Condemning the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1994, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 188.

Mr. Speaker, 13 years ago, on July 18, a radical Islamist with ties to the terrorist group Hezbollah bombed the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the heart and soul of the largest Jewish community in South America, killing 85 innocent people. From the beginning of the investigation into this horrific act of anti-Semitism and mass murder, the evidence pointed to the involvement of Hezbollah and its state sponsor, Iran. Moreover, the AMIA bombing opened our eyes, 7 years before 9/11, to the growing threat of radical Islam and Islamic extremists and terrorists in the western hemisphere, our own backyard.

The tri-border area, where Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina meet, continues to be a lawless zone where Islamist terrorist groups meet and engage in arms, drug dealing and contraband smuggling that finances their deadly deeds and aims. It could easily become a base of operations to carry out further terrorist attacks that could even strike on U.S. soil. Therefore, to address this threat to our interests and national security, the United States and our allies must bring to justice those responsible for past acts of terror. We must vigilantly combat radical Islamic terrorist groups before they strike again.

Sadly, Mr. Speaker, for over a decade those responsible for the atrocity at AMIA have not been captured and prosecuted, causing our enemies to be emboldened to strike again. Nonetheless, despite numerous obstacles, the wheels of justice have started to gain momentum.

Last October, the state prosecutor of Argentina concluded that the AMIA bombing was, in his words, ``decided and organized by the highest leaders of the former Government of Iran whom, at the same time, entrusted its execution to the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah.''

Last March, acting on the state prosecutor's conclusions, INTERPOL's executive committee recommended the issuance of red notices for five Iranian officials and one Hezbollah operative in connection with the bombing.

Iran, still determined to act with impunity, has appealed the Executive Committee's decision to INTERPOL's General Assembly, which will meet upcoming this November.

It is vital, vital, Mr. Speaker, that INTERPOL's General Assembly uphold the recommendation of the Executive Committee and issue the red notices, which could lead to the arrest of these individuals.

To successfully prosecute this case, Argentina must be able to arrest and extradite the named Islamic militant and Iranian officials.

It is important to note that at least one of the five indicted Iranian officials worked for the Iranian embassy in Buenos Aires at the time of the AMIA bombing.

The evidence appears to indicate that Iran used officials who have diplomatic immunity to help support and plan the attack, and that Iran has used its embassies abroad to further its terrorist plots and radical Islamic goals.

Indeed, all signs show that Iran is vigorously increasing its diplomatic presence in the western hemisphere, seeking to increase its power, to spread its radical Islamic ideology, to undermine the United States, and to wreak havoc throughout the region. These dangerous efforts must be addressed, Mr. Speaker.

Many nations in the hemisphere have joined with the United States and regional organizations to fight the growing threat of Islamic extremists that has become evident since the AMIA bombing. For example, several nations participate in joint counterterrorism training and simulations and have joined counterterrorist protocols and agreements.

Argentina deserves particular commendation. In addition to its significant progress in the AMIA investigation during the past year, Argentina recently approved legislation which criminalizes financing, fund-raising, and money laundering by groups linked to terror.

Mr. Speaker, these nations deserve our continued support and encouragement. However, there is much left to be done.

H. Con. Res. 188, which I introduced with the distinguished chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Lantos, seeks to address a number of

issues that we have raised. The resolution condemns the AMIA attacks, honors the victims, and, thirdly, expresses our sympathy to their long- suffering families.

It also calls upon the General Assembly of INTERPOL to issue and implement the red notices supported by INTERPOL Executive Committee, and calls upon responsible nations to cooperate fully with the AMIA investigation.

Mr. Speaker, for years, Chairman Lantos and I have spoken in this Chamber calling for justice to be served in the AMIA case. Finally, those responsible for this atrocity are running scared, recognizing that they may not escape the consequences of their crime, that we are determined to prevent history from repeating itself.

Justice may be delayed, but it must be denied. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

If I could ask the gentleman to yield for a request.

I have to go to another meeting, and if you would allow me, I would like to yield the balance of our time to Mr. Boozman, a member of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade on the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 188) condemning the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1994, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution and yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, 13 years ago this month, 85 innocent people lost their lives in the bombing of a Jewish cultural center in Buenos Aires. Today we commemorate the profound pain of the families who had their loved ones brutally taken from them. We also recall the shock felt in Jewish communities throughout the world at this ferocious attack on innocent lives in a city where Jewish people had previously felt secure. But with consideration of this resolution today, we not only commemorate but we demand justice. It is absolutely imperative that the international community push ahead with the critical investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Mr. Speaker, just last fall the state prosecutor of Argentina concluded that the attack had been approved in advance by Iran's Supreme Leader and by the highest officials of the Iranian Government. The former Iranian Ambassador to Argentina actually provided key information in planning to carry out this vicious attack.

There is a new leader in Tehran these days. He is no less anti- Semitic and no less menacing, but he threatens to develop infinitely more dangerous weapons than those used to perpetrate the slaughter in Argentina.

