Richard K. Armey: “Mr. Chairman, as Ronald Reagan once said, ``History teaches that wars begin when governments believe the price of…”

“Mr. Chairman, as Ronald Reagan once said, ``History teaches that wars begin when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap.'' President George W. Bush has heeded this call. He has asked us to undertake the most significant transformation of our government in half a century. If we are to do this, it is essential that we understand why it is necessary to do so. We must start with a precise understanding of why an enormous transformation of our government is required. Mr. Chairman, the world has changed. It is a much different world than it was in 1947 when the last transformation of our government took place. It is a far different place than it was a mere 10 months ago. Our place in the world stage will never be as we have known it. Mr. Chairman, what will it take to defend freedom under such circumstances? As the greatest, most free Nation the world has ever known, how do we protect our citizens and our culture from the forces who hate us? Do we lock up our doors and bar the windows? Are we perhaps in danger of sacrificing our liberty in the name of security? The answer is that we are here today to act to defend individual liberty as much as we are here to defend personal safety. The enemies we now face take advantage of our free society to destroy us. They do so precisely because they hate the idea that we have the ability to choose for ourselves.”