For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 15, 2001
Remarks by the President,
Secretary of State Colin Powell and Attorney General John Ashcroft Camp David Thurmont, Maryland
9:19 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: I've asked the
highest levels of our government to come to discuss the current tragedy
that has so deeply affected our nation. Our country mourns for the
loss of life and for those whose lives have been so deeply affected by
this despicable act of terror.
I am going to describe to our leadership
what I saw: the wreckage of New York City, the signs of the
first battle of war.
We're going to meet and deliberate and
discuss - but there's no question about it, this act will not stand; we
will find those who did it; we will smoke them out of their holes; we
will get them running and we'll bring them to justice. We
will not only deal with those who dare attack America, we will deal
with those who harbor them and feed them and house them.
Make no mistake about
it: underneath our tears is the strong determination of
America to win this war. And we will win it.
I'm going to ask the Secretary of State to
say a few things, and then the Attorney General.
SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you,
Mr. President. I might just say that I'm very pleased with
the response we've been getting from the international
community. I think every civilized nation in the world
recognizes that this was an assault not just against the United States,
but against civilization.
We should also take note, it's not just
Americans who lost lives in the World Trade Center - dozens of
countries lost lives and they realize that this was an attack against
them, as well.
We are receiving expressions of support
from around the world - and not just rhetorical support, but real
support for whatever may lay ahead in this campaign that is ahead of us
to win the war that the President has spoken of.
I might especially want to thank the
President and the people of Pakistan for the support that they have
offered and their willingness to assist us in whatever might be
required in that part of the world as we determine who those
perpetrators are. It's a coalition that will stay intact,
that will be built upon over time. And what we have to do is
not just go after these perpetrators, and those who gave them haven,
but the whole curse of terrorism that is upon the face of the
earth. And this is a campaign that we have begun this week
and we will stick with it until we are successful.
THE PRESIDENT: Attorney
General.
ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT: Four
days ago we began an investigative effort to understand not only those
who perpetrate this heinous assault against America and free people
everywhere, but to develop an understanding of those who are associated
with it and how it was conducted.
The FBI, together with very cooperative
local and state officials and law enforcement agencies has processed
thousands of leads. We are making the kinds of contacts and
developing the information that allow us to describe this as proceeding
with reasonable success. We believe that the picture is
developing a kind of clarity that's appropriate. We have
named 19 individuals that we have high levels of confidence were the
hijackers. And we are further refining our understanding of the ways
in which this terrible crime was developed.
I might add that we have put in place very
serious measures that we believe will provide greater security and
provide a basis for our country returning to the kind of freedom and
business and conduct that is characteristic of this great nation.
Q Sir, what do you
say to Americans who are worried that the longer it takes to retaliate,
the more chance the perpetrators have to escape and hide and just
escape justice?
THE PRESIDENT: They will try to
hide, they will try to avoid the United States and our allies - but
we're not going to let them. They run to the hills; they
find holes to get in. And we will do whatever it takes to
smoke them out and get them running, and we'll get them.
Listen, this is a great nation; we're a
kind people. None of us could have envisioned the barbaric
acts of these terrorists. But they have stirred up the might
of the American people, and we're going to get them, no matter what it
takes.
In my radio address today I explained to
the American people that this effort may require
patience. But we're going to -
Q How long -
THE PRESIDENT: As long as it
takes. And it's not just one person. We're talking about
those who fed them, those who house them, those who harbor terrorists
will be held accountable for this action.
Q Sir, are you
satisfied that Osama bin Laden is at least a kingpin of this
operation?
THE PRESIDENT: There is no
question he is what we would call a prime suspect. And if he
thinks he can hide and run from the United States and our allies, he
will be sorely mistaken.
Q Mr. President, do
you have a message for the Reservists that you called up
yesterday? Can you tell us whether you think more may have
to be called up?
THE PRESIDENT: The message is
for everybody who wears the uniform: get ready. The United
States will do what it takes to win this war. And I ask
patience of the American people. There is no question in my
mind we'll have the resolve -- I witnessed it yesterday on the
construction site. Behind the sadness and the exhaustion, there is a
desire by the American people to not seek only revenge, but to win a
war against barbaric behavior, people that hate freedom and hate what
we stand for.
And this is an administration that is
going to dedicate ourselves to winning that war.
Q What did Pakistan
say it would do to help the United States?
SECRETARY POWELL: We put before
the Pakistani government a specific list of things that we would like
cooperation on, and they've agreed to all those items. I'm
not prepared to announce today what those specific items
are. But the Pakistani government was very forthcoming and
we're appreciative.
Q Mr. President,
what kind of military options are you considering, if you could talk
broadly?
THE PRESIDENT: This is an
administration that will not talk about how we gather intelligence, how
we know what we're going to do, nor what our plans are. When
we move, we will communicate with you in an appropriate manner.
We're at war. There has been an act of war declared upon
America by terrorists, and we will respond accordingly. And
I appreciate very much the American people understanding
that. As we plan, as we put our strategy into action, we
will let you know when we think it's appropriate - not only to protect
the lives of our servicemen and women, but to make sure our coalition
has had proper time to be noticed, as well. But we're going
to act.
Q What is the risk
of additional attacks on us at this point?
THE PRESIDENT: I would think
the American people need to be - go about their business on Monday, but
with a heightened sense of awareness that a group of barbarians have
declared war on the American people.
Q Sir, how much of
a sacrifice are ordinary Americans going to have to be expected to make
in their daily lives, in their daily routines?
THE PRESIDENT: Our hope, of
course, is that they make no sacrifice whatsoever. We would
like to see life return to normal in America. But these
people have declared war on us and we will do whatever it takes to make
sure that we're safe internally. So, therefore, people may
not be able to board flights as quickly. Our borders are
tighter than they've ever been before. We're taken a variety
of measures to make sure that the American people are safe, just as the
Attorney General spoke about.
But we hope, obviously, that the measures
we take will allow the American economy to continue on. I
urge people to go to their businesses on Monday. I
understand major league baseball is going to start playing
again. It is important for America to get on about its
life. But our government will be on full alert and we'll be
tracing every lead, every potential to make sure that the American
people are safe.
Q How long do you
envision -
THE PRESIDENT: The definition
is whatever it takes.
END 9:28 A.M. EDT
|