''We are in a long, long war,'' said Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga., during a telephone interview Friday from Washington. ''This is not something you can take care of with a couple of cruise missiles down a smokestack.

''I don't think people really have a feel for that now. A guerrilla war is a long, protracted effort. You have to be very careful not to burn yourself out.''

Congress passed a resolution Friday authorizing the president to use ''necessary and appropriate force'' in retaliation to Tuesday's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Congress also has voted to provide up to $40 billion for cleanup and anti-terrorism efforts.

''Congress has acted dramatically,'' Mr. Cleland said. ''We've laid the groundwork to be able to take action.''

The United States has not formally declared war since 1941, but some members of Congress said it might be time to do it again.

''I think that may be the appropriate response here,'' said Rep. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in a telephone interview Friday. ''They attacked the Pentagon and New York City. What more of an act of war could we have had?''

Mr. Graham said he and other representatives planned to introduce a measure, which he called the ''No Safe Harbor'' Act, that would allow the president to take action against countries that help or shelter terrorists.

''That will be one weapon that will be used in this war,'' Mr. Graham said.

Under the act, the president would be able to freeze a nation's financial assets, limit immigration from that country, impose trade embargoes and stop U.S. aid to the state, Mr. Graham said.

But the congressman, a member of the Air Force Reserve, said the nation should be prepared for military action - including the use of ground troops.

''Down the road, the country needs to get mentally ready for the use of ground troops,'' Mr. Graham said. ''I hope the resolve that we have now will stay with us, because it's going to be a test of who we are.''

In a fiery speech that drew national attention, Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga., called for military strikes against Osama bin Laden - the terrorist leader suspected of masterminding Tuesday's attacks - and the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan who shelter him.

The United States must ''strike the viper's nest,'' Mr. Miller said.

''I say, bomb the hell out of them,'' the senator said Wednesday from the Senate floor. ''If there's collateral damage, so be it. They certainly found our civilians to be expendable.''

Rep. Charlie Norwood, R-Ga., pledged support for an ''unlimited'' response to the attacks which destroyed the World Trade Center, heavily damaged the Pentagon and left thousands feared dead under the smoldering rubble.

''The only proper response is total war against those responsible,'' Mr. Norwood said in a statement. ''There should be no mercy or restraint shown in our response.''

Reach Brandon Haddock at (706) 823-3409 or bhaddock@augustachronicle.com.