of
civilizations"; instead, it is a clash between civilization and those
who would destroy it.

Given these stakes, we must persevere until the United States, together
with its friends and allies, eliminates terrorism as a threat to our
way of life. As our enemies exploit the benefits of our global
environment to operate around the world, our approach must be global as
well. When they run, we will follow. When they hide, we will find them.
Some battlefields will be known, others unknown. The campaign ahead
will be long and arduous. In this different kind of war, we cannot
expect an easy or definitive end to the conflict.

This National Strategy reflects the reality that success will only come
through the sustained, steadfast, and systematic application of all the
elements of national power--diplomatic, economic, information,
financial, law enforcement, intelligence, and military--simultaneously
across four fronts. We will _defeat_ terrorist organizations of global
reach through relentless action. We will _deny_ terrorists the
sponsorship, support, and sanctuary they need to survive. We will win
the war of ideas and _diminish_ the underlying conditions that promote
the despair and the destructive visions of political change that lead
people to embrace, rather than shun, terrorism. And throughout, we will
use all the means at our disposal to _defend_ against terrorist attacks
on the United States, our citizens, and our interests around the world.

We will also be resourceful. This strategy relies upon the ingenuity,
innovation, and strength of the American people. We will rally others
to this common cause. We will not only forge a diverse and powerful
coalition to combat terrorism today, but work with our international
partners to build lasting mechanisms for combating terrorism and for
coordination and cooperation. Working with states that are both willing
and able to be full partners in the campaign, we will attack terrorist
groups directly and indirectly, help the weak but willing states build
their capabilities to fight terrorism, and persuade reluctant states to
meet their obligations to the international community in this fight. We
will use all our resources and resourcefulness to compel the unwilling
states to cease support for terrorism.

We will be resolute. Others might flag in the face of the inevitable
ebb and flow of the campaign against terrorism. But the American people
will not. We understand that we