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Bush Vows U.S. Will Avenge Deaths Of Thousands In Terrorist Outrage; Says America 'Saw Evil'
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A grim-faced President Bush asked the nation to find comfort in Scripture as he mourned the deaths of thousands of Americans in Tuesday's atrocities and vowed to avenge their killings. "Today, our nation saw evil," he said. In his first prime-time Oval Office address, Bush said the United States would find and punish "those behind these evil acts," and any country that harbors them.
Bush spoke from the Oval Office just hours after bouncing between Florida and air bases in Louisiana and Nebraska for security reasons. Fighter jets and decoy helicopters accompanied his evening flight to Washington and the White House, where his Marine One helicopter stood vigil on the South Lawn in the event of another evacuation.
With smoke still pouring out of rubble in Washington and New York, Bush declared: "These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve."
He spoke for less than five minutes from the desk that Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy used before him. Beside the door, a TelePrompTer operator fed Bush the words that he and his speechwriters hastened to pen just an hour earlier.
He stumbled a couple of times even as he strove to maintain a commanding air. Aides pushed an American flag and one with the presidential seal behind him for the somber occasion. Immediately afterward, Bush joined a late-night meeting of his National Security Council and planned to remain overnight at the White House.
Bush said the government offices deserted after the bombings Tuesday would open on Wednesday.
He asked the nation to pray for the families of the victims and quoted the Book of Psalms, "And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us spoken through the ages in Psalm 23. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me."
The United States received no warning of the attacks on the Pentagon and New York's World Trade Center towers, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said.
U.S. officials privately said they suspected terrorism Osama bin Laden, protected by Afghan government, was behind the tragedies. The Afghan government has rejected the accusations. "We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them," Bush said. "Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom, came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts."
"Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror," Bush said.
The Oval Office address was his third statement on the tragedy that, being unaware of any hijackings, he first took as a single plane "that went off course," Fleischer said. He began his day in Sarasota, Fla., where he intended to talk about education. The remarks were scrapped, Bush headed to Louisiana's Barksdale Air Force Base and, in mid-flight, authorized Vice President Dick Cheney to put the U.S. military on high alert worldwide. Bush made a brief statement from a Barksdale conference room, assuring Americans that he was in regular contact with his command post in Washington: Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and the White House national security team. On the line held open all day between Bush and Cheney, the president told his No. 2 at one point, "It's the faceless coward that attacks."
Shuttled across the base in a camouflaged Humvee vehicle, Bush boarded Air Force One at 1:30 p.m. EDT for a secret destination that turned out to be Nebraska's Offutt Air Force Base, home to the U.S. Strategic Command, which controls the nation's nuclear weapons. Until three years ago, the Strategic Command also housed the so-called doomsday plane that had been specially equipped to serve as a flying White House in the event of nuclear war.
Before his return to the White House at dusk, Bush advisers were sensitive to any appearance that he was not at the helm. Fleischer said Bush wanted to be in Washington, where Cheney led the crisis operations center at the White House, but "he understands that at a time like this, caution must be taken" with his location.
At the first reports of attacks on New York's World Trade Center, Bush told his Sarasota elementary school audience that he was hastening back to Washington. All of that immediately changed -- and he was diverted to Louisiana -- when a plane slammed into the Pentagon, and Washington, too, was under attack. On Capitol Hill, first lady Laura Bush, who was to have made her debut testifying before the Senate on education, tried to soothe a horrified nation.
"Parents need to reassure their children everywhere in our country that they're safe," she said, grim-faced, as she and Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., announced their hearing was postponed. Mrs. Bush and a handful of aides were whisked by motorcade to a secret location away from the White House, which had been evacuated but for the small corps of foreign policy advisers who staffed the basement Situation Room. Fleischer said the 19-year-old girls, Barbara at Yale University and Jenna at the University of Texas, were also moved to secure locations.
FBI Directs Citizens To Web Site For Terrorist Attack Tips
(Washington-AP) -- If you've got information about the terrorist attacks, please contact the FBI via a Web site. Within seconds of Attorney General John Ashcroft's announcement, the site was jammed.
The site is www.ifccfbi.gov. It's run by the Internet Fraud Complaint Center, which is a joint venture of the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center. Even though the site is jammed, the FBI says it hopes it will be able to handle the crush of visitors soon. Anyone with information also can call 1-866-483-5137.
Consumers Line Up For Gasoline Amid Fears Supplies Will Be Disrupted In Wake Of Terrorist Attacks
NEW YORK (AP) -- Anxious consumers in various parts of the country lined up for an hour or more to fuel up on gasoline costing as much as $5 a gallon amid fears supplies would be disrupted following Tuesday's terrorist attacks. As gasoline wholesalers and retailers quickly raised prices, the nation's largest oil companies immediately tried to allay consumers' worries by freezing their prices and pledging to keep distribution steady.
