Statement on War and Terrorism issued by KFEM
Lastly, the US should realize that the recent terrorist attacks were largely attributable to its hard-line policy. The attack clearly displayed to the US the consequences of its selfishness.
Source : KFEM
The Korean Federation for Environmental Movement (KFEM) would like to extend our respect and words of encouragement to those courageous Americans who are persevering through the indescribable pain and tragedy in unity and calm. Through the statement released on the 12th September, we join the rest of the world in honoring the memory of the thousands of victims of the brutal attacks and in comforting those who lost loved ones. We also want to reinforce our basic stance that opposes any kind of terrorist act, wars, and other
activities of mass murder, regardless of the motivation.
Today, we would like to point out that an over reactive response by the Bush
Administration could bring about negative consequences for the world. Currently, the Bush Administration vows to wage retaliatory measures against those who are responsible for the heinous crime. But, we think now is not the time for retaliation. Now is the time to focus more on healing the hearts of the American public seared by the attack, and on removing the root cause behind the attack? A tit-for-tat kind of response could only trigger a vicious cycle of war. We are disappointed by the responses from the US political community that are strikingly different from the ones that are displayed by the American public, who are responding with calm to help the victims and those who suffered
personal losses.
KFEM thinks the US administration's counter-terrorist measures entail 3 risks.
1. A declaration of war against those responsible will subject the nation to a new set of risks and calamity. As the recent attack revealed, not a single country, despite its strong military deterrence, can guard itself against malicious and thoroughly planned acts of terrorists. The US should be reminded of the fact its actions could prompt another set of wars, and it would be its own innocent people that would fall victim to these wars.
2. The Bush administration's option of retaliation has a high possibility of giving birth to a new era of confrontation in the world. Currently, out of an attempt to increase its military capability, Japan announced that it would fully support the US, if it makes retaliatory moves against those responsible. NATO, too, on its part, announced that it regards the attacks against the US as an attack against itself. If the US succeeds in hunting down those responsible and thus wage military attacks against them, chances are high for surrounding countries to be mired in a devastating war. And this, in turn, will surely have a spillover effect in the international community by bringing about an era of confrontation and war. The US should keep in mind that the whole world is hoping it will make a wise decision.
3. The Bush Administration's actions could cast a dark cloud over the peace process on the Korean peninsula. The Bush Administration's unilateralism, military expansion and hard-line stance toward North Korea are currently serving as big impediments to the peace process between the two Koreas. If the US chooses the option of war by jumping on the bandwagon of hostility and nationalism that are prevalent among the American public in the wake of the terrorist attack, it will certainly increase the possibility for the nation to tilt toward unilateralism and military deterrence in the future. And this will
inevitably hamper the two Korea's effort to establish long-lasting peace on the Korean peninsula.
The Bush administration should refrain from making this act of terrorism escalate into a war. We think that the most viable option for the US is to cooperate with the international community to hunt down the terrorists and bring them to justice. The US received strong international criticism for bombing Afghanistan in 1998 to do away with Osama bin Laden after it came to nothing. We hope the US has learned from its past mistakes by refraining from resorting to military deterrence.
Lastly, the US should realize that the recent terrorist attacks were largely attributable to its hard-line policy. The attack clearly displayed to the US the consequences of its selfishness. Until now, the US pursued MD project, implemented unilateral military policy and refused to participate in the global effort for peace, environment and human rights in order to pursue their national interest at the expense of others. And this is what made room for hostility against the US to take root across the world. With this in mind,
KFEM believes that the most effective way for the US to remove the world's hostility and hatred against the nation is to transform itself into a full-fledged member of the international community, which places an emphasis on promoting the cause of peace, human rights and environment.
* The commentary is in line with the announcement made on the 12th September and KFEM will continue to reveal its stance as the situation unfolds.
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