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Cheney tours WTC ruins, says U.S. fighting 'evil'

Cheney got his first up-close look at the ruins of the World Trade Center on Thursday.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- After keeping a low profile since September 11 in a "secure location," Vice President Dick Cheney on Thursday toured the rubble of the World Trade Center and later at a dinner declared that America is fighting a war against "evil."

"We are dealing here with evil people who dwell in the shadows planning to commit unimaginable violence and destruction. We have no alternative but to meet the enemy where he dwells," Cheney told the audience at the annual Al Smith dinner that benefits Roman Catholic health charities in the New York Archdiocese.

"This is a struggle against evil," Cheney said. "That is why people in every part of the world and of all faiths stand together against this foe, and that is why we will prevail."

Cheney told the audience that many of the changes made in light of the attacks are permanent and that more terrorist attacks can be expected.

"We must have no illusions about dangers still present," said Cheney. "The enemy has shown a capacity to inflict great damage on the United States and we must assume there will be more attacks. That is the only safe way to proceed."

In response, Cheney said, the government is beefing up security in the form of the new Office of Homeland Security and measures to ensure against bioterrorism in the wake of several anthrax cases.

Earlier in the day, Cheney visited Ground Zero, where nearly 5,000 people are believed to have died when the buildings collapsed.

Cheney marveled at the "amazing" cleanup effort that has been going on since the terrorist attacks brought the buildings down.

"I had the chance to meet all the folks at the cleanup, firefighters, policemen, construction workers that are out there," he said after the visit. "They've obviously been making progress over the last few weeks. The mayor and the governor showed me a series of pictures of what it has looked like the last month or so, a tremendous job."

The vice president has been maintaining a low profile since September 11, often going to what the White House has said is a "secure location."