Adam Schiff

The prompt assimilation of that intelligence will be essential if we are to avoid another September 11th.

Our failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq thus far has been deeply troubling, and our intelligence-gathering process needs thorough and unbiased investigation.

But it is equally incontrovertible that if our intelligence gathering process is seriously flawed, we had better find out and find out fast if we are to avoid another Sept. 11.

Although every step must be taken to protect against a chemical or biological attack in America, our nation would survive the use of those weapons as we did when anthrax was mailed to our Capitol and other targets.

We will not let terrorists change our way of life; we will not live in fear; and we will not undermine the civil liberties that characterize our Democracy.

Democracies are poor breeding grounds for terrorism and war.

But even race-neutral policies and recruitment efforts designed to achieve greater diversity are, in the end, not race neutral.

Unquestionably, the world is better off without Saddam.

An America that inspires hope in its ideals must complement an America that inspires awe in its strength.

In fact, the converse is true: At a time when the United States has been called on for a level of moral leadership, vision and inspiration not seen since World War II, we cannot afford to dissemble about crimes against humanity.

Much has changed since the end of the Cold War that augurs well for the survival of our nation.

It is now conventional wisdom that Americans do not care why we went to war in Iraq, that it is enough that the world is better off without Saddam Hussein.