11 September 2001
Transcript: Bush Administration Officials Brief on Attack Response
(Attorney General Ashcroft, Secretaries Thompson, Mineta) (1870)
The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and on the Pentagon
are "heinous acts of violence" and "an assault on the security and
freedom of every American citizen," Attorney General John Ashcroft
said at a news briefing at the White House late September 11.
The United States "will expend every effort and devote all the
necessary resources to bring the people responsible for these acts,
these crimes, to justice," he said. He then summarized for reporters
the known facts of the terrorist incidents earlier in the day.
Also briefing reporters were Secretary of Health and Human Services
Tommy Thompson, Secretary of Transportation Norm Mineta and Federal
Emergency Management Agency Director Joseph Allbaugh.
Following is a transcript of the briefing:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
September 11, 2001
PRESS BRIEFING BY
ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN ASHCROFT
SECRETARY OF HHS TOMMY THOMPSON
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION NORM MINETA, AND
FEMA DIRECTOR JOSEPH ALLBAUGH
The Briefing Room
7:15 P.M. EDT
MS. BUCHAN: Good evening. We'll be having General Ashcroft, Secretary
Thompson, Secretary Mineta, and Director Allbaugh will each be
providing you with updates on how their agencies are responding to
today's events. As we'll be giving you as frequent updates as
possible, they will not be taking questions at this time. And with
that, I will turn it over to General Ashcroft.
ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: Thank you. Today America has experienced
one of the greatest tragedies ever witnessed on our soil. These
heinous acts of violence are an assault on the security of our nation.
They are an assault on the security and the freedom of every American
citizen.
We will not tolerate such acts. We will expend every effort and devote
all the necessary resources to bring the people responsible for these
acts, these crimes, to justice.
Now is the time for us to come together as a nation to offer our
support, our prayers for the victims and for their families, for the
rescue workers, for law enforcement officials, for every one of us
that has been changed forever by this horrible tragedy.
The following is a summary of the known facts surrounding today's
incidents. American Airlines Flight 11 departed Boston for Los
Angeles. Hijacked by suspects armed with knives, this plane crashed
into the World Trade Center. United Airlines Flight 175 departed
Boston for Los Angeles, was hijacked and crashed into the World Trade
Center.
American Airlines Flight 77 departed Washington-Dulles for Los
Angeles, was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon. United Airlines
Flight 93 departed Newark for San Francisco, was hijacked and crashed
in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Crime scenes have been established by the federal authorities, in New
York, in the Washington, D.C. area, in Pittsburgh, in Boston, and in
Newark. The full resources of the Department of Justice, including the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Immigration and Naturalization
Service, the U.S. Attorneys Offices, the U.S. Marshal's Service, the
Bureau of Prisons, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Office
of Justice Programs, are being deployed to investigate these crimes
and to assist survivors and victim families.
Thousands of FBI agents in all the field offices across the country,
and in the international legate offices, assisted by personnel from
other Department of Justice agencies, are cooperating in this
investigation.
The FBI has established a Web site where people can report any
information about these crimes. That address is: www.IFCCFBI.gov. That
address again: www.IFCCFBI.gov. Individuals can report any information
they know about these crimes to that Web site.
It takes courage for individuals to come forward in situations like
this, and I urge anyone with information that may be useful and
helpful to authorities to use this opportunity.
The Office of Victims of Crime has established a toll-free 800 number
for family and friends of victims. They can call 800-331-0075, to
leave contact information for a future time when more information is
available, to find out information about a victim or to find out
information about the rights of victims and the services available to
victim survivors and victim families.
The determination of these terrorists will not deter the determination
of the American people. We are survivors, and freedom is a survivor. A
free American people will not be intimidated, nor will we be defeated.
We will find the people responsible for these cowardly acts, and
justice will be done.
SECRETARY THOMPSON: Every single American lost something today. And
every one of us at this time expresses our deepest sympathy to the
victims of today's tragedies, and their families.
It is now our mission to begin the healing from this tragedy. From the
moment that we learned of these attacks, the Department of Health and
Human Services has begun readying teams and resources to be sent to
New York City and the Washington area to meet any needs of state and
local officials.
So far, we have sent four disaster medical teams to New York City, and
three of these disaster medical teams to the Washington/Northern
Virginia/Baltimore area.
These medical teams each consist of about 35 physicians, nurses, and
emergency medical technicians. They are all trained to deal with
traumatic injuries and other emergency needs.