Mr. Speaker, the United States cannot and will not allow the reckless Iranian leader Ahmadinejad to obtain nuclear capabilities. There is also little doubt that the Iranian masterminds in 1994 called upon their Hezbollah thugs to execute their nefarious plans. We also know that the Hezbollah terrorist cell that carried out the attack received financial and logistical support from sympathizers in the tri-border region between Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil. The suicide bomber himself may have entered South America and traveled to the Argentina capital through this lawless frontier.

Mr. Speaker, although nothing like the bombing has been replicated in South America since 1994, supporters and facilitators of Islamic terrorist organizations have gathered in scattered outposts throughout the western hemisphere. Operating from hard-to-reach areas in Chile, Colombia, Venezuela and Panama, these individuals lend financial and logistical assistance to terrorist organizations in the Middle East.

Mr. Speaker, although these isolated communities have yet to grow into operational cells of Islamic terrorists, the threat to regional security remains strong and requires constant vigilance. We must redouble our efforts to root out terrorist fund-raising networks in the western hemisphere and to unearth the growing web of links between terrorist financiers and narcotic traffickers.

This important resolution encourages the Government of Argentina to continue its pursuit of the criminals in the bombing, and it calls upon the General Assembly of INTERPOL to uphold and implement international arrest warrants recently issued for the Hezbollah and Iranian operatives.

Mr. Speaker, only by taking the investigation of the AMIA bombing to its ultimate conclusion, the capture and punishment of those who planned it, will we show Iran, Hezbollah, and those who support terrorism that we are serious about combating it. International terrorists have demonstrated that they will not rest in pursuit of their villainy. This resolution once again puts them on notice that they will fail whether they are in the Middle East or in the Americas.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this important measure.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I do want to commend my good friend, the gentlelady, as the prime sponsor of this resolution.

I yield.

I have no problem with that, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my good friend, my colleague from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute just to say that I do want to thank the gentleman from Ohio for his concerns about this proposed legislation. But as my good friend has stated, this is not in any way to suggest that this is giving more ammunition to the current administration to suggest that we're going to attack Iran in the near future.

I, for one, and I'm certain that every member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, am going to scrutinize and screen this very, very carefully on any formal proposal coming from the administration as far as taking arms against Iran

Mr. Speaker, I don't have any further speakers.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I also yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago this Congress passed H. Con. Res. 469, which condemned the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and expressed the concern of the United States regarding the continuing decades-long delay in the resolution of the case. I voted for that resolution because I believe that justice deferred is justice denied, and all those who are responsible certainly must be brought to justice.

I joined my colleagues in saying that we don't condone terrorist actions or military posturing by any nation, nor have I seen any evidence that suggests that those who have been accused are innocent.

But responsible foreign policy means thoughtful and insightful discussion between nations that reflects a desire for both peace and security here at home, in the Middle East, and around the world.

In the 110th Congress, the House of Representatives has passed several bills calling into question the actions of either the country of Iran or the leaders of Iran with respect to their foreign or domestic policy. Today, this Congress has brought up, under suspension of the rules, an additional three bills designed with the same intent.

This continuous renewal of U.S. objections to Iran's and foreign domestic policy can easily have the effect, intended or not, to beat the drum for war against Iran. I mean, isn't this very familiar?

The U.S. House of Representatives treats these resolutions today as being uncontroversial. Let this Congress be warned that the Bush administration can use these resolutions against this body and declare the passage of these resolutions as a green light to engage in aggression against Iran, and Iran could then be the next Iraq.

I believe this House is better served by demanding sensible and responsible diplomatic foreign policy initiatives from the Bush administration; that we should demand that the administration engage immediately in high-level diplomatic negotiations.

By continuing to neglect this duty and engaging in the ongoing condemnation of Iran, without opening of diplomatic channels, what we're doing is systematically destroying every available route to restoring peace and security in the Middle East.

We know that Iran is guilty of belligerent statements. We need to look no further than the second in command, President Ahmadinejad, to recognize the escalation of rhetoric and escalation of provocation between Iran and other nations.

But we also need to look at what's happening in our own country, with the actions of our Vice President, to know that the U.S. Government hasn't been exactly clean on these matters. On March 7, 2006 in reference to Iran, Mr. Cheney stated: ``For our part, the United States is keeping all options on the table in addressing the irresponsible conduct of the regime, and we join other nations in sending that regime a clear message. We will not allow Iran to have nuclear weapons.''

Now when he said that, it's very clear and unambiguous what that means. When you say all options on the table, you mean a military attack included, including the use of nuclear weapons. This is widely understood to be what the context of that statement was.

So here we are talking about trying to take a direction in foreign policy that would protect this country, and at the same time, we're jeopardizing our very troops in Iraq by rattling the sabers of war against Iran.

And so I think you cannot look at these resolutions apart from the context of administration policy. The same sentiments regarding Iran are reiterated by the Vice President on February 24 at a press briefing in Australia where he said, ``I've also made the point, the President made the point, all options are still on the table.''

Now I think that we have to be careful that this House isn't really acting as a pawn of the administration or emulating irresponsible examples when it comes to our Nation's foreign policy.

