September 23, 2001 Diary: America Responds

United We Stand

Administration vows to lay out evidence against bin Laden, rejects Taliban claims he can't be found
Sunday, September 23, 2001
(Updated Sunday at 7:57 p.m.) A solemn President Bush returned the American flag to full staff Sunday as the United States promised to lay out evidence making Osama bin Laden's guilt in the terrorist attacks "very obvious to the world." The administration scoffed at Taliban claims he cannot be found.

Bush courts Russia, says U.S. economy still strong
Sunday, September 23, 2001
President Bush consulted at length with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday as the United States mustered a military assault on terrorism. Americans returned to their weekend games in a semblance of normalcy, but now their stadiums were no-fly zones.

Rescuers find more plane wreckage at World Trade Center site as toll of missing rises
Sunday, September 23, 2001
(Web Posted Sunday at 9:07 p.m.) The number of people believed missing in the rubble of the World Trade Center increased to 6,453 on Sunday as rescue workers continued sifting through still smoldering debris and uncovered a 10-foot piece of jetliner fuselage.

Protesters share fears of war
Sunday, September 23, 2001
By Joy Ludwig

Chanting "Respond with justice, not war," more than 150 people marched down Massachusetts Street in response to the Sept. 11 terrorism in New York City and Washington, D.C.

ROTC students to see more green
Sunday, September 23, 2001
By Terry Rombeck

If all the patriotic rhetoric and flag-waving doesn't increase interest in ROTC, commanders are hoping some extra cash will. For the first time in 10 years, monthly stipends for Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets will increase significantly on Oct. 1. The stipends help cadets pay for room, board and other items not covered by their military scholarships.

FBI knows of al-Qaida cells operating in U.S.
Sunday, September 23, 2001
Four to five al-Qaida groups have operated in the United States for the last several years but investigators have not yet found any connection between them and any of the 19 hijackers responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks, according to government officials.

Terrorism's effect on recruiting minimal so far
Sunday, September 23, 2001
By Scott Rothschild

The Sept. 11 terrorist attack has heightened interest in the military, but so far there has been no dramatic increase in the number of people wanting to serve. "It's too early to tell," said Staff Sgt. John Asselin of the Air Force recruiting service in San Antonio.

Saudi Arabia says U.S. cannot use a key base for retaliation attacks in anti-terror campaign
Sunday, September 23, 2001
(Web Posted Sunday at 6:10 p.m.) The Saudi base Washington chose as its command and control center for the U.S. anti-terrorism offensive has been declared off limits for retaliatory flights, a Saudi official said Sunday.

Crop dusters grounded Sunday by FBI out of `abundance of caution
Sunday, September 23, 2001
(Web Posted Sunday at 5:51 p.m.) In a step stemming from the FBI's terrorist attack probe, the U.S. government Sunday grounded crop-dusting planes across the country for the day.

Congressional leaders say they'll support federalizing airport security in wake of terror attack
Sunday, September 23, 2001
(Web Posted Sunday at 2:00 p.m.) The top leaders in Congress agreed Sunday that the federal government may have to take over airport security nationwide to reassure Americans that air travel is safe.

Detained Saudi citizen linked to KC flight school
Sunday, September 23, 2001
A man detained in suburban Washington shortly after the terrorist attacks took flying lessons in Kansas City, his lawyer said Saturday. Khalid al-Draibi, detained on an immigration charge, took the lessons under the name Khalid Suleiman, according to attorney Drewry Hutcheson Jr.

Boxcutters found on grounded flights
Sunday, September 23, 2001
Box-cutting tools like those used by hijackers were found on airliners grounded by the Sept. 11 attacks, authorities said Saturday, as investigators linked a man arrested in London with one of the terrorist pilots.

Rumsfeld says contact lost with unmanned aircraft over Afghanistan
Sunday, September 23, 2001
(Web Posted Sunday at 11:42 a.m.) The United States has lost contact with an unmanned aircraft over Afghanistan but Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Sunday he had "no reason to believe" the plane was brought down by Taliban fighters.

Recent tragedies offer reminders to prepare wills, life insurance
Sunday, September 23, 2001
We all know we should prepare for the worst, but writing a will and buying life insurance are easily put off. Obviously, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 are a sharp reminder that planning for death should not be postponed merely because one enjoys good health, works in a "safe" environment and expects to be around for decades.

Dubai cuts ties to Taliban
Sunday, September 23, 2001
In a move that strengthens the United States' position in its hunt for Osama bin Laden, the United Arab Emirates cut relations Saturday with Afghanistan's Taliban government. A Saudi official said his kingdom was considering doing the same.

Pentagon issues call-up; Taliban reports shoot down
Sunday, September 23, 2001
The Pentagon rolled out workhorse B-52 bombers and activated an additional 5,172 National Guard and reserve troops Saturday in preparation for the first military strikes in the new U.S. campaign against terrorism.

