Washington Returns to Life After Devastating Attack on Pentagon

US capital of Washington returned to life Wednesday with political leaders vowing to fight back after Tuesday's devastating terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.

President Bush met with his national security team and congressional leaders at the White House this morning. He condemned the terrorist attacks as "acts of war" and pledged to spend "whatever it takes" to help the nation recover from the tragedy and protect the nation's security.

State Secretary Colin Powell also vowed to hunt down those responsible for the attacks. "We will go after them," Powell told ABC. "We will not let up."

He said that he had been in touch with NATO officials about paving the way for an eventual international response to the attacks.

Congress reconvened Wednesday in a fortified U.S. Capitol 24 hours after lawmakers fled the building.

The Senate and the House of Representatives introduced a joint resolution condemning the terrorist attacks and declaring September 12 as "a national day of unity and mourning".

All the federal government departments reopened Wednesday, but the capital city remained under close watch with more police on patrol than usual and National Guard troops patrolling the streets.

The administration has taken a range of actions to respond to the attack and ease a return to normalcy.

The Treasury Department announced that the United States and its wealthy allies had pledged their central banks would make a coordinated effort to keep the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history from leading to "disruption to the global economy."

The Transportation Department said airline passengers who were diverted to Canada on Tuesday would be permitted to complete their journeys to their American destinations. The rest of the nation's air traffic system remained shut down, pending implementation of stricter security measures.

With the Pentagon still smoldering, its workers were able to enter sections of their building, but nearly half the structure had no power and some employees were asked not to show up.

Search and rescue workers were still working in the remains of the portion of the Pentagon that collapsed, but they said no more survivors are expected to be pulled from the rubble. The U.S. Defense Department confirmed that 80 people were killed as a hijacked passenger plane crashed into the building.

Schools and some museums remained closed in Washington. Area universities opened. The subway was running but not stopping at the National Airport station. Below ground, commuters were met with red-lettered "Security Alert" signs.

"The federal government and all our agencies are conducting business, but it is not business as usual," Bush said. "We are operating on heightened security alert. America is going forward, and as we do so, we must remain keenly aware of the threats to our country."






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