No subject

harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the
United States as a hostile regime. Our nation has been
put on notice, we're 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 a 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. 

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 cannot only bring down buildings, it
can threaten the stability of legitimate governments. 

And you know what? We're 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're 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 Sept. 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 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 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, Gov. George
Pataki and Mayor Rudolf Giuliani. 

As a symbol of America's resolve, my administration
will work with 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 the dark threat
of violence from our people and our future. We will
rally the world to this cause by our efforts, 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 a fire or story or
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 the 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 freedom
and security for 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'll 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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