"No group or nation should mistake America's intentions:
We will not rest until terrorist groups of global reach
have been found, have been stopped, and have been defeated."
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
NOVEMBER 6, 2001
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in Washington, D.C., NewYork City, and Pennsylvania were acts of war against the United Statesof America and its allies, and against the very idea of civilizedsociety. No cause justifies terrorism. The world must respond and fightthis evil that is intent on threatening and destroying our basicfreedoms and our way of life. Freedom and fear are at war.
The enemy is not one person. It is not a single political regime.Certainly it is not a religion. The enemy is terrorism--premeditated,politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targetsby subnational groups or clandestine agents. Those who employterrorism, regardless of their specific secular or religiousobjectives, strive to subvert the rule of law and effect change throughviolence and fear. These terrorists also share the misguided beliefthat killing, kidnapping, extorting, robbing, and wreaking havoc toterrorize people are legitimate forms of political action.
The struggle against international terrorism is different from anyother war in our history. We will not triumph solely or even primarilythrough military might. We must fight terrorist networks, and all thosewho support their efforts to spread fear around the world, using everyinstrument of national power--diplomatic, economic, law enforcement,financial, information, intelligence, and military. Progress will comethrough the persistent accumulation of suc