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Bush: Give him up and we'll stop
© St. Petersburg Times, WASHINGTON -- As U.S. warplanes continued to pound military targets in Afghanistan, President Bush offered Thursday night to consider halting the attack if the Taliban government would "cough up" Osama bin Laden and his terrorist followers.
The president admitted bin Laden has so far eluded U.S. Special Forces now combing the rugged terrain of Afghanistan. "I don't know if he is dead or alive," Bush said. As he has since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, the president evoked raw, combative images to express his determination to defeat terrorism. Bin Laden was characterized as the "evil one," and "smoking al-Qaida out of their caves" was the way the president described his goal in Afghanistan. It was a strong performance for Bush, despite the context of fear and tragedy. He was calm, articulate and even humorous in his responses to reporters' questions. After months of stumbling verbally through many public appearances, he seemed to have grown into the job. The president was talking directly to the Taliban when he offered to give them "a second chance." But by implication, his message also was directed at Iraq, Syria and other countries whose support for terrorism has put them on the list of potential future targets. "I will say it again. If you cough him up, and his people, today, that we'll reconsider what we're doing to your country," Bush said. "Just bring him in and bring his leaders and lieutenants and other thugs and criminals with him." This is what the president calls the Bush Doctrine -- his pledge to punish any nation that provides a home to terrorists, and to embrace those who expel terrorists. "We are sending a message to the world as we speak," he said. Bush also was called upon to reassure Americans that they are not in imminent danger from a second terrorist attack. Earlier in the day, the FBI issued a startling warning that it has reason to believe there may be additional terrorist attacks in the United States or against Americans abroad in the next several days. The intelligence on which the FBI warning was based did not identify specific targets, Bush explained. But he promised the United States would do everything necessary to protect its citizens, and urged them to go back to their daily routines. "We cannot let the terrorists achieve their objective of frightening our nation to the point where we don't conduct business, or people don't shop," he said. "That's their intention. Their intention was not only to kill and maim and destroy, their intention was to frighten to the point where our nation would not act." The president's news conference was the culmination of a busy day in the war on terrorism, which included these developments: U.S. warplanes attacked the Afghan capital of Kabul in daylight Thursday, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said many recent strikes have been aimed at leaders of the al-Qaida terrorist network and the Taliban government. Asked if Osama bin Laden is still in hiding in Afghanistan, Rumsfeld replied: "The probability is that he is." Legislation to improve airline and airport security passed the Senate by a 100-0 vote. The bill, which has not been considered in the House, is intended to lure travelers back to the skies by offering them assurances of safety. House conservatives vowed to block it because they oppose shifting the responsibility for screening travelers from private to public hands. Vice President Dick Cheney showed up at the White House for the first time in about a week and attended a war planning meeting. The Secret Service has been guarding Cheney in an undisclosed location in order to preserve the chain of command if the president should perish in a terrorist attack. "I was pleased to see him; he's looking well," the president said, referring to Cheney. The president called on all American children to contribute $1 each to help children in Afghanistan. He told them to mail the money to the White House, in care of the American Fund for Afghan Children. For the past week, Bush has been trying to take the focus off bin Laden. On Thursday night, he continued in this effort by noting that bin Laden was only one of 22 persons named on the FBI's most wanted terrorist list, published earlier this week. "Ours is a war against terrorism in general," he said. "Success or failure depends not on bin Laden. Success or failure depends upon rooting out terrorism where it may exist all around the world. He's just one person, a part of a network. And we're slowly, but surely, with determined fashion, rooting that network out and bringing it to justice." He said he intended to continue briefing the press on the conduct of this war "as long as I am president." He said it could be over in a day or two, or it could take years. But as he continued to talk, it was too tempting to characterize bin Laden as the personification of the enemy. "I want him brought to justice," the president declared. He described both bin Laden and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein as evil. At the same time, he indicated that Hussein has an opportunity to redeem himself by adhering to the agreement he made following the Persian Gulf War to allow arms inspectors into his country. "We're watching him carefully," Bush said, referring to the Iraqi leader. The president used a similar phrase in reference to Syria. Before Sept. 11, Bush, by design, had been paying very little attention to the peace process in the Middle East. In fact, during his campaign for the presidency, he criticized former President Clinton for doing too much on that front. But on Thursday, Bush insisted he was just too busy with the war on terrorism to mediate between Israel and the Palestinians. He offered, however, to "clear my calendar" to assist if the two sides get serious about a settlement. Another campaign promise that Bush compromised on Thursday night was his pledge never to use the U.S. military to get involved in "nation building." He admitted that after the bombing stops, Afghanistan will need help to rebuild its government and he indicated a desire to influence that process. Bush got somewhat emotional in describing how the tragedy of the attack had changed the American people. "One month after great suffering and sorrow, American is strong and determined and generous," he said. "I am honored to lead such a country, and I know we are ready for the challenges ahead."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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From the Times wire desk
From the AP |
Near the end of his news conference, President Bush urged American children to earn $1 to send to the White House "to help the children of Afghanistan. ... Winter is coming. By acting today, we can help the children survive." The address is White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 20500. The Red Cross will coordinate the relief fund.
