    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [October 10, 2001]
    [Pages 1212-1213]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Announcing the Most Wanted Terrorists List
    October 10, 2001

        Well, thank you very much for that warm welcome. I'm pleased to be
    back at the FBI to unveil a new line of attack on our war against
    terrorism, the Most Wanted Terrorist list. 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.
        Mr. General, thank you very much for your
    leadership, your strong resolve, the values you espouse. I want to thank
    all the Justice Department folks who are here today.
        I'm so honored to be up here with the Secretary of State. He's doing a fabulous job of rallying the world to
    our cause. And I want to thank the State Department officials who are
    here today, as well.
        And of course, Director Mueller,
    I want to thank you and the fine men and women of the FBI for your
    diligent efforts to disrupt and find anybody who tries to harm
    Americans.
        I also want to introduce Tom Ridge, the
    Director of the Office of Homeland Security. Thank you for being here,
    Governor, as well as General Wayne Downing,
    the Deputy National Security Adviser for Combating Terrorism. Thank you
    all for coming.

    [[Page 1213]]

        The men on the wall here have put themselves on the list because of
    great acts of evil. They plan, promote, and commit murder. They fill the
    minds of others with hate and lies. And by their cruelty and violence,
    they betray whatever faith they espouse.
        These 22 individuals do not account for all the terrorist activity
    in the world, but they're among the most dangerous, the leaders and key
    supporters, the planners and strategists. They must be found. They will
    be stopped, and they will be punished.
        This effort is part of a worldwide assault on terror. All our allies
    and friends will now be familiar with these evildoers and their
    associates. For those who join our coalition, we expect results. And a
    good place to start--help us bring these folks to justice.
        Eventually, no corner of the world will be dark enough to hide in. I
    want to thank all the State Department employees for helping to build an
    unprecedented--I mean unprecedented--coalition to stand with us for
    freedom.
        I want to thank the American people for understanding that we are
    engaged in a new war, a war that will require a new way of thinking.
    There is a fascination about the conventional aspects of the military
    operations that are taking place now, and I can understand that. But the
    American people must understand that we're making great progress in
    other fronts, that we're halting their money, that we've got allies
    around the world helping us close the net. And today, by shining the
    spotlight on the first 22, it's going to make it more likely they will
    be brought to justice. I say ``the first 22'' because our war is not
    just against 22 individuals. Our war is against networks and groups,
    people who coddle them, people who try to hide them, people who fund
    them.
        This is our calling. This is the calling of the United States of
    America, the most free nation in the world, a nation built on
    fundamental values, that rejects hate, rejects violence, rejects
    murderers, rejects evil. And we will not tire. We will not relent. It is
    not only important for the homeland security of America that we succeed;
    it is equally as important for generations of Americans who have yet be
    born. Now is the time to draw the line in the sand against the evil
    ones. And this Government is committed to doing just that.
        I also want to remind my fellow Americans, as we round up the
    evildoers, as we look for those who might harm our fellow Americans, we
    must remember not to violate the rights of the innocent. Our war is not
    against a religion. Our war is against evil. There are thousands of
    Muslim Americans who love America just as much as I do. And we will
    respect their rights. We will not let the terrorists cause decay of the
    fundamental rights that make our Nation unique.
        As a matter of fact, what they'll find out is that our Nation has
    responded in a way they never envisioned. We're united. People of all
    faiths, all religions, all areas of our country are united in the common
    effort to stamp out evil where we find it. It is the right thing to do.
    It is the right course of action for our Nation and the world, and I
    want to thank you all for helping.
        It is now my honor to bring the Director of the FBI to the podium.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:02 a.m. in the Bonaparte Auditorium at
    the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters. In his remarks, he
    referred to Attorney General John D. Ashcroft. The Office of the Press
    Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.