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"Courage and Freedom" Address
[page 2]
President
George W. Bush, September 20, 2001
(continued from
Page 1)
We are not deceived by their pretenses to piety. We have seen their kind
before. They are the heirs of all the murderous ideologies of the
twentieth 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, and Nazism, 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.
This war will not be like the war against Iraq a decade ago, with its
decisive liberation of territory and its swift conclusion. It will not
look like the air war above Kosovo two 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 one battle, but a lengthy campaign,
unlike any other we have seen. It may include dramatic strikes, visible on
television, 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 haven 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.
These measures are essential. But 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. And 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, can not only bring down buildings, it can
threaten the stability of legitimate governments. And we will not 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 the true strengths of
our economy before September eleventh, and they are our strengths today.
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 for
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 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 here two leaders who embody the extraordinary spirit of
all New Yorkers: Governor George Pataki, and Mayor Rudy 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. And 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 a 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'll 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. This is my
reminder of lives that ended, and a task that does not end.
I will not forget this wound to our country, or 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.
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
that lies before us, may God grant us wisdom, and may He watch over the
United States of America.
Thank you.
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