Notes for an Address
by Prime Minister Jean ChrétienOctober 9, 2001
Ottawa, Ontario
I can think of no more fitting place to be today than before this meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. NATO is a coalition forged at the beginning of the last great struggle for justice of the 20th century: the Cold War. It is the most successful military alliance in history. It is a trans-Atlantic symbol of the collective will and resolve of free nations to stand up for their way of life.
As we have seen in the days since September 11, 2001, the free and civilized nations of the world have joined hands to press the first great struggle for justice of the 21st century. The struggle to defy and defeat the forces of terrorism.
We draw strength and confidence from the lesson in common purpose and resolve of NATO. And we can all be proud of the manner in which NATO has responded in the days since the attacks. By invoking Article 5 for the first time in history we made it clear: an attack against one is an attack against all.
Canada was a Charter member of NATO. Indeed my friend and predecessor Lester Pearson was one of the visionaries who was present at the creation. And we are a Charter member in this new multi-national multi-ethnic coalition. against terror.
At the request of President George Bush the Armed Forces of Canada are on the move. As I speak naval ships air transports and air surveillance planes have been assigned specific tasks. All Canadians understand what is being asked of the men and women of our Armed Forces and their families. As always they are ready to serve. As always they will do Canada proud.
But even as this campaign has begun. We must be clear in our minds that it is a new kind of struggle against a new kind of enemy. And we must not allow ourselves to be trapped by the rhetoric or experiences of past wars. To define our tactics. Or measure our success.
We are not taking on a marauding army or nation, who seeks to impose its will by invading or occupying other states, but a band of marauding extremists who seek to impose a state of mind. A state of terror. Their twisted calculus for success is not territorial gain. But the extent to which they can through terror rip at the very fibre of our societies. Disrupt our economies. Set community against community. Faith against faith. Or citizen against citizen.
The scope of the threat that terror poses to our societies and our way of life has no precedent or parallel in history. Defeating that threat will require coalition action across a broad front. Including military and diplomatic and financial action. Humanitarian relief. And enhanced domestic security programs and legislation.
And I want to take a moment at this time to praise the patience and wisdom that President George Bush has shown in rallying the world since September 11th . He has been patient and measured in his response. He has assembled a coalition of unprecedented size and ethnic composition. A coalition which transcends old Cold War divides.
Ladies and gentlemen we have also made it clear that we have no quarrel with Islam. This is a struggle against a cadre of extremists. Whose goal is to terrify and disrupt nations. Whose acts of mass murder have unjustly smeared a great world religion.
We have no quarrel with the people of Afghanistan. And they have no quarrel with us. Our dispute is with the terrorists. And with the Taliban regime that insists on giving them safe harbour.
As always, every effort has been made in planning military action to limit civilian casualties. And the nations of our coalition will provide all necessary humanitarian assistance to those who are displaced.
Ladies and gentlemen it is also a measure of the nature of the threat we face that it will be confronted not only abroad but also at home. The mass murder of September 11th has shown beyond any doubt that no nation is immune to the threat of terror. And it has placed a high premium on taking effective action at home and abroad on our own and in concert with coalition partners to protect our citizens
Our government has taken forceful action to protect Canadians. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service are working with international investigators in the ongoing hunt to track down and catch terrorists. And destroy their shadow networks .
Our border crossings remain on a high state of alert. Security measures for air travellers have been increased. Any assets of Osama bin Laden or his associates in Canada are frozen. And in response to Security Council Resolution 1373, we have implemented tough new regulations aimed at suppressing the financing of terrorism.
We already had legislation in Parliament that will reinforce immigrant and refugee screening and impair the ability of terrorists to raise money in Canada.
To plan our next moves I have appointed a Cabinet Committee on Security. Thanks to its focus and input, we are already are in a position this week to announce new programs that will enhance security at our borders and for air travellers.
And next week we will announce a legislative and program package that will substantially upgrade the tools we have to counter and turn back the forces of terror.
We will also work with our partners in the G-7 to ensure the stability of the global economy. This past weekend our finance ministers met in Washington.
At home, our economic fundamentals are better - much better - than they have been for over 30 years. That has not changed since September 11th. And our government will continue to follow economic and fiscal policies that, even in the wake of September 11, will enable business and consumers to look to the future with optimism and confidence.
Ladies and gentlemen a campaign has begun. A global struggle against a determined adversary. Whose outcome will shape the 21st century in ways as profound as the epic battles of the century that has just closed. And in which NATO played a decisive role.
The terrorists are now getting a painful wake up call of their own. Their days of being able to run and hide are over. As so many failed and discarded ideologies of the past they have fatally underestimated the will and resolve of free and civilized peoples.
Make no mistake. The struggle ahead will be long, with the risk of many painful sacrifices a long the way. We must remain strong and vigilant. We must insist on living on our terms. According to our values. Not on terms dictated from the shadows.
My friends we have not picked this fight. But we will finish it!
- 30 -