Scott McInnis

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. I understand I have 35 minutes remaining, and I will yield back 10 minutes; so in my remaining 25 minutes let me begin by reading a letter, and I am quoting from Alistair Cooke. And as I mentioned the other night, I do not like to read from somebody else's script. I like to pull in quotes, and I hope I give credit to the quotes that are out there, but this is a very moving article. We all know that history is a good study. It does not tell us exactly what will happen in the future, but any good history teacher will tell us that the failure to understand past history will certainly be a significant handicap to any kind of understanding of how to prepare for the future. There is no crystal ball out there that tells us about the future, but history gives us an advantage. This article, I think, reflects very accurately some history that I hope all of us will think about. Let me read this, and I will quote throughout the article. I will leave the article periodically to make a comment, but I will tell my colleagues when I do that. Mr. Cooke: ``I promised to lay off topic A, Iraq, until the Security Council makes a judgment on the inspector's report, and I shall keep that promise. But I must tell you that throughout the past fortnight I've listened to everybody involved in or looking on to a monstrous din of words, like a tide crashing and receding on a beach, making a great noise and saying the same thing over and over and over. And this ordeal triggered a nightmare, a daymare, if you like. Throughout the ceaseless tide I heard a voice.'' This is Mr. Cooke talking about his dream. He heard a voice. ``I heard a voice, a very English voice of an old man, Prime Minister Chamberlain, saying: ``I believe it is peace for our time,'' a sentence that prompted a huge cheer, first from a listening street crowd and then from the House of Commons and next day from every newspaper in the land. There was a move to urge that Mr. Chamberlain should receive the Nobel Peace Prize. ``In Parliament there was one unfamiliar old grumbler to growl out: `I believe we have suffered a total and unmitigated defeat.' He was, in view of the general sentiment, very properly booed down. This scene concluded in the autumn of 1938 the British Prime Minister's effectual signing away of most of Czechoslovakia to Hitler.'' So leaving the text for a minute, in 1938, Chamberlain signed over Czechoslovakia to Hitler, much like Saddam Hussein. Give him what he wants. Appease him. Back down to what is good for the world. Back down in your own interest. But you need to cover that. A politician cannot back away without giving it some kind of cover, and Prime Minister Chamberlain said, ``I believe it is peace for our time.'' Now, going back to the script again, let me start: ``This scene concluded in the autumn of 1938 the British Prime Minister's effectual signing away of most of Czechoslovakia to Hitler. The rest of it, within months, Hitler walked in and conquered. ``Oh dear,'' said Mr. Chamberlain, thunderstruck, ``He has betrayed my trust.'' ``During the last fortnight a simple but startling thought occurred to me. Every single official, diplomat, president, prime minister involved in the Iraq debate was in 1938 a toddler, most of them unborn. So the dreadful scene I've just drawn will not have been remembered by many listeners. ``Hitler had started betraying our trust not 12 years but only 2 years before, when he broke the First World War peace treaty by occupying the demilitarized zone of the Rhineland. Only half his troops carried one reload of ammunition because Hitler knew that French morale was too low to confront any war just then, and 10 million of the 11 million British soldiers had signed a so-called peace ballot. It stated no conditions, it elaborated no terms, it simply counted the numbers of Britons who were `for peace.' ``The slogan of this movement was `against war and fascism,' chanted at the time by every Labour man and Liberal and many moderate Conservatives, a slogan that now sounds as imbecilic as `against hospitals and disease.' In blunter words, a majority of Britons would do anything.'' And let me leave the script here. This is probably the most important paragraph of what I am reading, or one of the most important: ``In blunter words, a majority of Britons would do anything, absolutely anything, to get rid of Hitler except fight him. At that time the word preemptive had not been invented, though today it's a catchword. After all, the Rhineland was what it said it was, part of Germany. So to march in and throw Hitler out would have been preemptive, wouldn't it? ``Nobody did anything and Hitler looked forward with confidence to gobbling up the rest of Western Europe country by country, `course by course,' as the growler Churchill put it. ``I bring up Munich and the mid `30s because I was fully grown, on the verge of 30, and knew we were indeed living in the age of anxiety. And so many of the arguments mounted against each other today, in the last fortnight, are exactly what we heard in the House of Commons debates and read in the French press. ``The French especially urged, after every Hitler invasion, `negotiation, negotiation.' '' Let me leave the text. Let me repeat this paragraph. The French especially urged, after every Hitler invasion, every time Hitler invaded a country, the French would stand up and say negotiate, negotiate. ``They negotiated so successfully as to have their entire country defeated and occupied. But as one famous French Leftist said, `We did anyway manage to make them declare Paris an open city. No bombs on us!'. ``In Britain, the general response to every Hitler advance was disarmament and collective security. Collective security meant to leave every crisis to the League of Nations. It would put down aggressors, even though, like the United Nations, it had no army, navy or air force. ``The League of Nations had its chance to prove itself when Mussolini invaded and conquered Ethiopia. The league didn't have any shot to fire.'' Some comparison. I leave the text. Some comparison to the United Nations. ``But still the cry was chanted in the House of Commons, the League and collective security is the only true guarantee of peace. But after the Rhineland, the maverick Churchill decided there was no collectivity in collective security and started a highly unpopular campaign for rearmament by Britain, warning against the general belief that Hitler had already built an enormous mechanized army and a superior air force. ``But he's not used them, he's not used them, people protested. Still, for 2 years before the outbreak of the Second World War you could read the debates in the House of Commons and now shiver at the famous Labour men. Major Attlee was one of them who voted against rearmament and still went on pointing to the League of Nations as the savior. ``Now, this memory of mine may be totally irrelevant to the present crisis. It haunts me. I have to say I have written elsewhere with much conviction that the most historical analogies are false because, however strikingly similar a new situation may be to an old one, there's usually one element that is different. ``And it may well be so here. All I know is that all the voices of the '30s are echoing through 2003.'' Take a look at the history of the League of Nations. Take a look at what happened in 1938, when Churchill had to stand up and tried to convince the people that these weapons were being developed. Take a look at 1938 and see if you do not think you are seeing a replay when the French stood up every time Hitler invaded a country and said, negotiate, negotiate. Well, now let us just move from that and let us just show some of the facts that I want to present. People have said, including the previous speaker, that, well, we need to start these negotiations. We need to be patient. We need to work through this. This is 13 years. Every resolution here, 678, 687, 707, clear down to 1284, every one of these resolutions Iraq has violated. Every one of these resolutions the U.N. stood up as if this was the last resolution because it was going to resolve it. You know, if you signed a contract with somebody and you had this many contracts with an individual, and that individual broke every contract, every one of those you had with them, do you think that would give you a little history as to the next contract and how effective it might be? We hear people say, well, Iraq is not a dangerous country. We have got Iraq contained. How contained did the world have Iraq when it gassed its own communities, the Kurds? How contained did the world have Iraq when it invaded Kuwait? Were they able to stop them? We were able to. The United States of America, leading the coalition, was able to push them back. But we could not stop the initial invasion. How about Iran, when Iraq started the war with Iran? Take a look at these and take a look at the weapons he used. These are weapons of mass destruction. These are weapons that yesterday Saddam Hussein said he had, but today he denies he has them; and tomorrow, frankly, he will use them, in my opinion. He has the history. Again, going back in history, again reflecting on history. Date: August 1983, mustard gas kills 100 people; October 1983, mustard gas kills 3,000 of his own people; February 1984, mustard gas kills 2,500 Iranians; March 1984, mustard gas, or Tabun, 50 to 100; March 1985, mustard gas; 1986, mustard gas; 1986, mustard gas; 1987, mustard gas; 1987, mustard gas; 1988, mustard gas and nerve agents. This guy has got a history. This is a horrible individual we are dealing with. I am telling you, from the bottom of my heart, this is a cancer on our body. And we have different people telling us, look, do not take it off. Just ignore it; it will go away. I wish we could pray it away, I wish we could hope it away, I wish diplomatically we could negotiate it away. It did not work in 1938 with Hitler, and it is not going to work in 2003 with Saddam Hussein, in my opinion. We tried to make it work. We spared his life through the direction