Tags: 911, Twin Towers, Ground Zero, World Trade Center, WTC, War on
Terror, President George W Bush, Commander in Chief, Congress, Barbara J. Lee, Pentagon,
Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, Afghanistan, Taliban, Abdul Salam Zaeef, Osama bin Laden, Iraq,
Saddam Hussein, terrorism, Rudolph Giuliani, Pax Romana, Mullah Mohammed Hasan Akhund,
Islam, Muslim, NY firefighters, CIA, 993 World Trade Center bombing, Tony Blair,
Department of Homeland Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, New York Mayor
Giuliani, John Ashcroft, Henry H. Shelton
Steps
Towards War
In the mean time, Congress gave
President Bush the go-ahead to wage war. In a 98-0 vote the Senate gave him the power to
use “all necessary and appropriate force” to respond to the terror attacks. The
House approved the use of force by a vote of 420-1.
The lone member of Congress was Rep.
Barbara J. Lee, a radical leftist from California. Insisting that the nation risked
entering into the war without a clear target she said, “I am convinced that military
action will not prevent future acts of international terrorism against the United States.”
In spite of the declarations of that
single voice President Bush was elated: “I am gratified that the Congress has united
so powerfully by taking this action. It sends a clear message – our people are
together and we will prevail.”
Meanwhile the president took the first
steps toward war by giving the Pentagon the authority to activate as many as 50,000
reserve troops to maintain aerial patrols over American cities and to strengthen security
at crucial military and civilian installations.
And the president’s target in his
offensive was clear: the mountains of Afghanistan, where Osama bin Laden was believed to
be hiding. Iraq could be another target because Saddam Hussein led his nation to support
terrorism all over the world. “Justice demands that those who helped or harbored
terrorists be punished,” the president assured.
Hearing of the plans of the United
States, the Taliban in Afghanistan threatened revenge if the US made war against them.
“If a country or group violates our country, we will not forget our revenge,”
Taliban spokesman Abdul Hai Muttmain responded.
The Taliban’s leader, Mullah
Mohammed Omar had this to add: “Death comes to everyone. We must stand proud as
Afghans in the defense of Islam. Believe in God, for with the grace of God the American
rockets will go astray and we will be saved.
“. . . The Soviet Union destroyed
this country, but they could never accomplish their goals. The United States will also
fail.”
On September 15, as he ordered troops to
get ready for war, President Bush braced Americans for what lie ahead: “Those who
make war against the United States have chosen their own destruction. We will smoke them
out of their holes. We’ll get them running and we’ll bring them to
justice.”
Then, while indicating that Osama bin
Laden’s days were numbered he continued, “If he thinks he can hide and run from
the United States and our allies, he will be sorely mistaken. This act will not stand.
“. . . We are at war. Everybody who
wears the uniform: Get ready.
“. . . I will not settle for a
token act. Our response will be sweeping, sustained and effective. We have much to do and
much to ask of America.
“. . . you will be asked for your
patience, for the conflict will not be short. You will be asked for resolve, for the
conflict will not be easy. You will be asked for your strength, because the course to
victory may be long.
“A terrorist attack designed to
tear us apart has instead bound us together as a nation.
“. . . Victory against terrorism
will not take place in a single battle but in a series of decisive actions against
terrorist organizations and those who harbor and support them.
“. . . this is a conflict without
battlefields or beachheads, a conflict with opponents who believe they are invincible. Yet
they are mistaken. They will be exposed.”
Apparently Afghan citizens were hearing
the message loud and clear. Fearing the revenge of the United States, masses of them began
leaving Kabul, the Afghan capitol and stocking up on food and other supplies. The Taliban
leadership, however, called on the people to “stand proud” as they threatened
war on nations that might aid the U.S. assault on their country.
“I am not afraid of death or losing
power,” Taliban leader Omar insisted. “I am willing to give up power and my
seat, but I’m not willing to give up Islam. We shall be victorious.”
