• Targeting Civilians. Al Qaeda and the Taliban regime have targeted civilians by literally using them as human shields for their military activities. For example, the November 6 Washington Post reports that the Taliban actually placed military assets in mosques and across the street from hospitals and innocent people’s homes. Taliban commanders have also hijacked humanitarian aid facilities for military purposes. A senior officer told the Washington Post, "Whole villages are being used as human shields by the Taliban to protect their large stockpiles of ammunition and weapons hidden in nearby caves."

• Humanitarian Crimes. The al-Qaeda and Taliban contribution to the starving Afghan people has been a deliberate and systematic campaign to disrupt the efforts of international relief agencies to deliver desperately needed food and medical supplies to the Afghan people. For example, the Taliban seized control of two U.N. World Food Program (WFP) warehouses, one in Kabul, and one in Kandahar, containing more than half the World Food Program's wheat supply for Afghanistan. The WFP in Kandahar had been feeding 150,000 Afghans a month before the Taliban seizure. The Taliban are also actually hijacking humanitarian convoys for military purposes. The November 6 Washington Post reports, "A truck in a convoy purportedly on a humanitarian mission to deliver food tipped over, and crates of tank and mortar shells could be seen spilling to the ground underneath a thin layer of flour."

• Al Qaeda & the Drug Trade. Osama bin Laden and his organization finance many of their terrorist activities through the drug trade. In fact, on October 25, 2001, The Herald (Glasgow) reported, "Osama bin Laden financed the development of a highly-addictive liquid heroin which he named ‘The tears of Allah’ as part of his multi-pronged terrorist campaign to destabilise western society. . . One source said yesterday: ‘It should be called the Devil's Brew rather than Allah's tears. It is a one-way ticket to addiction and death.’" The United Nations has also weighed in on the Taliban and al Qaeda connection to the drug trade. According to a U.N. Committee of Experts report on Resolution 1333 (May 2001), "Funds raised from the production and trading of opium and heroin are used by the Taliban to buy arms and other war materiel, and to finance the training of terrorists and support the operations of extremists in neighbouring countries and beyond."

• 136 countries have offered a range of military assistance.

• The U.S. has received 46 multilateral declarations of support from organizations.

• The U.N. General Assembly and Security Council condemned the attacks on September 12.

• NATO, OAS and ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.) quickly invoked their treaty obligations to support the United States. Our NATO allies are assisting directly in the defense of American territory.

• 142 countries have issued orders freezing the assets of suspected terrorists and organizations.

• 89 countries have granted over-flight authority for U.S. military aircraft.

• 76 countries have granted landing rights for U.S. military aircraft.

• 23 countries have agreed to host U.S. forces involved in offensive operations.

• Through intelligence cooperation with many nations, we are acquiring evidence against those responsible for the attacks of September 11 and we are better able to prevent future attacks.

• With U.S. leadership and with international support, Afghans have put aside long-standing ethnic and political differences to form a new interim government, naming a president and 29 ministers with portfolio. The new government will also include women, who have been oppressed by the Taliban regime.

• On December 11, more than 120 nations around the world answered President Bush’s call to reject terrorism and commemorate the victims of the September 11 attacks by holding remembrance ceremonies.

• The United States and several other allies have reopened embassies in Kabul.

• The President was joined by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan on November 11 for a memorial service honoring the citizens of all the countries killed in the World Trade Center.

• 196 countries and jurisdictions have expressed their support for the financial war on terror.

• 142 countries have issued orders freezing terrorist assets, and others have requested U.S. help in improving their legal and regulatory systems so they can more effectively block terrorist funds.

• The assets of at least 153 known terrorists, terrorist organizations, and terrorist financial centers have now been frozen in the U.S. financial system.

• Since September 11, the U.S. has blocked more than $33 million in assets of terrorist organizations. Other nations have also blocked another $33 million.

• On November 7, the U.S. and its allies closed down operations of two major financial networks – al-Barakaat and al-Taqwa – both of which were used by al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden as sources of income and mechanisms to transfer funds.

• On December 4, President Bush froze the assets of a U.S.-based foundation – The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development -- that has been funneling money to the terrorist organization Hamas.

