We have no words to describe or adequately condemn Tuesday?s attacks on the United States or the depravity of those who are responsible for them. September 11, 2001 is not just a day that will live in infamy, but it is, as the New York Times wrote, ?one of the moments in history in which history splits itself and we define the world as before and after.?
This was not just an act of terrorism against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, it was an act of war against the United States and the single greatest act against the American people in our nation?s history. It was an attack against all that is America.
Once we have sufficient evidence regarding who committed these actions, our response must be as decisive ? both to the mass murders who planned the attacks and to the countries who aided the terrorists in doing so. The response must be decisive because if the events of Tuesday morning told us anything, it was that any previous response that we?ve had to terrorism has been horribly insufficient.
We cannot just punish those responsible for this attack. We must use the horrors of Tuesday to protect all Americans from future dangers by rethinking current safety procedures and challenging old conceptions of our security.
As President Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his address to the nation after Japan?s attack on Pearl Harbor, we must ?make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.?
We also cannot forget those who are currently suffering. America must continue to come together, as it has in the past two days, and continue to aid those in mourning and in need.
