Tony Thurmond: “in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, our Armed Forces have again…”

“in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, our Armed Forces have again been called upon to preserve our National Security. The Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff previously assured us that the military was ready for this latest endeavor. As demonstrated by the ongoing actions in Afghanistan, they were right on target. As the senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a retired Major General, I heartily concur that the world has never seen a finer fighting force. However, as President Bush cautioned in his September 20 address to Congress, "Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have ever seen." International terrorism is an enemy different than any we have faced before. President Bush has made it clear that ridding the world of this evil is of the utmost importance. He stated "terror, unanswered, can not only bring down buildings, it can threaten the stability of legitimate governments." As we continue to wage "civilization's fight" we must ensure our National Security structure is prepared for an unpredictable future.”