On September 16 President Bush turned
back to the needs and security of the homeland. In order to explain his order to shoot
down any commercial aircraft that disobeyed orders to turn away from Washington’s air
space, the president stated, “I gave our military the orders necessary to protect
Americans. Of course, that was difficult. . . never did I dream we would be under attack
this way.”
Then, in order to encourage Americans to
return to their normal lives he stated, “Tomorrow when you get back to work, work
hard like you always have. My administration has a job to do. . . We will rid the world of
evildoers.
“This crusade, this war on
terrorism, is going to take a while. And American people must be patient.”
Vice President Cheney added, “The
government of Afghanistan has to understand that we believe they have, indeed, been
harboring a man who committed and whose organization committed this most egregious act.
They have to understand, and others like them around the world have to understand, that if
you provided sanctuary to terrorists, you face the full wrath of the United States of
America.”
Yet, in his first appearance since the
attack, bin Laden flatly denied responsibility: “I stress that I have not carried out
this act, which appears to have been carried out by individuals with their own
motivation.”
Meanwhile, Ground Zero remained in
shambles. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani bravely encouraged the people of New York and the rescue
workers: “The life of the city goes on. The recovery effort continues and the hope is
still there that we might be able to save some lives. But the reality is that in the last
several days we haven’t found anyone."
Speaking at a news conference, the
gallant mayor assured that how one was to deal with the trauma was to “show how
strong we are and how terrorists can’t cower us.
“Go ahead and go about the everyday
activities. Go to church Sunday. If you go to a park and play with your children, do that.
If you like to go out and spend money I would encourage that. It’s always a good
thing.”
Later in the day, he addressed a
ceremony in which 168 firefighters were being promoted. In so doing he offered his own
personal story about perseverance. While relating an account about his uncle whose legs
were broken when he was thrown from a ladder truck while answering a false alarm the mayor
detailed, “One of my earliest memories is his talking about wanting to go back to
work. It was the thing that got him through, the thing that sustained him.”
In spite of all the encouragement by the
president and Mayor Giuliani there was no call to national repentance. Rather the call was
for the nation to get on with its normal life as if nothing had happened. But, as clearly
demonstrated during the Clinton years, America had rejected God and was in the midst of a
great national sin. Could it be that 911 was God's judgment for that sin and rejection of
Him? If so, the leadership of America failed to lead America to its knees. Rather, in
defiance, it could only propose the retaliation of Modern Rome, the most powerful nation
in the history of the world. Pax Romana would have its way.
* * *
On September 17, while visiting the
Pentagon President Bush assured the nation in a Texas twang that he would “get
‘em running and to find ‘em, and to hunt ‘em down.”
With regard to bin Laden, the president
offered the now infamous commentary, “I want him – I want justice. And
there’s an old poster out West, as I recall that said; ‘Wanted: Dead or
Alive.’”
In spite of Mayor Giuliani’s
leadership, only five survivors had been pulled out of the smoking ruins, and none since
the preceding Wednesday. Yet the good mayor was not willing to give up hope saying,
“I’ve been told by experts that people survive for longer periods than the six
days that have gone by since the attack. The simple reality is that we’re not going
to be able to recover significant numbers of people, but we will continue to try.”
But by September 18, the hope for
survivors had all but faded. By then, the mayor finally conceded that there was virtually
no hope of finding any more survivors of the catastrophe. “We don’t’ have
any substantial amount of hope we can offer anyone that we will find anyone alive,”
he said. “We have to prepare people for that overwhelming reality.”
Arrogantly the Taliban continued to
express their defiance, as if America would easily forget their loved ones in the face of
their toothless threats. “If America attacks our homes, it is necessary for all
Muslims, especially for Afghans, to wage a holy war,” Mullah Mohammed Hasan Akhund,
deputy Taliban leader asserted. “God is on our side, and if the world’s people
try to set fire to Afghanistan, God will protect us and help us.”
In Pakistan demonstrators shouted in
English, “Until now, only one World Trade Center has been destroyed. But we will
destroy all of America. We will die for Taliban. We will die for Islam. We will die for
Osama.”
