20 December 2001
Text: Report Outlines Coalition Successes In Destroying Al-Qaeda
(Bush says its network is disrupted, finances cut off) (6930)
In a report on the first 100 days of the war on terrorism, President
Bush says the international anti-terrorism coalition "began to destroy
al-Qaeda's grip on Afghanistan," disrupted its finances, and destroyed
11 training camps and 39 Taliban militia command-and-control sites.
The progress report, titled "The Global War on Terrorism, the First
100 days," said the international coalition has "helped the innocent
people of Afghanistan recover from the Taliban's reign of terror." The
White House released the report December 20 in Washington.
The United States built a worldwide anti-terrorism coalition through a
diplomatic initiative that includes 136 countries offering a diverse
range of military support and 46 multilateral organizations declaring
their support, the report said. More than 80 countries suffered losses
on September 11th in terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and
Pennsylvania.
Bush said in the report that since the war began in Afghanistan to
destroy the Taliban militia regime and the al-Qaeda network, an
effective interim government has been formed to establish control of
the country representing all Afghans -- including women. The interim
government is set to assume its duties December 22 in Kabul.
One of the major successes in the first 100 days the report cited is
the world financial community's move to starve terrorists of their
financial support. The report said 196 countries support the financial
portion of the war, while 142 countries have acted to freeze terrorist
assets. In the United States, the assets of 153 known terrorists,
terrorist organizations and terrorist financial centers have been
frozen, the report said.
And since October, the United States has provided $187 million in
humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, including food, shelter, blankets,
and medical supplies, the report said. "The president also launched
the America's Fund for Afghan Children that has already raised more
than $1.5 million for the children of Afghanistan," the report said.
Following is the text of the White House Report:
(begin text)
The Global War on Terrorism
The First 100 Days
"We are supported by the collective will of the world."
President George W. Bush
The Coalition Information Centers
Washington, U.S.A.
London, U.K.
Islamabad, Pakistan
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
THE TRAGEDY OF SEPTEMBER 11
THE AL QAEDA VISION FOR THE WORLD
DIPLOMACY
TERRORIST FINANCES
THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN
LAW ENFORCEMENT
HUMANITARIAN RELIEF
RESPECTING ISLAM
HOMELAND SECURITY
THE SURVIVORS OF SEPTEMBER 11
Executive Summary
"The attack took place on American soil, but it was an attack on the
heart and soul of the civilized world. And the world has come together
to fight a new and different war, the first, and we hope the only one,
of the 21st century. A war against all those who seek to export
terror, and a war against those governments that support or shelter
them."
-President George W. Bush, 10/11/01
On September 11, terrorists attacked freedom.
The world has responded with an unprecedented coalition against
international terrorism. In the first 100 days of the war, President
George W. Bush increased America's homeland security and built a
worldwide coalition that:
-- Began to destroy al-Qaida's grip on Afghanistan by driving the
Taliban from power.
-- Disrupted al-Qaida's global operations and terrorist financing
networks.
-- Destroyed al-Qaida terrorist training camps.
-- Helped the innocent people of Afghanistan recover from the
Taliban's reign of terror.
-- Helped Afghans put aside long-standing differences to form a new
interim government that represents all Afghans -- including women.
President Bush is implementing a comprehensive and visionary foreign
policy against international terrorism. The President's policy puts
the world on notice that any nation that harbors or supports terrorism
will be regarded as a hostile regime.
Diplomacy. President Bush has built a worldwide coalition against
terrorism. More than 80 countries suffered losses on September 11; 136
countries have offered a diverse range of military assistance; 46
multilateral organizations have declared their support; and with U.S.
leadership and international support, Afghans are putting aside
long-standing ethnic and political differences to form a new and
representative government.
Terrorist Finances. The President fired the first shot in the war on
terrorism with the stroke of his pen to seize terrorist financial
assets and disrupt their fundraising pipelines. The world financial
community is moving to starve the terrorists of their financial
support. 196 countries support the financial war on terror; 142
countries have acted to freeze terrorist assets; in the U.S. alone,
the assets of 153 known terrorists, terrorist organizations, and
terrorist financial centers have been frozen; and major terrorist
financial networks have been closed down.
The Military Campaign. Operation Enduring Freedom began on October 7,
2001, and enjoys the support of countries from the United Kingdom to
Australia to Japan. The Taliban have been forced to surrender major
cities. The military has destroyed 11 terrorist training camps and 39
Taliban command and control sites. And al-Qaida terrorists have been
captured, killed or are on the run.
