Terry Everett, September 13, 2004

Three years have passed since terrorists declared war on the United States by launching four horrific attacks on our homeland, murdering nearly 3,000 persons. Our nation, under the leadership of a determined President and a united Congress, quickly summoned the courage to not only bring the terrorists to justice, but to make it tougher for them to attack us again.

The collective national loss we felt on September 11, 2001 is no less painful today. How can any American alive and old enough to grasp the tragedy as it unfolded three years ago ever forget the rapid fall of the World Trade Center towers, the smoke billowing out of the Pentagon, or the four civilian jetliners that were deliberately brought to their destruction? The personal loss was incalculable. It ranks as one of the darkest moments in our national history.

In that solemn hour, our President rightly resolved to take the fight to the terrorists and not to stop until justice prevailed. Here we are, three years later and still very much in the war on terror. What is remarkable to me is not that America is still waging the battle to keep our communities safe from future terrorist attack, but that some politicians actually question our motives and even appear willing to lower our guard if given the chance. Such shortsightedness on their part is not only naïve, but downright dangerous.

9/11 was not only an attack on America, but upon the free people of the world. In the months that followed, President Bush declared that terrorists and the countries that sponsored them would be considered our enemies and we would take military action against them if necessary. After the brutal Taliban regime of Afghanistan refused to turn over their Al Qaeda guests and close their training camps, the United States forced them from power and made Afghanistan an ally against terrorism.

Iraq's Saddam Hussein did not believe the United States was serious about holding his government accountable for its weapons deception and support of terrorism. He was wrong. He was also swept from power and his nation's capability to aid terrorism has been halted. Pakistan and Libya are also cooperating with the U.S. in ending the risk of weapons of mass destruction falling into terrorist hands.

Today, American troops remain in Afghanistan and Iraq where there is still work to be done before the new governments of these nations can assume total control of their own security. We are also on guard here at home, tightening security to reduce the likelihood that terrorists can again attack innocent civilians. For sure, terrorists have tried to conduct more attacks since 9/11 only to be stopped by measures already in place. More can and will be done to improve our homeland security.

The terrible events of 9/11 changed our world. Despite some politicians' refusal to accept it, these acts of terrorism were a declaration of war against our society by those who fear nothing but brute force. If we want our children to enjoy a safer life, we must be committed to stand up to terrorists and stop them before they can attack us. If we do otherwise, we will surely invite future 9/11's.

Congressman Terry Everett, a Republican, represents Alabama's Second Congressional District, which includes the state capitol, Montgomery.