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I hope you saw my latest weekly column.

 

ROGER WICKER: Sept. 11 attacks awakened America's iron resolve
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On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, I drove to a breakfast meeting at the
Pentagon hosted by Donald Rumsfeld, our Secretary of Defense. The discussion
focused on the emerging threats to our national security, including terrorism.

 

At one point, Rumsfeld told the gathering that it had been hard to convince
the American people that more funding for national defense was needed. He even
suggested that it might take a major event to awaken us to the threats we faced.

 

As I was leaving the Pentagon, I learned of the attack that was unfolding in
real time. Two planes had crashed into the World Trade Center. A little more
than 30 minutes later, the Pentagon itself would be engulfed in flames after
being hit by a 757 airliner. Billows of smoke could be seen from across the
Potomac — a vivid picture of how close my colleagues and I had come to danger.
We later learned that a fourth plane, bound for Washington, D.C., had crashed
in Pennsylvania after the passengers mounted resistance against the
hijackers. It is a day that will be forever seared into our nation’s memory.

 

American led with strength after 9/11

 

These attacks were meant to strike fear into the hearts of Americans, but they
instead revealed the best in our nation. Because of the heroic passengers
aboard United Flight 93, the terrorists were kept from targeting the U.S.
Capitol or the White House. Selfless acts by first responders allowed thousands
to escape the burning twin towers before they collapsed. Across the country,
Americans launched blood drives and raised money to help the victims. And under
President Bush’s leadership, we resolved to bring justice to the perpetrators.

 

The 9/11 attacks forced America to engage in a new kind of war. In addition to
the traditional liberation of territory, we entered a lengthy campaign to
uproot terrorist networks and confront governments that protected them. Our
intelligence community cultivated deep sources on the ground, which allowed us
to find and kill Osama bin Laden in 2011. This sustained campaign sent a clear
message that attacks on the United States would be met with unrelenting force.

 

Our mission against terrorism also saw the rise of a new generation of
American warriors. In the first year after 9/11, 181,000 Americans volunteered
for the Armed Forces, and more than 38,000 Mississippians would go on to serve
in uniform in the War on Terror. I am proud to count my son among the many
American military members who served in Afghanistan, and it was my privilege to
visit our troops in that country on three occasions. Their service on the
battlefield helped to prevent another terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

 

America is safer 20 years later

 

Our nation is safer today because of the many security overhauls we have
implemented. The creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2002
brought several agencies under one roof, leading to better security
coordination. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) brought
necessary improvements to airport security, and I am now pushing legislation to
conduct a full review of TSA’s work.

 

I share many Americans’ frustration with the way President Joe Biden has
handled our withdrawal from Afghanistan. His ill-advised decision to pull all
American troops has given terrorists their greatest morale boost since 9/11. It
is likely that Afghanistan could now return to being a breeding ground for
terrorism. But Americans can rest assured that our security situation remains
much improved from 20 years ago. Our intelligence networks are strong, our
military is unmatched, and airport security remains tighter than ever.

 

As we continue to honor the memory of those who died on 9/11 and in the War on
Terror, we must remain vigilant to make sure such an attack can never again
occur on U.S. soil.

 

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Thank you for your support,

Senator Roger Wicker

 

 

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