of the United Nations in 1990. We spared Saddam Hussein. We listened to the French; we listened to the United Nations to let his regime exist. Do not destroy his regime; he has learned his lesson. Just like Hitler, negotiate, negotiate. People said let us do anything we can except fight him. We are seeing a repeat of history. Thank goodness we have a leadership team that understands this and is not willing to let history repeat itself and is willing to stand up not only for the security of the United States of America but for the security of those countries that are not able, that do not have the capability of our great country and our allies to go in and stop this from occurring. We have the capability today to stop that cancer. We have the chemotherapy treatment. We think we can make this patient do a lot better. And yet members of our own family are trying to convince the patient to walk away from the doctor's office, to deny that the cancer exists, or to admit that it exists and pretend it will go away and to try to negotiate with cancer. You cannot negotiate with cancer. You must deal with overwhelming superiority if you have got it. And if it is too late, there is not much you can do. Cancer wins the battle a lot of times. It is the same thing here. We have got the tools. We have got the capability. If we do not do it, who will? If the United States of America and its allies do not stand up to this kind of stuff, who will? Do you think the French will ever stand up? Do you think the Germans will ever stand up? Many countries in the world will not stand up because they do not have the tools. There are a lot of people that would like to join the fight, that would stand up if they had the tools. We have it and we have an inherent obligation to the next generation to do everything we can to stop it while we can. I am the generation that got it transferred to me. We could have stopped it in 1990. We did not do it. And I will be darned if I am going to stand by and let my generation pass on this problem of mass weapons with this horrible, horrible individual. I will be darned if I am going to stand on the sidelines and pass that to the next generation. Madam Speaker, I hear some peace people say what weapons, he does not have weapons of mass destruction or he is not a danger to us. I just answered what kind of danger exists. This is a document of weapons that Iraq has: Mustard gas, 2,850 tons; sarin nerve gas, 795 tons; VX nerve gas, 3.9 tons; tabun nerve agent, 210 tons. This is deadly stuff. Anthrax, 25,000 tons, and we all saw what a few sprinkles of anthrax dust did in the United States Capitol. Take a look at what this will do. Imagine if there were 25,000 tons. Where did our Nation come up with this list? We did not just create it. This is a list that Saddam Hussein produced for us. This is the list that Iraq admitted they had. Today they said trust me, despite the fact that for 12 years I have broken resolution after resolution, despite the fact that I invaded Kuwait and Iran, despite the fact that I gassed by nerve agents my own citizens, the Kurds, trust me, I do not have these weapons any more. What did the United Nations do? The United Nations is willing to sit by and say, let us trust him. Madam Speaker, it is the end of the line. We cannot continue to let this cancer spread. I do not want Members to think it is a partisan effort up here. It is bipartisan. Let me conclude my remarks with a quote, and I want Members to read this quote with me. ``What if Saddam Hussein fails to comply and we fail to act, or we take some ambiguous third route which gives him yet more opportunities to develop his program of weapons of mass destruction and continue to press for the release of sanctions and continue to ignore the solemn commitments that he made. He will conclude that the international community has lost its will. He will then conclude that he can go right on and continue to build an arsenal of devastating destruction. President Bill Clinton, February 19, 1998.'' Madam Speaker, let us not make it a replay of 1938. Let us stand by the President of this country and the bipartisan resolution this Congress authorized. We are a can-do country. Our allies are can-do allies, and we can get this job done.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise before you today to honor the good people of the Grand River Hospital District of Rifle, Colorado. America's rural health facilities are in crisis and it is our duty to embrace them in these trying times. Fortunately, the success of the Grand River Hospital District offers other rural medical providers hope. It gives me great pleasure to recognize them before this Congress and this nation. The people of the Grand River Hospital District are devoted servants, dedicated to improving the delivery of quality, cost-effective health care in their community. Their hard work has paid off, and on May 12, they will open the doors to their brand-new 16.5 million dollar Grand River Medical Center. This expansion is an amazing accomplishment at a time when so many rural medical providers are struggling to stay open. Like all success, it has taken smart and dedicated people who have given much of themselves in the pursuit of excellence. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand before this body of Congress and this great nation to recognize the accomplishments of the Grand River Hospital District. They are a guiding light for all struggling medical providers in rural America. Their example offers hope, and I am grateful to them for their dedication and the quality service they provide for the people of my district.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Kylee Smith of Montrose, Colorado. Through Kylee's diligent efforts, numerous Cottonwood Elementary School students have developed a love for physical fitness that will allow the students to reap many benefits for the rest of their lives. Kylee has created an innovative program called ``Shape Up Across Colorado'' to encourage her students to participate in physical activity. The program, which has been in place since 1991, uses 400 squares, each representing a square mile in a model of the State of Colorado. As children advance through numerous levels of activities, they are allowed to fill in corresponding squares. Using this program, the students are able to see their progress while they participate in activities they love, such as running outside, and playing in the playground. Kylee has really taught her students how to love physical exercise as well as being in the outdoors. Earlier this year, Colorado Governor Bill Owens honored Mrs. Smith for her efforts to teach children about the benefits of physical education. She was presented with the ``Shape Up Colorado Teacher of the Year'' award from the Governor's Council for Physical Fitness and the Colorado Foundation for Physical Fitness. Kylee, who is proud to live in Colorado with its great outdoor resources, believes that programs like this one will help my state become the nation's leader in physical fitness. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I stand before you, this body of Congress, and this nation today to honor Kylee Smith. Mrs. Smith has inspired her students to participate in vital lifelong, and life sustaining, physical exercise. The children of Montrose are lucky to have such a wonderful resource helping and guiding them to healthier lives. I applaud Kylee Smith for her efforts.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the life and memory of William C. Wright of Pueblo, Colorado. Bill was a hero who saved the lives of five people and was a constant contributor to his community. Today, I stand before this body of Congress and this nation to honor the heroism of William C. Wright, and commemorate his recent passing. In a span of less than ten years, Mr. Wright's selflessness and quick thinking saved the lives of five people. In June of 1964, while working on a construction site, Bill saved an 18-month-old girl who had stepped in front of a moving truck. Bill risked his own life by jumping in front of the truck and cushioning the girl's fall with his own body. Then, a few weeks later, Bill stopped his car at an accident on La Veta Pass. Seeing a man pinned beneath the overturned car, Bill lifted the car, freeing the man to crawl to safety. Always humble, Mr. Wright said he doubted his own physical strength. The strength of his resolve saved the trapped man's life. Less than a year later, Bill saved a young girl in a busy intersection in Gunnison, Colorado. Then, while traveling to Golden, Bill again paused to check on a vehicle stopped in the middle of the road. He saw a five-year-old boy brush against the gearshift, sending the car down a steep incline. Bill dashed after the car and, after breaking the window with his shoulder, stopped the car, saving the boy inside it. Finally, during a trip to Las Vegas, Bill saved another young girl, though he himself suffered a fractured elbow and a broken wrist. Mr. Wright's quick actions and selfless thinking saved the lives of five individuals, making him a true hero who will be deeply missed. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of Mr. William Wright. He saved many lives, and was a hero for Pueblo and all of Colorado. As we mourn Bill's passing, our thoughts are with those who knew him, and we are sure that his memory will live on in the lives of all those he touched, and especially those he saved.