The Hindu : Danger from terrorism has not passed: Bush

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 11, 2003

International

International

Danger from terrorism has not passed: Bush

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington Oct. 10. The United States President, George W. Bush, has argued that there is a temptation to think that the danger from terrorism and terrorists has passed and pointed out that since September 11, 2001, a number of places around the world including New Delhi have been victims of terrorist attacks.

"Now, our country is approaching a choice. After all the action we have taken, after all the progress we have made against terror, there is a temptation to think that the danger has passed. The danger has not passed," Mr. Bush said in a speech at the New Hampshire Air and Army National Guard Reservists.

"Since September 11, terrorists have taken lives. Since the attacks on our nation that fateful day, the terrorists have attacked in Casablanca, Mombassa, Jerusalem, Amman, Riyadh, Baghdad, Karachi, New Delhi, Bali and Jakarta. The terrorists continue to plot and plan against our country and our people", he said.

"America must not forget the lessons of September the 11th. America cannot retreat from our responsibilities and hope for the best. Our security will not be gained by timid measures. Our security requires constant vigilance and decisive action. I believe America has only one option. We must fight this war until our work is done," Mr. Bush added.

In the last two days, the Bush administration has stepped up its defence of the policies on Iraq, especially in the context of mounting criticism of the manner in which things have been happening in the post-conflict phase.

More and more are questioning the Bush administration's rationale for getting into the war and the subsequent mess.

Mr. Bush said the U.S. was fighting the war on terror on many fronts and that Iraq "is now the central" front.

"The terrorists in Iraq believe that their attacks on innocent people will weaken our resolve.

That's what they believe. They believe that America will run from a challenge. They're mistaken. Americans are not the running kind," he said, adding: "The U.S. did not run from Germany and Japan following World War II. We helped these nations to become strong and decent democratic societies that no longer waged war on America."

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