America Strikes Back

[Ruellit]

Bush Says He Is Preparing for War

By Mike Allen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 13, 2001; 1:03 PM


President Bush made it clear today that he is preparing for war and asked all Americans to spend Friday's lunch hour at a house of worship in prayer for the victims of terrorism.

"I've been on the phone this morning, just like I was yesterday, and will be on this afternoon on the phone with leaders from around the world who express their solidarity with this nation's intention to rout out and to whip terrorism," Bush said.

Bush invited television cameras into the Oval Office this morning to watch him work for a few minutes, and networks showed it live. After finishing a telephone call to New York leaders, he stood informally behind his desk and declared his determination to "lead the world to victory" over the perpetrators of Tuesday's suicide plane crashes at the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

"I'm a loving guy and I'm also someone, however, who's got a job to do, and I intend to do it," Bush said, with an uncustomarily hard look in his eyes and set to his mouth. "This is a terrible moment. But this country will not relent until we have saved ourselves and others from the terrible tragedy that came upon America."

Bush will travel Friday to New York City, where officials said 94 people are listed as dead and 4,763 as missing. This morning, his eyes were moist as he and First Lady stopped by the Washington Hospital Center to visit some of the seriously injured victims from the crash at the Pentagon, where officials announced that approximately 190 people perished.

But Bush today was clearly moving beyond his pastoral role and was focusing his efforts on being commander-in-chief. This morning, he made a series of calls to world leaders as part of what White House press secretary Ari Fleischer called "his effort to assemble an international coalition that stands united to combat terrorism."

"I will continue to stay on the phone," Bush said. "There is universal support for the American people, sadness in their voice, but understanding that we have just seen the first war of the 21st century. And there is universal approval of the statements I have made, and I am confident there will be universal approval of the actions this government takes."

The White House declared Friday will be a national day of prayer and remembrance, and Bush is to attend a church service in Washington. Fleischer said Bush is calling on Americans "to take time during their lunch hour to attend prayer services at churches, synagogue, mosques, other places of their choosing, to pray for our nation, to pray for the families of those who are victimized by this act of terrorism.

Fleischer said Bush started the day with calls to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah and NATO Secretary General George Robertson. Reporters at an off-camera briefing asked again and again, but Fleischer would not say whether Bush is asking other nations for military help or money or basing rights or what.

"What you're really asking me to do is indicate does this mean the United States and nations around the world are engaged in military planning, and I'm not going to discuss anything that deals with military planning," Fleischer said.


© 2001 The Washington Post Company


muel
September 11, 2001
prayers for the victims!
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