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Republican view: A terrible day met great leader
By Justin Smith

It has now been three years since 19 militant terrorists attacked America. Three years ago, Americans encountered hardship, but we endured it. We suffered attack, but we survived it. We were faced with terror and fear, but we overcame and conquered it.

In the aftermath of Sept. 11, our country could have shown weakness. We could have run from adversity and hidden from confrontation. We could have been overcome by terror and defeated by our fears.

But we did not run. We were not overcome. And we were not defeated.

I believe that is mostly because of the man leading America: President George W. Bush.

President Bush rallied Americans to defend freedom and pursue the evil men who attacked us. He made us proud to be Americans. He brought out our best when the terrorists had hoped only for the worst.

In Afghanistan, America defeated a terrorist-supporting regime and liberated a country. But the War on Terrorism did not stop with Taliban. Terrorists around the world want nothing more than to destroy the United States.

The terrorists have not stopped plotting. They have not stopped recruiting. And they have not stopped hating. We have caught many, but more remain. Those individuals continue to advocate America's destruction and freedom's demise. They despise America because of what we stand for: freedom.

America has learned that we cannot ignore the terrorists and expect peace or appease them and expect cooperation. We can no longer believe the lie claiming that if America leaves the terrorists alone, they will leave us alone.

America did nothing to them throughout the 1990s, yet terrorists attacked our embassies, our military and the World Trade Center. As long as America champions freedom, we will be the enemy of these radical terrorists. The terrorists will never relent from their ultimate objective; they will never repent their intense hatred.

Some believe America should only declare war in response to an attack by a foreign power. But when threatened with danger that puts millions of lives in peril, the rules of old no longer apply. Sept. 11 taught us that.

Why should we give our enemies time to perfect their acts of terror and destruction? Why should we wait until Americans have died to hunt down these men of evil?

Pre-emptive, decisive action is sometimes the only way to protect American lives. If we wait, the consequences may be deadly. Terrorism knows no limits; its horror and brutality know no boundaries. Terrorists do not give warning of impending attacks or ask for international approval for future action. They strategize in secret and release propaganda tapes anonymously. Diplomacy is no longer a soothing tactic; terrorists aim only to kill, without fear of international repercussions.

President Bush's leadership in the War on Terror has caused Al-Qaida to go on the defensive. The supposedly brave leaders will spend today hiding in caves and their supposedly heroic fighters spend today worrying they have been spotted by foe or wondering if a friend has betrayed them. These supposedly willing martyrs will go to sleep tonight afraid that they will be awakened by the shouts of American Special Forces. We have the terrorists on the run, because Bush is committed to fighting terrorists abroad so that we do not have to face them at home.

I believe that the most important thing 9-11 showed us is that America has a great president.

In these changing times, America needs a strong and steady leader filled with conviction and courage, who is hunting down the terrorists. We are protecting our country. We are winning the War on Terror.

Sept. 11 was a terrible day for our country, but it was a challenge that was met by a great leader. Bush has made America safer and millions worldwide freer. I am extremely grateful that America's leader is President George W. Bush.