Posted on 06/01/2002 3:28:04 AM PDT by kattracks
Saturday June 1, 11:46 AM
The September 11 terror attack on the United States was a warning of worse terrorist atrocities to come, according to US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz.
There were warning signs that "as terrorists continue to murder innocents, their methods will only grow more deadly," he told a conference here of Asia-Pacific, North American and European defence ministers and policymakers.
"It would be a mistake to think that we have seen either the last or the worst of such attacks. It would be a mistake to think that, in the future, they will strike only in the United States."
His emphasis on the likelihood of further terrorist strikes extended warnings from US Vice President Dick Cheney earlier this month that "there is no doubt" further attacks were being planned in the United States.
Wolfowitz told the Asia Security Conference that the threat of terrorism was global and "threatens hundreds of millions of moderate Muslims in East Asia who are among the principal targets of the terrorists."
Intelligence analysts have reported increased communications among al-Qaeda cells, held responsible for the September 11 carnage, which they said could be an indication that preparations for a new terrorist attack were be under way.
In a speech opening the conference on Friday, Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew said militants linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network were plotting to overthrow governments in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore to set up an Islamic state.
Wolfowitz said the world could "never completely eradicate the threat posed by those who are willing to kill themselves to kill others" but there was much that could be done to preempt their actions.
"A global attack, requires a global response," he said, praising the contributions of Asia-Pacific governments to the US-led war on terror.
But he said it would be a mistake for the West to think it could lead the way, but it had a role to encourage moderate Muslim voices.
"This is a debate about Muslim values that must take place among Muslims. But it makes a difference when we recognise and encourage those who are defending universal values," he said.
"I am convinced that the vast majority of the world's Muslims have no use for the extreme doctrines espoused by groups such as al-Qaeda or the Taliban. Very much to the contrary. They abhor terrorism."
The 500 million Muslims, about half the world's Muslim population, who live in Asia and the Pacific rim, were identified by Wolfowitz as "key allies in the war against terrorism."
If Pak or India uses the nuke it'll become easier for the next country to use it until the world is embroiled in the kind of conflict that'll bring all out World Nuclear War...
ugly consequences indeed...
Einstein said, "...World War 4 will be fought with clubs and stones" - or something similar to this...
he was right!
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