Law Enforcement. The U.S. has led a global dragnet to help bring
terrorists to justice and help prevent future terrorist acts, creating
the Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force to prevent terrorists from
entering the U.S.; arresting and indicting known terrorists;
increasing the global sharing of law enforcement information; and
implementing tough new anti-terrorism laws.
Humanitarian. As Afghanistan's largest humanitarian donor, the U.S.
has increased its aid to the Afghan people by providing $187 million
in aid since October alone, including food, shelter, blankets, and
medical supplies. The President also launched the America's Fund for
Afghan Children that has already raised more than $1.5 million for the
children of Afghanistan. As the harsh Afghan winter approaches, the
U.S. commitment to the Afghan people is saving lives.
Homeland Security. President Bush has taken steps to help protect
America against further terrorist attacks, providing $20 billion for
homeland security; strengthening intelligence efforts; creating the
Office of Homeland Security and the Homeland Security Council;
implementing tough new airline security measures; and taking steps to
protect America's mail.
Helping the Survivors of September 11. The American people have
responded with overwhelming compassion for the families of the victims
of September 11, donating at least $1.3 billion to charities.
Respecting Islam. Almost immediately after the attacks the President
took steps to protect Muslim-Americans from hate crimes. The President
also held a series of events, including hosting the first-ever White
House Iftar and an Eid event at the end of Ramadan; the President
visited the Islamic Center; and the President created the "Friendship
Through Education" initiative to bring American and Muslim children
closer together.
The Tragedy of September 11
"Every one of the victims who died on September 11th was the most
important person on earth to somebody."
-President George W. Bush, 12/11/01
On September 11 the terrorists committed an act of war against the
innocent. The terrorists killed not only to end lives -- they killed
to end our way of life. Recently the terrorists said that we should
forget the attacks of September 11. The terrorists would like nothing
more than to silence the world's vocal opposition to their frightening
vision they hope to export to every corner of the world.
The world will never forget the innocent victims, and the brave heroes
who died attempting to save them. The world will never forget the
survivors, the devastated families and the grieving friends they left
behind:
-- More than 3,000 people died or remain missing following the
attacks. They came from more than 80 different nations, from many
different races and religions.
-- 343 firefighters and paramedics perished at the World Trade Center.
-- 23 police officers and 37 Port Authority police officers died at
the World Trade Center.
-- Approximately 2,000 children lost a parent on September 11,
including 146 children who lost a parent in the Pentagon attacks.
-- One business alone lost more than 700 employees, leaving at least
50 pregnant widows.
On December 11, more than 120 countries stood together to remember the
three-month anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
These Nations & Areas Suffered Losses From the September 11 Attacks
Antigua & Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Czech Republic
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Ethiopia
France
The Gambia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Lebanon
Liberia
Lithuania
Malaysia
Mexico
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States of America
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Yemen
Yugoslavia
Zimbabwe
"...we calculated in advance the number of casualties from the enemy,
who would be killed based on the position of the tower. We calculated
that the floors that would be hit would be three or four floors. I was
the most optimistic of them all...due to my experience in this field,
I was thinking that the fire from the gas in the plane would melt the
iron structure of the building and collapse the area where the plane
hit and all the floors above it only. This is all that we had hoped
for."
-bin Laden
"This new enemy seeks to destroy our freedom and impose its views. We
value life; the terrorists ruthlessly destroy it. We value education;
the terrorists do not believe women should be educated or should have
health care, or should leave their homes. We value the right to speak
our minds; for the terrorists, free expression can be grounds for
execution. We respect people of all faiths and welcome the free
practice of religion; our enemy wants to dictate how to think and how
to worship even to their fellow Muslims."
-President George W. Bush, 11/8/01
Al-Qaeda is a movement defined by hatred. They hate progress, and
freedom, and choice, and culture, and music, and laughter, and women,
and Christians, and Jews, and all Muslims who reject their distorted
doctrines. They love and worship only one thing, and that is power --
power they use without mercy to kill the innocent.
In Afghanistan, we have seen al-Qaeda's vision for the world. The
leadership of al-Qaeda had great influence in Afghanistan and was
supported by the Taliban regime. Afghanistan's people have been
brutalized -- many are starving and many have fled. Women were not
allowed to attend school. A person could be jailed for owning a
television. Religion could be practiced only as their leaders
dictated. A man could be jailed in Afghanistan if his beard was not
long enough.
