09/10/2002

EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-10121

SEPTEMBER 11

More than three-thousand men, women and children from over ninety countries were killed when terrorists attacked the United States on September 11^th, 2001. One year later, those who perished will be remembered.

President George W. Bush has designated September 11^th, 2002, as Patriot Day in the U.S. In his proclamation, Mr. Bush said, "We will not forget the events of that terrible morning nor will we forget how Americans responded in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in the skies over Pennsylvania. [They responded] with heroism and selflessness, with compassion and courage, and with prayer and hope."

The U.S., said Mr. Bush, "will always remember our collective obligation to ensure that justice is done [and] that freedom prevails."

The U.S. is fighting back against terror by choosing to overcome evil with good. Since September 11^th, the U.S.-led coalition has liberated Afghanistan from the oppressive Taleban. Al-Qaida terrorists who used Afghanistan as a training ground are either dead or in hiding. They will be found and they will be brought to justice.

September 11^th was not the beginning of global terrorist attacks, but it marked the start of the world’s concerted response. As President Bush put it, "History will know that day not only as a day of tragedy, but as a day of decision -- when the civilized world was stirred to anger and to action. And the terrorists will remember September 11th as the day their reckoning began."

Terrorist financial assets are being frozen. Terrorist front groups are being exposed. Terrorist plots have been thwarted from Spain and Singapore to the Philippines and Yemen.

As President Bush said, the U.S. "is dedicated to the triumph of freedom and democracy over evil and tyranny. The heroic stories of the first responders who gave their all to save others strengthened our resolve. And," said Mr. Bush, "our Armed Forces have pursued the war against terrorism in Afghanistan and elsewhere.... Together with our coalition partners, they have achieved success."