Bush urges US to 'unite' against terrorism
George Bush claims the war on terror is a "struggle for civilisation"
Also In The News
|
Ivar Ingimarsson's brave first-half header helped Reading to a 1-0 win over Manchester City at the Madejski Stadium. |  |
Tuesday, 12, Sep 2006 08:40
United States president George Bush has urged Americans to put aside their differences and work together to defeat terrorism.
Addressing the nation from the Oval Office on the fifth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Mr Bush claimed that the fight against terror was no less than a "struggle for civilisation" and that the "war" against terrorism would "require the determined efforts of a unified country".
"The war against this enemy is more than a military conflict. It is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century and the calling of our generation," the president stressed.
"It is a struggle for civilisation. We are fighting to maintain a way of life enjoyed by free nations."
Mr Bush, who is continuing to face domestic criticism over his handling of the so-called "war on terror" ahead of November's mid-term Congressional elections, also warned that failing to tackle extremists now would create terrorist threats in the future.
"We will leave our children to face a Middle East overrun by terrorist states and radical dictators armed with nuclear weapons," claimed the US leader.
In a warning to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, who masterminded the September 11th attacks, and other terrorists still in hiding, Mr Bush added: "Our message to them is clear. No matter how long it takes, America will find you and we will bring you to justice."
Mr Bush, who has faced ongoing criticism over the controversial Iraq war, also made a plea to critics to support the US military operation in the country, warning that "the safety of America depends on the outcome of the battle in the streets of Baghdad".
"Whatever mistakes have been made in Iraq, the worst mistake would be to think that if we pulled out, the terrorists would leave us alone," said Mr Bush.
But with the US polarised over how best to defeat terrorism, some politicians accused the president of attempting to politicise the September 11th anniversary to bolster support for his policies.
"The president should be ashamed of using a national day of mourning to commandeer the airwaves to give a speech that was designed not to unite the country and commemorate the fallen but to seek support for a war in Iraq that he has admitted had 'nothing' to do with 9/11, " said Massachusetts' Democratic senator Edward Kennedy.