Addressing an audience of military reserve officers, Bush said the fight against extremism in the broader Middle East was 'the call of a generation' - his latest attempt to rally Americans behind his anti- terrorism policies.
His mention of bin Laden, the al-Qaeda chief, was an aside in a speech focussed on US efforts to cooperate with Afghanistan and Pakistan, whose presidents he hosted this week at the White House in a bid to quell weeks of feuding between the two neighbours.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf - both key US allies in combating terrorism - each charge that bin Laden is hiding in the other's country.
'Osama bin Laden and other terrorists are still in hiding,' Bush said. 'Our message to them is clear: No matter how long it takes, we will find you, and we're going to bring you to justice.'
Bush praised Musharraf for capturing or killing 'hundreds' of terrorists and said he was building 'a modern and moderate nation that will hold elections next year.'
The US is helping equip Pakistan's paramilitary border forces, funding the construction of more than 100 border outposts, providing high-tech equipment to Pakistani forces to help them locate terrorists trying to cross the Afghan border, and paying for helicopters and planes to help in the effort, Bush said.
With Taliban attacks resurgent in Afghanistan, Bush said the US also remains committed to helping Karzai defeat that threat.
Bush said his talks Wednesday with Karzai and Musharraf were 'long and frank.' He said they discussed intelligence-sharing, strengthening civil society in both countries and supporting tribes on both sides of the border with schools and roads 'to strengthen their hand against extremists.'
'It was clear from our conversation that our three nations share the same goals: We will defeat the Taliban, we will defeat al-Qaeda, and the only way to do it is by working together,' Bush said.
