Speeches and Remarks

9/11/01: Just Yesterday, by David C. Mulford, U.S. Ambassador to India

September 11, 2004

(This signed article appeared in the September 11 edition of The Hindustan Times.)

Three years ago today, the world witnessed an unprecedented attack on the civilized world. The attacks of 9/11 shocked men and women throughout the world and ended the lives of citizens from over 90 countries, including many Indians. In the aftermath of those horrible events, the United States and India embraced a completely new and common vow that terrorism must be confronted; that terrorism must be fought; and that terrorism must be ended.

This joint undertaking applies to every corner of the United States. And it applies to every corner of India. 9/11 marked a turning point in how the United States views terrorism, and it was a catalyst that helped our two great democracies forge a closer partnership in the Global War on Terrorism.

The images of that day remain etched in the minds of all who saw them. To many Americans, 9/11 still seems like yesterday. On that day, al-Qaida's hijack crews stole the future from nearly 3000 innocent people from all around the world and devastated the lives of their families and friends. They murdered infants cradled in their mothers' arms and grandparents flying to visit their loved ones. And now as plans move forward in Manhattan to build a memorial for the victims at Ground Zero, as well as a new office tower - 1776-feet tall, symbolic of the year of America's independence - we honor the souls lost that day in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. We pray for the families and loved ones still struggling with their loss and left with only memories.

Americans are well aware that terrorism was not invented on September 11. Far too many countries around the world have endured tragic attacks for decades and even centuries. The September 11 attacks, however, demonstrated that today's terrorists intend to strike to the limits of their power. The recent terrible attack on the school in Russia in which so many innocent men, women and children died is simply another example of this barbarism.

And we should have no illusions about the motives of people who murder innocents for political reasons and who seek to undermine the very pillars of our democracies -- in New York, in Washington, at the Parliament in New Delhi, in Mumbai, and too frequently in J&K. These people are simply terrorists, and we should always be sure to call them exactly that.

This shared threat from terrorism on the part of the United States and India has hastened the redefinition of our relationship and helped drive our strategic partnership to new levels of depth, breadth and intensity. We have come a long way in expanding our cooperation and dialogue with India on terrorism. It is our duty to ourselves, to our nations and to our children to fight this evil so that our peoples can live peaceful and prosperous lives for generations to come.

Tempered by the tragedy of 9/11, America is determined to face this threat, not ignore it or simply wait for future attacks. In the post-9/11 environment, the U.S. is working with its allies to reconfigure national and international security arrangements in order to prevail over terrorists as well as the states and organizations supporting them.

Our objective is a lasting, democratic peace in which nations can develop and prosper, free from the threat of terror. We are helping to build a hopeful future for people who have suffered for far too long. We will not allow troubled regions to remain mired in despair and violence.

Quite simply, in democratic and successful societies, men and women do not adopt mass murder as a national policy; they turn their hearts and minds to building better lives for themselves and for their families through education and hard work. Democratic governments do not shelter terrorist camps or kill innocent men, women, and children. Rather, they raise their citizens up, expending their energies and resources on fostering the rule of law and seeking expanded opportunities for trade and other exchanges.

While debate continues on how much the September 11 assault changed the international system, there is no doubt that day produced a huge shift in the national psychology of the citizens of the United States. America suddenly realized what Indians had tragically known for well over a decade. Terrorism is an evil that must be dealt with directly and forcefully. There can be no compromise in this fight. We will win the war on terrorism.

Americans pause with you today to remember the fallen who died on September 11, 2001. We replay in our minds the images of that horrific day, but we also embrace new images of hope. We remember the worldwide outpouring of sorrow and solidarity - in town plazas and at U.S. embassies - that were the seeds of the international campaign against terrorism launched in the wake of the attacks. We are committed to continuing to work with the international community toward the day when terrorists' messages fall flat, when their wallets are empty, and when their recruits turn away to take advantage of opportunities made possible by those who would build, not destroy.