Military

DATE=1/29/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH STATE OF THE UNION (S update)

NUMBER=2-285805

BYLINE= PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE= WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush says the war on terrorism is just beginning and that the United States must be steadfast and persistent. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports his first official State of the Union Address focused on fighting terrorism abroad, protecting Americans at home and boosting the U-S economy.

TEXT: Mr. Bush says the war on terror will not end in Afghanistan. He says tens of thousands of terrorists trained on Afghan soil are still at large.

///BUSH ACTUALITY///

Thousands of dangerous killers, schooled in the methods of murder, often supported by outlaw regimes are now spread throughout the world like ticking time bombs, set to go off without warning.

///END ACTUALITY///

The president says America has two goals: to destroy the terrorist network and to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction. In his speech, he singled out North Korea, Iran and Iraq.

///BUSH ACTUALITY///

States like these, and their terrorists allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world.

///END ACTUALITY///

Congress has supported the president's war effort, but there is little unity on his domestic proposals -- particularly those to strengthen the economy. As he stood at the podium, Mr. Bush clearly hoped to take his record public approval ratings as commander in chief and turn them into support for his domestic agenda. He says America will prevail in the war, and it will defeat this economic recession. (signed)

NEB / PW / WD