Forum president speaks on terrorism
NATALIE BAILEY
News Writer
The President of the Fourth Freedom Forum shared his interpretation of the response the U.S. and the U.N. have taken to combat terrorism in an informal discussion Wednesday.
"Everything has changed, especially in the U.N.," said David Cortright, who leads the group that explores non-violent resolutions to international conflicts.
Cortright went on to explore "the good, the bad and the ugly" in relation to the response governments have shown towards the War on Terrorism.
Positive trends included the U.N.'s action to assume responsibility for international criminal prosecution and Resolution 1373. This important mandate obligates every state in the world to freeze terrorist assets and take other actions to stop terrorists.
The UN has also established a Counter Terrorism Committee in which governments around the world are asked to report to with records of their antiterrorist actions. One-hundred-thirty-five nations have already replied. Cortright believes this shows an "unprecedented degree of international concern and efforts to freeze terrorism."
Negative trends were credited mostly to the Bush Administration. Cortright repeatedly expressed frustration in what he called the "unilateralist attitude" of the U.S. in dealing with our problems.
"International terrorism is an international problem," said Cortright.
This attitude is seen in the decision to wage war without first consulting the Security Council and the practice thus far to deal with international criminals in secretive military courts instead of establishing an international criminal court system.
"This is unworthy of us as a nation and a barrier to international relations," Cortright said.
He spoke of a "grave and growing danger in the use of biological materials by terrorists."
Cortright said the U.S. has yet to make a move in the direction of control of such weapons.
The ultimate goal in the War against Terrorism is to bring the terrorists responsible for the attacks on Sept. 11 to justice and to prevent future attacks. Cortright believes even the peacemakers must accept the military actions as good. Without military force we would not have seen such rapid improvement.
"It is a burden for pacifists to realize government corruption and the need for improvement," he said.
Besides military action, Cortright encourages listeners to examine what the U.S. has done to instigate such attacks and to improve upon this as a part of the long-range plan against terrorism.
He also said that the United States must take responsibility for its role as a powerful nation.
"We are citizens of this great and free nation but we are also citizens of the world," he said.
All News Stories for Thursday, February 7, 2002
