U.N. member states yesterday called for measures to bolster the global legal arsenal in the fight against international terrorism during the third day of General Assembly debate yesterday.
Mauritian Ambassador Jagdish Koonjul said the numerous existing international treaties against terrorism are either "not comprehensive enough or more importantly, we have failed in implementing them," adding that many countries may not have the expertise needed to incorporate treaty provisions into domestic laws. "We call on the secretary general and those countries which have such expertise to provide the necessary technical assistance to countries in need," he said.
Brazilian Ambassador Gelson Fonseca Jr. said the world must focus on ensuring universal adoption and complete implementation of existing counterterrorism treaties and redouble efforts to conclude negotiations on the draft comprehensive terrorism convention. Fonseca also said countries must not forget to include weapons of mass destruction in their considerations, calling for ratification of treaties specifically dealing with chemical and biological weapons.
Paraguay's Ambassador Eladio Loizaga emphasized the importance of moving forward with the draft comprehensive counterterrorism convention now under consideration in the General Assembly's legal committee. "The time that we lose in strengthening our legal framework will be an opportunity for the terrorists to increase their potential," he said (U.N. Newservice, Oct. 3). Loizaga said that while terrorism has been on the U.N. agenda since 1972, if "timidly," a resolution to this problem cannot wait another 30 years, saying the assembly "must go beyond mere statements of condemnation and solidarity, and pledge to fulfill its moral, legal and political obligation to construct a legacy of democracy, peace and security" (U.N. release, Oct. 3).
Madina Zharbusinova, Kazakhstan's ambassador, however, warned that nations also need to remember to protect civilians in Afghanistan in coming months. "As actions are taken against terrorists and their sponsors, we must make sure that the lives of thousands of women and girls in Afghanistan, who have suffered so terribly under the rule of the Taliban, are saved and their plight not forgotten," she said, adding that the girls and women should also "finally gain their freedom and full rights and get the access to education and health care" (U.N. Newservice).
To read about the U.N. debate's afternoon session click here.
The U.N. Security Council yesterday selected the United Kingdom to chair a committee in charge of imposing sanctions on countries that do not cooperate in the international campaign against terrorism, the Financial Times reports. The position, established as part of Friday's U.N. anti-terrorism resolution, is said to be officially neutral and any agreement to impose sanctions rests with the 15 members of the council. The committee will include representatives from all Security Council members, and support from independent experts on law, customs and immigration, terrorism and finance (Carola Hoyos, Financial Times, Oct. 4).
Meanwhile, Vladimir Petrovsky, director general of the U.N. office in Geneva, yesterday made a statement about international peace and security at the 47th Annual Assembly of the Atlantic Treaty Association in Slovenia. "The global fight against international terrorism will have wide-ranging implications for all aspects of human activity," he said. "For example, the ongoing humanitarian emergency taking place in Afghanistan is but one of the tasks that the international community must successfully address in order to overcome the vicious cycle of poverty, conflict, ignorance and disease. We must confront violence and hatred even more resolutely." To read Petrovsky's entire statement click here.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday that a prospective U.S. military strike in Afghanistan against the al-Qaeda terrorist network would only be the first step in U.S. action against terrorism. "This is the first phase of this operation," he said. "I obviously cannot comment on what might happen in the future." Although Powell left open the potential for the United States to extend the conflict beyond Afghanistan, Powell also made assurances that "we are not looking for conflict with other nations" (Barry Schweid, Associated Press/Boston Globe, Oct. 4).
U.S. officials say that the White House is putting final touches on a bombing plan against the Taliban, though it will also try to spare civilian infrastructure. "The 'center of gravity' is not bridges. It's the Taliban," said one official, using the military's term for an enemy target. Officials say the impending strikes would rely on ever-increasing stocks of "smart" munitions, which the United States would use to surgically remove the Taliban -- both its headquarters and any military that supports suspected terrorists -- from the rest of Afghan society, although the Bush administration has stopped short of saying the war on terrorism would be intended to eliminate the Taliban (Rowan Scarborough, Washington Times, Oct. 4).
