30 January 2002, 12:10  Key Bush Speech Focuses On Terrorism, Economy

U.S. President George W. Bush's State of the Union address to Congress Tuesday night focused on the need for continuing vigilance in the fight against terrorism. He noted that "tens of thousands" of fighters were trained in Al Queda camps in Afghanistan, most of whom are still at large. Moreover, Bush used aggressive language in warning that the U.S. would not permit the world's "most dangerous regimes" from threatening the U.S. with weapons of mass destruction, singling out Iraq, Iran and North Koreas, and calling them "an axis of evil." Bush did not specify where the war on terrorism would go next, but warned those who fail to act to root out terrorism: "If they do not act, we will." On the economy, Bush again urged Congress to pass his economic stimulus plan, stressing that his strategy could be summed up in one word: "jobs." While not mentioning Enron by name, he also called for new protections on workers' pensions, as well as better disclosure and accounting rules. He urged bi-partisan cooperation on his economic plans, just as there has been bi-partisan support for the war on terrorism. Democrats again voiced support for Bush's anti-terrorism measures, but remained cool to his version of the stimulus plan. //MarketNews

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