"These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion," the US President, Mr George Bush, warned Afghanistan's Taliban to a standing ovation.
And to the nations of the world, chillingly, "either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists".
Finding an eloquence that in the past has deserted him, and a toughness that the nation expects, Mr Bush on Thursday night spoke movingly to the joint session of Congress to say that the US would not be cowed, its genius was not dimmed.
"My fellow citizens, for the last nine days, the entire world has seen for itself the state of union, and it is strong," he said. "Be ready," he told the US Armed Services, their time was coming.
On the balcony Mr Bush had lined up many of those he would pay tribute to: the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, the Mayor and Governor of New York, Mr Rudy Giuliani, and Mr George Pataki, his new homeland defence supremo, Governor Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania.
There were several firemen too and police officers from New York, soldiers from the Pentagon, and perhaps most movingly, Ms Lisa Beamer, the widow of Mr Todd Beamer, one of the passengers who fought to retake their hijacked plane.
As the President acknowledged them they rose to accept the applause of Congress.
Offering thanks and praise to rescuers and allies, Mr Bush used the occasion to set out what the Taliban must do if they are not to "share in the fate" of Osama bin laden's al-Qaeda organisation: "Deliver to US authorities all of the leaders of al-Qaeda who hide in your land.
"Release all foreign nationals, including American citizens you have unjustly imprisoned.
"Protect foreign journalists, diplomats and aid workers in your country.
"Close immediately and permanently every terrorist training camp in Afghanistan. And hand over every terrorist and every person and their support structure to appropriate authorities.
"Give the United States full access to terrorist training camps, so we can make sure they are no longer operating," he said.
The demands, going well beyond the request simply to hand over bin Laden, are pitched at a level that the Taliban will find it difficult to accede to, not least because of their implications for Afghanistan's sovereignty.
And Mr Bush set out a clear definition of America's ambitious longer-term war-aims and the range of its multifaceted approach: "Our war on terror begins with al-Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated."
"Our response," he warned, "involves far more than instant retaliation and isolated strikes. Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign unlike any other we have ever seen . . . We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place until there is no refuge or no rest.
"And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation in every region now has a decision to make: Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists."
Significantly, still hoping for strong Chinese support, when he compared the al-Qaeda ideology with its "murderous" predecessors in the 20th century he listed fascism, Nazism and totalitarianism but omitted communism. Mr Bush went out of his way to reach out to Muslims in the US and internationally, returning repeatedly to what he called an "attempt to hijack Islam". "The terrorists practice a fringe form of Islamic extremism that has been rejected by Muslim scholars and the vast majority of Muslim clerics; a fringe movement that perverts the peaceful teachings of Islam," Mr Bush said.
And there were many lines that will be remembered. "Our grief has turned to anger," he said, "and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done.
"Americans are asking, 'What is expected of us?' I ask you to live your lives and hug your children ... Freedom and fear are at war."
Mr Bush has found his voice.
Full text of Mr Bush's speech can be seen on The Irish Times website: www.ireland.com
