Bush: Bin Laden Wanted Dead or Alive

Sept. 17 -- President Bush Monday repeated his vow to track down Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in last week's terror attacks while Wall Street reopened to its biggest point drop ever.

"I want justice," Bush said. "And there's an old poster out West, I recall, that says, 'Wanted: Dead or Alive.'"

Nearly a week after the assault on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, New York City tried to return to work and the nation braced for the economic impact of the tragedy.

Wall Street was shaken by the tragedy, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing down 684 points, or 7 percent, to 8,921. It was the biggest point drop ever for the Dow and the first time it fell below 9,000. It was the biggest point drop ever for the Dow and the first time it fell below 9,000 since Dec. 3, 1998. The Nasdaq closed down 115.59 points, also about 7 percent.

Last Tuesday, two hijacked jetliners slammed into the World Trade Center's twin towers, leaving possibly thousands dead. A second hijacked aircraft crashed into the Pentagon while a fourth — which investigators speculate was headed for another Washington target — went down in southern Pennsylvania, killing all 45 aboard.

In other developments Monday:

Attorney General John Ashcroft urged more federal authority to combat terrorism, including a loosening of restrictions on wiretapping

A Pakistani delegation tried to persuade Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia to turn over bin Laden

Bush visited the Islamic Center in Washington to condemnthe "backlash" attacks against Arab-Americans

Major League baseball returned to action, with games across the country dedicated to the victims of the attacks

Citing loss of business because of the attacks, US Airways announced plans to lay off 11,000 workers — almost one-fourth of its workforce — and reduce its flight capacity by 23 percent

Demand for Justice and Patience

At the damaged Pentagon, where 188 people are feared dead, officials prepared orders for 35,000 reservists. Bush again vowed to track down bin Laden and put countries and individuals who make have harbored and fed the hijackers responsible for last week's attacks "on notice."