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danger."

The President blamed al Qaeda for 9/11 and the 1998 embassy

bombings and, for the first time, declared that al Qaeda was "responsible for
bombing the USS Cole."

He reiterated the ultimatum that had already been

conveyed privately."The Taliban must act, and act immediately," he said."They
will hand over the terrorists, or they will share in their fate."

The President

added that America's quarrel was not with Islam: "The enemy of America is
not our many Muslim friends; it is not our many Arab friends. Our enemy is
a radical network of terrorists, and every government that supports them."
Other regimes faced hard choices, he pointed out: "Every nation, in every
region, now has a decision to make: Either you are with us, or you are with the
terrorists."

President Bush argued that the new war went beyond Bin Ladin."Our war

on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there," he said."It will not
end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped, and
defeated."The President had a message for the Pentagon: "The hour is com-
ing when America will act, and you will make us proud." He also had a mes-
sage for those outside the United States. "This is civilization's fight," he said.
"We ask every nation to join us."

President Bush approved military plans to attack Afghanistan in meetings

with Central Command's General Franks and other advisers on September 21
and October 2. Originally titled "Infinite Justice," the operation's code word
was changed--to avoid the sensibilities of Muslims who associate the power of
infinite justice with God alone--to the operational name still used for opera-
tions in Afghanistan:"Enduring Freedom."

The plan had four phases.

· In Phase One, the United States and its allies would move forces into

the region and arrange to operate from or over neighboring coun-
tries such as Uzbekistan and Pakistan.This occurred in the weeks fol-
lowing 9/11, aided by overwhelming international sympathy for the
United States.

· In Phase Two, air strikes and Special Operations attacks would hit key

al Qaeda and Taliban targets. In an innovative joint effort, CIA and
Special Operations forces would be deployed to work together with
each major Afghan faction opposed to the Taliban. The Phase Two
strikes and raids began on October 7.The basing arrangements con-
templated for Phase One were substantially secured--after arduous
effort--by the end of that month.

· In Phase Three, the United States would carry out "decisive operations"

using all elements of national power, including ground troops, to top-
ple the Taliban regime and eliminate al Qaeda's sanctuary in
Afghanistan. Mazar-e-Sharif, in northern Afghanistan, fell to a coali-
tion assault by Afghan and U.S. forces on November 9. Four days later
the Taliban had fled from Kabul. By early December, all major cities

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