John Kerry Speech After 9/11

Kerry: "We Must Build a New World Trade Center -- and Build American Resolve for A New War On Terrorism"

(Remarks As Delivered on the Floor of the United States Senate)

Wednesday, September 12, 2001

"Never in the time I've been here have we come to the floor with such a weight – with our hearts literally aching and heavy with grief and outrage.

The loss of every innocent citizen – every person who went to work expecting a normal day – every police officer whose sense of duty took them in harm's way – every firefighter who tried to save a life and lost their own, and in the astonishing number of their loss experienced a breech in their special brotherhood and sisterhood that can never be healed – the loss of emergency personnel – these losses are felt by all of us in this country in a personal, searing way.

It is also fair to say we are heavy with a deep feeling of outrage and resentment – resentment for the killing of our innocent citizens – for the attack on our nation – and for the fear and panic we saw in the faces and voices of our people – children crying, parents, wives, brothers – sons and daughters waiting for word.

Yesterday I was on the phone with the husband and daughter of a woman – a friend – lost in the 2nd flight to penetrate the World Trade Center. The pain and depth of loss in their voices was excruciating – and the helplessness to do anything but share the pain and offer comfort brought an even deeper anger and resolve for the acts that have brought us here.

But it is also critical that our rhetoric be matched by our actions.

If indeed there is a war against terrorism, I remind my colleagues that in war, the first shots are never the last – and the first strike is never the worst. What happened yesterday was terrible – horrendous – but we must prepare ourselves and steel ourselves for the possibility of worse until we achieve our goal.

And to do that – we must be more prepared than we are today to take the fight wherever we need to and in ways we have yet to train for.

We cannot ever guarantee that some fanatic will not find a way to upset the civilized order. But we can guarantee that anyone facilitating or associated with such an act will pay the highest price.

There are few organizations that could achieve what happened yesterday. We know who they are. We know who supports them. We should demand they be turned over.

Finally – it is important for the world to see in getting back immediately to the business of a great democracy. We must -- all of us -- be back at the work of our nation; we must show that our effort to build a better country goes on – the mission of educating our children for citizenship goes on -- the job of making our country stronger goes on –

And I believe one of the first things we should commit to - with federal help that underscores our nation's purpose – is to rebuild the towers of the World Trade Center and show the world we are not afraid - we are defiant.

To those who might say why create another target, the answer is simple: There is no shortage of targets in the United States: There is a White House - There is a Capital and countless other tall buildings. This is not a question of targets. It is a question of strength and our national resolve to stand up and show our strength. That is the best monument we could build to those who died yesterday.

Thank you."