Wicker Joins Rumsfeld in 9-11 Reunion

WICKER JOINS RUMSFELD IN 9-11 REUNION
I was one of nine members of Congress who joined Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for a reunion at the Pentagon on the third anniversary of 9-11. Our gathering was a reprise of a breakfast meeting this group had with the Secretary on that fateful day in 2001 as the terrorist attacks against our nation began to unfold.

Secretary Rumsfeld invited us back to remember that day, honor the men and women who died, and talk about the tremendous progress we have made in the war on terrorism since then.

PROPHETIC WORDS
It is ironic that the topic of our meeting three years ago was how Congress and the Bush Administration could work together to become better prepared for the new threats our country faced. One member of Congress asked Secretary Rumsfeld what it would take to focus the attention of the American people on these challenges. The Secretary said it might take some sort of major "event." It is still a chilling thought to remember that the first airliner crashed into the south tower of the World Trade Center at almost the same time he was speaking those prophetic words.

I learned of the first crash as I was leaving the Pentagon, and then word came that a second airliner had slammed into the World Trade Center's north tower at 9:03 a.m. Driving from the Pentagon to my Capitol Hill office, I did not realize that I was traveling from one terrorist target to another. American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon at 9:43 a.m. United Airlines Flight 93 was most likely headed for the U. S. Capitol when courageous passengers fought the hijackers in a struggle that ended with a crash in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, at 10:10 a.m.

'MUCH SAFER TODAY'
In a news briefing after the reunion breakfast, I commented that our country is much safer and smarter today than we were three years ago. There is no way to make us completely secure, but actions by Congress and the Bush Administration since 9-11-01 have enabled our country to respond effectively to the threat of terrorism at home and overseas.

The largest reorganization of government in a half-century resulted in creation of the Department of Homeland Security. More than 20 federal agencies were brought under one department to focus on the enormous task of protecting our homeland, and its operations have produced successes.

Funding has been provided for police, firefighters, and emergency services personnel who are the first to respond. Safeguards for the nation's transportation systems, borders, ports, and critical power and communications systems have been enhanced dramatically. Intelligence-gathering reforms have strengthened the capability to counter the terrorist threat.

OVERSEAS SUCCESSSES
Our military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq and elsewhere have taken the fight to the enemy and helped deter another strike on American soil. These efforts have disrupted many of the terrorist networks that operated so freely in a number of countries and plotted attacks around the world prior to 9-11-01.

Past generations will always remember where they were when Pearl Harbor was bombed or when President John Kennedy was assassinated. The events of 9-11 evoke that same reaction. My memories of that day constantly reinforce the strong commitment I have to helping keep our nation strong and ready to meet any challenge.