Meanwhile U.S. intelligence was looking
hard to see if Iraq was involved in the slaughter of Americans after a report was released
in that regard. “It’s been a suspicion from the beginning that Iraq may have
been at least helping with their intelligence networks,” one official revealed.
“But now, after the report, they’re looking really seriously at Iraq.”
According to R. James Woolsey, the
former director of the CIA, “It has never been true that terrorism operates under a
legal regime of exclusive contracts. There’s never been anything inconsistent with
the idea that bin Laden would be providing most of the people in this and Iraqi
intelligence helping logistically and otherwise behind it.”
Also suggesting that the 1993 World Trade
Center bombing should be reopened to explore “if Saddam Hussein was involved. In any
way, if that’s true, it doesn’t matter if he was involved in this one. That
would be enough to take action.”
Indeed, Laurie Mylroie in the book
“Study of Revenge, Saddam Hussein’s Unfinished War on America,” put
together a convincing case that the mastermind of the 1993 bombing went by the alias Ramzi
Yousef and was an Iraqi agent. “Clearly a state is involved in last week’s
attack because it was so sophisticated, and Iraq is the most likely player,” Mylroie
said. “The most likely candidate is the state at which we are at war. We’re
bombing Iraq on a daily basis.”
Meanwhile, the concern over the
vulnerability of America’s borders remained at the forefront. As a result the Bush
administration announced a major expansion of its power to detain immigrants suspected of
crimes. New rules would allow legal immigrants to be detained indefinitely during a
national emergency. With that in mind, John Ashcroft detailed that the government has
“a responsibility to use every legal means at our disposal to prevent further
terrorist activity by taking people into custody who have violated the law and who may
pose a threat to America.”
Then he insisted that “we’re
going to do everything we can to harmonize the constitutional rights of individuals with
every legal capacity we can muster to also protect the safety and security of
individuals.”
On September 19 the Pentagon ordered
dozens of advanced aircraft to the Persian Gulf region as the day of America’s
revenge grew closer-and-closer. F-15s, F-16s and B-1 bombers would soon be closing in on
the rebellious Muslims. The name of the campaign against Afghanistan would be
“Operation Infinite Justice.”
Donald Rumsfield clearly indicated that
a war with Afghanistan would be risky: “Several countries have exhausted themselves
pounding that country,” he stated in reference to Britain in the 19th century and the
Soviet Union in 1979-89. The Soviet Union’s war with Afghanistan was a major factor
leading to the communist country’s collapse. “What we’ll have to do is
exactly what I said: Use the full spectrum of our capabilities,” he assured.
While stating, “I owe it to the
country to give an explanation,” President Bush announced that he would address
Congress and the nation the next day.
“No question it’s tough
times,” he said. “This is a shock to the economy and we are going to
respond.” Because the government shut down the airlines after the 9/11 attack and the
fact that most Americans were afraid to fly the friendly skies the airlines were the worst
hit. Even after the skies were opened up again, the airlines struggled with a dramatic
falloff of business. Thus the president was preparing to ask Congress to give the airlines
$5 billion in immediate aid.
Then, on September 20, 2001, President
Bush addressed the nation in a joint session of Congress giving what would be the most
inspirational and greatest speech of his career. He delivered a powerful verbal indictment
against Osama bin Laden and demanded that the Taliban surrender the terrorist, release
imprisoned Americans and give the United States full access to terrorist training camps
– or else. Thirty rounds of applause punctuated his address in the House chambers.
“I will not forget this wound to
our country, or those who inflicted it,” the president assured. “I will not
yield. I will not rest.”
His demands were not open for
discussion. “They will hand over the terrorists or they will share in their
fate.”
Reminding the military to “be
ready” for the gathering war, the Commander in Chief stated, “The hour is coming
when America will act and you will make us proud.
“. . . The civilized world is
rallying to America’s side. They understand that if terror goes unpunished, their own
cities, their own citizens may be next. Terror unanswered cannot only bring down
buildings, it can threaten governments and we will not allow it.
“. . . By sacrificing human life to
serve their radical visions – they follow in the path of fascism and Nazism and
totalitarianism. And they will follow that path all the way to where it ends, in
history’s unmarked grave of discarded lies.
