Lovers of liberty, I salute you. I see a day coming when thugs riding motorcycles will not beat up peaceful people in the streets in order to silence them in Iran. I see a day when no longer will women asking for their rights be thrown into jail, beaten, raped and murdered in Iran. I see a day when elections will be held in Iran and the mullahs won’t be choosing the candidates. I see a day when Iran will rejoin the family of nations of free people. I see a day when the people of Camp Liberty will be welcomed home as heroes into a free Iran.
Today, it is my honor to join you in reminding the corrupt and brutal mullahs who control Iran today that their day is coming and it will come soon.
There are only two pictures on the wall on the floor of the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress. One, of course, is of George Washington. The other painting is a very prominent painting on the floor of the House of Marquis de Lafayette. Both were essential to our founding, and over the years why has Congress honored Lafayette? Because Lafayette came at a time when we were struggling for our liberty and our independence, and he joined with the people of the United States and helped us cast off the tyranny of the British monarchy. And today I say, Lafayette, I am here to join in that battle with these brave people who struggle for liberty.
Lafayette and the French supporters who were given to us to help us during our revolution remind the American people that we owe a debt to others who helped us win our freedom. It is our obligation to work with you who struggle to promote freedom in your country, and I make that pledge to you today that we in the United States Congress will not be satisfied with negotiations that leave brutal, corrupt tyrants in power because of their aggressive and fanatic belief in their own religion. We will not back away from your cause to join us as free democratic people who have a right to express themselves and live in liberty and justice.
When that day comes you can be satisfied, like the Founding Fathers of the United States were, that you have done your part. I am proud to stand with you today.
• Mr. Rohrabacher is a senior Republican House member representing California and chairman of the Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and emerging threats. The above is excerpted and adapted from remarks he delivered to the June 13 event in Paris.
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