20 September 2001
U.S. to Use Every Resource to Defeat Global Terror Network, Bush Says
(Demands that Afghanistan's Taliban turn over terrorist leaders) (800)
By Wendy S. Ross
Washington File White House Correspondent
Washington -- Nine days after terrorists attacked the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon, President Bush declared to a joint session of
Congress September 20 that the United States will direct every
resource at its command -- "every means of diplomacy, every tool of
intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial
influence, and every necessary weapon of war -- to the disruption and
defeat of the global terror network."
"Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our
enemies, justice will be done," he said in a 30 minute speech
interrupted by applause almost 30 times.
The United States, Bush said, will never forget the outpouring of
support it received from around the world, nor will it forget the
citizens of 80 other nations "who died with our own."
The evidence on responsibility for the terrorist attacks "all points
to a collection of loosely affiliated terrorist organizations known as
al-Qaida" and its leader Usama bin Ladin, Bush said.
He demanded that the Taliban regime in Afghanistan deliver to U.S.
authorities all the leaders of al-Qaida who hide there, release all
foreign nationals unjustly imprisoned, and close immediately and
permanently every terrorist training camp in that country and give the
United States full access to them "so we can make sure they are no
longer operating."
Bush said "These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion.
The Taliban must act and act immediately. They will hand over the
terrorists, or they will share in their fate."
Bush was careful to draw a sharp distinction between the people of
Afghanistan and the Taliban regime.
The United States "respects the people of Afghanistan," he said, "but
we condemn the Taliban regime. It is not only repressing its own
people, it is threatening people everywhere by sponsoring and
sheltering and supplying terrorists. By aiding and abetting murder,
the Taliban regime is committing murder," Bush said.
Bush also spoke directly to Muslims throughout the world.
"We respect your faith," he said. "It is practiced freely by many
millions of Americans, and by millions more in countries that America
counts as friends. Its teachings are good and peaceful, and those who
commit evil in the name of Allah blaspheme the name of Allah. The
terrorists are traitors to their own faith, trying, in effect, to
hijack Islam itself. The enemy of America is not our many Muslim
friends; it is not our many Arab friends. Our enemy is a radical
network of terrorists, and every government that supports them."
The "war on terror begins with al-Qaida, but it does not end there. It
will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been
found, stopped, and defeated," Bush declared.
"This war," Bush said, "will not be like the war against Iraq a decade
ago, with its decisive liberation of territory and its swift
conclusion. It will not look like the air war above Kosovo two years
ago, where no ground troops were used and not a single American was
lost in combat.
"Our response involves far more than instant retaliation and isolated
strikes. Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy
campaign, unlike any other we have seen. It may include dramatic
strikes, visible on television, and covert operations, secret even in
success. We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against
another, drive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or
rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to
terrorism. Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make.
Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this day
forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will
be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime."
Bush said not just America's freedom is at stake. "This is the world's
fight. This is civilization's fight. This is the fight of all who
believe in progress and pluralism, tolerance and freedom," he said.
"We ask every nation to join us. We will ask, and we will need, the
help of police forces, intelligence services, and banking systems
around the world."
Sitting in the gallery with the First Lady was British Prime Minister
Tony Blair, New York Mayor Rudi Giuliani and New York Governor George
Pataki, the widow of a passenger on one of the four hijacked planes,
and firemen and policemen who have been participating in the rescue
efforts in New York City.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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