United States CapitolWashington, D.C.

9:00 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:Mr. Speaker, Mr.President Pro Tempore, members of Congress, and fellow Americans:

In the normal course of events,Presidents come to this chamber toreport on the state of the Union.Tonight,no such report is needed.It has alreadybeen delivered by the American people.

We have seen it in the courage of passengers, who rushed terrorists to save others onthe ground -- passengers like an exceptional man named Todd Beamer.And wouldyou please help me to welcome his wife, Lisa Beamer, here tonight.(Applause.)

We have seen the state of our Union in the endurance of rescuers, working pastexhaustion.We have seen the unfurling of flags, the lighting of candles, the giving ofblood, the saying of prayers -- in English, Hebrew, and Arabic.We have seen thedecency of a loving and giving people who have made the grief of strangers their own.

My fellow citizens, for the last nine days, the entire world has seen for itself the stateof our Union -- and it is strong.(Applause.)

Tonight we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom.Our griefhas turned to anger, and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice,or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done.(Applause.)

I thank the Congress for its leadership at such an important time.All of America wastouched on the evening of the tragedy to see Republicans and Democrats joinedtogether on the steps of this Capitol, singing "God Bless America."And you did morethan sing; you acted, by delivering $40 billion to rebuild our communities and meet theneeds of our military.

Speaker Hastert, Minority Leader Gephardt, Majority Leader Daschle and Senator Lott,I thank you for your friendship, for your leadership and for your service to ourcountry.(Applause.)

And on behalf of the American people, I thank the world for its outpouring ofsupport.America will never forget the sounds of our National Anthem playing atBuckingham Palace, on the streets of Paris, and at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.

We will not forget South Korean children gathering to pray outside our embassy inSeoul, or the prayers of sympathy offered at a mosque in Cairo.We will not forgetmoments of silence and days of mourning in Australia and Africa and Latin America.

Nor will we forget the citizens of 80 othernations who died with our own:dozensof Pakistanis; more than 130 Israelis;more than 250 citizens of India; men andwomen from El Salvador, Iran, Mexicoand Japan; and hundreds of Britishcitizens.America has no truer friendthan Great Britain.(Applause.) Onceagain, we are joined together in a greatcause -- so honored the British PrimeMinister has crossed an ocean to show his unity of purpose with America.Thank youfor coming, friend.(Applause.)

On September the 11th, enemies of freedom committed an act of war against ourcountry.Americans have known wars -- but for the past 136 years, they have beenwars on foreign soil, except for one Sunday in 1941.Americans have known thecasualties of war -- but not at the center of a great city on a peacefulmorning.Americans have known surprise attacks -- but never before on thousands ofcivilians.All of this was brought upon us in a single day -- and night fell on a differentworld, a world where freedom itself is under attack.

Americans have many questions tonight. Americans are asking:Who attacked ourcountry?The evidence we have gathered all points to a collection of loosely affiliatedterrorist organizations known as al Qaeda. They are the same murderers indicted forbombing American embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, and responsible for bombingthe USS Cole.

Al Qaeda is to terror what the mafia is to crime.But its goal is not making money; itsgoal is remaking the world -- and imposing its radical beliefs on people everywhere.

The terrorists practice a fringe form of Islamic extremism that has been rejected byMuslim scholars and the vast majority of Muslim clerics -- a fringe movement thatperverts the peaceful teachings of Islam.The terrorists' directive commands them tokill Christians and Jews, to kill all Americans, and make no distinction among militaryand civilians, including women and children.

This group and its leader -- a person named Osama bin Laden -- are linked to manyother organizations in different countries, including the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and theIslamic Movement of Uzbekistan.There are thousands of these terrorists in more than60 countries.They are recruited from their own nations and neighborhoods andbrought to camps in places like Afghanistan, where they are trained in the tactics ofterror.They are sent back to their homes or sent to hide in countries around the worldto plot evil and destruction.

The leadership of al Qaeda has great influence in Afghanistan and supports the Talibanregime in controlling most of that country.In Afghanistan, we see al Qaeda's vision forthe world.

Afghanistan's people have been brutalized -- many are starving and many havefled.Women are not allowed to attend school. You can be jailed for owning atelevision.Religion can be practiced only as their leaders dictate.A man can bejailed in Afghanistan if his beard is not long enough.