“. . . The terrorists’
directive commands them to kill Christians and Jews, to kill all Americans and make no
distinctions among military and civilians, including women and children.”
As a result of this despicable way of
thinking he said, “Great harm has been done to us. We have suffered great loss and in
our grief and anger we have found our mission and our moment. Freedom and fear are at
war."
Yet the president cautioned Americans to
remain alert stating, “It is my hope that in the months and years ahead, life will
return almost to normal.”
He asked for patience and warned of more
casualties as America pressed ahead with its goal to remove terror from the world. The war
against elusive terrorists, he continued, “will not look like the air war above
Kosovo two years ago, where no ground troops were used and not a single American was lost
in combat.”
Yet it would be a war like none other in
the history of the world. “It may include dramatic strikes, visible on television,
and covert operations, secret even in success,” the president assured.
Still he assured every American,
“We’ll go back to our lives and routines, and that is good. But our resolve must
not pass.”
“Tonight we are a country awakened
to danger and called to defend freedom,” he said to sustained applause. “Our
grief has turned to anger and our anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to
justice or justice to our enemies, justice will be done.”
In order to protect American civilians
during this protracted war, President Bush announced the creation of a new Cabinet-level
office to fortify homeland defenses. This Department of Homeland Defense would be headed
up by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair
demonstrated his unwavering support of the president as he sat in the gallery of the great
congressional hall. He pledged “our solidarity, our sympathy and our support.”
Nothing was at all normal in New York,
and a delegation of senators had the opportunity to find that out as they visited Ground
Zero to see the ruins of the Trade Center. This delegation included Senate Majority Leader
Tom Daschle and minority Leader Trent Lott.
“I’ve never seen anything
comparable to what we’ve seen here today, the magnitude of it,” Lott declared.
“It’s so important that we come and see what we’re dealing with.”
At the sight of the devastation even the
divisive democratic Senate leader Tom Daschle had to get on board with the president, at
least for the time being. “We’re here because we recognize this loss must be
shared not only by New Yorkers, but by all Americans,” he said.
“We are resolved to work together,
not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans,” he also promised.
As Senate minority leader Trent Lott
declared, “Tonight there is no opposition party.”
All-in-all 63 countries were believed to
have victims in the Trade Center rubble. New York Mayor Giuliani demonstrated that there
would be a sustained effort to save the lives of any survivors: “Even weeks ahead,
while we’re removing stuff, obviously we’re going to be looking. Right now the
possibility still remains. They’re slim, but they still remain.”
What also remained was the
president’s determination to exact revenge. “This is not a time for negotiation
or discussions,” warned President Bush’s spokesman on September 21 as the
Pentagon committed more aircraft to the Persian Gulf.
The economy continued to suffer sever
setbacks. The stock market fell sharply, nearing the end of one of the gloomiest weeks in
Wall Street history. The devastated airline industry laid off more people.
Yet hope remained in the air as Attorney
General John Ashcroft reminded the nation of its great American will to survive and then
some: “We will rebuild New York. It’s our nature. It’s our spirit.”
“Our economy has had a shock,”
President Bush said the next day. But he noted that the foundation had been left unshaken.
The military buildup continued on
September 22 as the Pentagon called up over five thousand reservists for “homeland
defense.” Active duty troops continued to move to positions within striking distance
of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir
Putin offered his support stating, “We have always been initiators of the effort to
unite the forces of the international community in the battle with terror. If we want to
win there is no other way. We must unite forces of all civilized society.”
Finally, on September 23, the nation was
able move on from mourning as the solemn President Bush returned the American Flag to full
staff. And there it hung, full and proud, reminding all Americans that their resolve would
not fail to bring dramatic results.
In the mean time, the Taliban was busily
attempting to save their skins. Under pressure from President Bush to produce Osama bin
Laden, the leadership of the rouge outfit insisted that it was unable to find the
terrorist. Top US officials in Washington stated that the claim was a crude attempt to
evade responsibility for complying with US demands.
