On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, we entered a new era in world history. More than 250 airplane passengers and thousands more on the ground were killed by terrorists who destroyed both the World Trade Center and part of the Pentagon. Some of the victims were public servants dedicated to protecting the safety of others. Most were civilians who simply went to work that day. All of them were innocent victims of a barbaric attack against Americans.

My thoughts and prayers, along with those of my colleagues, fellow Americans, and all our friends around the world, remain with these victims and their families, including many from New Hampshire. Congress has passed and the President has signed legislation to provide federal funds to assist efforts to rescue survivors, recover victims, and repair damaged facilities. As we work to recover from these attacks, we are also working to track down and bring to justice those responsible for these vicious attacks and protect Americans from future attacks.

Efforts are underway to provide the intelligence gathering community with enhanced tools to reduce the threat of terrorism that exists in the United States today. Precautions are being taken to increase the security and safety of Americans in travel and in their places of work. We must remember, however, that no system of security is impenetrable. So long as terrorists are able to organize, finance, communicate, and train, this country and our allies will always be at risk.

It is encouraging that so many of the nation's leaders and citizens have come to recognize that a new defining doctrine must be embraced: that there should be no safe harbor for terrorists. All those nations who tolerate the presence within their borders of terrorists, their supporters, or their assets will be held to the same level of accountability as the terrorists themselves, and we must use every means necessary to drive home this point.

Congress has given the President full authority to use force against not only the terrorists responsible for this month's attacks, but also against those nations, organizations, and persons he determines aided and abetted the terrorist attacks or harbored the perpetrators of those attacks. This will require a long, sustained effort with the support of the American people and our allies.

Although Osama bin Laden is the apparent mastermind behind the tragic events of September 11, he is but one of many terrorists who pose a threat to our national security now and in the decades to come. Furthermore, in addition to using traditional weapons against us, terrorists in the future will turn to dangerous chemical and biological weapons and attempt to poison our air and water. We must therefore maintain this doctrine as an active policy even if bin Laden is no longer a threat.

With no place to hide, no place to train and organize, and no place to keep their assets, the power of terrorists will be critically undermined. But only if we maintain the will to hold this course will everything truly be done to ensure that we are never so vulnerable again. There can be no greater legacy for the victims of this month's terrorist attacks.