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Laden may have `slithered out` of Afghanistan: Bush
Osama Bin Laden may `slither out` of Afghanistan, but he won`t escape the global reach of US forces, President George W. Bush said, adding that the United States would send troops to nations seeking help to hunt down terrorists.
Osama Bin Laden may "slither out" of Afghanistan, but he won't escape the global reach of US forces, President George W. Bush said, adding that the United States would send troops to nations seeking help to hunt down terrorists.
In a bluntly worded call to action Friday, the President told world leaders, "Thank you for your condolences. I appreciate your flowers. Now arrest somebody if they're in your country."
Gathering reporters in the Oval Office for an end-of-the-year review, Bush pronounced 2001 a success for the Republican domestic agenda and America's budding war on terrorism. He praised lawmakers for cutting taxes and reshaping federal education programs, but called Congress' failure to pass economic legislation "a big disappointment." The war on terrorism dominated the conversation, just as it consumed the final three months of Bush's first year in office.
"The country is more secure today and less vulnerable to attack than before Sept. 11, because the enemy has made it clear that we are a target, and we've responded," the president said 101 days after suicide hijackings over New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.
"Is it still totally safe? No. And that's why, as I've told you, my main job - my main worry - for America is to prevent another attack," he said. Bush shrugged off suggestions that bin Laden slipped away from U.S. forces during cease fire talks in Afghanistan.
"I don't know where he is. I hadn't heard much from him recently, which means he could be in a cave that doesn't have an opening to it anymore; or could be in a cave where he can get out or may have tried to slither out into neighboring Pakistan. We don't know," the President said.
"But I will tell you this: We're going to find him." Bureau Report
Gathering reporters in the Oval Office for an end-of-the-year review, Bush pronounced 2001 a success for the Republican domestic agenda and America's budding war on terrorism. He praised lawmakers for cutting taxes and reshaping federal education programs, but called Congress' failure to pass economic legislation "a big disappointment." The war on terrorism dominated the conversation, just as it consumed the final three months of Bush's first year in office.
"The country is more secure today and less vulnerable to attack than before Sept. 11, because the enemy has made it clear that we are a target, and we've responded," the president said 101 days after suicide hijackings over New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.
"Is it still totally safe? No. And that's why, as I've told you, my main job - my main worry - for America is to prevent another attack," he said. Bush shrugged off suggestions that bin Laden slipped away from U.S. forces during cease fire talks in Afghanistan.
"I don't know where he is. I hadn't heard much from him recently, which means he could be in a cave that doesn't have an opening to it anymore; or could be in a cave where he can get out or may have tried to slither out into neighboring Pakistan. We don't know," the President said.
"But I will tell you this: We're going to find him." Bureau Report