“We’re not going to be
deterred by comments that he may be missing,” Condoleezza Rice confirmed.
Donald Rumsfels added, “They know
where he is. They know their country. . . It is just not believable that the Taliban do
not know where the network can be located and found and can be turned over.”
With regard to the nation’s
security, on September 24 federal authorities charged the first person with aiding
terrorist hijackers. Herbert Villalobos was charged with helping one of the suspected
hijackers obtain a Virginia ID card a month before the attacks.
Meanwhile, President Bush announced that
he would now hit the terrorists financially. In so doing he issued an executive order
freezing the financial assets of 27 organizations and people, including Osama bin Laden.
“Money is the lifeblood of terrorist operations,” he assured. “Today
we’re asking the world to stop payment.”
In defiance, Osama bin Laden spoke out
for himself in a FAX to Pakistan. He urged the country to rise up and repel America whose
forces were gathering about Afghanistan for an emanate attack.
“. . . We tell our Muslim brothers
in Pakistan to use all their means to resist the invasion of the American crusader forces
in Pakistan and Afghanistan,” the Fax plead. Reflecting on three Muslims killed in
anti-American protests he continued, “We hope that these brothers will be the first
martyrs in the battle of Islam in this era against the new Jewish campaign and Christian
crusader campaign that is led by the Chief Crusader Bush under the banner of the cross.
“We ask God to make us defeat the
infidels and oppressors and to crush the new Jewish-Christian crusader campaign on the land
of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“If God allows you to win, there
will be no defeat. If he chooses that you will be defeated, nothing will allow you to win.
Therefore, depend on God.”
As that nonsense was going on, back in New
York, Mayor Giuliani had practically given up hope of finding any survivors. “I
believe that it is certainly time to say that the chances of finding anyone would now
involve a miracle,” he lamented. “And miracles have happened. But we should not
– it would be unfair to offer any kind of broad hope to people.”
Homeland Security remained a priority as
America continued to strengthen its borders. Delays of up to 15 hours waited those who
wished to cross the nation’s borders. There were fears of chemical attacks. Hence,
the Federal Aviation Administration grounded farm crop-dusters for fear that they could be
used in biological or chemical attacks.
On September 25 John Ashcroft warned
that there was a “clear and present danger” of additional terrorist attacks.
This comment resulted from an incident wherein about 20 people were charged with
attempting to obtain fraudulent drivers licenses to drive tankers. The Department of
Justice indicated that some of the people arrested in connection with the hazardous waste
licenses might have had connections to the hijackers. So, the country was now faced with
the possibility of trucks full of dangerous chemicals on the loose with terrorists at the
wheels.
“Terrorism is a clear and present
danger to Americans today,” he stated. “Intelligence information available to
the FBI indicates a potential for additional terrorist incidents.” Therefore, on
September 26 law enforcement authorities arrested 10 Middle Eastern men on charges of
fraudulently obtaining licenses to transport hazardous materials. The concern was that
terrorists might strike next using chemical or biological weapons.
Back in Afghanistan on September 25,
Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar blamed the United States for the September 11 attack
on US soil. In a Faxed message he proclaimed, “You should know whatever incidents and
sorrow you suffer. . . are a result of the erroneous policies of your government.”
The implication was that the attack was the result of America’s support of Israel in
its conflict with Palestinians.
At the same time bin Laden’s
al-Qaida organization issued its own defiant warning: “Wherever there are Americans
and Jews, they will be targeted.”
President Bush countered by suggesting
that the people of Afghanistan should rebel against the Taliban. In that vein he stated
that the best way to fight terrorism “is to ask for the cooperation of citizens
within Afghanistan who may be tired of having the Taliban in place or tired of having
Osama bin-Laden.”
Americans were still not taking to the
friendly skies. So, in fear that the airlines could well go under, on September 27
President Bush asked the nation’s governors to post National Guard troops at
airports. While attempting to coax Americans back into jets he declared, “This nation
will not live in fear.” He urged the crowd not to give terrorism a victory by staying
on the ground. “Get on the airlines,” he pleaded, “get about the business
of America. Fly and enjoy America’s great destination spots.