Panic caused by rumors of a pending gasoline shortage sent prices skyrocketing in Oklahoma, Mississippi, Michigan and other states. The R and L Texaco in Oklahoma City increased the price of unleaded gasoline to $5 a gallon after a supplier told owner Lewis Pfenninger it was unclear when the next shipment would be available and at what price.
At the Sunshine Conoco in Springfield, Mo., gas prices were raised after the attacks by 40 cents a gallon to $1.99 a gallon. In California, gasoline wholesalers raised prices by as much as 20 cents a gallon on supply fears, although traders said there was no evidence of a shortage.
Exxon Mobil and BP sought to calm energy markets. The companies said supplies would not be hampered -- except around New York City. The companies tried to reassure consumers that there was no need to stockpile gasoline.
"We are asking all of our customers to maintain their normal buying habits," Exxon Mobil spokesman Tom Cirigliano said late Tuesday. "We have ample supplies. We're trying to avoid an artificial shortage."
But as distribution terminals closed down around the country for security reasons and motorists worried there wouldn't be enough fuel, gasoline prices rose almost immediately in parts of the Midwest.
Prices had already been soaring in the Midwest because of distribution bottlenecks that were in effect long before Tuesday's catastrophe. "It's supply and demand," said Pfenninger, owner of the Texaco station in Oklahoma City where gas sold for $5 a gallon. "My lines were so long."
Pfenninger said he could have sold out his supply at that price, but decided to close early. He said he would reconsider the price hike on Wednesday. In Tulsa, Brandon Disney waited in his car at the pumps at a QuickTrip store.
"I'm just filling up, so I don't have to fight anybody to get gas if there is a shortage," he said Added Tulsa Police Sgt. Wayne Allen: "We're having to assign officers to convenience stores to direct traffic and break up fights."
Authorities in various states were investigating instances of price-gouging, while Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove declared a state of emergency, which will allow prosecutors to pursue price-gougers there.
Mississippi authorities said they had received reports of gas prices doubling to as much as $3.60 a gallon within hours. Rumors of spiraling prices spread rapidly.
"We got an e-mail from Oklahoma City saying gas was over $6 a gallon," Ronda Hunter said while waiting for gas at a Phillips 66 in Topeka, Kan. "The news said it was jumping to $4 a gallon. Is this madness or what?" Greg Seiter, a spokesman at the AAA Hoosier Motor Club in Indiana, said his office has received reports of prices rising to $3 and $4 a gallon in parts of Indiana -- including Anderson, Bloomington and Indianapolis -- in the wake of the attacks.
"Obviously that's a reaction to the events of this morning. What happened immediately after (the attacks) was the price of crude oil in overseas trading climbed suddenly," Seiter said. The AAA's national office is urging retailers not to impose large price increases.
Nationwide, the retail price of unleaded gasoline is $1.54 a gallon. Tom Kloza, director of Oil Price Information Service, a Lakewood, N.J., publisher of oil industry data, said he expects petroleum companies to act with restraint in the face of intense marketplace jitters.
"To be raising prices frenetically in this atmosphere makes the entire situation more difficult," he said. "The last thing the American public needs to think about right now is that they need to be racing out to load up on fuel."
Timeline of Tuesday's Attacks
A timeline of the attacks in the United States on Tuesday (times EDT), according to witnesses, authorities and media reports:
7:59 a.m. -- American Airlines Flight 11, carrying 92 people, leaves Boston's Logan International Airport for Los Angeles, according to Massachusetts Port Authority.
8:01 a.m. -- United Airlines Flight 93, carrying 45 people, leaves Newark, N.J., International Airport for San Francisco, according to airline.
8:14 a.m. -- United Airlines Flight 175, carrying 65 people, leaves Boston for Los Angeles, according to port authority.
8:45 a.m. -- American Flight 11 crashes into north tower of World Trade Center.
9:03 a.m. -- United Flight 175 crashes into south tower of World Trade Center.
9:31 a.m. --President Bush calls the crashes an "apparent terrorist attack on our country."
9:40 a.m. -- American Airlines Flight 77, carrying 64 people from Washington to Los Angeles, crashes into Pentagon. Trading on Wall Street called off.
9:48 a.m. -- The Capitol and West Wing of the White House are evacuated.
9:49 a.m. -- The Federal Aviation Administration bars aircraft takeoffs across the country. International flights in progress told to land in Canada.
9:50 a.m. -- Two World Trade Center -- the south tower -- collapses.
10 a.m. -- United Flight 93 crashes 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.
10:29 a.m. -- One World Trade Center -- the north tower -- collapses.
10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. -- Government buildings across nation are evacuated, including the Capitol and the White House. The United Nations closed down. The Securities and Exchange Commission closes all U.S. financial markets for the day. New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani calls for evacuation of lower Manhattan.
1:20 p.m. -- Bush leaves Barksdale Air Force Base, La., for secure, undisclosed location.
2:51 p.m. -- The Navy dispatches missile destroyers and other equipment to New York and Washington.
