|
Bush Urges U.S. to Meet "Great National Challenge"
ATLANTA, Georgia, Nov 9 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - U.S. President George W. Bush Thursday said the United States is dealing with an enemy so evil that they want "to kill all Americans, kill all Jews, and kill all Christians.
"We have seen that type of hate before - and the only possible response is to confront it - and defeat it," Bush told a rowdily supportive crowd of about 5,000 people crammed into the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
"This enemy tries to hide behind a peaceful faith, but those who celebrate the murder of innocent men, women and children have no religion, have no conscience, and have no mercy," he said. "We wage a war to save civilization itself. We did not seek it, but we will fight it and we will prevail."
Bush urged Americans to help meet the "great national challenge" of defeating terrorism and cherish the national unity and sense of purpose that emerged from the ashes of the deadly September 11 attacks.
"Our great national challenge is to hunt down the terrorists and strengthen our protections against future attacks," the president said. "Our great national opportunity is to preserve forever the good that has resulted."
"We are a different country that we were on September 10," added the president. "Sadder and less innocent, stronger and more united, and in the face of ongoing threats, determined and more courageous."
He said the U.S. government was doing its utmost to thwart new attacks and called for the creation of a new civil defense force, modeled on volunteer fire departments, to respond to local emergencies when officials are stretched thin.
"We have entered a new era," Bush said. "This new era requires new responsibilities - both for the government and for our people."
Bush said the nation's leaders would issue terror alerts "when we have evidence of credible threats," adding, "Americans should not let such alerts 'stop your life.'
"It is a call to be vigilant - to know that your government is on high alert, and to add your eyes and ears to our efforts to find and stop those who want to do us harm," the President said.
Bush said the U.S. military is carrying out its mission of uprooting the Taliban and al-Qaeda, the network allegedly run by Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden.
"I am so proud of our military.... We are deliberately and systematically hunting down those murderers and we will bring them to justice," he said, CNN international reported.
The president gave tribute to police and firefighters, teachers, the U.S. military, health care workers, and even the postal service drew applause, cheers, flag-waving and standing ovations.
One senator said the speech had "some of the qualities of a pep rally."
But the president had little information about the search for those responsible for a wave of anthrax-laced letters.
"We do not know whether this attack came from the same terrorists, we don't know the origin of the anthrax - but whoever did this unprecedented and uncivilized act is a terrorist," he said, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
Earlier, Bush hinted that he would consider a mandatory smallpox vaccine for the United States. He also expressed concerns about the vaccine for the deadly disease - another bio-terrorism threat.
During a tour of the Atlanta headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - the frontline warriors in the battle to contain outbreaks of dangerous illnesses - Bush said he was "looking at different options for smallpox."
"One thing is for certain," said Bush, "we need to make sure vaccines are available if there were to ever be an outbreak. As to whether or not we ought to have mandatory vaccinations, I'm working with [U.S. Health and Social Services Secretary] Tommy Thompson on that.
"One of my concerns is if we were to have universal vaccination, some might lose their life. And I would be deeply concerned about a vaccination program that would cause people to lose their life."
Bush also announced that the Corporation for National and Community Service would seek to deploy more than 20,000 volunteers to support homeland security on three fronts. These duties include helping police and firefighters, medical workers, and aiding in disaster mitigation and preparedness.
"Many ask 'what can I do to help in our fight?'" The answer is simple, said the President. "All of us can become a September 11 volunteer by making a commitment to service in our own communities."
Bush created a presidential task force on citizen preparedness. The body is due to report back in 40 days with recommendations to help Americans ready their homes, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, places of worship and public places from the potential consequences of terrorist attacks.
|
