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institutions on notice: If you do business with porters with Internet service, secure tele- terrorists, if you support them or sponsor phone communications, and other ways of them, you will not do business with the sending messages and sharing information. United States of America. They even arrange for the shipment of weap- Today we are taking another step in our ons. fight against evil. We are shutting down two They present themselves as legitimate major elements of the terrorists international businesses. But they skim money from every financial network, both at home and abroad. transaction for the benefit of terrorist organi- Ours is not a war just of soldiers and aircraft. zations. They enable the proceeds of crime It’s a war fought with diplomacy, by the in- in one country to be transferred to pay for vestigations of law enforcement, by gathering terrorist acts in another. intelligence, and by cutting off the terrorists’ The entry point to these networks may be money. a small storefront operation, but follow the I want to thank Secretary Paul O’Neill for network to its center and you discover being here today and for being the leader wealthy banks and sophisticated technology, of this fine organization. I want to thank the all at the service of mass murderers. By shut- Director, Jim Sloan, as well. You’re doing ting these networks down, we disrupt the some imaginative work here at the Financial murderers’ work. Today’s action interrupts Al Crimes Enforcement Network, and I want Qaida’s communications; it blocks an impor- to thank all the fine Americans who are on tant source of funds. It provides us with valu- the frontline of our war, the people who work able information and sends a clear message here. to global financial institutions: You are with I want to thank Secretary Colin Powell for us, or you are with the terrorists. And if being here, as well. He’s doing a magnificent you’re with the terrorists, you will face the job of stitching together one of the greatest consequences. coalitions ever, a coalition of nations that We fight an enemy who hides in caves in stands for freedom. And I want to thank our Afghanistan and in the shadows within in our Attorney General for coming—the man own society. It’s an enemy who can only sur- whose job it is to make sure that any time vive in darkness. Today we’ve taken another we find anybody inside our country who will important action to expose the enemy to the threaten an American, threaten our institu- light and to disrupt its ability to threaten tions, they will be brought to justice. And America and innocent life. that’s exactly what our Nation is doing. I’m proud of the actions of our agencies. Acting on solid and credible evidence, the We’re making a difference. We’re slowly but Treasury Department of the United States surely tightening the noose, and we will be today blocked the U.S. assets of 62 individ- victorious. uals and organizations connected with two Now it’s my honor to welcome the Sec- terror-supporting financial networks, the Al retary of Treasury, Paul O’Neill. Taqwa and the Al Barakaat. Their offices NOTE: The President spoke at 1:52 p.m. in the have been shut down in four U.S. States. And FinCEN office’s Multimedia Room. In his re- our G–8 partners and other friends, including marks, he referred to Shaykh Ahme Nur Jimale, the United Arab Emirates, have joined us in founder, Al Barakaat, and Usama bin Laden, lead- blocking assets and coordinating enforce- er of the Al Qaida terrorist organization. ment action. Al Taqwa is an association of offshore banks and financial management firms that Remarks Following Discussions With have helped Al Qaida shift money around the Prime Minister Tony Blair of the world. Al Barakaat is a group of money-wir- United Kingdom and an Exchange ing and communication companies owned by With Reporters a friend and supporter of Usama bin Laden. November 7, 2001 Al Taqwa and Al Barakaat raise funds for Al Qaida; they manage, invest, and distribute President Bush. The last time we were those funds. They provide terrorist sup- standing here, I was getting ready to give an

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address to the United States Congress. And bit as strong today as it was on September I knew then that the Prime Minister and the the 11th. people he represents were going to be great The cause is just. The strategy is there. friends of the United States in our mutual The determination is there, and there is a struggle against terrorism, and he has cer- complete and total commitment to making tainly proven that over the last weeks. We’ve sure that this is a battle in which we will got no better friend in the world than Great prevail, and we will. I have no doubt about Britain. I’ve got no better person that I would that at all. like to talk to about our mutual concerns than What we’ve discussed already and will Tony Blair. He brings a lot of wisdom and carry on discussing is, obviously, the military judgment as we fight evil. strategy in Afghanistan. We have discussed He also is, like me, determined. Nothing the humanitarian issues to make sure that we will deter us in this all-important goal. We are doing everything we