kucinich.house.gov

Kucinich Contact:

Washington, Sep 9 -

To this day I still remember where I stood when I saw the attacks upon our nation on September 11, 2001. I will also always remember the pain and horror I felt that day. The sense of loss was great.

I also remember the many heroes of that day. I remember the police, fire fighters, and other emergency workers fought to save lives in New York, the Pentagon, and in a field in Pennsylvania. They are the hope of this nation. They represent the determination of all of us to preserve.

We as a nation must never forget 9/11. And, on the third anniversary of the tragic attack it is right that we honor those who lost their life on that horrific day.

The problem with the resolution passed today in the House is not the language that seeks to remember the victims and honor the heroes; it is that House Leadership used the resolution to, once again, assert facts that have already been debunked.

The legislation asserts that there is a link between 9/11 and Iraq. Many partisans have made this assertion despite a resounding lack of evidence. The facts are clear and dispute the resolution passed today in the House. The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, commonly referred to as the 9/11 Commission, stated in their recent report:

Nor have we seen evidence indicating that Iraq cooperated with al Qaeda in developing or carrying out any attacks against the United States” (9/11 Commission Report) p. 66

While advances have been made in our efforts to defend this nation, this resolution overstates our progress on homeland security protections. Whether on land, sea, or air critical security gaps continue to exist three years after the attacks 9/11. It is still easy for terrorists to cross our borders; our homeland security professionals lack vital information they need to protect us; and our nation’s first responders still lack the personnel, training and equipment they need to prepare for, or respond to, a terrorist attack.

Many see a need to continue to justify the war in Iraq. Those who championed this war need distractions to help gloss over the challenges we are facing today in Iraq and its costs to our domestic priorities.

Everyone in Congress stands together and speaks with one voice in honoring the memory of those who were lost on that tragic day in September 2001. But, the facts as laid out by this resolution connecting Iraq and 9/11 are simply not true. I can not and will not support this Administration as it continues to deceive the American public about their failed polices in Iraq.