Cliff Stearns: “as the smoke clears from the skies over New York City, Arlington, Virginia, and western Pennsylvania, we in Congress…”

“as the smoke clears from the skies over New York City, Arlington, Virginia, and western Pennsylvania, we in Congress should not forget that we are a free society. Sweet freedom. We cannot abandon our ideals or wrap ourselves in a cocoon or isolate ourself from a world because of this senseless destruction. The resolution this evening condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorists who tried to disrupt our country and to kill our innocent citizens. Our government cannot permit its citizens to be attacked with impunity. We as elected officials have a responsibility to protect them just as we have protected them throughout the history of this grand Republic. All of us have watched in horror the amount of destruction that has occurred. We commend the heroic action of the rescue workers, volunteers, State and local officials who responded to these tragic events with courage, determination, and skill. Our prayers are made for those whose families who suffered and lost their loved ones. Mr. Speaker, we need to send a message to those engaged in terror that we will fight and not fold. We need to stand up to them. Our struggle will not be won in a day or a month or culminate with a single victory. Victory will require us to display courage, faith, unity and determination to carry on for an indefinite time in the face of this new gray war with faceless terrorists who are on a holy war to destroy the United States.”