Expressing Sense of the House on Anniversary of Terrorist Attacks Launched Against United States on September 11. 2001

EXPRESSING SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON ANNIVERSARY OF TERRORIST ATTACKS LAUNCHED AGAINST UNITED STATES ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 -- (Extensions of Remarks - September 13, 2004)

SPEECH OF HON. GEORGE MILLER
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2004

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, three years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, we solemnly remember those who risked their lives, those whose lives were lost and those they left behind.
America changed forever that day. Some called 9-11 America's wake up call.

The actions of first responders and everyday citizens give true meaning to the word hero. I applaud the resolution in the House today for honoring their service and the memories of those no longer with us.

But sadly, Mr. Speaker, I must tell you that this resolution is flawed. While it rightfully honors the victims and heroes of September 11, it misleadingly connects the invasion of Iraq with the war on terrorism. Iraq did not start the U.S global war on terrorism-Osama bin Laden did.

Despite that fact, after only four months of hunting for bin Laden, the U.S. began redirecting military and intelligence personnel from his pursuit in Afghanistan to preparing for war with Iraq.

The President then declared in a press conference that, "I don't know where [bin Laden] is. You know, I just don't spend that much time on him . . . I truly am not that concerned about him."

The President was clearly at odds with his terrorism advisers.

The FBI was concerned about him. It said that al-Qaeda remained the "number one concern."

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge was concerned about him. He said America was still bin Laden's number 1 target.

Despite all this, what did the President do?

He shortchanged homeland security needs like port, rail and border security. He reduced law enforcement funding by over 30 percent. And he became less concerned with the man who started the war on terrorism and more concerned with Saddam Hussein-a man the 9-11 Commission determined had no operational connection to al Qaeda and who played no role in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Did this make America any safer? If so, redirecting resources from hunting the world's number one terrorist in order to invade Iraq might have made sense. But the fact is, the invasion in Iraq has made us less, not more, secure.

And because of that fact, we do ourselves as a country and the memories of those who were lost on September 11, 2001 a great disservice by misrepresenting the facts.

The invasion of Iraq did not deny terrorists a safe haven from which to operate, but rather it created one. In fact, because of poor planning and inadequate troop levels, U.S. forces in Iraq have withdrawn from unstable areas like Falluja, Ramadi and Samarra allowing them to become foreign terrorist safehavens. The low troop level has also prevented the U.S. from sealing off the borders and allowed foreign terrorists to enter Iraq at will.

More American Service members have been killed since the President announced that all major combat operations had ended than before that time. All told, over 1,000 soldiers have been killed, 7,000 wounded, and the rate at which American soldiers are being killed is rapidly increasing.

With all that said, the President still speaks of "taking the fight to the enemy" so that we don't have to fight him at home. But the Department of Homeland Security had to raise the terrorist alert level four times since the invasion of Iraq. And Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has said, "[al Qaeda] is still determined to strike."

The Bush Administration would still lead us to believe that al Qaeda is no longer a threat because two thirds of its senior leadership have been captured or killed. But Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld says "it's almost impossible to have metrics" that determine whether Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups are being drained of support around the world. In fact some experts still put al Qaeda's end strength at close to 18,000.

Secretary Rumsfeld went on to say that the War on Terrorism is not "a military problem alone." In fact the overreliance on military means to address the threat of terrorism might have done more to help al Qaeda recruit new members than it did to shrink the organization.

So what lessons have we learned three years later?

Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11; our invasion of Iraq made us more, not less vulnerable to terrorist attack; despite capturing and killing al Qaeda leaders, the organization remains operational; we shortchanged homeland security; and the President's attempt to make America safer by taking the fight to the enemy and invading Iraq has done nothing to deter bin Laden's desire to attack the U.S. again.

The administration has failed to adequately address the worldwide threat of terror. It has alienated much of the international community and failed to assemble an effective coalition. We honor the fallen today, but we must also refocus America's foreign and security policy.

END