October 4, 2001 Diary: America Responds

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Rumsfeld hears Saudis' security concerns
Thursday, October 4, 2001
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, preparing allies for possible military strikes in Afghanistan, said Saudi officials expressed concern Wednesday that a war on terrorism could create harmful "secondary effects" in the Muslim world.

Giuliani rules out run for third term
Thursday, October 4, 2001
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani will not press for a third term after all, but he repeated his offer Wednesday to stay on for an extra three months to guide the city through the aftermath of the World Trade Center attack.

Russia seeks NATO relations
Thursday, October 4, 2001
President Vladimir Putin called Wednesday for a dramatic transformation in the structure of Russia's security relations with Europe and the United States in order to build a more effective partnership in the fight against international terrorism.

Intelligence lapses become clearer as details emerge
Thursday, October 4, 2001
The U.S. government has gathered evidence that links some of the Sept. 11 hijackers to Osama bin Laden's network through phone intercepts, wire transfers and participation in Afghan training camps, officials said Wednesday.

Florida man hospitalized with anthrax
Thursday, October 4, 2001
(Updated Thursday at 5:47 p.m.)A 63-year-old man has been hospitalized in Florida with inhalation anthrax, an extremely rare and lethal disease mentioned as a possible biological weapon. U.S. officials said there was no evidence of terrorism but promised "a very intense investigation."

Steps toward normality are nice
Thursday, October 4, 2001
By George Will
Washington Post Writers Group

Americans groping for normality wonder when they can laugh again. How about: Right now.

Russian airliner explodes, 76 on board
Thursday, October 4, 2001
(Updated Thursday at 2:56 p.m.) A Russian chartered airliner carrying Israelis to Siberia for family visits exploded Thursday and crashed off the Black Sea coast with at least 76 people on board. U.S. officials said an anti-aircraft missile fired during a Ukrainian training exercise appeared to have accidentally brought down the plane.

Reported India hijacking a false alarm
Thursday, October 4, 2001
The reported hijacking of an Indian jetliner on a domestic flight Wednesday night was a false alarm caused by an anonymous phone call and confusion aboard the aircraft, the government said.

Bush offers $320 million in humanitarian aid to Afghans, neighbors
Thursday, October 4, 2001
(Updated Thursday at 3:27 p.m.) President Bush committed $320 million in humanitarian aid to the "poor souls" of Afghanistan on Thursday as he and allies from Mexico to Qatar moved ahead with plans against terrorists sheltered by Afghanistan's ruling Taliban.

CIA cited growing risk of attack in August
Thursday, October 4, 2001
(Updated Thursday at 2:36 p.m.) The month before the Sept. 11 hijacking attacks, the CIA received information suggesting Osama bin Laden was increasingly determined to strike on U.S. soil. In the days since, the FBI has linked the hijackers to bin Laden's network through phone intercepts, money transfers and training camps.

FBI says hijackers visited Portland, Maine
Thursday, October 4, 2001
(Updated Thursday at 2:35 p.m.) Surveillance video captured hijackers at area ATMs, a gas station and a Wal-Mart hours before the men boarded a commuter flight to Boston, then got on one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center, the FBI said Thursday.

Bush seeks economic boost
Thursday, October 4, 2001
Just blocks from ruins of the World Trade Center, President Bush assured business leaders Wednesday that the American economy will rebound and grow. "The underpinnings are there for economic recovery," he said.

Oregonians answer New York's tourism call
Thursday, October 4, 2001
At a time when some tourists are frightened about flying to New York, about 800 Oregonians are taking to the skies for a unique airlift that follows the mayor's call for Americans to keep visiting the stricken city.

Sherrer to plot plan to boost state economy
Thursday, October 4, 2001
Kansas should not trust the future of its economy on whether the federal government passes an economic stimulus plan, Lt. Gov. Gary Sherrer said Wednesday. The comments came during an economic summit in Wichita as the city braces for thousands of layoffs planned at its airplane manufacturing plants after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Six die in bus crash after passenger attacks driver
Thursday, October 4, 2001
A passenger on a Greyhound bus slashed the driver's throat with a blade, grabbed the wheel and crashed the vehicle Wednesday, killing six of the 41 people aboard and prompting the company to temporarily shut down service across an already jittery nation.

Access to base allowed for recreation purposes
Thursday, October 4, 2001
The Army will allow limited access to Fort Riley again for hunting, fishing, wood-cutting and other recreational activities starting Thursday. Increased security following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the East led to suspension of those activities on the post.

States face budget cuts
Thursday, October 4, 2001
More than a half-dozen states are moving to cut their budgets, as already weakened government finances suffer the aftereffects of the terrorist attacks. Many more states are trying to assess the damage from Sept. 11.

Expressions of patriotism
Thursday, October 4, 2001
By Geneva Overholser
Washington Post Writers Group

It's a truth harder to remember amid national tragedy, but the face of patriotism looks different depending on who wears it. Journalist, politician, soldier, citizen, peace protester: All may be patriots, though each will function differently.

Web sites pull back sensitive materials
Thursday, October 4, 2001
Before Sept. 11, you could have visited the Federation of American Scientists' Web site for diagrams and photos of U.S. intelligence facilities. Also, you could have gone to another Web site and learned about gatherings at North Dakota's Minot Air Force Base. And you could have gone online and ordered maps of military installations.

Disruptions minimal in Lawrence but drivers, station manager shaken
Thursday, October 4, 2001
By Dave Ranney

Three Greyhound buses headed for Lawrence were grounded Wednesday morning after a passenger attacked a driver in Tennessee, causing a crash that killed at least six.

British prime minister: Attack evidence points to bin Laden
Thursday, October 4, 2001
(Web Posted Thursday at 8:27 a.m.) Prime Minister Tony Blair revealed details Thursday of the case against Osama bin Laden, saying three hijackers have been "positively identified" as associates and that the terror suspect told other cohorts he was preparing a major operation in the United States.

Nation Briefs
Thursday, October 4, 2001
• New York: Poll finds support for rebuilding WTC
• Denver: National parks, monuments to have free weekend
• Washington, D.C.: Passengers' heroics lauded
• Chicago: Sears Tower upgrades safety

6News report: Northern Alliance advancing toward Kabul
Thursday, October 4, 2001
Josh Garber reports on the advancement of the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan.

6News report: Sears Tower under tighter security
Thursday, October 4, 2001
Josh Garber reports on tightening security at the Sears Tower in Chicago.

Tragic parallel
Thursday, October 4, 2001

Time for unity
Thursday, October 4, 2001

The big picture
Thursday, October 4, 2001