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The war on terror will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated, US President George W. Bush declared yesterday.

"The only way to defeat terrorism as a threat to our way of life is to stop it, eliminate it, and destroy it where it grows," President Bush asserted in a televised speech to the joint session of the US Congress.

"We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism," Bush told the Congress.

He warned that the hour of US military action was nigh and delivered a global ultimatum: "Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbour or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime."

He delivered a public message to US air, ground and sea forces: "Be ready. I have called the armed forces to alert, and there is a reason - The hour is coming when America will act."

He made clear that the United States would wage a drawn-out worldwide campaign on political, economic, and military fronts.

"We will direct every resource at our command - every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence, and every necessary weapon of war, to the disruption and defeat of the global terror network," he vowed.

"Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign, unlike any you have ever seen. It may include dramatic strikes, visible on television, and covert operations, secret even in success," Bush said.

"This is not, however, just America's fight. And what is at stake is not just America's freedom. This is the world's fight. This is civilization's fight. This is the fight of all who believe in progress and pluralism, tolerance and freedom," he added.

He said other countries have realised that if terror goes unpunished, their own cities, their own citizens may be next. Terror, unanswered, can not only bring down buildings, it can threaten the stability of legitimate governments. "And we will not allow it."

"I know there are struggles ahead, and dangers to face. But this country will define our times, not be defined by them. As long as the United States of America is determined and strong, this will not be an age of terror; this will be an age of liberty, here and across the world."

He told the Congress that America would meet violence with patient justice, assured of the rightness of our cause, and confident of the victories to come.

"We are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done," he declared.

Bush said evidence gathered since the worst attack on US soil "all points" to Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network and warned Afghanistan's ruling Taliban that failure to turn him and his lieutenants over "immediately" would have dire results.

He also insisted the Islamic militia release foreign nationals, close down terrorist training camps on Afghan soil and grant US officials access to verify the camps are permanently shuttered.

"These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion. The Taliban must act and act immediately. They will hand over the terrorists, or they will share in their fate," the president said.

Bush was frequently interrupted by applause and standing ovations from assembled lawmakers, New York Governor George Pataki, New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Several police and firefighter "heroes" from New York were in the audience, but Vice President Dick Cheney and one other Cabinet member were absent for security reasons.

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