Oberweis is supporting a bill known as CLEAR (Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act of 2003). It requires state and local law enforcement authorities to apprehend and turn over to the Immigration and Naturalization Service illegal immigrants with whom they come in contact. Prosecution of illegal immigrants is rare, at the borders and where local crimes are committed. The CLEAR bill amends the law to establish criminal penalties and forfeiture for aliens unlawfully in the United States, increases specified criminal and civil penalties for illegal entry and failure to depart violations. But more than that, it would cut off from ''sanctuary cities'' -- those that decline to enforce its provisions -- federal funds that are used for the apprehension of illegal immigrants.

Chicago became an official ''sanctuary city'' by an executive order that Mayor Daley issued on April 25, 1989.

Oberweis' support for the bill is gutsy because it flies in the face of unspoken but generally understood federal, state and local policies under Democratic and Republican presidents that have winked at the flood of illegal immigrants. Big businesses often employ them at low wages, and both parties wish to appear conciliatory -- viewing the prospect of high vote returns in 2004. A federal program known as the State Criminal Assistance Program gives funds to the states for enforcement. Obviously, if states or local communities have announced sanctuaries for illegal immigrants, the money would not be needed and thus would be cut off, said a spokesman in the office of CLEAR sponsor Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-Ga.).

If Oberweis seemingly stands alone on the CLEAR issue among Republican contenders for the Senate here, 110 House members, mostly Republicans, co-sponsor the bill with Norwood, including Illinoisans Ray LaHood (R-Peoria), John Shimkus (R-Collinsville), Phil Crane (R-Wauconda) and Tim Johnson (R-Champaign). The White House is mum on the legislation, and Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) is the only leadership member on the bill. Popular support for the measure is huge -- a Roper poll shows that 85 percent endorse the concept. Several law enforcement groups support it, including the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.

The bill's concept will be heard before the Senate Judiciary Committee soon. Speaking before the Latino Police Officers Association, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), a presidential candidate, blasted it. ''I don't know whose bright idea this was, but this bulb ought to be turned off,'' he said.

Norwood responded: ''I suggest you be more concerned about the 400,000 individuals with final deportation orders that our immigration officers can't find, running loose within our borders, rather than votes. Of that 400,000, you should be alarmed that 80,000 have criminal convictions and 3,800 are from countries with known ties to al-Qaida.''

Said Oberweis: ''We're sending the wrong message both to those who obey the law and who are encouraged to enter our country illegally.

''As it stands today, if police arrest people for a crime and discover they're illegal, nothing happens.''

Norwood said, ''The men and women who wear the badge . . . deserve better than a system that asks them to arrest and rearrest illegal aliens committing crimes.''

Norwood said there are only 2,000 immigration agents in the field, and that the 80,000 illegal immigrants with criminal convictions were apprehended but released because of an inefficient system.

Oberweis' support of CLEAR gives him a claim to being the most conservative candidate seeking the GOP nomination to succeed the retiring Sen. Peter Fitzgerald. Electoral history shows that the Republican base vote, when activated, nominates a fighting candidate and sticks with him to the end, as it did with Fitzgerald.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Thank you for the warm welcome. Thank you, Secretary Principi, for doing a really fine job to represent our nation's veterans. Members of the Cabinet, members of the Congress, members of our military, veterans, Commander Berger, representatives of veterans organizations, and fellow Americans: Laura and I are proud to join all of you and citizens across our country as we honor the service of America's veterans.

We observe Veterans Day on an anniversary -- not of a great battle or of the beginning of a war, but of a day when war ended and our nation was again at peace. Ever since the Armistice of November the 11th, 1918, this has been a day to remember our debt to all who have worn the uniform of the United States.

Our veterans have borne the costs of America's wars and have stood watch over America's peace. And, today, every veteran can be certain: The nation you served and the people you defended are grateful. (Applause.)

Our nation knows this National Cemetery as the final resting place of those lost to the violence of war. Yet, most of the markers here stand over the graves of Americans who lived beyond their years of military service. On the hills of Arlington and in the daily lives of our country, veterans have a special place. We honor them all for their service in uniform. And we honor America's veterans for the full lives of their service they continue to lead.

Today, more than 25 million Americans wear the proud title of veteran, or retired military. Their ranks include young men and women who gave good years to our all-volunteer military and recently returned to civilian life. Our veterans include more than 11 million men and women from the conflicts of Korea and Vietnam, who earned this nation's gratitude and respect. More than 4 million living Americans served in World War II, under the command of Eisenhower and Bradley and Nimitz. And on Veterans Day 2003, it is still possible to thank, in person, almost 200 Americans who were in uniform when the guns of World War I went silent 85 years from today. All the men who served when Woodrow Wilson was the Commander-in-Chief are now more than 100 years old, and they can know that America is still proud of them. (Applause.)

Every veteran has his or her own story of entering military service. Many enlisted on Monday morning, December 8th, 1941, or at the beginning of other conflicts. For some, military life began with the initiation at an academy. For others, it began with a letter from the United States government. Yet when their service is complete, veterans of every era, every background and every branch have certain things in common. And those shared commitments and experience formed bonds that last a lifetime.

Every veteran has lived by a strict code of discipline. Every veteran understands the meaning of personal accountability and loyalty and shared sacrifice. From the moment you repeated the oath to the day of your honorable discharge, your time belonged to America; your country came before all else. And whether you served abroad or at home, you have shared in the responsibility of maintaining the finest fighting force in the world.

