Statement of Lynn Smith Darbyshire
Before the Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia and the Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation
February 16, 2005
Mr. Chairman:
I would like to thank you, and the members of the two Subcommittees represented here for allowing me the opportunity to speak today regarding the "Iran Freedom Support Act". I deeply appreciate all that you do to govern our land, and I know that the work is both time-consuming and arduous. The issues before us are heavy, and we need to look at them.
The issue of stopping state sponsored terrorism is important to many Americans, simply because they are Americans, and as such, they care. This issue is important to you, because you are Representatives of Congress. But for me, it's different. A state sponsor of terrorism, specifically the government of Iran, has ripped a hole in my life that can never be repaired.
My oldest brother, Capt. Vincent Smith, along with 240 other Marines and servicemen, was murdered by the terrorist group, Hezbollah, who were both financially and materially sponsored by the government of Iran.
Vince was one of 241 United States Marines and service personnel killed when Hezbollah terrorists transformed an ordinary truck - one that looked exactly like the usual truck that carried water to the base - into a 12,000 pound bomb and detonated it in the barracks, demolishing the concrete and steel building as if it were made of play-doh and tinker toys. My family and I hovered by our television sets, weeping as we sat by the phone, waiting for news of the brother, father, son, and husband that we cherished. It took three weeks to search through the rubble and identify all the bodies. Twenty-one years later there is still a gaping hole in our lives and our hearts. Twenty-one years later there is still no justice.
The government of Iran has been perpetrating acts of terrorism, and supporting terrorist organizations long enough. We need to stop them. We need to do everything and anything in our power to deter future acts of terrorism against Americans, and in our world. Passage of the Bill before you today, will impose greater sanctions on the government of Iran, which is one tool America can use to deter them from their heinous crimes.
A companion Bill is being introduced in Congress today, called the "Justice for Marine Corps Families-Victims of Terrorism Act". This Bill, which will be referred to the Judiciary Committee, will allow the families and the victims of the Beirut Bombing to perfect and enforce pending claims against the government of Iran. Together, the two pieces of legislation will make it harder for terrorist states to raise and distribute funds to perpetrate further acts of terrorism. We need to come at them from both angles-making it harder for them to perpetrate crimes, while holding them responsible for the crimes they have already committed. I would urge the members of these two subcommittees to join with members of the Judiciary committee in support of this legislation. Likewise, I will be urging members of the Judiciary committee to support the "Iran Freedom Support Act".
In order to deter more crimes of terrorism, there must be serious consequences. Terrorists continue to terrorize because they can. We have not held them accountable for their crimes, so they continue to build bombs, and they continue to murder and maim our loved ones.
George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." As family members of the courageous men killed in Beirut, we have adopted the motto, "Our first duty is to remember," because we know this truth, and we are determined not to let history be repeated in this case. We must do everything in our power to prevent the terrorists from continuing their evil acts of terrorism. We must stop them before they murder someone you love.
My brother Vince was dear to me. His murder was an incalculable, immeasurable loss, which affects me every single day. I ask you, Congress, to pass these two bills, and to work tirelessly to affect whatever additional legislative changes are necessary, to impose such hardship on the government of Iran, that they will have no choice but to stop their wanton killing, to own up to their crimes, and to make restitution for those already committed.
Again, thank you for hearing me today. I am respectfully,
Lynn Smith Derbyshire
Sister of Captain Vincent Smith, United States Marine Corps, a victim of the bombing of the Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon on October 23, 1983
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