Ehrlich on Washington column, October 7, 2001

MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1 407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 2 1 093 3 1 5 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of October 7, 200 1 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. In Trying Times, Leadership Counts President Franklin Roosevelt, on the eve of America’s entrance into World War II, said, “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this invasion, the American people will win through with absolute victory.” Make no mistake, the same is true today. Just as when FDR called his nation and its allies to war, the free world today rallies behind an American leader whose commitment to victory is unmistakable and absolute. President George W. Bush has put the world on notice: join the fight against terrorists or share in their fate. For proof that President Bush’s message has been heeded, Americans need only look at the international community’s response: Over 1 00 nations around the world have pledged increased intelligence support to the United States in an effort to track down and punish terrorist groups. The world’s foremost economic and military powers, some of which have harbored great animosity toward American ideals, are now following the President’s lead in combating terrorism. The People’s Republic of China, long seen as a threat to U.S. interests in Asia, backed a U.N. Resolution on the war against terrorism, will stand “side by side” with the United States, and will share intelligence information on Asian-based terrorist groups with America. Russia is providing intelligence information to the United States and has opened its air space to humanitarian flights. Kazakstan, one of the largest and most populous Central Asian states, opened its airspace to our military aircraft. Uzbekistan, strategically situated on Afghanistan’s northern border, has authorized the use of its airspace and its military bases for the U.S. Army’s 1 0th Mountain Division. Just over a decade ago, the Soviet Union was locked in a seemingly intractable Cold War with the United States. Now, in the wake of the September 1 1 attacks, nations rising out of the Soviet Empire’s ashes are aligning themselves with the American-led campaign against terrorism.