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the life and memory of Donald Lee Kriz and thank him for his contributions to the community of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Donald passed away recently, and will be truly missed in his community. Donald was born in Nebraska in 1929 and later moved to Greeley, Colorado, after having served in the U.S. Navy. While in the Navy, Donald was stationed in the Philippines for 13 months. After arriving in Greeley in the early 1950s, Donald worked for a farm equipment company. Then in 1965, he and his brother started Mountain Mobil Mix, a ready-mix concrete company in Frisco. The business boomed, and eventually expanded to cover over eight Western Slope counties. After having become a leader in concrete technology, Mr. Kriz sold the business in 1982. Once retired, Donald divided his time between his beloved Colorado and Arizona. Donald was a leader in the business community, but his influence did not stop there--he was also an avid philanthropist. Donald was well known as a generous soul. He helped many young people with their college tuitions, their first homes and even with starting a business. Mr. Kriz was not only generous with his money, but also with his time. He helped to raise money for Garfield Youth Service through the annual ``Kiss-a-Pig'' fundraiser for many years. Donald was a gracious and giving man, whose community benefited significantly from his knowledge, time and efforts. Mr. Speaker, it is with profound sadness that I remember the life of Donald Lee Kriz. The many people he impacted deeply value his dedication and generosity. My thoughts and prayers are with Donald's family and friends during this difficult time.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the service of Chief Darwin Hibbs of Salida, Colorado before this body of Congress and this nation. After thirty-seven years working for the people of Salida, Chief Hibbs can be confident that his community is truly grateful for his years of dedicated service. Darwin, who grew up in Salida, started working for the Police Force when he was only 25 years old. He started as a parking monitor, but through his hard work and dedication he moved through the ranks to become Salida's longest serving Police Chief. Under his guidance, the Police Force has nearly tripled in size from its original five officers. Chief Hibbs and his force have greatly improved the protection that the people of Salida receive. While acting as Police Chief, Darwin has created a strong and capable force that has been intricately involved in the capture of Colorado's largest cocaine ring, and various other high profile cases in the state. It is with great pride that I have the ability to honor Chief Hibbs today. As a law enforcement officer, I am well aware of the dangers and hazards our peace officers face today. These individuals work long hours, weekends, and holidays to guarantee their fellow citizens' rights and protections. They work tirelessly, with great sacrifice to their personal and family lives, to ensure our freedoms remain strong in our homes and communities. Their service and dedication deserve the recognition and thanks of this body of Congress and our nation, and that is why I bring the name of officers like Police Chief Hibbs to light today. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise before this distinguished body of Congress and this nation to pay tribute to the extraordinary service of Chief Darwin Hibbs. His strong leadership and dedication have improved the quality of policing for the people of Salida and the residents of the entire State of Colorado.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today in order to recognize Leonard and Georgiana Kinder of Norwood, Colorado. The Kinders have been important members of their local community and the State of Colorado for many years. The Kinders met in the early 1940s, when Leonard offered to give Georgiana a ride home. The two continued to grow closer when, in 1945, Leonard became a pilot in the United States Navy and was stationed in the South Pacific. After being transferred to a base in Oklahoma, Leonard sent Georgiana an engagement ring. A few years later, in 1948, the two moved to Redvale, Colorado. From 1959 until 1972, Leonard worked in the Union Carbide mines near Leadville, Colorado. During this same time, the Kinders built a school in Bullion Canyon, in which Georgiana taught first to eighth grade. The Kinders, along with a group of their friends, built and ran Ski Dallas, San Miguel County's first ski area and the forerunner of the now famous Telluride Ski Resort. Both Leonard and Georgiana have been extremely active in the Norwood area and have helped to build a strong sense of community. Enjoying their retirement, the couple divides their time between their beloved Colorado and Arizona. Both Leonard and Georgiana are avid rock collectors and find joy in being outside with nature and perusing their hobby. Leonard is an excellent lapidary, creating polished stone spheres and globes. Georgiana is currently involved in the efforts to restore the Pioneer Day Stagecoach, the former school bus between Norwood and Telluride. The Kinders are exceedingly proud of their close-knit community, which they have supported for many years. Mr. Speaker, it is with pride that I recognize Mr. and Mrs. Kinder before this body of Congress and this nation. Their dedication to Colorado and our country is truly noteworthy. The Kinders' active involvement in their community has benefited not only those in San Miguel County, but in the entire State of Colorado as well.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to honor the life of Andrew ``Gato'' Espinoza of San Luis, Colorado. Mr. Espinoza tragically died in a house fire after heroically rescuing his fifteen year-old son, Daniel. At this unique time in history, we have all become more aware of the heroes among us; people like Andrew Espinoza who display uncommon courage in the face of great danger. Andrew's heroic act is a reflection of the selfless nature he has demonstrated throughout his life serving others. The fire, which started early in the morning, awoke Andrew who then quickly roused his son and sent him to safety. However, he was unable to escape the fire himself. Andrew displayed the true courageous acts of a hero, and as a father, when he gave his life in order to insure his son's survival. In the community, he was dedicated to preserving the heritage and natural way of living in San Luis. He played an instrumental role in the struggle over the rights of locals to use the Mountain Tract. He helped to free the land for public use. Andrew also was a loving father of two daughters and a son. According to his daughter, Andrea of Tierra Amarilla, NM, ``He wanted to pass his love of the land on from generation to generation; it was his gift to us.'' Andrew's love of his children, and for life, was demonstrated in everything he did. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I stand today and pay tribute to the life of Andrew ``Gato'' Espinoza before this body of Congress and this great nation. Through his sacrifice and courage, Andrew displayed true heroism. His life will be remembered and missed by his many friends, family and colleagues.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to honor a young hero, six-year-old Cody Scott Batty of Montrose, Colorado. Cody displayed quick thinking and uncommon courage when he saved his father, Scott, from a life threatening situation. I would like to commend Cody's actions and courage before this body of Congress and this nation. On December 22, 2003, Cody and his parents were on their way to California to see family. As anyone who has made this trip knows, it is a long and arduous drive, so the family decided to take a little break from the trip in Mesquite, Nevada. Cody and his father were outside a bowling alley in Mesquite when his father collapsed as a result of a blood clot that had formed on his skull. Despite the situation, Cody remained calm. He called out for help, but no one came to their aid. Thinking quickly, Cody ran into the bowling alley, borrowed a phone and called 911. He then returned to his father's side and remained there until the paramedics arrived. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today and recognize the heroic efforts of Cody Batty before this body of Congress and this nation. Cody has said that he would like to become a police officer or paramedic someday with the bravery that this young man has shown, he is well on his way. Cody's quick actions saved his father's life, and his courage should be an inspiration to us all. It is a great honor to represent such a fine young American in this Congress.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the men and women of Company C of the Army National Guard's 109th Medical Battalion for their willingness to serve our country. The unit, based in Montrose, Colorado, has been deployed to support America's troops in Operation Enduring Freedom. They are preparing to protect our national security in a time of international crisis. Company C has provided medical support for U.S. operations in Honduras, Belize, and Nicaragua. It provided airport security following the September 11th terrorist attacks and assisted firefighters during one of the worst wildfire seasons in Colorado history. This time, its final mission and destination are unknown. The men and women of Company C are doctors and dentists, nurses and teachers, parents and newlyweds. They each leave family, friends and jobs for at least one year to serve our nation. The sacrifice and dedication of these volunteers are a credit to this country. Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to recognize Company C for its exemplary service to the United States of America before this body of Congress and this nation. The courage of these American men and women is an inspiration to all.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the Telluride Adaptive Ski Program for its creativity in expanding participation in winter sports. TASP organizes programs that give disabled people from all over the country the opportunity to experience skiing and snowboarding in Colorado's beautiful mountains. TASP helps to make skiing accessible to diverse groups of people by using adaptive teaching techniques and equipment to accommodate new skiers with disabilities, both physical and mental. TASP also builds bridges between disabled and non-disabled participants with innovative partnering programs. TASP's programs build independence, confidence, and self-esteem by introducing disabled citizens to the freedom and fun that skiing can provide. More Coloradoans and Americans each year benefit from TASP's lessons, camps, and volunteer programs. Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to recognize the Telluride Adaptive Ski Program for its outreach to the disabled community. On the slopes and off, TASP participants feel capable, empowered, independent, and healthy. Everyone deserves the opportunity to experience Colorado's natural beauty, and I am proud to salute a program that expands access to the best recreational opportunities Colorado has to offer.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today to recognize Nancy Reding of Colorado City, Colorado. Nancy is one those great Americans who teaches our kids as a profession and it is my pleasure to represent her in this Congress. Recently, her colleagues at Pueblo Community College named Nancy the faculty member of the year and I could not miss this opportunity to acknowledge her dedication and commitment to education before this body of Congress.- For the past 30 years, Nancy has given her life to teaching math to students in her Colorado community. We should all be humbled by this generous contribution to society and the sacrifice Nancy has made as an educator. Just think of the countless number of lives Nancy has touched. Nancy not only has lent her talents but her heart as well and, by so doing, she has given her students an awesome gift--the opportunity to succeed. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand today and express my gratitude for Nancy Reding before this Congress and our nation. It is a chance for us to remind our fellow citizens that when you find a good teacher, thank him or her from the bottom of your heart for doing one of the toughest jobs in the country. Teaching is truly a noble calling and Nancy Reding has answered that call.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Ken Goodwin for exemplary service on the occasion of his retirement from Otero Junior College. Ken served in the college's technology department for thirty-two years, taking over as Director of Computer Services in 1979. His leadership has kept OJC on the cutting edge of technology for over three decades. Ken was born and raised in the Arkansas Valley. He graduated from Otero Junior College with an Associate's degree and completed his Bachelor's degree at Southern Colorado State College, now the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo. He returned to OJC as a computer operator in 1971. In his thirty-two years at OJC, Ken oversaw tremendous changes, watching his computers shrink from the size of a room to the size of his hand. Ken helped to connect OJC's computer network to the Colorado Community College System and expand the role played by technology in the daily life of the campus and its students. He also took the lead on technology issues on a region-wide basis. In 1998, the Colorado legislature established the Connect Colorado project to develop technology in rural Colorado by networking schools and non-profit organizations. Originally serving as a representative of OJC to the larger project, Ken eventually agreed to take over as project manager himself. Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to recognize Ken Goodwin for his service to Otero Junior College and southeastern Colorado. Ken's efforts have provided the foundation for the continuing expansion of technology to students and citizens in rural Colorado. I wish him well in his retirement.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to honor Chuck Shupe of Riverside, Colorado for his dedication to the youth of his community. Chuck has selflessly given 28 years to the educational needs of children in the area, and as he celebrates 28 years of service, I would like to recognize his accomplishments before this body of Congress and this nation. Chuck began his career as a teacher and a coach in a small rural Illinois school. Like so many other successful individuals, he decided to further his education. After graduating from the University of Illinois with a Master's degree in Education and Administration, Chuck was offered a job as the principal of a large inner-city school. At the age of twenty-five, Chuck became the youngest principal in Illinois. Yet, despite his age, he met the challenges and responsibilities he faced. Needing a change, Chuck moved to Colorado where he worked both in Leadville and Basalt. Eventually, he became the principal of Riverside School. Chuck takes a hands-on approach and finds interaction with the students to be very important, and the highlight of his day. He pours his heart and soul into the lives of his students, even creating a student ambassador program called ``Shupe's Troops,'' which allows students the opportunity to improve their school. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today before this body of Congress and this great nation to recognize the dedication of Chuck Shupe, a true public servant. His generous attitude and love of the job have inspired many and have truly made a difference in his community. We should all emulate the selfless example of Americans like Chuck.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize an organization dedicated to providing quality healthcare to the citizens of San Miguel County. The Uncompahgre Medical Center in Norwood, Colorado has developed the Neighbor-to-Neighbor fund, an innovative approach to funding the unexpected medical needs of the surrounding communities. While the Medical Center's sliding fee and indigent care programs already assist the forty-percent of patients who are not insured, the fund, consisting entirely of individual contributions, covers one-time, small-scale medical and emergency needs otherwise out of reach for patients. Operating with no administrative costs, one hundred percent of contributions to the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Fund go to help San Miguel County residents in medical need. Only doctors and physician's assistants write checks on the fund, ensuring that the money serves as an instant tool for filling gaps in medical care. The fund, while usually holding less than $1000, can cover numerous essentials, from a simple brace to fixing a serious dental problem. Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to recognize the Uncompahgre Medical Center for its creativity in addressing difficult health care problems before this body of Congress and this nation. The Neighbor-to- Neighbor Fund is making a big difference in community health care with a small amount of money.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the achievements of Sonja Maria Montano, a resident of La Junta, Colorado, before this body of Congress and this nation. Over the past year, Sonja has received wide acclaim and numerous awards from Poetry.com, which first published her work, as well as the International Society of Poetry and Symposiums. Sonja was one of only thirty poets in the world invited to present her work to the ISPS spring convention in 2002. Now, Sonja's work has earned one of thirty- five nominations for the society's grand prize, presented by Pulitzer Prize winning poet W.D. Snodgrass. Sonja, a promising writer as a teenager, gave up opportunities in creative writing to stay close to home and eventually raise a family. She found her voice again at the age of thirty-one when she began writing poetry on a bet with her nine-year-old son. After years of apprehension and reservations about her writing, Sonja has decided to become a poet. Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to recognize Sonja Maria Montano before this body of Congress and this nation for her courage and creativity in pursuing her dreams. I wish her every success in her new career.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a family truly dedicated to developing leadership skills in the young people of their community. Mary Haining, and her family, of Delta, Colorado have shown exemplary dedication to the 4-H program through three generations of their family. The 4-H program promotes leadership, citizenship, and community involvement in America's youth, qualities that the Haining clan personifies. Mary Haining began working with 4-H as a girl in Grand Junction, exploring her interests in entomology and rabbits. As a mother, she has served as a 4-H volunteer leader for thirty-eight years. Each of the Haining children was involved in 4-H for at least ten years. Mary Haining's daughter Joyce and son Ron are still active parent leaders of 4-H in Delta. Three of Mrs. Haining's grandchildren are studying sheep, beef, entomology, poultry, gardening, and archery through 4-H programs. Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to recognize the Haining family for their long-time dedication to the 4-H cause. The Hainings, and the 4-H program which they have served devotedly, represent American ideals and the family values that make our communities strong.