20 September 2001

Commerce's Bodman at Transatlantic Seminar on U.S.-EU Relations

The November meeting of the World Trade Organization in Doha, Qatar, is an opportunity for the world to come together and show that it has not been intimidated by the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, Deputy Commerce Secretary Samuel Bodman told the Transatlantic Seminar on U.S.-E.U. Relations September 20.

Bodman continued: "We can demonstrate in Doha that even with the differences one would expect from those with individual national interests, we will meet and work for the best interests of all parties."

"A global trade order based on WTO [World Trade Organization] principles of transparency, predictability, and non-discrimination, levels the trade playing field and gives all countries, especially developing countries, greater opportunities to increase their incomes and living standards," he said

Following is the text of Bodman's remarks as prepared for delivery:

[As Prepared For Delivery]

Thank you very much for that kind introduction and warm welcome. Secretary Evans sends his regrets, but, as you can imagine, given recent events, schedules are in a state of flux. I appreciate your asking me to join you.

Ladies and gentlemen, our world has been forever changed. And that was to be the theme of these remarks today even prior to last week's horrible events. But today, "change" means something entirely different. If those tragic events had not occurred, this discussion would have centered on change in reference to the progress we've enjoyed in telecommunications and transportation...advances that have brought all of us so much closer together.

With events last week here in the United States, change means we face challenges we've never experienced before...challenges that will define who we are as civilized men and women. But we are not new to challenges.

The United States and the nations of Europe have stood together many times in the face of assaults on civilization. In the past century we united to meet the challenges of two world wars, a number of regional conflicts, and a threat to our democracies from what President Reagan described as the "Evil Empire." We met those challenges and we will meet the current one as well.

We can take our cue from something President Roosevelt said as the Second World War was ending. "We have learned," he said, "that we cannot live alone, at peace, that our own well-being is dependent on the well-being of other nations.... We have learned that we must live as men, and not as ostriches, nor as dogs in the manger. We have learned to be citizens of the world, members of the human community."

Today, we must reaffirm our determination to link arms and resolve that no one, no ideology - nothing that attempts to impede or destroy our democracies - will prevail. We as Europeans and Americans are the standard bearers for the best way of life that this planet has ever known...one defined by freedom.

We are committed to democracy because it gives wings to the human spirit. Freedom allows us to maximize the potential that is within. The idea that all men and women should be free to pursue their own destinies, regardless of background or religious beliefs, is the foundation for greatness. It is the foundation for goodness. It is the foundation for all that is right and just.

One of the most cherished products of men and women living in a free state is free enterprise. Free enterprise offers opportunities to all to identify the talents that allow them to fulfill their promise...to provide for their families...to provide jobs for friends and neighbors...and to contribute to the well-being of their communities.

But it is more. We must recognize that human freedom is ultimately indivisible whether we're talking about economics or politics. When the values of free enterprise are inculcated in a nation...in its citizens and communities...the foundation of free societies are strengthened and democracy becomes a way of life.

It is our responsibility to make sure that the flame of freedom is never extinguished. And that is a responsibility the people of the United States and Europe have always accepted...more than accepted, we have embraced it.

When the clouds of fascism darkened the skies of Europe and Asia in the 20th Century, we resolved to bring back the sunshine of freedom. And we did. We succeeded because our way of life...because our democracies enliven the human spirit, and animate the hopes and dreams of the human spirit.

The systems we opposed then, and the ones we oppose now, offer no room for creativity and individual accomplishment. They fail to recognize the boundless possibilities of free thought and actions. They oppose the idea that men and women acting freely can create an existence that is superior to the one they impose.

We prevailed together throughout the 20th Century because the spirit of freedom could not and would not be extinguished. Free men and women went to work and used the resources available to overwhelm the forces of the opposition.

Ladies and gentlemen, any system that denies its people the ability to reach their fullest potential...the ability to create...the ability to think and act creatively...will not prevail against those who live in freedom.

There really are no appropriate adjectives to describe the acts of cowardice and death we experienced last week. But we have an opportunity to send a signal to the world and to those who would intimidate us and have us surrender our freedoms to fear that we will not be denied.

