www.dailytelegraph.com/opinion

The mood in the White House is one of 'hard-favoured rage'

By Charles Powell

TWO weeks on from the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, the dominant impression is no longer of their stomach-churning savagery. It is of the quality, indeed nobility, of the American response by both government and people.

There has been no lashing out in blind fury, as predicted by America's patronising critics in Europe. Nor has a frightened superpower taken cover behind its continental walls. Instead of histrionics, we have witnessed old-fashioned patriotism and steely resolve, reflected in President Bush's address to Congress. America has shown that it knows how to rise to a challenge. When Colin Powell retired as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, he quoted Thuycidides: "Of all manifestations of power, restraint impresses men most." That is the mood and quality of America.

There are weasel words emerging of a "proportionate" or "targeted" response - meaning proportionate to European governments' fears of becoming a target or threats to European interests in the Middle East. There were similar voices when the Falklands were invaded, urging restraint because of the risks of military defeat and of upsetting Latin American opinion; similar voices greeted the invasion of Kuwait, bleating that a military response could trigger a Third World War.

Those voices were ignored by Margaret Thatcher and by George Bush Snr then, and will rightly be ignored now. From recent contacts with several members of Mr Bush's cabinet, I am in no doubt that proportionate means proportionate to the scale of the violence and injury inflicted on America - equivalent in a single hour to more than a tenth of all US casualties in 15 years of Vietnam. The military response will go well beyond a few cruise missiles cratering the Afghan desert, the sort of gesture favoured by President Clinton. The build-up of American and British forces implies that there will be a sustained attack against terrorists in Afghanistan and the Taliban forces that try to protect them.

The Americans are wisely concentrating on that difficult task before moving on. But move on they will. Afghanistan is not the only country to shelter terrorists. Other countries know that the Americans know their past record: and they include some American allies as well as foes. They will face demands for detailed intelligence on terrorist groups, for their arrest and extradition and for verifiable guarantees that all support for them will cease. If they do not respond adequately - and in cases such as Iraq that must be probable - they will face the destruction of military installations and defence industries.

Fainter hearts will demand that action must be approved in advance by the UN. I recall a similar debate in Washington after Saddam invaded Kuwait. Mrs Thatcher insisted that the right of self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter gave the necessary authority to go to war. If she had been listened to, Saddam might no longer be there. Instead, by depending on UN authority for military action, the Gulf coalition could do no more than chase the Iraqis out of Kuwait. The Americans will have learnt from that experience.

Although Mr Bush has handled the crisis impeccably, there have been disappointments. One is attacks on individual Muslims and their places of worship. The message must go out that, far from being hostile to Muslims, America was their main defence in Bosnia and Kosovo, doing more for them than any Muslim government. Incidentally, America is the main provider of emergency aid to Afghanistan.

Another disappointment is the cancellation of international meetings, notably the IMF/World Bank's Washington conference. They have let themselves be disrupted by terrorism and the threats of anti-globalisation protesters. Israel's conduct has been cynical to a degree - and I say that as a life-long supporter. If ever an act was calculated to destroy sympathy for the Palestinian cause and remind everyone what Jews have experienced for so long, it was the attacks on the World Trade Centre. Instead of using the moment to start fresh negotiations, Ariel Sharon, Israel's prime minister, continues to build settlements. Such selfishness gravely undermines Israel's moral standing.

Nor have financial markets distinguished themselves, despite the heroic efforts to re-open in New York. Investors have led the scamper to the bomb shelters. Given reductions in interest rates, the massive liquidity injected into the markets by central banks, tax cuts with the promise of more to come and the heavy additional public spending now promised in America, eventual recovery is programmed into the system. No one would suggest that patriotism alone is sufficient reason for investing. But it is disappointing that markets cannot show more self-confidence and less short-termism.

Some good will come of the grim experience to which America has been subjected. As with victory in 1945 and the end of the Cold War in 1989, what previously seemed impossible suddenly becomes achievable. The cards are thrown in the air and land differently. Over the past two weeks, there have been signs of unprecedented willingness to work with America from Russia and China, and even from Iran.

Could this presage a new pattern of international co-operation, transcending previous hostility? Could we see America launch a renewed effort to achieve settlement between Israel and the Palestinians? Could this spell the end of ambivalence about terrorism; not just "terrorism with a global reach", in the cautious words of diplomats, but all terrorism, including the IRA's? Might Nato take on a new lease of life as the prime forum of transatlantic co-operation? So-called European defence institutions have been distinguished by their total irrelevance to recent events. All these changes are achievable if America and its allies maintain the resolve they have demonstrated these past two weeks.

Lord Powell was private secretary to the prime minister, 1983-91

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

Answers

Good read, indeed!

When Colin Powell retired as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, he quoted Thuycidides: "Of all manifestations of power, restraint impresses men most."

Quite so. And very difficult to exercise when it is needed most.

Thuycidides . . .just something about that name I like. :-)

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001

Yep. He reads the same stuff as Sweetie, who has just about all the Greek and Roman classics. Just looking over at his side of the bookcase headboard and there I see Combined Arms Warfare in the 20th Century, and a bunch of books on different kinds of tanks. He's taking a break from building aeroplanes and is now painting miniatures which he then puts into various battle formations. Hey, some guys play with trains--this is quieter.

From the number of people Sweetie sees at contests and communicates with over the Net, a large number of military and ex-military guys (and some non-military) read similar books and have similar hobbies. I think it leads to a steady hand and a cool head.

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001

better than a cool hand...

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001