September 20, 2001 Diary: America Responds

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Pakistan leader reaches out to nation
Thursday, September 20, 2001
President Pervez Musharraf said Wednesday that his nation was facing a "very serious time" and his offer to help the United States strike at terrorist suspect Osama bin Laden was Pakistan's best option.

Athletes, leagues contribute to relief
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Major league baseball and its players association contributed $5 million each on Wednesday to establish a relief fund to aid victims of last week's terrorism. The MLB-MLBPA Disaster Relief Fund will distribute money after consulting with governmental and charitable relief organizations.

Dow stages partial recovery from plunge
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Economic fallout from last week's terrorist attacks sent stocks spiraling for the second time in three days Wednesday. Only a late burst of buying saved the Dow Jones industrials from their worst three-day point loss ever.

Reserves, Guard members wait in call-up anticipation
Thursday, September 20, 2001
By Chad Lawhorn

Hurry up and wait. Lawrence National Guard and Army Reserve units have not yet been activated for possible assignments in the country's war on terrorism. Instead, members are being told to wait but be mentally prepared to leave their homes and families.

Bush vows to defeat global terrorism
Thursday, September 20, 2001
(Updated Thursday at 10:53 p.m.) President Bush summoned America and all nations to wage war on terrorism Thursday night and vowed "justice will be done" against those who killed thousands in last week's attacks. With warplanes and ships on the move, he urged an anxious nation to be calm, "even in the face of a continuing threat."

'Tsunami' hits nation's aviation industry
Thursday, September 20, 2001
American and United airlines announced 40,000 layoffs Wednesday as the U.S. aviation industry sank deeper into a crisis touched off by the terrorist attacks. The parent company of American, the world's largest airline, said it will lay off at least 20,000, or 14 percent, of its 138,350 workers.

Poll measures European support against terrorism
Thursday, September 20, 2001
A majority of people in several European countries and Israel want their nations to take part in a well-planned military action against the terrorists behind last week's attacks against the United States, two new polls suggest.

Call in the markers
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Journal-World Editorial

We've helped a lot of people and nations; now it's their turn to prove they understand that. The early signs are good, but talk is cheap.

Number of missing at WTC site climbs to 6,333
Thursday, September 20, 2001
(Web Posted Thursday at 5:13 p.m.) The number of missing and presumed dead at the World Trade Center climbed to 6,333 Thursday with the addition of victims from other countries. The number of missing had been at 5,422 for several days.

Professor says talk of war misguided
Thursday, September 20, 2001
By Terry Rombeck

The Sept. 11 attacks on the East Coast were crimes — not acts of war — a Kansas University professor said Wednesday during a forum on the terrorist attacks. "We are not dealing here with anything remotely resembling what is thought of as war," said Philip Schrodt, a political science professor.

Bush to address Congress, orders warplanes to gulf
Thursday, September 20, 2001
The Pentagon on Wednesday ordered dozens of advanced aircraft to the Persian Gulf region as the hour of military retaliation for deadly terrorist attacks drew closer. President Bush announced he would address Congress and the nation tonight.

President takes aim at money laundering
Thursday, September 20, 2001
The Bush administration unveiled a new strategy Wednesday to fight money laundering, targeting big illicit operations that could be used by terrorist groups. The new strategy comes at a time Osama bin Laden's sophisticated financial network is looming large.

Investment companies urge clients to hold tight
Thursday, September 20, 2001
As stock markets slumped and uncertainty spread after last week's terrorist attacks, investment firms are telling clients to avoid acting rashly. Kansas City, Mo.-based American Century Investments has been receiving more calls than usual from investors, spokesperson Laura Kouri said. But selling activity has been light as investors take long-term approaches to their assets.

Attacks prompt soul-searching, changes
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Aaron Williams quit his job. Dan Saurino called military recruiters to ask about joining up. Kristin Wahrheit decided she wants to move to Ireland. Last week's terrorist attacks began a coast-to-coast wave of soul-searching, and now many Americans are making big changes in their personal lives, prodded by two lessons from the tragedy: Life is precious, and time is short.

