Fact Sheet
AudioPosted on 11/16/2002 9:44:05 AM PST by Salvation
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 16, 2002
Radio Address by the President to the Nation
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This was a productive week in the war against terror, both at home and abroad. Congress returned to Washington with renewed energy and a commitment to make progress on key issues. Members of the House and Senate reached a crucial agreement to create a new department of homeland security. With Congress' vote on the final legislation, America will have a single agency with the full-time duty of protecting our people against attack.
This new department will focus and unify responsibilities that are now spread among dozens of government agencies. The Customs Service, the INS, the Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Transportation Security Administration and many others will report to the new secretary of homeland security.
The department will significantly improve our ability to protect our borders, our coasts, and our communities. It will pool together the best intelligence information and coordinate our response. The new department will help develop the technology America needs to detect and defeat chemical, biological, and nuclear threats. And under the agreement reached this week, I will have the authority and flexibility to move people and resources to where they are needed without bureaucratic rules and lengthy labor negotiations.
This compromise is the result of months of hard work and negotiation, and it will take additional time to put the agreement into place. The threat of terror will be with us for years to come, and we remain resolved to see this conflict through to its end.
In the department of homeland security, we'll have good people, well-organized and well-equipped, working day and night to oppose the serious dangers of our time. Now that we have reached broad agreement on a homeland security bill, I look forward to signing it into law as soon as possible.
We're committed to defending the nation. Yet wars are not won on the defensive. The best way to keep America safe from terrorism is to go after terrorists where they plan and hide. And that work goes on around the world.
The United States is working with more than 90 countries to disrupt and defeat terror networks. So far we have frozen more than $113 million in terrorist assets, denying them the means to finance their murder. We've cracked down on charities that were exploiting American compassion to fund terrorists. We have captured and interrogated thousands of terrorists, while others have met their fate in caves and mountains in Afghanistan. We've deployed troops to train forces in the Philippines and Yemen, the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, and other nations where terrorists have gathered. We're sending a clear message to the enemies of freedom, no terrorist will escape the patient justice of America.
To win the war on terror, we're also opposing the growing threat of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of outlaw regimes. This week, the dictator of Iraq told the U.N. he would give weapons inspectors unrestricted access to his country. We've heard such pledges before and they have been uniformly betrayed. America and the world are now watching Saddam Hussein closely. Any act of defiance or delay will indicate that he is taking the path of deception once again, and this time the consequences would be severe.
Our goal is not merely the return of inspectors to Iraq; our goal is the disarmament of Iraq. The dictator of Iraq will give up his weapons of mass destruction, or the United States will lead a coalition to disarm him.
Our war against terrorists and their supporters is advancing on all fronts. We're moving aggressively to protect our people and to oppose a great threat to the peace of the world.
Thank you for listening.
END
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Salvation
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 16, 2002
Fact Sheet: News About the War Against Terror
DIPLOMACY
The United States and more than 90 other countries are allies in the international war against terrorism.
President Bush has been successful in bringing multilateral organizations from every region of the globe into the war against terrorism.
The United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution to force Saddam Hussein to disclose and destroy any weapons of mass destruction or face serious consequences.
TERRORIST FINANCES
Since September 11, 2001:
Where warranted, the United States has unlocked funds. The U.S. and its allies have returned $350 million in Afghan government assets to the Interim Authority in Afghanistan. These assets had been protectively frozen in connection with the Taliban sanctions.
The United States lead the international community in developing a voluntary set of best practice guidelines for charities intended to reduce the likelihood that charitable funds will be diverted for violent ends. The Treasury Department is helping the Islamic community in America implement these guidelines.
The U.S. Treasury and State departments announced a $5 million reward program for information leading to the disruption of any terrorism-financing operation.
THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN
More than 60,000 American troops are deployed around the world against terrorism: 9,000 just in Afghanistan; others are in the Philippines, Georgia, and Yemen.
31 nations have deployed more than 14,000 troops in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
NATO, invoking Article V for the first time on September 12, 2001, came to the aid of the United States, and NATO allies flew more than 350 sorties and logged more than 4,300 flight hours as part of operation Noble Eagle.
Approximately 650 enemy combatants are now under U.S. control.
World-wide, approximately 2290 terrorist-related arrests were made in 99 countries between September 12, 2001 and October 28, 2002.
