Some have argued that confronting the threat from Iraq could detract from the war against terror. To the contrary, confronting the threat posed by Iraq is crucial to winning the war on terror.

This was not an act of terrorism, but it was an act of war.

With those attacks, the terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States. And war is what they got.

Hundreds of thousands of American servicemen and women are deployed across the world in the war on terror. By bringing hope to the oppressed, and delivering justice to the violent, they are making America more secure.

The men and women of Afghanistan are building a nation that is free, and proud, and fighting terror - and America is honored to be their friend.