WASHINGTON, Dec 21: US President George W. Bush said on Friday that the United States is safer than before Sept 11 strikes, but not invulnerable, and vowed not to lower his guard during the holiday season.

“Is it totally safe? No, and that’s why my main job, my main worry is to prevent another attack,” said Bush, who stressed he is “not least bit anxious” about eventually catching suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden.

“I don’t know where he is. I hadn’t heard much from him recently, you know, which means he could be in a cave that doesn’t have an opening to it anymore; or could be in a cave where he can get out or may have tried to slither out into neighbouring Pakistan. We don’t know,” he said in the Oval Office.

“But I will tell you this: We’re going to find him,” as well as members of his al-Qaeda network and leaders of the Taliban militia that hosted him in Afghanistan before US-led attacks swept them from power, said Bush.

“If they think they can hide from the United States, they’re making a terrible mistake again. And we’ll get them, we’ll bring them to justice,” the president declared.

Bush said he had tasked his National Security Council to draw up plans for how to treat captured Taliban or al-Qaeda members and noted he has not yet decided the fate of American Taliban fighter John Walker, who could face treason charges.

The US leader, who warned nations around the world that either they are with the United States or stand with the terrorists, said flatly that he keeps track of their cooperation: “Do you keep a scorecard? ... The answer is, I do.”

And Bush said he has been as blunt with visiting leaders, telling them: “Thank you for your condolences. I appreciate your flowers. Now arrest somebody if they’re in your country.”—AFP