[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 114 (Thursday, September 14, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9579-S9580]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 AMERICA'S STATUS IN FIGHTING TERRORISM

  Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, I rise this morning to talk about our 
status in this fight against Islamic extremism around the world.
  When the terrorists struck the World Trade Center on September 11, 
2001, America was forced to realize that we were at war. We did not ask 
for this war. This conflict was brought to us by individuals who 
believe that America is evil. This is an enemy that hates us because we 
are a free nation, and our citizens are free to pursue their dreams and 
chart their own destiny.
  The day the World Trade Center towers fell, our world--or at least 
our comprehension of it--changed forever. Our enemy stepped onto our 
soil, destroyed our buildings, killed more than 3,000 of our citizens, 
and made clear their intentions. They want nothing less than to cause 
our demise.
  The world has changed much since that horrific day. Unfortunately, 
the will to fight extremists who planned and executed September 11, and 
many other attacks around the globe, has wavered since then. The united 
resolve of many nations has softened dramatically.
  As Americans, we have no choice but to lead the way with an 
unwavering commitment to this fight. Remember, they asked for this 
fight. They, long ago, declared war on America and the free world and 
long before September 11 began attacking and killing our citizens.
  They challenged us many times over the years and received little more 
than empty rhetoric and a slap on the wrist for such atrocities as 
striking the USS Cole, the first World Trade Center bombings, 
destruction of the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia and the Marine 
barracks in Lebanon; and, of course, they attacked our Embassies in 
Africa.
  We were at war, but we didn't even know it. For too long we ignored 
the words of these terrorists. We attributed their declarations of hate 
as mere rantings of lunatics.
  Time has shown us that the words of these Islamic extremists must be 
taken seriously, and we must continue to act decisively to stop them 
from achieving their aims.
  In an effort to steal our collective resolve, it is important to 
remind ourselves just who the enemy really is in this global war 
against Islamic fascism. For too long America has seen our enemies 
through a prism that casts them in the mold of conventional powers, but 
the Islamic fascists are a different breed. They fight for no flag, nor

[[Page S9580]]

do they adhere to any international agreement. They fight outside the 
box; whereas, our sense of what is right and wrong constrains us to 
adhere to recognized rules of engagement.
  We all know the self-professed leader of al-Qaida is Osama bin Laden. 
His call to arms for his disciples is: Death is better than living on 
this Earth with the unbelievers amongst us.
  We know Iraq is central to the war on terror because Osama bin Laden 
said it is. He said:

       The most serious issue today for the whole world is this 
     third world war that is raging in Iraq.

  Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's deputy, described Iraq as ``the place for 
the greatest battle of Islam in this era.''
  Remember the blind sheikh? He was responsible for the 1993 World 
Trade Center bombing. From his prison cell, he has called on Muslims 
everywhere to ``tear them apart, ruin their economy, instigate against 
their corporations, destroy their embassies, attack their interests, 
sink their ships, and shoot down their airplanes; kill them on land, at 
sea, in the air; kill them wherever you find them.''
  Those were their words, Mr. President. We are at war with an enemy 
that wants to see America wiped off the map. This is an enemy bent on 
destruction and Islamic domination--or at least their vision of Islam. 
Their goal is to establish a violent political utopia across the Middle 
East--which they call a caliphate--where all would be ruled according 
to their hateful ideology.
  Osama bin Laden has called the 9/11 attacks, in his words, ``a great 
step toward the unity of Muslims and establishing the righteous 
caliphate.'' There are reports that some of Osama bin Laden's 
supporters believe that he is the Mahdi, the 12th Imam. The Mahdi will 
lead believers in Islam to victory over the infidels, ushering in an 
era of peace and justice.
  Even Iran's President is on record as instructing America, in his 
words:

       If you would like to have good relations with the Iranian 
     nation in the future, bow down before the greatness of the 
     Iranian nation and surrender. If you don't accept to do this, 
     the Iranian nation will force you to surrender and bow down.

  Those are the Iranian President's own words. It is not farfetched to 
believe that with nuclear weapons in his possession, he would use them 
to usher in this cataclysmic confrontation that he seeks. We must take 
these threats seriously and act accordingly.

  Remember, the terrorists are traitors to their own faith trying, in 
effect, to hijack Islam itself. The enemy of America is not our many 
Muslim friends; it is not our many Arab friends. Our enemy is a radical 
network of terrorists and every government that supports them.
  The terrorists' directive commands them to kill Christians and Jews, 
to kill all Americans, and make no distinction among military leaders, 
ordinary troops, and civilians, including women and children. They want 
to overthrow existing governments in many Muslim countries such as 
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. They want to drive Israel out of the 
Middle East. They want to drive Christians and Jews out of vast regions 
of Asia and Africa. These terrorists kill not merely to end lives but 
to disrupt and end a way of life. With every atrocity, they hope that 
America grows fearful, retreating from the world and forsaking our 
friends. They stand against us because we stand in their way.
  We cannot be deceived by their pretenses to piety. We have seen their 
kind before. They are the heirs of all the murderous ideologies of the 
20th century.
  By sacrificing human life to serve their radical visions, by 
abandoning every value except power, they follow the path of fascism 
and Nazism and totalitarianism. They will follow that path all the way 
to where it ends: In history's unmarked graves of discarded lies.
  This is not, however, just America's fight. And what is at stake is 
not just America's freedom. This is the world's fight. This is 
civilization's fight. This is the fight for all who believe in progress 
and pluralism, tolerance, and freedom.
  The war we fight today is more than a military conflict; it is the 
decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century. Make no mistake: 
this is an enemy we cannot appease; this is an enemy we must defeat.
  On September 11, 2001, and the days immediately following, this 
country stood united. We stood ready to protect all Americans. We must 
continue to show a united front against this enemy. We must understand 
that what we say has great consequences. If our enemy sees the country 
divided, it will also see an opportunity and a path to victory.
  During our Civil War, General Lee often read northern papers to gauge 
the mood of the population in the North. As he saw the political 
discourse and the division among northern leaders prior to Gettysburg, 
he believed that it would take only one more victory to win the war. 
Lucky for us, the victory never came, but we can learn from Lee's 
lesson.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for 30 more seconds.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, al-Qaida reads our newspapers and watches 
our television stations. They see the lack of resolve in some of our 
leaders and they seek to exploit it. This is the time to lead, a time 
to unite, and a time to defeat an enemy that wants to bring an end to 
freedom around the world. We must lay down our party labels as 
Republicans, Democrats, or Independents and become Americans. We must 
not tire. We must not falter. We cannot fail.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Louisiana is 
recognized.

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