12 December 2001

Lawmaker Praises International Cooperation in War on Terrorism

The ranking minority member of the House Armed Services Committee took to the floor of the House of Representatives December 12 to praise the help provided by foreign nations in the war on terrorism.

"The State and Defense Departments provided me with a list of 29 countries plus the European Union who have contributed to our current counter terrorist efforts," Representative Ike Skelton told fellow lawmakers.

"While each country is helping in specific ways, they all are making a difference in our ability to thwart the global threat posed by terrorist groups like al Qaeda," Skelton said.

The Missouri Democrat cited President Bush's warning that the war on terrorism "will be a long and multifaceted one."

To succeed, Skelton said, the United States will need the "continued strength and commitment of the American people," as well as "the ongoing support of our friends around the world."

Skelton, one of the foremost defense experts in the Congress, said it was in everyone's interest to end terrorist activity, "and it will take global efforts to achieve this goal."

Skelton gave special thanks to Great Britain, "who has stood with us diplomatically and fought alongside us in Afghanistan. The depth of this special friendship is one for which we should be profoundly grateful."

Beyond Europe, Skelton continued, "our allies in Asia -- Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand -- have all provided combat or support forces for this fight."

Skelton also said U.S. relations with Russia and India "have improved greatly because of our common struggle against terrorism and their continued efforts to support us."

Skelton also noted "the remarkable actions of Muslim countries in this global struggle."

Following is the text of Representative Skelton's December 12 remarks from the Congressional Record:

Mr. Skelton: Mr. Speaker, in the aftermath of the devastating attacks on New York and Washington on September 11, the United States has taken a range of swift and decisive actions to bring the terrorists responsible to justice and to ensure that sponsors of terrorism are uprooted. Our military has helped drive the Taliban from power in most of Afghanistan and has tightened the noose on Osama bin Laden and his compatriots. We have seized terrorist assets around the world, putting those who would help terrorists on notice that we will dry up those sources of support.

In our military, diplomatic and financial efforts, the United States has received unprecedented support from the international community. Many countries around the world have converted their sympathy into real acts of solidarity. Our battle against terrorism is a global fight. Success requires sustaining a broad coalition of diplomatic and military partners over the long term.

Recently, the State and Defense Departments provided me with a list of 29 countries plus the European Union who have contributed to our current counter terrorist efforts. While each country is helping in specific ways, they all are making a difference in our ability to thwart the global threat posed by terrorist groups like al Qaeda.

Our allies in Europe are among our most committed partners. NATO took the unprecedented step of invoking article 5 of its charter, considering the attacks on the United States as attacks on the alliance as a whole. The European Union has offered broad diplomatic support and nations throughout Europe, from France and Germany to Poland, have offered military and domestic counter terrorism units. Unique among these loyal European partners is Great Britain who has stood with us diplomatically and fought alongside us in Afghanistan. The depth of this special friendship is one for which we should be profoundly grateful.

Beyond our European partners, our allies in Asia-- Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand--have all provided combat or support forces for this fight. Our relationships with Russia and with India have improved greatly because of our common struggle against terrorism and their continued efforts to support us.

Finally, I would like to note the remarkable actions of Muslim countries in this global struggle. So many are our friends and recognize that the war against terrorism is not a war against Islam. Pakistan has been crucial to our efforts in Afghanistan and has demonstrated great courage in helping lead the struggle against radical terrorism. Our NATO partner, Turkey, has provided special operations troops and has helped bridge the gap between the West and other Muslim nations. States in the Gulf and throughout Central Asia have also chosen to stand with the global community, seizing terrorist assets, providing public support for our military efforts and granting critical overflight and basing rights.

As President Bush has said many times, this war will be a long and multifaceted one. To succeed, we will need the continued strength and commitment of the American people, but we will also need the ongoing support of our friends around the world. It is in the global interest to end terrorist activity and it will take global efforts to achieve this goal.