“The stunning loss of life in Tuesday’s [September 11, 2001] terrorist attacks and the sense, expressed by President Bush, that these were ‘acts of war,’ have freed the administration to broaden potential retaliation beyond the low-risk, unmanned cruise missile strikes of the past, military and civilian officials said today [September 13, 2001]. …’The constraints have been lifted,’ said one military officer.”
– Eric Schmitt and Thom Shanker, “Administration Considers Broader, More Powerful Options for Potential Retaliation,” The New York Times, Sep. 13, 2001