The al-Qaeda terrorists believe it is acceptable to steal food meant
for starving, innocent families. The al-Qaeda philosophy says it is
acceptable to use innocent people as human shields for their military
operations. The al-Qaeda philosophy says it is acceptable to oppress
women and doom them to a lifetime of poverty.
-- Treatment of Women & Children. First Lady Laura Bush led a
worldwide initiative to highlight the Taliban's oppression of women.
Before the Taliban, women played a key role in society. Then came
al-Qaeda and their destruction of the Afghan family. The
al-Qaeda-controlled Taliban regime especially targeted Afghan women
and children, taking away their basic freedoms, splintering their
families, putting their lives at risk, and relegating them to poverty.
For example, the Taliban forbade the schooling for girls over the age
of eight; shut down the women's university; banned women from working
(stripping a society in desperate need of trained professionals of
half its assets); restricted access to medical care for women;
brutally enforced a restrictive dress code; forbade women from moving
about their communities freely; and beat women for laughing out loud.
The First Lady led a worldwide initiative to highlight the Taliban's
oppression of women which helped lead to representation of women in
the new interim government.
-- Targeting Civilians. Al Qaeda and the Taliban regime have targeted
civilians by literally using them as human shields for their military
activities. For example, the November 6 Washington Post reports that
the Taliban actually placed military assets in mosques and across the
street from hospitals and innocent people's homes. Taliban commanders
have also hijacked humanitarian aid facilities for military purposes.
A senior officer told the Washington Post, "Whole villages are being
used as human shields by the Taliban to protect their large stockpiles
of ammunition and weapons hidden in nearby caves."
-- Humanitarian Crimes. The al-Qaeda and Taliban contribution to the
starving Afghan people has been a deliberate and systematic campaign
to disrupt the efforts of international relief agencies to deliver
desperately needed food and medical supplies to the Afghan people. For
example, the Taliban seized control of two U.N. World Food Program
(WFP) warehouses, one in Kabul, and one in Kandahar, containing more
than half the World Food Program's wheat supply for Afghanistan. The
WFP in Kandahar had been feeding 150,000 Afghans a month before the
Taliban seizure. The Taliban are also actually hijacking humanitarian
convoys for military purposes. The November 6 Washington Post reports,
"A truck in a convoy purportedly on a humanitarian mission to deliver
food tipped over, and crates of tank and mortar shells could be seen
spilling to the ground underneath a thin layer of flour."
-- Al Qaeda & the Drug Trade. Osama bin Laden and his organization
finance many of their terrorist activities through the drug trade. In
fact, on October 25, 2001, The Herald (Glasgow) reported, "Osama bin
Laden financed the development of a highly-addictive liquid heroin
which he named 'The tears of Allah' as part of his multi-pronged
terrorist campaign to destabilize western society... One source said
yesterday: 'It should be called the Devil's Brew rather than Allah's
tears. It is a one-way ticket to addiction and death.'" The United
Nations has also weighed in on the Taliban and al Qaeda connection to
the drug trade. According to a U.N. Committee of Experts report on
Resolution 1333 (May 2001), "Funds raised from the production and
trading of opium and heroin are used by the Taliban to buy arms and
other war materiel, and to finance the training of terrorists and
support the operations of extremists in neighboring countries and
beyond."
Diplomacy
"The message to every country is, there will be a campaign against
terrorist activity, a worldwide campaign. And there is an outpouring
of support for such a campaign. Freedom-loving people understand that
terrorism knows no borders that terrorists will strike in order to
bring fear, to try to change the behavior of countries that love
liberty. And we will not let them do that."
-President George W. Bush, 9/19/01
Since September 11, President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell
have built a worldwide coalition for the war against terrorism. The
coalition is stronger than ever and continues to grow.
-- Since September 11, President Bush has met with leaders from at
least 51 different countries to help build support for the war against
terrorism.
-- 136 countries have offered a range of military assistance.
-- The U.S. has received 46 multilateral declarations of support from
organizations.
-- The U.N. General Assembly and Security Council condemned the
attacks on September 12.
-- NATO, OAS and ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.) quickly
invoked their treaty obligations to support the United States. Our
NATO allies are assisting directly in the defense of American
territory.
-- 142 countries have issued orders freezing the assets of suspected
terrorists and organizations.
-- 89 countries have granted over-flight authority for U.S. military
aircraft.
-- 76 countries have granted landing rights for U.S. military
aircraft.
