ATLANTA'President Bush, urging the nation to avoid both a state of panic and a state of denial, said Thursday night that individual citizens will be responsible for personally confronting terrorism in coming years despite a government pledge to protect American soil.
Bush said the government remains on high alert and asked viewers of the nationally televised address to add their eyes and ears to the effort. He said the nation has \entered a new era,"" with ""new responsibilities, both for the government and our people.""
""This is a war that must be fought not only overseas but also here at home,"" Bush said. ""We must be vigilant, inspect our mail, stay informed on public health matters. We will not give in to exaggerated fears or passing rumors. We will rely on our good judgment and our common sense.""
His announced theme was homeland defense, but Bush used the occasion to deliver a broad message that ranged from calls for personal vigilance and community service, to a progress report on anthrax investigations, to a renewed commitment to destroying Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda terrorist network. Looking relaxed and confident, Bush said the United States and the coalition he has assembled ""are deliberately and systematically hunting down these murderers and we will bring them to justice.""
""We are at the beginning of our efforts in Afghanistan, and Afghanistan is only the beginning of our efforts in the world,"" he said. ""No group or nation should mistake America's intentions: Where terrorist groups of global reach exist, the United States and our friends and allies will see it out and destroy it.""
White House officials had hoped to win prime-time coverage of the speech by the broadcast networks, announcing that it would begin 30 seconds after 8:01 p.m. EST, leaving time for an anchor introduction. But NBC stuck with ""Friends"" and CBS showed ""Survivor: Africa."" The White House did not make a formal request for time.
In connection with the speech, the White House distributed a fact sheet titled ""Every American Can Help,"" which described Bush's creation of a Presidential Task Force on Citizen Preparedness in the War against Terrorism, which is to make recommendations within 40 days on ways Americans can prepare in their homes, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces and houses of worship.
