Powell Remarks with Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman For Immediate Release September 26, 2001

Remarks by Secretary of State Colin L. Powell And Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld At Stakeout Following Their Meeting With Senate Members

Tuesday, September 25, 2001 Washington, D.C.

QUESTION: Secretary Powell can you tell us what the meeting was about?

SECRETARY POWELL: Secretary Rumsfeld and I just had a good meeting with some 90 senators, where we gave them a sense of the President's determination to pursue terrorism and especially to pursue those responsible for the incident on the 11th of September, that terrible tragedy.

We are very pleased with the support we have received from the Senate, and now we are heading over to the House to do the same thing.

SECRETARY RUMSFELD: As Secretary Powell said we had a most unusual, top secret, classified meeting with almost all the members of the United States Senate. We had a very good discussion and briefing and exchange. We are very grateful for the terrific support that the Republicans and Democrats on a bipartisan basis have given the President and the Administration.

SECRETARY POWELL: One question, then we have to leave.

QUESTION: Did you discuss at all how close you might be to rounding Usama bin Laden and did any of that discussion take place?

SECRETARY RUMSFELD: No.

SECRETARY POWELL: No. Thank you.

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