Victims honored as Bush issues orders for attack

By Sandra Sobieraj

Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Bundled against Sunday’s unseasonable cold, President Bush bowed his head in prayer for wisdom, for the salvation of firefighters killed in the crumble of the World Trade Center. He had already, in secret the night before, ordered retaliation for their deaths.

“We did not ask for this mission, but we will fulfill it,” Bush told the nation.

At midmorning Sunday, the president had returned to the White House from an outdoor service at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in rural Maryland. He strode into the Oval Office knowing that, within two hours, Tomahawk cruise missiles would fire upon terrorist targets in Afghanistan.

“I gave them fair warning,” he told one adviser. He reached for the phone to alert Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Military action under Operation Enduring Freedom was “imminent,” Bush told French President Jacques Chirac.

At 9:30 a.m. PDT, 26 days of horror, grief, investigation and ultimatums culminated in a shower of missiles over Kabul, the Afghan capital and headquarters of its ruling Taliban militia. The Taliban had refused Bush’s demands to surrender prime terror suspect Osama bin Laden.

Bush gave House and Senate leaders the heads-up on Saturday night, telephoning senior Democrats and Republicans just after he gave the Pentagon his go-ahead order to strike as soon as strategic and intelligence officials knew the time was right. A small circle of advisers knew the operation would begin in the next day or two.

White House press secretary Ari Fleischer described the president’s mood Sunday as resolute. There were signs of anxiousness, as well.

Minutes before he addressed the nation Sunday from the Treaty Room, Bush could be heard over an open audio feed impatiently ordering his personal aide to empty the room.

“Clear ‘em out, Logan,” Bush barked.

To the country, Bush announced, “The battle is now joined on many fronts.” His speech, in the works for at least 36 hours, had gone through a half-dozen drafts. He acknowledged that many Americans fear the terrorists will strike again.

Underscoring that possibility, Vice President Dick Cheney was removed from his official residence to a secret, safer place.

Bush, his speech made to the public, hunkered down inside to monitor military operations. He paused for lunch with senior advisers in the Roosevelt Room. It was then that bin Laden’s videotaped statement first aired, thanking God that America was “full of fear.”

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

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