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND RECONSTRUCTION
Humanitarian aid to Afghanistan started on day one of the war, with 37,000 humanitarian daily rations airdropped while the attacks were underway. More than 575,000 metric tons of food have been delivered since the start of the war.
Since January 1, 2002, 1.8 million refugees have returned to Afghanistan with assistance of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and more than 250,000 refugees have returned on their own, bringing the total number of returned refugees to over 2 million.
The United States Government has provided $850 million for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Afghanistan since October 2001. Congress is considering legislation authorizing $1.45 billion for Afghanistan over the next four years.
America and our allies are helping Afghanistan rebuild their country and restore civil government by:
With the Norwegian, British, Polish, and Jordanian demining teams, cleared land mines from over 2000 square miles of Afghanistan. The State Department is allocating $7 million to clearing land mines in Afghanistan.
In addition to coordinating educational and cultural exchanges and special programs for Afghan women, the State Department is providing the United Nations and international NGOs with $124.5 million in refugee assistance funds for repatriation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran and resettlement of internally displaced persons. Projects include shelter, water and sanitation, as well as health and education for refugees.
PROMOTING FREEDOM
In Afghanistan, $6 million of Transition Initiatives funding is being directed to indigenous NGO's, particularly focusing on women's groups and community development projects.
Voice of America and the Afghan Information Ministry, with $10 million from the Pentagon, are installing radio transmitters to rebuild the national radio network.
The U.S. Government is supporting 16 working groups of Iraqis, who are planning for the day their country can rejoin the international community, after disarming, dismantling infrastructure for terrorism, and achieving peace, representative and responsible governance.
But, salvation, all of this means nothing....
.....we haven't captured Bin Laden, so...our President's accomplishments are meaningless.....I mean, "Daschle said so." /sarcasm
such as the rape of the Bill of Rights or
the subjugation of the U.S. Constitution by the U.N.
Now let the dis and mis and bogus and spinned and anal and ridiculous information begin."
Let us pray that Saddam understands this is not a president who will be messed with. He starts his day on bended knee and God himself must be saying Let's Roll.
Top Democrat says U.S. not winning 'war on terrorism'
Sen. Tom Daschle, the senior Democrat in Congress, said the tape means the war against terrorism has failed.
Sen. Tom Daschle: "I think we have to question whether or not we're winning the war. We haven't found bin Laden, we haven't made any real progress in many of the other areas involving the key elements of al-Qaeda. They continue to be as big a threat today as they were a year and a half ago. So by what measure can we say this has been successful so far? The front page stories today ought to be a wake-up call to this country, to this administration, that whatever they're doing it's not enough," said Daschle.
Senate Republican leader Trent Lott disagreed with Daschle's assesment. Lott said, "It seems to me like Sen. Daschle's comments are inappropriate and out of order."
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11/14/02:
Daschle dismissed administration arguments that al Qaeda is larger than just one man.
"It is bin Laden's messages that we are listening to and it is bin Laden who is still the spokesperson, and, you know, it seems to me we are not worried what others are saying. We are worried about what bin Laden is saying," Daschle said. "And it was the president himself who said that we will not be successful until he is found dead or alive. Those were his words. Well, I guess I would say the time has come to ensure that that happens."
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President Bush statements:
14 December 2001
From US Embassy, Israel
Transcript: Bush Says Bin Laden Videotape
Q: Sir, two things. Is Osama bin Laden cornered? And when you weigh the pros and cons of either option, would you rather take him alive so you can question him, or dead so you don't have to deal with him?
THE PRESIDENT: I don't care. Dead or alive, either way. I mean, I -- it doesn't matter to me. Secondly, I don't know whether we're going to get him tomorrow, or a month from now, or a year from now. I really don't know. But we're going to get him. And I -- the American people must understand that I have no timetable in mind. There's no -- I don't have a calendar that I say, well, gosh, if he's not gotten by this certain moment, then I'll be disappointed. Because I am pleased with the progress that we're making in Afghanistan. I mean, there is no such thing as a Taliban. We have liberated, literally liberated village after village from incredible barbaric behavior toward women and children. I think one of the joyous parts of this war, if there is such a thing as a joyous part of a war, is to see the -- is to see what it means for our country and our alliance to free people. We're achieving a lot of our objectives. But we're chasing a person obviously who is willing to send suicide bombers, on the one hand, and hide in a cave. Somebody who is -- encourages young people to go kill themselves, and he, himself, refuses to stand and fight. And so he may hide for a while, but we'll get him.
