Thanks for the ping, Mo1.
Welcome, Peach. :-)
Over the past 5 years we've waged an unprecedented campaign here and abroad and it's succeeded in protectin gthe homeland. We have seen the enemy strike (lists the countries - huge list).
They haven't given up on their plans to strike our nation. Just last month British police with our help and other allies helped break up a terrorist cell in London.
Americans look at these events and ask: Are we safer. The answer is yes. America is safer.
Over the past 5 years, we've waged an unprecedented campaign against terrorism...and that campaign has succeeded. At the same time, we've seen our enemies strike at (a whole list of other countries), and they haven't given up their dream to attack us again.
"Are we safer? Yes. America is safer. We're safer because of the actions we've taken."
We are safer because we've taken action to protect the homeland and we're on the offense with our enemies overseass and because of the skill and sacrifice of the people who defend us.
Yet 5 years after 9/11, we still face determined enemies and we won't be safe until those enemies are finally defeated. One way to see if we're safer is to olook at whether we've fixed the problems the 9/11 attacks revealed.
And so I'll look at what we've done and where we are. Four key stages of the 9/11 plot, the gaps that our defense exposed.
1) AQ planned the attacks from abroad. In the summer of 1996, OBL issued a fatwah from Afghanistan that said by the grace of Allah a safe base is available and he declared war on the US. A month later the Taliban seized a town. They permitted oBL to establish training camps. OBL was free to cultivate a network that provided $$ for terrorist operations.
He used his safe haven to prepare series of attacks on America. In 8/98 they carried out their first big strike - the bombing of 2 US embassies in African which killed over 200 and wounded thousands.
Shortly after he appvoed another attack called the planes operations with KSM. KSM's plan was to hijack planes and crash them into the US. US, Capitol building, Pentaon and White HOuse were to be struck.
By the middle of 1999 KSM was recruiting suicide operatives to hijack the airplanes.
The first stage of the 9/11 plot exposed serious flaws in our terrorism fight. We made grave mistakes.
So after 9/11 I set forth a new doctrine. Nations that harbor or support terrorists will be held to account.
The Taliban found out what we meant. With our allies we removed them from power and closed down AQ training camps. 5 years later they are desperate to take control of that country. Their vision is no match for a democracy accountable to its citizens.
Our offensive inclues military might, financial tools tomake it harder for them to raise $$, diplomatic pressure, intelligence measures. We're on the offense and it's more difficult for them to transfer $$. They can't communicate openly. AQ can't move openly without fearing for their lives.
I learned a lot of lessons on 9/11 and we will keep steady, unrelenting pressure on AQ and their associates. We will find them and bring them to justice.
Key advantages that AQ enjoyed in Afghanistan have been taken away. For the past 3 years, KSM has been in CIA custody and he's provided valuable intel that has helped us capture and kill AQ terrorists and stop attacks on our nation.
I've authorized his transfer to Guantanamo and the soone rthe Congress authorized the military commissions I've called for, the sooner KSM will receive the justice he deserves.
Second key stage:
2) KSM and OBL trained operatives to the US. According to the 9/11 Commission, two men were sent to infiltrate the US and learn to fly planes into buildings. They trained in Afghanistan and then traveled to Malaysia and Thailand to prepare for their trip to America.
In LA, they planned their plot. Made their phone calls overseas and they waited the arrival of the other terrorists. Our intel communities picked up some of this communication.
2) Continued:
There was no consolidated watch list at the time to state and federal governments. Since 9/11 we've addressed the gaps that these operatives exploited. We've upgraded technology and fix immigration and visa systems. Today these 2 terrorists would be fingerprinted, screened against an extensive data base and would have to have a face to face meeting with officers.
Those procedures didn't exist before 9/11.
9/11 also showed the need for a coordinated need for terrorist watch list so we established common criteria that is widely available against all jurisdictions.