For Immediate Release
March 26, 2004

Global Message

From remarks by Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld in testimony before the 9/11 Commission

President Bush rallied the world and formed what a 90-nation coalition to wage the global war on terrorist networks.

The United States brought together countries like Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, and Oman into this coalition.

The coalition has been successful in overthrowing two terrorist regimes, hunting down hundreds of terrorists and regime remnants, disrupting terrorist financing and disrupting terrorist cells on several continents.

President Bush asked the NSC to develop a strategy not simply to contain terrorism or reduce the threat posed by al Qaeda, but to eliminate the al Qaeda terrorist network.

When this Administration came into office, President Bush asked the National Security Council to develop a strategy not simply to contain terrorism, but to eliminate the al Qaeda terrorist network.

Dr. Rice has stated that she asked the National Security Council staff in her first week in office for a new presidential initiative on al Qaeda. In early March, the staff was directed to craft a more aggressive strategy aimed at eliminating the al Qaeda threat.

By the first week of September 2001, a strategy was presented to senior officials with the objectives of eliminating the al Qaeda network and sanctuaries for terrorist networks.

Today, nearly two-thirds of known al Qaeda leaders have been captured or killed.

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