The United States respects the people of Afghanistan -- after all, we are currently itslargest source of humanitarian aid -- but we condemn the Talibanregime.(Applause.)It is not only repressing its own people, it is threatening peopleeverywhere by sponsoring and sheltering and supplying terrorists.By aiding andabetting murder, the Taliban regime is committing murder.

And tonight, the United States of America makes the following demands on theTaliban:Deliver to United States authorities all the leaders of al Qaeda who hide inyour land. (Applause.)Release all foreign nationals, including American citizens, youhave unjustly imprisoned.Protect foreign journalists, diplomats and aid workers inyour country.Close immediately and permanently every terrorist training camp inAfghanistan, and hand over every terrorist, and every person in their support structure,to appropriate authorities.(Applause.)Give the United States full access to terroristtraining camps, so we can make sure they are no longer operating.

These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion.(Applause.)The Talibanmust act, and act immediately.They will hand over the terrorists, or they will share intheir fate.

I also want to speak tonight directly to Muslims throughout the world.We respectyour faith.It's practiced freely by many millions of Americans, and by millions more incountries that America counts as friends.Its teachings are good and peaceful, andthose who commit evil in the name of Allah blaspheme the name ofAllah.(Applause.)The terrorists are traitors to their own faith, trying, in effect, tohijack Islam itself.The enemy of America is not our many Muslim friends; it is not ourmany Arab friends.Our enemy is a radical network of terrorists, and every governmentthat supports them.(Applause.)

Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there.It will not end untilevery terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped anddefeated.(Applause.)

Americans are asking, why do they hate us? They hate what we see right here in thischamber -- a democratically elected government.Their leaders areself-appointed.They hate our freedoms -- our freedom of religion, our freedom ofspeech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other.

They want to overthrow existing governments in many Muslim countries, such asEgypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.They want to drive Israel out of the MiddleEast.They want to drive Christians and Jews out of vast regions of Asia and Africa.

These terrorists kill not merely to end lives, but to disrupt and end a way of life.Withevery atrocity, they hope that America grows fearful, retreating from the world andforsaking our friends.They stand against us, because we stand in their way.

We are not deceived by their pretenses to piety.We have seen their kindbefore.They are the heirs of all the murderous ideologies of the 20th century.Bysacrificing human life to serve their radical visions -- by abandoning every value exceptthe will to power -- they follow in the path of fascism, and Nazism, andtotalitarianism.And they will follow that path all the way, to where it ends:in history'sunmarked grave of discarded lies. (Applause.)

Americans are asking:How will we fight and win this war? We will direct everyresource at our command -- every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, everyinstrument of law enforcement, every financial influence, and every necessary weaponof war -- to the disruption and to the defeat of the global terror network.

This war will not be like the war against Iraq a decade ago, with a decisive liberation ofterritory and a swift conclusion.It will not look like the air war above Kosovo two yearsago, 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.Americansshould not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have everseen.It may include dramatic strikes, visible on TV, and covert operations, secreteven 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 no rest.And we will pursuenations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism.Every nation, in every region, nowhas a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with theterrorists.(Applause.)From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor orsupport 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 takedefensive measures against terrorism to protect Americans.Today, dozens of federaldepartments and agencies, as well as state and local governments, haveresponsibilities affecting homeland security. These efforts must be coordinated at thehighest level.So tonight I announce the creation of a Cabinet-level position reportingdirectly to me -- the Office of Homeland Security.

And tonight I also announce a distinguished American to lead this effort, to strengthenAmerican security: a military veteran, an effective governor, a true patriot, a trustedfriend -- Pennsylvania's Tom Ridge. (Applause.)He will lead, oversee and coordinatea comprehensive national strategy to safeguard our country against terrorism, andrespond to any attacks that may come.

These measures are essential.But the only way to defeat terrorism as a threat to ourway of life is to stop it, eliminate it, and destroy it where it grows.(Applause.)

Many will be involved in this effort, from FBI agents to intelligence operatives to thereservists we have called to active duty.All deserve our thanks, and all have ourprayers.And tonight, a few miles from the damaged Pentagon, I have a message forour military:Be ready.I've called the Armed Forces to alert, and there is areason.The hour is coming when America will act, and you will make usproud.(Applause.)

