"During that three weeks, President Bush has thoughtfully and deliberately assembled a diplomatic coalition of nations who join us in deploring the Taliban''s sanctioning of Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network. The President has sought to pursue this network on several fronts. We have pursued them diplomatically. We have pursued them economically. And, as promised, we will pursue them militarily.
"Unfortunately, the Taliban, an illegitimate government, chose to ignore the call for justice and instead gave aid and comfort to a murderous band of terrorists. Today, they suffer the consequences.
"The United States and Great Britain, with the full support of our allies, has targeted Taliban military installations and al-Qaeda terrorist camps run by Osama bin Laden. In addition, we have begun dropping food and medical supplies to the Afghan people, who have been oppressed and left to starve by the Taliban.
"As a United States Senator, as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and most important, as a United States citizen, I fully support our Commander-in-Chief in this endeavor, and I have every confidence in the brave men and women in our military who comprise the finest fighting force in the world.
"This struggle will be long and difficult, but we will not waver in our commitment to the President''s declaration to rid the world of terrorism."