Speeches and Articles by Former Consul General James R. Keith

We will prevail

By U.S. Consul General James Keith

(This article was published by South China Morning Post on September 12, 2003, and this article is not for commercial use.)

The violence that struck the World Trade Centre, the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93 two years ago was an attack on America's freedom, but it also delivered a powerful blow to the world's hopes for peace.

Innocent citizens of 87 countries were killed in the attacks of September 11 - more than 3,000 men and women of every continent, culture, creed, race and religion. Citizens of countries from Antigua to Zimbabwe, including predominantly Muslim countries from Bangladesh to Yemen, died. Three people from Hong Kong were among them.

As tragic and horrific as the attacks were to Americans, they changed more than America; they changed the world. The attacks' real impact lies beyond the pain suffered by survivors and victims' families; beyond even the threat to the security of the United States.

The attacks made us aware that terror threatens us all. Earlier this week, US President George W. Bush reminded us all of the stakes in fighting terrorism. "The triumph of democracy and tolerance in Iraq, in Afghanistan and beyond would be a grave setback for international terrorism," he said. "The terrorists thrive on the support of tyrants and the resentments of oppressed peoples. When tyrants fall, and resentment gives way to hope, men and women in every culture reject the ideologies of terror and turn to the pursuits of peace. Everywhere that freedom takes hold, terror will retreat."

Since we are all potential victims of the ideology of hatred and because terrorists believe all lives are expendable in their drive for chaos, my nation and yours must continue to condemn the murder of innocents and reject the hatred that feeds this violence. As Secretary of State Colin Powell said last week: "In recent months, terrorist attacks have made far too many headlines, in far too many places. In a resort in Bali. In a bus full of children in Jerusalem. In a Bombay market place. At the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad. In front of a sacred mosque in Najaf, Iraq."

Mr Bush and Mr Powell have built a worldwide coalition for the war against terrorism. Mr Bush has met leaders from more than 90 countries to build support for and co-ordinate the war on terrorism. More than 170 nations have contributed to this effort by arresting terrorists, freezing their assets and providing military forces.

Worldwide efforts have lead to the capture or death of 65 per cent of senior al-Qaeda leaders, operational managers and key facilitators. Counterterrorism activities have splintered its leadership, so its ability to plan and carry out attacks has been compromised.

Hong Kong has an important role to play, given its status as a major financial and transport hub. During its tenure as president of the Financial Action Taskforce, Hong Kong helped lead the effort to identify and break up terrorist financial networks. The Hong Kong government has directed financial institutions to search their records for terrorist funds. Last year, the Legislative Council passed important anti-terrorism legislation designed to bring Hong Kong into compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 and taskforce recommendations. Hong Kong has implemented the Container Security Initiative, a US effort to prevent terrorists exploiting global maritime trade to transport weapons of mass destruction.

With the support of many nations, we have also pursued the war on terror in Iraq. America and the coalition removed a regime that built and used weapons of mass destruction, sponsored terror and persecuted its people.

Catastrophic weapons will no longer be in the hands of a ruthless dictator. Middle Eastern countries no longer fear subversion and attack by Saddam Hussein. Iraq will no longer be a source of funding for suicide bombers in the Middle East. The torture chambers in Iraq are closed, the prison cells for children are empty. We see new mass demonstrations, rather than new mass graves.

Our work in Iraq goes on, and our efforts to internationalise the renewal of the country continue in the face of difficulty. The remnants of Mr Hussein's regime are dangerous, and terrorists are gathering in Iraq.

Unfortunately, the more progress we make in Iraq, the more desperate the terrorists will become. But we will prevail - in Iraq and wherever the battle must be taken.James Keith is the US consul-general in Hong Kong.