Bush Warns of Continuing Danger As Rival Factions Fight It Out in Afghanistan

02/06/2002| IslamWeb

HIGHLIGHTS: Pre-emptive Strikes-a New Component of Bush's Anti-terror Campaign||Fighting Terror Marks an Historic Shift in International Relations||At Least 10 People Were Killed in Factional Fighting in Southwestern Afghanistan||STORY: The United States will strike pre-emptively against suspected terrorists if necessary to deter attacks on Americans, President Bush told West Point graduates Saturday. "The war on terror will not be won on the defensive," he said. (Read photo caption)

Warning of the continuing danger, he said: "We must take the battle to the enemy, disrupt its plans, and confront the worst threats before they emerge."

Bush heard doubts from some Europeans last week about a possible expansion in the war on terror, but he sounded firm Saturday in his belief that a widening may be needed. He chose a receptive audience in the 25,000 people at West Point's Michie Stadium, among them 958 members of the U.S. Military Academy's class of 2002 - future leaders of the Army - who applauded throughout his speech.

Bush did not mention the nations he has identified as an "axis of evil" - Iraq, Iran and North Korea. Aides said his message, with references to "unbalanced dictators with weapons of mass destruction," was aimed at those states and any others that might sponsor or harbor terrorists.

A HISTORIC SHIFT IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

The president also framed the war on terrorism as one that could bring a historic shift in international relations, from violent competition among the "great powers" to cooperation in fighting a shared enemy.

"More and more, civilized nations find ourselves on the same side, united by common dangers of terrorist violence and chaos," he said.

In the wide-ranging, 53-minute speech, Bush took on a host of international responsibilities alongside combating terrorism: fighting global poverty and promoting democracy, human rights and healthier economies overseas.

RIVALS BATTLE IN AFGHAN TOWN

In Afghanistan, Washington's pilot project for its new found claim to world leadership, rival factions fought with rockets and small arms fire in the capital of the southwestern Afghan province of Nimroz, killing at least 10 people. The fighting between the two factions started on Friday night in the provincial capital Zaranj, near the Iranian border, and continued on Saturday.

A resident in Nimroz said the forces led by provincial security chief Mohammad Yaqub Barakzai, a close relative of Kandahar governor Gul Agha Sherzai, were being surrounded by a force loyal to commander Abdul Quddus.

Gul Agha, an ally of Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai, has sent reinforcements for Barakzai, Afghan sources in the area said.

PHOTO CAPTION

President Bush arrives for the U.S. Military Academy graduation at West Point, New York, Saturday June 1, 2002. Lt. Gen. William J. Lennox Jr., is at right. President Bush told West Point graduates Saturday that they must protect and preserve American freedom at a time when terrorism puts it in jeopardy. (AP Photo/Joe Marquette)
- Jun 01 4:31 PM ET