[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 18141-18142]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      THE WAR ON TERROR, CONTINUED

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
January 20, 2004, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STEARNS. I would say to my colleague that the misery index, 
inflation and unemployment, when added together is the lowest it has 
been in the last series of Presidents, even going back to Jimmy Carter. 
So I think the Bush administration is doing a good job.
  But this morning, Mr. Speaker, I am observing the third anniversary 
of 9/11. This is the third year since Islamic terrorists hijacked four 
passenger planes and killed 3,000 innocent Americans. We all know that. 
We will never forget those who perished on that day and our prayers are 
forever with them and their families. In the 3 years since September 
11, we have overthrown terrorist-friendly regimes in Afghanistan and 
Iraq, we have killed thousands of terrorists, frozen their assets, 
dismantled potential weapons of mass destruction and coordinated a 
worldwide war on terror. We will never forget the sacrifices made by 
our military men and women and their families in this war on terror.
  Yet despite our successes, Mr. Speaker, we still face a mortal 
danger. The

[[Page 18142]]

world was reminded of the threat posed by Islamic terrorists when 90 
people were killed in two simultaneous plane crashes that are suspected 
to have been blown up by Chechen bombers. And just a week after these 
planes crashed, Chechen thugs took over a Russian school and killed 
over 300 Russians. Nearly half of the 340 dead were children. These 
terrorists kept hundreds of children, along with parents who were 
bringing them in for their first day of school, in a sweltering 
gymnasium where the heat was unbearable. To make matters worse, these 
terrorists refused to allow deliveries of food and water. For 3 days 
they did not let these innocent people use the bathroom. For 3 days 
they threatened them constantly with death. Mr. Speaker, they made good 
on their promise.
  We must ask ourselves, what kind of depraved animal attacks innocent 
women and children, holds them hostage and treats them with complete 
contempt as human beings? We learned 3 years ago that these terrorists 
are perfectly willing to kill women and children.
  A recent article in Atlantic Monthly revealed that certain Muslim 
clerics and al Qaeda justify the murder of defenseless women and 
children in their worldwide jihad. The same article also reported that 
al Qaeda wants to kill 4 million Americans. This is what we are dealing 
with, a ruthless, remorseless force that will stop at nothing to 
accomplish their final end, the death of the West. This is yet another 
example of these Muslim terrorists using bloodshed to influence 
elections.
  A survivor of the Russian terror told a newspaper that she asked the 
militants why the captives were taken. They replied, ``Because you vote 
for your Putin.'' Another freed hostage said a terrorist told her, ``If 
Putin doesn't withdraw forces from Chechnya and doesn't free our 
arrested brothers, we'll blow everything up.''
  A few months ago, al Qaeda bombed a Spanish train in the hopes of 
overthrowing the pro-American government. They accomplished their goal. 
Somehow I doubt the Russian people will react in the same way. They are 
in mourning, but all indications are that they will rise to fight this 
terror with resolve and determination. President Putin admitted to the 
Russian people that he has been weak against the threat of terror. 
Russia has been dealing with Chechen terrorism for nearly a decade. Yet 
the recent school murders may have finally served as a wakeup call.
  President Bush extended his deepest sympathy to the Russian people 
and we do as well. Now we welcome the Russian government to our 
international fight against these terrorists.
  Mr. Speaker, a couple of months ago, President Putin revealed that 
Russian intelligence services learned that Saddam Hussein while he was 
in power was planning attacks on American interests abroad and on 
America itself. This information still did not persuade the Russian 
leadership to fully support our international war on terror, but now 
President Putin and the Russian people understand what is finally at 
stake.
  Some nations and politicians have been reluctant to join us in our 
war on terror, but no one is safe from these terrorists. Their faith is 
uncompromising and their violence is unreasoning. They proudly proclaim 
that they love death. Mr. Speaker, if we have learned anything from the 
lessons of September 11 and 3 years of our war on terror, it is this, 
we must kill them where they are before they reach our shores. And if 
they are so willing to die for their twisted cause, then we must be 
willing to accommodate them.

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