Robin Carnahan: “today--all across America and the world--hearts are heavy with grief. We mourn for the victims and families whose lives…”

“today--all across America and the world--hearts are heavy with grief. We mourn for the victims and families whose lives have been ripped apart by yesterday's horrific and unprecedented attack on innocent men, women and children. Like all Missourians, I am deeply grateful to the rescue workers and volunteers whose heroism saved thousands of lives. Tragically, many of those heroes are now among the victims. Their sacrificial deeds stand in sharp contrast to the barbaric acts we witnessed during yesterday's air attacks on peaceful people. The terrorists wanted to do more than destroy our buildings. They wanted to destroy our influence in the world, the core of who we are as a people, and the beliefs we stand for as a democracy. They will not succeed. I can remember as a young girl the shock and sadness we felt with the sneak attack on Peal Harbor. But I also recall the undaunted spirit of America and our resolve to win a victory over tyranny. We dropped everything we were doing and devoted our full energy and resources to eradicating the threat to our freedoms. That resolve is as firm today as it ever was. The pursuit of freedom is our destiny as a people. We will not now, or ever, flinch in the face of any aggressor or threat to our homeland. Let those who practice terrorism or harbor terrorists have no doubt about America's resolve. There is no hiding place. We will find you. And you will pay a heavy price for your acts against mankind.”