Page

		Casework Requests
		Federal Jobs
		Flag Requests
		Grant Information
		Internships
		Service Academies
		Washington D.C.

	Operation Iraqi Freedom.
	War on Terror
	Homeland Security
	National Security
	Fire & EMS
	SMART Caucus
	Oceans Caucus

Home

Issues

Page

War on Terror

On September 11th, the lives of over three thousand innocent people were taken in senseless acts of terror. Since then, thousands of brave men and women of our military have gone to the far corners of the world to defend the very freedoms that were attacked that day. The troops stationed abroad as part of Operation Enduring Freedom include many brave soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from the Seventh District. These troops, along with the other units that have been activated in Pennsylvania, are making our state proud as they serve our nation in the War on Terror.

Early last year, I led a bipartisan delegation to Iraq, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to receive updates from the Coalition Provisional Authority, the Iraq Survey Group, representatives of the Iraqi Governing Council, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the former King of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah. More importantly, I was able to spend time with the brave men and women serving and protecting our nation.

During that trip I spoke directly to our troops and to the government of Afghanistan. I learned our troops are doing remarkable things in Afghanistan. They are renovating schools, training teachers, revitalizing infrastructure, refurbishing hospitals, handing out medicine and supplies and are providing security and protection against rebels that remain from the Taliban.

The Administration's response to the September 11th attacks has been strong and I praise President Bush's leadership during this time of crisis. Operation Enduring Freedom has so far driven the Taliban from power in Afghanistan and led to the capture of hundreds of suspected terrorists, but the mission in Afghanistan and the War on Terror is far from over.

I stand with my colleagues in Congress, who are united in this cause and in their efforts to ensure the horrors of September 11th never happen again. I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to give our nation’s service members all the resources they need to win the War on Terror and to protect our homeland. I am extremely proud or our military and I will continue to support those brave men and women who are fighting everyday to defend our way of life.