The ongoing war on terror

Certain days in the history of mankind have changed the course of international politics and opened a new era of cooperation among nations. For this century, it can be said that the changed world began on Sept. 11, 2001, when hundreds of millions of people witnessed on television the horrendous terrorist attacks on the United States which killed thousands of innocent people.

Since that tragedy, people around the world were kept awake to a new threat and danger that they have to face a new threat and war they have to fight: Global terrorism.

A decade or so ago when people spoke of global issues, they covered, among other things, liberalization of trade barriers, reduction of emission of carbon dioxide gas to prevent the increase in temperature of the earth's atmosphere, drugs and human trafficking.

Today, global issues also include terrorism and terrorist acts, which are much more dangerous and wicked in nature than any other organized crime known so far. Fighting global terrorism is also far more difficult than fighting traditional enemies on battlefields, because terror attacks may take place anywhere and any time, while the terrorists may linger and mix freely among innocent and peace-loving people.

Being the first victim of a major terrorist attack with a large number of casualties, it is understandable that the U.S. government retaliated against those it believed to be the perpetrators of the Sept. 11 attacks. One of the results was the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which backed the al- Qaeda militant group that had a long record of launching deadly terror attacks against the U.S. government.

The international community, unequivocally condemning the Sept. 11 attacks and offering deep sympathy to and sharing the sorrows of the American people, supported the campaign against terrorism spearheaded by Washington.

The support, however, seemed to be weakening after U.S. President George W. Bush lumped Iran, Iraq and North Korea together as the "axis of evil" which he alleged have been producing and developing weapons of mass destruction. Bush's plan for a "regime change" in Iraq and Washington's preparation to launch a war against Baghdad has drawn strong protests from certain segments of the American people and many countries, including several U.S. allies.

The plan for war against Iraq, if implemented, would absorb Washington's energy, and could deviate the U.S. government from its main campaign against the real dangers and ubiquitous threats of global terrorism, while the fight against terrorism, is far from over.

Many realize that the presence of some 100,000 U.S. troops in Asia and the Pacific has helped ensure the region's stability as well as made it a safe environment for around US$500 billion in trans-Pacific trade annually.

Some have come to the conclusion, however, that U.S. unilateral military actions against any sovereign government may not benefit the American public in general and, worse still, could provoke more anti-American sentiment worldwide.

In addition, terrorism has increased in many parts of the world. The bombing on Indonesia's island of Bali on Oct. 12 this year which killed nearly 200 people, the taking of hostages in a Moscow theater that ended up with more than 100 deaths as well as the sporadic kidnappings and bombings in the Philippines are just a few examples that threats of terrorism are real and know no boundaries.

As such, more concerted international efforts are needed to fight this hideous crime as was already stipulated in Resolution No. 1373 of the United Nations Security Council.

With this in mind, we believe, all peace-loving nations, including the United Sates -- based on the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity and non-interference in the domestic affairs of other states -- will step up their vigilance against future terrorist attacks while doing their utmost to bring the perpetrators, whoever and wherever they may be, to justice and punish them severely.

Only then can people all over the world be more ensured of their security and safety in the coming new year.