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12/28/01, from Communist News Network: Bush: As long as it takes, dead or alive
"I hope 2002 will be a year of peace, but I am realistic," Bush said during a press briefing with Gen. Tommy Franks, chief of U.S. Central Command, at Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas. "I know (al Qaeda leader Osama) bin Laden and his cronies would like to harm America again."
Bush repeated that he had no preference -- "dead or alive" -- for bin Laden's capture. The president flatly dismissed the bin Laden videotape released this week, saying the al Qaeda leader "is not in charge of Afghanistan anymore."
"He's not the parasite that invaded the host," the president said. "And we also know that we're on the hunt and he knows we're on the hunt and I like our position better than his."
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9/17/01: White House Transcripts: Guard and Reserves "Define Spirit of America"
Q Do you see this being long-term? You were saying it's long-term, do you see an end, at all?
THE PRESIDENT: I think that this is a long-term battle, war. There will be battles. But this is long-term. After all, our mission is not just Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda organization. Our mission is to battle terrorism and to join with freedom loving people.
We are putting together a coalition that is a coalition dedicated to declaring to the world we will do what it takes to find the terrorists, to rout them out and to hold them accountable. And the United States is proud to lead the coalition.
Q Are you saying you want him dead or alive, sir? Can I interpret --
THE PRESIDENT: I just remember, all I'm doing is remembering when I was a kid I remember that they used to put out there in the old west, a wanted poster. It said: "Wanted, Dead or Alive." All I want and America wants him brought to justice. That's what we want.
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3/8/02:
President Discusses War & Economy with Reporters
Q Mr. President, when you looked down on the ruins of the Pentagon on September 11th, didn't you in your heart of hearts expect that by the time you celebrated the sixth anniversary, that you would know where bin Laden was and where Omar was?
THE PRESIDENT: You know, I knew that we were in for a very different kind of war. And on 9/12 and the days following we put the war plan in place, I wasn't sure how long this was going to take. I knew we were in for a long struggle, though. And I never had any artificial deadlines. The good news is the American people also understand we're in for a long war and that when it comes to defending freedom, we'll take however long it takes to defend our freedom.
* * *
I will tell you, I am pleased at the progress we have made in a quick period of time. Six months is not a very long period of time when you think about the enemy we fight. We've made tremendous progress, thanks in part to the coalition and thanks in part to the brave men and women who wear our uniform. And I am grateful and so is the nation grateful.
Those who are preoccupied with one individual do not understand the struggle. We fight terror wherever terror exists. And for those people who say, well, one person matters, they elevate that person to a status that he does not deserve. I don't know whether Mr. bin Laden is alive or is dead. I do know we haven't heard from him in a long period of time.
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Gee, salvation, I just don't understand where little tommy got the idea that the President said, "that we will not be successful until [bin laden] is found dead or alive." Do you suppose [shock!] he made it up?
On November 14, 2002, you were quoted as saying:
"I think we have to question whether or not we're winning the war. We haven't found bin Laden, we haven't made any real progress in many of the other areas involving the key elements of al-Qaeda." (From CNN, http://www-cgi.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/11/14/daschle.homeland)
"And it was the president himself who said that we will not be successful until he is found dead or alive. Those were his words." (From CBC News, http://cbc.ca/stories/2002/11/14/daschle021114)
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Although I am no longer shocked by what you do or say, I find your criticisms of President Bush absurd and your politicizing of the war on terror, contemptible. What alternatives have you put forth or encouraged lo these past 18 months concerning the American people's safety? I have heard not any, with the sole exception of those to whom you are obviously beholden: union members.
And where may one read about your alternative suggestions and input to either enhance or further bin Laden's capture and destruction of the terrorists? My searches for your suggestions turned up only the following:
On March 1, 2002, you were quoted as saying, "We've got to find Osama bin Laden, and we've got to find other key leaders of the al-Qaeda network, or we will have failed." (From Newsmax, http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/2/28/144113.shtml.)
Yet, only two months earlier, on January 4, 2002, you are quoted as "praising Bush for doing a 'superb' job in the battle against terrorism (a statement you made while at the Center for National Policy). (From CNN, http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/01/04/daschle.economy.)
What Bush policy allegedly changed between January 2002 and March 2002? I was unable to discover any such change. Additionally, I was unable to find "those words" you so shamelessly attribute to President Bush. A simple search brings up numerous of his goals and statements concerning bin Laden:
[insert here all the red text in my post #15]
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