Nev. lawmakers ready to assault world’s terrorism

Benjamin Grove

Friday, Sept. 14, 2001 | 9:49 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Nevada's lawmakers in Congress agree that America must prepare for a sustained war against terrorism that could include ground troops.

"You have to be prepared for that," said Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., a member of the House Intelligence Committee. "I can assure you at some point it will require ground intervention. There is no question in my mind that we are in a state of war. There is no question that we will wage war."

It's difficult to predict how widespread U.S. military action will be, lawmakers said.

"It's not going to be an attack on an Osama Bin Laden," Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said. "It's going to be an assault on terrorism worldwide. It's not going to be a sanitized war like Iraq."

Ensign expects foreign individuals targeted by the U.S. military to use civilians as shields.

"These people don't care about human life whatsoever," Ensign said.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., agreed foreign civilians are likely to be regrettable casualties in a U.S. military strike.

"None of us wants to see innocent civilians harmed, but the government's first responsibility is to protect its people," Berkley said. "The United States has taken a tremendous hit, the consequences of which we cannot begin to fathom at this point."

Berkley said lawmakers faced heart-wrenching decisions about committing troops. Her sons are 19 and 15.

"As a mother as well as a congresswoman, I will be making decisions that affect families across this nation, particularly my own. I will not make these decisions lightly. I will do whatever I have to do as a leader in our government."

The Senate today approved a $40 billion package -- twice what President Bush initially requested -- for victims, damage repairs and hunting down those responsible for Tuesday's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Also, the Senate approved a separate measure endorsing "necessary and appropriate force" in U.S. retaliation to the attacks. Bush has thanked Congress for its support, but also asserted the commander in chief doesn't need Congress' approval for overseas military action.

The House planned to finalize a vote on the aid bill after a memorial service at Washington's National Cathedral. Also, on Saturday, the House is expected to vote on the "necessary and appropriate force" measure.

Nevada's lawmakers visited the Pentagon Thursday and were shaken to see with their own eyes the charred symbol of military might, where rescuers continued to put corpses in body bags. Crews worked where melted steel was still hot, Gibbons said.

"I saw the face of terrorism," Gibbons said. "I looked into the gaping black hole created at the Pentagon. All I saw was devastation and destruction."

Gibbons said America should seize Osama bin Laden immediately, although his involvement in Tuesday's attacks is not clear. Bin Laden was behind terrorist attacks on U.S. embassies in Africa, Gibbons said.

"His days are limited and I think he knows it," Gibbons said. Gibbons said he wanted Bin Laden arrested, tried and then to "meet his ultimate fate."