Why is Bin Laden Still Alive?

If there is one question Republicans and Democrats seem to agree on, it’s why is Osama Bin Laden still alive? His recent video stands as an intended slap in the face of our efforts to find him. Many speculated that he must have died in the past three years of silence.

Bin Laden remains alive and from his appearance, Grecian V beard and all, well. His uncaptured existence on this earth is in itself an American failure. Not an ultimate failure, but he fact that man responsible for the lives of thousands of Americans remains free after six years is a failure.

Where did we break down in our efforts to silence this mongrel? The Afghan-Pakistan border. We have placed our relationship with the fledgling Pakistani government over our duty to hunt down and destroy our enemies. As Governor Gilmore told The Virginian Federalist in an exclusive, “We must redouble our efforts to catch those who threaten our security. Osama bin Laden is at the top of that list.”

Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney feels the same way. In a press release he said the following:

Osama Bin Laden is the face of evil. His stated goal is conversion by compulsion, the surrender of liberty to terror and the abandonment of the foundations of a free society. The war against radical jihad must not cease until the fanatics of al-Qaeda are defeated.

This is one area F. Thompson had better get his act together and fast. Thompson recently could not seem to make up his mind about Bin Laden, saying that he is “more symbolism than anything else" and that his presence in the "mountains of Pakistan or Afghanistan is not as important as there are probably al-Qaida operatives inside the United States of America." Latter that same day he said “that he wanted to see the terrorist leader caught and killed.”

As we reflect upon the past six years we cannot forget the fact that Bin Laden is still alive and taunting us. Americans may disagree with each other about many foreign policy points, but it is imperative that we capture or kill the worlds least wanted man. Read More. . . .

9/11 – Remember

Six years ago this morning, the face of America changed. In fact, it was permanently altered by the appearance of an unforeseen threat inside our own borders and in a hostile world abroad. "Never Again" was our demand, and American foreign policy has set out in an effort to ensure just that.

Virginia is often forgotten when people speak of 9/11, but one of the four planes lost that fateful morning crashed into the Pentagon, just below the Virginia hills of Arlington where so many of America's heroes maintain perpetual watch. The murderous crash took the lives of the 59 innocents aboard and 125 people inside the building. We must never forget the day that 19 hell-bent individuals took it upon themselves to destroy the lives of so many Americans. We must hold on to the resolve we had in the months after the 9/11 attack to ensure that such devastation will never again happen on American soil.

As we reflect on the events of 9/11, we must consider the recent reappearance of Usama Bin Laden. The fact that he is still alive is surprising indeed. His comments and vigor indicate that he is very much in charge of al Qaeda.

We asked the Governor that saw us through the tragedy of 9/11 and lead the early efforts to recover and improve our security, to reflect on the past six years and what he feels we must do to move forward on the heels of another bin Laden video. Here is what former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore told The Virginian Federalist:

We must redouble our efforts to catch those who threaten our security. Osama bin Laden is at the top of that list. Our nation and our citizens are not safe and we will see additional attacks if we do not act. We must do more and that includes better cooperation between agencies and between the federal, state and local governments.

Update: Here are some comments from our other elected officials.

Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling in a press release this morning:

First, we owe a great debt of thanks to President Bush, who has stood strong in his resolve to prosecute and win the war on terror, even though numerous politicians and pundits have done all they could to make his task difficult. While some have tried to make the war on terror an albatross around the President’s neck, the truth is that his resolve in fighting and winning the war on terror will likely be remembered as his greatest contribution to our country and the world.

Second, we owe a great debt of thanks to the men and women of the United States Military who have faithfully gone into harms way to combat those who would do harm to our nation and our people and bring them to justice. The members of the U.S. armed forces are truly the best among us, and it is because of their efforts that we have the privilege of living in the greatest nation on the face of the earth.

Governor Tim Kaine made the following proclamation today:

I join all Virginians in honoring those who lost their lives that day, and urge the citizens of the Commonwealth to reflect on the daily service and sacrifice of our first responders, firefighters, police officers, and members of our armed forces

Let us use this sixth anniversary of 9/11 as a time to set a new priority to commit ourselves to offer service to others. The America that we know, and the Commonwealth that was attacked six years ago, is at its best and shines its brightest when we each give of ourselves in service to others.

Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney had this to say in a press release today:

On this day, radical Islamists brought terror to our shores. It is hard for our minds to contemplate a human darkness so vile that it celebrates murder and the destruction of innocent lives. But we can honor the bright memories of the fallen. Each person, whether taken in unknowing sacrifice or resigned to death after heroic struggle, stands in our mind's eye in the brilliant light of faith and patriotism. In the years since 9/11, the spreading evil of radical Jihad has been visited on other cities around the world. Yet, our resolve remains strong. From soldiers guarding our liberty on foreign shores to those of us living under the umbrella of the protection they provide, we are united in remembering loved ones lost on that day and in our determination to protect our homeland from future attacks.

Attorney General McDonnell just released the following statement:

Today, we pause to remember one of the darkest days in the history of our country and our Commonwealth. On September 11th, 2001 a brilliant early fall day was shattered by the violent acts of radical Islamic terrorists. On that day we lost thousands of our fellow Americans. They died simply because they were Americans, and believers in freedom and democracy. For the families and friends of those that were lost, an enduring void exists in their lives.

