WASHINGTON – President Bush has vowed to rid the world of the evil-doers responsible for the terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon near Washington.
As he returned to the White House Sunday after meetings with advisors at the Camp David retreat, the president said the United States was horrified by last Tuesday’s attacks, but will not be terrorized.
Mr. Bush said the United States will call together the freedom-loving people of the world to fight terrorism. He said he has been in contact with leaders in Pakistan, India and Saudi Arabia and said they have offered support for the anti-terrorism campaign.
India says it has handed over intelligence information to U.S. authorities concerning terrorist activities in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, President Bush repeated that Osama Bin Laden is the prime suspect behind the terrorist attacks.
Earlier Sunday, Vice President Dick Cheney said nations harboring terrorists will face the full wrath of the United States. Mr. Cheney identified Afghanistan as a possible target if it is indeed sheltering Osama bin Laden.
The Saudi exile is the alleged terrorist mastermind linked to the bombing of U.S. embassies in Africa and the bombing of the U.S. warship Cole in Yemen’s Aden harbor.
Mr. Cheney also said President Bush had ordered Air Force jets to shoot down incoming commercial airliners over Washington after last week’s attacks if they refused to change their course.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the United States has no choice but to strike targets in countries that harbor terrorists. Mr. Rumsfeld said the United States will take the offensive in the battle against terrorist organizations and the countries that tolerate, support, and finance their activities.
Calls are also growing in Washington for an end to a 25-year-old U.S. ban on assassinations of foreign leaders. The discussions come as officials seek sweeping changes to rules governing military and intelligence operations.