President braces nation for drawn-out military struggle
President George W Bush pledges to dismantle Osama bin Laden's terrorist network piece by piece.
But, he warned, success against these cells may come more slowly.
Mr Bush expressed his gratitude to troops at home and abroad in a speech to more than 10,000 soldiers.
"We fight now and we will keep on fighting until our victory is complete," Bush told soldiers. "We will never tire and we will hunt them down."
President Bush says Afghanistan is just the beginning" in the effort against terrorism.
"We have made a good start in Afghanistan, yet there is still a lot to be done," Bush said. "There are still terrorists on the loose in Afghanistan, yet we will find and destroy their network piece by piece."
"Our nation and the world are counting on your loved ones," Bush said. "They are making us secure and they are making us proud."
Defense Secretary Donald H Rumsfeld traveled to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, home of the Army Special Operations Command, and Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, to receive a briefing on special operations and to talk with troops.
The military base appearances by Mr Bush and Mr Rumsfeld mark the end of a work week that has focused largely on humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, on treatment of women there and on respect for Muslims celebrating Ramadan.
