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Bush sets the pace for military action

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In the hours before the first wave of the joint U.S.-British strikes against Taliban positions in Afghanistan, President Bush was busy informing congressional leaders and allies in the international coalition that the attacks were imminent.

VIDEO CNN's John King gives a rundown of President Bush's activities leading up to the attacks in Afghanistan (October 7) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

-- 7:30 p.m. Saturday: House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, who is in Baltimore, Maryland, for baseball legend Cal Ripkin's final game, receives an urgent telephone call from Camp David. The call was one of several Bush made to congressional leaders to tell them he had ordered the strikes against Afghanistan.

-- 9 p.m. Saturday: Bush talks with top aides about a Sunday address to the American people.

-- 9:45 a.m. Sunday: Bush attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Maryland. U.S. warplanes are secretly en route to their targets.

-- 10:36 a.m.: Bush returns to the White House ahead of schedule and calls the leaders of Jordan, Israel, France, Russia, Pakistan and other key countries to inform them the strikes have been launched.

-- 12:40 p.m.: The first images of explosions and anti-aircraft fire over Kabul are broadcast.

--12:41 p.m.: The United States confirms the strikes are under way.

-- 1 p.m.: Bush gives televised speech from White House Treaty Room.