September 17, 2001 Diary: America Responds

Dear to our hearts
Monday, September 17, 2001
J-W Editorials

Flying the flag shows our resolve not to lose.
At first it was a little surprising, American flags fluttering from poles on local homes and businesses where one might not normally expect to see them. Autos, trucks and even motorcycles display banners. How many events and holidays were there in the past when we saw no such showing of pride in America?

Saudi exile 'prime suspect'
Monday, September 17, 2001
Vowing not to be cowed, President Bush pledged a crusade against terrorists Sunday as top administration officials zeroed in on Saudi exile Osama bin Laden and Afghanistan's Taliban militia for possible retribution for last week's terrorist attacks.
"No question, he is the prime suspect. No question about that," Bush said, brushing off a reported denial of responsibility by bin Laden.

Ryder Cup postponed until 2002
Monday, September 17, 2001
Canceled decades ago by World War II, the Ryder Cup this year has been postponed by the war against terrorism.
The PGA of America announced Sunday that the 2001 matches between the United States and Europe, scheduled for Sept. 28-30 at The Belfry in England, are delayed until the fall of 2002, dates to be determined.

US Airways to cut 11,000 jobs, lay off 100,000
Monday, September 17, 2001
(Web Posted Monday at 4:00 p.m.) The stocks of major airlines and travel-related companies fell sharply Monday as Wall Street mirrored intense concern about the economy in the wake of last week's terrorist attacks.

Ministers' message: moderation
Monday, September 17, 2001
Praise the Lord, yes, but don't be too eager to pass the ammunition.
Those were the messages Kansans heard as they packed church pews for the first Sunday services since Tuesday's terrorist attacks on New York and Washington and the crash of a hijacked plane in southwest Pennsylvania.

Conflict pits moderates against extremists
Monday, September 17, 2001
By Jim Hoagland
Washington Post Writers Group

The world looks at the United States differently in the wake of its unspeakable day of horror and carnage. Americans should return that regard with a new awareness of their changed role and responsibilities in the global civil war that has now reached America's shores.
This is not a war between nations, religions or classes. It is a broad conflict that pits moderates against extremists within Islam; revolutionaries against royalists in the Middle East and Persian Gulf; those who believe in open societies against those who believe in revenge and chaos instead of civilization. Understanding these dichotomies is the great challenge, and the great opportunity, for the United States now.

Lawrence counts its blessings — and losses
Monday, September 17, 2001
By Matt Merkel-Hess

The waves of terror spreading from last Tuesday's attacks struck close to home.
At least one former resident and her family died in the airplane which struck the Pentagon, turning a national tragedy into a personal loss for friends here in Kansas.

Clergy responds to terrorism
Monday, September 17, 2001
By Tim Carpenter

Melancholy men, women and children poured into Lawrence churches Sunday as they struggled to comprehend an unimaginable national tragedy.
In a theme that echoed throughout many houses of worship, religious leaders prayed that the country's citizens would have the wisdom to avoid responding to Tuesday's terrorist attacks on Washington, D.C., and New York City with blind, unconstrained rage.

FBI knew of terrorism links
Monday, September 17, 2001
Two suspected hijackers aboard the airliner that crashed Tuesday into the Pentagon were already known to authorities as associates of Osama bin Laden, the FBI said Sunday.
Three others may have participated in training programs at Department of Defense training programs, and another three may have been trained at Pensacola Naval Air Station, though the Navy could not confirm that.

Dow closes down 684.81 points
Monday, September 17, 2001
(Updated Monday at 4:04 p.m.) The losers included airline, insurance and entertainment stocks while defense issues were among the few winners when Wall Street tumbled Monday, the first day of trading after last week's terrorist attacks. The selling, in record volume on the New York Stock Exchange, gave the Dow Jones industrials their biggest one-day point drop and left them below 9,000.

Airline and travel-related stocks drop sharply
Monday, September 17, 2001
(Web Posted Monday at 9:41 a.m.) The stocks of major airlines and travel-related companies fell sharply Monday with Wall Street extremely jittery about an industry facing long-term financial woes, and in some cases bankruptcies, in the wake of terrorist attacks.

