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"I also want to say that one of the reasons for coming here is to be able to express my support for the President for his action in Afghanistan. The United States of America lost 5,000 people, innocent people, and it is quite correct for the President to ensure that the terrorists, those masterminds, as well as those who have executed the action and survived, are to be punished heavily.

"And it would be disastrous if the President gave in to the call that the army must now withdraw, before he has actually flushed out the terrorists. That would be disaster. They will claim that they have defeated the United States of America, and they will continue doing the same thing. So I support him to continue until those terrorists have been tracked down."
—Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, November 12,

"Our nation was born in that spirit, as immigrants yearning for freedom courageously risked their lives in search of greater opportunity. That spirit of optimism and courage still beckons people across the world who want to come here. And that spirit of optimism and courage must guide those of us fortunate enough to live here.

" Courage and optimism led the passengers on Flight 93 to rush their murderers to save lives on the ground. Led by a young man whose last known words were the Lord's Prayer and "Let's roll." He didn't know he had signed on for heroism when he boarded the plane that day. Some of our greatest moments have been acts of courage for which no one could have ever prepared.

"We will always remember the words of that brave man, expressing the spirit of a great country. We will never forget all we have lost, and all we are fighting for. Ours is the cause of freedom. We've defeated freedom's enemies before, and we will defeat them again.

"We cannot know every turn this battle will take. Yet we know our cause is just and our ultimate victory is assured. We will, no doubt, face new challenges. But we have our marching orders: My fellow Americans, let's roll.
—President George W. Bush
World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia
November 8, 2001

"Let those who say that we must understand the reasons for terrorism come with me to the thousands of funerals we are having in New York City and explain those insane, maniacal reasons to the children who will grow up without fathers and mothers, to the parents who have had their children ripped from them for no reason at all.

"Instead, I ask each of you to allow me to say at those funerals that your nation stands with America in making a solemn promise and pledge that we will achieve unconditional victory over terrorism and terrorists. There is no excuse for mass murder, just as there is no excuse for genocide.

"Those who practice terrorism—murdering or victimizing innocent civilians— lose any right to have their cause understood by decent people and lawful nations. On this issue—terrorism— the United Nations must draw a line.

"The era of moral relativism between those who practice or condone terrorism, and those nations who stand up against it, must end. Moral relativism does not have a place in this discussion and debate. There is no moral way to sympathize with grossly immoral actions. And by trying to do that, unfortunately, a fertile field has been created in which terrorism has grown."

—Rudolph Guiliani, Mayor of New York City, in a speech to the United Nations

The issues at hand

Radical peace, radical nonsense, by Mark Tooley

Church and Society leader takes sides in Middle East (IRD)

Selected Church Statements in the Aftermath of September 11

Straight Answers to Moral Confusion in National Crisis, by Alan Wisdom

September 11 attacks create need for spiritual care (UMNS)

United Methodist churches will remember September 11 in services (UMNS)

Struggling against radical Islam, by Mark Tooley

Ethicists: Afghan bombing meets "just war" criteria (Pew Forum)

United Methodist magazine names President George W. Bush Layman of the Year (Good News)

Religious groups speak out about war in Afghanistan (Good News)

Why the United Methodist bishops' statement misses the mark, by James V. Heidinger II (Good News)

Wisdom in a time of war: Learning from C.S. Lewis and Oswald Chambers, by J. I. Packer (Christianity Today)

A body and spirit broken by the Taliban, by Kevin Sullivan (Washington Post)

Drawing the battle lines: The Islamic Worldview, by Charles Colson (Christianity Today)

A revival of public religion--On Capitol Hill, by Gail Russell Chaddock (Christian Science Monitor)

National crisis, timeless themes shape first sermons of 2002 (Washington Post)

Quick dose of 9-11 religion soothes, doesn't change, by Gerald Zelizer (USA Today)

New Jersey United Methodists continue September 11 response (United Methodist News Service)

United Methodist mission agency questions detentions and tribunals in response to terrorist attacks (United Methodist News Service)

Just war tradition and the new war on terrorism: A conversation between Jean Bethke Elshtain, Stanley M. Hauerwas, and James Turner Johnson (The Pew Foundation)

Just war: Reflections from the Lutheran tradition in a time of crisis, by David S. Yeago (Pro Ecclesia)

Just war principles and counter-terrorism, by Keith Pavilschek

Christians in a Muslim world, by Julia Duin (National Review)

United Methodist position on military service

"Violence in all forms 'contrary to God's purpose,' announce United Methodist bishops,by Tom McAnally (UMNS)

Catholic Bishops support just war theory

President Bush's speech on terrorism

Rethinking pacifism, by Chuck Fager (Christianity Today)

The confusion of the Religious Left over 9-11 theology, by Mark Tooley (UMAction)

al-Queda nuclear plans (BBC)

Christians in the Middle East (The Economist)

Morality and war,
by Jane Lampman (Christian Science Monitor)