U.S. marks the shattering attacks one week ago and presses plans to strike back

By David Espo

Associated Press

WASHINGTON – President Bush led the nation in a moment of silence Tuesday to mark the terrorist attacks one week earlier and said Americans should take heart in their spirited rush to give aid and comfort. A federal grand jury opened an investigation into the suicide hijackings.

“Out of our tears and sadness, we saw the best of America,” Bush told a Rose Garden ceremony honoring rescue workers and announcing a Web site to coordinate donations. “We saw a great country rise up to help.”

Earlier, on a calm and sunny morning much like the one swallowed in death and chaos a week before, he joined 300 White House employees on the South Lawn to observe a moment of silence.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Across the country, radio stations marked the time the first hijacked plane slammed into New York’s World Trade Center – 8:48 a.m. EDT – with patriotic songs.

Meanwhile, a federal grand jury has been convened to investigate the terrorist attack in New York, law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. The jury, convened in White Plains, a New York City suburb, will review evidence and issue subpoenas.

Hundreds of Islamic clerics gathered in Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul to discuss conditions for possibly extraditing suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden to a country other than the United States. The Bush administration considers bin Laden the prime suspect in the attacks.

Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers vowed to wage a holy war against America if U.S. forces launch an assault to punish them for sheltering the exiled Saudi dissident.

But Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said the administration still “intends to take this attack to the terrorists.”

“We have a choice either to change the way we live, which is unacceptable, or to change the way that they live and we chose the latter,” he told a Pentagon briefing. “The only answer is to take the effort to them, where they are.”

And he made clear that countries supporting terrorists are not exempt from U.S. attack.

“The terrorists do not function in a vacuum,” he said. “They don’t live in Antarctica. They work, they train and they plan in countries. They’re benefiting from the support of governments.”

A delegation of Pakistani leaders who on Monday had at U.S. behest presented the case for surrendering bin Laden to Taliban leaders returned to Pakistan.

In New York, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations said his country’s delegation tried to convey the gravity of the moment to the Taliban. “I cannot predict at this stage what the outcome is going to be,” Shamshad Ahmad said. “In our view it was worth making an effort through diplomatic engagement.”

Bush said Americans could use a special Web site to make donations and “figure out where to send food, where to donate blood, where to give clothes” and how to best devote their time.

“Last week was a really horrible week for America,” Bush said. Still, he added, “Americans’ love for America was channeled through our nation’s great charities”

Joining him at the ceremony were Govs. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania and James Gilmore of Virginia. Later, Bush planned a dinner with French President Jacques Chirac to broaden an international coalition against terrorism.

Ridge later said that the attacks left “a permanent scar on America. But it is also an opportunity for us to do things differently, both internally and externally. And he (Bush) is going to seize that opportunity.”

Bush has ordered his staff to begin grappling with the economic consequences of the attacks. Economic stimulus legislation and assistance for struggling airlines are the first orders of business, presidential counselor Karen Hughes said in an interview.

Commerce Secretary Don Evans said Bush was considering direct financial aid to airlines.

“Certainly I see reason to step in and help,” Evans told ABC.

Earlier Tuesday, Rumsfeld indicated that bin Laden’s extradition, while welcome, would not be enough to stop a military response against terrorists and those who shelter them.

“Clearly you begin on a journey with one step, and he would be one step,” Rumsfeld said on CBS’ “The Early Show.”

But he added, “If bin Laden were not there the organization would continue doing what it’s been doing. So clearly the problem is much bigger than bin Laden.”

“Bin Laden is one person who is unambiguously a terrorist,” he said. “The al-Qaida network is a broad, multiheaded organization” with a presence in 50 to 60 countries, including the United States.

In all, officials said the death toll likely would top 5,000 from the Sept. 11 attacks that left New York City’s World Trade Center twin towers in ruins and crumpled a portion of the Pentagon.

On the Net:

http://www.libertyunites.org

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen goes through an informational slideshow about the current budget situation in Edmonds during a roundtable event at the Edmonds Waterfront Center on Monday, April 7, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor recommends $19M levy lid lift for November

The city’s biennial budget assumed a $6 million levy lid lift. The final levy amount is up to the City Council.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

A firefighting helicopter carries a bucket of water from a nearby river to the Bolt Creek Fire on Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022, on U.S. 2 near Index, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Snohomish County property owners can prepare for wildfire season

Clean your roofs, gutters and flammable material while completing a 5-foot-buffer around your house.

(City of Everett)
Everett’s possible new stadium has a possible price tag

City staff said a stadium could be built for $82 million, lower than previous estimates. Bonds and private investment would pay for most of it.

Jennifer Humelo, right, hugs Art Cass outside of Full Life Care Snohomish County on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘I’ll lose everything’: Snohomish County’s only adult day health center to close

Full Life Care in Everett, which supports adults with disabilities, will shut its doors July 19 due to state funding challenges.

The age of bridge 503 that spans Swamp Creek can be seen in its timber supports and metal pipes on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Lynnwood, Washington. The bridge is set to be replaced by the county in 2025. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Snohomish County report: 10 bridges set for repairs, replacement

An annual report the county released May 22 details the condition of local bridges and future maintenance they may require.

The Edmonds City Council gathers to discuss annexing into South County Fire on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Community group presents vision for Edmonds’ fiscal future

Members from Keep Edmonds Vibrant suggested the council focus on revenue generation and a levy lid lift to address its budget crisis.

Some SnoCo stores see shortages after cyberattack on grocery supplier

Some stores, such as Whole Foods and US Foods CHEF’STORE, informed customers that some items may be temporarily unavailable.

A rainbow LGBTQ+ pride flag hanging from a flag pole outside of Lynnwood City Hall moves in the wind on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood to develop policy after pride flag controversy

Earlier this month, the city denied a group’s request to raise an LGBTQ+ pride flag at a public park, citing the lack of a clear policy.

The Washington state Capitol on April 18, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)
Washington governor wants agencies to look for deeper cuts

The state’s financial turmoil hasn’t subsided. It may get worse when a new revenue forecast comes out this month.

Members of the California National Guard and federal law enforcement stand guard as people protest outside of the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, on Tuesday. (Philip Cheung/The New York Times)
Ferguson prepares for possibility of Trump deploying troops in Washington

The governor planned to meet with the state’s top military official Tuesday, after the president sent the National Guard and Marines to respond to Los Angeles protests.

Traffic slows as it moves around the bend of northbound I-5 through north Everett on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Officials: SnoCo commuters should prep for major I-5 construction

Starting in June, a significant repair project in Seattle will close northbound I-5 for days and reduce the number of open lanes for weeks.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

The Daily Herald relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in