September 24, 2001 Diary: America Responds

Businesses prepare for gaps as active reservists called to duty
Monday, September 24, 2001
The police stations, hospitals and businesses that employ reservists and members of the National Guard are preparing for a military action that could leave them looking for workers.
President Bush has authorized activation of up to 50,000 of the part-time troops to protect military installations and to help with the recovery of victims of the World Trade Center and Pentagon strikes.

Terror evidence to be released
Monday, September 24, 2001
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."
Secretary of State Colin Powell said the government would "put before the world, the American people, a persuasive case that ... it is al-Qaida, led by Osama bin Laden, who has been responsible." Several officials pledged Bush will disrupt the flow of money to bin Laden with an executive order freezing his group's U.S. assets.

U.S. ridicules claim bin Laden missing
Monday, September 24, 2001
Faced with U.S. demands to hand over Osama bin Laden, Afghanistan's Taliban leadership claimed Sunday it has been unable to find the alleged terrorist mastermind and advise him of a recommendation to leave the country.
American officials dismissed the claim, which came as a U.S. Defense Department team arrived in Pakistan to discuss military cooperation for a strike against bin Laden and his Taliban allies.

More difficult days lie ahead
Monday, September 24, 2001
By George Will
Washington Post Writers Group

It was a portent. At the National Cathedral service three days after the attacks, the congregation, including the president, did not sing the fifth verse of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" as it often has been sung in recent years. Many tender spirits have considered the hymn too bellicose — the grapes of wrath, and the fateful lightning of a terrible swift sword — so the verse has been sung, "As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free." At the Cathedral the verse was sung as it was written in 1862, when there was a lot of dying being done: "As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free."

Crop-dusting flights banned again
Monday, September 24, 2001
FBI and Federal Aviation Administration officials banned crop-dusting flights Sunday amid reports that a crop-dusting manual had been found in the search of a possible terrorist hideout.
In addition, it was learned that suspected hijacker Mohammed Atta had twice visited an airport in Belle Glade, Fla., to ask detailed questions about how to fly a crop-duster plane.

Stocks rebound, Dow rises 368.05
Monday, September 24, 2001
(Updated Monday at 3:57 p.m.) Stocks surged higher Monday, carrying the Dow Jones industrials up more than 360 points, as bargain hunters returned to help Wall Street rebound from one of its worst weeks ever. But the market remained extremely nervous, and no one was betting that the gains would hold.

Man charged with helping hijackers get phony I.D.
Monday, September 24, 2001
(Web Posted Monday at 4:21 p.m.) One man has been charged with helping some of the hijackers in the terrorist attacks fraudulently obtain Virginia identification cards, prosecutors said Monday.

Bush signs order freezing assets of terrorists, terrorist organizations
Monday, September 24, 2001
(Updated Monday at 9:30 a.m.) Calling it a "strike on the financial foundation" of terrorists, President Bush signed an executive order Monday freezing the assets of 27 individuals and organizations.

Courage to get back to life
Monday, September 24, 2001
By Leonard Pitts Jr.
Miami Herald

For the last few days, I've been trying to remember who Gary Condit is.
Yes, I know. Sleazy congressman. Missing intern. Connie Chung interview. What I mean is, I've been trying to remember what it felt like back in the days when he mattered more than anything else in the world. It all seems so distant now. As unreal as dreams.

Assassination ban re-examined
Monday, September 24, 2001
In an earlier time, when the Cold War was hot, the U.S. government tried everything from mob hits to lethal pills to get Fidel Castro. The Cuban leader once bragged of surviving dozens of plots.
In those fearful times, the government also shipped poison to the Congo intended for independence leader Patrice Lumumba and supplied pistols and carbines to dissidents who shot Dominican Republic dictator Rafael Trujillo, congressional investigators concluded.

Detained man was combative in K.C.
Monday, September 24, 2001
Khalid Suleiman, as he was known here, is remembered as a combative cab driver and inept flight student who left little behind but headaches and unpaid bills.

Pope begs God for peace
Monday, September 24, 2001
Pope John Paul II issued a powerful call Sunday for Christians and Muslims to work together against bloodshed and strife following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. "I beg God to keep the world in peace," he declared.

Dogs are state-of-the-art search tools
Monday, September 24, 2001
With thousands still buried in the World Trade Center rubble, one of the most refined search tools available is the shining black nose of a dog named Jake.

Rescuers find jetliner fuselage at Trade Center
Monday, September 24, 2001
(Updated Monday at 9:07 a.m.) Toiling in the rubble of the World Trade Center, firefighter Paul McGuire said he keeps "waiting for that cheer to ring out where they find someone." Another weekend passed without that hope being answered. Instead, the number of missing increased by more than 100 to 6,453 on Sunday, although city officials stressed the number is subject to change.

Pakistan pulls diplomats from Afghanistan; Taliban say U.S. should change Mideast policies
Monday, September 24, 2001
(Web Posted Monday at 8:47 a.m.) Pakistan announced Monday it had removed its diplomats from Afghanistan, and the hardline Taliban leader said the United States should withdraw its forces from the Persian Gulf and end its "bias" against Palestinians if it wants to eliminate the threat of global terrorism.

Open borders are early casualties
Monday, September 24, 2001
The United States has sharply intensified inspections and anti-terrorist surveillance along its Canadian and Mexican borders, reshaping the face of two of the most open international frontiers maybe for years to come.

Briefly
Monday, September 24, 2001
• United Airlines suspends 'pilot-for-day' program
• Fireworks displays allowed to resume
• Gas prices fall 2 cents
• Buddhist monks chant prayers for victims' souls

WTC crews find more wreckage from plane
Monday, September 24, 2001
Rescue workers sifting through still-smoldering debris of the World Trade Center and uncovered a 10-foot piece of jetliner fuselage.

Wall Street prepares for another week of uncertainty
Monday, September 24, 2001
Still recuperating from one of Wall Street's worst showings ever, investors are preparing for another week of uncertain stock trading.

Saudi air base off-limits
Monday, September 24, 2001
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.

Thousands pay tribute at prayer service
Monday, September 24, 2001
Representatives of New York's broad spectrum of faiths took the field of Yankee Stadium on Sunday for a flag-draped gathering of prayer for the victims of terrorism. "We need faith, wisdom and strength of soul," said New York's Roman Catholic archbishop.

'God Bless America' becomes tragedy's anthem
Monday, September 24, 2001
As millions adorn their living room windows and SUVs with Old Glory, people are reviving another familiar, reassuring way of expressing their patriotism: They're busting out with renditions of "God Bless America" at every event imaginable.

Source: New York mayor seeks to extend term
Monday, September 24, 2001
(Web Posted Monday at 7:30 a.m.) Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who is barred by term limits from running for re-election this fall, is trying to extend his term, a source close to the mayor told The Associated Press on Monday.

Less war, more peace
Monday, September 24, 2001

Phelps philosophy
Monday, September 24, 2001

Artistic tribute
Monday, September 24, 2001