[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 11, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H5497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[[Page H5497]]
AMERICA'S ENEMIES WILL BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE
(Mr. SMITH of Michigan asked and was given permission to address the
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, yesterday America came face-to-
face with undisguised evil, an evil so profound that it leaves men and
women of good will dumbfounded. These acts of war may have bloodied
America, but America will remain unbowed.
The enemies of America, I think, have always underestimated us; but
in fact what these terrorists perceive as America's weakness, our
freedom, our tolerance, our democratic system, is what gives America
its strength.
We will rise to this challenge. I urge for starters that we authorize
the President to spend as he sees fit $20 billion to react to this
attack.
As we mourn our dead and injured, we will prepare for war; a war that
we did not seek, but one that we must wage. And it is not a precedent.
In the 18th century, Congress, under Jefferson, waged a war on the
Barbary pirates. We must declare war on these new terrorists.
Americans are not by nature a vengeful people, but when roused to
anger in a righteous cause, our fury and our resolve will not be
extinguished until our enemies are brought to justice.
To those who celebrate the death of American innocents, of mothers
and fathers, sons and daughters, I have a simple message: you can run,
but you cannot hide. America will deliver a response at the time and
place of its own choosing to the perpetrators and those that shield
them.
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