11 October 2001

What’s At Stake in the Campaign against Terrorism, October 11, 2001

William P. Pope
Charge d’Affaires
U.S. Embassy Rome

Today marks the month anniversary of the tragic terrorist attacks on American soil. It is a time for remembrance, and a time for prayer for the thousands who died September 11, for their families and friends.

We owe it to those thousands of victims, from some eighty countries, and their families to ensure such tragedies never happen again. I’d like then to reflect on why we are waging this global campaign against those who deliberately murder innocent people.

This struggle pits freedom against fear, tolerance against intolerance, and right against wrong. At stake are the values we hold most sacred. As President Bush has said, "These terrorists kill not merely to end lives, but to disrupt and end a way of life. … They hate our freedoms -- our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other."

President Bush has assembled an international coalition to eradicate the evil of terrorism and bring those responsible for terrorist actions to justice. It will not be a quick fight, over in a few days, nor will it be easy. It will demand a sustained, comprehensive and multi-faceted campaign, using all instruments of national and international persuasion, including diplomatic, intelligence, law enforcement, financial, and military. We also plan to provide food, medicine and other humanitarian goods for those in need.

Italy is playing an important part in that coalition. Your government has pledged unstinting support for our common struggle. Together, we are acting globally to target the terrorists and their networks, supporters, funding, recruiting, safe havens, and communications. We also need to counter their message of hatred and violence.

Americans are a compassionate people, as are Italians, but we have no sympathy for the terrorists or for those who harbor or aid them. We do, however, have great compassion for the millions around the world who are hungry or find themselves victims of hate – including those in Afghanistan.

While terrorists were killing thousands of innocent people in our country on Sept. 11, the U.S. was funneling food and humanitarian aid to suffering Afghan people. The Taliban have done nothing to address the growing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, while the U.S. and the international community have. Over the past few years, millions of Afghans have fled their homeland because of widespread misery and starvation brought on by the Taliban's misuse of the country's resources, and exacerbated by drought.

The U.S. is and has been the largest donor of humanitarian aid to Afghans, both inside Afghanistan and in refugee camps. On October 4, President Bush announced an additional $320 million in food, medicine and other humanitarian aid to Afghans. This amount is in addition to the approximately $184 million the U.S. has already contributed.

As the British statesman Edmund Burke once said, "All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." America and its allies are using many means, including military, to counter this particular evil. We will not rest until we have dealt decisively with Usama bin Laden and all his accomplices. But we also understand that we can never rid the world of evil unless we also do our part to fill the world with good. To this, too, along with our Italian allies, we are committed.