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the "Most Wanted" Terrorists Website
11:02 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you
very much for that warm welcome. I'm pleased to be back at
the FBI to unveil a new line of attack on our war against
terrorism: the Most Wanted Terrorist list.
Terrorists try to operate in the
shadows. They try to hide. But we're going to
shine the light of justice on them. We list their names, we
publicize their pictures, we rob them of their
secrecy. Terrorism has a face, and today we expose it for
the world to see.
I'm so honored to be up here with the
Secretary of State. He's doing a fabulous job of rallying
the world to our cause. And I want to thank the State
Department officials who are here today, as well.
And, of course, Director Mueller, I want
to thank you and the fine men and women of the FBI for your diligent
efforts to disrupt and find anybody who tries to harm Americans.
I also want to introduce Tom Ridge, the
Director of the Office of Homeland Security. Thank you for
being here, Governor; as well as General Wayne Downing, the
Deputy National Security Advisor for Combatting
Terrorism. Thank you all for coming.
The men on the wall here have put
themselves on the list because of great acts of evil. They
plan, promote and commit murder. They fill the minds of
others with hate and lies. And by their cruelty and
violence, they betray whatever faith they espouse.
These 22 individuals do not account for
all the terrorist activity in the world, but they're among the most
dangerous: the leaders and key supporters, the planners and
strategists. They must be found; they will be stopped; and
they will be punished
This effort is part of a worldwide assault
on terror. All our allies and friends will now be familiar
with these evildoers and their associates. For those who join our
coalition, we expect results. And a good place to start --
help us bring these folks to justice.
Eventually, no corner of the world will be
dark enough to hide in. I want to thank all the State
Department employees for helping to build an unprecedented -- I mean
unprecedented -- coalition to stand with us for freedom. I
want to thank the American people for understanding that we are engaged
in a new war, a war that will require a new way of thinking.
There is a fascination about the
conventional aspects of the military operations that are taking place
now, and I can understand that. But the American people must
understand that we're making great progress in other
fronts: that we're halting their money, that we've got
allies around the world helping us close the net. And today,
by shining the spotlight on the first 22, it's going to make it more
likely they will be brought to justice.
I say "the first 22" because our war is
not just against 22 individuals. Our war is against networks
and groups, people who coddle them, people who try to hide them, people
who fund them. This is our calling. This is the
calling of the United States of America, the most free nation in the
world. A nation built on fundamental values that rejects
hate, rejects violence, rejects murderers, rejects evil. And
we will not tire. We will not relent. It is not
only important for the homeland security of America that we succeed, it
is equally as important for generations of Americans who have yet be
born.
Now is the time to draw the line in the
sand against the evil ones. And this government is committed to doing
just that.
I also want to remind my fellow Americans
as we round up the evildoers, as we look for those who might harm our
fellow Americans, we must remember not to violate the rights of the
innocent.
Our war is not against a
religion. Our war is against evil. There are
thousands of Muslim Americans who love America just as much as I do.
And we will respect their rights. We will not let the
terrorists cause decay of the fundamental rights that make our nation
unique. As a matter of fact, what they'll find out is that
our nation has responded in a way they never
envisioned. We're united. People of all faiths,
all religions, all areas of our country are united in the common effort
to stamp out evil where we find it. It is the right thing to
do. It is the right course of action for our nation and the
world, and I want to thank you all for helping.
It is now my honor to bring the Director
of the FBI to the podium. (Applause.)
END
11:08 A.M. EDT
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