Stock market 'rollercoastering down'
Thursday, September 20, 2001
(Updated Thursday at 5:17 p.m.) Wall Street hastened its retreat from the economic damage of last week's terrorist attacks, sending stocks tumbling Thursday in their third steep decline in four days. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 382 points, bringing its loss so far this week to 1,229 points — nearly 13 percent — and putting the blue chip index in line for its biggest one-week point drop.

Terrorism story still unfolding
Thursday, September 20, 2001
By George Will
Washington Post Writers Group

Section 546 of this year's defense authorization bill contains this, written long before Sept. 11: "Posthumous advancement on retired list of Rear Admiral Husband E. Kimmel and Major General Walter C. Short, senior officers in command in Hawaii on December 7, 1941."

U.S. considers tax to fund airport security
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Federal lawmakers believe a $5 to $7 tax on airline tickets will be needed to help pay for billions in new air travel security measures that would include a federal takeover of airport security checkpoints and putting armed air marshals aboard every flight.

Mets to donate Friday's salary
Thursday, September 20, 2001
The New York Mets will donate Friday's paychecks — about $500,000 — to a rescue fund for the families of the firefighters and policemen killed in the terrorist attacks. The Braves-Mets game Friday night in Shea Stadium will be the first game in New York since Sept. 11.

Egyptian called key terrorism operative
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Osama bin Laden has cash, men and the kind of personality around which cults are built. But it's a surgeon from Cairo who is thought to have the experience and ideological commitment to keep the world's most feared terror group operating.

Swedish conductor to lead KU voices
Thursday, September 20, 2001
By Jan Biles

As the terrorist crisis engulfs the globe, a Swedish choral conductor has the formula to help soothe some nerves. "I feel like many people need this (singing) in this world at this time," said Robert Sund, referring to the emotional aftermath of last week's terrorist attacks. "They need to be (singing) with peers and colleagues.

Support by foreign government investigated
Thursday, September 20, 2001
The FBI on Wednesday investigated the possibility that some of last week's suspected suicide hijackers used fake identities of people who may still be alive. Agents enlisted the help of banks to track the trail of terrorist money.

Memorial planned at Yankee Stadium
Thursday, September 20, 2001
As rescue crews at the World Trade Center found more shattered concrete and twisted steel — but still no survivors — New York's mayor said Wednesday that a weekend memorial for the fallen will be conducted at Yankee Stadium.

Surgeon general visits KSU
Thursday, September 20, 2001
He touched on the thousands of deaths from terrorist attacks on America, but the nation's top medical officer used most of his Landon Lecture time to promote his prescription for healthier lives.

Identities of some hijackers in question
Thursday, September 20, 2001
(Updated Thursday at 12:37 p.m.) FBI Director Robert Mueller acknowledged Thursday that authorities have questions about the identities of several of the 19 hijackers whose names the FBI released last week.

KCI airport renovations resume
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Kansas City International Airport officials fear any additional security mandates could boost renovation costs. Work at the airport resumed Monday under tightened security after a nearly weeklong stop when hijacked passenger jets struck the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

Diplomatic entreaties continue
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov suggested on Wednesday an international convention to counter terrorism. "The problem of world terrorism cannot be solved by one-time actions," Ivanov said in a speech. "It cannot be solved with five warplanes, with 10 warplanes."

Buses gain popularity in wake of attacks
Thursday, September 20, 2001
The trip from Pueblo, Colo., to Murfreesboro, Tenn., is a little over 1,000 miles as the crow flies. But Larry Johnson won't be flying it. The 18-year-old student will spend 32 hours aboard a Greyhound bus. After four planes were hijacked last week, he gave up his airline seat for a bus seat.

Kansans pull out wallets for relief efforts
Thursday, September 20, 2001
From small change to corporate donations, Kansans are filling the boots and buckets of volunteers collecting money for victims of last week's terrorist attacks. In Wichita, donations already had topped $500,000, according to the United Way of the Plains.

