Congress Authorizes Use of Force

W A S H I N G T O N, Sept. 15 -- As the nation continued to grieve, the government prepared to wage war.

In a 420-1 vote late Friday, the House gave final congressional approval to a resolution authorizing President Bush to "use all necessary and appropriate force" against those involved in Tuesday's deadly terrorist attacks.

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-California, registered the lone dissenting vote, saying she was reluctant to approve any force that could worsen the situation.

The move came hours after the Senate unanimously gave Bush the green light to strike against individuals or nations that "planned,authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks."

Thousands were presumed to be dead when four hijacked planes crashed into New York'sWorld Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in western Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

Though not a formal declaration of war, it adds weight to the president's desire to launch a massive retaliation while requiring the White House to continue consulting with lawmakers.

As Congress got behind the president, he declared a national emergency and led the nation in mourning at a memorial service in the National Cathedral on Friday. Bush expressed grief and sorrow, but used the pulpit to warn of a violent retaliation to come.

"Our responsibility to history is already clear: to answer these attacks and rid the world of evil," Bush said. "War has been waged against us by stealth and deceit and murder.

"This nation is peaceful, but fierce when stirred to anger. This conflict was begun on the timing and terms of others; it will end in a way and at an hour of our choosing."

Reservists Called Up

The strong words came as Bush issued an executive order calling reservists out of civilian life to protect the nation's skies. The Pentagon is starting off with an order of 35,000 of the 1.3 million — just the first in what is expected to become a much larger mobilization in the future.

ABCNEWS' John McWethy reports the military's plan involves placing up to 26 U.S. airfields on "strip alert," putting fighter aircraft in position to quickly intercept any planes that appear even remotely suspicious. Similar but more limited combat air control has been in effect over several metropolitan areas since Tuesday's attacks.