POLITICS: U.N. Head ‘Disturbed’ by U.S. Statement on Broader Attacks

By Thalif Deen Reprint | | Print |

Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 9 2001 (IPS) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Tuesday he and diplomats at the world body were “disturbed” by a U.S. statement claiming a legitimate right to extend military attacks beyond Afghanistan.

The threat to attack other, unnamed “terrorist states” – possibly including Iraq and Syria – was implied Monday in a letter to the U.N. Security Council from U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte.

“There is one line in that letter that disturbed some of us,” Annan said Tuesday.

“I think the one sentence which has caused some anxiety amongst the membership – which I’ve also asked about – was the question that they (the U.S. administration) may find it necessary to go after other organisations and other states,” beyond al-Qaeda and Afghanistan, he added.

Annan noted, however, that the letter added this is not a “predictor of any intentions” on Washington’s part.

“Basically, it is a statement that they are at early stages and keeping their options open,” he said.

The U.S. State Department’s list of seven “terrorist states” includes Iraq, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Libya, North Korea, and Cuba.

The U.S. administration reportedly remains divided over whether it also should launch military attacks on Iraq and other states in the Middle East.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, described as a hawk, is said to have favoured an attack on Iraq. But Secretary of State Colin Powell and other members of the administration have said the initial focus should be limited to Afghanistan, home to Osama bin Laden, Washington’s prime suspect as the mastermind behind Sep.11 terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon.

Administration and independent diplomatic analysts have warned that the broader the counter-terrorist attacks, the more difficult it will prove to build and maintain the broad international coalition from which Washington intends to draw political, diplomatic, and material succour.

Washington is interested in ensuring that the coalition include Muslim nations such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan – and possibly even Iran.

So far, very few Muslim nations have volunteered to join the coalition. Egypt and Iran have said they would enlist only if the coalition were under the auspices of the United Nations.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have volunteered their cooperation but refused to permit their territories to be used to launch military attacks on Afghanistan.

Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet; the United States also has pre-positioned military equipment in Oman.

President George W. Bush continues to reiterate that his “war” against terrorism – and specifically against Afghanistan – should not be construed as a campaign against Islam or Muslim nations.

In his letter to the Security Council, Negroponte cited Article 51 of the U.N. charter, under which a member state is given the legitimate right to launch military attacks in self-defence.

“Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security,” Article 51 states in part.

Negroponte described the Sep.11 terrorist strikes as “armed attacks carried out against the United States.”

“There is still much we do not know. Our inquiry is in its early stages,” he added.

In the one sentence that has evoked strong reactions, he said: “We may find that our self-defence requires further actions with respect to other organisations and other states.”

Negroponte singled out bin Laden’s al-Qaeda as the organisation behind last month’s terrorist attacks.

“Since September 11, my government has obtained clear and compelling information that the al-Qaeda organization, which is supported by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, had a central role in the attack,” the letter said.

Beginning Sunday, the United States has launched multiple air and missile strikes against targets in Afghanistan.

According to Annan, this has complicated the task of delivering food aid to Afghans faced with famine.

“We already had difficulties getting the trucks and the drivers who would go in. And with the current situation, that’s become a bit more difficult,” he said.

Annan also regretted that U.S. bombing raids Tuesday killed four Afghan nationals working for a U.N. mine-clearing project.

Asked if there is anything the United Nations can do to protect civilians, he added: “We have taken all the necessary precaution we can, and those undertaking the operations have also assured us that all effort will be made to avoid civilians, and that their efforts will be targeted and focused on the alleged perpetrators. And I hope that precaution will minimise civilian involvement.”

He added: “We have always maintained that there’s no military solution in Afghanistan and that the Afghans have to come together and form a government.”