This is not, however, just America's fight. And what is at stake is not just America'sfreedom.This is the world's fight.This is civilization's fight.This is the fight of all whobelieve in progress and pluralism, tolerance and freedom.

We ask every nation to join us.We will ask, and we will need, the help of policeforces, intelligence services, and banking systems around the world.The UnitedStates is grateful that many nations and many international organizations have alreadyresponded -- with sympathy and with support. Nations from Latin America, to Asia, toAfrica, to Europe, to the Islamic world. Perhaps the NATO Charter reflects best theattitude 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 terrorgoes unpunished, their own cities, their own citizens may be next.Terror,unanswered, can not only bring down buildings, it can threaten the stability oflegitimate governments.And you know what -- we're not going to allow it.(Applause.)

Americans are asking:What is expected of us? I ask you to live your lives, and hugyour children.I know many citizens have fears tonight, and I ask you to be calm andresolute, even in the face of a continuing threat.

I ask you to uphold the values of America, and remember why so many have comehere.We are in a fight for our principles, and our first responsibility is to live bythem.No one should be singled out for unfair treatment or unkind words because oftheir ethnic background or religious faith. (Applause.)

I ask you to continue to support the victims of this tragedy with yourcontributions.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 yourcooperation, and I ask you to give it.

I ask for your patience, with the delays and inconveniences that may accompanytighter security; and for your patience in what will be a long struggle.

I ask your continued participation and confidence in the American economy.Terroristsattacked a symbol of American prosperity.They did not touch its source.America issuccessful because of the hard work, and creativity, and enterprise of ourpeople.These were the true strengths of our economy before September 11th, andthey are our strengths today. (Applause.)

And, finally, please continue praying for the victims of terror and their families, for thosein uniform, and for our great country.Prayer has comforted us in sorrow, and will helpstrengthen us for the journey ahead.

Tonight I thank my fellow Americans for what you have already done and for what youwill 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 toimprove air safety, to dramatically expand the number of air marshals on domesticflights, and take new measures to prevent hijacking.We will come together topromote stability and keep our airlines flying, with direct assistance during thisemergency.(Applause.)

We will come together to give law enforcement the additional tools it needs to trackdown terror here at home.(Applause.)We will come together to strengthen ourintelligence capabilities to know the plans of terrorists before they act, and find thembefore they strike.(Applause.)

We will come together to take active steps that strengthen America's economy, andput our people back to work.

Tonight we welcome two leaders who embody the extraordinary spirit of all NewYorkers:Governor George Pataki, and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.(Applause.)As asymbol of America's resolve, my administration will work with Congress, and these twoleaders, to show the world that we will rebuild New York City.(Applause.)

After all that has just passed -- all the lives taken, and all the possibilities and hopesthat died with them -- it is natural to wonder if America's future is one of fear.Somespeak of an age of terror.I know there are struggles ahead, and dangers to face.Butthis country will define our times, not be defined by them.As long as the UnitedStates of America is determined and strong, this will not be an age of terror; this willbe an age of liberty, here and across the world.(Applause.)

Great harm has been done to us.We have suffered great loss.And in our grief andanger we have found our mission and our moment.Freedom and fear are at war.Theadvance of human freedom -- the great achievement of our time, and the great hope ofevery time -- now depends on us.Our nation -- this generation -- will lift a dark threatof violence from our people and our future.We will rally the world to this cause by ourefforts, by our courage.We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will notfail.(Applause.)

It is my hope that in the months and years ahead, life will return almost tonormal.We'll go back to our lives and routines, and that is good.Even grief recedeswith time and grace.But our resolve must not pass.Each of us will remember whathappened that day, and to whom it happened. We'll remember the moment the newscame -- where we were and what we were doing. Some will remember an image of afire, 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 diedat 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 atask that does not end.(Applause.)

I will not forget this wound to our country or those who inflicted it.I will not yield; I willnot rest; I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for theAmerican 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 neutralbetween them.(Applause.)

Fellow citizens, we'll meet violence with patient justice -- assured of the rightness ofour cause, and confident of the victories to come.In all that lies before us, may Godgrant us wisdom, and may He watch over the United States of America.

Thank you.(Applause.)

END9:41 P.M. EDT