On the recordSeptember 8, 2014
My colleague from Texas outlined for us today the serious challenges that we face in the Middle East. We have a challenge that is of a historic nature where a significant number of Islamic extremists are taking control of territories; and they plan to use that control as a means to terrorize large segments of the world's population, including the people of the United States of America. If we are to defeat this, this evil force that beheads journalists, stones women to death, and persecutes people of other faiths, we must make sure that we reach out to people within the Muslim community as well. We must make sure that moderate Muslims know that we are on their side, and when they side with us that we will stick with them. As we speak today, as I speak on this floor, a man who sided with the United States of America in order to bring justice to those Americans killed by radical Islamists on 9/11, this man, Dr. Afridi, languishes in a prison in Pakistan. If we expect other people to stand with us, we cannot forget Dr. Afridi. We must remember him, and we must save him as he saved us. ____________________
