Floor Speech - July 15, 2004

Progress in the War on Terror

Mr. Speaker, 

We have made great progress in the war on terror. 

Three years ago, in Afghanistan, al Qaeda was training and sending out thousands of terrorists. Pakistan had a significant al Qaeda presence. Saudi Arabia was a major area of support for al Qaeda. In Iraq, a sworn enemy of America was in power. Nuclear weapons technology was being sold to countries like Iran, North Korea, and Libya. For years, terrorists attacked the U.S. with relative impunity.

Three years later, because of the leadership of George Bush, in Afghanistan the terror camps are closed, Osama bin Laden is hiding in caves. Pakistani forces are rounding up terrorists on their border. Saudi Arabia is working closely with the U.S. to root out al Qaeda. In Iraq, our coalition removed a declared enemy of the United States. And we have ended one of the most dangerous sources of nuclear proliferation

Today, because America has acted and we have led, the forces of terror and tyranny have suffered defeat after defeat, and America and the world are safer.