“. . . The government and the
private sector will make flying a way of life again in America. We have awakened to the
new danger, but our resolve is great and the spirit of America is incredibly strong.”
Even as the president was attempting to
persuade Americans that flying was safe, a document belonging to the hijackers
demonstrated the resolve of those who turned the skies over America into a battlefield. A
five-page handwritten document was found in the luggage of Mohomed Atta, who was believed
to be the leader of the hijackers. Another copy was found in the wreckage of United
Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania. This demonstrated that all of the
hijackers were encouraged by this manifesto.
The document revealed a chilling message
to the hijackers encouraging them to stick together and overcome their fears in carrying
out the terrorist attacks. In clearly demonstrating the resolve of these crazy people who
were willing to commit suicide in order to follow the will of Allah, the document read,
“Purify your heart and clean it from all earthly matters. The time of fun and waste
has gone. The time of judgment has arrived. Hence we need to utilize those few hours to
ask God for forgiveness. You have to be convinced that those few hours that are left in
your life are very few. From there you will begin to live the happy life, the infinite
paradise. Be optimistic. The prophet was always optimistic.”
On September 28, New York Mayor Rudolph
Giuliani advised the nation of the degree of destruction that had occurred to the Trade Center.
He confessed that it could take as long as a year to clean up the mess. FEMA Director Joe
Allbaugh added on October 1, “This is going to take months – it’s going to
take three or four months just to get to ground level. This is going to be better than a
year to resolve this debris problem at the sites.”
So on September 28, while never
forgetting the devastation that bin-Laden had inflicted upon America on 9/11, President
Bush continued in his resolve to wipe terrorism from the face of the earth. “Make no
mistake about it,” he told reporters. “We’re in hot pursuit of
terrorists.” Then in a concession that the war in Afghanistan could be difficult he
added that it was “very hard to fight a guerilla war with conventional forces.”
Meanwhile the Bush administration
continued to attempt to persuade the Taliban to give up bin-Laden in order to avoid war.
However, when talking to a delegation of Pakistani religious and government leaders who
traveled to Kandahar (the seat of the Taliban), Mullah Mohammed Omar refused to even
discuss bin-Laden.
Then, after two weeks of unsuccessful
attempts to convince the Taliban to hand over the world’s most renown terrorist,
President Bush lashed out, “The United states respects the people of Afghanistan and
we are their largest provider of humanitarian support. But we condemn the Taliban, and
welcome the support of other nations in isolating that regime.”
Even as he spoke, the military buildup
in the area continued to grow. While amassing 28,000 sailors, airmen and troops, more than
300 warplanes and two-dozen warships spread for thousands of miles across a military
theater with Iraq and Afghanistan at its heart, the US military was ready and willing to
strike.
Then, under threat of strikes, on
September 30 the Taliban backpedaled on its assertion that it had no idea regarding the
whereabouts of bin-Laden. Afghanistan insurgents began to rebel in the north. In fierce
fighting the rebels were able to secure a whole district from Taliban troops.
The Taliban remained defiant as Abdul
Salam Zaeef proclaimed to the world, “He (bin-Laden) is under our control. Wherever
he is, he’s in a secret place but that doesn’t mean that he is out of control of
the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. He’s in a place which cannot be located by
anyone. . . We are thinking of negotiation,” he continued adding that if direct
evidence against bin Laden were produced, “it might change things.”
The White House, though, was in no mood
to negotiate with those who were actively harboring terrorists. “The president has
said we’re not negotiating,” White House chief of staff Andrew Card assured.
Then, raising the stakes even higher he added, “They’ve got to turn not only
Osama bin Laden over but all the operatives of the al-Qaida organization. They’ve got
to stop being a haven where terrorists can train.”
Indeed, General Henry H. Shelton warned
that the US would fight terrorism on every front: “It’ll not be only America and
America’s political, diplomatic, economic, military power that’ll be applied.