Counterterrorism experts told a House of Representatives committee hearing yesterday that the United States has to eliminate the Taliban, however, if the United States wants to eliminate the threat presented by suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in the U.S. attacks, his network. "Any effort to remove bin Laden means the removal of the Taliban and of (Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Mohamed) Omar as well," said Vincent Cannistraro, former CIA chief of counterterrorism operations, during the International Relations Committee session. "It is clear that without the Taliban, bin Laden could not exist" (David Sands, Washington Times, Oct. 4).
Meanwhile, the United States is planning to dispatch 1,000 infantrymen to Afghanistan's border in what is considered to be the most significant military deployment since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. The troops are to land in Uzbekistan and could signal the onset of a much larger military build-up (Lutz Kleveman, London Telegraph, Oct. 4). Russian special forces are currently believed to have crossed into Afghanistan from Tajikistan bases in "limited excursions" (Kim Sengupta, London Independent, Oct. 3).
In the midst of growing support from major Western powers, the United States yesterday asked NATO to mobilize its surveillance aircraft as part of a series of requests for military contributions for forces being prepared to enter Afghanistan. U.S. allies France and Germany have offered their assistance -- France has agreed to provide naval and logistical support, the British Defense Ministry says movements of British forces "could take place in the next few days," and Germany has offered to provide intelligence cooperation and access to its airspace.
A senior Western official said NATO is now "fully on board, in political and military terms." NATO has not been asked to participate in the leadership of the operations, however. "This is not a Kosovo-type operation led by NATO," the official said. "The NAC [North Atlantic Council] will not make decisions on strikes or targets. This is a global coalition" (Financial Times, Oct. 4).
Meanwhile, a top Afghan opposition leader said yesterday that he met with U.S. officials and discussed military cooperation, and confirmed for the first time that the Northern Alliance has received new pledges of military assistance from Russia and Iran. Abdullah Abdullah, foreign minister in the Northern Alliance said discussions in the immediate context have focused on coordinating effort "to eradicate terrorism from Afghanistan" (South China Morning Post, Oct. 4).
The White House yesterday sent a senior envoy to meet with the exiled Afghan king, Mohammed Zahir Shah, in Rome in an effort to isolate the Taliban. U.S. State Department Director of Policy Planning Richard Haass is scheduled to meet this week with the king, who last week was able to forge an alliance with some Afghan groups to begin forging a rival government. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is also meeting this week with leaders in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt and Uzbekistan to discuss military and intelligence issues, since help from Muslim regional states is expected to be crucial in determining the outcome of any military operation against bin Laden (Ben Barber, Washington Times, Oct. 4).
Rumsfeld said last night after meeting with senior members of Saudi Arabia's royal family that he is not worried about obtaining authorization for the use of Saudi bases for U.S. military operations (Thomas Ricks, Washington Post, Oct. 4).
In the most recent signal that the Taliban may be left with few options and is facing more isolation, Pakistani Muslim clerics said yesterday that they have canceled plans to visit Taliban headquarters because they see no sign of a possible breakthrough, according to Ameerul Azeem, spokesman of the Jamaat-e-Islami, or Islamic Party. While Pakistan has supported the Taliban until recently, the country has agreed in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks that it needs to assist in the fight against terrorism (Ted Anthony, AP/Nando Times, Oct. 3). Pakistan was one of only three countries to officially recognize the Taliban regime.
Official sources said today, however, that Pakistan may soon cut diplomatic ties completely with the Taliban. Pakistani officials say they are seriously considering asking the Taliban to close its embassy in Islamabad and return to Afghanistan, a proposal that was discussed at a meeting of the National Security Council in Islamabad Tuesday and that gained the backing of President Pervez Musharraf, the sources said (United Press International, Oct. 4). Musharraf said yesterday that any new Afghan government, however, must be "broad-based," "multiethnic" and not imposed by foreign powers (AP/Kuala Lumpur Star, Oct. 4).
