George Bush's Speech after The 9/11 Terrorist Attack

Introduction

My fellow Americans, we observe today a direct attack on our freedom. At 8:46 a.m., our country experienced deadly and intentional acts of terror. The attackers did not discriminate in their targets; from passengers aboard the Boeing 767 that struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center to the many businessmen and women working inside the Pentagon when the third and final plane struck the outer three rings of the building’s west block, our people have suffered a calamitous loss.

The Symbolism of the Attack

To the airplanes that flew into our tallest buildings, putting us in disbelief, we must not forget these are the same planes that we have used to explore new worlds and cultures. We must not forget that these airplanes, crafted from steel by the mortal hands of man, have been used as weapons against their very creators. Thousands of tons of steel have been incinerated in the evil flames that tormented through the hallways of the Northern Tower of the World Trade Center. These hallways housed mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, the walls held together by the blood and tears of the hardworking people of this great nation. These walls have fallen. They will rise again, supported by the hands of the strongest people in the world.

The Strength of the American People

Why are we the strongest of all people? The sheer determination and perseverance that flows through the veins of the American people is proof enough that we are the strongest. No calamity of any magnitude will stop this from coursing through our veins. It is the same perseverance and determination that founded the very ground we walk on today, the very place we call home. Our home was attacked today in hopes of frightening us. They thought this would cause chaos and retreat. They have failed. Our country remains strong. The relentless strength and resilience of our great people will continue to fuel the engine that powers this land. The steel that has melted today is a reminder that this country was forged by the steel of man. It is man who creates his future, and it is man who can destroy it.

The Foundation of Our Nation

This attack has proved that even the foundations of our strongest and tallest buildings can be shaken, but the foundation of a strong country, with an even stronger people, will withstand the sands of time. The United States Government has concluded that it is this foundation that made our country the target for this attack. By being the world standard for opportunity and strength, we have made ourselves a target to opposers who want this title for themselves. We were tested today; someone, something, has tried to come for our title. They will not have it. These standards have been engraved into the soil of this land and will not be tarnished by anyone.

Our Commitment

God has blessed us with fertile and bountiful soil, and it is only He who creates and destroys man. These tyrants have taken the duty of God, and they will be punished by the Almighty Himself. The FBI and the CIA have every resource at their disposal in order to find those responsible for this direct violation of human life. To the people living in terrorist-occupied lands, desperately trying to destroy the evil grasp that has been burdened upon them, the U.S. pledges to rid you of this evil. The U.S. pledges to rid the world of this evil. The war on terrorism has reached its climax. By not only fighting it on enemy soil but by plaguing the very land in which our children will grow, this has become a very personal matter. Terrorism has fallen into the hands of our great nation, and these are the hands we will use to destroy it.

Our Response

We will not act out of impulse or anger. We have not let these events distract us from our primary functions of government. Our government’s National Response Plan is in full effect. Our emergency response teams are working tirelessly in Washington, D.C., and New York City in order to get immediate help to those who have been injured, and we are sparing no expense in the return of the safety and comfort of our people. To all of our allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, on behalf of the American people, I would like to thank you for your condolences and continued support during this time.

A Call for Unity

Today is a time for all people to join together for world peace. Today we all stand together with the people around the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass torment. Today we all hold hands in remembrance of the precious lives that were lost. Today, we are all Americans.

References

• Bush, G. W. (2001). Address to the Nation on the September 11 Attacks. Retrieved from National Archives website: https://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries/research/guide-to-materials/september-11