‘This Great Nation Will Never Be Intimidated’

Excerpts from President Bush’s speech Thursday:

“The moment the second plane hit the second building, when we knew it was a terrorist attack, many felt that our lives would never be the same. What we couldn’t be sure of then and what the terrorists never expected was that America would emerge stronger with a renewed spirit of pride and patriotism.”

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“None of us would ever wish the evil that has been done to our country, yet we have learned that out of evil can come great good. During the last two months, we have shown the world America is a great nation.”

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“We are a different country than we were on September the 10th, sadder and less innocent, stronger and more united. And in the face of ongoing threats, determined and courageous.”

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“Our nation faces a threat to our freedoms, and the stakes could not be higher. We are the target of enemies who boast they want to kill, kill all Americans, kill all Jews and kill all Christians. We’ve seen that type of hate before, and the only possible response is to confront it and to defeat it.”

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“This enemy tries to hide behind a peaceful faith. But those who celebrate the murder of innocent men, women and children have no religion, have no conscience and have no mercy.”

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“We are destroying training camps, disrupting communications and dismantling air defenses. We are now bombing Taliban front lines. We are deliberately and systematically hunting down these murderers, and we will bring them to justice.”

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“When the terrorists and their supporters are gone, the people of Afghanistan will say with the rest of the world, ‘Good riddance.’ ”

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“Our people have responded with courage and compassion, calm and reason, resolve and fierce determination. We have refused to live in a state of panic or a state of denial. There is a difference between being alert and being intimidated, and this great nation will never be intimidated.”

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“The enormity of this tragedy has caused many Americans to focus on the things that have not changed, the things that matter most in life: our faith, our love for family and friends, our commitment to our country and to our freedoms and to our principles.”

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“Many ask, ‘What can I do to help in our fight?’ The answer is simple. All of us can become a September the 11th volunteer by making a commitment to service in our own communities.”

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“Our great national opportunity is to preserve forever the good that has resulted. Through this tragedy, we are renewing and reclaiming our strong American values.”

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“Too many have the wrong idea of Americans as shallow, materialist consumers who care only about getting rich or getting ahead. But this isn’t the America I know.”

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“We cannot know every turn this battle will take, yet we know our cause is just and our ultimate victory is assured. We will no doubt face new challenges, but we have our marching orders. My fellow Americans, let’s roll.”