Boeing-Wichita awaits word on depth of layoffs
Thursday, September 20, 2001
It was still unclear Wednesday how aircraft giant Boeing's planned layoffs will affect its 17,400 workers in Wichita, but plant spokesman Dick Ziegler struck a realistic note.

Bush, Greenspan seek to bolster weak economy
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan urged congressional leaders Wednesday to focus on restoring American economic confidence but not to rush a stimulus plan that could have uncertain effects.

New poll measures nation's mood
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Terrorist attacks have united the country in its backing for a strong military response but have left many Americans depressed, distracted and sleepless, a poll concludes. Seven in 10 said they have felt depressed since the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, nearly half report having trouble concentrating and a third said they have had trouble sleeping, according to the poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

Officials refute rumors suggesting Sept. 22 a date for more terror
Thursday, September 20, 2001
With rumors floating that terrorists could attack again this Saturday, many airline workers, passengers and businesses are increasingly jittery. However, the rumors, leaked by an unnamed federal source, have essentially been pooh-poohed by the Bush administration.

Air Control Squadron called up from McConnell Air Force base
Thursday, September 20, 2001
(Web Posted Thursday at 5:23 p.m.) The 134th Air Control Squadron, a Kansas Air National Guard unit at McConnell Air Force Base, has been activated for the national response to last week's terrorist attacks.

Air Force building 'air bridge' for warplanes over Atlantic
Thursday, September 20, 2001
(Web Posted Thursday at 7:42 a.m.) The Air Force is taking the first steps to dispatch dozens of warplanes to the Persian Gulf area, setting in motion "Operation Infinite Justice" for the promised war on terrorism.

Greenspan: Attack hurt weakened economy
Thursday, September 20, 2001
(Web Posted Thursday at 9:22 a.m.) Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan told Congress on Thursday that last week's terrorist attacks had produced a significant drop-off in activity in an already weak economy. But he stressed that the country's long-term prospects remained strong.

Airline layoffs climb to 70,000 in wake of attack
Thursday, September 20, 2001
(Web Posted Thursday at 8:01 a.m.) The avalanche of U.S. airline job cuts has more than doubled to 70,000 as carriers, hit by airport shutdowns and dwindling demand, slash payrolls in anticipation of multibillion-dollar losses.

Study: U.S. unprepared for next terrorist attack
Thursday, September 20, 2001
(Updated Thursday at 10:03 a.m.) As America recovers from last week's terrorist devastation, there's this to ponder: "We are not prepared for the next attack," says former Sen. Gary Hart. "That's all I can say, and I'll keep on saying it."

Briefly
Thursday, September 20, 2001
• Los Angeles: Stars, networks rally in 'Tribute to Heroes'
• Washington, D.C.: Feds to fully reimburse New York for costs of attack
• New York City: Manhattan's restoration could take 10 years
• Belgium: U.S. gives NATO briefing

6News report: Afghans fleeing to Pakistan
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Josh Garber reports on some of the refugee's fleeing Afghanistan.

6News report: Lawrence man to send card to New York
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Kim Hall reports on a Lawrence man wanting to get every Lawrence resident to sign a card to send to the city of New York.

6News report: President Chirac visits site of the World Trade Center
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Josh Garber reports on President Jacques Chirac's visit to New York City.

6News report: KU students raise $25,000
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Kim Hall reports on the Camping for Cash effort on the KU campus.

6News report: KU professors comment on the terrorist attacks
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Josh Garber reports on the KU forum that took place on Wednesday.

6News report: Special forces units getting ready
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Josh Garber reports on the preparations at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

6News report: South West Junior High students raise $600 to help in New York
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Josh Garber reports on the efforts of the freshman class at Southwest Junior High to help out in New York City.

Rebate donations
Thursday, September 20, 2001

Hate is no good
Thursday, September 20, 2001

Bankrupt logic
Thursday, September 20, 2001

Irresponsible act
Thursday, September 20, 2001

Plea for peace
Thursday, September 20, 2001

Culture lesson
Thursday, September 20, 2001