• The U.S. government created three new organizations -- the Foreign Terrorist Asset Tracking Center (FTAT), Operation Green Quest and the Terrorist Financing Task Force. These new organizations will help facilitate information sharing between intelligence and law enforcement agencies and encourage other countries to identify, disrupt, and defeat terrorist financing networks.

• International organizations are key partners in the war on financial terrorism. On September 28, the United Nations Security Council passed resolution 1373 that requires all nations to keep their financial systems free of terrorist funds.

• The Financial Action Task Force -- a 29-nation group promoting policies to combat money laundering -- adopted strict new standards to deny terrorist access to the world financial system.

• The G-20 and IMF member countries have agreed to make public the list of terrorists whose assets are subject to freezing, and the amount of assets frozen.

• Taliban leaders have surrendered major cities to opposition forces, including Kandahar, Kabul, Kunduz, and Mazar-e-Sharif.

• The military has destroyed at least 11 terrorist training camps and 39 Taliban command and control sites. The Wall Street Journal reported on December 13 that as many as 50,000 terrorists from more than 50 countries may have received training in al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan in recent years.

• About 2.5 million humanitarian rations have been dropped to aid the people of Afghanistan.

• U.S. Marines have established a military base at Kandahar airport.

• Routes are being blocked to try to prevent the escape of al-Qaeda and Taliban members.

• Senior al-Qaeda and Taliban officials have either been captured or killed.

• The U.S. military rescued two American Christian aid workers who were being held as prisoners by the Taliban.

• Friendship Bridge between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan was reopened to transport humanitarian aid by land.

• Minefields and roads are being cleared to ensure delivery of aid and freedom of movement.

• Leaflet drops and radio broadcasts continue daily to convey our determination, provide truthful information, and encourage the capture of Osama bin Laden.

The military action in Afghanistan represents a global coalition effort. In addition to the United States, military assets are being deployed from many other nations, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, Russia and Turkey.

• The Department of Justice (DOJ) created the new 22 "Most Wanted Terrorists" list.

• The FBI created a national task force to centralize control and information sharing resulting in hundreds of thousands of leads, over 500 searches, thousands of interviews of witnesses, and numerous court-authorized surveillance orders.

• The U.S. government has offered a reward of up to $25 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Osama bin Laden.

• The Treasury Department and the Department of Justice collaborated to freeze the assets and accounts of 62 individuals and organizations connected with two terrorist-supporting financial networks, the al-Taqua and the al-Barakaat, and one organization funneling money to Hamas.

• The Department of State strengthened its "Rewards for Justice Program" which authorizes the Secretary of State to offers rewards of more than $5 million for information that prevents acts of international terrorism against the United States. The State Department has also launched a series of Public Service Announcements to educate the American public on the program.

• Improved information sharing between the law-enforcement and intelligence communities, allowing nationwide search warrants for e-mail and subpoenas for payment information, and to place those who access the Internet through cable companies on the same footing as everyone else.

• At the Attorney General’s request, the State Department designated 39 entities as terrorist organizations.

• The U.S. has forged new cooperative agreements with Canada to protect our common borders and the economic prosperity they sustain.

• Created 93 Anti-Terrorism Task Forces -- one in each U.S. Attorney's district -- to integrate the communications and activities of local, state and federal law enforcement.

• Created the Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force to focus on preventing terrorists from entering the country, and to locate and remove those who already have.

• The Department of Justice crafted a new reorganization plan -- Reorganization and Mobilization of the Nation's Justice and Law Enforcement Resources -- which is DOJ 's strategy for fiscal years 2001 to 2006 to help meet the new anti-terrorism mission.

• Reorganization of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to reform the agency's structure by separating its service and enforcement functions. Fulfills President Bush's pledge to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the nation's immigration system.

• The Department of Justice launched the Responsible Cooperators Program. Justice will provide immigration benefits to non-citizens who furnish information to help apprehend terrorists or to stop terrorist attacks.

• INS arrested Mazen Al Najjar after he was ordered to be deported for violating his visa, had established ties to terrorist organizations and held leadership positions in the Islamic Concern Project and the World and Islam Studies Enterprise.

• Zayd Hassan Abd Al-Latif Masud Al Safarini was arrested for his indictment in 1991 for the September 5, 1986, hijacking of Pan American World Airways Flight 73, demonstrating DOJ’s commitment to track down terrorists no matter how long it takes.

