We Will Lead The World To Victory

QUESTION: Mr. President, is it safe to fly? Specifically, would you want aclose member of your family to get on a commercial airplane today?

BUSH: We have taken every precaution to make sure that it is safe to fly inAmerica. There are beefed up security at our airports. There is increased presence on theairplanes.

QUESTION: Mr. President, how close are you, sir, to finding out--to nailingdown who is responsible for these acts? And what kind of international coalition are youtrying to build? Is it similar to the one your father built for the Persian Gulf War?

BUSH: First, let me condition the press this way: Any sources and methods ofintelligence will remain guarded and secret. My administration will not talk about how wegather intelligence, if we gather intelligence and what the intelligence says. That's forthe protection of the American people. It is important, as we battle this enemy, weconduct ourselves that way.

Secondly, I've been on the phone this morning, just like I was yesterday, and will beon the phone this afternoon with leaders from around the world who express theirsolidarity with this nation's intention to route out and to whip terrorism. They fullyunderstand that an act of war was declared on the United States of America. Theyunderstand as well that that act could have easily been declared on them.

These people can't stand freedom. They hate our values. They hate what America standsfor. Many of the leaders understand it could have easily have happened to them.

Secondly, they understand that unlike previous war, this enemy likes to hide. Theyheard my call loud and clear to those who feel like they can provide safe harbor for theterrorists, that we will hold them responsible as well. And they join me in understanding,not only the concept of the enemy but that the enemy is a different type of enemy. Theyjoin me also in solidarity about holding those who fund them, who harbor them, whoencourage them responsible for their activities.

I'm pleased with the outpouring of support--Jiang Zemin, Vladimir Putin. I had a greatvisit this morning with His Royal Highness Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. I willcontinue to stay on the phone. And there is universal support for the American people,sadness in their voice, but understanding that we have just seen the first war of the 21stcentury. And there is universal approval of the statements I have made. And I am confidentthere will be universal approval of the actions this government takes.

QUESTION: Mr. President, if this is a different kind of war, it mightrequire perhaps a different kind of coalition. Many people believe that for a real war onterrorism to work, you'll need cooperation from governments that haven't necessarily doneso in the past, specifically, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Have you made any progress on thatfront?

BUSH: I would refer you to the statements that the Pakistani leader gave abouthis--I don't have the exact words in front of me--but his willingness to work with theUnited States. And I appreciated that statement and now we'll just find out what thatmeans.

Won't we? We will give the Pakistani government a chance to cooperate and toparticipate as we hunt down those people who committed this unbelievable despicable act onAmerica.

BUSH: We will not discuss intelligence matters, how we gather intelligence and whatwe know about anybody. When our government acts, you will be informed. Secondly, we had agreat meeting yesterday here in the Cabinet room with leadership of the House and theSenate.

I was touched by their response, their encouragement and their willingness to worktogether and I would be very pleased to see a strong resolution come out of Congresssupporting the administration in what we intend to do and we're working closely withCongress.

Progress is being made on a supplemental. I thought that was very swift action, and I'mmost appreciative again of Senator Daschle and Representative Gephardt, as well as myRepublican colleagues, for really showing solidarity again and uniting the nation. Now isthe time for the country to be united and, you know, through the tears of sadness, I seean opportunity. Make no mistake about it, this nation is sad, but we're also tough andresolute.

And now is an opportunity to do generations a favor by coming together and whippingterrorism, hunting it down, finding it and holding them accountable.

The nation must understand, this is now the focus of my administration. We will be verymuch engaged in domestic policy, of course. I look forward to working with Congress on avariety of issues. But now that war has been declared on us, we will lead the world tovictory.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) threat to Air Force One and do you believe that theterrorist attempted to assassinate you, sir?

BUSH: I will not discuss the intelligence that our country has gathered.

QUESTION: Do you believe (OFF-MIKE) assassinating you?

BUSH: I believe I took the--I know, I don't believe--I know I took the appropriateactions as the commander-in-chief to be in a position to be able to make the decisionsnecessary for our government to handle the crisis.

You didn't hear the end of the phone call with the mayor and George Pataki, both ofthem thanked me for the fact that we got immediately on the phone with them from Air ForceOne, and our government responded quickly.

QUESTION: Could you give us a sense as to what kind of prayers you arethinking and where your heart is for yourself, as you work on that?

BUSH: Well, I don't think about myself right now. I think about the families, thechildren. I'm a loving guy. And I am also someone, however, who's got a job to do, and Iintend to do it. And this is a terrible moment.

But this country will not relent until we have saved ourselves and others from theterrible tragedy that came upon America.

Thank you all