[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 123 (Thursday, September 20, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H5859-H5862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

  The PRESIDENT. Thank you all. Please be seated.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. President Pro Tempore, Members of Congress, and 
fellow Americans:
  In the normal course of events, Presidents come to this Chamber to 
report on the state of the Union. Tonight no such report is needed. It 
has already been delivered by the American people. We have seen it in 
the courage of passengers who rushed terrorists to save others on the 
ground, passengers like an exceptional man named Todd Beamer. Would you 
please help me welcome his wife, Lisa Beamer, here tonight.
  We have seen the state of our Union in the endurance of rescuers 
working

[[Page H5860]]

past exhaustion. We have seen the unfurling of flags, the lighting of 
candles, the giving of blood, the saying of prayers, in English, Hebrew 
and Arabic. We have seen the decency of a loving and giving people who 
have made the grief of strangers their own.
  My fellow citizens, for the last 9 days, the entire world has seen 
for itself the state of our Union, and it is strong.
  Tonight we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend 
freedom. Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution. 
Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our 
enemies, justice will be done.
  I thank the Congress for its leadership at such an important time. 
All of America was touched on the evening of the tragedy to see 
Republicans and Democrats joined together on the steps of this Capitol 
singing ``God Bless America.'' And you did more than sing, you acted, 
by delivering $40 billion to rebuild our communities and meet the needs 
of our military.
  Speaker Hastert, Minority Leader Gephardt, Majority Leader Daschle 
and Senator Lott, I thank you for your friendship, for your leadership, 
and for your service to our country.
  And on behalf of the American people, I thank the world for its 
outpouring of support. America will never forget the sounds of our 
national anthem playing at Buckingham Palace, on the streets of Paris, 
and at Berlin's Brandenberg Gate. We will not forget South Korean 
children gathering to pray outside our embassy in Seoul, or the prayers 
of sympathy offered at a mosque in Cairo. We will not forget moments of 
silence and days of mourning in Australia and Africa and Latin America.
  Nor will we forget the citizens of 80 other nations who died with our 
own: dozens of Pakistanis, more than 130 Israelis, more than 250 
citizens of India, men and women from El Salvador, Iran, Mexico and 
Japan, and hundreds of British citizens. America has no truer friend 
than Great Britain. Once again we are joined together in a great cause. 
We are so honored the British Prime Minister has crossed an ocean to 
show his unity with America. Thank you for coming, friend.
  On September the 11th, enemies of freedom committed an act of war 
against our country. Americans have known wars, but for the past 136 
years they have been wars on foreign soil, except for one Sunday in 
1941. Americans have known the casualties of war, but not at the center 
of a great city on a peaceful morning. Americans have known surprise 
attacks, but never before on thousands of civilians. All of this was 
brought upon us in a single day, and night fell on a different world, a 
world where freedom itself is under attack.
  Americans have many questions tonight. Americans are asking who 
attacked our country? The evidence we have gathered all points to a 
collection of loosely affiliated terrorist organizations known as al-
Qaida. They are the same murderers indicted for bombing American 
embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, and responsible for bombing the U.S.S. 
Cole. Al-Qaida is to terror what the Mafia is to crime. But its goal is 
not making money. Its goal is remaking the world and imposing its 
radical beliefs on people everywhere.
  The terrorists practice a fringe form of Islamic extremism that has 
been rejected by Muslim scholars and the vast majority of Muslim 
clerics, a fringe movement that perverts the peaceful teaching that is 
Islam. The terrorists directive commands them to kill Christians and 
Jews, to kill all Americans, and make no distinctions among military 
and civilians, including women and children.
