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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2001

With his approval ratings soaring, President Bush may owe it all to a Cleveland State University law professor for speeches that have been praised widely.

Thanks to a former member of the Reagan administration, Bush's speechwriters and key officials have been tuned into the professor David F. Forte's musings on the radicalization of Islam. Words and phrases Bush used in his popular address to Congress last week were practically lifted directly from Forte's texts.

But Forte's writings aren't necessarily shaping how Bush and his team are responding to September 11's terrorist attacks. The "war cabinet," which includes key White House officials, a number of deputies at the State and Defense departments and the CIA, has become the main decision-making body.

Briefings and meetings are held daily as they work on "Operation Enduring Freedom," the new name for the war on terrorism. There are tensions among the cabinet, however, some of whom favor a more hard-line approach that is often opposed by Secretary of State Colin Powell.

How ever the war is fought, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld yesterday said winning it will require diverse coalitions from various groups and nations. Due to differing alliances, some nations would be willing to take part in certain, but not all, operations, he acknowledged.

The United States has gained the Russia's consent to use former Soviet air bases should it strike Afghanistan or other areas.

Get the Story:
Professor Shapes Bush Rhetoric (The Washington Post 9/26)
Attacks Refocus White House on How to Fight Terrorism (The Washington Post 9/26)
Rumsfeld Says War Will Need Backing of 'Revolving Coalitions' (The Washington Post 9/26)
Saudis Sever Ties to Taliban; Russia Backs Use of Air Bases (The Washington Post 9/26)

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