In the panic of September 11th we also witnessed the unflinching courage of the men and women of our military and law enforcement. These brave public servants rushed up stairs as others ran down, and charged into burning buildings that others pushed to escape. In the following days, months, and years the drama of the moment has faded, but the valor of that heroic service has remained constant.

Our President deserves a debt of gratitude for his leadership in this trying time. On September 12th, 2001, and over the following years, conversations spoke only of “when” not “if” our nation would be hit again. Yet six years later, the American homeland has not been struck. Three Virginia Governors have served during this time: Jim Gilmore, Mark Warner, and Tim Kaine. They too deserve the same debt of gratitude for their leadership.

We know, because of our geography, military installations, and critical infrastructure, Virginia is the site of a number of potential terrorist targets. Yet, thanks to the leadership of President Bush, our Virginia Governors, and all the men and women who serve in our military and law enforcement, our country and our Commonwealth are secure, and we find peace from increased security on our shores. September 11th will never be forgotten. Today, let us resolve to continue to do all that is necessary to ensure that it is never repeated.

To which we simply add: Never Forget. Read More. . . .

9/11 Then and Now

I was at the Pentagon Sunday. I walked there from the Lincoln Memorial with thousands of patriots who gave up their Sunday morning to remember what happened at the Pentagon on 9/11/01 and in the world since, and participate in the America Supports You third annual Freedom Walk.

I have participated in each of the three annual Freedom Walks. This Sunday, in the bright morning light I came face to face with a single blackened limestone block etched with only September 11, 2001.

At 9:37 that day what began as American Airlines flight 77 from Dulles airport to Los Angeles ended in a terrorist controlled deliberate crash into the the west wall of the Pentagon, incinerating everyone on board, and murdering 125 inside the building. Following the attack, rescue workers and military personnel draped a very large flag from the roof of that damaged western wall. They demonstrated that rather than being defeated they were resolved to achieve Victory over the enemy who had done this.

The flag was there Sunday. It can be seen on the western wall in the photo, behind the honor guard. It flies above the new Memorial chapel. I had the privilege of visiting that chapel Sunday. It is a quiet, reverent place, and its visitors were hushed by it. The new stained glass panels which line its outer wall begin with the words wrested from the oath taken by every citizen holding an office of the United States from George Washington to the present. To Support ... So help me, God.

Life has changed for many in America since that fateful day six years ago. It has changed for my family as well. We watched and mourned that day and made resolution. My two sons, who were civilians that day, are on active duty in the Army. One has served with the 4th Infantry in Iraq. The other is preparing for duty in Afghanistan. My son-in-law, already on active duty reenlisted and serves still. My children are making the sacrifices I am too old to make myself. I support them and the brave men and women who stand at their sides. I make my annual pilgrimage and write, that the 184 lost at the Pentagon and all those others are not forgotten.



Read More. . . .

Ron Paul: Not Only Wrong but Incorrect

Presidential candidate Ron Paul, while my heart bleeds for his desire to see our nation return to its founding principles, is just plain wrong on national security. He believes that we should leave the world alone and it will leave us alone. He blames our foreign policy for 9/11.

Mr. Paul just doesn’t get it. He does not understand that these people will stop at nothing to destroy America and everything for which this nation stands. They will not rest until the whole world submits to Allah. America is only symbolic target. The American Government has a constitutional duty to protect its citizens.

In the recent New Hampshire Republican Debate Ron Paul responded to a question about airport security on 9/11 saying:

After 9/11, instead of moving toward the direction of personal responsibility and private property and Second Amendment, we moved in the opposite direction. We turned it over to the federal government, and look at the mess we have now at airports. I mean, the airlines -- private industry protects their property all the time. People who haul around money in armored trucks protect their -- their money all the time. But here is one example when the federal government was involved and they messed it up. And if we put the responsibility on the right people, respected the Second Amendment, I sincerely believe there would have been a lot less chance of 9/11 ever happening.

First, Ron Paul has his facts wrong. A brief reading of the first 10-20 pages of “The 9/11 Commission Report” reveals that all of the airlines involved in the attacks on 9/11 had contracted their own private security. It was the private security checks that failed to discover harmful objects and the potential threat of the terrorists.

What he calls a “mess” at airports today has successfully thwarted all potential terrorist attacks on U.S. soil since 9/11. Mr. Paul, with all due respect for your views on the Constitution, what could possibly be of greater importance and a proper exercise of government’s coercive power than for it to protect its citizens from harm to their persons and property? This is one of the few undeniably legitimate uses of government power. Not only are governments allowed to protect their citizens, it is in fact their duty to do so. Read More. . . .

9/11 and the War on Terror

As we approach the sixth anniversary of the inhuman terrorist attacks of 9/11, The Virginian Federalist will take a look back at policies past and present, including some interesting tidbits on the current candidates.

We must never forget what happened that day. It truly changed the course of history and will have a lasting impact on U.S. foreign and domestic policy. Also with the newest Bin Laden video it is time to make an honest reassessment of where we stand. Read More. . . .