  This group and its leader, a person named Osama bin Ladin, are linked 
to many other organizations in different countries, including the 
Egyptian Islamic Jihad and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. There 
are thousands of these terrorists in more than 60 countries. They are 
recruited from their own nations and neighborhoods and brought to camps 
in places like Afghanistan where they are trained in the tactics of 
terror. They are sent back to their homes or they are sent to hide in 
countries around the world to plot evil and destruction.
  The leadership of al-Qaida has great influence in Afghanistan and 
supports the Taliban regime in controlling most of that country. In 
Afghanistan, we see al-Qaida's vision for the world. Afghanistan's 
people have been brutalized. Many are starving and many have fled. 
Women are not allowed to attend school. You can be jailed for owning a 
television. Religion can be practiced only as their leaders dictate. A 
man can be jailed in Afghanistan if his beard is not long enough.
  The United States respects the people of Afghanistan. After all, we 
are currently its largest source of humanitarian aid. But we condemn 
the Taliban regime. It is not only repressing its own people, it is 
threatening people everywhere by sponsoring and sheltering and 
supplying terrorists. By aiding and abetting murder, the Taliban regime 
is committing murder. And tonight, the United States of America makes 
the following demands on the Taliban:
  Deliver to United States authorities all the leaders of al-Qaida who 
hide in your land. Release all foreign nationals, including American 
citizens you have unjustly imprisoned. Protect foreign journalists, 
diplomats, and aid workers in your country. Close immediately and 
permanently every terrorist training camp in Afghanistan, and hand over 
every terrorist and every person in their support structure to 
appropriate authorities. Give the United States full access to 
terrorist training camps so we can make sure they are no longer 
operating.
  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.
  I also want to speak tonight directly to Muslims throughout the 
world; we respect your faith. It is practiced freely by many millions 
of Americans, and by millions more in countries that America counts as 
friends. Its teachings are good and peaceful, and those who commit evil 
in the name of Allah blaspheme the name of Allah.
  The terrorists are traitors to their own faith, trying, in effect, to 
hijack Islam itself. 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.
  Our war on terror begins with al-Qaida, but it does not end there. It 
will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been 
found, stopped, and defeated.
  Americans are asking: Why do they hate us? They hate what they see 
right here in this Chamber, a democratically elected government. Their 
leaders are self-appointed. They hate our freedoms, our freedom of 
religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and 
disagree with each other.
  They want to overthrow existing governments in many Muslim countries, 
such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. They want to drive Israel out 
of the Middle East. They want to drive Christians and Jews out of vast 
regions of Asia and Africa.
  These terrorists kill not merely to end lives, but to disrupt and end 
a way of life. With every atrocity, they hope that America grows 
fearful, retreating from the world and forsaking our friends. They 
stand against us because we stand in their way.
  We are not deceived by their pretenses to piety. We have seen their 
kind before. They are the heirs of all of the murderous ideologies of 
the 20th century. By sacrificing human life to serve their radical 
visions, by abandoning every value except the will to power, they 
follow in the path of fascism, Naziism, and totalitarianism. And they 
will follow that path all the way to where it ends: in history's 
unmarked grave of discarded lies.
  Americans are asking: How will we fight and win this war? 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.
  Now this war will not be like the war against Iraq a decade ago, with 
its decisive liberation of territory and a its swift conclusion. It 
will not look like the air war above Kosovo 2 years ago, where no 
ground troops were used and not a single American was lost in combat.
  Our response involves far more than instant retaliation and isolated 
strikes. Americans should not expect

