[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 185 (Thursday, October 21, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S7136]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                               Terrorism

  Madam President, yesterday also brought a sobering reminder of the 
dangers a new generation of American servicemembers continue to 
encounter as they follow in the footsteps of these heroes. U.S. 
personnel operating in Syria became the latest targets of a drone 
attack perpetrated by terrorists. Whether the perpetrators turn out to 
be ISIS or, more likely, loyal Iranian proxies, it is clear that 
serious threats are growing all across that region.
  The terrorists who seek to harm us and the regimes that support them 
were emboldened--considerably emboldened--by our retreat from 
Afghanistan. Just this week, the U.S.-designated terrorist and Taliban 
Interior Minister, Haqqani, praised suicide-bombing Taliban terrorists 
with American and Afghan blood on their hands and provided--listen to 
this--cash rewards to their families. They are getting a cash reward 
for killing Americans. The Taliban also continues to hamper the 
evacuation of American citizens, Afghans who worked with America, and 
other vulnerable Afghans who are continuing to be under threat.
  Our allies and adversaries alike are wondering whether the Biden 
administration intends to stand up to those who dare to challenge us or 
our allies. They are watching--watching closely--to see if America will 
blink in the face of the Taliban's defiance or Iran's aggression. I 
hope the President is prepared to settle this question and deliver on 
our commitments.