16 November 2002
White House Specifies Progress Made Against Terrorism
(U.S. counts on more than 90 countries allied in global battle) (830)
The White House released a fact sheet November 16 detailing progress
made combating terrorism since September 11, 2001. It was released in
conjunction with President Bush's weekly radio address to the nation.
The text of the fact sheet follows:
(begin fact sheet)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
November 16, 2002
Fact Sheet: News About the War Against Terror
DIPLOMACY
-- The United States and more than 90 other countries are allies in
the international war against terrorism.
-- President Bush has been successful in bringing multilateral
organizations from every region of the globe into the war against
terrorism.
-- The Organization of American States, the European Union, the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, the G-8, the Association of South East Asian
Nations, the ANZUS Treaty, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
forum have taken concrete steps to combat terrorism more effectively.
-- African leaders issued the Dakar Declaration and the Africa Union
is taking steps on combating terrorism.
-- The United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution
to force Saddam Hussein to disclose and destroy any weapons of mass
destruction or face serious consequences.
TERRORIST FINANCES
-- Since September 11, 2001:
-- 167 countries are blocking terrorist assets.
-- $113.5 million in terrorist assets have been frozen worldwide in
over 500 accounts: $35.3 million in the United States, $78.2 million
overseas.
-- The flow of terrorist money through a number of funding pipelines
has been cut. For example: Al-Barakaat's worldwide network, which was
channeling as much as $15- to $20 million a year to al-Qaeda, was shut
down.
-- Where warranted, the United States has unlocked funds. The U.S. and
its allies have returned $350 million in Afghan government assets to
the Interim Authority in Afghanistan. These assets had been
protectively frozen in connection with the Taliban sanctions.
-- The United States led the international community in developing a
voluntary set of best practice guidelines for charities intended to
reduce the likelihood that charitable funds will be diverted for
violent ends. The Treasury Department is helping the Islamic community
in America implement these guidelines.
-- The U.S. Treasury and State departments announced a $5 million
reward program for information leading to the disruption of any
terrorism-financing operation.
THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN
-- More than 60,000 American troops are deployed around the world
against terrorism: 9,000 just in Afghanistan; others are in the
Philippines, Georgia, and Yemen.
-- 31 nations have deployed more than 14,000 troops in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
-- NATO, invoking Article V for the first time on September 12, 2001,
came to the aid of the United States, and NATO allies flew more than
350 sorties and logged more than 4,300 flight hours as part of
operation Noble Eagle.
-- Approximately 650 enemy combatants are now under U.S. control.
-- World-wide, approximately 2,290 terrorist-related arrests were made
in 99 countries between September 12, 2001, and October 28, 2002.
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND RECONSTRUCTION
-- Humanitarian aid to Afghanistan started on day one of the war, with
37,000 humanitarian daily rations air-dropped while the attacks were
underway. More than 575,000 metric tons of food have been delivered
since the start of the war.
-- Since January 1, 2002, 1.8 million refugees have returned to
Afghanistan with assistance of the U.N. High Commissioner for
Refugees, and more than 250,000 refugees have returned on their own,
bringing the total number of returned refugees to over 2 million.
-- The United States Government has provided $850 million for
humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Afghanistan since
October 2001. Congress is considering legislation authorizing $1.45
billion [$145,000 million] for Afghanistan over the next four years.
-- America and our allies are helping Afghanistan rebuild their
country and restore civil government by:
-- Undertaking 211 infrastructure projects in 10 provinces;
-- Training more than 1,100 soldiers for the Afghan National army;
-- With Japan and Saudi Arabia, rebuilding a road linking Kabul
through Kandahar to Herat.
-- With the Norwegian, British, Polish, and Jordanian demining teams,
cleared landmines from over 2,000 square miles of Afghanistan. The
State Department is allocating $7 million to clearing land mines in
Afghanistan.
-- In addition to coordinating educational and cultural exchanges and
special programs for Afghan women, the State Department is providing
the United Nations and international NGOs [non-governmental
organizations] with $124.5 million in refugee assistance funds for
repatriation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran and resettlement
of internally displaced persons. Projects include shelter, water and
sanitation, as well as health and education for refugees.
PROMOTING FREEDOM
-- In Afghanistan, $6 million of Transition Initiatives funding is
being directed to indigenous NGO's, particularly focusing on women's
groups and community development projects.
-- Voice of America and the Afghan Information Ministry, with $10
million from the Pentagon, are installing radio transmitters to
rebuild the national radio network.
-- The U.S. government is supporting 16 working groups of Iraqis, who
are planning for the day their country can rejoin the international
community, after disarming, dismantling infrastructure for terrorism,
and achieving peace, representative and responsible governance.
(end fact sheet)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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