Congressional Report, Sept. 11: Leaders Condemn Terrorist Attacks

U.S. Congressional leaders from both chambers and both parties,
Republican and Democrat, held a joint event on the steps of the
Capitol the evening of September 11 to express their outrage at the
terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center earlier
in the day.

"Today's despicable acts were an assault on our people and on our
freedom," said Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (Democrat-South
Dakota).

"As the representatives of the people, we are here to declare that our
resolve has not been weakened by these horrific and cowardly acts.
Congress will convene tomorrow. And we will speak with one voice to
condemn these attacks, to comfort the victims and their families, to
commit our full support to the effort to bring those responsible to
justice."

House Speaker, Dennis Hastert (Republican-Illinois) said "Senators and
House members, Democrats and Republicans will stand shoulder to
shoulder to fight this evil that's been perpetrated on this nation. We
will stand together to make sure that those who have brought forth
this evil deed will pay the price.

"We're not sure who this is yet, but we have our suspicions. And when
that is justified, and when those suspicions are justified, we will
act. We will stand with the President, we will stand with this
government, and we will stand as Americans together through this
time."

Then the bipartisan group of Congressional leaders spontaneously began
singing the patriotic song, "God Bless America."

Earlier, Senator John McCain (Republican-Arizona) told CNN that "an
act of war" has been committed on the United States by these
"unwarranted, unprovoked attacks on innocent American citizens," that
requires a strong response.

He refused to speculate who was behind the terrorist attacks but said
"I'm sure we'll get them."

Senator Richard Shelby, Republican-Alabama) the ranking member on the
Senate Intelligence Committee, said the U.S. should pursue retaliation
"whatever the cost."

"The message has to be that we're gonna hunt you down and we're gonna
find you and we're gonna make you pay that price," Shelby said. "We're
not gonna let you attack our people innocent people and walk away,
because if we do there will be more attacks."

"We had no specific warning of the United States being attacked,
although people have alluded to that before," Shelby said. "We've got
to do better. We must do better."

Senator Dianne Feinstein (Democrat-California) called for a military
response to the attacks. All four of the crashed planes had originally
been headed for California.

"To the loved ones of those who have been killed or injured I extend
my deepest sympathy," Feinstein said. "Their deaths must not be in
vain."