In the coming days and weeks, Americans will learn who our
real friends are. It is possible, and hopeful, that nations like
Russia will actually support the coming actions. On the other
hand, the old Gulf War coalition is a thing of the past.
Russia: President Putin, who understands what it”s like to deal
with Islamic terrorists, sent a telegram to President Bush that
said, “barbarous terrorist acts aimed against wholly innocent
people cause us anger and indignation.”
“I ask you to pass on our deepest sympathies to the relatives of
the victims of this tragedy, and the entire suffering American
people. We understand their sorrow and pain as Russia has also
suffered from terrorism. There is no doubt that such an inhuman
act must not go unpunished. The entire international community
should unite in the struggle against terrorism.”
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, after speaking to the leaders
of Russia, France and Italy. “We all agreed that this is an attack
not only on America but on the free and democratic world. We,
(like America), will not rest until this evil is driven from our
world…(The terrorists) utter barbarism will stand as their shame
for all eternity.”
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. “This is not only an
attack on the United States but an attack on the civilized world.
Germany stands at the side of the United States without
reservation.”
French President Jacques Chirac called for countries around the
world to join forces to defeat terrorism. “France knows that one
cannot fight effectively against terrorism without a determined,
collective effort. We will do what needs to be done. Never,
never has a country in the world been the target of such huge,
such violent terrorist attacks. What has happened in the United
States concerns us all.”
EU Commissioner Chris Patten. “This is an act of war by
madmen. It”s certainly going to mean that the fight against
international terrorism is going to dominate the international
agenda until it”s won.”
Italian President Carlo Ciampi. “We know this fight is the way
to defend the values that are at the basis of civil life and peace.”
China: From a lieutenant standing guard at the American
embassy in Beijing. “We are here to protect the safety of
embassy personnel and U.S. citizens. China is utterly opposed to
terrorist activities.”
Encouragingly, a Chinese businessman. “It doesn”t matter who
did it or what they were upset about, but taking that many
innocent lives is a price that”s barbaric.”
A Chinese professor in Beijing. “If we don”t stand up to fight
against such terrorism, maybe one day we”ll also get such stuff.”
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, a moderate who is
struggling for power against the country”s hard-line Islamic
leaders, expressed “deep regret and sympathy with the victims”
and said, “it is an international duty to try to undermine
terrorism.”
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien. “It is impossible to fully
comprehend the evil that would have conjured up such a
cowardly and depraved assault.”
NATO has pledged its support, ruling that the attack on the U.S.
was an attack on the alliance itself.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. “This outrageous
and vicious act of violence against the United States is
unforgivable.”
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called the attacks “horrible
and unimaginable.”
Lead editorial from The Times of London:
“The American dream itself was the target of yesterday”s
coordinated and deadly terrorist attacks on the most potent
symbols of Western political, commercial and military power.
But it was more than that; it was an attack on civilized liberal
society, designed to force all countries that could conceivably be
targets to become, in self-defense, high security states. Very few
events, however dramatic, change the political landscape. This
will.”
At the same time, you also had statements of sympathy
emanating from the likes of Syria and Libya. They aren”t worth
printing.
—
Again, these are the initial statements. Actions, though, speak
louder than words.
I will have extensive personal comments in my 9/15 “Week in
Review” column.
Brian Trumbore
