26 October 2001
Text: Powell Attacks Terrorists as Threat to Civilization
(Says terrorism represents evil, not faith or religion) (3700)
Secretary of State Colin Powell, in a message directed at terrorists,
says the United States recognizes its role as a world leader and will
not abdicate, but will remain engaged.
President Bush recognizes that the United States has weighty global
responsibilities, Powell said October 26 during a State Department
national conference on foreign policy for leaders of nongovernmental
organizations.
"We recognize that a great deal of the world's future rests upon
American leadership, and we will not abdicate our responsibilities,"
he said. "We believe that a world of democracy, a world of
opportunity, a world of stability is a world in which terrorism cannot
thrive."
The United States is exerting leadership in the global war on
terrorism, but it is also working with a wide range of others, both
traditional partners and allies, and new ones "including those willing
to move beyond past animosities to reach new shared goals," he said.
He said these new global partners are collectively taking crucial
steps to share information and to improve security through cooperation
among law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies, and financial
agencies. It is especially important, he said, to cut off the
financial lifeline terrorism depends upon.
Powell directly attacked al-Qaida and its leadership saying it is "a
threat to civilization and is directed against people."
"It represents no faith, no religion. It is evil, it is murderous, and
that's why terrorist is the right noun applied to people like Osama
bin Laden."
Following is a text of Powell's remarks:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REMARKS BY SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL
TO THE NATIONAL FOREIGN POLICY CONFERENCE
FOR LEADERS OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGO)
October 26, 2001
Loy Henderson Conference Room
U.S. Department of State
Washington, D.C.
MR. BOUCHER: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. I'm Richard Boucher, the
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs here at the State Department.
And I just wanted to say thank you all for coming. We have a great day
planned, I think, of folks to talk to you, and more important, folks
to listen to you and to hear from you about what we're doing and what
we can do, together with you in the future.
I want to thank everybody for coming. I especially want to thank the
Coalition for American Leadership Abroad for their help in organizing
this conference and for everything that they do throughout the year to
support us.
And now, it gives me a great pleasure to introduce to you a man who
has not only a distinguished and long career of public service and
military service, but who founded a nongovernmental organization, who
helped that organization grow and prosper and extend itself throughout
the United States, who helped that organization establish linkages to
organizations overseas.
So your man on the inside, the representative of the NGO community
inside the State Department, ladies and gentlemen, the Secretary of
State.
(Applause.)
SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you very much. Well, thank you very much,
Richard, and good morning everyone and welcome to the Department of
State. And I want to begin by thanking the Coalition for American
Leadership Abroad for cosponsoring this important conference, and also
to thank the many cooperating organizations that made it possible for
us to have this event.
I especially want to thank everyone in the audience for coming,
particularly those of you who traveled from afar in order to
contribute to this conference, and I hope to take away from this
conference information that will be valuable to you as you pursue your
very, very important work around the world.
During my career in public service, both in the military and now as
Secretary of State, I have the privilege of working and dealing with a
variety of nongovernmental organizations in the prosecution of my
service. In Vietnam, I saw many nongovernmental organizations that
were there to help people who were hurting, as well as to help those
of us who were serving in combat, whether it was the Red Cross or the
USO. And then as a four-star general, when I was in charge of all the
Army forces in the United States, and one of my responsibilities was
to respond to natural disasters, and we had the terrible hurricane in
Florida in 1992, I saw firsthand what it was like to see this
organization go into action, all of these collective groups coming
together into a great organization to help the people in South Florida
recover from that disaster.
Or perhaps it was even earlier, during the aftermath of the Desert
Storm conflict, when we had that terrible tragedy up in northern Iraq
and eastern Turkey, where thousands upon thousands of Iraqis had tried
to escape into the mountains of Turkey, and they were in desperate,
desperate condition. And I saw how military forces responded. But all
we could do was sort of protect them for a while, give them some
emergency aid. What really saved them, and what really permitted us to
get them back into their homes, were the great nongovernmental
organizations that came to their rescue, that brought in food, that
brought in hope, that brought in warmth, that brought in comfort, that
brought in a sense of promise that allowed them to get back to their
homes and to begin their lives, even though it's under a regime that
doesn't treat them with the kind of dignity that they deserve.
