Operation:
Infinite Justice
Day
9 (September 19th, 2001)
As
dignitaries continue to visit the White House in the global effort
to stop terrorism, troops are being deployed to the Persian Gulf.
Visits included Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov who said today:
"Russia and the US have agreed to closely coordinate their
actions… all means must be used in the fight against terrorism
including, when necessary, use of force." The number of persons
missing in NYC is still over 5,400, the US is moving forward to
protect our nation from future attacks. Today the Pentagon provided
information on "Operation Infinite Justice". The decision
has been made to send F-15s, F-16s and possibly B-1 bombers to the
Persian Gulf. The details of America’s military might in this operation
is under wraps as of now, but the President said from the Oval Office
that there will be an explanation. The President will be speaking
to Congress tomorrow. Sources close to Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld say that he has ordered more than 100 aircraft to the Persian
Gulf.
On
diplomatic fronts, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said
at the Pentagon: "It’s a very emotional reaction, because this
is also a criminal, mass-murderous attack on the open society and
the way we live… I think now we should stay together in full solidarity
and fight against this murderous terrorism."
At ground zero today, French President
Chirac visited Mayor Giuliani
and honored the rescue workers, "from the bottom of my heart
..I want to thank you, you did this for New Yorkers, but also for
the free world, for the dignity for the human kind, ..we know that,
and we are beside you!."
(abridged
comments)
PRESIDENT
BUSH:
President
Megawati was just telling me she had visited Washington during President
Kennedy’s time. It is my honor to welcome you back to Washington
and to the Oval Office as President of your great nation.
I look forward to having a very good
discussion about our relations, as well as what we’re going to do
as people who love freedom about terrorism. And I want to thank
you very much for your strong statements of support for the American
people, and your strong statement against terrorist activities.
It meant a lot to us. You represent the nation with the most Muslim
people in the world. I’ve made it clear, Madam President, that the
war against terrorism is not a war against Muslims, nor is it a
war against Arabs. It’s a war against evil people who conduct crimes
against innocent people.
And so, welcome to Washington, D.C.
I look forward to a long discussion. I appreciate so very much your
vision for your very important country. Welcome.
PRESIDENT
MEGAWATI: Thank
you, Mr. President. I will speak in Indonesian. I’m very honored
to be your guest here today, even though we are in a moment of grief.
I would like to express on behalf of the people and government of
Indonesia our deep condolences to the American people. And we share
this moment of grief with you.
I also want to say thank you, because
even though you’re having a different time, you’re still able to
meet me in this place which I’m quite familiar with. Thank you very
much, Mr. President.
Q:
A specific message to Iraq?
PRESIDENT
BUSH: The
message to every country is, there will be a campaign against terrorist
activity, a worldwide campaign. And there is an outpouring of support
for such a campaign. Freedom-loving people understand that terrorism
knows no borders, that terrorists will strike in order to bring
fear, to try to change the behavior of countries that love liberty.
And we will not let them do that.
Now, this is a campaign in which nations
will contribute in a variety of ways. Some nations will be willing
to join in a very overt way. Other nations will be willing to join
by sharing information — and information in a campaign such as
this is going to be incredibly important. It’s very important for
us to be able to find where these people are.
There’s going to need to be a campaign
— there needs to be a financial component of the campaign, where
we need to cooperate to make sure we cut off funds, find these organizations
that serve as front groups for funding these terrorist cells.
And so my message to all nations is
we look forward to full cooperation.
Q:
Yes. Could you respond, please, to the Vice President of your country
who said that the tragedy will cleanse —
PRESIDENT
MEGAWATI: After I heard and witnessed and saw what happened,
the tragic events in New York and Washington, I immediately issued
a statement which strongly condemned these attacks, which were very
inhumane. And afterwards I sent a letter to President Bush, expressing
my condolences. So this is the position of my government on this
issue. So it’s very clear.
Q:
Can I follow on one point? Do you to your mind have irrefutable
evidence that links al Qaeda, and specifically Osama bin Laden to
these attacks?
PRESIDENT
BUSH: When we take action, we will take action because we believe
— because we know we’ll be on the right. And I want to remind people
that there have been terrorist activities on America in the past,
as well. And there has been — indictments have been handed down.
This is a war not against a specific
individual, nor will it be a war against solely one organization.
It is a war against terrorist activities. Our nation must do everything
we can to protect the homeland, and we are. The Attorney General
briefs on a daily basis, as the Director of the FBI, talking about
what we’re doing to do the best we can to protect the American people
from any further activity.
But the best way to make sure that
America is safe, the people of Indonesia are safe, is to find terrorism
at its roots and to root it out, to get them out of their caves
and get them moving, cut off their finances, and hold them accountable…
Q:
Are you able to offer the support of your country to this coalition
against terrorism?
PRESIDENT
MEGAWATI:
Indonesia has always been against violence. Anything that relates
to violence, including acts of terrorism, we will definitely be
against it.
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