It’ll be an international effort that will also bring in the great capabilities of
our partners, our allies, and our friends around the world. ”
On the home front John Ashcroft
continued to warn, “We believe that there is the likelihood of additional terrorist
activity. And it is our job to do whatever we can to interrupt it, to disrupt it. We
believe there are others who may be in the country who would have plans.’
Then he called on Congress to meet a
Friday deadline that President Bush set for the approval of his plan to fight terrorism at
home. Congress had been cool toward the Bush administration’s anti-terrorism package.
“We think there is a very serious threat of additional problems now. And frankly, as
the United Sates responds, that threat may escalate. Very frankly, we need to do
everything we can here at home.”
The attorney general was claiming that
his department desperately needed increased powers for surveillance, the ability to use
information gathered by foreign governments and the ability to detain terrorist suspects
for longer periods of time. “Talk will not prevent terrorism,” he continued.
“We need to have action by the Congress. We need the tools to prevent
terrorism.”
On October 1 it was revealed that Osama
bin Laden had telephoned his mother in Syria the day before the 9/11 attacks. He told her
that he could not meet her there because “something big” was imminent that would
end their communications for a very long time. This was very clear evidence tying the
terrorist to the attacks.
With military intervention in Afghanistan
virtually assured, Rudy Giuliani appealed to the world to stand against terrorism:
“The United nations must hold accountable any country that supports or condones
terrorism or you will fail in your primary mission as peacekeepers.”
President Bush proclaimed the progress
of the war against terror. While citing hundreds of arrests both in the US and abroad in
the investigation, international cooperation and initial successes in seizing assets of
bin Laden and his al-Qaida organization the president said, “It’s a campaign
that must be fought on many fronts, and I’m proud to report that we’re making
progress on many fronts.
“The evildoers struck and when they
did they arouse a mighty land. We will not be cowered by a few.”
About the Author
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WIGTUNE HOME
About the Author
Don Wigton
is a graduate of the prestigious music department at CSULB where he studied under Frank
Pooler, lyricist of Merry Christmas Darling, and sang in Pooler’s world renown
University Choir alongside Karen and Richard Carpenter. During this time Don was also the
lead composer of the band, Clovis Putney, that won the celebrated Hollywood Battle of the
Bands. After giving his life to God, Don began attending Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa to
study under some of the most prominent early Maranatha! musicians. Subsequently he toured
the Western United States with Jedidiah in association with Myrrh Records.
Eventually
Don served as a pastor at Calvary Chapel Bakersfield to witness thousands of salvations
through that ministry. As the music/concert director, Don worked for seven years with most
major Christian artist of that time while producing evangelical concerts attended by
thousands of young people seeking after God. Don’s Calvary Chapel Praise Choir
released the album Let All Who Hath Breath Praise the Lord on the Maranatha! label.
The next
years of Don’s life were spent as the praise leader of First Baptist Church in Bakersfield
during a time of unprecedented church renewal. Don teamed with the leadership to
successfully meld the old with the new through a period of tremendous church growth.
During this exciting time, Don’s praise team, Selah, produced the CD Stop and
Think About It.
Today Don is
the leading force behind Wigtune Company. This
webbased project located at www.praisesong.net has provided several million downloads of
Don’s music and hymn arrangements to tens of thousands of Christian organizations
throughout the world. More music can be found at Don's Southern
Cross Band website at www.socrossband.com.
The book Holy
Wars represents Don’s most recent effort to bless the church with biblical
instruction and direction in praise and worship. This heartfelt volume is an offering not
only to God’s people, but also to God Himself.
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was formed as a service to the body of Christ to encourage scriptural
worship. To accomplish this goal Wigtune Company offers free contemporary Christian praise
and worship music, contemporary Christian rock and hymn mp3 and chart material along with
a free on-line worship study book for personal devotions, Bible study groups, Sunday
schools, pastors, music ministers and ministry training. In order to bridge the gap
between the old and the new the worship study book gives solid theological and
historical support to the use of traditional Christian hymn-singing in conjunction with
praise chorus singing. 
Vision Statement 
Wigtune Story 
Check out this powerful Southern Cross song! 