And then when I left the military and was no longer quite concerned
with these sorts of matters, I found that here in my own home in the
United States, there was a need that went beyond what the government
could do, there was a need to work with young people in this richest
country in the world, young people who are in need, young people who
wondered if the rest of their fellow citizens cared about them. And at
the invitation of all of our living Presidents, I became Chairman of
America's Promise, the Alliance for Youth, a non-profit organization,
a nongovernmental organization, certainly. But one that was very much
in the spirit of what you do, reaching out throughout America,
reaching out to people in need, and for those of us who have
something, those of us who have been blessed by our society, those of
us who have the wherewithal in terms of time and talent and treasure
and resources and all the other things that we have available to share
with people less fortunate, to share with those in need.
I tried to do that in a very small way with America's Promise. And I'm
pleased to say that it survived my departure quite well. Some would
say it is even thriving in the absence of -- (laughter) -- the former
chairman of America's Promise, and for that I am very, very grateful.
And I'm very, very grateful to the thousands of people around America,
and now increasingly overseas, who have picked up this promise theme
and used it in their own countries. We have the Jamaica Promise about
to get started, which I think is quite fitting, since I am -- my
parents anyway are certainly from Jamaica.
So I know what you are about, I know what you do, I understand the
value of your work. And that is why I am so pleased that we can have
this opportunity to communicate with one another. It's a cliché to say
that who you are is where you sit. It also has the virtue of being
true. So I am grateful to have had the opportunity to sit where you
sit, if only for a while, as the head of an NGO non-profit.
And from where I sit now, I can tell you that America could not
succeed in its objectives of shaping a freer, more prosperous and more
secure world without you. Because in this increasingly globalized era,
issues that we face are so deeply intertwined, so complex and so
transnational that no power, not even a superpower, can solve them on
its own. The very nature of the 21st century world and the problems
that this world has brought to our door makes cooperation between
government and NGOs not only highly desirable, but absolutely
essential and necessary.
More than ever, governments and intergovernmental organizations must
work in partnership with NGOs if compelling problems are to be
effectively addressed. As I speak, just as surely as our diplomats and
military, American NGOs are out there serving and sacrificing on the
front lines of freedom. You are providing food and shelter to refugees
and to the internally displaced, helping to build vibrant civil
societies and creating the conditions for sustainable development,
sustainable growth.
You speak for the voiceless. You speak for those who have no other
voice. You speak for those who wonder if anyone cares, if anyone will
represent their interests, anyone will put forward their hopes and
dreams. You shed light on human rights and environmental issues. You
conduct public education programs that help stem the spread of
HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. You protect civilians from
land mines. And you promote tolerance by your actions, by showing that
we care about all of humankind. You promote tolerance in a world where
conflict can cause untold misery and destabilize entire regions.
Your very presence in these places, your diversity, your dedication to
serving humankind sends a powerful message about America and our value
system to people all over the world. Not a preaching method, not a
method and a message that says do it our way because we know best, but
look at the way we do it, look at the values we bring, look at what we
believe in, look at our respect for individual rights and human
dignity. And see how we use these values to talk to you, to work with
you, the downtrodden of the world, those of you in need. America
cares. America has a value system that requires it to care. It is our
obligation as Americans to participate in this kind of work,
government and non-government together.
Not least of all, you offer valuable insights to policymakers. You
bring us ground truth from the field. You share your expertise. You
give us new and different perspectives. We in government certainly
have no monopoly on wisdom, far from it. And we would do well, indeed,
to listen and learn from all of you, perhaps even more than we do
already. And that's why I'm so pleased to have you here today.
