First District Rep. Jim Hansen asked Americans if they have the will to continue the fight against terrorism during a speech at the Hinckley Institute of Politics, Tuesday.
“It was the unspeakable, the unthinkable. People say it couldn’t ever happen, but it did,” Hansen said of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Since military action began in Afghanistan more than one month ago, many Americans have criticized the actions against the country and the al Qaeda network.
Hansen said the hesitancy of many U.S. citizens disturbs him.
“We have the ability to crush them, but do we have the will? I know they have the will. They have proven that. They want to destroy America,” Hansen said.
Hansen believes that within four to five years it is possible to virtually eliminate the al Qaeda network. However, this can only happen if America is committed to do so, Hansen said.
To limit terrorists’ power, you need to “grind them down,” control their resources and watch their every move. This prevents them from organizing and planning future attacks, Hansen said.
They may still exist, but they have no power, he said.
Hansen voiced his approval and admiration for the actions taken by President Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld since the attacks.
After listing many terrorist acts and attempted acts in the last 50 years, he spoke of the magnitude of what happened on that September morning when “America cried.”
Hansen borrowed Rumsfeld’s words saying, “More people died that day than on any single day in American history.”
Hansen admitted he does not want the war to end by taking bin Laden alive and trying him in a U.S. court.
“Let the bullets fly,” he said.
At one point, Hansen said he does not think it would be wrong to assassinate bin Laden. He paraphrased a section from the Book of Mormon that says it is better for the leader of a group to die than to have a nation perish.
Since 1980, Hansen has served as Utah’s First Congressional District representative. Currently serving his 11th term in the House, Hansen is the Chairman of the House Resources Committee and serves as a senior member on the Armed Services Committee.
He previously served four terms in the Utah House of Representatives, where he served as Speaker of the House during his last term.
Hansen is also a U graduate.