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Guest Commentary: September 17, 2001
Strike the Viper's Nest
The Honorable Zell Miller
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The victims and their loved ones of this horrible act of war should be in our prayers.
The perpetrator and those who give them safe haven should be in our bomb sights.
After Pearl Harbor, a Japanese remarked that the "sleeping giant has been awakened." I pray that "the sleeping giant" has again been awakened. We've got to change the way we do things.
For too long when terrorist attacks have happened, it seems America's first interest has been to please our friends, and then if permitted, punish our enemies.
After yesterday and from here on out that must be reversed. America's first interest must be to punish our enemies, then, if possible, please our friends.
Our response should not only be swift, it must be sustained. As I said yesterday, our will as a country has been tested. Too often in the past, terrorist attacks have not been answered as forcefully as they should have. There's been indignation, even outrage. There's been wringing of hands and sad talk. We've shaken our collective heads in dismay, sighed over our cocktails, then went home, ate dinner and went to bed, feeling safe and secure that it's not going to happen here. That it's not going to happen to us.
Well, it has happened to us. It has happened here.
Our world has been turned upside down. It'll never be the same again. And, it shouldn't.
We must strike the viper's nest -- even if he's not there. We know that the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan has nurtured Osama bin Laden for years. This diabolical plot was probably hatched there. Certainly similar plots have been - and it's time for us to respond.
I say, bomb the hell out of them. If there's collateral damage, so be it. They certainly found our civilians to be expendable.
We know that Osama bin Laden comes and goes in Saudi Arabia and yet we protect Saudi Arabia from Iraq. What kind of sense does that make? Correct it. Being an accessory to a murder -- whether you do the deed or not -- makes you guilty.
I also believe we should immediately turn our attention to the security of our airlines.
I know there is a large pool of willing ex-military personnel who possess the rudimentary skills to be effective, temporary Air Marshals if given a crash-training course on the basic requirements of the job. Or, another option might be to have active duty military personnel do this job.
We should also install communications hardware aboard each aircraft that would let pilots make emergency transmissions to Air Traffic Control. In today's 'star wars' capability, I believe it is possible to outfit each aircraft with an emergency transponder combined with an 'open mike' type system that would be strictly for one-way communications from aircraft to Air Traffic Control. The pilot or crew members could push a button -- much like a silent bank alarm -- that would instantly alert authorities. It could also serve as a hidden microphone in the cockpit and in the passenger cabins.
Those are some of my thoughts today, for whatever they're worth, at this terrible time.
To paraphrase President Roosevelt, this nation will endure as it has endured, but we must change things drastically.
Note: The above commentary has been adapted from the prepared statement of a speech delivered by Sen. Miller on the floor of the Senate, September 12, 2001.
 How to contact Senator Zell Miller (D-Georgia)
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