As a former head, once again, of a non-profit, I realize that getting
heard by decision-makers is often easier said than done. And even if
they are willing to hear you out or take time to read your materials,
there is no guarantee that they will take your suggestions. Not even
my suggestions does my government always take, believe me. Trust me on
that. (Laughter.) Well, most of the time, anyway. (Laughter.)
I'm also very much aware that holding a yearly conference such as
this, even one so well organized and packed with high-level talent, is
not nearly good enough. If we at the State Department and in other
branches of government and other departments of government are truly
serious about outreach and about cooperation, outreach and cooperation
and working with you has to happen every day at every single level in
all of our bureaus and all of the pieces and parts of our Department
here, and at our embassies overseas.
And I want you to know that I have made it clear to my staff here and
to all of our ambassadors around the world that I am serious about
making sure we have the best relationship with the NGOs who are such a
force multiplier for us, such an important part of our combat team.
I have also made it clear to the members of the diplomatic community
who work for American interests around the world that they will not be
doing their jobs -- they will not be doing their jobs for the American
people if they do not keep abreast of the work and the ideas that NGOs
operating in their areas of responsibility in the countries to which
they are accredited. And I have made a point of instructing all of our
ambassadors, especially the new ones going to posts for the first
time, I have instructed them to make every effort to work with NGOs,
international and especially indigenous, and to factor the
contributions that NGOs make into their planning and into their
programs.
Needless to say, cooperation between governments and NGOs is not the
same as co-opting you. Always, we must respect your independence.
After all, it is the very fact of your being independent and not an
arm of government that makes you so valuable, that permits you to do
your essential work, and that gives you the flexibility that you need
to do it.
Nor are governments and NGOs substitutes for one another, even if they
work toward common goals. I learned this very vividly when I was the
Chairman of America's Promise. People kept saying, well, we have
America's Promise; therefore, the government doesn't have to do this
any longer. You are substituting for the government. The answer was
no, we're trying to leverage the work of the government. It's a
partnership. And one does not take the place of the other. We have to
make sure we keep this point very much in mind.
NGOs, for example, can minister to those in misery. They can work
person by person within communities, building capacity for societies
from the ground up. They can focus deeply on specific issues and track
them for long periods of time. You have stability in the work and in
the programs that you do. Particularly in this age of instant
communications and rapid change, you provide a certain consistency, a
certain coherence over time that allows you to handle such grassroots
work.
But even in this day and age, when countless actions take place
outside the sphere, even outside the control of governments, there are
still some functions that only governments have the power to perform,
the ability to perform: making laws, setting policy at the national
and international levels, managing the international financial system
-- and yes, when necessary, taking military action.
For our part, President Bush and his Administration fully recognizes
that America has weighty global responsibilities, of course. We
recognize that a great deal of the world's future rests upon American
leadership, and we will not abdicate our responsibilities. I think the
President has shown this ably in just the last several weeks, with his
response to the events of the 11th of September; with his trip
recently to Shanghai to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit
meeting, where he gave a message of hope and free trade and openness
to the nations of the Asia Pacific region; to his trips recently to
Europe, where he made it clear to everyone that the United States will
be engaged; and in his meetings this past weekend with the presidents
of China and Russia, to show that we want to work bilaterally to make
the world a better place, to continue into this post-Cold War era, and
even post-post-Cold War era that we are now entering, where it's all
behind us.
And here America's leadership of a global coalition, here in this
crisis with the Taliban and with al-Qaida and Usama bin Laden and
terrorism, America's leadership of the global campaign against this
kind of threat to civilization, this kind of threat to the very
essence of what you do, taking care of people, it is terrorism that is
directed against people; it represents no faith, no religion. It is
evil, it is murderous. That's why the word "terrorism" fits this, and
that's why the word "terrorist" is the right noun to apply to people
like Usama bin Laden.
And the United States with a grand coalition is responding to this
21st century challenge. We are exerting leadership, but we are working
with a wide range of others, both traditional partners and allies, as
well as new ones, including those willing to move beyond past
animosities to reach new shared goals.