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the gentleman from the State of Utah, we bring good news. The good news is Colorado has got snow, and we are almost back to average. We are having a great year out there in Colorado. I saw in one of the Eastern press papers lately that the Rocky Mountains, in our ski areas out there, are suffering because of our lack of snow and we have had great snow out there. That is the good news that I bring to you. I want to bring another piece of good news to my colleagues that happened to the State of Colorado. In Colorado we have an area called the Four Corners. It is the only area of the country where four States touch in one spot, down near Cortez or Durango, Colorado, to give you a vicinity earmark so you know where I am talking about. The United States Navy, I had the privilege of being invited by the United States Navy to go to the Pascagoula, Mississippi shipyard. I have never been to a shipyard. In Colorado we do not have a lot of Naval presence. But the Navy decided to name one of their new ships after the national park down in the Four Corners. And the name of that national park is Mesa Verde, mesa verde meaning ``green table.'' It is a beautiful area. It is the only national park in the Nation that protects man-made objects, not objects just of nature. So to have a ship named in honor of that park, and I got to go down to the keel ceremony, Northrup Grumman is the builder of it, and I got to meet a lot of their employees down there. Great people. I had a great trip and I considered it to be a great privilege to be involved in the keel ceremony. So we in Colorado are proud about that, and of course we are proud of our members that serve in our military forces. There a number of subjects that I want to visit about this evening, all dealing, of course, with the international situation that we face today. First of all, let me talk about the success we had over the weekend. I notice we have had a lot of criticism of late of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a lot of criticism of the Central Intelligence Agency, a lot of criticism of the President of the United States, President Bush, and what I would call the A-Squad Team down there, criticism of the A-Squad Team that nothing is happening with terrorism, that for some reason terrorism has been forgotten. I can tell you we had a great victory over the weekend, in fact, a huge victory over the weekend. I think I can quote my colleague, the gentleman from the State of Florida (Mr. Goss), who said this was like freeing Paris in World War II. That is how significant it was. And that is that we were able to arrest, right below bin Laden, our second- highest target, Mohammed. Now this Mohammed guy is a bad guy. And to get our hands on him, and we were even more fortunate, we also thought we had arrested one of his bodyguards. In fact, it turned out that this so-called bodyguard was not a bodyguard in fact, but was in fact a financier for the al Qaeda network. So we really hit a bull'seye over the weekend. Now I find it very interesting that some commentators come out and say, oh, my gosh, we have arrested one of their top guys. This means more terrorist attacks. I do not know what we take out of a comment like. That because we go and arrest one of the lead terrorists in the world, one of the key people involved in September 11, one of the most horrific murderers in the world, that because we arrested him that that could perhaps mean we will have an uptake in terror activity, and their remarks are as if maybe we should not have arrested him, that we have might have offended some of his colleagues that intend to do harm to the United States or to the allies of the United States. And then tonight, of course, comes up the subject of how do you question a suspect like that? And I hear some people out there saying, oh, my gosh, it is torture to deprive him of sleep. Keep in mind what this individual knows, and keep in mind on the one hand what the individual knows and on the other hand the public good. What this individual knows, I suspect is he knows of different attack schemes, different timing of attack schemes, different methods that they are going to attack the United States or its allies. And over here on the public good we have riding this issue, one, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of lives are dependent on whether or not we can get this information and take a preemptive strike, stop this terror strike before it occurs. And today I hear commentation on the fact that, my gosh, you better not deprive this suspect of his sleep. That is torture. And I say to myself, What do you mean? This guy, this suspect who we know is one of the lead architects, if not the lead architect, of the September 11, you are going to say we are torturing him because we deprive him of sleep to get answers out of him, to get information out of him in hopes of preventing another September 11 or even a larger attack? Of course it brings up the debate of torture. At what point in time should torture be allowed or should it be allowed? And I think you have got to weigh that out. Think about it, and I know a lot of people, right when you use the word torture, it is a word that if you ask 100 people, do they have a positive or negative feeling about the word torture. Out of 100 people you will get 100 people who will say they have a negative feeling about the word. So right off the bat you are on the defensive side. So I am asking some of my colleagues tonight to not draw a rapid conclusion, but put in your own mind to what extent should we be allowed to use different methods, and what type of methods should we be allowed to use on a suspect we know probably has information that if we do not get that information in a timely fashion could very easily result in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, perhaps even more, a more significant amount, even one, of innocent human beings out there that could be the victims of this kind of terrorist strike. I can tell my colleagues that I would be interested for my colleagues to hear what they have to say. I am not going to carry the debate on tonight other than to tell my colleagues that I think the United States and its allies are perfectly obviously within international law and obviously within the national interests of this country to deprive a suspect of his sleep, to deprive a suspect of certain other privileges that he might enjoy as a prisoner, to see if, in exchange, we can get information from him to avoid a future attack on the United States. It does amaze me, there is a group of people out there that protested globalization, and before that protest, they were out there protesting global warming. Now they have joined up in some of the protests. They are just professional protestors looking for a place to go and now we are going to see it. The day after we make the arrest, now we are seeing some of these people pop up and saying, oh, my gosh, the United States is treating this suspect badly. Of course, they do not know how we are treating this suspect, but just to get the word out, they are just arousing people about it. On a commentary I heard tonight, well, they are depriving him of sleep. Give me a break. Look at the reality of the situation we are playing. This is not a nice guy's game. This is not Mr. Nice Person. This is about human life. This is about mass destruction. This is about innocent people. This is about unprovoked attacks upon innocent people. This is about a group of individuals who are very sick in their means to reach an end. This is about people who become the victims of that means to reach an end, and if that does not broaden the parameter of what my colleagues think we ought to be entitled to do to solicit information from an individual, then I do question whether or not you have a place at the table to debate. I want to move from that and, of course, talk about the subject at hand. I do not usually like to stand in front of my colleagues and read, and I especially do not like to read a commentary that is of much length, but I would ask my colleagues just to bear with me this evening. I want to read about two pages of content of what I think sums up very well the situation we face in Iraq, and after I discuss that, I then want to go through some of the points. I have met with some peace protestors. Let us just say protestors. I am not sure peace is the accurate description, but protestors. I have met with people on different sides of the issue, and several questions have been asked of me by these individuals, and I thought this would probably be an appropriate forum to discuss some of those questions, which were legitimate questions, and by the way, the right to protest is very legitimate in our government. In fact, it is part of the checks and balances. So I thought I would go through some of those and give my responses to those under the current situation that we have. Let me first of all, though, begin by reading this commentary, and I hope my colleagues bear with me. I hope they listen to the words because we know in the history of the world that history tends to repeat itself. Not exactly. History does not repeat itself exactly, but history is a good barometer of the weather, and we all know our barometer does not give us the exact weather pattern, but most of the time what the barometer says is the kind of weather we see. It is the same with history. A good study of history gives us a good study of the future, not an exact study of the future, but a good study of the future. I think this article of a little history, much of this history before many of us were even born is worth considering. Again, bear with me. The author of this is Alister Cook of Britain: ``I promised to lay off topic A--Iraq--until the Security Council makes a judgment on the inspectors' report and I shall keep that promise. ``But I must tell you that throughout the past fortnight, I've listened to everybody involved in or looking on to a monotonous din of words, like a tide crashing and receding on a beach--making a great noise and saying the same thing over and over. And this ordeal triggered a nightmare, a daymare, if you like. ``Through the ceaseless tide I heard a voice, a very English voice of an old man--Prime Minister Chamberlain saying: `I believe it is peace for our time.' '' I believe it is peace for our time--``a sentence that prompted a huge cheer, first from a listening street crowd and then from the House of Commons and next day from every newspaper in the land. ``There was a move to urge Mr. Chamberlain should receive the Nobel Peace Prize. ``In Parliament, there was one unfamiliar old grumbler to growl out: `I believe we have suffered a total and unmitigated defeat.' '' One voice, one lone voice in the House of Commons. I think we have suffered a total and unmitigated defeat. ``He was, in view of the general sentiment, very properly booed down. ``This scene concluded in the autumn of 1938 the British prime minister's effectual signing away of most of Czechoslovakia to Hitler.'' So we are leaving the transcript for a moment. It was when Hitler demanded that Czechoslovakia be signed over to him, and it was Chamberlain who said it is a time for peace and they adopted the doctrine of appeasement, give him Czechoslovakia