we watched as another plane slammed into the pentagon. and yet another pound for this very city crashed in pennsylvania. that day was the worst attack on american soil in our history. america's a death toll surpassed pearl harbor in december 1941. that day, children came home from school without their parents, calls from family members went unreturned. lives were changed forever. yet, instead of tearing us apart and set a frightening americans off the world stage, the cowardly act that attacked on september the 11th and brought our nation together. but just remember, we were at war with al qaeda.

prior to 2001. in the 1990s between 10,000 and 20000 people went to afghanistan to train to beat terrorist. insurgency sprang to life, in algeria, philippines, somalia, and yemen. the world trade center was bombed for the first time in 1993. who spent time in a terrorist camp in afghanistan. al qaeda bomb to u.s. embassies in africa. in 2000 al qaeda bombed a u.s. warship the uss cole killing 17 americans. the 911 commission would later

write the 911 were a shock. they should not come as a surprise. that came from the c commission but they were a surprise to most americans because our leaders simply ignored the threat. issued eight week diplomatic and promised over the horizon missiles and surveillance, screen saw was american resolve an american might. on the bright blue morning of september 11 when a 32-year-old software salesman named todd beamer boarded a united airlines flight 93. todd knew his plane was likely bound for a another mishap or catastrophe after hearing it

on the telephone just after takeoff. he knew that this plane was either headed for the capitol or thehe capitol. he knew what happened to the other flights according to conversations. instead of being fearful, todd beamer rallied his other passengers, the former college athlete stayed home and. the lord's prayer. then he and his fellow passengers unleashed hell on the hijackers of their plane. the momentca todd beamer said let's roll, is the moment america began to fight back against a radical islamic terrorism. that is when the war started. the whole country took up todd's battle cry of let's roll. over the next 20 years 800,000

americans rolled into afghanistan. 800,000. of them 2461 were killed in action. including the 13 brave men and women we just lost a few weeks ago. soldiers were wounded. their sacrifices work great, but so were their accomplishments. with the 48 partnered nation america smashed the taliban and set al qaeda running for their caves in a pakistan pair we killed osama bin laden, crushed terrorism networks around the world. over the past 20 years the death of soul from terrace the united states was 107 because of our brave military that took the fight to the enemy

overseas. 107 souls is still far too many in this country. but the nation has been spared another catastrophic attack while our all volunteers to the watch in afghanistan. but here onsh the 20th anniversary of 911, what should be a resounding victory and success of american values and resolve is instead a defeat. and it is an especially bitter defeat to americans all across the country. it is bitter because americans surrendered 20 years of blood, sweat and tears to the enemy. the taliban now control more of afghanistan than they did in 2001. and they are better armed with

american guns, vehicles and aircraft. it is bitter because it was entirely preventable. it was a bitter because those who work in national security no in their hearts the president is wrong when he says the war is over. mr. president, the war is not over. the war is over when your enemy accepts defeat. our enemy, the taliban, are not defeated. they are emboldened. president biden has handed them the greatest victory of their pitiful, pitiful history. a victory greater than they could have ever dreamed. using that to see against united states will be

recruiting make no mistake another theyni spent america or sent america running for the exitso, and afghanistan they intend to bring the tariff we sought cobbles airport home to us, right here in the united states of america. we cannot allow that to happen. because in now, after our commander-in-chief decided to leave behind, let a repeat that, leave it behind american taxpayer-funded equipment, the taliban is one of the top ten best equipped militaries in the world. over 44000 military vehicles were left behind. nearly half a million guns left behind. thirty-three blackhawk

helicopters, left behind. all is now in the hands of our enemy. and we are fooling ourselves if west think they are not going to use this equipment against us. early last week, ten of my colleagues on the senate armed services committee joined to me and calling for hearings on the biden administration's chaotic withdrawal from afghanistan. as members of the committee that oversees the nation's armed forces, we bear a particular responsibility to seek. i t mean seek true and correct answers. we asked to hear from the secretary of defense lloyd austin for the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff millie and the commander of u.s. central command general mckinzie.

the last commander of the u.s. forces in afghanistan, general miller. these are our top military leaders who need to be asked the hard questions. and that is what i and my colleagues intend to do starting with why did we give up the most strategic airbase in the middle of asia? why did we do that? it makes no sense. we owe it to our nation, those who served, there families and our allies to preserve the records of how our time in afghanistan ended. for every people these are different issues facing the military since vietnam. those who have given so much to this cause are demoralized

and disheartened. i talked toe hundreds of them the past week. al qaeda did not mean to defeat our military. the taliban did not defeat our military. they did not beat our military. this administration and washington d.c. defeated our troops. never in american history have we seen a commander-in-chief leave americans behind enemy lines. it is unheard of. unheard of, of the history of this country. i cannot think of a single fighting man or woman who would leave an american behind. it does not make sense.

that is why they fight. that is why our military fights. we do not leave people behind. but they were ordered to leave by our commander-in-chief. to those soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardsmen who served in afghanistan, i promise you this. we will get answers from this administration. if you are a member of the military or have served our nation and have questions, i hope you will reach out to my office. i am ready to be your voice. i'm ready to fight with you for your answers and accountability. i would think a german and ranking member and have to schedule hearing so we can do just that in the next few weeks. on september the 11th,ai america said never forget.

thousands upon thousands of americans have taken that rally cried to the enemy. to them i say, america has not forgotten. we will never forget. we will answerht the fight and we will fight for these answers. madam president, i noticed the absence of a corporate. >> thank you madam president. madam president i come to the floor today to pay tribute to the life and service of lance corporal riley. he's from bondurant, wyoming. on thursday, august 26, the united states lost 13 men and women in uniform. eleven marines, and army soldier, and a navy cma