3.1 |
Development of UK strategy and options, 9/11 to early January
2002
“I believe
their memorial can and should be greater than simply the
punishment
of the
guilty. It is that out of the shadow of this evil, should emerge
lasting good:
destruction
of the machinery of terrorism … hope amongst all nations of a
new
beginning …
so that people everywhere can see the chance of a better
future
through the
hard work and creative power of the free citizen, not the
violence
and savagery
of the fanatic.”
129.
Setting out
his thoughts on the way ahead, Mr Blair stated:
“I know
that here in Britain people are anxious … People know we must act
but they
worry about
what might follow …
“Whatever
the dangers of the action we take, the dangers of inaction are
far,
far greater
…
“So what do
we do? … Look for a diplomatic solution. There is no diplomacy
with
Bin Laden
or the Taliban regime.
“State an
ultimatum and get their response. We stated an ultimatum; they
haven’t
responded
…
“There is
no compromise possible with such people … Just a choice: defeat it
or be
defeated by
it. And defeat it we must …
“I say to
the Taliban: surrender the terrorists; or surrender power. It’s
your choice …”
“I have
long believed … interdependence defines the new world we live in.
People
say: we are
only acting because it’s the USA that was attacked. Double
standards,
they say.
But when Milošević embarked on the ethnic cleansing of Muslims
in
Kosovo, we
acted.
“… if
Rwanda happened again today … we would have a moral duty to act
there
also. We
were there in Sierra Leone …
“We can’t
do it all. Neither can the Americans.
“But the
power of the international community could, together, if it chose
to.
“… our
self-interest and our mutual interests are today inextricably woven
together.
This is the
politics of globalisation …
“This is a
moment to seize. The kaleidoscope has been shaken. The pieces are
in flux.
Soon they
will settle again. Before they do, let us re-order this world
around us …
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