NH Delegates Say Unite
WASHINGTON – For New Hampshire delegates yesterday it was as President Bush described. Business. But not business as usual. Yet the unusual and tragic events of the last few days, New Hampshire delegates say, may serve to bring America together.
Their second day back at work after the terrorist attacks on America, ended in evacuation.
The line of people filing out of the US capital late yesterday afternoon was not the first sign for New Hampshire Senators and Congressmen that the threat was still real.
When Senator Bob Smith tried to visit the Pentagon this morning to meet with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, there was a bomb threat and they had to vacate the entire building. But Smith was resolute.
“I’m heading back there tonight,” he said.
At the Pentagon the smell of fire was still in the air. Scattered on the ground were twisted remains of the airplane that terrorists hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon during the assault on New York City and the capital.
“You could get the sense of the incredible power of a one hundred thousand pound aircraft hitting the side of a building. Floor one. Full throttle.” Representative Charles Bass (R-NH) said of his visit yesterday morning to the Pentagon. “There was evidence of casualty. It was a very sobering experience.”
Sobering, but somehow, unifying. New Hampshire delegates reflect the mood of many in the nation during these painful days after, when they say that everyone in the United States has come together after an attack intended to tear us apart.
The emotions coming from constituents reflect the feelings of members of congress and the administration, according to Representative Sununu (R-NH).
“I think everyone views this as an act of war, as an attack on the American people, an attack on freedom,” Sununu said.
Sununu said he was certain be a resolution will be drawn up by the House and Senate that will empower the administration to utilize the president’s powers as commander in chief, and to undertake military action. He said that the government wants to “work with our allies that have joined us in this cause, to punish and eliminate those responsible.”
Punishing and eliminating the terrorists does not necessarily mean a declaration of war.
Bass for one, does not think it would be appropriate.
“I do not support a declaration of war,” Bass said. “War gives the enemy a series of rights. It changes the status of victims and damages.” He added that insurance companies do not pay the damages of war.
Smith said that he has been working with Senate Majority Leader Tomas Daschle and Minority Leader Trent Lott to allocate aid of up to 20 billion dollars for emergency equipment and supplies. Smith said he expects that sum to be approved within the next few days. He also thinks a defense bill could be passed by early next week.
Senator Judd Gregg was busy on the senate floor as floor director for a period of business with Senators who made statements regarding allocating money to fight terrorism.
Sununu supported the House passage of the “Victims of Terrorism Relief Act of 2001,” according to a press release.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to all the families and loved ones of those who perished in Tuesday’s attack against America, and particularly to those related to the New Hampshire residents who lost their lives in this unprecedented tragedy,” said Sununu, Vice Chairman of the House Budget Committee and member of the House Appropriations Committee.
“The measures approved by the House will provide financial assistance to the victims of these attacks as Americans everywhere pull together in a display of strength and unity.”
With such immediate decisions pending, Bass said issues like the on budget, off budget question wane.
“America no longer has the stomach,” he said, about citizens’ ability to handle vicious debate over social security surpluses, and special education.
“These issues are no less important. They’re just put on hold.”
Bass said he hopes the bipartisanship that has characterized Washington decisions and standpoints since the terrorist attack will extend and help with future policy making.
With the official announcement on Wednesday that there was real and credible evidence to believe that Flight #77 was originally streaming straight for the White House, delegates say they can only begin to imagine the damage if the plane had not taken a dive into the Pentagon instead.
“Things could have been a lot worse,” Smith said, “if not for the bravery of those on that aircraft. These folks on the plane knew that the terrorists were using the planes as weapons. We have very good reason to believe that they took control from the terrorists.”
“If not for one little electric charge in the hijacker’s brain that made him say no not there, there, the White House would be gone,” Bass said.
