05 November 2001

Text: Ross Says War Against Terrorism Targets Al-Qaida, Taliban

The war that the international coalition is fighting in Afghanistan is a war against terrorism and those who belong to al-Qa'ida and the Taliban, not against the true Islamic religion or against Afghanistan and its people, stressed Ambassador Christopher Ross, Special Advisor to the Department of State.

Appearing November 3 on the al-Jazeera program, "The First War of the 21st Century," Ambassador Ross responded to a recent videotaped statement delivered by al-Qaida leader Usama bin Laden.

Praising Islam as "one of the great revealed religions" that "enjoys the respect of the American people and government," Ross said that "the murder and destruction for which those people are calling in the name of Islam has nothing to do with Islam."

Ross called bin Laden's allegation that the U.S. is leading a religious war against Islam "ludicrous," pointing out that the U.S. "respects and embraces all religions."

"We are convinced that the true Islamic religion, which over many centuries has taught mankind its lessons of love, tolerance, and respect for other religions, is innocent of the offenses of those people. The terrorists of al-Qa`ida have dishonored this heavenly message," Ross stated.

Ross cited several examples of past and current U.S. support for Muslims, including:

• U.S. authorities' prosecution of anyone who tries to violate Muslims' freedom of worship

• U.S. leading the international effort to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan

• U.S. and its coalition partners' support of the United Nations' efforts to establish a future Afghan government that includes representatives of all major segments and groups of Afghans

Following is the text of Ambassador Ross' 3 November statement:

Greetings, Muhammad, and greetings to viewers in the Arab and Muslim worlds.

A large number of allegations and accusations have been broadcast and published in recent times. The facts completely contradict these allegations and claims.

As President Bush has stated repeatedly, the war that the international coalition is fighting is not a war against the true Islamic religion [al-din al-Islami al-hanif] or against Afghanistan and its people.

It is a war against terrorism and against those who belong to al-Qa`ida -- those who committed the crimes of September 11 and the crimes that preceded them in East Africa and other places.

Thousands of innocent Americans and other numbers from more than 80 countries have lost their lives as a result of these criminal attacks. And hundreds of Muslims from various countries, among them Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kenya, and Tanzania have paid the price of these terrorist acts with their lives.

The perpetrators of these crimes do not respect or esteem the value of human life. They have wronged the teachings of the true Islamic religion, and they will pay the price of their crimes. They will not escape punishment. The coalition will persevere and win.

It is also a war against an extremist Afghan faction that gave refuge to the criminals of al-Qa`ida and rejected repeated demands to surrender them over a period of two months.

This faction, i.e., the Taliban, has terrorized and dispossessed the Afghan people and has murdered thousands of Muslims who did not share its extremist views.

The allegation that the United States is leading a religious war against the true Islamic religion is ludicrous. It reflects the deep desperation and bankruptcy of those who have nothing useful to offer the world.

Islam is one of the great revealed religions and enjoys the respect of the American people and government. The murder and destruction for which those people are calling in the name of Islam has nothing to do with Islam.

The United States is a country that respects and embraces all religions. A growing number of American Muslims are in the United States. This number has reached several million. They pray in large numbers of mosques.

In contrast to the fate of those living under the heels of extremists, Muslims in America live in an atmosphere of security and tolerance. The American authorities strive to prosecute anyone who tries to violate their freedom of worship.

In addition, the United States has often led international efforts to defend Muslims. In the decades that followed the Second World War, it strongly supported a number of Islamic countries striving to achieve independence. In the recent past, American forces fought for and at the side of the Muslims of Kuwait, Bosnia, and Kosovo and tried to stop the fighting among warring Muslim factions in Somalia.

In interacting with the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where millions of innocents have suffered and continue to suffer from the excesses of the Taliban, the United States is leading international efforts to provide relief assistance. Indeed, it is the biggest contributor to this assistance.

This support is not new, since the United States was providing large amounts of relief assistance to the Afghan people inside and outside Afghanistan before the terrorist attacks occurred.

Since military operations began, the United States has provided more than one million meals to the Afghan people. With the approach of winter it will continue to provide this assistance. President Bush has announced an increase in support amounting to an additional 320 million dollars.

On the political level, the United States and its coalition partners are supporting the efforts of the United Nations to arrive at a political settlement that includes representatives of all the major segments and groups of Afghans and leads to a better future for all.

The terrorists are falsifying facts and history. They are calling openly for violence and murder and insisting on making this war a religious war. These people committed the ugliest of terrorist crimes, crimes that the entire world, all international bodies, including the United Nations, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and the League of Arab States, and all peace-loving countries have condemned.

Al-Qa`ida and its leaders continue to call for murdering innocent people and to incite the Islamic peoples to violence and sedition in the name of religion. Anyone who differs with their view becomes, in their opinion, an unbeliever and apostate.

We are convinced that the true Islamic religion, which over many centuries has taught mankind its lessons of love, tolerance, and respect for other religions, is innocent of the offenses of those people. The terrorists of al-Qa`ida have dishonored this heavenly message.

The urgent question that must be asked in the Islamic world does not, in reality, concern war between Muslims and non-Muslims, because such a war is the stuff of fantasy and delusion.

The real question is whether the words and deeds of the terrorists of al-Qa`ida and their continuous call for violence and murder represent the majority of Muslims striving to build a better life.

We are positive that the members of this gang do not under any circumstances represent the peaceable Muslim majority. The evils they have perpetrated will, in the end, be behind their sweeping and certain failure.