WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush ordered U.S. troops to get ready for war and braced Americans for a long, difficult assault against terrorists to avenge the deadliest attack on the nation. ``Those who make war against the United States have chosen their own destruction,'' he declared Saturday.``We will smoke them out of their holes,'' Bush said. ``We'll get them running and we'll bring them to justice.''
But first the nation had to mourn and bury its dead. ``This is indeed a sad occasion, one to be repeated thousands of times by our fellow citizens across the country,'' Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said at the memorial service for Barbara Olson, wife of U.S. Solicitor General Theodore Olson.
She was among the 64 passengers and crew members on American Airlines Flight 77 that crashed into the Pentagon. Rescue workers searched with diminishing hopes in the rubble of the World Trade Center in New York and the crash-scarred Pentagon for any survivors.
Four days after hijackers seized commercial airliners and slammed them into the symbols of American military and economic might, Bush said prime suspect Osama bin Laden's days are numbered. ``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,'' he said.
The vow recalled the words of his father, former President Bush who put Iraq on notice in 1990 that the United States would not tolerate the invasion of Kuwait. Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice- who played key roles in the Persian Gulf War - huddled with Bush under extraordinary security Saturday at Camp David in western Maryland.
``We're at war,'' the commander in chief said.
``Everybody who wears the uniform: Get ready,'' Bush instructed. The White House would not rule out the use of ground troops. Bush warned that ``the conflict will not be easy.''
The president also urged Americans to go about their lives but cautioned the threat might not be over. He said there should be ``a heightened sense of awareness that a group of barbarians have declared war on the American people.''
Bush intended to challenge Americans on Sunday to defy terrorists by returning to the normal course of their lives as soon as possible, aides said. He also hoped to reassure jittery financial markets by espousing the fundamentals of the economy.
The stock market was to open Monday, even as risks loomed.
Lt. Gen. Russell Davis of the National Guard said combat patrols are guarding the sky above Washington, New York and a few other cities he would not identify.
As American struggled to find a sense of normalcy, jarring developments kept them on edge.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who Bush called twice last week, compared the terrorist attacks to atrocities committed by the Nazis, but cautioned against hasty retaliation.
One day after leading the nation in prayer, Bush changed his tone to begin preparing Americans for sacrifices ahead.
His advisers said that fighting terrorists will expose U.S. troops to severe risk and American citizens to retaliatory strikes. Bush did not speak in such blunt terms, but used his weekly radio address to raise the first words of caution.
Bush sounded a patriotic chord as citizens emptied store shelves of U.S. flags and other American emblems, held fund-raising drives and gave blood.
In a display of unity, New York's two senator - both Democrats - thanked President Bush, Gov. George Pataki and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani - all Republicans - for their support.
Vengeance will take time, Bush said.
Bush did not mention his father's Persian Gulf War, but spoke of a new type of battle.
``This is a conflict without battlefields or beachheads, a conflict with opponents who believe they are invisible. Yet they are mistaken,'' the president said. ``They will be exposed.''
PHOTO CAPTION:
President Bush, meets with his cabinet and advisers, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2001, at Camp David, Md. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

rWASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush ordered U.S. troops to get ready for war and braced Americans for a long, difficult assault against terrorists to avenge the deadliest attack on the nation. ``Those who make war against the United States have chosen their own destruction,'' he declared Saturday.``We will smoke them out of their holes,'' Bush said. ``We'll get them running and we'll bring them to justice.''
But first the nation had to mourn and bury its dead. ``This is indeed a sad occasion, one to be repeated thousands of times by our fellow citizens across the country,'' Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said at the memorial service for Barbara Olson, wife of U.S. Solicitor General Theodore Olson.
She was among the 64 passengers and crew members on American Airlines Flight 77 that crashed into the Pentagon. Rescue workers searched with diminishing hopes in the rubble of the World Trade Center in New York and the crash-scarred Pentagon for any survivors.
Four days after hijackers seized commercial airliners and slammed them into the symbols of American military and economic might, Bush said prime suspect Osama bin Laden's days are numbered. ``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,'' he said.
The vow recalled the words of his father, former President Bush who put Iraq on notice in 1990 that the United States would not tolerate the invasion of Kuwait. Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice- who played key roles in the Persian Gulf War - huddled with Bush under extraordinary security Saturday at Camp David in western Maryland.
``We're at war,'' the commander in chief said.
``Everybody who wears the uniform: Get ready,'' Bush instructed. The White House would not rule out the use of ground troops. Bush warned that ``the conflict will not be easy.''
The president also urged Americans to go about their lives but cautioned the threat might not be over. He said there should be ``a heightened sense of awareness that a group of barbarians have declared war on the American people.''
Bush intended to challenge Americans on Sunday to defy terrorists by returning to the normal course of their lives as soon as possible, aides said. He also hoped to reassure jittery financial markets by espousing the fundamentals of the economy.
The stock market was to open Monday, even as risks loomed.
Lt. Gen. Russell Davis of the National Guard said combat patrols are guarding the sky above Washington, New York and a few other cities he would not identify.
As American struggled to find a sense of normalcy, jarring developments kept them on edge.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who Bush called twice last week, compared the terrorist attacks to atrocities committed by the Nazis, but cautioned against hasty retaliation.
One day after leading the nation in prayer, Bush changed his tone to begin preparing Americans for sacrifices ahead.
His advisers said that fighting terrorists will expose U.S. troops to severe risk and American citizens to retaliatory strikes. Bush did not speak in such blunt terms, but used his weekly radio address to raise the first words of caution.
Bush sounded a patriotic chord as citizens emptied store shelves of U.S. flags and other American emblems, held fund-raising drives and gave blood.
In a display of unity, New York's two senator - both Democrats - thanked President Bush, Gov. George Pataki and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani - all Republicans - for their support.
Vengeance will take time, Bush said.
Bush did not mention his father's Persian Gulf War, but spoke of a new type of battle.
``This is a conflict without battlefields or beachheads, a conflict with opponents who believe they are invisible. Yet they are mistaken,'' the president said. ``They will be exposed.''
PHOTO CAPTION:
President Bush, meets with his cabinet and advisers, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2001, at Camp David, Md. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)