President Bush said the United States remains a nation at war against terrorists during Tuesday's annual State of the Union speech.
Mr. Bush told Congress that terrorists aim to overthrow moderate governments and establish safe havens from which to plan and carry out more deadly attacks against America. He said their ultimate goal is to force the U.S. "to retreat from the world and abandon the cause of liberty."
The president said the al Qaida terrorist group is made up of Sunni extremists possessed by hatred. But he also pointed to a growing danger from Shi'ite extremists, accusing groups like Hezbollah of taking direction from Iran.
Mr. Bush proposed establishing a special advisory council on the war on terror, made up of both Democratic and Republican congressional leaders.
