“The pre-9/11 draft presidential directive on al Qaeda evolved into a new directive, National Security Presidential Directive 9, now titled ‘Defeating the Terrorist Threat to the United States.’ The new directive–formally signed on October 25 [2001], after the fighting in Afghanistan had already begun–included new material followed by annexes discussing each targeted terrorist group…The United States would strive to eliminate all terrorist networks, dry up their financial support, and prevent them from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. The goal was the ‘elimination of terrorism as a threat to our way of life.’ ”
– 9/11 Commission, The 9/11 Commission Report, Pages 333-334