Congress Authorizes Use of Force

In a 420-1 vote late Friday, the House gave final congressional approval to a resolution authorizing President Bush to "use all necessary and appropriate force" against those involved in Tuesday`s deadly terrorist attacks.

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-California, registered the lone dissenting vote, saying she was reluctant to approve any force that could worsen the situation.

The move came hours after the Senate unanimously gave Bush the green light to strike against individuals or nations that "planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks."

Thousands were presumed to be dead when four hijacked planes crashed into New York`s World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in western Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

Though not a formal declaration of war, it adds weight to the president`s desire to launch a massive retaliation while requiring the White House to continue consulting with lawmakers.

As Congress got behind the president, he declared a national emergency and led the nation in mourning at a memorial service in the National Cathedral on Friday. Bush expressed grief and sorrow, but used the pulpit to warn of a violent retaliation to come.

"Our responsibility to history is already clear: to answer these attacks and rid the world of evil," Bush said. "War has been waged against us by stealth and deceit and murder.

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Author: ABC NEWS