[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 111 (Monday, September 11, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S9284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S9284]]
         FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, 5 years ago today, al-Qaida terrorists 
launched a brutal sneak attack on American soil. It was their deadliest 
attack ever and a day America will never forget.
  Today, we remember and honor the innocent victims of that attack and 
stand in support of their families and communities.
  We honor the heroic police officers, firefighters, and emergency 
medical personnel who rushed into burning buildings when everyone else 
was rushing out.
  We honor the valiant passengers of United Airlines Flight 93, who 
gave their lives to save thousands of others--including, quite 
possibly, many in the building in which we stand.
  We honor millions of good-hearted volunteers who lined up to help 
their fellow Americans and donated time, money, blood, and literally 
everything they could.
  We honor the families who opened their homes, the houses of worship 
that opened their doors, and the schoolchildren who saw evil for the 
first time but were not afraid to open their hearts.
  We honor the military and law enforcement personnel whose vigilance 
has kept us from attack since that day. It is because of their service 
we have not been attacked at home in the 5 years since.
  Some have made the ultimate sacrifice, and we honor their families, 
while realizing the debt can never be repaid.
  As the country reflects on what happened that tragic day, we must 
remember this: Two skyscrapers may be gone, but 5 years after 9/11, 
America stands taller than ever.
  America is on the offense against terrorists, and America is winning 
the war on terror. And thanks to hard and dangerous work over the last 
5 years, today, America is safer. To make us safer still, we continue 
to wage war against terrorists who would harm America here and around 
the world. Of the senior terrorist leaders whom our Government has been 
tracking, many have been apprehended or killed, and we are disrupting 
the flow of money, supplies, people, and information to the terrorists.
  But we must stay on the offensive. This Congress must ensure that the 
brave men and women fighting under our flag have everything they need 
to complete their mission. War is horror, and none of us want these 
heroes torn away from their homes and families. But we must confront 
the fundamental reality of 9/11. The enemy was at war with us for years 
prior to that attack. It was only on that day that we began to fight 
back with the effort necessary to beat this warped and virulent strain 
of radical Islam. And we will prevail over the toxic death wish that 
preaches indiscriminate killing of men, women, and children in the Name 
of the Almighty.
  Most importantly, all of us must do what we can to sustain the faith 
of our fellow citizens through this long and difficult war. When we 
began the fight after 9/11, we knew it would not be short, and we knew 
it would not be easy. In fact, this struggle will last years, perhaps 
decades. We cannot be sure when we will win, but we can be sure that we 
will win. We must sustain our faith because as long as we maintain our 
will to win, we will prevail.
  Once before, America was the target of a surprise deadly attack. Two 
days after that attack, on December 9, 1941, President Franklin 
Roosevelt addressed the Nation. Here is what he had to say:

       When we resort to force, as now we must, we are determined 
     that this force shall be directed toward ultimate good as 
     well as against immediate evil. We Americans are not 
     destroyers, we are builders. . . . We are going to win the 
     war and we are going to win the peace that follows.

  What was true then is truer today. We do not fight for death and 
destruction, as the terrorists do. We fight for liberty. That is 
America's greatest strength. And no terrorist attack will ever diminish 
it.
  Five years ago today, Members of Congress from both parties and both 
Chambers stood united on the Capitol steps and sang ``God Bless 
America.'' In the days that followed, our Nation witnessed a resurgence 
in unity and in purpose.
  Voluntarism soared. American flags sold out of stores overnight. Just 
as we stood united here, the country stood united against a growing 
threat.
  This evening, Members of Congress will return to the steps and join 
together to remember that day of resolve. And as we once again ``swear 
allegiances to a land that's free,'' it is my sincere hope that we will 
reignite our united purpose.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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