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Hi, I'm Bill O'Reilly. Thanks for watching us tonight, one week after the worst terrorist attack in history.  Can America emerge as a stronger nation in the wake of that attack? That's the subject of this evening's Talking Points memo. 

As with the assassination of John F. Kennedy, all Americans will remember exactly where they were when they heard the news of the attack.  We will also remember what we were feeling, and those thoughts will stay fresh over the years, thus a sense of patriotism, a concern for America has been rekindled in millions of Americans.  This, of course, is a strong positive in the face of an overwhelming negative.

Our government now has a chance to improve this country. Airline security will get better.  Sky marshalls will be on the planes.  The flight crews will have impenetrable doors.  These things should solve the skyjack problem, although no system is perfect.

The airlines now need federal money to survive, and they should get it, with some stipulations.  American air carriers need to drastically improve their own security and service.  They must figure out a way to treat customers like human beings and not crowd airport runways at peak times.  They have to stop skimping on basic amenities and security to boost their own profits. 

Any government assistance to the airlines must be tied to improved performance so Americans can travel in safety and comfort.

Our intelligence agencies will now be upgraded and foolish rules like the Torricelli principle, where shady informants had to be approved by bureaucrats will be dropped.

The armed forces will be tested in a new kind of warfare, making them stronger and better able to protect us.  Perhaps, and I say perhaps, our borders will finally be secured and our immigration policies tightened. Again, we need this to protect Americans from terrorists, drugs and crime.  The failure to secure the borders of the U.S.A. is one of the federal governments greatest failures.

The enemies list the Feds are now compiling should be greatly expanded to included drug lords, spies, like those who stole our secrets of Los Alamos, and groups within the United States that are dedicated to harming our way of life.

I'm not advocating mass assassinations, but I am saying that covert action against those known to hurt Americans is the duty of our government.  For example, the Libyan dictator Gaddafi must answer for Lockerby and drug merchants the world over should become targets because they endanger our national security. 

Many other good things can come out of the terrorism that has shocked us, but the Bush administration has to remain focused.  Reagan National Airport, for example, should be opened as soon as possible and we should all be getting back to our normal day to day living.  No permanent victory should be ceded to the terrorists.  Got to open that airport.  They will reap what they have sown, and we Americans will honor those who have died, and their families, by becoming a better nation in every way.

And that's the memo.

Most Ridiculous Item of the Day

Time now for The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day.  Did you know that the Bush administration sent the Taliban government in Afghanistan $43 million American tax dollars last spring?  The money was sent to help that government stop the growing of poppies and the production of opium.

In hindsight, that gift looks ridiculous now.  But Taliban did wipe out most of the opium.  Strange but true.  And that was the largest amount of money that anybody sent Afghanistan.

— You can watch Bill O'Reilly's Talking Points weeknights at 8 & 11p.m. ET.  And send your comments to: oreilly@foxnews.com