possibly can to help both recognize that we wage a fight to save the plight of people in Afghanistan. And we civilization and that we must prevail and, not should never forget that some 41⁄2 million of only must prevail, will prevail. them were refugees before the 11th of Sep- We’ve had a great discussion about tember. progress in Afghanistan. I fully believe we’re We have discussed, also, the reconstruc- making great progress. I told the American tion of Afghanistan, how we make sure that people many times, and I’ve told the press after the present Taliban regime led by corps many times that this is a struggle that’s Mullah Omar is out of the way, that we con- going to take a while, that it’s not one of struct a broad-based regime that is represent- these Kodak moments. There is no moment ative of all the different groupings in Afghan- to this; this is a long struggle and a different istan and offers some hope of stability and kind of war. But we’re patient, and our close prosperity for that part of the world. friends are patient, which is bad news for And we have, obviously, also discussed the Taliban and the people they harbor. how important it is that at this moment in Secondly, we talked a lot about making time, we carry on building that strong coali- sure that our great compassion for the inno- tion against international terrorism in all its cents in Afghanistan is fulfilled. We must forms. And I believe that that coalition, if feed the people. And the Prime Minister anything, is even stronger today. has—every time I’ve talked to him, which is Certainly, from the discussions I had with a lot, is constantly talking about how we make European leaders just a few days ago, their sure that we fulfill the mission, not only mili- commitment is real, and their determination tary but fulfill the mission of helping people is also absolute to see this thing done. So in need. And also, we continue to discuss the can I once again thank President Bush very vision of a post-Taliban Afghanistan, and how much for his kindness in welcoming me here. do we make sure that all parties involved in President Bush. The Prime Minister has that part of the world have a stake in the consented to take a couple of questions, as future? He’s got a clear vision; he is a strong will I. We are going to enforce the one-ques- friend; and I welcome him back to the White tion rule, however, Fournier [Ron Fournier, House. Associated Press]. And that is, you get to ask Prime Minister Blair. First of all, can I me or him a question. [Laughter] say how pleased I am to be back at the White Q. That’s an Executive order? House in the company of President Bush and President Bush. Well—[laughter]. to have continued the discussions we’ve been Prime Minister Blair. It looks like it. having over these past weeks and continue Are you going to go first, George, or what? them face to face. And can I thank him once again for his leadership and his strength at Progress in the War on Terrorism this time. And can I say to him, on behalf Q. It has been 8 weeks since the Sep- of the people of my country, but I believe tember 11th attacks, and we don’t know people right across the world, that the deter- where Usama bin Laden is. It has been sev- mination to see that justice is done is every eral weeks since the anthrax attacks, but we

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don’t know who sent the letters. What do Situation in the Middle East you say to Americans who might be frus- Q. Mr. President, since we’re limited to trated and impatient despite your admonition only one leader, can I ask you whether you about the ‘‘Kodak moment’’? think you can win this struggle against ter- President Bush. Yes. I will say to them, rorism without a settlement in the Middle we fight a new kind of war. Never would East? And in view of the rather strident notes we dream that someone would use our own struck by both sides on the Prime Minister’s airplanes to attack us and/or the mail to at- tour of the Middle East last week, what do tack us. I will tell them that we have put you think the United States can do to bring a sound strategy in place that has got Usama that resolution about? bin Laden and the Al Qaida thugs on the President Bush. Of course we can win the run. And I will tell them that we will bring war against Al Qaida. them to justice. Q. Without a Middle East settlement? I can’t tell them exactly when. But I will President Bush. Oh, I believe we can. I tell them that we will prevail. There’s no believe we’re going to—we are hunting them question in my mind. We know he hides in down as we speak, and we will bring them caves, and we’re shutting down caves. We to justice. know he moves around at night, and we’re But remember, the war is beyond just Af- looking for him. ghanistan. There are over 60 Al Qaida organi- We know that, slowly but surely, the zations around the world. And today we Taliban is crumbling; its defenses are crum- struck a blow for freedom by cutting off their bling; its folks are defecting. We know that money—one of their money sources. And if you’re on the frontline and if you’re a I’m absolutely convinced we can. Taliban soldier, you’re likely to get injured, Having said that, however, we are both because we’re