-- 23 countries have agreed to host U.S. forces involved in offensive
operations.
-- Through intelligence cooperation with many nations, we are
acquiring evidence against those responsible for the attacks of
September 11 and we are better able to prevent future attacks.
-- With U.S. leadership and with international support, Afghans have
put aside long-standing ethnic and political differences to form a new
interim government, naming a president and 29 ministers with
portfolio. The new government will also include women, who have been
oppressed by the Taliban regime.
-- On December 11, more than 120 nations around the world answered
President Bush's call to reject terrorism and commemorate the victims
of the September 11 attacks by holding remembrance ceremonies.
-- The United States and several other allies have reopened embassies
in Kabul.
-- The President was joined by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan on
November 11 for a memorial service honoring the citizens of all the
countries killed in the World Trade Center.
Terrorist Finances
"We put the world's financial institutions on notice: if you do
business with terrorists, if you support them or sponsor them, you
will not do business with the United States of America."
-President George W. Bush, 11/7/01
Terrorists need money to carry out their evil deeds. The President's
first strike in the war against terror was not with a gun or a missile
-- the President's first strike was with his pen as he took action to
freeze terrorist finances and disrupt their pipelines for raising and
moving money in the future.
The world's financial institutions have been put on notice -- if you
support, sponsor, or do business with terrorists, you will not do
business with the United States. Denying terrorists access to funds is
a very real success in the war on terrorism. Since September 11, the
United States and its allies in the war on terrorism have been winning
the war on the financial front:
-- President Bush launched the first offensive in the war on terrorism
on September 23 by signing an Executive Order freezing the U.S.-based
assets of those individuals and organizations involved with terrorism.
-- 196 countries and jurisdictions have expressed their support for
the financial war on terror.
-- 142 countries have issued orders freezing terrorist assets, and
others have requested U.S. help in improving their legal and
regulatory systems so they can more effectively block terrorist funds.
-- The assets of at least 153 known terrorists, terrorist
organizations, and terrorist financial centers have now been frozen in
the U.S. financial system.
-- Since September 11, the U.S. has blocked more than $33 million in
assets of terrorist organizations. Other nations have also blocked
another $33 million.
-- On November 7, the U.S. and its allies closed down operations of
two major financial networks -- al-Barakaat and al-Taqwa -- both of
which were used by al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden as sources of income
and mechanisms to transfer funds.
-- On December 4, President Bush froze the assets of a U.S.-based
foundation -- The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development --
that has been funneling money to the terrorist organization HAMAS.
-- The U.S. government created three new organizations -- the Foreign
Terrorist Asset Tracking Center (FTAT), Operation Green Quest and the
Terrorist Financing Task Force. These new organizations will help
facilitate information sharing between intelligence and law
enforcement agencies and encourage other countries to identify,
disrupt, and defeat terrorist financing networks.
-- International organizations are key partners in the war on
financial terrorism. On September 28, the United Nations Security
Council passed resolution 1373 that requires all nations to keep their
financial systems free of terrorist funds.
-- The Financial Action Task Force -- a 29-nation group promoting
policies to combat money laundering -- adopted strict new standards to
deny terrorist access to the world financial system.
-- The G-20 and IMF member countries have agreed to make public the
list of terrorists whose assets are subject to freezing, and the
amount of assets frozen.
The Military Campaign
"I said to the Taliban, turn them over, destroy the camps, free people
you're unjustly holding. I said, you've got time to do it. But they
didn't listen. They didn't respond, and now they're paying a price.
They are learning that anyone who strikes America will hear from our
military, and they're not going to like what they hear. In choosing
their enemy, the evildoers and those who harbor them have chosen their
fate."
-President George W. Bush, 10/17/01
Operation Enduring Freedom, the military phase, began October 7, 2001.
Since then, coalition forces have liberated the Afghan people from the
repressive and violent Taliban regime. As President Bush and Secretary
of Defense Donald Rumsfeld have said, this is a different kind of war
against a different kind of enemy. The enemy is not a nation -- the
enemy is terrorist networks that threaten the way of life of all
peaceful people.
The war against terrorism is the first war of the 21st Century -- and
it requires a 21st Century military strategy. Secretary Rumsfeld has
worked with our coalition allies and the courageous men and women of
the U.S. military to craft a cutting-edge military strategy that
minimizes civilian casualties, partners with local forces, and brings
destruction to the oppressive Taliban who supported the al-Qaeda
terrorist network.