and people cheered, cheered, and they booed the one dissenting voice which was the gentleman of which I just spoke. Let me go back to the text now. ``The rest of it, within months, Hitler walked in and conquered. `` `Oh dear,' said Mr. Chamberlain, thunderstruck. `He has betrayed my trust,' '' speaking of Hitler. Chamberlain said, ``He has betrayed my trust.'' ``During the last fortnight a simple but startling thought occurred to me-every single official, diplomat, president, prime minister involved in the Iraq debate was in 1938 a toddler, most of them unborn. So the dreadful scene I've just drawn will not have been remembered by most listeners. ``Hitler had started betraying our trust not 12 years, but only two years before, when he broke the First World War peace treaty by occupying the demilitarized zone of the Rhineland. ``Only half his troops carried one reload of ammunition because Hitler knew that the French morale was too low to confront any war just then, and 10 million of 11 million British voters had signed a so- called peace ballot.'' Ten million of 11 million British voters had signed the peace ballot. ``It stated no conditions, elaborated no terms, it simply counted the number of Britons who were `for peace.' ``The slogan of this movement was `Against war and fascism'--chanted at the time by every Labour man and Liberal and many moderate Conservatives--a slogan that now sounds as imbecilic as `against hospitals and disease.' ``In blunter words a majority of Britons would do anything, absolutely anything, to get rid of Hitler except fight him.'' Let me repeat that paragraph. ``In blunter words a majority of Britons would do anything, absolutely anything, to get rid of Hitler except fight him. ``At that time the word `pre-emptive' had not been invented, though today it's a catchword. ``After all, the Rhineland was what it said it was--part of Germany. So to march in and throw Hitler out would have been pre-emptive-- wouldn't it? ``Nobody did anything and Hitler looked forward with confidence to gobbling up the rest of Western Europe country by country--`course by course,' as growler Churchill put it. ``I bring up Munich and the mid-30s because I was fully grown, on the verge of 30, and knew we were indeed living in the age of anxiety. ``And so many of the arguments mounted against each other today, in the last fortnight, are exactly,'' exactly ``what we heard in the House of Commons debate and read in the French press. ``The French especially,'' and please note this sentence that I am pulling out of here. ``The French especially urged, after every Hitler invasion,'' negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. ``They negotiated so successfully as to have their whole country defeated and occupied. ``But, as one famous French leftist said: `We did anyway manage to make them declare Paris an open city--no bombs on us!' ``In Britain the general response to every Hitler advance was disarmament and collective security.'' Collective security, keep in mind, have my colleagues heard that buzz word lately? ``Collective security meant to leave every crisis to the League of Nations. It would put down aggressors, even though, like the United Nations, it had no army, navy or air force. ``The League of Nations had its chance to prove itself when Mussolini invaded and conquered Ethiopia. ``The League didn't have any shot to fire. But still the cry was chanted in the House of Commons--the League and collective security is the only true guarantee of peace. ``But after the Rhineland, the maverick Churchill decided there was no collectivity in collective security and started a highly unpopular campaign for rearmament by Britain, warning against the general belief that Hitler had already built an enormous mechanized army and superior air force. ``But he's not used them, he's not used them--people protested.'' Keep in mind this and let me reemphasize this sentence. ``But he's not used them, he's not used them--people protested. ``Still for two years before the outbreak of the Second War, you could read the debates in the House of Commons and now shiver at the famous Labour men--Major Attlee was one of them--who voted against rearmament and still went on pointing to the League of Nations as the saviour. ``Now, this memory of mine may be totally irrelevant to the present crisis. It haunts me. ``I have to say I have written elsewhere with much conviction that most historical analogies are false because, however strikingly similar a new situation may be to an old one, there's usually one element that is different and it turns out to be the crucial one. ``It may well be so here. All I know is that all the voices of the '30s are echoing through 2003.'' There is a history to the League of Nations. Many, many years ago, there was a concept that the world could live in peace. They could hold hands. The war was not necessary. I saw tonight on TV a lady, she says, if we do not get rid of war, in the next few years, war will get rid of us. That is a great quote. Tell me how it is done, and back then, I mean people throughout the history of mankind have tried to figure out how do we avoid conflict. We try and figure out how to avoid conflict every day on the streets of our communities with our police officers. How do we avoid conflict? But we face up to the fact that there be circumstances where conflict is inevitable. We face up to the fact that in certain circumstances, violence is necessary. I am sure that wakes up a lot of my colleagues. Violence is necessary? Of course, if we have a bank robbery in process and the bank robber walks out and shoots somebody, how do my colleagues think we stop him? A police officer stops him, hopefully peacefully, but if the police officer does not, our society gives the right to our local police officer. I do not care if it is a town of 200 people or if it is a town in New York City. We give a right to our local police officers to act with violence, to stop because we look at the larger public good. What is the larger public good? For the League of Nations, people thought, and I think with good merit, hey, let us try this concept of the League of Nations. It will be collective security. We will act as a body, and what happened after World War I, the Germans signed on to an agreement. They would not use poison gas anymore, we promise. So the nations said all right, well, we need to have inspections; we want to come over and check out your country to make sure you are not having these gases anymore, that these gases are not being produced. So Germany says, okay, they sign the agreement. Pretty soon, no inspections. Pretty soon, no cooperation. So what do they do? They turn it over to the League of Nations, say, okay, you are our collective security. In theory we have collective security. Go in and solve it. What does the League of Nations do? They issue resolutions. They have great talk. The French, as usual, say negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. Guess what happens? League of Nations becomes a paper tiger. The League of Nations cannot do it, and in some circumstances, we can look at exactly at the United Nations. Keep in mind the make-up of the United Nations. The United Nations has 189 different countries. How many of those countries supported U.S. policy and what percentage of the time have they ever supported U.S. policy? I mean, the United Nations is an outfit that just appointed Libya, Libya. Remember Libya? All of those people that want peace and believe in human rights, which all of us believe in but are real strong advocates of human rights, Libya ought to come right up at the top of their radar one of the most abusive countries of human rights. Guess what the United Nations just did? They named Libya head of the Human Rights Commission at the United Nations. My point here is this: we see in the 1930s the way that they dealt with Hitler. They appeased him. They said he will never use those weapons on us. The French said negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. We face a similar situation today, a similar situation if we do not do something with Iraq. And let me just say that, with credit to a man I think is a very brave and a strong leader, President Bush, as well as Dick Cheney, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, and Colin Powell, these people are very focused on the future of this country. That team down there wants this country to be strong, not necessarily military, but they want this country to have a beautiful, positive future. They want peace as much as anybody wants peace. But they also know that we have to have security; that under some circumstances, no matter how deeply we desire security and peace, we cannot get it because there are people out there who wish us ill will. No matter how good we are to them. So let us bring this back to the present situation in Iraq, and that is what I want to move on to next, to talk specifically about what our situation is in Iraq. And I want to bring up some of the questions that were asked of me by some of these people who are protesting the United States actively enforcing the U.N. resolutions and saying that Saddam Hussein cannot continue down his path of production and storage of weapons of mass destruction. So let us start. I have often said that Saddam Hussein is like a cancer, and I think that is a good comparison. Now, there are a lot of different ways people deal with cancer. Some people will say to the doctor, when the doctor first gives them the diagnosis of cancer, they say let us go in and cut it out now, Doctor. I want to go to the hospital today, I want to go in chemotherapy today, I want to go into surgery today, I want to do whatever is necessary to aggressively and preemptively take out that cancer if we can possibly do it. Other people take the attitude that this just cannot be happening to me. I am going to go home and go to sleep, and tomorrow I am going to wake up and find out it was a bad dream. Other people say, Doc, I do not think we need to take that kind of radical approach and attack the cancer. I think we have to