We've also sent four disaster mortuary operational response teams to
New York and three to the greater Washington area. We're also in the
process of shipping a great deal of emergency medical supplies to New
York City with the help of the Centers for Disease Control. In short,
we're making the full force of the Department of Health and Human
Services, both as resources and medical expertise, available to the
areas that need our assistance.
We've also, this afternoon, activated the United States Public Health
Service Commission Corps, which consists of approximately 6,000 health
professionals. We also are giving back-up assistance to the 500-bed
ship Comfort of the United States Navy.
Americans all over are calling up and asking what they can do. The
best thing they can do is respond to this great call by volunteering
to give blood. We need Americans to continue to answer that call. No
matter where you live, please, do your civic duty and assist us by
donating blood.
Our primary job is to make sure Americans, harmed by this tragedy, get
the help that they need. We will remain in constant contact with the
governors, the mayors, public health officials and other local
officials to make sure that all their needs are being met.
It is a sad day, but America and all of its citizens certainly share
tonight in the grief that has been caused. And as the President and
everybody in his administration have said, we, the government, will
continue to operate and continue to provide the services to all
Americans.
SECRETARY MINETA: One of the most cherished freedoms is the freedom of
movement, the ability to move freely and safely. But today, that
freedom was attacked. But we will restore that freedom throughout the
national transportation system as soon as possible. And we will
restore the highest-possible degree of service.
These terrorist acts are designed to steal the confidence of
Americans. We will restore that confidence. We have already taken some
first steps as a precaution. I have ordered the FAA to ground all
commercial air traffic until at least tomorrow afternoon. After the
attack, some of our aircraft were diverted to Canada. And so we owe
our Canadian neighbors a debt of gratitude for helping us as we
redirected over 120 flights and their passengers to airports in
Canada.
As of 6:00 p.m., Amtrak resumed its passenger rail service. Major
railroads have taken steps to protect their assets as well. The United
States Coast Guard is taking all necessary actions to control the
movements of all vessels in navigable waters of the United States.
Coast Guard helicopters have been assisting with medical and national
security tasks.
We are currently looking at a wide variety of additional security
measures to increase traveler security. Travelers will indeed see
increased security measures at our airports, train stations, and other
key sites. There will be higher levels of surveillance, more stringent
searches. Airport curbside luggage check-in will no longer be allowed.
There will be more security officers in random identification checks.
Travelers may experience some inconveniences. But we ask for your
patience. But we must do whatever it takes with safety as our highest
priority. The Department of Transportation is working closely with the
White House and appropriate federal agencies to mount a coordinated
nationwide recovery effort. Each American must know that we will
restore our national transportation system to a safe and efficient
status as quickly as possible. Our system has been severely burdened
by the stress of these horrendous attacks, but we will recover.
In a democracy, there is always a balance between freedom and
security. Our transportation systems, reflecting the values of our
society, have always operated in an open and accessible manner. And
they will again. Please be assured that we are activating all of our
resources on an emergency basis, and services will be restored as soon
as possible.
DIRECTOR ALLBAUGH: Good evening. I activated this afternoon eight
urban search and rescue task forces from all over the United States,
and an incident support team, to arrive in New York. They are on their
way as we speak. I've spoken with Governor Pataki, Governor Gilmore,
Mayor Giuliani; they are handling this about as well as anyone could
handle it.
These teams we've deployed are especially trained teams from all
across the country, comprised of engineers and other technical
individuals, with dogs that are trained to handle incidents such as
this.
We at FEMA have also put a team on the ground, an advanced element
team, who will be at the scene of the disaster probably as we speak.
The Army Corps of Engineers are already on the ground, getting ready
to handle debris removal.
This afternoon, as you know, the President did declare New York City a
disaster. I have named Ted Monette the Federal Coordinating Officer.
He will be my personal representative on the ground during the
duration of this incident.
In Washington, as the Secretary said, we have three mortuary teams on
site, three medical teams, four urban search and rescue teams. I
believe this afternoon we shared with members of the media the names
of those specific teams.
We will be deploying individuals as needed. I'll be in constant
contact with those governors; additional search and rescue, if needed.
We're identifying additional needs that state and local governments
are requiring.
As a result of the President's disaster declaration, tomorrow morning
at 8:00 a.m., individuals who have been harmed may call our help line.
Let me give you that number: 1-800-462-9029. We at FEMA will do all
that we possibly can. After all, that is our job.
Our hearts are hurting this evening. Those individuals who have lost
loved ones or do not know where their loved ones are, are in our
prayers and are in our thoughts.
Thank you all very much.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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