The coalition has achieved broad military success while putting fewer
than 3,000 U.S. ground troops on the ground in Afghanistan. And
Secretary Rumsfeld and the U.S. military have also shown a lightning
quick ability to adapt to a distant, harsh and ever-changing
battlefield. In some cases, U.S. troops are conquering terrorists by
welding together 21st Century technology with 19th Century tactics.
Troops have chased terrorists on horseback while using mobile phones
and global positioning systems to pinpoint targets for the Air Force.
Bombers today use 21st Century targeting technology, and laser-guided
and GPS guided smart bombs to destroy specific targets, including
centuries-old caves used as terrorist headquarters.
While we've achieved a great deal of military success, much dangerous
and difficult work remains to be done before the war on terrorism is
won. A few key military successes thus far in the war on terrorism
include:
-- In just weeks the military essentially destroyed al-Qaeda's grip on
Afghanistan by driving the Taliban from power.
-- Taliban leaders have surrendered major cities to opposition forces,
including Kandahar, Kabul, Kunduz, and Mazar-e-Sharif.
-- The military has destroyed at least 11 terrorist training camps and
39 Taliban command and control sites. The Wall Street Journal reported
on December 13 that as many as 50,000 terrorists from more than 50
countries may have received training in al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan
in recent years.
-- About 2.5 million humanitarian rations have been dropped to aid the
people of Afghanistan.
-- U.S. Marines have established a military base at Kandahar airport.
-- Routes are being blocked to try to prevent the escape of al-Qaeda
and Taliban members.
-- Senior al-Qaeda and Taliban officials have either been captured or
killed.
-- The U.S. military rescued two American Christian aid workers who
were being held as prisoners by the Taliban.
-- Friendship Bridge between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan was reopened
to transport humanitarian aid by land.
-- Minefields and roads are being cleared to ensure delivery of aid
and freedom of movement.
-- Leaflet drops and radio broadcasts continue daily to convey our
determination, provide truthful information, and encourage the capture
of Osama bin Laden.
The military action in Afghanistan represents a global coalition
effort. In addition to the United States, military assets are being
deployed from many other nations, including the United Kingdom,
Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New
Zealand, Poland, Russia and Turkey.
Law Enforcement
"Terrorists try to operate in the shadows. They try to hide. But we're
going to shine the light of justice on them. We list their names, we
publicize their pictures, we rob them of their secrecy. Terrorism has
a face, and today we expose it for the world to see."
-President George W. Bush, 10/10/01
The U.S. is leading a global dragnet to help bring terrorists to
justice and help prevent future terrorist acts.
Prevention and Investigation:
-- As of December 17, 460 individuals were being detained by the INS.
116 individuals, 77 of whom are in custody, are facing federal
criminal charges -- including Zacarias Moussaoui who has been charged
with conspiring with Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda to murder thousands
of innocent people in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
-- The Department of Justice (DOJ) created the new 22 "Most Wanted
Terrorists" list.
-- The FBI created a national task force to centralize control and
information sharing resulting in hundreds of thousands of leads, over
500 searches, thousands of interviews of witnesses, and numerous
court-authorized surveillance orders.
-- The U.S. government has offered a reward of up to $25 million for
information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of
Osama bin Laden.
-- The Treasury Department and the Department of Justice collaborated
to freeze the assets and accounts of 62 individuals and organizations
connected with two terrorist-supporting financial networks, the
al-Taqua and the al-Barakaat, and one organization funneling money to
HAMAS.
-- The Department of State strengthened its "Rewards for Justice
Program" which authorizes the Secretary of State to offers rewards of
more than $5 million for information that prevents acts of
international terrorism against the United States. The State
Department has also launched a series of Public Service Announcements
to educate the American public on the program.
-- Improved information sharing between the law-enforcement and
intelligence communities, allowing nationwide search warrants for
e-mail and subpoenas for payment information, and to place those who
access the Internet through cable companies on the same footing as
everyone else.
-- At the Attorney General's request, the State Department designated
39 entities as terrorist organizations.
-- The U.S. has forged new cooperative agreements with Canada to
protect our common borders and the economic prosperity they sustain.
-- Created 93 Anti-Terrorism Task Forces -- one in each U.S.
Attorney's district -- to integrate the communications and activities
of local, state and federal law enforcement.
-- Created the Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force to focus on
preventing terrorists from entering the country, and to locate and
remove those who already have.
