Amid reports that Taliban leaders were fleeing Kabul in anticipation of a U.S. attack, Pakistani diplomats delivered an ultimatum from
The Pakistani delegation talked for three hours in the Afghan city of Kandahar with the Taliban's reclusive spiritual leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, emphasizing the threat of American military action. The emissaries emerged without a commitment that bin Laden would be turned over. They plan to press their case again in meetings in Kabul on Tuesday.
"There was no clear discussion on this particular topic," said Taliban spokesman Abdul Hai Mutamaean. "The talks were positive. ..."
The United States returned to a semblance of normalcy Monday. Most workers returned to their jobs, Wall Street markets were back in business and baseball resumed its season. In a visit to the Pentagon, Bush said the American military will pay "any cost" to defend freedom and warned that the price for the war on terrorism would be high.
Bin Laden and the Taliban have denied involvement in last Tuesday's attacks. Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said it was possible the Taliban was unaware of the strength of international feeling against the rulers in the wake of the suicide missions on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and don't understand why Afghanistan would be the target of a
"My fear is perhaps the government and leadership are not fully aware of the storm that broke loose on Sept. 11," Sattar said, noting most of
The growing tensions between Afghanistan and
"We need to react with a cool head. It is not about revenge," said Joschka Fischer, the German foreign minister. "In the end, we should not create more instability than was the case previously by our reactions."
"We have to assemble the evidence, present it and then pursue those responsible," said British Prime Minister
In the United States, the search for remains of the more than 5,000 feared dead at the World Trade Center in
The
Among the industries hardest hit Monday were the airlines, many of which had already announced huge layoffs after the attacks. The industry is seeking a $20 billion rescue plan from Congress, and the Bush administration said it would consider it.
49 detained
The
Details are sketchy, but Ashcroft plans to request a greater ability to seize terrorists' assets, to toughen penalties for harboring terrorists and to make it a crime to provide financial help to a terrorist. The attorney general also will ask for greater wiretapping authority.
"If terrorism has not had a priority in the criminal justice system previously, it's time for us to understand that it needs to be a priority in the criminal justice system now," Ashcroft said.
The attorney general added that he is asking Congress to pass "these important anti-terrorism measures" this week. But the Justice Department is meeting resistance from those who see this appeal as an attempt to use the current climate of fear to push through heavy-handed measures that infringe on privacy and civil liberties.
In addition, the government planned to pursue the terrorists on the financial front as part of Bush's declaration of war.
Treasury Secretary
In
"You are not alone," the first lady said in a visit to Indian Lake, Pa., 2 miles from the site where United Flight 93, a
"In hours like this, we learn that our faith is an active faith, that we are called to serve and care for one another, and to bring hope and comfort where there is despair and sorrow. All of this is the work of the living."
Demand for justice
If the first lady's role was to bring a sense of comfort to a tragedy, the president aggressively pushed his demand for justice, evoking a Wild West wanted poster as evidence of the government's determination to hold bin Laden accountable for the terrorist assault:
"There's an old poster out West that said, `Wanted, dead or alive.'"
Bush's rhetoric, aimed directly at bin Laden and his Afghan hosts, has been growing increasingly bellicose since the Sept. 11 incident.
But he reached out Monday to urge everyone to treat American Muslims with respect, saying, "The face of terror is not the true face of Islam."
The FBI is investigating about 40 reports of violence against Arabs.