US President Mr George W Bush today said the hour for military action is near and demanded Afghanistan's leaders turn over Osama bin Laden and all the leaders of his organisation.
"Tonight we are a country awakened to danger and called to freedom," Mr Bush said in a national television address before a joint session of Congress.
The address followed attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, which left dead or missing more than 6,500 people, the worst single attack ever on US soil.
It was Mr Bush's first major speech since the attacks of September 11th shattered many Americans' sense of security, prolonged and perhaps deepened a US economic slump, sent major airlines to the brink of bankruptcy, and brought calls for revenge.
"Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done," he said.
With the United States rapidly deploying military force to the Middle East and Indian Ocean, Mr Bush said the evidence gathered so far points to Saudi exile Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda organisation as responsible for the attacks.
He demanded that Afghanistan's militant Islamic movement, the Taliban, deliver to US authorities all the leaders of bin Laden's al Qaeda organisation hiding there, release all foreign nationals held there and close immediately and permanently every terrorist training camp in Afghanistan.
He also demanded the Taliban give the United States full access to terrorist training camps, so it can make sure they are no longer operating.
"These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion. The Taliban must act and act immediately. They will hand over the terrorists, or they will share in their fate," Mr Bush said.
To foreign governments, Mr Bush called on them to choose: "From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime," he said.
Mr Bush told Americans the war will be lengthy and involve far more than instant retaliation and isolated strikes adding it would not be like the Kosovo strikes where no US soldiers lost their lives.
He said it may include dramatic strikes visible on television as well as covert operations that will remain secret.
Trying to explain why Islamic militants want to harm America, Mr Bush called them a fringe movement that perverts the peaceful teachings of Islam.
"The terrorists' directive commands them to kill Christians and Jews, to kill all Americans, and make no distinction among military and civilians, including women and children".
[ Full text of Bush's speech to Congress Opens in new window ]