” ‘It’s a campaign in many parts and pieces all working to go after a common enemy,’ Secretary [of State Colin] Powell said [on October 2, 2001]. ‘That enemy’s name is terrorism. And in its most ambitious manifestation it goes by the name Al Qaeda and the head of that awful holding company is bin Laden and he is responsible for tragedy against humanity, crime against the American people, crime against the civilized world and he must be held accountable.’ ”
– Jane Perlez and David E. Sanger, “Powell Says U.S. Had Signs, but Not Clear Ones, of a Plot,” The New York Times, Oct. 3, 2001