It didn't take long for the American government to respond to the attacks of September 11th.

Good afternoon.

On my orders, the United States military has begun strikes.

That's President George W. Bush, addressing the nation on October 7, 2001, the day U.S. and British

troops began air strikes in Afghanistan. Their targets? Training camps belonging to al-Qaeda

leader Osama bin Laden, who'd orchestrated the 9-11 attacks. The U.S. also set its sights

on the local Taliban government, which was believed to have harbored al-Qaeda.

The Taliban will pay a price.

In his address, Bush sent a message to the rest of the world.

You were either with us or you were against us.

If any government sponsors the outlaws and killers of innocence,

they have become outlaws and murderers themselves.

And they will take that lonely path at their own peril.

Bush made it clear that the U.S. was going to respond with force.

During a visit to Ground Zero, he'd stood on the rubble with a bullhorn, surrounded by firefighters

and first responders. America today is on bended knee in prayer for the people who's live for lost here,

for the workers who work here, for the families who mourn.

At one point, somebody in the crowd yelled, we can't hear you.

I can hear you.

I can hear you.

I can hear you.

The rest of the world hears you.

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