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Bush wants foreign aid to fight for 'future of the Muslim world'

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, September 24, 2002

WASHINGTON Ñ President George Bush wants the United States to use foreign aid to promote moderate Islam, according to a National Security Strategy document released by the White House last week.

The document said the United States must help moderate Islamic regimes fight extremism.

"The war on terrorism is not a clash of civilizations," the report said. "It does, however, reveal the clash inside a civilization, a battle for the future of the Muslim world. This is a struggle of ideas and this is an area where America must excel."

The report said the United States will work closely with allies to ensure that terrorist ideas are not supported, Middle East Newsline reported. This includes the promotion of democracy, freedom of information and development.

The report said the United States will primarily aid Islamic and other states battle terrorism by ensuring military and security aid. Washington will also help allies block financing to Islamic insurgency groups.

"Our immediate focus will be those terrorist organizations of global reach and any terrorist or state sponsor of terrorism which attempts to gain or use weapons of mass destruction or their precursors," the report said. "While the United States will constantly strive to enlist the support of the international community, we will not hesitate to act alone, if necessary, to exercise our right of self-defense by acting preemptively against such terrorists, to prevent them from doing harm against our people and our country."

The U.S. strategic document also stressed the need to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The document called for the establishment of an independent and democratic Palestinian state and a halt to Jewish settlement in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

"The United States, the international donor community, and the World Bank stand ready to work with a reformed Palestinian government on economic development, increased humanitarian assistance, and a program to establish, finance, and monitor a truly independent judiciary," the report said. "If Palestinians embrace democracy, and the rule of law, confront corruption, and firmly reject terror, they can count on American support for the creation of a Palestinian state."

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