Bush wants Osama bin Laden 'dead or alive'
Monday, September 17, 2001
(Web Posted Monday at 3:51 p.m.) President Bush said he wanted Osama bin Laden "dead or alive" and warned Monday of American casualties in the gathering war on terrorism. The Federal Reserve cut interest rates to shore up the economy as the nation grappled with the aftermath of the worst terrorist strike in its history.

Falwell apologizes for 'insensitive' remarks
Monday, September 17, 2001
(Web Posted Monday at 7:52 p.m.) The Rev. Jerry Falwell apologized Monday for saying God had allowed terrorists to attack America because of the work of civil liberties groups, abortion rights supporters and feminists.

Kansans unite in prayer
Monday, September 17, 2001
Members of the Central Community Church congregation in Wichita hold hands during the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul." The congregation celebrated its first Sunday service since Tuesday's terrorist attacks on the East Coast. The church, like many places of worship across Kansas, was overflowing with congregants.

Look to helpers to find heroes
Monday, September 17, 2001
By Ellen Goodman
The Boston Globe

This is how the world shatters the protective shield we wrap around our children:
A 9-year-old turns from the news to her father and asks, "Are we safe?"

Suspects linked to library computers
Monday, September 17, 2001
Investigators are looking into the possibility that some of the suspected hijackers in last week's deadly attacks on Washington and New York may have communicated with each other by using computers available at public libraries.
At least one south Florida librarian has told authorities that she recognized the name of a suspected terrorist on one of her computer sign-in sheets after the FBI released the list of hijackers' names on Friday.

Afghanistan family seeks refuge in Lincoln
Monday, September 17, 2001
Rabia Babagul of Afghanistan is thunderstruck that anyone would accuse her of sharing responsibility for the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
She and her mother, Raheela Agahan, a sister and two brothers sought refuge in the United States after the ruling Taliban killed her father, a history teacher.

Fed cuts interest by half-point in effort to boost economy
Monday, September 17, 2001
(Updated Monday at 3:51 p.m.) The Federal Reserve cut a key interest rate by one-half point Monday, trying to keep the U.S. economy from falling into a recession following the worst terrorist attack in America's history.

Survivor of embassy bombing says there's life after tragedy
Monday, September 17, 2001
The United States was a refuge for Rosemary Bichage, a haven where she would reclaim the life that terrorism suddenly took from her.
She had no idea the terror would strike again, so unexpectedly and so close.

Traces of normalcy remain
Monday, September 17, 2001
By Leonard Pitts Jr.
Miami Herald

I was supposed to be working on a column, but I got restless and went for a walk.

Bioterrorism threat assessed
Monday, September 17, 2001
As devastating as Tuesday's terrorist attacks were, national security and public health experts know this much:
Something even worse could happen. There are weapons that are invisible and next-to-impossible to trace.

Military mission will defy convention
Monday, September 17, 2001
Fighting the shadowy network of terrorists that President Bush has vowed to eradicate will require relying more on unconventional methods than bombers, tanks and warships, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Sunday.

Liberties take back seat to security
Monday, September 17, 2001
More scrutiny at airports. No coolers or backpacks at baseball stadiums. More information-sharing with law enforcement, with or without search warrants.

'Charity' scams take advantage of Americans' concerns
Monday, September 17, 2001
Fraudulent charities began popping up within hours of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks, hoping to cash in on the nation's grief, according to consumer groups that urged contributors to verify the legitimacy of philanthropic organizations before donating.

Cheney wants 'bad guys' in CIA
Monday, September 17, 2001
The CIA must change its policy of not paying operatives with ties to terrorist groups when working to uncover schemes against America, Vice President Dick Cheney said Sunday.

KU grad treats rescuers' mental trauma
Monday, September 17, 2001
When most people were being directed away from the wreckage of the World Trade Center, Dr. Heather Uhlig headed into the nightmarish ruins and went to work.

Strapped airlines slash flights, staff
Monday, September 17, 2001
The airline crisis deepened over the weekend as two major carriers, Continental and Northwest, said that they will slash their permanent flight schedules by 20 percent to survive. Continental also furloughed 12,000 employees, or 21 percent of its work force, and called on Congress for immediate help "to save our industry."

