Imagine the terror of being on a hijacked plane flying 500 miles per hour, at tree top level, towards an unknown destination.

  Now, imagine that same terror through the eyes of a 3-year old child.

  On September 11, 2001, flight 77 slammed into the Pentagon, killing 189 people – the youngest was a 3 year old girl. I not only heard the impact, I felt it. My life and view of our world changed dramatically that day. Every time I pass the Pentagon driving to and from our nation’s Capitol, I am haunted by the tragedy of 9/11 and the knowledge that it could have been prevented.

  We are at war – it is our sad and brutal reality.

  We are fighting an element that believes life’s reward is death. To Islamic extremists, Americans are infidels who must be killed. Diplomatic solutions do not exist with people who believe the cold-blooded murder of innocent people, including children, trumps diplomacy.

  Americans live their lives within a framework of moral constraints that terrorists do not. I reject the viewpoint of some liberals that the US is a greater threat than the terrorists themselves. Nevertheless, political extremists continue to wage a relentless campaign against the good work of the military, law enforcement and our international allies that have already saved countless innocent lives.

  Defeating terrorism is critical because we have to be 100% successful 100% of the time and a terrorist only has to be successful once.

  The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have divided our country regardless of political lines. Everyone agrees there have been mistakes and miscalculations made that raise serious questions about the conflict.

  We have asked our young men and women in uniform to carry out some of the most difficult work you can imagine. Sadly, the progress that has come because of their hard work has been largely ignored by the media and partisan politicians.

  Now, more than ever, we need to recognize the accomplishments in Afghanistan and Iraq made by our courageous military.

  The people of Afghanistan have seen the brutal Taliban fall and replaced them with a democratic legislature elected by the people and for the people. In Iraq there have been two notable free elections, in the first, 9.8 million Iraqi people voted to ratify a permanent constitution and two monthly later, 12 million voted to replace Saddam Hussein’s political party. This spring, the Iraqi Parliament approved and swore in 30 ambassadors and state secretaries, forming the nation’s new unity government and the first permanent government since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime.

  Thousands of schools have been built in Iraq and, in Afghanistan girls are now allowed to get an education. Women in both countries are now recognized as citizens and are actively involved in their governments. Because of our military’s accomplishments, there is hope for a more prosperous future.

  Running away in a full force retreat would mean abandoning our allies and portray the West as weak and unwilling to complete the mission, thereby emboldening Al Qaeda and terror organizations. If we leave Iraq now, the media’s vision of a civil war would become a reality.

  We must persevere in Iraq, so others may enjoy the freedom and democracy that we as Americans have enjoyed. Most importantly, leaving prematurely under false deadlines would mean the men and women who died, will have died in vain.

  Our nation’s continued freedom can be credited to our men and women in uniform. I have reached across the aisle, working the Democrats and Republicans, to do what is right for our nation’s bravest.

  Last year I introduced the Guard and Reserve Readiness and Retention Act which expanded health care benefits to Guard & Reserve members and their families by providing universal access to the military health care system, known as TRICARE. Working with bipartisan group of Members of Congress, I successfully added our legislative language in the Defense Reauthorization Bill for 2006 which is now law.

  Contrary to politically motivated claims that VA spending is being cut, the veteran’s budget has actually increased 94% since 1995, the year Republicans became the majority. The veterans medical care budget has increased nearly 90% in the same period. To put the increase in perspective prior to 1995 - from 1965 to 1995, total annual veterans spending in constant dollars only grew an average of under 2 percent.

  The total Veteran’s Affairs budget has increased from $66 billion in Fiscal Year 2005 to $78 billion for the next fiscal year, as passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Veterans medical care funding has increased by 16 percent during the 109th Congress and the VA plans to spend an addition a$3 billion for mental health care next year.

  Veterans from rural states face unique challenges. Many veterans currently endure day-long trips on buses just to get medical care at the nearest VA hospital. That’s why I introduced the VALOR Act (H.R. 4277), which will allow veterans to choose to receive medical care their local healthcare provider or the VA hospital.

  When our soldiers return home, they should be provided assistance as they start the next chapter of their life. I have supported boosting GI Bill benefits 59 percent since 2001: In 2001, the GI Bill educational benefit was boosted by 46 percent, raising the lifetime benefit for qualified veterans from $23,400 to $37,224 and giving our veterans more opportunities to pursue higher education. The House is also working to modernize the GI Bill to provide educational assistance to America reserve and National Guard units as well as returning Service members.

  This is but only a partial list of our accomplishments, but most importantly, I will remain committed to those currently serving and those who proudly call themselves veterans.