Bush links September 11 to 'challenge' posed by Katrina

The Independent
Sep. 10, 2005

President George Bush has linked the 9/11 attacks to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, saying the US was able to "overcome any challenge". Days before the fourth anniversary of the terror attacks on New York and Washington, Mr Bush declared: "America is a strong and resilient nation." At the swearing-in-ceremony for Karen Hughes, his new senior official for "public diplomacy", Mr Bush said 100 countries had offered assistance to help hurricane victims. He said there had been a "a similar outpouring of support when another tragedy struck our nation", the 2001 suicide hijack attacks.

He added: "Our people have the spirit, the resources and the determination to overcome any challenge."

Officials said his speech would be the first of several steps the White House would take to try to intertwine the so-called war on terror with the effort to recover from the hurricane. The Bush administration has been widely criticised for failing to respond quickly enough to help the victims of Katrina.

This weekend Mr Bush is to travel to Mississippi and Louisiana, spending tomorrow and Monday talking to storm victims and examining response efforts. His radio address today is also expected to focus on Katrina and the 9/11 anniversary.