Texas Times Weekly - Remembering the Lessons of 9-11

Remembering the Lessons of 9-11
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn

Our country will soon observe the fifth anniversary of the September 11,2001 terrorist attacks that claimed more than 3,000 innocent American lives.That was a day that changed America,perhaps forever.
Over those five years, we have lost the feeling of national unity wegenerated in the immediate aftermath of the assault on our soil. But it'simportant that we do not lose sight of the lessons we've learned, or shouldhave learned, from that tragic day.
As the U.S. hasemerged as the world's beacon for individual freedom, our enemies have learnedthey cannot defeat the U.S.military on an open battlefield. They know their only hope is the shortattention span of the American people. We're a peace-loving people, and webecome impatient with war and its costs.
It is now increasingly apparentthat the war on terrorism is not a conventional contest. It is instead aguerrilla action, a war of attrition, a test that requires not only strength,but national will. The war on terrorism is similar to the Cold War, whichrequired vigilance and commitment over three generations before we prevailed.
Our military has done anoutstanding job delivering justice to al Qaeda operatives from Afghanistan to Iraq over the past five years.However, it would be foolhardy to believe that the threat of Islamic fascismhas passed.
This is a conflict deeply rooted in the ruthless and repeated actions of aglobal, extremist movement that has hijacked one of the world's leadingreligions to advance their imperialistic and anti-democratic views through anyand all violent means possible. If successful, they would oppress millions ofpeaceful Muslims and operate as an exporter of acts of terrorism against therest of the world.
There should be no doubt that alQaeda's goal is the destruction of the United States, and any nation thatupholds freedom and individual liberties. We do not seek war, but we understandthat sometimes war must be fought - and won. We are now in such a time.
Our responsibility to our childrenand grandchildren is to see this war through. Even if we have a healthy debateon how best to defend Americaand defeat terrorism, we should always agree that we must win this war.
We have no excuse if we forget thelessons of 9-11. There are constant reminders available about the consequencesof failure. In the last few months, several critically-acclaimed movies havebrought the horror of that day home again to us all.
One film, "World Trade Center,"centers on two Port Authority Police first responders who were trapped underthe "pile," the burning rubble of Towers 1 and 2, for 12 hours. Their storiesmovingly remind us of what these heroes experienced on that terrible day. Andit reminds us of the ways this tragedy touched us all.
Earlier this year, two films depicting the gut-wrenching last hours of UnitedFlight 93 were also released. This was the hijacked flight, believed to beaimed at the U.S. Capitol, that went down in rural Pennsylvania as brave crew and passengersfought the terrorists.
And if we needed any more reminders of the continuing threat, Britishauthorities this month broke up a plot to plant hard-to-detect explosives inseveral U.S.-bound jumbo jets flying out of London. Those fanatic plotters may be incustody, but the threat continues.
I believe that we must combat Islamic fascism worldwide by supportingvigorously those who advocate democracy and human rights in the troubled areasof the world where terrorism breeds. Freedom is the only long-termantidote to the poison being spread by these terrorists.
Over 100 years ago, the philosopher George Santayana noted: "Those who cannotremember the past are condemned to repeat it." Our battle against al Qaeda andrelated terrorist operations promises to be long, and taxing and costly interms of blood and treasure. But the cost of forgetting the lessons of 9-11 would be much higher.

http://cornyn.senate.gov/index.asp?f=page&pid=282&lid=1