9/14/2001

“The [Bush] administration had asked Congress for an immediate $20 billion to begin building the military and intelligence force required to start the antiterror campaign. ‘Twenty billion dollars is a lot of money,’ [Deputy Secretary of Defense] Mr. [Paul] Wolfowitz said, ‘but for this country, it is a down payment on what we’re going to do.’ ”

 – Elisabeth Bumiller and Jane Perlez, “Bush and Top Aides Proclaim Policy of ‘Ending’ States That Back Terror; Local Airports Shut After an Arrest,” The New York Times, Sep. 14, 2001