-- The Department of Justice crafted a new reorganization plan --
Reorganization and Mobilization of the Nation's Justice and Law
Enforcement Resources -- which is DOJ 's strategy for fiscal years
2001 to 2006 to help meet the new anti-terrorism mission.
-- Reorganization of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
to reform the agency's structure by separating its service and
enforcement functions. Fulfills President Bush's pledge to improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of the nation's immigration system.
-- The Department of Justice launched the Responsible Cooperators
Program. Justice will provide immigration benefits to non-citizens who
furnish information to help apprehend terrorists or to stop terrorist
attacks.
-- INS arrested Mazen Al Najjar after he was ordered to be deported
for violating his visa, had established ties to terrorist
organizations and held leadership positions in the Islamic Concern
Project and the World and Islam Studies Enterprise.
-- Zayd Hassan Abd Al-Latif Masud Al Safarini was arrested for his
indictment in 1991 for the September 5, 1986, hijacking of Pan
American World Airways Flight 73, demonstrating DOJ's commitment to
track down terrorists no matter how long it takes.
Civil Rights:
-- The President moved swiftly to protect Muslims from hate crimes and
the Department of Justice followed his lead by having their Civil
Rights Division sponsor community forums in Chicago, Illinois, and
Dearborn, Michigan, on combating ethnically motivated violence as a
result of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
-- Attorney General John Ashcroft and AAG for Civil Rights Ralph F.
Boyd, Jr. have met with 29 prominent leaders from the Arab and Muslim
American and Sikh communities and underscored DOJ's strong commitment
to investigate and prosecute violators of federal hate crime laws.
-- The Department of Justice, the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission
and the Department of Labor issued a joint statement against
employment discrimination in the aftermath of September 11.
-- Investigating approximately 300 incidents involving violence, or
threats of violence against individuals perceived to be of Middle
Eastern origin. Federal charges have been brought in 6 cases,
coordinating with local prosecutors in at least ten instances where
cases are being prosecuted locally.
Victim Relief:
-- Provided approximately $52 million in assistance to victims and
their families and $10 million in emergency assistance to the NYPD.
Humanitarian Relief
"Ultimately, one of the best weapons, one of the truest weapons that
we have against terrorism is to show the world the true strength of
character and kindness of the American people. Americans are united in
this fight against terrorism. We're also united in our concern for the
innocent people of Afghanistan."
-President George W. Bush, 10/11/01
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains dire. Millions face
the threat of starvation. 70% of the Afghan people and 1/2 of all
Afghan children are malnourished. Only 13% of the Afghan people have
access to clean water.
Years of civil war -- compounded by the rule of the Taliban and the
worst drought in 30 years -- have made matters worse. The Taliban were
clearly more interested in protecting al-Qaeda than feeding the
starving, innocent people of Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda and the Taliban
have not only failed to provide security, food, and shelter for the
Afghan people, but they have also disrupted the efforts of
international relief agencies to deliver desperately needed food and
medical supplies to the Afghan people. Among other things, the Taliban
have seized and looted humanitarian supplies for themselves, and have
harassed and beaten Afghan and international aid workers.
The typically harsh Afghan winter is arriving and the U.S., with its
international partners, is doing everything it can to help bring hope
to the innocent Afghans who have suffered under the brutal and
oppressive al-Qaeda and Taliban regime:
-- Even before September 11, the U.S. was the leading humanitarian aid
donor for Afghanistan.
-- Last fiscal year the U.S. provided $183 million of humanitarian
assistance alone to Afghanistan.
-- Since the beginning of October alone, the U.S. has provided more
than $187 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
-- On October 10, USAID Administrator Natsios announced a five-point
assistance strategy for Afghanistan: reduce death rates; minimize
population movements; lower and then stabilize food prices; ensure
that aid reaches those it is intended for; and begin developmental
relief programs.
-- As of mid-December the international community, led by the U.S.,
has delivered 127,368 metric tons (MT) of food aid to Afghanistan,
using, trucks, boats, barges, aircraft, and thousands of people to
overcome numerous logistical and security obstacles. (For context,
52,000 MT of food will feed approximately six million people for one
month.)
-- Between October 7 and December 13, the Department of Defense
airdropped 2,423,700 Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs) to Afghans who
could not be reached by relief workers because of ongoing conflict.
The entire operation cost approximately $51 million.
-- The President announced the creation of the America's Fund for
Afghan Children. The President asked American children to send $1
dollar -- or whatever they can afford -- to the Fund to help buy
important humanitarian supplies. America's children have donated more
than $1.5 million thus far to the Fund. The first shipment of
humanitarian goods purchased from this fund left the U.S. for the
Afghan children on Sunday, December 9.
