William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry: “there have been many times over the past two days when an analogy has been made to Pearl Harbor. I am struck by a…”

“there have been many times over the past two days when an analogy has been made to Pearl Harbor. I am struck by a different analogy from the same war. In August 1940, the Battle of Britain raged in the skies. It was different from previous wars because innocent civilians were thrust into the battle as bombs rained down on London and the rest of Britain. Prime Minister Winston Churchill spoke to the House of Commons on August 20. He said: ``If it is a case of the whole nation fighting and suffering together, that ought to suit us, because we are the most united of all the nations, because we enter the war upon the national will and with our eyes open, and because we have been nurtured in freedom and individual responsibility and are the products, not of totalitarian uniformity, but of tolerance and variety.'' The same could be said of us today, Mr. Speaker. What the terrorists will never understand is that the strength of America is the hearts of our people. They may attack our buildings; they may attack innocent civilians. But they can never harm the thing that makes us great--it's inside us. Last night, church services were held across the country--from Clarendon, Texas to Washington, D.C.--as people prayed for those affected by the tragedy and for strength and courage to face what lies ahead. I believe that God will continue to bestow His blessings on this favored land, and each day I will thank Him for the opportunity to be an American.”