U.S. GOVERNMENT: Government Declares War on Terrorism

By JAKE LAUER (Click here to read about the writer)
Scripps Howard Foundation Wire

Calling for lawmakers to officially declare war on terrorism, Rep. Tom Tancredo (R, Colo.) co-sponsored a resolution Thursday that would grant President Bush the power to use force against terrorists responsible for Tuesday’s tragedies.

Tancredo, who co-sponsored the measure with Rep. Bob Barr (R, Ga.), said Americans want Congress to take drastic steps in response to the attacks. However, some of his Colorado colleagues question whether the resolution is necessary.

“This resolution symbolizes a long-term engagement against terrorism,” Tancredo said, while standing on the Capitol’s lawn after the building was evacuated following a bomb threat Thursday evening.

“We need to weed out these scumbags root and branch, so that every time their ugly head shows up, it will get shot off,” he said, referring to terrorists.

Sen. Wayne Allard (R, Colo.), just returning from a damage-assessment tour of the Pentagon, said he supports the idea, although he had not reviewed Tancredo’s proposal.

“It was an act of war and we need to hold both the terrorists and those who harbor the terrorists responsible for this,” he said.

Rep. Bob Schaffer (R, Colo.), however, said Tancredo’s resolution is superfluous.

“The United States will respond to an act of war in kind,” he said. “If anyone expects less, they don’t know the U.S. But this resolution is almost beside the point - it is a statement of the obvious.”

Rep. Mark Udall (D, Colo.) said Tancredo’s resolution goes too far.

“The president hasn’t asked for this, and I see no reason to second the president or give him more than he asks for,” Udall said.

“I’m just as angry as anyone else, but we shouldn’t be looking for an answer that could cause a problem.”

Rep. Joel Helfey (R, Colo.) said legislators trust the president enough to grant him the use of force.

“Both sides of the aisle trust the president, and if we know who did this, then we should go after them,” Hefley said. “And we may have to use force.” Click here to tell us what you think about this story!