-- The government has provided more than $62 million in grants to
support relief activities in Afghanistan. The programs include
supporting agriculture, rehabilitating water resources, funding health
services, repairing shelters, and providing critical non-food items
such as blankets, tents and kitchen sets. Additional grants have
funded UN coordination efforts and a radio program to provide
humanitarian and security information to Afghans in their home
languages.
-- USAID has provided funding for wool blankets and quilts, shelter
kits, plastic sheeting and winterized tents. Further, USAID is
distributing mattresses, clothes, stoves, cooking sets, firewood,
coal, lanterns and water containers.
-- The government has provided medical kits and funds for health
centers and mobile clinics in Afghanistan and is sponsoring public
heath education and programs on hygiene, obstetrics, maternal and
childcare, and malnutrition. USAID is employing trained personnel to
conduct educational outreach on basic health and nutrition, especially
to women. USAID is helping expectant mothers, training local birth
attendants and funding the distribution of vitamins and the
immunization of young children.
-- The government has provided funds for rehabilitation and
reconstruction in the areas of housing, roads and bridges, wells and
irrigation systems, agriculture and food security, and initiating
"food for work" and "food for cash" initiatives.
-- USAID has funded six airlifts of critical commodities to
Afghanistan. The airlifts have provided shelter materials, tents,
health supplies and high-energy food items for vulnerable people in
Afghanistan.
-- The State Department has provided $32,260,000 to relief agencies to
assist Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Iran and other neighboring
countries. The grants also provide funds to assist refugees attempting
to return to their homes in Afghanistan.
-- The government has sent Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART)
personnel to Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan to
ensure that relief efforts are effective and well coordinated.
Respecting Islam
"The Islam that we know is a faith devoted to the worship of one God,
as revealed through The Holy Qu'ran. It teaches the value and
importance of charity, mercy, and peace."
-President George W. Bush, 11/15/01
The United States is a nation of religious freedom, and the President
has acted to ensure that the world's Muslims -- from Dearborn,
Michigan to Kabul, Afghanistan -- know that America appreciates and
celebrates the rich traditions of Islam:
-- At the national prayer service following the September 11 attacks,
the President included religious leaders from many faiths, including
an Imam from the Islamic Society of North America. Subsequently the
President hosted an interfaith meeting on September 20 with leaders of
different religious denominations to pray jointly for the victims of
the September 11 tragedies and called for national reconciliation.
-- Soon after the terrorist attacks, the President visited the Islamic
Center of Washington to meet with American Muslim leaders and deliver
a message of tolerance and solidarity. The President condemned
unwarranted attacks on Americans of Muslim faith, and urged Americans
to show their support for their Muslim friends.
-- President Bush launched the "Friendship Through Education"
initiative, encouraging children in America and children in Muslim
nations to connect through email, letter writing, and different
friendship and understanding projects. The President wants this
initiative to help youths from different societies deepen their
understanding of each others' traditions and outlooks.
-- For Ramadan, on November 19 President Bush hosted the first-ever
Iftar -- or breaking-of-the-fast -- dinner at the White House, which
included the ambassadors from nations with Muslim populations. The
President also issued a warm greeting to Muslims around America and
around the world with a special Ramadan message.
-- The State Department asked U.S. embassies in Muslim countries to
host Iftar dinners and many members of his administration also held
their own celebrations. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Attorney
General John Ashcroft, and Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz
all participated in Iftar dinners.
-- On December 17, President Bush hosted Muslim children at the White
House in honor of Eid al-Fitr, Islam's most sacred holiday. He read an
Eid book to the children and hosted them for cookies and punch as well
as delivering a present to each child in the tradition of Eid. The
President also issued a taped Eid message and read an Eid greeting.
-- Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham recognized Americans for acts
of compassion following the September 11th attacks -- he honored, for
example, a church that started an escort service for Muslim women who
wear the hijab, and a citizen who created a fund to assist low-income
Muslim victims of hate-inspired vandalism. Secretary Abraham will also
launch a series of public service announcements further promoting
tolerance.
Homeland Security
"We face a united, determined enemy. America is going to be prepared."
