The 9/11 Commission Report (Phase Two & The Question Of Iraq)

In the late afternoon of September 11th, the President overruled his aides’ continuing reluctance to have him return to Washington and ordered Air Force One back to Andrews Air Force Base. He was flown by helicopter back to the White House, passing over the still-smoldering Pentagon. At 8:30 that evening ,President Bush addressed the nation from the White House. After emphasizing that the first priority was to help the injured and protect against any further attacks, he said: “We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.” He quoted Psalm 23—“though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death . . .” No American, he said,“ will ever forget this day.”

The 9/11 Commission Report: Wartime: Phase Two & The Question Of Iraq