relentless in our pursuit of the working hard to try to bring peace to the mission. Middle East. My Secretary of State, who is In terms of the anthrax, we don’t know here, spends enormous amounts of time on who did it yet. We do know it’s a terrorist. the phone with both parties, urging for there Anybody who would use the mail to try to to be calm so that we can get into the Mitch- ell process. There is a process in place that kill an American is a terrorist. But we do will lead to peace, called Mitchell. It has know this, Ron, that we’ve responded rapidly, been embraced by all or most of the nations that our health officials are performing really of the world, and we are working hard to fine work. And I truly believe, as I’ve said get us into the Mitchell process. many times, I believe they have saved a lot There is no doubt in my mind—no doubt of lives. We know how to treat anthrax. And in my mind—we will bring Al Qaida to jus- we now know we need sanitation machines tice, peace or no peace in the Middle East. in our post offices, machines to sanitize the Prime Minister Blair. Can I just say a mail, and we’re putting those in. word on that? There is no way whatever in We know that we’re fighting evil. And the which our action in Afghanistan is conditional American people are patient. They’ve heard on progress in the Middle East. And indeed, the call. And tomorrow night I’m going to one of the things that bin Laden wants to put out an address that reminds the Nation do is to try and hijack the Palestinian cause that we’re truly a great nation, that we’ve re- for his own purposes. sponded in ways that the enemy could never Now, we are taking the action in Afghani- have imagined. And I’m so proud of the pa- stan, and I believe, incidentally, people are tience and steadfast nature of our people. patient about this. I think they understand Mr. Prime Minister. this is not a conventional conflict; it is not Prime Minister Blair. [Inaudible]—say a fought in a conventional way. It takes a lot word on that? of strategy and planning and determination President Bush. No, you can call on over a period of time to be successful. But somebody. be under no doubt at all: Our objectives, Prime Minister Blair. Yes. which is to close down that terrorist network

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in Afghanistan, those objectives will be to do it. And I can’t wait to share that infor- achieved. mation with the President. I will do so. Now, even though it is not conditional in Listen, the ABM Treaty is outmoded and any sense, of course we want to see progress outdated, and we need to move beyond it. in the Middle East. That’s why we are devot- It’s exactly what I’ve been telling the Presi- ing enormous amounts of time to it. And I dent ever since I’ve been meeting with him, believe it is possible to see how we can make and my position has not changed. And if he’s progress in the Middle East. And I described got some interesting suggestions on how to some of the ways that could happen when make the ABM Treaty not outdated and not I was in the Middle East last week. So be outmoded, I’m more than willing to listen. under no doubt, either, that, irrespective of But our Nation and this terrorist war says the action in Afghanistan, it is in everybody’s to me more than ever that we need to de- interest that we make progress in the Middle velop defenses to protect ourselves against East, and we will strain every sinew we pos- weapons of mass destruction that might fall sibly can to do so. in the hands of terrorist nations. If Afghani- stan or if the Taliban had a weapon that was Nuclear Arms Reduction/ABM Treaty able to deliver a weapon of mass destruction, we might be talking a little different tune Q. Mr. President, have you decided on a about our progress against Al Qaida than we figure for how far you can cut the U.S. nu- are today. clear weapons stockpile, and do you agree So it’s important for us to be able to de- with President Putin who said that a common velop defenses that work. And the ABM approach can be devised for interpreting the Treaty prevents us from doing that. ABM Treaty to allow for missile defense without abandoning the treaty? Open Skies Agreements And if Mr. Blair could address the issue of, would a failure to reach an arms agree- Q. Mr. Prime Minister, I’d like to divert ment undermine the momentum of the your attention a little bit away from military international coalition? conflicts toward the economic side of things. President Bush. So much for Executive I’d like to ask you if you’ve had a chance orders. [Laughter] at all to ask the President if they would for- Q. It was an umbrella question. [Laughter] mally launch open skies agreements and, if President Bush. Oh, it was an umbrella not, if that means that the UK’s position is question. now that the EU is going to be handling this I think it’s best that I share with Mr. Putin matter? the acceptable level of offensive weapons Prime Minister Blair. No. I mean, no with him, before I do with you. And so I’m doubt we will discuss these issues, but we going to reserve—I’m not going to tell you haven’t yet. until I tell him. [Laughter] President Bush. We haven’t had dinner Q. Have you reached a decision? yet. Q. But does that