Last week the administration announced plans to sell $20 billion worth of U.S. weapons to Saudi Arabia and five other Middle Eastern countries. Arms groups, as well as human rights groups, question this decision, as well they should. The distribution of more weapons in the region when the United States purports to desire peace in the Middle East is counterproductive and counterintuitive.

So we really have to look at this doctrine that we're operating under, and I think this Congress has to demand responsible foreign policy initiatives, whether it's in regard to the Middle East or any other part of the world.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I do rise today in honor of H. Con. Res. 32, which does honor the members of the United States Air Force that were killed on the 25th of June, 1996 in the Khobar Towers in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

This is the 12th anniversary of the terrorist bombing which killed 19 members of the U.S. Air Force and injured over 300 Americans. On that day in 1996, a truck bomb exploded outside the fence around the Khobar Towers compound.

The bomb, estimated at more than 3,000 pounds, detonated about 85 feet from a residential housing unit where U.S. troops were, killing 19 United States Air Force servicemen and wounding hundreds of other Americans. The force of that explosion destroyed or damaged six high- rise apartment buildings and shattered windows throughout the entire residential compound.

Today we honor the 19 airmen who gave their lives in the service of this great Nation. This Congress joins me in paying tribute to those men, who are individually recognized in H. Con. Res. 32.

It's important to note that 12 of the 19 men killed in the attack were based at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida's First District. Several of the airmen, along with their families, were constituents. These brave men, like the men and women currently serving in our military today, were on freedom's watch, prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Nation. As we approach Memorial Day, it's only fitting that we remember the 19 airmen killed at Khobar Towers as well as the many brave men and women who gave their lives for our freedom and our security. It's my sincere hope that all Americans will give pause and honor these heroes and others for their sacrifice.

As we look back to 12 years ago, we know that Khobar Towers and the bombing there was a precursor to the terrorist attacks on the USS Cole; the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center; and the current global war on terrorism that we fight in Iraq and Afghanistan. No matter where our troops are stationed, we recognize that they are prepared to defend our security, American values, and the American way of life. It's my hope that we can prevent future attacks like the one at Khobar Towers as we aggressively fight terrorism all around the globe.

I want to personally express my deepest appreciation to the families of these heroes who were killed at Khobar Towers. We can never undo the tragedy that they have lived. We can never ease the pain, and I know it's with each of them each and every day. But I hope, and I know that my colleagues join me in this hope, that with the adoption of this resolution, they will take from our actions some solace in the fact that we do not forget those contributions and those sacrifices of their loved ones. They were much more than airmen. They were sons, fathers, brothers, and they are loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, our action on this resolution sends a message to the families of those who died, to our Nation, and to the rest of the world, that we honor the sacrifices of these 19 airmen and the families they left behind. They served with the highest distinction and professionalism which is indicative of the United States military. No one could have served better or given more.

I urge all of my colleagues to join me and the 50 cosponsors in support of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, in 1994, a terrorist bomb destroyed the headquarters of the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association, known by its Spanish acronym, AMIA, killing 85 people and wounding 200. To this day, the attack on the AMIA remains the deadliest anti-Semitic incident since World War II, and as of yet, the perpetrators of this act have not been brought to justice.

I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 188, which not only condemns this heinous attack, but also applauds the Government of Argentina for speeding the pace of this investigation and calls on other responsible nations to support Argentina in its efforts to finally bring this case to a close.

Substantial evidence attributes the attack on July 18, 1994, to the terrorist group Hezbollah, based in Lebanon and sponsored by Iran. Evidence indicates that the tri-border region where Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil meet was used to channel resources for the purpose of carrying out the AMIA attack by terrorists linked with Iran. Regrettably, the scheming of international terrorist organizations, such as Hezbollah and al-Qaeda, are not confined to the tri-border region. In fact, much of the Western Hemisphere is ideal for international terrorist groups to establish bases due to the ill equipped and poorly trained security agencies across the region.

Almost daily, we hear reports of terrorist threats from organizations including Hezbollah and al-Qaeda. It is more important than ever to vigorously pursue and prosecute these criminals at every given opportunity. Unfortunately, while the AMIA case has been officially under investigation for over 13 years, the responsible parties have not yet been apprehended. Massive judicial and investigative irregularities, destruction of evidence, and cover-ups have already distorted the long-delayed trial. Make no mistake about it, failure to duly punish the culprits of the AMIA attack serves to reward terrorists and help spread terrorism.

I strongly applaud the recent efforts by the Government of Argentina to fulfill its international obligations and its promise to the Argentine people by aggressively pursuing the local and international connections to this act of terrorism, wherever they may lead, and to properly punish all those who are involved. However, if the last few years have taught us anything, it is that no nation can effectively combat terrorism on its own. While it is up to the Argentine government to conduct a thorough investigation, it is also the responsibility of the international community to cooperate fully in this effort.

Argentina owes it to itself, its people, and the human family to conduct an intense, fearless, and comprehensive investigation that will lead to the identification and prosecution of the principal criminals. We in the international community owe it to Argentina to cooperate with its efforts to bring this dark chapter of its history to a close.

H. Con. Res. 188 is not only a much needed reminder of this tragic event, but it is also a reminder of the truly international scope of the war on terror.