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Leave Russia Alone
Ron Paul
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Before the US House of Representatives, April
1, 2008: Statement on H Con Res 154 Expressing concern over Russian
involvement in Alexander Litvinenko’s murder
Mr. Speaker: I rise in strong opposition to this ill-conceived
resolution. The US House of Representatives has no business speculating
on guilt or innocence in a crime that may have been committed
thousands of miles outside US territory. It is arrogant, to say
the least, that we presume to pass judgment on crimes committed
overseas about which we have seen no evidence.
The resolution purports to express concern over the apparent
murder in London of a shadowy former Russian intelligence agent,
Alexander Litvinenko, but let us not kid ourselves. The real purpose
is to attack the Russian government by suggesting that Russia
is involved in the murder. There is little evidence of this beyond
the feverish accusations of interested parties. In fact, we may
ultimately discover that Litvinenko’s death by radiation
poisoning was the result of his involvement in an international
nuclear smuggling operation, as some investigative reporters have
claimed. The point is that we do not know. The House of Representatives
has no business inserting itself in disputes about which we lack
information and jurisdiction.
(Article continues below)
At a time when we should be seeking good relations and expanded
trade with Russia, what is the benefit in passing such provocative
resolutions? There is none.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter into the Congressional Record
a very thought-provoking article by Edward Jay Epstein published
recently in the New York Sun, which convincingly calls into question
many of the assumptions and accusations made in this legislation.
I would encourage my colleagues to read this article and carefully
consider the wisdom of what we are doing.
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INFOWARS:
BECAUSE THERE'S A WAR ON FOR YOUR MIND
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