-President George W. Bush, 10/8/01
President Bush has taken action to help protect America against
terrorist attacks. The government is working around the clock to
protect Americans. Among many other steps:
-- The President worked with Congress to provide $20 billion to
promote homeland security, including funds to upgrade intelligence and
security, provide recovery assistance to disaster sites, help victims'
families, increase numbers of law enforcement personnel, provide
health care for displaced Americans, and purchase irradiation
equipment to sanitize the mail.
-- The President established the Office of Homeland Security -- under
the diligent guidance of Governor Tom Ridge -- and the Homeland
Security Council to coordinate, and implement the Executive Branch's
efforts to detect, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover
from terrorist attacks within the United States.
-- The President moved to implement tough new airline security
standards that tighten background checks for airline screeners and
workers, dramatically expands the federal air marshal program, creates
strict new baggage security requirements, and tightens security in all
areas of airports.
-- The President established an advisory committee for cyber security
to ensure that America's key infrastructures are protected. The
advisory committee is a public/private partnership.
-- The Administration has strengthened coordination between law
enforcement agencies of the U.S. and neighboring countries to address
common threats while ensuring the free flow of goods and people.
-- The Food and Drug Administration has enhanced the food screening
process of imported foods.
-- The Department of Health and Human Services created the Office of
Public Health Preparedness, to coordinate the national response to
public health emergencies.
-- Public health professionals provided antibiotics to more than
30,000 people to protect against their possible exposure to anthrax.
-- HHS increased the supply of drug caches around the country, added
specific use drugs, and began to increase the supply of small pox
vaccine to 300 million.
-- The President created a Presidential Task force to help Americans
prepare in their homes, neighborhoods, schools, and other public
places from the consequences of terrorist attacks.
-- The Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Postal Service
provided guidelines on how to handle mail that had potentially come
into contact with anthrax.
-- EPA has worked with water utilities, chemical, pesticide, petroleum
and fertilizer manufacturers to increase their vigilance and secure
their resources against an attack.
The Survivors of September 11
"It is said that adversity introduces us to ourselves. This is true of
a nation as well. In this trial, we have been reminded, and the world
has seen, that our fellow Americans are generous and kind, resourceful
and brave. We see our national character in rescuers working past
exhaustion; in long lines of blood donors; in thousands of citizens
who have asked to work and serve in any way possible."
-President's Remarks at National Day of Prayer and Remembrance,
9/14/01
Every one of the victims who died on September 11th was the most
important person on earth to somebody. The American people have
responded to the tragedies of September 11 with an unprecedented
outpouring of support for their fellow Americans who lost so much on
September 11:
-- While it is impossible to catalog every penny of contributions, at
least $1.3 billion has been collected in aid for families of both
civilian and uniformed victims of the September 11th terrorist
attacks.
-- There are many relief organizations collecting aid to distribute to
the families of the thousands of victims from the September 11th
terrorist attacks. Examples include the Twin Towers Orphan fund, the
Pentagon Assistance Fund, the WTC School Fund, the Washington Redskins
Relief Fund, the Dole-Clinton Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund,
and funds established by the United Jewish Communities, Catholic
Charities, the Burn Center at the Washington Hospital Center, and
many, many more.
-- The American Red Cross has raised over $647.4 million and has
distributed over $217.7 million to the families of the victims of
September 11th.
-- The September 11th United Way Relief Fund has been working
thoughtfully and deliberately to distribute $143 million in cash and
services to help rebuild the lives of victims' families and affected
communities.
-- On September 1, the entertainment industry came together in
historic fashion to raise funds and raise the spirits of all who have
been touched by the horrific tragedy that has struck America. Over
$150 million was pledged through the United Way September 11th
Telethon Fund, "America: Tribute to Heroes." By the end of the year, a
total of $100 million in cash assistance will have been delivered to
victims' families through the Telethon Fund by the entertainment
industry.
-- New York City's major human service organizations have joined
forces under an umbrella group called the 9/11 United Services Group.
At the urging of the New York State Attorney General, the group
launched a confidential database, which will serve as a central
clearinghouse for information on victims, survivors, financial needs,
and the amounts of money and services provided by charities. This
database enables the different charities to communicate with each
other and track both the needs of the families of victims as well as
the amount of assistance they are receiving.
-- More than 100 people with ties to the Sept. 11 terror attacks will
carry the Olympic torch as it makes its way to Salt Lake City for the
Winter Games. The torch will be passed at the Pentagon on Friday,
December 21, 2001.
-- The President announced www.libertyunites.org in the Rose Garden on
September 18, 2001, and praised Americans for their outpouring of
charitable relief support in the wake of September 11th.
(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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