Today we carry heavy hearts as we remember the thousands of lives lost in the attacks of September 11^th, 2001 and murder of four Americans in Benghazi, Libya, on this day in 2012. Thousands of other lives – American and foreign – have also suffered at the hands of terrorists in other attacks and we remember them as well. As Americans we owe a profound debt for the sacrifice and valor of our first responders and servicemen and women, who have answered the call in confronting this evil at home and abroad. Many have sacrificed all in doing so.

As we honor our fallen, we must also take account of our ongoing efforts against a rapidly expanding and evolving terrorist threat. In the past few years, we have witnessed an unprecedented resurgence of Islamist terrorists throughout the world. What started with the reestablishment of terrorist organizations in Syria and Iraq has become a global movement, which violently targets the most vulnerable individuals in the name of its perverted ideology. This development has been greatly enabled by oppressive regimes in Syria, Iraq, and Iran that have set the circumstances in which groups like ISIS thrive.

The affect has been the slaughter of thousands of innocent men, women, and children and the displacement of millions, destabilizing the Middle East and now Europe. The United States and the world cannot afford to turn a blind eye to terrorists and the brutal dictators who help create them. When we ignore such utter evil abroad, millions of innocents suffer internationally and our own security and liberties become jeopardized here at home. It is time for President Obama to take this threat seriously and to demonstrate true commitment to working with our international partners to dismantle ISIS, al-Qaeda, and other such groups without further delay. Neglecting this clear threat to global peace will not make it go away. To the contrary, it will only invite further terrorist atrocities.