Meanwhile, the Taliban is said to be facing growing threats to its authority within Afghanistan amid growing signs of internal rebellion as well as increased outside pressure. Senior opposition commander Ismail Khan said that Afghans in the western provinces of Ghor and Bagdhis are rising up against the Taliban, and he estimated that both provinces' rulers would fall within the week. Khan said residents in Herat were ready to strike back against the Taliban (Agence France-Presse, Oct. 4).
The London Guardian also reports that in preparation for its so-called holy war against the United States, the Taliban is being forced to bolster its army by forcibly recruiting thousands of men, many of whom are being dragged at gunpoint from their homes, from the street or from their cars as they attempt to flee the country. Those recruits are also being sent to the most dangerous positions and are likely to be the first casualties in any large-scale U.S. military strike. The Guardian says it obtained "chilling testimony" that the Taliban regime has demanded that every household in Afghanistan provide at least one fighter for the campaign against the United States (Luke Harding, London Guardian, Oct. 4).
The Group of Seven industrialized countries are meeting in Washington this weekend to join forces in efforts to put a stranglehold on cash flows used to fund terrorist networks worldwide, as well as to limit a world economic recession. G-7 finance ministers and central bank chiefs are scheduled to meet Saturday to coordinate a "twin-track response," according to AFP.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said U.S. authorities are targeting $13 million in suspected terrorist assets in the United States, while President George W. Bush has asked Congress to approve an additional $60 billion to $75 billion as an economic stimulus to curb a possible U.S. recession that could have global impacts (AFP/ninemsn, Oct. 4).
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom today published a 21-page report outlining its case against bin Laden and the al-Qaeda terrorist network and warned that U.K. and U.S. citizens remain under threat and could face additional attacks. The government insists in the report that there is no doubt bin Laden was responsible for the attacks on the United States (London Independent, Oct. 4).
Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that the fight against global terrorism is demanding some changes in European security matters that could encourage Russia to take an "entirely new look" at NATO enlargement proposals, meaning the government will reconsider its opposition to expansion of NATO if Moscow is more involved in the process. In the wake of the U.S. attacks, the European Union and Russia have pledged tighter security cooperation with the United States, promising to hold monthly meetings on foreign and defense policy (Baltimore Sun, Oct. 4).
Meanwhile, activists and clerics at an Arab-Muslim conference in Beirut, which was called to "discuss how to cope with the aftermath" of the terrorist attacks on the United States, yesterday condemned the United States for being a "sponsor of terrorism" for supporting Israel, with some delegates saying that Washington's anti-terrorism campaign is aimed at "regaining complete American hegemony on the entire world." The meeting included representatives from two of Israel's top enemies -- the heads of Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad (Hussein Dakroub, AP/Nando Times, Oct. 3).
In a letter to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, Cuban President Fidel Castro pledged yesterday that Cuba will adhere to the existing 12 international anti-terrorism treaties in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks (AP/MSNBC.com, Oct. 3). Australia has also indicated that it is a leading proponent of the draft comprehensive anti-terrorism treaty currently under consideration at the United Nations (Mark Riley, Sydney Morning Herald, Oct. 4).
Premier Chang Chun-hsiung declared yesterday that Taiwan supports the U.N. anti-terrorism resolution passed last week and reiterated condemnation of the attacks, adding that Taiwan will increase exchanges of "operational information" especially in connection with the actions and movements of terrorists (Sofia Wu, Taiwan Central News Agency, Oct. 3). Senior State Department official James Kelly will visit Beijing next week to discuss the agenda for Bush's planned October visit to Shanghai, a U.S. Embassy spokesman said today (Reuters/CNN.com, Oct. 4).
