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Bush Vows to Use "Every Resource" to Combat Terrorism
Bush vows `Justice will be done'
US President George W. Bush vowed Thursday evening to use "every resource" at his command to combat global terrorism.
Addressing a joint session of Congress and the nation, Bush said: "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."
Bush urged Afghanistan's ruling Taliban to turn over Saudi-born millionaire Osama bin Laden to the United States.
The president demanded that the Taliban turn over all the leaders of bin Laden's network al-Qaeda and release all foreign nationals, including American citizens who have been imprisoned in Afghanistan.
In addition, Bush demanded that the Taliban "close immediately and permanently every terrorist camp in Afghanistan and hand over every terrorist and every person in their support structure to appropriate authorities."
Bush also demanded full U.S. access to terrorist training camps in Afghanistan "so we can make sure they are no longer operating." The demands are not open to negotiation or discussion, he said.
Referring to last week's terror attacks in New York and Washington, Bush said all evidence pointed to the "loosely affiliated network of terror organizations, al-Qaeda."
Bush urged the military to be ready and the American people to be calm and resolute. He also warned that it would require a " lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have ever seen."
"We are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom," Bush said. "Freedom and fear are at war."
He cautioned that this would be a war against terrorist extremists, not the Muslim faith. "The enemy of America 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," he said.
Bush announced that his administration will establish a cabinet- level body called the Office of Homeland Security in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Defense Department building in Washington. He named Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge to lead that office.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, currently visiting the United States, listened to the speech at the Capitol Hill.
Vice President Dick Cheney, who is Senate speaker, did not attend Bush's speech for security reasons and as a precaution against further attacks.
Bush's speech came as the Pentagon began "Operation Infinite Justice" by ordering over 100 combat planes to the Gulf, including F-15s and F-16s.
On Wednesday, aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and the ships in its battle group also left for the Mediterranean from their home port at Norfolk, Virginia.
The U.S. has vowed to take retaliatory military action against those responsible for last week's devastating attacks.
New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said Thursday that 6,333 people are missing and presumed dead as the World Trade Center twin towers were destroyed by hijacked airliners. An additional 189 are believed to have died in a similar attack on the Pentagon, and 44 more were killed when a fourth hijacked plane crashed in Pennsylvania.
Cabinet-Level Homeland Security Office Bush announced night that his administration will establish a Cabinet-level body position called the Office of Homeland Security in the wake of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Defense Department building in Washington last week.
The job would involve coordination of government-wide domestic security efforts, including meshing domestic Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and foreign intelligence agencies, working with the U.S. military, emergency officials and state and local governments.
"Today, dozens of federal departments and agencies, as well as state and local governments, have responsibilities affecting homeland security. These efforts must be coordinated at the highest level. So tonight I announce the creation of a Cabinet- level position reporting directly to me -- the Office of Homeland Security," Bush said.
Accuses Taliban of Protecting Bin Laden Bush said that, by protecting Saudi-born extremist Osama bin Laden, Afghanistan's ruling Taliban were "aiding and abetting murder" and thus "committing murder."
Bush demanded that the Taliban regime deliver to the United States all al-Qaeda leaders; release foreign prisoners, including U.S. nationals; protect foreign journalists, diplomats and aid workers; close all terrorist training camps and hand over every terrorist and allow the United States to verify the closure of the camps.
"These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion. The Taliban must act and act immediately. They will hand over the terrorists, or they will share in their fate." Bush said.
On September 11, two hijacked passenger planes rammed into the 110-story twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. A third plane crashed into the western end of the Pentagon building in Washington and a fourth crashed in western Pennsylvania. All 266 people on board the planes were killed and thousands more are feared dead.
Osama bin Laden is considered a "prime suspect" by the U.S. authorities in connection with these terror attacks.
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