with reference to the war. I was very pleased to read in the New York Times yesterday that a poll had been taken in Iraq. In fact, the New York Times reports so little good news about the theater of the war, I figured it had to be a poll or it wouldn't state anything good. The poll said two-thirds of the Iraqi people believed they were better off and that they would be better off in 5 years, having gotten rid of Saddam, rather than with him present. If you listen to all the news, you wonder whether the people of Iraq even care about our efforts to help or whether there are very many who are pleased to be part of this transition toward freedom. In addition, that same article said something rather phenomenal about the distinguished Ambassador who runs the American effort. The poll said--and the New York Times used two words--``remarkably positive''-- to characterize the 47 percent of the Iraqis who said he was doing a very good job. That was said almost with incredulity that it could be true, but it is, because we are doing a good job. We have been there 4 rac{1}{2} months--not years. For us to already have achieved what has been done is borderline miraculous: Schools opened; hospitals opened; a council formed; a head of government there ready to move step by step toward democratization, with great leadership of the 25-member governing body, 17 of them Ph.D.s in the subjects of the ministries they run.”