[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.