Bush vows to hunt down perpetrators

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AP) -- As chaos unhinged New York and Washington, President George W. Bush commanded the full force of the United States government to \"hunt down and to find\" the terrorists responsible.\n\"Terrorism against our nation will not stand,\" he declared Tuesday.\nIn Florida for a pair of education speeches, the president scrapped his schedule and said when he heard the first reports of attacks on New York\'s World Trade Center that he was hastening back to Washington.\nBut with the White House evacuated under threat of attack and his wife hunkered down in an unidentified secure location, the president and Air Force One were rerouted -- under escort by military fighter jets -- to this Louisiana air base.\nIn a conference room dotted by portraits of decorated Air Force officers, the commander in chief announced that the U.S. military was on \"high-alert status.\"\n\"Freedom itself was attacked this morning and I assure you freedom will be defended. Make no mistake. The United States will hunt down and pursue those responsible for these cowardly actions,\" Bush said.