SOLIDARITY

Crowds gather outside Buckingham Palace in London, UK, after the 9/11 attacks.


Women cries at a Buckingham Palace memorial in London.


A girl cries in front of the US Embassy in London during a remembrance ceremony of the Sept 11 terrorist attack on the United States.

Remember this?

The world shared in our grief when Islamic terrorists attacked our country.

In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America, and in a break with the long-standing usual procedures at Buckingham Palace, the Queen ordered the Changing of the Guard to be paused for a two minute silence on September 13, 2001, followed by the playing of the American national anthem.

A memorial service was held in St. Paul's cathedral, London, attended by the Queen and politicians on September 14, 2001.

I think it's important to remember how the United Kingdom reacted in our time of sorrow. I believe we need to stand in solidarity with its people as they grieve, and grieve with them.

Of course, the terror attacks on London today don't compare with the carnage and devestation of the destruction of the World Trade Center, the damage to the Pentagon, and the crash of Flight 93.

However, the attacks are comparable in that the terrorists targeted innocents, murdering them, and bringing fear and chaos to the streets of London. For the loved ones of those killed in the attacks, it doesn't matter if the death toll is 3000 or 40. All that matters is that their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and children were slaughtered. They won't be coming home to their families.

It's because our enemy is so ruthless and barbaric that the Bush administration, joined by our British and other coalition allies, has pursued the tough strategy of taking the war to the terrorists.

Because the terrorists thrive on hatred, I cannot bear it when political opponents of the administration, certain Democrats and the liberal media, aid the enemy through their reckless and divisive rhetoric. They are willing to undermine our purpose to selfishly achieve their own goal--regaining political power.

The only thing that will trouble me more than the glee of the Islamic militants would be any exploitation of the tragedy by liberals to bash Bush and the War on Terror.

If we were more united and we all were resolved to win the war, on ALL of its fronts, the terrorists would be cowering rather than being emboldened.

The images out of London should heighten our resolve.

America and the world have to be united in this effort to defeat terrorism. That's the only way we can prevail and vanquish the enemies of peace and civilization.

My prayers go out to those suffering in the aftermath of today's attacks.


September 11, 2002
9/11 Services at St. Paul's Cathedral, London, UK

"A house divided against itself cannot stand."
--Abraham Lincoln