Bush Urges Asian Nations on Terror War
By GEORGE GEDDA, Associated Press Writer
Saturday October 20 7:25 AM ET
SHANGHAI, China (AP) - As he mourned the deaths of two American soldiers in Pakistan, President Bush (news - web sites) told business executives Saturday the attack on the World Trade Center was an assault on a free enterprise system that has fueled prosperity throughout the Pacific rim.
``The terrorists tried to shatter confidence in the world economic system, but they failed,'' Bush said. ``The terrorists hoped world markets would collapse. But the markets have proved their resilience and fundamental strength.''
Bush spoke hours after learning that two American soldiers had died in a helicopter crash while supporting the first U.S. commando raid into Afghanistan (news - web sites).
``There will be moments of sacrifice,'' Bush said, alluding to his anti-terrorist campaign. ``We see two such examples today.
``The thing that's important for me to tell the American people is that these soldiers will not have died in vain. This is a just cause.''
Bush said he is satisfied with the progress in the two-week old military campaign. ``We are dismantling Taliban defenses, Taliban military,'' he said, referring to the radical Islamic movement that controls Afghanistan.
``We are destroying terrorist hideaways. We are slowly but surely encircling the terrorists so that we can bring them to justice.''
He spoke during a photo session with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who gave Bush a bow and arrow designed for use from a galloping horse. When fired, the arrow produces a sharp sound that signals the start of battle.
Afterward, Bush attended the opening session of annual Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC (news - web sites)) forum, a gathering of 19 nations plus Hong Kong. A 21st member, Taiwan, boycotted because it could not agree with China on an appropriate delegation head. A goal of the two-day summit is to find ways to boost the sputtering world economy.
Bush also has been using his visit to meet with his fellow heads of government to press for support for his campaign to hunt down Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) and his al-Qaida organization in Afghanistan.
Two predominantly Muslim APEC countries, Indonesia and Malaysia, have voiced objections to the U.S.-led aerial bombardment of Afghanistan that began Oct. 7. Bush's visit here coincided with the first special operations forces ground raid into southern Afghanistan.
In addition to Koizumi, Bush also exchanged views with the heads of government of Malaysia, Peru, Singapore and Brunei.
``He is concerned about the deaths of innocent people in Afghanistan and I assured him I am, too,'' Bush said of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Mahathir, in an interview with Malaysian journalists, said he told Bush that he could not support attacks on Afhganistan. ``I explained to him the anger and frustration of the Muslim world,'' Malaysia's state-run Bernama news agency quoted him as saying.
Bush used his speech to the businessmen to stress that the Sept. 11 attack was not aimed just at Americans but at the world economic system.
The market-based system embraced by APEC countries ``has brought more prosperity more quickly to more people than at any time in human history,'' he said. The vast Asia-Pacific region, Bush said, ``is demonstrating the power and appeal of markets and trade.''
As examples, he said China's per capita gross domestic product has grown by 513 percent since 1975 and that 73 percent of all South Korean households have computers.
Terrorists want to destroy this system, he said. ``Our enemies are murderers with global reach. They seek weapons on a global scale. Every nation must oppose this enemy, or be, in turn, its target.''
The summit is expected to approve a statement condemning the Sept. 11 terror attacks as ``murderous deeds'' and supporting the fight against terrorism. But the statement will stop short of endorsing the U.S.-led attacks on Afghanistan and will not refer specifically to bin Laden.
Still, Bush said he is very pleased with the collective contribution of nations around the world to the anti-terrorism effort.
``The coalition is broad and deep and strong and committed,'' he said.
Other Pacific Rim leaders said the mere act of gathering under one roof showed they won't be deterred by the global terrorism crisis.
``It sends an important message to those who would seek to undermine all that we collectively stand for, not only at a political level but also at a business level,'' Australian Prime Minister John Howard said in a speech to business leaders. |