[[Page H5861]]

one battle, but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have seen. It 
may include dramatic strikes visible on TV, and covert operations, 
secret even in success. We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them 
one against another, drive them from place to place, until there is no 
refuge or rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe 
havens to terrorism. Every nation in every region now has a decision to 
make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.
  From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support 
terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime.
  Our Nation has been put on notice: we are not immune from attack. We 
will take defensive measures against terrorism to protect Americans.
  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.
  And tonight I also announce the distinguished American to lead this 
effort to strengthen American security, a military veteran, an 
effective Governor, a true patriot, a trusted friend, Pennsylvania's 
Tom Ridge.
  He will lead, oversee, and coordinate a comprehensive national 
strategy to safeguard our country against terrorism and respond to any 
attacks that may come.
  These measures are essential. The only way to defeat terrorism as a 
threat to our way of life is to stop it, eliminate it, and destroy it 
where it grows.
  Many will be involved in this effort, from FBI agents to intelligence 
operatives, to the reservists we have called to active duty.
  All deserve our thanks, and all have our prayers.
  Tonight a few miles from the damaged Pentagon, I have a message for 
our military: be ready. I have called the Armed Forces to alert, and 
there is a reason. The hour is coming when America will act, and you 
will make us proud.
  This is not, however, just America's fight. And what is at stake is 
not just America's freedom. This is the world's fight. This is 
civilization's fight. This is the fight of all who believe in progress 
and pluralism, tolerance and freedom.
  We ask every nation to join us. We will ask, and we will need the 
help of police forces, intelligence services, and banking systems 
around the world.
  The United States is grateful that many nations and many 
international organizations have already responded with sympathy and 
with support, nations from Latin America to Asia to Africa to Europe to 
the Islamic world. Perhaps the NATO charter reflects best the attitude 
of the world: an attack on one is an attack on all.
  The civilized world is rallying to America's side. They understand 
that if this terror goes unpunished, their own cities, their own 
citizens may be next. Terror unanswered cannot only bring down 
buildings, it can threaten the stability of legitimate governments. And 
you know what, we are not going to allow it.
  Americans are asking: What is expected of us? I ask you to live your 
lives and hug your children. I know many citizens have fears tonight, 
and I ask you to be calm and resolute, even in the face of a continuing 
threat.
  I ask you to uphold the values of America and remember why so many 
have come here. We are in a fight for our principles, and our first 
responsibility is to live by them. No one should be singled out for 
unfair treatment or unkind words because of their ethnic background or 
religious faith.
  I ask you to continue to support the victims of this tragedy with 
your contributions. Those who want to give can go to a central source 
of information, libertyunites.org, to find the names of groups 
providing direct help in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
  The thousands of FBI agents who are now at work in this investigation 
may need your cooperation, and I ask you to give it.
  I ask for your patience with the delays and inconveniences that may 
accompany tighter security, and for your patience in what will be a 
long struggle.
  I ask your continued participation and confidence in the American 
economy. Terrorists attacked a symbol of American prosperity. They did 
not touch its source. America is successful because of the hard work 
and creativity and enterprise of our people. These were true of our 
economy before September 11, and they are our strengths today.
  And finally, please continue praying for the victims of terror and 
their families, for those in uniform, and for our great country. Prayer 
has comforted us in sorrow and will help strengthen us for the journey 
ahead.
  Tonight I thank my fellow Americans for what you have already done 
and what you will do. And ladies and gentlemen of the Congress, I thank 
you, their representatives, for what you have already done, and for 
what we will do together.
  Tonight we face new and sudden national challenges. We will come 
together to improve air safety, to dramatically expand the number of 
air marshals on domestic flights, and take new measures to prevent 
hijacking. We will come together to promote stability and keep our 
airlines flying with direct assistance during this emergency.
  We will come together to give law enforcement the additional tools it 
needs to track down terror here at home. We will come together to 
strengthen our intelligence capabilities, to know the plans of 
terrorists before they act, and to find them before they strike.
  We will come together to take active steps that strengthen America's 
economy and put our people back to work.
  Tonight we welcome two leaders who embody the extraordinary spirit of 
all New Yorkers: Governor George Pataki and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. As 
a symbol of America's resolve, my administration will work with the 
Congress and these two leaders to show the world that we will rebuild 
New York City.
  After all that has just passed, all the lives taken, and all the 
possibilities and hopes that died with them, it is natural to wonder if 
America's future is one of fear. Some speak of an age of terror. I know 
there are struggles ahead, and dangers to face. But this country will 
define our times, not be defined by them. As long as the United States 
of America is determined and strong, this will not be an age of terror; 
this will be an age of liberty here and across the world.
  Great harm has been done to us. We have suffered great loss. In our 
grief and anger we have found our mission and our moment. Freedom and 
fear are at war. The advance of human freedom, the great achievement of 
our time, and the great hope of every time, now depends on us. Our 
Nation, this generation, will lift the dark threat of violence from our 
people and our future. We will rally the world to this cause by our 
efforts and by our courage. We will not tire, we will not falter, and 
we will not fail.
  It is my hope that in the months and years ahead, life will return 
almost to normal. We will go back to our lives and routines, and that 
is good. Even grief recedes with time and grace. But our resolve must 
not pass. Each of us will remember what happened that day, and to whom 
it happened. We will remember the moment the news came, where we were, 
and what we were doing. Some will remember an image of fire, or a story 
of rescue. Some will carry memories of a face and a voice gone forever.
  And I will carry this. It is the police shield of a man named George 
Howard, who died at the World Trade Center trying to save others. It 
was given to me by his mom, Arlene, as a proud memorial to her son. It 
is my reminder of lives that ended, and a task that does not end.
  I will not forget this wound to our country, and those who inflicted 
it. I will not yield, I will not rest, I will not relent in waging this 
struggle for the freedom and security of the American people.
  The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. 
Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we 
know that God is not neutral between them.

                              {time}  2140

  Fellow citizens, we will meet violence with patient justice assured 
of the rightness of our cause, and confident of the victories to come. 
In all

[[Page H5862]]

that lies before us, may God grant us wisdom, and may He watch over the 
United States of America.
  Thank you.
  (Applause, the Members rising.)
  At 9 o'clock and 41 minutes p.m., the President of the United States, 
accompanied by the committee of escort, retired from the Hall of the 
House of Representatives.
  The Assistant to the Sergeant at Arms escorted the invited guests 
from the Chamber in the following order:
  The members of the President's Cabinet.
  The Chief Justice of the United States and the Associate Justices of 
the Supreme Court.
  The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.

                          ____________________