M A I N   N E W S

USA seeks to crush terrorism
Can strike terrorist bases

WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (PTI) — President Bill Clinton has asserted that the USA “makes no concessions to terrorists” and reserves the right to strike terrorist bases, as it did unilaterally in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan for hosting Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden.

“As long as terrorists continue to target American citizens, we reserve the right to act in self-defence by striking at their bases and those who sponsor, assist or actively support them,” Clinton warned.

In his latest national security strategy report to the Congress, Clinton announced, “We make no concessions to terrorists. We fully exploit all available legal mechanisms to punish international terrorists, eliminate foreign terrorists and their support networks in our country, and extend the reach of financial sanctions to international terrorist support networks.”

Stating that “the USA has made concerted efforts to deter and punish terrorists” the US President said his country would “remain determined to apprehend and bring to justice those who terrorise American citizens.”

“Because terrorist organisations may not be deterred by traditional means we must ensure a robust capability to accurately attribute the source of attacks against the United States or its citizens and to respond effectively and decisively to protect our national interests,” he said.

He also sought to eliminate terrorist sanctuaries overseas, counter state support for terrorism and help other governments improve their capabilities to combat terrorism.  

The FBI, Clinton pointed out, has five rapid deployment teams ready to respond quickly to terrorist events anywhere in the world.

Bin Laden’s terrorist training camps in Afghanistan, said Clinton, had trained literally thousands of terrorists from around the globe.

Transnational threats, said Clinton, include terrorism, drug trafficking and other international crime, and illegal trade in fissile materials and other dangerous substances.

Clinton also said the USA reserve the right to intervene militarily with allies to stop genocide and ethnic cleansing as in Kosovo.

Pointing out that ethnic conflict represents a great challenge to American values and their security, he said “when it erupts in ethnic cleansing or genocide, ethnic conflict is a grave violation of universal human rights.

“Innocent civilians should not be subject to forcible relocation or slaughter because of their religious, ethnic, racial or tribal heritage”, he said adding “we will work to strengthen the capacity of the international community to prevent and whenever possible stop outbreaks of mass killing and displacement.”

Stating that “the USA and other countries cannot respond to every humanitarian crisis in the world, he however said, “When the world community has the power to stop genocide and ethnic cleansing, we will work with our allies and partners, and with the United Nations to mobilise against such violence — as we did in Bosnia and Kosovo.”