Robert
S. Mueller, III, Director, FBI
Observance of the Anniversary of September 11th
September 11, 2003
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Good
morning. It has been two years since terrorists
attacked America. On that day, in the
course of a few minutes, this country
and the world were forever changed. It
is still very difficult to look back to
that tragic chain of events without a
deep sense of tremendous loss...loss of
life...loss of peace...loss of security.
But in coming together to mark this anniversary,
there is something to be gained by acknowledging
our loss. And I believe that by drawing
upon our strengths as an organization,
we can move forward with a renewed commitment.
As we remember the men and women who gave
their lives on 9/11
-- particularly two of our own, Special
Agent Lenny Hatton and former SAC John
O'Neill -- we honor their sacrifice and
their devotion to duty.
We still cannot help but be awed by their
heroic actions following the attacks.
Remembering these individuals and their
sacrifices, we are reminded how important
it is to cherish our lives, our friends
and our families.
It also serves to clarify our purpose.
Here in the FBI, our mission is to protect
Americans from all those who threaten
our safety -- whether that threat comes
from terrorists, violent criminals, foreign
intelligence operatives, or others seeking
to destroy our way of life.
We have made great progress in the war
on terror, but the world is still a very
dangerous place. We must remain vigilant
to the dangers which exist -- even as
they continue to evolve.
And as the threats change, so must we.
And we have changed. Looking back, it
is hard to believe how much this organization
has transformed itself in a relatively
short period of time. I know, because
I see it every day.
But some things remain the same. The individuals
who lost their lives on 9/11 remain in
our hearts. We are committed to tracking
down the terrorists who helped carry out
those attacks, and we will continue to
pursue them until they are brought to
justice.
This anniversary offers us a chance to
evaluate how far we have come and to rededicate
ourselves to our mission so that such
attacks will never happen again on U.S.
soil.
And, finally, it gives me the opportunity
to recognize the contribution of each
of you. No matter what your job is here,
you are performing an important public
service. The work you do makes an important
contribution to the overall success of
the FBI's mission to protect the American
people. For your hard work and dedication,
I, and the entire country, are deeply
grateful.
Thank you.
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