[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 46 (Monday, November 19, 2001)]
[Pages 1641-1642]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

November 10, 2001

    Good morning. It's been a week of international progress in the war 
against terror. On Wednesday, our friends and allies around the world 
joined the U.S. Treasury to freeze the assets of two terrorist-
supporting financial networks, one known as Al Barakaat and the other as 
Al Taqwa. We are taking aggressive measures to starve terrorists of 
their funding.
    Throughout the week I have been meeting at the White House with 
world leaders who support our cause. At the beginning of the week I 
spoke via satellite to leaders of new democracies in Central and Eastern 
Europe. Earlier today I addressed leaders from around the world at the 
United Nations General Assembly in New York.
    To every leader, I have delivered a consistent message: All 
civilized nations are threatened by terrorism, and all civilized nations 
have a responsibility to join in fighting it. The United States is 
grateful for the words of sympathy we have received from nations around 
the world since September the 11th.
    Now the time for words has passed. And now the time for action has 
arrived. Some actions are already required by international law. Under 
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, adopted soon after the 
September the 11th attack, every nation must crack down on terrorist 
financing. Every nation that possesses useful intelligence about 
terrorism must share it. Every nation must close down terrorist camps 
inside its borders. Every nation must deny weapons to terrorists.
    These obligations are binding on every country, and many nations are 
meeting those obligations. Yet, we expect even more of the countries 
that wish to be counted as members of the global coalition against 
terror. We expect nations to oppose all terrorists, not just some of 
them. No political cause can justify the deliberate murder of civilians.
    There is no such thing as a good terrorist. Any government that 
tries to pick and choose its terrorist friends will be regarded by us as 
a supporter of terrorism. We expect nations to speak the truth about 
terror. They

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shouldn't encourage malicious lies and outrageous conspiracy theories 
concerning the attacks of September the 11th. No government should 
promote the propaganda of terrorists. We expect nations not to misuse 
the war against terror as an excuse to persecute ethnic and religious 
minorities in any country. When avenues for peaceful dissent are closed, 
the temptation to speak through violence grows. We expect nations to 
encourage development by expanding trade, investing in education, and 
combating AIDS and other infectious diseases around the world.
    In our struggle against hateful groups that exploit poverty and 
despair, we must offer an alternative of opportunity and hope. These are 
some of the steps I've described today at the United Nations. For all 
nations, they will require effort. For some nations, they will require 
courage. Yet, the cost of inaction is far higher. The only alternative 
to victory is a future of terror, so we will fight for victory.
    We are determined to defend ourselves and defend our children from 
lawless violence.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 12:55 p.m. on November 9 in the 
Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on November 
10. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of the address.