President Bush talked about the "steel of our resolve." Much of this steel comes from the knowledge that we stand together...that we have a history of standing together.

Those who visited their evil on us last week made a huge mistake in not reviewing history before attacking our institutions. And I emphasize our institutions because an attack against any of us is an attack against all of us. Indeed, they made a huge mistake, and those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

We will link arms and we will prevail. As Prime Minister Blair said: "This was not an attack on America alone."

Let me add here that while I have no doubt that our alliance is strong and that it will hold...we will also move forward with the support of many others around the world as well. Make no mistake about it. Democracy and freedom and the economic and human progress that come with them are coveted around the world.

Like dark days in the past when our nations were challenged, our enemies underestimate the determination of people to remain free...to defend freedom. The United States and the nations of Europe can count on strong support and comfort from nations everywhere.

Certainly, the display of violence last week was incredible in its power, precision and effect. But it was one awful moment in time. Our nations working together have the ability to forge accomplishments that are timeless.

So, we won't be intimidated by these events. We won't be deterred or slowed in our progress. And in this regard, we have an opportunity to come together this November. We can demonstrate in Doha that even with the differences one would expect from those with individual national interests, we will meet and work for the best interests of all parties.

We must continue to work toward a world that trades in freedom...a world where prosperity is built through the power of markets; a world where open trade spurs economic and legal reform; a world of cooperation that enhances prosperity, while protecting the environment and lifting the quality of life for all.

There's another very important consideration for us today. With last week's events hanging over us, the threat of a worldwide recession becomes very real. Our enemies would like nothing better than for that threat to become a reality. Their actions were, no doubt, calculated, to add instability to our economic structures. Well, we can't let that happen...we won't let that happen.

The cowards who attacked our nation last week know very little about what drives our success. An editorial writer for the Wall Street Journal put it this way: "The terrorists may have thought they were striking at the center of world trade and finance.... In fact that is a reflection of their own misunderstanding of what accounts for the West's wealth. For the market's center is somewhere in the ether, or rather in free human minds making their own choices and calculations."

And now - more than ever - with those free minds we must focus on strategies that are centered on growth. And the surest route to a more stable economic environment for all nations is greater openness to the world market. A global trade order based on WTO core principles of transparency, predictability, and non-discrimination, levels the trade playing field and gives all countries, especially developing countries, greater opportunities to increase their incomes and living standards.

It is said that terrorism can strike anywhere, anytime and we must be on guard and wary. Well, I say that freedom and democracy can blossom anywhere, and that open lanes of trade and commerce offer us first-strike capabilities.

We must always keep in mind that globalization is about human freedom...social, political and intellectual freedom. And the future growth and prosperity of all nations depends on how we will develop and compete in foreign markets. The freer the flow of world trade, the stronger the tides of human progress and peace among nations.

I believe this generation of leaders has both the courage and the resolve to unleash the power of free people and free trade across the globe. The time for free trade is before us. We must continue to strive to open markets and create opportunities. Again, we must demonstrate to our enemies that we won't be intimidated...that we won't be driven off our path.

We must make sure that individuals are given a personal stake in deciding economic policies and benefiting from their success. For it is only when man can discover and create, only when rigid government controls are abandoned, only then can societies remain dynamic, progressive and, indeed, free.

So, let us come together once again, as we have always done in the past, and let all who would challenge us see that we will not only meet their challenge...we will prevail. We will prevail because the human spirit will not be extinguished. Freedom and democracy will not be denied to men and women around the world who are striving for a better life for their families, communities and nations.

No, my friends, our enemies have not learned from history. If they had, they would never have attacked us. That was a grave mistake because it brings us all closer together and strengthens us.

President Kennedy once asked: "When at some future date the high court of history sits in judgment on each of us - recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled our responsibilities to the state - our success o r failure, in whatever office we may hold, will be measured by the answers to four questions - were we truly men of courage...were we truly men of judgment...were we truly men of integrity...were we truly men of dedication?"

As we move forward, let us be determined to stand and answer "yes" to each of those questions.

Thank you.