Civil Rights:

• The President moved swiftly to protect Muslims from hate crimes and the Department of Justice followed his lead by having their Civil Rights Division sponsor community forums in Chicago, Illinois, and Dearborn, Michigan, on combating ethnically motivated violence as a result of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

• Attorney General John Ashcroft and AAG for Civil Rights Ralph F. Boyd, Jr. have met with 29 prominent leaders from the Arab and Muslim American and Sikh communities and underscored DOJ’s strong commitment to investigate and prosecute violators of federal hate crime laws.

• The Department of Justice, the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labor issued a joint statement against employment discrimination in the aftermath of September 11.

• Investigating approximately 300 incidents involving violence, or threats of violence against individuals perceived to be of Middle Eastern origin. Federal charges have been brought in 6 cases, coordinating with local prosecutors in at least ten instances where cases are being prosecuted locally.

Victim Relief:

• Provided approximately $52 million in assistance to victims and their families and $10 million in emergency assistance to the NYPD.

• Last fiscal year the U.S. provided $183 million of humanitarian assistance alone to Afghanistan.

• Since the beginning of October alone, the U.S. has provided more than $187 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

• On October 10, USAID Administrator Natsios announced a five-point assistance strategy for Afghanistan: reduce death rates; minimize population movements; lower and then stabilize food prices; ensure that aid reaches those it is intended for; and begin developmental relief programs.

• As of mid-December the international community, led by the U.S., has delivered 127,368 metric tons (MT) of food aid to Afghanistan, using, trucks, boats, barges, aircraft, and thousands of people to overcome numerous logistical and security obstacles. (For context, 52,000 MT of food will feed approximately six million people for one month.)

• Between October 7 and December 13, the Department of Defense airdropped 2,423,700 Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs) to Afghans who could not be reached by relief workers because of ongoing conflict. The entire operation cost approximately $51 million.

• The President announced the creation of the America’s Fund for Afghan Children. The President asked American children to send $1 dollar -- or whatever they can afford -- to the Fund to help buy important humanitarian supplies. America’s children have donated more than $1.5 million thus far to the Fund. The first shipment of humanitarian goods purchased from this fund left the U.S. for the Afghan children on Sunday, December 9.

• The government has provided more than $62 million in grants to support relief activities in Afghanistan. The programs include supporting agriculture, rehabilitating water resources, funding health services, repairing shelters, and providing critical non-food items such as blankets, tents and kitchen sets. Additional grants have funded UN coordination efforts and a radio program to provide humanitarian and security information to Afghans in their home languages.

• USAID has provided funding for wool blankets and quilts, shelter kits, plastic sheeting and winterized tents. Further, USAID is distributing mattresses, clothes, stoves, cooking sets, firewood, coal, lanterns and water containers.

• The government has provided medical kits and funds for health centers and mobile clinics in Afghanistan and is sponsoring public heath education and programs on hygiene, obstetrics, maternal and childcare, and malnutrition. USAID is employing trained personnel to conduct educational outreach on basic health and nutrition, especially to women. USAID is helping expectant mothers, training local birth attendants and funding the distribution of vitamins and the immunization of young children.

• The government has provided funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction in the areas of housing, roads and bridges, wells and irrigation systems, agriculture and food security, and initiating "food for work" and "food for cash" initiatives.

• USAID has funded six airlifts of critical commodities to Afghanistan. The airlifts have provided shelter materials, tents, health supplies and high-energy food items for vulnerable people in Afghanistan.

• The State Department has provided $32,260,000 to relief agencies to assist Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Iran and other neighboring countries. The grants also provide funds to assist refugees attempting to return to their homes in Afghanistan.

• The government has sent Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) personnel to Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan to ensure that relief efforts are effective and well coordinated.

• Soon after the terrorist attacks, the President visited the Islamic Center of Washington to meet with American Muslim leaders and deliver a message of tolerance and solidarity. The President condemned unwarranted attacks on Americans of Muslim faith, and urged Americans to show their support for their Muslim friends.

• President Bush launched the "Friendship Through Education" initiative, encouraging children in America and children in Muslim nations to connect through email, letter writing, and different friendship and understanding projects. The President wants this initiative to help youths from different societies deepen their understanding of each others’ traditions and outlooks.