be a little gentler about our approach. What I want to do, Doctor, is to go home and pray about it. Now, do not get me wrong. Prayer is, in my own personal belief and opinion, a very strong medicine. But a lot of times we need more than prayers. The prayer is kind of a supplement that we have. Other people ignore it completely. They say, Doctor, I do not believe you. I do not believe cancer is that kind of threat. I think you have overstated the health problem for me, and I will go down my own path. The other day I saw a cartoon that illustrates, I think very well, exactly what I am saying about the situation with Iraq, or what this Nation is saying about the situation with Iraq, and thank goodness what the President and the executive branch believe about Iraq. I refer my colleagues here to my left. Here is the doctor. We can see the patient is named ``The World,'' and growing out of his back is a growth, and it is the face of Saddam Hussein. And the doctor says, ``It's cancer. But I am sure it will go away if you leave it alone.'' That is what I am saying here. We have a cancer. Now, I know nobody wants to go to war. The previous speaker up here on the floor, the doctor, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul), he said we do not want to go to war because it impacts our economy. Of course it impacts our economy. But even that is insignificant compared to the biggest impact that all of us face. In fact, most of us in these Chambers have some member of our family right now serving in the Armed Services, whether it is in the support service in the United States or whether it is on the front line in Kuwait or waiting in the harbor in Turkey to deploy into Iraq, if that becomes necessary. We all have a lot invested in this situation. None of us wants to see a conflict. But the fact is none of us really want to go through the pain of chemotherapy. None of us really want to go through maybe losing a foot to cancer. The fact is it is not going to go away. We have to act aggressively. And the United States has always reserved the right to act in its own national interest, and the only way the United States can do that is to act boldly and decisively. We are dealing with nothing less than a very horrible cancer; and it is a cancer that if we do not do something about it today, we know where it will be in a few years when we go back to the doctor's office, so to speak. If we do not act, we will have a North Korea on our hands. People say, why do you not deal with North Korea? We are dealing with North Korea. That is a big problem. The situation is we should have dealt with North Korea about 8 years ago. How did we deal with North Korea? Just the same as Europe dealt with Hitler in 1938. We appeased North Korea. We offered North Korea a payment. We offered them free oil. All they had to do was raise their right hand and say they would not use the oil for military purposes. We helped them build nuclear reactors, and all they had to do was raise their right hand and say they would not use it for military purposes, but for the generation of electricity. That is how we dealt with the threat in North Korea. And look what has happened; now it is the biggest threat. I think all of us in this House representing the people of this fine Nation have an inherent obligation to the next generation behind us. It is an inherent obligation to the next generation behind us to make sure that we deliver to them a country that is strong and secure. President Bush knows his numbers have dropped in the polls. Does anyone think Churchill did not recognize that he was booed in the House of Commons when he suggested they not appease Hitler? Sometimes it is a lonely world out there doing the right thing. But that is what is required of leadership. The fact is we have an obligation to get rid of this cancer. The other fact is we are not going to get rid of it by saying let us not go to war; let us just look the other way. Let us just go back to the United Nations, which has been dealing completely with defeat, completely ineffectually for the last 12 years to try to get this cancer, to get this guy to disarm. Saddam is not going to disarm. The disarmament, by the way, that we have seen up to this point in time, is ironically, in large part, the very weapons that he has denied he has. And the only reason that that has occurred to this point is because of the military might that the United States has put right on his border, the United States and its allies. And I want to speak for a moment about that too, in a second. The United States and its allies. Does anyone think Saddam Hussein would be doing this if we did not have military forces all around his country? Does anyone think he would be cooperating because the United Nations called him on the phone and said, ``Saddam, we want you to cooperate. We want you to disarm. This is the United Nations calling, and we want you to disarm, Saddam.'' Does anyone think he is cooperating because of that? Of course not. He is cooperating because he is looking down the barrel of a gun, and that gun happens to be our gun. We are bound and determined to disarm that regime. And, yes, the world will be safer. And, yes, it is in the national interest of the United States. And, yes, it is in the interest of the United Nations. But who is going to act? It appears more and more every day that the United States and its willing coalition are going to be the ones that have to step forward and carry the heavy weight on this job. Not uncommon for this country. This country carried the heavy weight in World War I. We carried the weight in World War II. This country carried the heavy weight in Vietnam, in my opinion; and in the Persian Gulf this country carried the heavy weight. We do not mind. I do not think it is fair. I think we should have burden-sharing. But the fact is we are a great country, and as a leader we are expected to lead. Sometimes that is required. Now, let me just leave here a moment and talk a moment about the allies and this willing coalition. I talked to somebody today who says the United States is going to go it alone. I said, the United States is not going to do this alone. In fact, I believe that the United States will have a larger coalition if we have to go to war. The United States under the leadership of our President and that leadership team we have got down there, will have put together a larger coalition than we had in Persian Gulf War Number One. That is right, that is what I said, a larger coalition this time than we had last time. Now, by reading the international media, by looking at the protester signs out there on the street, one would think America and Europe have split the sheets forever. There is a big split in Europe. We have a lot of countries in Europe that support the United States. We have a lot of countries in Europe that believe that of the entire world the United States is the bus they want to get on, the United States offers the most hope in the future, and the United States is who they are willing to stand by in the foxhole. Now, sure, we may have a country like Poland or Hungary that does not have a lot to offer militarily. But they do not care. They would go out there with a rubberband and stand next to us. That is how gutsy some of those people are. We have some major European powers that are supporting the United States. Take a look at Spain. Take a look at Italy. Of course, Great Britain has always been a long-time ally. Well, maybe not always, a few hundred years ago. But as of late, the last hundred years or so. Talk about Tony Blair. There is a guy that has guts. There is a guy whose photo ought to be hung in the Profiles in Courage hallway. Because he knows, by their own history, by the history that Churchill defined, by saying the doctrine of appeasement, give them what they want and they will go away, or as the doctor would say, wait long enough and it will go way. Tony Blair, President Bush, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, and Colin Powell know that it will not go away. We all know this danger is not going to go away. We have an opportunity today to do something about Iraq. We have that opportunity so that we are not dealing with a second North Korea here in just a few short years. Let me move on. Mr. Speaker, can I get a time check, very briefly?

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to recognize Fred W. Klatt III of Durango, Colorado. Mr. Klatt has been a dedicated citizen and leader of the Durango community for over 18 years, and it is my honor to pay tribute to his accomplishments before this body of Congress and this nation. Fred began his career in public office when he was elected to the Durango City Council in 1984, and was elected Mayor in 1987. Following his service to the city, Fred was elected La Plata County Commissioner in 1990, and served the county for over twelve years. While in office, Fred also dedicated his time to several civic boards within the community, including San Juan Forum, La Plata County Humane Society, Durango Area Chamber Resort Association, Durango Library Board and the Durango/La Plata County Airport Commission. Fred has also been active in Durango's business community where he was the proud owner of Klatt Travel, a local travel agency. Utilizing his service as a County Commissioner and a small business owner, Fred paid special attention to the concerns of small business owners and worked tirelessly in advocating the minimization of government, reducing costs and becoming fiscally efficient to create a stronger county government. For his significant contributions and endeavors within the community, Fred was recognized in 2002 as Durango's Citizen of the Year. Mr. Speaker, it is with honor that I commend Mr. Fred Klatt before this body of Congress and this great nation for his dedication to and leadership of La Plata County and the City of Durango. His contributions have greatly benefited the people of his community and I am honored to have this opportunity to represent such a fine Coloradan. I wish Fred the best of luck with all of his future endeavors.

