Bush`s Declaration of War on Terrorism

George W. Bush the U.S. President declared the overall war on terrorism yesterday and requested Afghanistan to hand over Osama bin Landen who had been pointed as the wire-puller of the terrorist action in New York and Washington D.C.

President Bush requested in his address to the U.S. Congress that the Afghanistan government should hand over the leaders of the terrorist groups, immediately close the terrorist training camps, release all the foreign prisoners including Americans, and protect the foreign reporters, diplomats, and aid crews.

Bush warned against Afghanistan, ``Afghanistan should allow the U.S. to inspect the terrorist training camps to make sure that they are closed. If this request is not accepted, Afghanistan will suffer the same destiny as the terrorists.``

However, Afghanistan ambassador in Pakistan rejected yesterday the request of the U.S. President, saying that ``the Taliban will not hand over bin Laden to the U.S.``

An Afghanistan mayor asserted in his phone interview with the U.S. media that Afghanistan is perfectly ready to defense the U.S. attack.

Rumors are hanging around concerning the location of Bin Laden, including that he had already left from Afghanistan.

However, Bush remarked that ``the time for the U.S. to take action is coming up.`` and ordered to ``Be Ready [for the military operation].`` He also asked the people that ``the war on terrorism will be a long term war and so be ready to face struggles and danger in the future.``

Bush also urged the world to decide whether they will stand with either terrorists or the U.S. and warned that the U.S. will consider all the nations, which protect and support the terrorism, of the hostile regime.

Bush revealed his plan to establish the Office of Home and Security that will coordinate the works of related offices including the CIA to protect the U.S. from terrorist acts and appointed Tom Ridge the governor of Pennsylvania as the head of the Office.

The U.S. Defense Department departed its air carrier Kitty Hawke from the Yokoska Harbor to the Indian Ocean yesterday.

Han Ki-Heung eligius@donga.com