Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Saturday, U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz (FL-6) released the following statement commemorating the 20^th anniversary of the September 11^th Terrorist Attacks:

Twenty years ago, our nation and the world changed forever as we watched in horror as terrorists hijacked American airliners and used them as weapons to murder nearly 3,000 innocent Americans.

While the soul of our nation was devastated by the terrible attacks that day, our spirit was emboldened.

As we watched in real time terrorists attack our country, we also witnessed countless acts of heroism from the passengers of United Flight 93 who rose up against armed terrorists and ultimately gave their own lives to save numerous others. We witnessed our first responders in New York City courageously run into the World Trade Center to rescue Americans not knowing what would unfold next. We witnessed first responders, soldiers, civilians, and even the Secretary Defense run back to a burning Pentagon to help rescue their colleagues.  

Over the last two decades, thousands of Americans answered the call of duty to ensure another attack would not strike our homeland again. Through fierce fighting, our military and the Northern Alliance forced Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban out of power and on the run. Future terrorist plots were foiled and Osama Bin Laden and other terrorists were hunted down.

Our country lost over 6,000 U.S. service members and contractors who relentlessly fought to prevent another devastating attack on our homeland. Thousands of Gold Star families will never see their relatives again because of a greater cause to protect them and our country. Millions of Afghans were liberated from the brutal Taliban regime and enjoyed the same values of liberty we cherish here at home. Their sacrifices to protect America and liberate Afghanistan were not in vain.

Sadly, Afghanistan is spiraling towards the same terrorist state it was twenty years ago – only the same terrorists who provided a safe haven to Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda are now better equipped and face far less resistance from U.S. allies on the ground.

It is shameful the 20^th anniversary of this attack was used as an arbitrary withdrawal deadline to be used as a political slogan rather than put the safety of Americans first. 

Over the coming months and years, the U.S. must remain vigilant as many of the perpetrators of the September 11^th attacks are still alive and fully intend to attack the west again. The intelligence is clear Al Qaeda fully intends to return and are still married to the hip to their Taliban/Haqqani friends.

Ayman al-Zawahiri, head of Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden’s former second in command, is still at-large and plotting Al Qaeda’s next attack. We owe it to those who lost their lives on September 11^th and the Global War on Terror that their sacrifices are still embedded in our memories.

This war is not over, it’s only been extended. We are fighting an ideology and just as it took decades to defeat the ideology of Fascism and communism, so will it take a long time to defeat the ideology of Islamic Extremism. I am not going to wait for the next Pulse Night Club, San Bernardino, or 9/11. We must continue to deliver justice to those who attacked our homeland and stay on offense to prevent future attacks.