Lankford: Remembering 9/11/01 and 9/11/12, an American Duty

Statement

Tomorrow, House Republican Policy Committee Chairman James Lankford (R-OK) will join all Americans in remembering the lives lost to terrorism on September 11, 2001 in New York City, Virginia and Pennsylvania and on September 11, 2012 in Benghazi, Libya.

"Oklahomans mark the passage of time by the Murrah Building bombing of April 19, 1995. Since 2001, Americans also mark the passage of another year by September 11," said Lankford.

"We pause and remember the nearly 3,000 Americans lost to terrorism that day. Our American values make us a target for the global enemies of liberty. We remain indebted to our military for the daily sacrifices they make to protect our freedoms. Two wars to fight terrorists around the globe have cost thousands of American lives and strained military families to the brink. I pray that the military families around our nation know how much we appreciate their sacrifice for our freedom.

"Our hearts are still broken for the Americans taken from their families on 9/11/01. And we remember with gratitude the heroism demonstrated by the passengers and crew of United Flight 93, whose brave sacrifice prevented an additional attack. We remember the courage of first responders who rushed to help the victims in all locations, and we remember the compassion poured out by our friends around the world.

"Eleven years after we lost nearly 3,000 Americans, our lives changed again with the tragic loss of Ambassador Chris Stevens, Navy SEALs Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty and Information Officer Sean Smith at our diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya," noted Lankford.

One year after the brutal Benghazi attack, there are still a number of unanswered questions, including:
- Where are the perpetrators of the attack?
- Why were security forces reduced in Benghazi when the staff on the ground asked for increased security?
- Why did both facilities in Libya not meet even the minimum standard for security set after the 1998 attacks on our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania?
- And why were the American people told it was a spontaneous attack resulting from a "YouTube" video when evidence proves that no one in Libya spoke about a street demonstration or such a video?

"I will continue to seek answers in the Benghazi investigations on behalf of the families of the four victims, our diplomatic personnel currently serving overseas and the American people. We will forever mourn the loss of so many Americans on 9/11/01 and 9/11/12," concluded Lankford.

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