Statement by Representative Steve Horn (R-CA)

 Thank you very much, Mrs. Porter.  She [Kathryn Cameron Porter] and her husband [Congressman John Porter] are equal to about 100 Members of Congress.  They have always been on the right side of human rights.  And they not only speak in favor of human rights, but they go where thereís danger and observe the violations of human rights.
 I have felt strongly about the Kurdish situation for about 25 or 30 years.  I was former vice chairman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights for thirteen years or so, and I was active in drafting with a team of bipartisan people the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act.  And even though I am a Republican, I continually commended President Carter on his commitment to human rights.  That, however, started in the Congress, with Don Frasier from Minnesota.  Heís the one who originated that thrust to President Carter.  I think every President to some degree now realizes that human rights has to be a major factor in American foreign policy.  I think what happened to the Kurdish people, when we let those helicopters keep going [in Northern Iraq during the Persian Gulf War], is just a disgrace to this country.  We should have reversed that order, and it was absolutely tragic what happened when we presumably gave the Iraqis the rights to use helicopters simply to carry messages back and forth.  Of course the first thing they did was kill Kurds, Shiites, and anybody else that was against Saddam Hussein.
 Iíve known a number of Kurds for many years.  Youíre an extremely bright people.  You have professionals that rank with any other countryís professionals.  You are the largest group of people in the world without your own country.  Why some of these people [in the Administration] donít give a little is far beyond me, but I would hope we could keep the pressure on the President.  You saw how many signed the letter for the Kurdish parliamentarian [Leyla Zana].  Last year we welcomed here several Kurdish parliamentarians who had been expelled from the Turkish parliament, and we want to do anything we can to encourage the movement, without violence.  I think Gandhi was right when he took the nonviolent route.  That shocks people into action much more than if you say, ìWell, they killed us, weíll kill them.î  Iím Irish, and they often say about my Irish ancestors that theyíre the only people in the world that put up a sign for every battle theyíve lost.  Theyíve lost a lot of battles over 800 years, and Gandhi won his battle simply by taking a different philosophical approach.  One has to defend oneself, and the other is assailed by superior force.
 On the other hand, if youíre trying to build a coalition and get worldwide attention, thatís certainly the [kind of action] that this country [listens to], as Martin Luther King followed that [nonviolent] path, and he followed it with great success.  A majority in the House passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964, before Martin Luther King.  For years we had a majority, but we ran into problems with the Senate and their right to filibuster.  Eighteen Senators could tie us up for one year, and they did.  But eventually, we prevailed, and it was Martin Luther King and people in the streets [who demonstrated] in a nonviolent manner that helped build that consensus, build that backing in this country, and it changed America.  So I would hope the Kurdish people would follow that bit of advice.
 I can assure you that as one Member of 435 House Members, I will be glad to help in any way I can.  I wish you all well, and thank you for coming.