The responsibility to fight terrorism "lies on the shoulders of every country
and every people that respects and cherishes its freedom," al-Maliki said. "The
battle of Iraq will decide the fate of this war."
His words echoed those of Bush, who frequently asserts that Iraq is a central
battleground against terrorism elsewhere, including on U.S. shores, and that the
country can be a bulwark for the spread of freedom in the Middle East.
Al-Maliki made a direct connection to the 2001 attacks on the U.S., saying,
"Thousands of lives were tragically lost on Sept. 11 when these impostors of
Islam reared their ugly head. Thousands more continue to die in Iraq today at
the hands of the same terrorists who show complete disregard for human life."
Al-Maliki's differences with his hosts over the Mideast fighting had
threatened to sour his visit. The Bush administration, U.S. ally Israel and the
majority of lawmakers insist that Hezbollah, which they consider a terror group,
must be disarmed and defeated in southern Lebanon. European and Arab allies want
a quick cease-fire to stop mounting civilian deaths in Lebanon.
Sen. John W. Warner (news, bio, voting record), R-Va., chairman of the Armed
Services Committee, said the prime minister was under pressure from his
constituents and members of the Iraqi Parliament not to come to the United
States.
"He was caught right in the middle," Warner told reporters. "But
nevertheless, he made a commitment to come" and honored it.
Democrats sharply criticized the prime minister for painting a what they said
was a "rosy" picture of Iraq and not condemning Hezbollah.
Rep. Steny Hoyer (news, bio, voting record) of Maryland, the No. 2 House
Democrat, said not naming Hezbollah as a terrorist organization "adds
ambivalence to his comments." Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, D-Fla., called
al-Maliki's speech "disingenuous" because it did not acknowledge the violence in
Iraq.
Republicans said they were not concerned that al-Maliki did not use his
speech to talk about Hezbollah.
"He says he denounces terrorism and I take it at his word. Hezbollah, in my
opinion, is a terrorist organization," said House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.
"The prime minister's address was one of hope and progress," said Joe Wilson,
R-S.C.
Lawmakers who shunned the speech included Reps. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., and Rosa
DeLauro, D-Conn., and Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.
"I didn't attend because I feel strongly the U.S. Congress should not provide
a platform for supporters of Hezbollah," Lowey said. "If Mr. Malaki was wise, he
might have requested a meeting with us."
Sen. Richard Durbin (news, bio, voting record), D-Ill., said he had asked
al-Maliki directly at a breakfast on Wednesday whether he considered Hezbollah a
terrorist group. "He questioned whether I had the right to ask him that" Durbin
said. Al-Maliki responded in "only the most general terms that he condemns
terrorism in all its forms," said Durbin, his party's second-ranking Senate
leader.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California attended the speech, along
with several other Democrats who had previously questioned whether it was
appropriate to let him address the joint meeting because he had not defended
Israel.
Al-Maliki was interrupted briefly by a shouting demonstrator wearing a pink
T-shirt that read, "Troops Home Now." Medea Benjamin, 54, of San Francisco is
cofounder of an anti-war group called CODEPINK. Benjamin was lifted from her
seat by officers and carried out of the House visitor's gallery, while al-Maliki
paused and grimaced in irritation.
Later, at the Army base, Bush said of al-Maliki: "He helped lay that
foundation for peace. And in honor of his memory and in the memory of others who
have gone before him and in honor of the thousands of Iraqis who have died at
the hands of terrorists, we will complete the mission."