A Japanese Foreign Ministry official said today Japan is prepared to offer financial and economic assistance to help rebuild Afghanistan if a new, legitimate government comes to power. "If peace is reached in Afghanistan and a cease-fire is decided, we will probably provide assistance to a new nation and efforts to rebuild the country," the official said, following a statement by Secretary of State Powell yesterday, which thanked Tokyo for pledges of support to the U.S. campaign against terrorism and said Japan could play a significant role in rebuilding Afghanistan (AFP, Oct. 4).
Meanwhile, protestors in Khartoum, Sudan, yesterday condemned U.S. policies and burned the Israeli flag during a demonstration in support of bin Laden and Afghanistan, newspapers reported today. There was no estimate at the number of protestors but they chanted slogans against the United States. "The growing hatred against it (the United States) is due to its double standards and its assumption of the role of international policeman," said Fathi Khalil, chairman of the Popular Organization for Solidarity with Palestine, in an interview with al-Sahafi al-Dawli (AFP II, Oct. 4).
The United States is not fully prepared to respond to a biological terrorist attack, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson told a U.S. Senate hearing yesterday, but he added that Americans should not panic (see GSN, Oct. 1). “Let me characterize our status this way: We are prepared to respond, but there is more we can do – and must do – to strengthen our response,” he said. (Click here to read Thompson’s opening statement.)
Thompson said the public should be “rational.” “People should not be scared into believing they need to buy gas masks. And people should not be frightened into hoarding medicine and food. There is nothing we know of to warrant such action,” he said (Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 4).
Thompson said his department could quickly contain and treat an outbreak. “I am absolutely assured we could respond to any contingency,” he said (Lauran Neergaard, Salon.com, Oct. 3).
Other experts and senators, however, said Thompson overestimated the U.S. ability to respond to a biological attack. “I just don’t believe that,” Senator Robert Byrd (D-W. Va.) said of Thompson’s testimony.
Tara O’Toole, head of the Defense Science Board’s task force on biological weapons, told a U.S. House Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Defense hearing that biological terrorism is the most serious terrorist threat to the United States. She said even an unsophisticated release of smallpox could kill tens of thousands of people. Other experts said severe gaps exist in the public health system’s abilities to deal with a massive outbreak of smallpox, anthrax or other potential diseases resulting from an attack. Rex Archer of the Kansas City Health Department estimated that the system needs about 15,000 more people (Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 4).
Leaders of several Defense Department task forces said the United States is unprepared for a variety of possible terrorist attacks, including chemical and biological attacks.
Thompson said the government has sped up development of a smallpox vaccine that was already ordered. Originally, the 40 million doses were to be ready by 2004 or 2005, but now Thompson expects them by the middle of 2002 (Larry Lipman, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Oct. 4).
Thompson is also asking for an additional $800 million to increase the health system’s ability to respond to an attack, focusing on training physicians and laboratories to recognize symptoms of diseases that could be caused by an intentional release (Salon.com, Oct. 3). Two bipartisan Senate teams introduced legislation that would provide an additional $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion to protect the United States from biological attacks (MSNBC, Oct. 3).
O’Toole’s task force recommended three new programs. One program would be the creation of a “bio-print” database to store data on the molecular structure of biological agents and where in the world they are known to be available. The database could help authorities track terrorists who released a biological weapon. She also urged diagnostic tests that could identify a biological agent much faster than the current 12 hours to several days that such tests currently require. Authorities should also create a computerized network that would use diagnostic test results to detect a pattern of diseases. O’Toole said these programs would take over five years to establish and cost about $3.5 billion. She suggested the programs be implemented in the Defense Department and eventually shared with other agencies (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Oct. 4). She also suggested the United States improve physician training and stockpile vaccines (Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 4).
There are 27 bioterrorism response teams in the United States (Brian Peters, Lewiston Morning Tribune, Oct. 3).
