By ROBERT BURNS
AP Military Writer
WASHINGTON – The United States will respond to terrorist attacks on New
York and Washington with a sustained military campaign, Deputy Defense Secretary
Paul Wolfowitz said Thursday.
"One thing that is clear is you don't do it with just a single military
strike, no matter how dramatic," he told reporters at the Pentagon.
Wolfowitz would not say what U.S. military strikes might target or discuss
specific military options.
"We're going to keep after these people and the people who support them until
this stops," he said.
Wolfowitz said part of the $20 billion in emergency funds President Bush is
seeking from Congress will be used to strengthen U.S. military readiness for the
fight against terrorism. He could not specify how much.
Another portion of the extra money will pay the mounting costs of combat air
patrols that have been flying over major American cities, including Washington,
since the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Wolfowitz praised Congress for uniting in support of the funding.
"It's a message to friends and adversaries alike that this is a completely
different ballgame that we're in now," he said.
Despite the focus on military action, Wolfowitz said the anti-terrorism
campaign the president plans to direct will be multifaceted.
"These people try to hide. They won't be able to hide forever," Wolfowitz
said. "They think their harbors are safe, but they won't be safe forever. One
has to say it's not just simply a matter of capturing people and holding them
accountable, but removing the sanctuaries, removing the support systems, ending
states who sponsor terrorism."
In order for the Bush administration to achieve its goal of eradicating
terrorism, there must be a military build-up over the next year or longer,
Wolfowitz said.
The Defense Department issued its first casualty estimate on Thursday, saying
about 190 people perished when a commercial jetliner slammed into the Pentagon.
The death toll, which the Pentagon called initial and preliminary, included the
64 aboard the hijacked American Airlines plane.
On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said in a message to U.S.
troops worldwide that "in the days ahead" some among them would be called to
join the battle against terrorism.
Rumsfeld, in remarks that strongly suggested military retaliation for the
terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, said the entire Defense Department
must be prepared for "dangerous work."
"We face powerful and terrible enemies, enemies we intend to vanquish,"
Rumsfeld said in a videotaped message to U.S. forces around the globe. He called
the attacks Tuesday the first great crisis of the 21st century and said it would
demand a response from those in uniform.
"The task of vanquishing these terrible enemies – and protecting the American
people and the cause of human freedom – will fall to you," he said.
Rumsfeld noted the U.S. military's history of heroism.
"At the Pentagon yesterday, heroes were here again. I know I am speaking to
many now – especially those of you in the field, those of you who wear the
uniform of our country – who will in the days ahead also be called heroes," he
said.
A text of Rumsfeld's remarks were distributed by his aides.
The attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon by
terrorists in hijacked jetliners were "the definition of a new battlefield," he
said.
"It is a different kind of conflict," Rumsfeld said. He spoke to reporters in
a grave tone in a Pentagon briefing room that still reeked of acrid smoke from
the smoldering fires.
Asked whether the Bush administration was prepared to take bold action
against the perpetrators, Rumsfeld replied, "Time will tell. I'm kind of old
fashioned. I'm inclined to think if you're going to cock it you throw it" – in
other words, if you threaten to retaliate you must carry through.
"So my instinct is you go about your business and do what you have to do," he
added. "Anyone who thinks it's easy is wrong. I think it will take a sustained
and broadly based effort."
Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., expressed hope that the United States and Russia
might take "joint action" against Osama bin Laden, the exiled Saudi millionaire
who is considered the leading suspect in Tuesday's attacks.
Levin said Rumsfeld and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov discussed the
situation on Tuesday. While that did not necessarily mean Russia would join in
any military action, "the tone of those conversations is they would be amenable.
It gives me some hope to take some joint action in any world action against bin
Laden that we would find support hopefully not just from our traditional allies
in NATO, but also Russia."
Meanwhile, a Navy aircraft carrier sailed into the waters off New York's Long
Island on Wednesday and other warships stood guard off the East Coast as the
U.S. military remained on high alert against further terrorist attacks.
In addition to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington standing watch off
New York City and the carrier USS John F. Kennedy at an undisclosed location
farther off the East Coast, the Navy was moving several cruisers and destroyers
out of port in Norfolk, Va., headquarters for the Atlantic Fleet.
Also, the USS Carl Vinson and its battle group were patrolling the Persian
Gulf, and the USS Enterprise – which the Vinson had just relieved after six
months at sea – was ordered to remain in the area instead of heading home,
officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The carrier battle groups normally include cruisers and submarines, which
could be the launch pads for long-range cruise missile strikes should a
retaliatory attack be ordered.
Also deployed were amphibious ships, guided missile cruisers and guided
missile destroyers that are capable of responding to threats from the air and
sea.
AP-WS-09-13-01 1332EDT