Bush prepares to address Congress

The United States president is set to address a joint session of Congress to make a case for a long war against terrorism. In the televised address, George W. Bush is expected to urge Americans to be vigilant and patient. His national security advisor, Condoleeza Rice, said earlier that the President will not announce military action in his speech.

As the effort continues to build global support for any action the US administration might take, President Bush met today with the Saudi Foreign Minister and will dine with the British Prime Minister tonight.

The Pentagon may change the code name of its operation against those responsible for last week's attacks to avoid offending Muslims. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld acknowledged that the code name Infinite Justice may be offensive to Muslims on the grounds that only Allah can mete out infinite justice.

Earlier, President Bush was criticised when he referred to a "crusade" against terrorism. It was said that the word crusade has negative connotations for Muslims.

Up to 150 warplanes will begin moving towards the Middle East as the US prepares for possible attacks on Afghanistan. Fighters, bombers and support aircraft have been ordered into the Gulf region. Additional US Army units have been ordered to deploy for possible operations as part of the overall military build-up.

The Navy sent an additional aircraft carrier to the region. The move could place up to 500 US warplanes in the Mediterranean, Gulf and Indian Ocean for what Washington has suggested could be a strike against Afghanistan.

The Pentagon said its "war on terrorism" would involve an integrated strategy using diplomacy, financial pressure and military force. Plans are top secret but choking off the lifeblood of funding to anti-US underground networks is a key element of the strategy.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the US Central Bank has said last week's terrorist attacks would damage the US economy in the short term but he was confident of recovery. Alan Greenspan said the shock of 11 September would make Americans fearful of the future, but that the foundations of America's free society remained.