DATE=04/19/2002

TYPE=EDITORIAL

NUMBER=0-09833

TITLE=EDITORIAL: KICKING THEIR AXIS

INTERNET=Yes

CONTENT=THIS EDITORIAL IS BEING RELEASED FOR USE BY ALL SERVICES.

Anncr: Next, an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government:

Voice: The global war against terrorism is far from over. As President George W. Bush told Virginia Military Institute cadets, "We're making good progress, [but] this war will not be quick and this war will not be easy. Our progress is measured day by day, terrorist by terrorist."

And progress, said Mr. Bush, has been made on many fronts. "In some cases," he said, "we use military force. In others, we're fighting through diplomacy, financial pressure, or special operations. We're hunting down the killers one by one."

The U.S.-led coalition has learned a great deal since the September 11th attacks on America about the operations of the al-Qaida terrorists. "As our enemies have fled their hideouts in Afghanistan," said President Bush, "they left some things behind. We found laptop computers, drawings and maps. And through them, we're gaining a clearer picture of the terrorist targets and their methods."

President Bush made clear his resolve: "Wherever terrorism threatens the civilized world," he said, "we and our friends and allies will respond -- and we'll respond decisively. We must prevent al-Qaida from moving its operations to other countries. We must deny terrorists the funds they need to operate. We must deny them safe havens to plan new horrors and indoctrinate new recruits."

"A small number of outlaw regimes," said President Bush, "possess and are developing chemical and biological and nuclear weapons. They're building missiles to deliver them, and at the same time cultivating ties to terrorist groups. In their threat to peace, in their mad ambitions, in their destructive potential, and in the repression of their own people, these regimes constitute an axis of evil and the world must confront them. America. . .will take the necessary action to oppose emerging threats."

"Every nation that needs our help will have it," said Mr. Bush. "[But] no nation can be neutral. Around the world, the nations must choose. They are with us, or they're with the terrorists."

"In the United States of America," said President Bush, "the terrorists have chosen a foe unlike any they have. . .faced before. We're tough, we're determined, we're relentless. We will stay until the mission is done. Our objective is always the same: we will defeat global terror, and we will not allow the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most dangerous weapons."

Anncr: That was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government. If you have a comment, please write to Editorials, V-O-A, Washington, D-C, 20237, U-S-A. You may also comment at www-dot-ibb-dot-gov-slash-editorials, or fax us at (202) 619-1043.