Veterans who took the oath and served in battle have known the hardships and the fears and the tragic losses of war. These memories follow them through life, and are sometimes hard to bear. Yet our war veterans, wherever they fought, can know this: In the harshest hours of conflict, they serve just and honorable purposes.

Americans are a peaceful people, and this nation has always gone to war reluctantly, and always for a noble cause. America's war veterans have fought for the security of this nation, for the safety of our friends, and for the peace of the world. They humbled tyrants and defended the innocent, and liberated the oppressed. And across the Earth, you will find entire nations that once lived in fear, where men and women still tell of the day when Americans came and set them free. (Applause.)

America's mission in the world continues, and we count on the same kind of people to carry it out. Today, in assignments around the world, more than 1.4 million Americans are on active duty, earning the title of veteran by serving in the cause of freedom. In two years and two months since our country was attacked, the men and women of our Armed Forces have engaged the terrorist enemy on many fronts. They've confronted grave dangers to defend the safety of the American people. They have liberated two nations -- Afghanistan and Iraq -- delivering more than 50 million people from the hands of dictators. Those who serve and fight today are adding great achievements of their own to America's history. America is grateful for their daring, grateful for their honor, and grateful for their sacrifice. (Applause.)

On this Veterans Day, with our nation at war, Americans are deeply aware of the current military struggle and of recent sacrifice. Young Americans have died in liberating Iraq and Afghanistan. They've died in securing freedom in those countries. The loss is terrible. It is borne especially by the families left behind. But in their hurt and in their loneliness, I want these families to know your loved one served in a good and just cause. (Applause.) They died in distant lands to fight terror, to advance freedom and to protect America. They did not live to be called veterans, but this nation will never forget their lives of service and all they did for us.

At this hour, many thousands are following their duty at great risk. One young man serving in Iraq recently said this: "We in the military signed up and pledged to protect this great country of ours from enemies foreign and domestic. We're fighting," he said, "so that the next generation might never have to experience anything like September the 11th, 2001." (Applause.)

Today and every day, the prayers of the American people are with those who wear our country's uniform. They serve a great cause and they follow a great tradition, handed down to them by America's veterans. Our veterans from every era are the finest of citizens. We owe them the life we know today. They command the respect of the American people, and they have our lasting gratitude.

Thank you for coming today. May God bless America, and may God bless all who defend it. (Applause.)

Two words come to my mind. One is "impatience," which can be a huge negative – especially if accounts of actual progress on the ground are not brought to the attention of the citizens of the United States. Impatience can be a formidable enemy. The 3,800 programs that the United States military troops and our friends around the world are involved in, side-by-side with Iraqi troops and citizens are remarkable – especially when you can see results on the ground. And you have to be there to really absorb that. But the impatience of some critics can cause bad things to happen. It can cause us to give up hope or pull our support early when we should not. We need to stay there. All of us on the trip believe we're making a huge difference and we need to see this through.

The other word that comes to my mind is “potential.” I saw so much of it during our trip. It is evident that there is a plan for growth and advancement– one that is embraced by the Iraqis and that is trying to make up for more than a decade of neglect of basic services, such as health care electricity, running water and education. There’s so much potential for the women of Iraq – 72% of whom are illiterate, but who want to learn.

We visited with lots of women throughout Iraq. One of our most memorable highlights was when we went to a police academy where 25 women were being trained to become security officers. They said, ‘We don't want to go to the moon. We want a job. We want to help.’ They had been sent home a few days earlier because the funding for their training had run out.

We were able to talk to the folks in charge of that program. The result was that the women have come back to the classroom. The head of that program went to them and said, ‘In fact you will all be getting jobs in the next week or so.’ We checked: 13 of the 25 women we worked with have already been hired. And we will continue to be involved, encouraging more and more women to be part of this training opportunity.

The other thing that made a huge impression was my visit to the children’s hospital. It was not very clean. There were very few people there. The looters had literally stolen beds from underneath hospital patients in order to get things to sell right after we put our people on the ground.

Most Iraqi’s are working with 1970’s technology and 1970’s training. It was as though the doors and windows had been boarded up for decades. They need our help to transition into the modern era. They're very excited about exchanges in the United States, about getting training that will help them care for their citizens. We are focusing very strongly, as both United States citizens and lawmakers on getting them the resources they need to improve health care. There is a lot of work to do.

During the 1990s, Saddam cut health care spending by 90 percent – reducing the availability of critical medical services, supplies and training – while extravagantly decorating his many marble palaces across Iraq. We are there now, working with local officials and relief agencies such as USAID (United States Agency for International Development), to do our best to fill this void and bring current, healthy medical practices to the citizens of Iraq.

The potential of the Iraqi people is so great … and our troops are making a critical difference in the lives of people throughout the country. But we must have the resolve to quell the impatience. True success in Iraq can only come from exercising patience as we follow our path of progress… exercising an unwavering commitment to the Iraqi people that we will walk with them down the long hard road they face, until they can walk on their own.

The military war is over, but the war on terror continues. And that's what's being fought right now in Iraq – with Iraqis and the U.S. military fighting side by side to ensure their safety and ours.

We still have much work to do, but the progress I witnessed firsthand is remarkable. It is my sincere hope that as Members continue to return to the U.S., the American people will begin to learn about our many successes in Iraq and the deep appreciation the Iraqis have for our efforts.

==>Abraham Lincoln