The fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks is an appropriate occasion for the international community to reaffirm our unequivocal condemnation of all acts of terror. The sad anniversary is on occasion to reflect on the inhumanity of terrorist mass murderers whom the world must confront, and the shared challenge we face as an international community to confront an ideology that promotes hate, destruction and death.
Terrorism affects all of us. The victims of September 11th included citizens of more than 90 different countries and adherents of many faiths. Terrorism has brought tragedy, destruction, death and terrible grief to innocent people across the world, from Indonesia to Morocco, Spain, Jordan, England, India and Egypt. Terrorist attacks against the United States and our friends and allies began long before we acted to remove the Taliban regime, which was harboring al Qaeda in Afghanistan, or to remove Saddam Hussein's brutal regime from power in Iraq. The terrorists, such as those who were responsible for September 11 and those who may be behind the most recent mass murder plot targeting airplanes in London, have long targeted innocent people.
The fight against terrorism is a concerted fight for values and principles that are universal. The United States is far from perfect, yet we believe the ideals of freedom and justice that guide us are right and true for people everywhere. Much more unites us as citizens of the world than divides us. Across all borders, we share a common humanity. While the color of our skin, the language we speak, or the way we worship may be different, people everywhere aspire to speak their minds, participate in their society, worship freely, live in security, and pursue education, jobs and greater opportunities for their families.
All major religions, including Islam, Buddhism, Christianity and Judaism, share a commitment to social justice, compassion, concern for the poor, and love of family and community. All these faiths teach that life is precious, and that taking innocent life, including your own, is wrong.
As we look back on September 11, 2001, we also look forward. Five years after September 11, it is clear that the fight against terrorism will not be short nor will it be easy. It is also crystal clear that it is a struggle in which no democratic state can be a spectator. We seek to work in a spirit of partnership with people and nations across the world to confront this ideology of hate and foster a climate of hope and opportunity. The Coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan remain there at the request of the Governments of Iraq and Afghanistan, and afford the peoples of those two nations a chance to build their nascent democracies, and to build up their own armed forces to protect themselves from the terrorists who are enemies of freedom. Mongolia has recognized that its national interest lies in confronting the terrorist threat to freedom and peace, and the United States is grateful and proud to stand with a partner like Mongolia.
