Sylvester Turner: “the lessons of history demonstrate that threats, left unchecked, become more dangerous over time. In the long- term…”

“the lessons of history demonstrate that threats, left unchecked, become more dangerous over time. In the long- term isolationism is not an effective solution for peace-keeping nations. Osama bin Laden, and the al Qaeda terrorist network he founded, were at war with the United States throughout the 1990s. 1993: The first attack on the World Trade Center 1996: Bin Laden calls on Muslims to harm U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf. 1998: Bin Laden claims: Muslims should kill Americans any where-- including civilians. May 1998: Bin Laden foreshadows the future. He warns the battle will ``move to American soil.'' June 1998, a grand jury investigation issued an indictment against bin Laden On the 8th anniversary of the UN sanctions against Iraq, two simultaneous explosions occurred at the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The bomb in Kenya kills 213 people, including 12 American, injuring more than 4,500. In Tanzania, 11 are dead--85 injured. August 20, 1998 President Clinton orders cruise missile attacks at suspected terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and a pharmaceutical plant in the Sudan. Soon after a new indictment was issued against bin Laden. However, Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda were left virtually unchecked despite these and other terrorist attacks throughout the 1990s and up until 9/11. Recently I visited Kenya, including the former site of the American Embassy in Nairobi.…”