New security measures considered for airports
Monday, September 17, 2001
For a nation shattered by an airborne apocalypse, no idea for boosting safety in the skies may seem too expensive or too far-fetched.

Transportation secretary appoints task forces
Monday, September 17, 2001
Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said Sunday he has appointed two tasks forces of non-government experts to make detailed recommendations by Oct. 1 on improving security against terrorism aboard airliners and at the nation's airports.

Future of Reagan National airport in question
Monday, September 17, 2001
The Washington region braced for life without one of its three major airports as top Bush administration officials gave a series of dire warnings Sunday about the prospects for a quick resumption of normal operations at Reagan National Airport.

We wake to new reality
Monday, September 17, 2001
Being a journalist usually insulates us from tragedy. We are so busy getting the paper out that we don't have much time to just be.

N.Y. gets back to business
Monday, September 17, 2001
The air thick with dust and tinged with bitter smoke, a city still patching together phone lines and electricity battled to get back to business for Monday's reopening of Wall Street.

On a mundane morning, the clock struck 9
Monday, September 17, 2001
America opens at 9, which is to say 9-ish, which has become our saddest hour.

Mayor voices little hope for rescues at Trade Center
Monday, September 17, 2001
With hopes fading on Sunday that any more survivors would be found amid the dust, steam and gore that is now the World Trade Center, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani urged New Yorkers not to cower before terrorism.

New round of strikes feared
Monday, September 17, 2001
Terrorists linked to those who attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon may be planning further strikes inside the United States, top U.S. intelligence officials said Sunday.

Bin Laden denies involvement; other countries aid U.S. effort
Monday, September 17, 2001
Osama bin Laden issued a statement Sunday denying that he was behind last week's terror attacks on the United States.

Three Muslim rebels captured
Monday, September 17, 2001
Government troops in the Philippines have captured three Abu Sayyaf guerrillas, including an officer in charge of the Muslim separatist group's communications, military officials said Sunday.

Athens halts stock trading amid plunge; London share prices up slightly at midday
Monday, September 17, 2001
(Updated Monday at 7:18 a.m.) Regulators halted trading on the Athens Stock Exchange for more than two hours Monday after the main index plunged more than 8 percent.

Pakistan on the spot in U.S. drive against Osama bin Laden
Monday, September 17, 2001
(Web Posted Monday at 9:22 a.m.) Pakistan is facing pressure from within as it carries a U.S. demand to neighboring Afghanistan's rulers to expel Osama bin Laden and his terrorism network.

CIA says no bars to recruitment of people with unsavory backgrounds for spy work
Monday, September 17, 2001
(Web Posted Monday at 10:42 a.m.) Contrary to the assertions of some lawmakers, there are no barriers to CIA recruitment of people, including those with unsavory reputations, who are needed to infiltrate terrorist groups, the CIA said Monday

In surprise move, European Central Bank cuts key interest rates by half percent
Monday, September 17, 2001
(Web Posted Monday at 11:35 a.m.) The European Central Bank cut its key interest rate by a half percentage point Monday in an unexpected move that followed the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to drop its own rates.

Global stock markets plunge as world waits for Wall Street's response to terror attacks
Monday, September 17, 2001
(Web Posted Monday at 7:09 a.m.) Red ink flowed through Asian stock markets on Monday and Europe's top exchanges started sinking in the morning as traders anxiously awaited Wall Street's response to the terror attacks in America.

Despite pressure at home, Pakistan sends delegation to Afghanistan
Monday, September 17, 2001
(Updated Monday at 3:54 p.m.) Pakistan is on the spot at home as it carries a U.S. demand to neighboring Afghanistan's rulers to expel Osama bin Laden and his terrorism network.

Briefly
Monday, September 17, 2001
• 168 firefighters promoted
• Mail delivery still slowed
• Hate crimes suspect arrested
• Big flag draws crowd

Fly the flag
Monday, September 17, 2001

Oil issues
Monday, September 17, 2001