From correspondents in Washington, United States, 09:00 AM IST

Washington - US President George Bush Saturday claimed that 'nations like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia that once turned a blind eye to terror are now helping lead the fight against it'.

America today was engaged in a new war against terrorism for which it had set a clear doctrine, he said delivering the Commencement Address at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

As he told a joint session of Congress after the attacks of September 11, America made no distinction between the terrorists and the countries that harbor them. Nor would it wait to be attacked again, the President said.

'We will confront threats before they fully materialize. We will stay on the offense against the terrorists, fighting them abroad so we do not have to face them here at home,' Bush said.

In this new war, the US had helped transform old adversaries into democratic allies and forged new alliances, and transformed old ones, for the challenges of a new century, the president said, noting that it had formed the largest coalition in history to fight the war on terror.

'More than 90 nations are cooperating in a global campaign to dry up terrorist financing, to hunt down terrorist operatives, and bring terrorist leaders to justice. Nations like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia that once turned a blind eye to terror are now helping lead the fight against it,' he said.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)