Gas masks and other protective equipment are being purchased around the world amid fears of a potential biological or chemical attack by terrorists (see GSN, Oct. 2), according to reports. Experts argue, however, the usefulness of such equipment.
“I have people calling me and asking me why everyone is acting so crazy – buying gas masks and the like,” said Robert Butterworth, a psychologist with International Trauma Associates, a consulting firm that responds to crises. “People aren’t acting crazy. They’re actually acting normal in response to what is a crazy situation,” said Butterworth. “Going out and buying a gas mask I think is personally unnecessary, said Dr. John Shaw, a University of Miami psychiatrist, “but if it reduces a little bit of anxiety – and as long as people aren’t trampling each other – I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
Military surplus shops around the world have seen sales boom as people try to search out the ever-more elusive gas masks and protection suits. The Counter Spy Shop chain, with nine U.S. stores, has as many as 700 back orders for gas masks and Hazmat suits. “I’m not selling [just] a product,” said company spokeswoman Arielle Jamill. “We’re selling peace of mind” (Arthur/Smith, Miami Herald, Oct. 3).
Prices for gas masks in the Washington area range from between $50 to $500, according to a recent Washington Post column by Sally Quinn. Most members of Congress and their staffs, as well as the wives of several government officials, are working on getting gas masks, according to Quinn (Sally Quinn, Washington Post, Oct. 3).
As U.S. supplies dwindle, worried consumers are fanning out across the globe. The largest military surplus store in South Africa has been bombarded by inquiries on the availability of protection equipment, according to the National Post. The store quickly sold its supply of 500 masks, according to manager Feizul Ayob, but requests still come in, including one from an American wanting 1,600 masks and a foreign embassy requesting 10,000 “to send to their staff all over Africa.” Two other South African security equipment wholesalers, which normally sell equipment to police riot squads and army units, have also been flooded with orders (Corinna Schuler, National Post, Oct. 3). Survival equipment sales have reached near-record levels in Victoria, Australia (Mark Dunn, Herald Sun, Oct. 3). Koken Ltd., a Japanese company, announced yesterday that it would start selling gas masks. The decision was prompted by the large number of requests from the Japanese public, according to a company spokesman, emphasizing that the masks were not as effective as those used by Japan’s self defense forces (Tehran Times, Oct. 4).
Chemical and biological weapon detectors have also grown in popularity. The two most popular products, according to the New York Post, are the APD2000 -- a handheld chemical detector that sells for about $7,000, and the Sabre2000, which detects both chemical and biological agents and sells for about $20,000. Inquiries have come from places like Disneyland, managers of private high-rises and a variety of law enforcement agencies, according to Scott Goetz, marketing director for ETG and Barringer, which supply detectors to the U.S. Army. “People who were on the fence [about buying the expensive equipment] are now squarely on one side,” said Goetz.
Security and health experts warn, however, that equipment such as gas masks and detectors may have only limited use, and may even do more harm than good. “The trouble with detectors is there’s too many possibilities with false positives,” said bio-chemical weapons expert Raymond Zilinskas. “In a city, all kinds of fumes could potentially set off the detectors,” Zilinskas said (Christopher Francescani, New York Post, Oct. 3). The need for gas masks “would probably do no good and may present a false sense of security,” said Iowa state epidemiologist Patrica Quinlisk (Associated Press, Oct. 2). Not even the White House is distributing gas masks to its staff, according to spokesman Ari Fleischer (White House release, Oct. 2)
In Britain, military surplus stores are warning customers that the masks they buy are useless in the event of an attack as it is illegal to sell them with the necessary filters, according to UK Newsquest Regional Press. “It is illegal to sell the foil packed filters with gas masks as rioters would be protected against CS gas,” said an assistant at the Broad Oak Trading store, adding, “If you were caught with a working gas mask you would be in a lot of trouble. The ones we sell are absolutely useless” (UK Newsquest Regional Press, Oct. 2).
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