Today, may the memory of the nearly 3,000 victims who lost their lives on this day in 2001 serve as a lasting reminder of what's at stake in the fight against terrorism, to steel our resolve to continue the hard, necessary work of defending our homeland. And may we always keep foremost in our thoughts all the U.S. servicemembers, intelligence officers, diplomats, and first responders who have given their lives in pursuit of our nation's security.'
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the 18th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks:
"For eighteen years, today's date has held a tragic meaning. September 11 is a day of mourning, a date stained by the terrorist murders of so many innocent people in New York, Arlington, and Pennsylvania. Each passing year, the reality is still shocking. The wounds are still painful. Each year we remember the innocent men, women, and children who lost their lives: workers rushing to meetings, vacationers headed home, emergency personnel whose quick response immortalized them as heroes. And each year we honor the memories of the heroes who have sacrificed their lives to bring the perpetrators of this evil to justice and to prevent similar attacks.
"9/11 changed our way of life. It changed our approach to security. It awakened us to determined new enemies. The dangers of radical Islamic terrorists remain real. Al Qaeda, its enablers, and its allies still plot against America from Afghanistan and Pakistan to Yemen, Somalia, Libya, Mali and beyond. ISIS persists in Iraq and Syria through an underground network of terrorists who have not given up the fight. We cannot will away these dangers. We must not leave our work undone.
"Many nations have a stake in defeating the terrorists. NATO allies have been with the US since the early hours of this fight. Eighteen years ago, this critical alliance invoked Article 5 for the first time. Since then many NATO partners have fought side-by-side with us in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Syria. We are not – and need not be – the world's policeman. Winning this long war, like the Cold War, will require sustained efforts and contributions not only from the United States, but from our allies, and especially from local partners. In Afghanistan, for example, the vast majority of the fighting is done by local security forces. But we must always remember: The global coalition to defeat the terrorists will not lead itself.
"So today, as we remember the tragedies of the past, we must renew our commitment to leading the fight for a better future. Today, may the memory of the nearly 3,000 victims who lost their lives on this day in 2001 serve as a lasting reminder of what's at stake in the fight against terrorism, to steel our resolve to continue the hard, necessary work of defending our homeland. And may we always keep foremost in our thoughts all the U.S. servicemembers, intelligence officers, diplomats, and first responders who have given their lives in pursuit of our nation's security."
