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by Rep. Steny Hoyer
Monday, September 11, 2006
On this fifth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, our nation pauses again to remember the innocent men, women and children who perished that dark day due to the evil acts of men consumed by a murderous ideology.
In the aftermath of that treacherous attack, our nation collectively declared, ‘Never again.’ And, in the ensuing period, thousands of Americans have worked tirelessly to improve our nation’s security and to protect our people. They deserve our praise and our thanks.
Achieving Real Security
Despite some progress, we would perform a disservice to the memory of those who were killed on 9/11 if we pretended that we were as safe as we could be. In fact, we have failed to fulfill the promise that we made to the victims of 9/11 and their families to do everything in our power to prevent and prepare for another terrorist attack.
The inept response to Hurricane Katrina just over one year ago exposed our government’s failure to prepare for the type of catastrophic devastation that could be wrought by terrorists. Even more disturbing is the fact that government officials were able to prepare and brace for Katrina, having tracked the storm path for days. Terrorists, of course, would strike without warning.
The anniversaries of these two tragedies should spur the federal government to review and improve our preparation and planning for natural disasters, as well as terrorist attacks.
Five years later, our nation’s ports, railways, and chemical and nuclear plants remain vulnerable to attack. These vulnerabilities have been exacerbated by our increasing dependence on foreign oil and the government’s refusal to fully enact the 9-11 commission’s recommendations.
It is long past due for America to embrace a Real Security Agenda that does the following:
- Ensure unparalleled military strength and honor our troops;
- Stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction;
- Protect America from terrorism, and respond effectively to natural disasters;
- Free America from our dangerous dependence on foreign oil.;
Showing Our Resolve
The terrorists that attacked us on 9-11 wanted to destroy our very way of life. Their ideology of terror sought to erode the single greatest enduring principle of our democracy: every citizen’s guaranteed right to vote. On Tuesday, Maryland will hold its primary election. To honor the victims of 9-11, I encourage every eligible Marylander, regardless of party affiliation, to go to the polls and cast their vote. Every time we select our government leaders peacefully - by the will of the people, free of force, we send a clear message to the terrorists that they cannot shake our will.
A Renewed Sense of Purpose
The fifth anniversary of 9-11 should serve as a rallying cry for our government to do everything in its power to keep our people safe and our democracy strong. It is also a reminder that we as Americans are part of something much larger than ourselves. We are the land of the free and the home of the brave, and the terrorists who sought to break our spirit only clarified our purpose, steeled our resolve and confirmed our sense of self.
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