If we stoop to hatred, they've won
Sunday, September 23, 2001
By George Gurley

On the day of terror it seemed strange to leave the television, walk outdoors and see the hillside covered with sunflowers, bluebirds and goldfinches frolicking in a puddle, the sun shining in a bright blue sky.

Clear warnings now being heard
Sunday, September 23, 2001
By David Broder
Washington Post Writers Group

The watchdog did not bark just once. The alarm was sounded over and over again about the threat to the United States from terrorist organizations with vendettas against this country.

Questions about Bush's ability to do the job not being asked now
Sunday, September 23, 2001
(Web Posted Sunday at 1:00 p.m.) Ten months after a bitterly contested election, an anxious nation looks to its president for comfort, strength, and wartime leadership. The question that has dogged George W. Bush for years _ Is he up to the job? _ is not being asked now.

NFL commissioner: Super Bowl may be delayed a week, but expected to stay in New Orleans
Sunday, September 23, 2001
(Web Posted Sunday at 12:57 p.m.) The Super Bowl may be delayed a week but would probably be kept in New Orleans, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Sunday.

Pope leads prayer for peace in Kazakstan
Sunday, September 23, 2001
(Updated Sunday at 9:29 a.m.) Pope John Paul II ended his first Mass in Kazakstan on Sunday with a special prayer for Christians and Muslims to work together for peace and not let this month's terrorist attacks drive a further wedge between them. "I wish to make an earnest call to everyone, Christians and the followers of other religions, that we work together to build a world without violence, a world that loves life and grows in justice and solidarity," the pope said.

Pope urges dialogue, not war
Sunday, September 23, 2001
Pope John Paul II arrived Saturday in this predominantly Muslim state in tense Central Asia, bearing a message of good wishes for Islamic leaders and for "all people of good will" who seek peace.

Pilots, attendants rethink security
Sunday, September 23, 2001
Flight attendant Bill Geisert refuses to obsess over the "what ifs" when he gets back in the air this week. But anxious as he is to return, there is no denying his job has changed since Sept. 11.

'Get back to normal,' NY mayor urges
Sunday, September 23, 2001
Lugging their bags behind them, teary residents of eight newly reopened buildings in lower Manhattan made their way home Saturday, as crews blocks away continued picking through the debris of the World Trade Center.

National Guard families prepare for deployment
Sunday, September 23, 2001
Senior Airman Penny Jamvold sought to reassure her son as she prepared to ship out with the 134th Air Control Squadron, the first Kansas National Guard unit deployed in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

Hays native captures plane explosions on film
Sunday, September 23, 2001
Robert Clark said that he chose his Manhattan apartment overlooking the twin towers of the World Trade Center because of its view. Now the Hays native can't bear to look out the window.

3 black boxes yield key data
Sunday, September 23, 2001
Three of four recovered flight recorders have yielded information that may help piece together the final minutes of the two hijacked planes that crashed into the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board said.

Defense seen in neglected first-line health care system
Sunday, September 23, 2001
Soon after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, federal health authorities told public health agencies to be on the alert for "unusual disease patterns associated with today's events," a chilling hint of fear that the nation might be under biological attack.

Communities count on military
Sunday, September 23, 2001
Established as Camp Center in 1853, this post has changed as the nation's military needs have. It has a world-class railhead to load tanks and armored personnel carriers — and beat ships to port in Texas.

Sometimes it's best just to sit in times of crisis
Sunday, September 23, 2001
By Roger Martin

I saw more men shed more tears on television last week than I've seen men shed in my entire life. For me, Howard Lutnick's testimony was the most moving of all. He's the chief executive of Cantor Fitzgerald. That company does trillions of dollars in bond business every year.

America's war on terrorism could be less visible than Gulf War
Sunday, September 23, 2001
(Web Posted Sunday at 12:58 p.m.) They are known as the quiet soldiers, slipping behind enemy lines with machine guns, rifles and anti-tank weapons. The United States is likely to rely on special forces to uproot terrorists, and that means a partly secret war.

Tragedy united us, but will feeling last?
Sunday, September 23, 2001
By Ellen Goodman
The Boston Globe

Was it only weeks ago that the Army was recruiting young Americans to become an "Army of One"? Was it so recently that they were enticing 20-year-olds to come march ... to the beat of a different drummer?

Nation Briefs
Sunday, September 23, 2001
• WASHINGTON: Bush signs airline bailout
• PHOENIX: Thousands mourn Sikh killed in post-terror attack
• NEW YORK: Telethon's audience approaches 60 million\
• NEW YORK: Treasure beneath ruins

Left and right
Sunday, September 23, 2001

Justice, not vengeance
Sunday, September 23, 2001

Internal hatred
Sunday, September 23, 2001

Reject bigotry
Sunday, September 23, 2001

Proud profession
Sunday, September 23, 2001