mean that the EU is Prime Minister Blair. And then, I guess going to be in charge of it now? I had better not, either. Prime Minister Blair. No, it doesn’t President Bush. I have reached a deci- mean that at all. sion. And I’ve spent time thinking about the issue. I’ve told the American people that the United States will move to reduce our offen- Operation Enduring Freedom sive weapons to a level commensurate with Q. Mr. President, could I ask a question being able to keep the peace and, at the same of your guest? But feel free to jump in if time, much lower levels than have been ne- you so desire. gotiated in previous arms control agree- President Bush. It depends on what the ments. We don’t need an arms control agree- question is. ment to convince us to reduce our nuclear Q. Well, sir, it is a multiple-part question, weapons down substantially, and I’m going for which I am famous. But anyway, Prime

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Minister, as you know, the air war in Afghani- different about this conflict is that every part stan is one month old today. There are many of it has to come together; in other words, experts on both sides of the Atlantic who be- not just the military part but also the support lieve that the air war is limited in its ability for those parties in opposition to the Taliban, to really inflict a decisive blow against the and the political and diplomatic aspects that Taliban. Many say the only way you can de- help build a strong coalition that can secure feat the Taliban is to put boots on the the objectives we want to see. And I have ground. One, do you agree? And two, are absolutely no doubt at all that we will achieve you willing to commit large numbers of Brit- the objectives that we want. ish troops, beyond the SAS and the Royal And those objectives are very simple. Marines, to the effort to defeat the Taliban? Sometimes people say to me, ‘‘Well, you Prime Minister Blair. Well, first of all, know, clarify the military objectives.’’ There’s let me say something to you I often say to no difficulty about doing that at all. It’s Al our own media when I am asked a question Qaida and the terrorist network shut down; about the precise nature of our military oper- it’s the Taliban regime out; it’s a new regime ations. And that is that I have learned in in that is broad-based; and it’s a decent fu- these situations that it is not a sensible thing ture for the people of Afghanistan, based on to discuss in detail the types of military oper- some stability and progress, not based on a ation that you may undertake, for very obvi- regime that oppresses its people, treats its ous reasons. people appallingly, is a threat to regional sta- But we are completely committed to see- bility, and basically thrives on the drugs ing this thing through. I think people know trade. that the strategy has to encompass more than Now, I think those are pretty clear objec- airstrikes alone, although do not underesti- tives, and I’ve absolutely no doubt at all that mate the enormous damage that is now being we will achieve them in full, and we will not done to Taliban frontline troops, because let up until we do. that is where the air power is being con- President Bush. Thank you all. centrated. But of course, there are other operations NOTE: The President spoke at 5:15 p.m. in the that we will mount, as well. And there are, Cross Hall at the White House. In his remarks, obviously, the support and the assistance that he referred to Usama bin Laden, leader of the Al Qaida terrorist organization; and President we are giving to the Northern Alliance. There Vladimir Putin of Russia. The President also re- are the measures that we are taking of a polit- ferred to the Report by the Sharm al-Sheikh Fact- ical and diplomatic nature, as well. Finding Committee, which was chaired by former And when you said a moment or two ago Senator George J. Mitchell. that the airstrikes were just—and the conflict was a month old, I think it is probably just as well to reflect upon that for a moment. Letter to Congressional Leaders on It is simply a month old. And we have begun Proposed ‘‘Armies of Compassion’’ this action. We have taken it at a number Legislation of different levels. I think it is already having November 7, 2001 a huge impact. Some of the information that I have Dear Mr. Leader: seen—I think sometimes people don’t always Since September 11, Americans have reflect on maybe enough when we state it come together to help meet our national to people—but literally, we have destroyed needs in this time of great crisis. They have virtually all the terrorist training camps of Al given more than $1 billion to disaster relief Qaida; we have destroyed an enormous efforts and many Americans have volun- amount of the military infrastructure of the teered their time. Although individual gen- Taliban. Their air power, insofar as it exists, erosity is evident everywhere, thousands of is completely taken out. We therefore have our Nation’s charities, paradoxically, have a very, very strong situation from which to been suffering. Donations to organizations move forward. And I think what is—what is not directly involved in disaster relief have

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