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SEPTEMBER 14, 2001, FRIDAY, FINAL EDITION

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. A1

LENGTH: 1378 words

HEADLINE: PRESIDENT ASKS CONGRESS FOR SWEEPING WAR POWERS;

Bush wants billions of dollars, authority to fight "the first war of the 21st century' against terrorists who originated attacks on New York, Washington

SOURCE: Chronicle Washington Bureau

BYLINE: Marc Sandalow, Carolyn Lochhead

DATELINE: Washington

BODY:
President Bush declared winning the war on terrorism the central focus of his presidency yesterday as his administration laid the groundwork for a sweeping military campaign.

Bush asked a receptive Congress to grant him unprecedented powers to wage a war against an unidentified enemy, seeking authority to annihilate not only those responsible for Tuesday's attacks, but those who would threaten to wreak havoc on American interests in the future.

"My resolve is steady and strong about winning this war that has been declared on America," Bush said during an Oval Office event, fighting back tears as he discussed the victims of Tuesday's assault on New York and Washington.

Congress, which has not declared war since 1941, began the process of allocating billions of dollars to the war effort and appeared close to uniting around a compromise that would grant Bush more limited powers than he sought.

Bush told reporters the violent acts mark "the first war of the 21st century" and provide an opportunity "to do (future) generations a favor by coming together and whipping terrorism." "It's a new kind of war," Bush said moments earlier during a public phone conversation with New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Gov. George Pataki. "This government will adjust, and this government will call other governments to join us."

Still jittery from Tuesday's attacks, most of Washington seemed resolved to the inevitability of a prolonged battle against a yet-to-be-identified enemy.

Secretary of State Colin Powell talked of a military assault against international terrorist Osama bin Laden, saying he is a prime suspect in the attacks, then raised the prospect that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's military operations also might be a target in "a global assault" on terrorism. Later, Pentagon officials said they plan to call several thousand reservists to active duty.

The military preparations came as the death toll at the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon mounted. Giuliani said 184 bodies had been recovered from the ruins of the twin towers and 35 had been positively identified. Nearly 5,000 people were thought to be missing, and few held out hope any survivors would be found in the wreckage.

The Pentagon announced that 126 service members and civilians were missing and presumed dead, raising the death toll there to 190, including the passengers and crew members aboard American Airlines Flight 77, which crashed into the enormous military headquarters.

Bush planned to visit the devastation in New York today, a day he declared one of "prayer and remembrance."

The leadership of both parties worked into the night negotiating a resolution to provide Bush vast authority to pursue the terrorists responsible for the attacks and the countries that harbored them.

The version favored by leading Republicans and the White House, according to Democratic sources, would give Bush sweeping powers to "deter and pre-empt any selected future acts of terrorism or aggression against the United States." Such language was embraced by many Republicans, but some Democrats voiced strenuous opposition to providing Bush carte blanche for an open-ended war against an unnamed enemy and worked into the night to modify the language.

NO QUICK AIR STRIKE

Meanwhile, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, speaking at the Pentagon, provided a somber view of the coming military action, warning that it will not resemble the quick strikes of recent U.S. engagements.

"As a country, we are entering into a campaign against terrorism that has to be sustained and broad and effective," a grim Wolfowitz said.

Asked how a military campaign against elusive terrorists targets might proceed, Wolfowitz replied, "One thing is clear . . . you don't do it with just a single military strike, no matter how dramatic. You don't do it with just military forces alone, you do it with the full resources of the U.S. government.

"One has to say it's not just simply a matter of capturing people and holding them accountable, but removing the sanctuaries, removing the support systems, ending states who sponsor terrorism," Wolfowitz said.

Bush sent Congress what the White House described as an initial emergency request for $20 billion to fund everything from aid to victims of the attacks to the rebuilding of New York City to military action.

QUICK PASSAGE EXPECTED

Both chambers were expected to pass the spending legislation yesterday, but it hit a snag when a few Democrats balked at providing such a sum without specific details as to how it would be spent. Nonetheless, in a new spirit of cooperation that has enveloped the Capitol since Tuesday, Democratic and Republican leaders were expected to iron out the differences and clear the legislation through both chambers by today.

Work on Capitol Hill was slowed by a bomb threat that forced the hurried evacuation of hundreds of members and their staffs in the late afternoon. Fighter jets circling Washington and frequent sirens served as reminders the capital had been the target of terrorists just two days earlier.

Vice President Dick Cheney reportedly made a rare trip to Camp David unaccompanied by the president in the middle of the day. The White House did not explain whether he had been separated from Bush as part of a security precaution.

Congress planned to remain in session until it agreed upon a resolution supporting a strike against terrorists.

LEGISLATORS UNITED

Some members disputed the need for a formal declaration of war, something Congress has not done since 1941-42. But members were more resolute and united than any time in recent memory.

"This calamity caused what I think will be the greatest loss of life on American soil by an outside force in the history of the country. We must act," said House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri.

"We must act, in concert and together, to give the president what the president needs and requires in order to get this done."

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said the measure authorizing military action could be ready as early as today.

A draft obtained by The Chronicle -- which two Democratic sources said reflected White House language -- would grant the president authority to "use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations or persons he determines planned, authorized, harbored, committed or aided in the planning or commission of the attacks" that occurred Tuesday, as well as "to deter any future acts of terrorism or aggression against the United States."

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., told sources late last night that it appeared unlikely the compromise resolution would include the "future acts" provision.

-------------------------------------------------------WAGING WAR

To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against those responsible for the recent attacks launched against the United States.

Whereas, on Sept. 11, 2001, acts of treacherous violence were committed against the United States and its citizens; and

Whereas, such acts render it both necessary and appropriate that the United States exercise its rights to self-defense and to protect United States citizens both at home and abroad, and

Whereas, in light of the threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by these grave acts of violence, and

Whereas, such acts continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations or persons he determines planned, authorized, harbored, committed, or aided in the planning or commission of the attacks against the United States that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, and to deter and pre-empt any future acts of terrorism or aggression against the United States.Chronicle staff writers Carla Marinucci and Edward Epstein contributed to this report. / E-mail the writers at msandalow@sfchronicle.com and clochhead@sfchronicle.com.

LOAD-DATE: September 14, 2001