20 September 2001
Text: White House Statement on President's Speech to Congress
(Preview of what Bush will say regarding international terrorism)
(420)
Prior to President Bush delivering a speech before a joint session of
Congress the night of September 20, the White House previewed
highlights of the speech in a press release.
Following is the White House text:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
September 20, 2001
STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY
President Bush will address a joint session of Congress and the
American people tonight, saying:
"We are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom."
His speech addresses many questions Americans are asking, including
who attacked our country, why they hate us, and how we will fight and
win the war on terrorism.
"We will direct every resource at our 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," he
will pledge.
President Bush will make clear that our fight is with terrorist
extremists, not with those in America and throughout the world who
practice the Muslim faith, a faith whose teachings are "good and
peaceful." "The enemy of American 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."
President Bush will call on our military to "be ready," the American
people to be "calm and resolute," and governments around the world to
choose: "either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists."
The President will discuss strengthening domestic preparedness and
homeland security. He will thank members of Congress for "what you
have already done, and for what we will do together." He will ask
Congress to work with him to improve air safety, give law enforcement
additional tools and strengthen America's economy.
The President will thank the world for its sympathy and support, and
ask for the help of "police forces, intelligence services and banking
systems around the world."
"Freedom and fear are at war," the President will declare. He will
conclude with his confidence that so long as America is determined and
strong, this will not be an age of terror, but an age of liberty.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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