Wise to listen to the words of Reagan

June 30, 1985. President Ronald Reagan. His words are as pertinent today as they were then - although the instant situation is different, the principles remain the same:

This drama has reminded us how precious and fragile are the freedoms and standards of decency of civilized societies; how greatly civilized life depends on trust in other human beings; but how those values we hold most dear must also be defended with bravery -- a bravery that may lie quiet and deep, but that will rise to answer our call in every time of peril. Freedom, democracy, and peace have enemies; they must also have steadfast friends. The United States gives terrorists no rewards and no guarantees. We make no concessions; we make no deals. Nations that harbor terrorists undermine their own stability and endanger their own people. Terrorists, be on notice, we will fight back against you, in Lebanon and elsewhere. We will fight back against your cowardly attacks on American citizens and property.

The current situation in Iran, with allied troops being captured illegally, is no different. We may not have a communicator like Reagan now, but President George W. Bush is no different in his belief, as he echoed some of these words in the days, weeks and years since 9/11. It is worth going back to the days following 9/11, and the White House has a wealth of text transcripts and audio/video links on a single page for the month of September 2001.