[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 114 (Thursday, September 14, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9578-S9579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           REPUBLICANS ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING AMERICA SAFER

  Mr. DeMINT. Mr. President, I said yesterday I am thankful to be part 
of the Republican majority that understands that September 11, 2001, 
changed the way that we must look at the world. Republicans are 
committed to taking action and not just talking about making America 
safer.
  We must track, capture, and eliminate our terrorist enemies before 
they attack us. We must provide the President and our military with 
every legal tool available to fight this war against Islamic 
extremists, and we must secure our homeland by securing our borders and 
ports.
  Unfortunately, the Democratic Party does not seem to understand the 
true threat that we face with Islamic extremists. Instead, Senate 
Democrats continue to prove that they are dangerously naive about the 
grave danger of global terrorism.
  Radical Islamic jihadists have made no secret of their goal, which is 
the complete subjugation of the world to their extreme form of Islamic 
nationalism.
  Osama bin Laden said the attacks of 9/11 were ``an unparalleled and 
magnificent feat of valor'' and ``a great step toward the unity of 
Muslims.''

[[Page S9579]]

  According to the al-Qaida charter:

       There will be continuing enmity until everybody believes in 
     Allah. We will not meet [the enemy] halfway, and there will 
     be no room for dialog with them.

  The Iranian President has called for a world ``without the United 
States and Zionism,'' saying that the West's ``doomed destiny will be 
annihilation, misfortune, and abjectness,'' and telling other nations 
that in order to have good relations with Iran, they must ``bow down 
before the greatness of the Iranian nation and surrender.''
  Horrendous attacks in India, Madrid, London, as well as recent 
arrests in Canada, Miami, and the foiled London airplane plot have 
shown that terrorists and their state sponsors have the determination 
to back up their rhetoric with action.
  President Bush and my Republican colleagues have proved that we 
understand the nature of the enemy we are facing and that we must be 
just as determined as they are.
  Let's be clear. Republicans are not the ones fighting to preserve the 
status quo. Preserving the status quo is what we did for 8 long years 
under the Clinton administration--simply responding with a law 
enforcement mindset while Islamic extremists attacked us and built and 
financed their worldwide network of terror.
  Now Democrats would have us return to the Clinton status quo--a pre-
September 11, head-in-the-sand philosophy of ``don't listen, don't 
track, don't challenge.''
  Republicans understand the world changed on September 11 and that we 
are fighting a dynamic and committed enemy. As we have responded to 
terrorists, they have adjusted their tactics, and we are continually 
evaluating and adapting our strategy to meet this evolving threat.
  If we don't show the resolve to defeat radical Islamic terrorists in 
Afghanistan, Iraq, and Lebanon, we will never defeat them anywhere. No 
one understands the stakes better than the terrorists. That is why 
there is no in-between choice in Iraq. Either we cut and run and allow 
it to become a safe haven for terrorism and staging grounds for future 
attacks or we stay until victory over the terrorists is achieved and 
Iraq is a stable partner in democracy.
  Republicans have proved that we will do what it takes to secure our 
homeland from all enemies. We are committed to completing our current 
mission in Iraq and Afghanistan with victory and honor and to create a 
new generation of freedom and security, of peace and prosperity, for 
America and the world.
  The unfortunate truth is that when it comes to securing America's 
homeland, the Democrats are dangerously naive. They think if we pull 
out of Iraq, the terrorists will leave us alone. They have abandoned 
those in their own party who dare to disagree with the most radical 
liberals of the far left. Democrats, with the help of their misguided 
allies, such as media outlets like the New York Times, have signaled to 
the terrorists that America is tired, discouraged, and ready to quit, 
encouraging the terrorists to expand their attacks around the world.
  Not content to simply heckle from the sidelines, Democrats have 
actively fought to block the tools that are critical to stopping future 
attacks. In fact, Senate Democrats united this week in opposition to 
the terrorist surveillance program, proposing an amendment to the port 
security bill that denounces this program that has saved American 
lives.
  Just last Thursday, Democrats showed their continued tendency to 
flip-flop when they issued a media statement outlining their latest 
security agenda, pledging to ``work to . . . ensure our intelligence 
agencies have the tools they need to defeat the terrorists.'' Then, 1 
short hour later, they again played procedural games to block the 
Judiciary Committee from further consideration of the National Security 
Surveillance Act of 2006.
  The Senator from Texas, Mr. Cornyn, got it right when he said:

       It's little wonder that Democrats have a credibility gap 
     with the American people on the issue of national security. 
     Saying one thing [and then] doing another . . . doesn't help 
     our efforts to win this war.

  This week, Senate Democrats continued to prove they are willing to 
put politics ahead of the security and safety of American families by 
trying to kill the port security bill with partisan amendments.
  The Senator from New York, Mr. Schumer, openly admitted the 
Democratic strategy of playing politics with national security. 
Yesterday, Congress Daily reported Senator Schumer ``conceded Democrats 
were seeking to score political points'' and quoted my Democratic 
colleague saying: ``This is politics at its very best.''
  I believe the American people have a different view of the partisan 
games the Senate Democrats are playing. I think they believe that this 
is politics at its very worst.
  If Democrats spent half as much time fighting terrorists as they do 
this administration, America would win this war a lot faster.
  Democrats claim to be the ones listening to the American people, but, 
unfortunately, they are just posturing to win an election. Mr. 
President, I invite my Democratic colleagues to stop these political 
games and to join us in helping to win this war on terror and securing 
America's homeland.

  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Nevada is 
recognized.
  Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, how much time remains on our side?
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. There is 4 minutes 25 seconds 
remaining.
  Mr. ENSIGN. I ask unanimous consent for an additional 5 minutes on 
each side for morning business.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I didn't hear the request.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator has asked unanimous 
consent that each side have 5 additional minutes for morning business.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. I have no objection.

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