“President Bush sent Secretary Powell to testify before the House Committee on International Relations to gain support for a joint resolution to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.  “Our Committee is reviewing the resolution and at some point it will become before us for a vote.”

       “I believe this is one of the most serious challenges our nation has faced since the Vietnam War and I am grateful that American Samoa will have a vote on this issue,” the Congressman said.  “As Secretary Powell testified, the world is a different place since September 11, 2001.  We are facing critical times.  Iraq is in possession of weapons of mass destruction and President Bush is fully determined to deal with this threat.”

       “At this time, the overriding security concern of our nation is to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists.  Put another way, the United States must find a way to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of Saddam Hussein, and this may mean war.”

       “As a Vietnam War Veteran, I know what it means to go to war and I am deeply concerned about what a war with Iraq might mean for the sons and daughters of our nation who are proudly serving in the U.S. Armed Forces,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.  “There are probably more soldiers per capita serving in the U.S. Army from American Samoa than any other State or Territory.  As I said in my September 11, 2001 statement, I pray for them.  I pray for their families.  I am painfully aware of the sacrifices they are making.  I am also mindful of the dangers they are facing.” 

       “As a Vietnam Veteran, I remember all too well what it is like to be separated from loved ones.  Each day, I wondered if I would ever see my loved ones again or if I would be among the thousands to return home in a body bag,” the Congressman said.  “During the course of our International Relations Committee hearing, I reminded Secretary Powell that more than 68,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen never returned from Vietnam.  Some 300,000 were wounded and maimed for life.”

       “Years later, former U.S. Defense Secretary McNamara confessed that the U.S. was wrong to have been in Vietnam,” Faleomavaega said.  “I asked Secretary Powell if he believed that we would have another Defense Secretary confess years later that we were wrong to be in Iraq.  I also asked Secretary Powell if and when we do fight this war, will we fight to win and nothing less?”

       “Secretary Powell assured me that we will fight to win,” Faleomavaega said, “and although we do not know how quickly events will transpire that may lead us into war, I continue to believe that these are critical times.  These are times for prayer and for putting God first.”

       “No one can doubt that Saddam Hussein wants weapons of mass destruction.  And no one can doubt that we will have to act in order to defend our freedom.  If this means war, I pray that as President Franklin Roosevelt once said that ‘we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.  With confidence in our U.S. Armed Forces, with the unbound determination of our people,’ I pray that ‘we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God.’”