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to recognize the City of Bloomfield Fire Department based in New Mexico for their service and dedication during one of Colorado's most formidable fire seasons. Last summer, the Bloomfield Fire Department played an integral role in containing the Missionary Ridge forest fire that burned over 70,000 acres in Southwestern Colorado, and today, I would like to pay tribute to their heroic efforts before this body of Congress and this nation. When the Missionary Ridge fire first erupted last June, the citizens of the Durango community called upon the Bloomfield Fire Department to protect their loved ones, homes, and property from what would become the worst fire in the area's history. The fire began in a ditch beside Missionary Ridge Road just 15 miles northeast of Durango and grew to consume more than 70,000 acres, 56 residences, and 27 outbuildings. Although the Missionary Ridge fire was a devastating reminder of how destructive forest fires can be, it also served to remind us of the men and women who risk their lives to protect their fellow citizens everyday. The Bloomfield Fire Department contributed 1400 man-hours as they worked for 14 days straight to contain the fire, relying on 35 firefighters, mostly volunteer. Additionally, the community of Bloomfield donated more than 16,000 pounds of supplies to those who were working to contain the Missionary Ridge Fire. Mr. Speaker, it is with sincere admiration that I recognize the Bloomfield Fire Department before this body of Congress and this nation. I want to commend the brave volunteer firefighters and their support staff for their determination, courage, and resolve during last summer's efforts on Missionary Ridge. Without the help of this and others, the added devastation to our community, environment, and quality of life would have been unimaginable. Their tireless commitment throughout the fire season has served as an inspiration to us all and I am honored to pay tribute to their dedication and commitment to their neighbors in Colorado.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise before you today to honor Larry Wiese of Mesa Verde, Colorado. Larry is the Superintendent of Mesa Verde National Park and I would like to take this moment to pay tribute to his leadership, dedication and service to the community before this body of Congress and this nation. Larry's leadership abilities allowed him to make many key fire management decisions which contributed to the timely and proactive measures that saved our forests. In 2001, Larry approved an emergency aspect for the Chapin Boundary Fuel Break due to seasonal severity, and prevented the fire from spreading to the headquarters area of Mesa Verde National Park. Additionally, he directed fire operations to develop Park Evacuation Plan and performed monthly drills in 2002 before Long Mesa Fire, while insisting that division chiefs provide input to this plan to enable it to be more successful. Larry also reviewed and created weekly business oversight review for Fire Program Severity expenditures in 2002 season. He approved partial park closure, restricting public access to lower Chapin Mesa due to extreme fire danger and public safety considerations. In order to provide more safety for park visitors, Larry approved construction of a 12-acre safety zone near headquarters for fire fighter and public safety. During many fire suppression operations, Larry was an active participant. He attended briefings and communicated park priorities such as public and fire fighter safety and the protection of cultural and historical resources. Larry has proven instrumental in the efforts to protect Mesa Verde National Park. While on the job, he has responded proactively to severe environmental threats. He also has provided leadership and direction to park staff and fire operations throughout the most severe fire season in recorded history. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand before this body of Congress and this great nation to recognize the honorable leadership of Larry Wiese. His proactive steps made the difference in providing for visitor and staff safety, in addition to preserving the cultural, historic, and natural resources we are responsible to protect. Larry's contributions have greatly benefited the people of his community and I am honored to have this opportunity to represent such a fine Coloradan. I wish Larry the best of luck with all of his future endeavors.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to honor the memory of Sunshine Cloud Smith of Mancos, Colorado for her lifetime of dedication to the Southern Ute Tribe. Sunshine was a leader, a veteran, a tribal councilor, a spiritual mentor, and a teacher to everyone who she touched in life. It is truly an honor to recognize her accomplishments before this body of Congress and this Nation. Sunshine was the granddaughter of Chief Ouray and a relative of Crazy Horse. As a leader, Sunshine was a visionary and opened many new doors and created wonderful opportunities for all women. She went to college at the University of New Mexico, and was married in 1940. Immediately thereafter, Sunshine served as a surgical technician in the United States Women's Army until 1945. Upon her return to the reservation in 1948, Sunshine was elected to the Tribal Council and served as vice chairman for sixteen years. Her dedication to the tribal council laid the foundation for the tribe's present success. Sunshine has received several awards in recognition of her leadership contributions to Colorado and the Southern Ute Tribe. In 1989, Sunshine was recognized by the Governor of Colorado for her political and cultural contributions to the State. In 1999, Sunshine received the Western heritage Service Award from the Durango Pro Rodeo series. Moreover, she was a founding member of the Southern Ute Committee of Elders. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I pay tribute to the amazing life of Sunshine Cloud Smith before this body of Congress and this great Nation. Sunshine was a loving and caring mother and grandmother. She passed down many of the traditions and customs of the Southern Utes, and was a spiritual guide for all women of the tribe. Her accomplishments and contributions have truly made a difference. She will be missed by her family, friends and community.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with pride that I recognize Mrs. Nancy Nixon of Ouray, Colorado. Mrs. Nixon has helped her community in many ways, and her love for children is especially evident. She has selflessly devoted her time to giving children an opportunity to learn for more than twenty years. Mrs. Nixon grew up in Kansas City, and lived in Los Angeles, before she and her husband, John, moved to the beautiful mountain community of Ouray, Colorado in 1975. Nancy and her husband have two children, both of whom are attending college. Since she first moved to Ouray more than twenty years ago, Mrs. Nixon has not stopped helping her community. In 1976, just one year after relocating, she was the first president of the Friends of the Library. She organized and chaired various community events, most notably Ouray Days. Now, Nancy and John and are both active with Ouray's Performing Arts Guild and Arts Council. Helping in her community seems to come as second nature to Nancy, from coaching the Speech Team and working with the swimmers, to organizing the community's parades and rummage sales. Working with children is one of the many things for which Nancy has a special gift. She has been a teacher in all three levels of Ouray's School District. She was originally hired to teach middle school, but soon after, began to teach at the elementary school level as well. Years later, Nancy taught English in the high school, and now she runs the Ouray School Library. Using her position in the library as a springboard to help children, Mrs. Nixon has created KURA, a non-profit radio station broadcast from the school and involving many students. She has given many hours of encouragement and support to the kids whom she teaches and helps. Mr. Speaker, it is with much honor that I recognize Mrs. Nancy Nixon before this body of Congress and this nation. Her spirit of caring is one that has given many gifts to Colorado, and will continue to do so. Ouray is lucky to have such a resource among its citizens.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Jacquelyn ``Jackie'' Mae Schick of Pagosa Springs, Colorado for her years of dedication as a civil servant to the town of Pagosa Springs. Jackie has given generous amounts of her time and energy over the years as a leader in her community. She has served the Town of Pagosa Springs both as Town Clerk and with the Pagosa Springs Sanitation District, as well as the Colorado City Clerks Association, the International City Clerks Association, and the Chamber of Commerce. Through her work as a mentor, Jackie contributes significantly to the lives of young people in Pagosa Springs. She has been a member of Eastern Star for forty years and even served as Worthy Matron in 1969. And in order to further reach out to youth, she has supported Pagosa Springs' Youth Recreation Program and sponsored the ``Rockies'' team for twelve years. The Town of Pagosa Springs has been forever changed by Jackie's donation of time and leadership in these various capacities. Jackie also supported the 4-H Livestock Auction and worked for the County Extension office as a 4-H Agent from 1961-1962. In recognition of her service, the Pagosa Springs Area Chamber of Commerce will present her with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to recognize Jackie Schick for her continuous dedication to the Pagosa Springs community before this body of Congress and this great nation. Her tireless efforts are to be commended as she sets an example for every community member to follow. Whether Jackie is mentoring youth, serving her town, or teaching Secondary School at the Methodist Church, she is making a difference for each and every citizen of Pagosa Springs.

Mr. McINNIS

Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a solemn heart that I rise today and pay tribute to the passing of a Colorado leader by the name, Keith Propst of Merino, Colorado. Keith dedicated his life to championing the causes of America's farmers and ranchers as the President of the Colorado Farm Bureau and I would like to take this opportunity to recognize his life's accomplishments before this body of Congress and this nation. Keith began life on the family ranch, the Bar Three, which his family started in 1876. Eventually, he took over the ranch where he raised Simmental cows and grew various crops and later began serving his fellow farmers and ranchers in 1950 when he joined the Farm Bureau. The respect he developed among his peers led to his election to the Colorado Farm Bureau Board of Directors and eventually to Bureau's presidency where Keith made positive and significant contributions to agriculture, water, and property rights. Guided by his character and common sense, he fought hard for what he believed in and also generously donated his time to the community through his role as a 4-H leader, Sunday school teacher, and youth group leader. I truly admired Keith for his willingness to stand up for the West, stand up for Colorado, and defend the Nation's farmers and ranchers, the stewards of America's bounty. Mr. Speaker, throughout his life, Keith pursued a course of honor and distinction and I am truly honored to stand before this body of Congress and this nation and recognize Keith's life and achievements. His dedication to family, friends, and the causes he championed deserves more than our recognition; it deserves our admiration. At this time of great loss, my thoughts and prayers are with Keith's family and friends. We will miss you Keith.