• For Ramadan, on November 19 President Bush hosted the first-ever Iftar -- or breaking-of-the-fast -- dinner at the White House, which included the ambassadors from nations with Muslim populations. The President also issued a warm greeting to Muslims around America and around the world with a special Ramadan message.

• The State Department asked U.S. embassies in Muslim countries to host Iftar dinners and many members of his administration also held their own celebrations. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Attorney General John Ashcroft, and Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz all participated in Iftar dinners.

• On December 17, President Bush hosted Muslim children at the White House in honor of Eid al-Fitr, Islam’s most sacred holiday. He read an Eid book to the children and hosted them for cookies and punch as well as delivering a present to each child in the tradition of Eid. The President also issued a taped Eid message and read an Eid greeting.

• Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham recognized Americans for acts of compassion following the September 11th attacks -- he honored, for example, a church that started an escort service for Muslim women who wear the hijab, and a citizen who created a fund to assist low-income Muslim victims of hate-inspired vandalism. Secretary Abraham will also launch a series of public service announcements further promoting tolerance.

• The President established the Office of Homeland Security -- under the diligent guidance of Governor Tom Ridge -- and the Homeland Security Council to coordinate, and implement the Executive Branch's efforts to detect, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks within the United States.

• The President moved to implement tough new airline security standards that tighten background checks for airline screeners and workers, dramatically expands the federal air marshal program, creates strict new baggage security requirements, and tightens security in all areas of airports.

• The President established an advisory committee for cyber security to ensure that America’s key infrastructures are protected. The advisory committee is a public/private partnership.

• The Administration has strengthened coordination between law enforcement agencies of the U.S. and neighboring countries to address common threats while ensuring the free flow of goods and people.

• The Food and Drug Administration has enhanced the food screening process of imported foods.

• The Department of Health and Human Services created the Office of Public Health Preparedness, to coordinate the national response to public health emergencies.

• Public health professionals provided antibiotics to more than 30,000 people to protect against their possible exposure to anthrax.

• HHS increased the supply of drug caches around the country, added specific use drugs, and began to increase the supply of small pox vaccine to 300 million.

• The President created a Presidential Task force to help Americans prepare in their homes, neighborhoods, schools, and other public places from the consequences of terrorist attacks.

• The Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Postal Service provided guidelines on how to handle mail that had potentially come into contact with anthrax.

• EPA has worked with water utilities, chemical, pesticide, petroleum and fertilizer manufacturers to increase their vigilance and secure their resources against an attack.

• There are many relief organizations collecting aid to distribute to the families of the thousands of victims from the September 11^th terrorist attacks. Examples include the Twin Towers Orphan fund, the Pentagon Assistance Fund, the WTC School Fund, the Washington Redskins Relief Fund, the Dole-Clinton Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, and funds established by the United Jewish Communities, Catholic Charities, the Burn Center at the Washington Hospital Center, and many, many more.

• The American Red Cross has raised over $647.4 million and has distributed over $217.7 million to the families of the victims of September 11^th.

• The September 11^th United Way Relief Fund has been working thoughtfully and deliberately to distribute $143 million in cash and services to help rebuild the lives of victims’ families and affected communities.

• On September 1, the entertainment industry came together in historic fashion to raise funds and raise the spirits of all who have been touched by the horrific tragedy that has struck America. Over $150 million was pledged through the United Way September 11th Telethon Fund, "America: Tribute to Heroes." By the end of the year, a total of $100 million in cash assistance will have been delivered to victims families through the Telethon Fund by the entertainment industry.

• New York City’s major human service organizations have joined forces under an umbrella group called the 9/11 United Services Group. At the urging of the New York State Attorney General, the group launched a confidential database, which will serve as a central clearinghouse for information on victims, survivors, financial needs, and the amounts of money and services provided by charities. This database enables the different charities to communicate with each other and track both the needs of the families of victims as well as the amount of assistance they are receiving.

• More than 100 people with ties to the Sept. 11 terror attacks will carry the Olympic torch as it makes its way to Salt Lake City for the Winter Games. The torch will be passed at the Pentagon on Friday, December 21, 2001.