THE WAR ON TERROR

Since 9/11, our nation has been embroiled in a Global War on Terror that will shape the world we live in for generations to come. It is clear that the terrorists know that they cannot defeat our military in a conventional war, which is why they resorted to cowardly attacks on civilians. This approach was displayed repeatedly over the last twenty years, as terrorists staged numerous attacks upon Americans with little or no retaliation. The attacks of September 11, 2001 finally awakened America's might and resolve, leading to military action in Afghanistan and Iraq. Al-Qaeda does not hope to defeat our army, but to outlast our resolve. Although we all want to see our troops removed from the war zone as soon as possible, the primary task must remain to complete the task of making our nation more secure. Troop levels should be based entirely on U.S. military need and deployment decisions should be made by commanders at the Pentagon. When it is in our best interest, we - and not the terrorists - need to choose when, where, and how we confront the enemy.

Congressman Bachus is a recipient of The Reserve Officer Association's Minuteman of the Year Award for his support of a strong national defense.

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