[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17181]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



            AMERICA STANDS RESOLUTE IN THIS TIME OF TRAGEDY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 14, 2001

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, Tuesday morning the American people were 
viciously and deliberately attacked by terrorists in what I consider to 
be an act of war.
  We have entered into a new era in world history. Terrorists have now 
begun to flout international law and standards of common decency. They 
target the American people because we are strong and because they are 
weak. Some say that we cannot and should not be the world's policeman. 
But we will serve justice and we will punish those who are responsible.
  This battle is a new kind of war, and we must be prudent in how we 
prosecute it. All nations who harbor, who train, who support, who fund 
these terrorist groups, bear equal responsibility for the actions of 
these terrorists.
  We must dedicate the proper resources to deal with them in the 
appropriate way. Terrorists may be able to run, but they cannot hide 
from America's determination and justice.
  Many of those who died were dedicated public servants. They were 
members of our armed forces, firefighters, and police officers. They 
were people dedicated to serving and protecting America. Others were 
citizens dedicating to living the American dream, who had wives or 
husbands or children or parents who loved them and who will miss them.
  These people were innocent victims in a war conducted against America 
by terrorists who attacked unsuspecting civilian targets. It is now 
time we begin to fight back.
  On behalf of myself and the Fifth District of Texas, I would like to 
express my deepest condolences the families of the victims. May God 
protect them in this time of trouble.

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