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It's just over a week since the deadliest terrorist attack in
U.S. History...President Gore is now addressing the nation to explain
his proposed course of action...
"...My fellow Americans...A little over a dozen years ago, Afghani
soldiers emerged victorious from a ten-year war with the Soviet Union.
These Afghan forces, aided by the military and technical support of
the United States, hastened the end of communism in the former Soviet
Union, and with it, the Cold War. Serving on the front lines in the
final battle of a fifty-year war with communism, the Afghanis paid a
terrible price for their defense of freedom. Over a million Afghanis
lost their lives fighting the USSR. The infrastructure within the
country was destroyed. Sadly, since the end of the war, circumstances
have done nothing but deteriorate.
In the decade since they defeated the Soviets, Afghanistan has endured
an almost continuous civil war that has left the country broken and
impoverished. This continuous warfare has also provided the ideal
environment for political instability. Today, Afghanistan is
nominally ruled by a radical, fundamentalist government, the Taliban,
who has evidenced little respect for even the most basic human rights.
Unfortunately, the United States bears at least some responsibility
for the sad state of affairs. During the conflict with the Soviets,
the United States armed and trained some of the most radical elements
in Afghanistan, including Osama bin Laden. Sophisticated weaponry
provided by the United States remain within the region, and in the
hands of these radical elements, to this day. At the conclusion of
the war, for all intents and purposes, the United States withdrew from
the country. Sadly, we did not help rebuild the war-torn nation, as
we had so many times in the past. Instead, we departed, leaving those
radical elements to bring about the predictable ends we have witnessed
over the past decade. Today, Afghanistan is in ruins, its people are
on the brink of starvation, it remains locked in civil warfare, and an
estimated two million impoverished Afghanis have fled the country to
refugee camps in Pakistan. The instability inherent in a nation at
war with itself has also provided the perfect environment for
terrorists to find refuge, including those who have attacked the
United States.
While we can and must pursue the terrorists who have set up their base
of operations in Afghanistan, it is not in our long-term interest that
we do so in a manner that exacerbates the humanitarian crisis which
the country now faces. Indeed, it is in the United States' interest
that we pursue these terrorists in a manner that provides the Afghani
people reason to join us, rather than resists us, in our pursuit.
Ultimately, terrorism is never going to be defeated unless the people
of all nations are joined with the United States in pursuing those who
would commit the crimes against humanity we all witnessed last week.
For that reason, our actions in Afghanistan must show the world that
cooperation with the United States in this fight is a far more noble
calling than is resistance.
Therefore, our policy will simultaneously address the humanitarian
needs of the Afghani people while we conduct military operations
directed towards bringing Osama bin Laden and his organization to
justice. The United States will immediately undertake the provision
of food, supplies, and humanitarian assistance for the Afghani people,
including those in refugee camps in Iran and Pakistan. The Afghani
people have suffered terribly, and the United States must be a part of
bringing that suffering to an end. Simultaneously, the United States
must conduct a manhunt for the terrorists responsible for the attacks
on our nation using all necessary force to bring those parties to
justice. Ours will be a mission not only to bring those who have
wronged us to justice, but to do so in a way that does not commit
further injustices.
There are many who will criticize our policy as appeasing terrorists.
Answering those critics, we note that the United States is the most
awesome military force the world has ever known. It is well within
our capability to destroy any of our adversaries with such finality
that they would never rise from the ashes. Let there be no mistake;
our actions are not taken in fear; the United States fears no one.
As a result of our power, the United States has a special
responsibility when conducting military actions. We cannot behave as
though we are terrorists, because unlike those who perpetrated crimes
against humanity last week, there is no one who could stop the United
States if we were to behave as our enemies have. Therefore, we cannot
and will not lower ourselves to the tactics and morals of terrorists.
We are the guiding light of the world, and we shall conduct ourselves
as such... Thank you...and goodnight."
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From an old e-mail from early '92. Never had a source...
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