BILL REQ. #:  H-4433.1 

Read first time .   Referred to .

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO DONALD H. RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, AND TO DR. CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE, AND TO THE HONORABLE IBRAHIM AL-JA'FARI, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, In some of the grandest events in the history of the world, millions of Iraqis have risked death to participate in voting in free, democratic elections, both for a national Constitution and for members of their National Assembly, in spite of ongoing violence and threats of violence by Islamic terrorists; and
     WHEREAS, In their first free elections in more than 50 years, millions of Iraqis have turned out to vote with great enthusiasm and determination making way for a future of peace and freedom, and each election has brought unexpected hope and happiness to the streets of Baghdad and cities and towns throughout the nation of Iraq; and
     WHEREAS, In large numbers and at great personal risk, the Iraqi people have demonstrated their commitment to democracy by making these elections historic accomplishments; and
     WHEREAS, Numerous coalitions, political parties, individual political parties, and independent candidates representing a broad cross-section of Iraq have participated in these amazing elections; and
     WHEREAS, Iraq's Electoral Commission has prepared and put in place a framework for each election that has generally met recognized standards in terms of election law, planning, and preparations, and which were conducted without systematic flaws and in accordance with basic international standards; and
     WHEREAS, Iraqi election organizers and citizens have expressed delight with their success, celebrating the votes as a victory against insurgents and a triumph of democracy, and proudly announcing "Freedom has won" and "We have conquered terrorism"; and
     WHEREAS, On each election day, Iraqis have appeared convinced that a new day has arrived with voters dancing, singing, and celebrating, thrusting into the air their ink-stained fingers, a symbol of their initiation into democracy, and expressing a jubilant sense of the undeniable liberation from decades of tyranny; and
     WHEREAS, Seeing thousands of Iraqis with their stains of honor brings a sense of awe at the courage and commitment to freedom they showed; and
     WHEREAS, Optimism abounds as expectations have been exceeded in the Iraqi ratification, a permanent Constitution, and election of an assembly that will be the basis of a fully democratic Iraq; and
     WHEREAS, One of the most striking trends in the elections were the numbers of women voters with the female proportion of voters as high as 65 percent in many parts of the country, a remarkable achievement in a society where traditionally a woman would only vote with her husband's permission and then according to his instructions; and
     WHEREAS, A percentage of the seats in the new National Assembly were reserved for women, giving them a real stake in Iraq's future; and
     WHEREAS, The United States and the other Coalition Forces have been there to help the Iraqis provide security, and will continue training Iraqi security forces, so this rising democracy can eventually take full responsibility for its own future; and
     WHEREAS, The Iraqis continue to face many difficult challenges, but the United States is committed to supporting them in this effort; and
     WHEREAS, The numerous statements that have been made by world leaders supporting the elections and praising the courage of the Iraqi people are most welcome and helpful; and
     WHEREAS, Iraqi leaders have ensured their political process is inclusive of Iraq's complex mosaic of faiths and peoples, and the United States wholeheartedly supports this process of inclusiveness; and
     WHEREAS, The cliché that Third World people care more about food than about freedom has been refuted by the political and spiritual dignity of the Iraqi people who have proved throughout these elections that they really do care about the right to speak freely and to vote secretly, the ordinary and essential elements of democratic citizenship; and
     WHEREAS, The United States is trying to win hearts and minds, while the terrorists are trying to destroy hearts, minds, and the bodies of innocent citizens, including men, women, and children; and
     WHEREAS, Iraqi leaders have provided great leadership in working with the United States and the Coalition Forces in acting quickly and forcefully against the terrorists, and ensuring the success of the election, promising that they will do all they can to strike against enemy forces aiming at harming their country, reaffirming their commitment to establish a democratic government that provides freedom and equal rights for all its citizens, and their determination to fight and, if necessary, die for the cause of freedom; and
     WHEREAS, The Iraqi people know that President George W. Bush says what he means and means what he says, and that he will keep America's commitment to do what it can to promote and protect their liberty, independence, and security; and
     WHEREAS, President George W. Bush has correctly and emphatically noted that the people of Iraq have spoken to the world and the world is hearing the voice of freedom from the center of the Middle East - "When victory comes and democracy takes hold in Iraq, it will serve as a model for freedom in the broader Middle East. History has shown that free nations are peaceful nations. And by helping Iraqis build a lasting democracy, we spread the hope of liberty across a troubled region, we will gain new allies in the cause of freedom. By spreading democracy and freedom, we're laying the foundation of peace for generations to come";
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully request that the President and Congress continue to take all measures necessary to protect the liberty, independence, and security of the Iraqi people and to promote freedom, democracy, and peace in the Middle East and around the world; and
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State, the Honorable Ibrahim al-Ja'fari, Iraqi Prime Minister, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.