5:25 p.m. -- Seven World Trade Center collapses.
For more information on today's events, go to foxnews.com.
LOCAL Headlines:
Hope for Survivors Fueled By Phone Calls From The Rubble
(New York-AP) -- Hope of finding survivors in the rubble of the World Trade Center is being fueled by reports of cell-phone calls being made from trapped victims. New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik says rescuers had already determined there were some people alive in two buildings downtown. A police source says police had received phone calls from people trapped in the twin towers. The source gave no further details.
In one of the calls, a surviving civilian said he was trapped with a police officer, who has been listed as missing.
Hundreds of Thousands Stream Out of Manhattan By Foot
NEW YORK (AP) -- Throngs of stunned New Yorkers fled Manhattan by foot, streaming across bridges and flowing northward along avenues in a great tide of humanity following attacks on the World Trade Center.
Office workers began filling the Brooklyn Bridge minutes after the first airplane slammed into the buildings. They looked back in horror as first the south tower and then the north tower collapsed in huge clouds of smoke.
With all public transportation shut down and the southern tip of Manhattan closed to traffic, New York's avenues soon became rivers of pedestrians.
"How do I get back to the Bronx?" said Tim Chung, 47, an employee of the New York-New Jersey Port Authority, who walked down 64 floors after the first plane crashed into floors above his office.
From a passerby, the answer came: "Walk."
On the Brooklyn side of the Williamsburg Bridge, Hasidic Jews from a local synagogue stood in the burning sun in black garb, handing out cups of water to tired refugees. One man gave out free Italian ice. On one bridge, pedestrians helped an elderly woman over a fence separating a roadway.
The Rev. Distefano Simeon, the pastor of St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Greenwich Village, stood on the corner of Green and Houston streets watching the passing crowd with amazement. "Which way to the Brooklyn Bridge?" asked a woman.
"That way," Simeon said. "But it's a long way. You've got a lot of walking to do."
Simeon, like everyone else, was trying to grapple with the enormity of the disaster that had struck his city. "The degree of hatred must have been incredible. And the degree of planning," he said. "I can't believe this."
Another priest, John Cassese, stopped by to report that throngs were at St. Vincent's hospital offering to give blood. "There must be 3,000 or 4,000 people over there," he said.
As the exodus continued, reporters, photographers and rescue volunteers tried to fight their way back through the tide.
One of them, a hulking construction worker with goggles and hardhat who identified himself only as Mike, said a tour in Vietnam had not prepared him for the shock of the terrorist attack. "I just want to try to get over there and help some people if I can," he said, and he disappeared into the throng.
Traffic Flowing Northbound On Turnpike Again
(Newark-AP) -- Traffic is able to go northbound on the New Jersey Turnpike again.
The northbound lanes of the road had been closed north of Exit 11. By 9 pm, all the lanes were reopen, a Turnpike spokesman said.
But traffic still can't get into New York from New Jersey. The Lincoln and Holland Tunnels are closed and traffic can only go west on the George Washington and the three Staten Island bridges.
Helpful Information
Blood Donations Sought
New York City is anticipating a severe blood-supply shortage in the wake of the World Trade Center tragedy. To offer assistance to the American Red Cross, call 1-800-HELP NOW. To donate blood in the Greater New York area, call the New York Blood Center at 1-800-933-BLOOD for locations.
The American Red Cross is opening four shelters on Long Island for people who work on the island but live in Manhattan and can't get back home tonight.
Red Cross Spokesman Jim Green says the drop-in centers are:
Nassau Community College gymnasium, 1 Education Drive, Garden City.
Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus at the Interfaith Chapel at 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville.
Southside Senior High School at 140 Shepherd St., Rockville Centre.
Plainedge High School at Wyngate and Peony drives in North Massapequa.
Saint Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center set up a mental health crisis service for people experiencing severe emotional distress and trauma from the disaster. In Manhattan, call 212-604-8220. In Westchester, call 914-925-5320. In Staten Island, call 718-354-6300.
In New Jersey, people who need information about donating blood can call 888 BLOOD-88.
Doctors, Nurses Needed
Saint Vincents Hospital says it needs help. The hospital is putting out a call to doctors and nurses around the city.
Doctors are being asked to call 212-604-3850
Nurses are being asked to call 212-604-8474
The hospital has set up a Mental Health help-line at 212-604-8220.
And the hospital has a family information area at the hospital on Seventh Avenue, between 11th and 12th Street.
The information number is 212- 604-7285.
Information Lines For Relatives Of People On Flights
Relatives of American Airlines passengers seeking information about relatives may call 1-800-245-0999.
United Airlines says friends or family members seeking information on flights may call 1-800-932-8555. United also said it would post any information it has on its Web site, www.united.com.
A number of social help and mental health agencies have set up telephone numbers for people to get information or counseling.
People searching for missing loved ones were directed to call NYC Bureau of Labs, 212-447-2998.
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