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Global terror must give rise to global solidarity


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By John Metzler
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM

Thursday, November 27, 2003

UNITED NATIONS Ñ In the course of what many are calling Òbloody Ramadan,Ó the grim reaper has often visited Iraq, and now Turkey. Seeing the tableau of terror cutting across the region Ñ the Italian peacekeepers were targets in Iraq, then two Jewish synagogues were bombed in Istanbul. As a grisly follow up, British interests Ñ the Consulate General and HSBC Bank were bombed in a yet another horrific attack in Istanbul, causing carnage and reminding Turkey it was being selected by Al Qaida operatives working with local militants. More than fifty people were killed and hundreds injured; Muslims, Jews, and Christians being victims.

To this backdrop, watching the loony left protest George WÕs visit to London last week brought a particular distaste Ñ not so much because many demonstrators in a pinch would have preferred the ÒstabilityÓ and status quo of SaddamÕs rule in IraqÕ to the Anglo/American liberation, but because thereÕs such a genuinely stupid disconnect about the true objectives of Islamic fundamentalism and the wanton hatred it breeds.

The shocking truth remains that many people are still quick to suppose this is all AmericaÕs fault. Yet notice the targets go beyond the U.S. thus again evoking the patterns of clearly targeted international violence.

The left-wing French daily Liberation gleefully headlined a front page photo of a distraught President Bush, ÒIsolation. Attacks in Iraq and Turkey, demonstrations in the United Kingdom; Bush pays the price of his unilateralism.Ó

LondonÕs leftist Independent begged to differ too. In a commentary gushing ÒItÕs the price of joining GeorgeÕs BushÕs Ôwar on terror,ÕÓ correspondent Robert Fisk intoned mournfully, ÒThe Australians paid the price for John HowardÕs alliance with Bush in Bali. The Italians paid the price for Silvio BerlusconiÕs alliance with Bush in Nasiriayah. Now it is our turn.Ó

ÒThey couldnÕt hit Britain while Bush was on his triumphalist state visit to London so they went for the jugular in Turkey,Ó he added in the I told you so tone of those who instinctively know better.

Terrorists harbor a particular and focused hate towards Turkey which remains a secular Muslim state as well as a close friend of the USA and a member of NATO.

Destabilization of this vital land bridge between Europe and the Middle East has long been a fundamentalist fantasy and remains a priority target for Al Qaida Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer stated that, Òterrorism, which aimed at innocent people, was a global problem threatening all humanity, not only a country or a nation.Ó He emphasized such groups will not intimidate Turkey.

The UN Security Council strongly denounced the spate of bombing which left over fifty killed and hundreds of people seriously wounded; following the unanimous resolution Turkish Ambassador Umit Pamir stated significantly, Òthere were no good terrorists or second-class victims; terrorism had always turned against the very hands that fed, abetted or condoned it.Ó

During this momentous week, two important statements emerged; one from the little noticed meeting of the Central European Initiative in Warsaw and the other from President BushÕs much misunderstood visit to Britain.

ÒTrans-Atlantic ties constitute the foundation of security and stability in Europe contributing also to removing old division lines,Õ stated the declaration of the Warsaw conference. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi added, ÒTerror is against all of us. We all have to respond and fight against terrorists.Ó

Leaders from seventeen Central and East European states Ñ among them Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Ukraine Ñ stated unambiguously that strong ties with the United States remained crucial for security in Europe.

During his strikingly brilliant address in Britain, President Bush warned his audience of the days ahead; ÒThe danger only increases with denial. Great responsibilities fall once again to the great democracies.Ó

Bush added, ÒIt is the nature of terrorism and the cruelty of a few to try to bring grief and loss to manyÉthe terrorists have a purpose, a strategy to their cruelty They view the rise of democracy in Iraq as a powerful threat to their ambitions. In this they are correct. They believe their acts of terror against our coalition, against international aid workers, against innocent Iraqis, will make us recoil and retreat. In this they are mistaken.Ó

Free nations need a more focused solidarity against the men of violence.

John J. Metzler is a U.N. correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He writes weekly for World Tribune.com.

Thursday, November 27, 2003




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