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8:30 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. Today, our fellow
citizens, our way
of life,
our very freedom came under attack in a series of
deliberate and deadly
terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes, or in
their offices;
secretaries, businessmen and women, military and
federal workers; moms
and dads,
friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were
suddenly ended by evil,
despicable acts of terror.
The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings,
fires burning,
huge
structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief,
terrible sadness,
and a
quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder
were intended to
frighten
our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have
failed; our country
is strong.
A great people has been moved to defend a great
nation.
Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our
biggest buildings,
but they
cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts
shattered steel,
but they
cannot dent the steel of American resolve.
America was targeted for attack because we're the
brightest beacon
for
freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will
keep that light
from
shining.
Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of
human nature. And
we
responded with the best of America -- with the daring
of our rescue
workers,
with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came
to give blood and
help in
any way they could.
Immediately following the first attack, I
implemented our
government's
emergency response plans. Our military is powerful,
and it's prepared.
Our
emergency teams are working in New York City and
Washington, D.C. to
help with
local rescue efforts.
Our first priority is to get help to those who
have been injured,
and to
take every precaution to protect our citizens at home
and around the
world from
further attacks.
The functions of our government continue without
interruption.
Federal
agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today
are reopening
for
essential personnel tonight, and will be open for
business tomorrow.
Our
financial institutions remain strong, and the American
economy will be
open for
business, as well.
The search is underway for those who are behind
these evil acts.
I've
directed the full resources of our intelligence and
law enforcement
communities
to find those responsible and to bring them to
justice. We will make
no
distinction between the terrorists who committed these
acts and those
who harbor
them.
I appreciate so very much the members of Congress
who have joined
me in
strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of
the American
people, I
thank the many world leaders who have called to offer
their condolences
and
assistance.
America and our friends and allies join with all
those who want
peace and
security in the world, and we stand together to win
the war against
terrorism.
Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who
grieve, for the
children whose
worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of
safety and security
has been
threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a
power greater than
any of
us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: "Even though
I walk through
the valley
of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are
with me."
This is a day when all Americans from every walk
of life unite in
our
resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down
enemies before,
and we
will do so this time. None of us will ever forget
this day. Yet, we
go forward
to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our
world.
Thank you. Good night, and God bless America.
END 8:35 P.M. EDT
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