  Is the world safer now? -- Akahata editorial, September 11It is three years since terrorists using hijacked aircraft attacked the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. In his speech in early September accepting the Republican Party nomination for the presidency, U.S. President George W. Bush stated that having come through the Afghanistan War and the Iraq War, "America and the world are safer" now. Are there people who can say "That's true"? Most people are increasingly concerned about terrorist attacks that occur one after another in the world. They are saddened by the present difficult situation facing Afghan and Iraqi people. War victimizing citizens In the U.S. war of aggression against Iraq alone, more than 10,000 Iraqis have been killed. More than 1,000 U.S. soldiers have died in the war. The disastrous developments we see today show that Middle East leaders were right when they warned against the war on Iraq saying that such an action "would open the gates of hell." Far from eliminating terrorism, the U.S. war of aggression has added fuel to it and is killing an increasing number of innocent citizens. For all this, President Bush insists that the "lesson" to learn from the 9/11 attack is that America must confront threats before it is too late. To preemptively attack another country on the grounds that it may be a threat is war of aggression. The United Nations Charter, aiming at a world without war, does not allow its members to use military force except in "self-defense". The Bush administration used the allegation that the former Hussein regime had weapons of mass destruction and supported terrorist organizations to attack Iraq. Testimony and reports by the chief U.S. inspector and a U.S. Congress investigative committee have shown that these charges are unfounded. The Bush administration preemptively carried out a war of aggression in violation of international law and has exposed the U.N.-based international peace to danger. No acts of terrorism must be condoned under any pretext. The international community should make efforts to eradicate terrorism by exposing the networks of terrorists, arrest suspects, and bring them to justice. Only persevering efforts to create a world in which justice prevails will pave the way for eliminating terrorism and making the world's people feel secure. The Bush administration's unilateralism and policy of hegemony that infringe on the U.N. Charter and international law conflict with justice, hamper international cooperation, and even leave room for the terrorist forces to carry out their plans. This is the point we need to make clear if we are to draw "lessons" from 9.11. Join the world current of peace The U.N. as well as regional and international organizations,including the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the Non-Aligned Movement, are increasing their efforts to establish an international order of peace based on the U.N. Charter not by unilateral military action but by multinational cooperation. These efforts are reflected in the "Beijing Declaration 2004" adopted at the 3rd International Conference of Asian Political Parties in which representatives of ruling and opposition parties from 35 countries participated. Many countries previously supporting the Iraq war have decided to withdraw their troops from Iraq. As a result, the number of countries that still keep troops in Iraq has decreased to under 30. The Koizumi government has supported the Iraq war of invasion, dispatched Self-Defense Force units to Iraq, and incorporated them into the U.S.-led multinational force in violation of the constitutional principle of peace. Thus, it has turned its back on the world current of peace and the Iraqi people's wish for peace and reconstruction of their country. Now is the time for the Japanese government to change its way, immediately withdraw SDF units from Iraq, and join the world movement for peace. (end) |