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UNITED NATIONS — America's new envoy at the United Nations, Ambassador John Negroponte, had a challenging and fruitful, first few weeks at his new post. And he hit the equiliivant of a diplomatic Grand Slam Home run by getting a tough American-sponsored resolution unanimously adopted by the Security Council. Though no small feat, the stunning singular shock of September 11, has provided the critical momentum for such a focused resolution.
Resolution #1373 clearly and strongly mandates that all States shall refrain from supporting and providing safe haven and financial aid to terrorists. The document goes well beyond the Bin Laden network's home base in Afghanistan's Evil Emirate, to the wider web of terror extending from North Africa to South Asia.
The Bush Administration has carefully crafted a diplomatic framework to carry out the war on terror, starting from the Security Council which reaffirms "the inherent right of indivudual or collective self-defense," to the green light from the NATO Alliance for the same, and the individual statements of support from countries both in the Middle East and farther afield such as Japan and the Philippines.
Importantly Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo offered key support stating that the Manila government (who has more than enough experience with Islamic fundamentalists) will "go every step of the way" with Washington, and offered the use of two former American military facilities of Clark AFB and Subic Bay.
Clearly the Bush Administration has its diplomatic ducks in a row and can now proceed with the military counterstroke accordingly in a struggle which the President rightly terms as "a battle between good and evil."
Countries such as Britain, France, and Russia know only too well the unambiguous calling card of terror within their frontiers. British Prime Minister Tony Blair demanded Afghanistan's Taliban regime, "Surrender the terrorists or surrender power." In a passionate address to his Labour Party conference, Blair spoke of the "Moral power of a world acting as a community," and the need to stand up collectively against barbarism.
Earlier New York's feisty Mayor Rudy Giuliani addressed the UN General Assembly's debate on terrorism. Rudy did not mince his words but bluntly told the gathered delegates that the atrocity which took place merely two miles away at the World Trade Center; "This is no time for further study or vague directives...There's no room for neutrality on the issue of terrorism. You're either with civilization or with terrorists." He implored, "On one side is democracy, the rule of law and respect for human life. On the other is tyranny, arbitrary execution, and mass murder."
General Assembly President Han Seung-soo of South Korea stated, "The fight against terrorists is an issue that transcends cultural and religious differences, while threatening people of all cultures and religious faiths." Han added, "We must never forget that terrorism is not a weapon wielded by one civilization against another, but rather an instrument of destruction through which small bands of criminals seek to undermine civilization itself."
That's a crucial point for those who have been trying to paint the problem as a "Clash" between Christianity and Islam. Amb. John Negroponte stressed, "The war we wage is not a battle against Islam...we helped defend Muslims in Kuwait. We helped defend Muslims in Bosnia and Kosovo. We remain the single largest provider of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan."
Turkey's delegate Umit Pamir stated, "If there were any arguments that terrorists might have also had a defensible cause, September 11 must have put this forever to rest. There are no gray areas in the fight against terrorism; nor are there `good terrorists and bad terrorists." Amb. Pamir added significantly, "Through the tumultuous years of our fight against terrorism, the United States always stood, and at times singularly, by Turkey. Now, in their hour of need, Turkey firmly stands by the United States."
But this "gray area" haunts discussions, blurs moral distinctions, and decays singular solidarity. I've been told by many that though the attacks were horrible, we must strive to find the "gray area." For me the "gray areas" still remain the searingly poignant memories of the smudgy gray smoke over the World Trade Center and lower Manhattan--not a cloud of moral ambiguity--but a gray cloud from this pyre of heinous political violence.
John J. Metzler is a U.N. correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He writes weekly for World Tribune.com.