Already, in forming the anti-terrorism coalition, we have revitalized
alliances and we have worked with the United Nations and with regional
organizations representing the entire globe to leverage strength. And
we have opened doors to qualitatively different relationships with a
number of countries that we might not have thought of having such
relationships just a few years ago.
Collectively, the international community is taking crucial steps to
share information, improve security through greater cooperation by
working with law enforcement agencies in all of these countries,
intelligence agencies, and financial agencies, to cut off the
financial lifeline that terrorism depends upon.
In this global campaign, the United States welcomes the help of any
country or any party that is genuinely prepared to work with us. For
we will not relax our standards, and we will not abandon our
principled interests in human rights, accountable government, free
markets, nonproliferation, conflict resolution. We believe that a
world of democracy, a world of opportunity, a world of stability is a
world in which terrorism cannot thrive.
But the response to the September 11th attacks does not only reflect
the determination of governments to combat the scourge of terrorism.
Over 5,000 souls from 80 nations were lost. It was an attack against
the world, not just against the United States. The outpouring of
sympathy and support from ordinary men and women all around the world,
from every continent, culture and creed -- every region, every race,
every religion -- the expression of sympathy and support has been
overwhelming.
And in the weeks that have followed the attacks, NGOs from across
America have worked to help the victims and their families to channel
public outrage against the terrorists, and not against fellow citizens
who happen to be Muslim. This is a sign of the strength of our nation,
of our society. So, too, I know that many of your organizations have
been working around the clock to get aid to the millions of innocent
Afghans who have suffered under the Taliban regime, a regime which
seems to care more about Usama bin Laden and his terrorists, these
invaders of their country, than they do about their own citizens.
And when the time comes, as it most surely will, when the time comes
to build a better future for the people of Afghanistan, I know full
well that NGOs will play indispensable roles in helping Afghans
overcome the devastation of decades of war, to establish habits of
good governance, and to create conditions for longer-term development.
I'll make two points before I close. One is a proposition, and the
other is a plea. First, the plea. It is often said that American
diplomacy has no domestic constituency. People aren't interested in
foreign affairs or diplomacy outside of our borders. And that is why,
some say, it is so difficult to build support for foreign aid programs
or for strengthening our diplomatic capacities, both in terms of
infrastructure and personnel.
Ladies and gentlemen, few people know better than you how important
sustained American diplomatic engagement is to the world. And few are
better positioned here at home to get that message out to the American
public. I know that you do that, but I ask you to do even more. I ask
you to help me take the message to the American people, that the front
line of our defense, the front line of our efforts is the American
diplomatic effort, use of foreign aid, use of our diplomats and Peace
Corps volunteers, and others from so many American governmental
agencies, out doing the job for the American people. This is important
work. And I hope that as you go around and speak to your
constituencies and speak to the public, that you let them know how
important it is to support America's diplomatic front line efforts.
And finally, a proposition. Take it from someone -- moi -- who has
been in and out of government, and who has had the phenomenal
opportunity to be the leader of an NGO, and looks forward, perhaps, to
another day in the future when I may lead another NGO. My proposition
is this. At some point in your lives, and especially in the lives of
members of your family, or perhaps children and grandchildren,
encourage them to do a stint in government service. There is a good
chance that that kind of experience in government service can help you
or someone that you know, a family member or kid, become a better
member of an NGO when they leave government service. There is no
doubt, absolutely no doubt, that the kind of experience you have or
those you know have bring that experience into government will help us
do a better job, and I think will help you do a better job after that
period of service.
Because, you see, it's a partnership, a partnership for those of us in
government and those of you represented here this morning out of
government, NGOs, non-profits and profits. But all committed to the
same, singular purpose to help humankind, to help every man and woman
in the world who is in need, who is hungry, who is without hope, to
help every one of them fill a belly, get a roof over their heads,
educate their children, have hope, give them the ability to dream
about a future that will be brighter, just as we have tried to make
the future brighter for all Americans.
So you do noble work, and I congratulate you for that noble work, and
I thank you for coming here today and sharing your experiences with
us. Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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