11 October 2001
Transcript: Bush Says Substantial Progress Made in the War on Terrorism
(Talks to reporters October 11 following meeting with his Cabinet)
(780)
"We're making substantial progress in the war on terrorism," President
Bush told reporters after his Cabinet briefed him on developments at
an October 11 meeting at the White House.
Bush noted that he was pleased that Secretary of State Colin Powell
"and our diplomats around the world" have been able to put together a
broad coalition of nations in the fight against terrorism.
The coalition, Bush said, includes not only European and South
American nations but also many Muslim ones.
Treasury Paul 0'Neill reported that $40 million worth of Taliban and
al-Qaeda assets, all around the world have now been frozen, Bush said,
and Attorney General John Ashcroft reported that more than 600 people
in the United States who may have been involved with the September 11
attacks have been interrogated.
Following is the White House transcript:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
October 11, 2001
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AFTER CABINET MEETING
The Cabinet Room
3:02 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: I have asked my Cabinet to come in and give me a
briefing on the progress that we're making on the war on terrorism. I
can report to the American people we're making substantial progress.
First, our Secretary of State and our diplomats around the world have
put together a broad coalition of nations to make a stand against
terrorists, terrorism and those who harbor terrorists. And I'm really
pleased. This coalition includes not only our friends in Europe and
South America, but as we saw at the OIC Conference, the Organization
of Islamic Conferences, many Muslim nations have taken a very firm
stand against terrorist activities, as well.
Obviously, the Secretary of Defense and the Defense Department has
been busy. As I said today, America is very proud of the men and women
who wear the uniform; they're proud of your leadership too, sir. We'll
leave the military briefing for the Pentagon.
I had a good visit with our Secretary of Treasury, who informed me
that we've now frozen $40 million worth of assets -- Taliban and al
Qaeda assets all around the world, and we've just begun. We want the
terrorists to know that we're after them in all kinds of ways, and one
good way to make them ineffective is to cut off their money.
The Attorney General has reported that here at the homeland -- in the
homeland we've interrogated over 600 people that may have been
involved with the bombings, as well as spending a great deal of time
analyzing information that could lead to the disruption of any
potential attack on America.
And then we discussed our legislative priorities before the Congress
goes home. One of those, of course, is an economic stimulus package
that must include tax relief that has got a positive effect on the
economy in the short run.
But there are two other aspects to a good, strong economic stimulus
package, one of which is trade promotion authority. And the other is
an energy bill. Now, there was a good energy bill passed out of the
House of Representatives. And the reason it passed is because members
of both parties understand an energy bill is not only good for jobs,
it's important for our national security to have a good energy policy.
And I urge the Senate to listen to the will of the senators and move a
bill -- move a bill that will help Americans find work and also make
it easier for all of us around this table to protect the security of
the country. The less dependent we are on foreign sources of crude
oil, the more secure we are at home.
We've spent a lot of time talking about homeland security. An integral
piece of homeland security is energy independence. And I ask the
Senate to respond to the call to get an energy bill moving.
We have got a lot of work to do, and everybody around this table
understands that. We're a patient group of people, we're a disciplined
group of people. But one thing we've got in mind as well is, we've got
the best interests of the American people in mind. And I'm proud of
the job everybody is doing here. I want to thank you on behalf of
America for your hard work.
I will see you all tonight.
END 3:06 P.M. EDT
(end White House transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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