World Trade Center Attack
"The Second Day of Infamy"
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World Trade Center Attack"The Second Day of Infamy" |
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In the days after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Washington was flooded with expressions of sympathy and condemnation from world leaders. The Bush administration has worked to turn these words into an international coalition against terrorism.
The war against terrorism, the White House has said, will not end quickly or easily -- nor will it be fought in one country or by military means alone. This reality has made building an international coalition against terrorism a top diplomatic priority for the White House, not only to find those responsible for the attacks but also to prevent future terrorist acts.
Dozens of nations have lost citizens in the World Trade Center disaster, a point Washington has tried to reinforce by guiding world leaders like French President Jacques Chirac and British Prime Minister Tony Blair to see "ground zero" for themselves. More
And while most world leaders have issued condemnations of terrorism, there's been less common ground as to how to combat terrorism, and how specifically to help the United States.
Here is a list of countries and organizations and their reactions to the attacks, with details on any offers of support.:
Australia: Prime Minister John Howard has cleared the way for participation in any U.S. retaliatory strikes.
Canada: The North American neighbor reportedly will offer military forces, including ground troops, CF-18 jet fighters and naval frigates.
European Union: The group of 15 nations approved anti-terrorist measures and backed "targeted" retaliation. Its leaders have embarked on a "coalition-building trip" to the Mideast.
Great Britain: Prime Minister Tony Blair is a playing major role in forming a military and political coalition to fight terrorism.
India: It will allow the United States to use its territory for possible strikes, although the country is reportedly perturbed by Pakistan's involvement in anti-terrorist measures.
Japan: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said the country is looking into amending its laws to support the United States, including militarily.
NATO: The organization has invoked Article 5 of its charter for the first time, deeming the attacks as an attack on all 19 member countries.
New Zealand: It has offered use of special forces and intelligence resources.
Northern Alliance: The ruling Taliban's main opposition in Afghanistan has offered to aid any U.S. military action in Afghanistan.
Spain: It has offered the United States use of its military bases for potential retaliatory strikes.
Sweden: Speaking at a European Union meeting, Prime Minister Goeran Persson said, "We have a very strong mandate for military action."
Turkey: A NATO member, Turkey has granted a U.S. request to use Turkish airspace and airbases for U.S. transport aircraft in any response to the September 11 attacks.
Ukraine: The former Soviet republic will allow the United States to use its airspace in the event of a military attack.
Algeria: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's regime, which has been fighting Islamic militants for 10 years, offered to cooperate with the United States but insisted any retaliation target individuals and not countries.
Bahrain: Crown Prince Sheik Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa denounced the attacks and said Bahrain would aid the United States if asked.
Bangladesh: One of world's most populous Muslim countries, officials there said it will back any international move.
Botswana
Brazil: Latin America's biggest country and largest economy pledged its support although in a recent poll, 53 percent of Brazilians said the nation should remain neutral if the United States attacks Afghanistan.
China: The world's most populous nation has pledged to join fight against terrorism, but also has called for peace.
Egypt: President Hosni Mubarak offered Egyptian intelligence and security services but urged caution.
France: The nation has pledged support but shies away from using language involving war.
Germany: German troops will not likely participate in any retaliation.
Ghana
Indonesia: Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri pledged to support the war on terrorism but faces domestic political pressure in the world's most populous Muslim country.
Israel: It declared a national day of mourning in sympathy for U.S. victims.
Italy: Italian troops will not participate in military action.
Jordan: King Abdullah said that "steps undertaken by the American armed forces will have the full support of the international community."
Kazakhstan: The country says its territory won't be used for retaliatory strikes.
Kyrgyzstan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Malaysia
Mexico
Mozambique
Nigeria
Organization of American States: The group offered a declaration of solidarity from its 34 members.
Oman: Sultan Qaboos condemned the attacks and said the country would stand "side by side" with the United States in its fight against terrorism.
Pakistan: The only country that now recognizes Afghanistan's ruling Taliban, it is cautiously backing the U.S. but anti-American sentiment is running high among its citizens.
Palestinian Authority: Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat said his group is ready to join an international coalition against terrorism.
Qatar
Russia: President Vladimir Putin will exchange intelligence, participate in search-and-rescue efforts and back the Northern Alliance, the Afghan group engaged in a civil war with the ruling Taliban.
Saudi Arabia: The Saudis cut all ties with Afghanistan on Tuesday, and a senior diplomat said the Saudis "are 100 percent with America" despite some citizens' anti-American leanings.
Senegal
South Korea
Sudan: It has made clear that bin Laden would not be welcomed back to Sudan.
Tajikistan: The president of this Central Asian nation that borders Afghanistan said the country is prepared to work the United States and other nations in fighting terrorism, but didn't specify what kind of help would be provided.
Tanzania
Thailand
United Arab Emirates: It has severed ties with the Taliban. Pakistan is the only nation with diplomatic ties to the Taliban after Saudi Arabia also severed ties.
U.N. Security Council: It has demanded that Afghanistan hand over bin Laden for a fair international trial.
Uzbekistan: This neighbor of Afghanistan has offered support but hasn't offered to allow use of airspace or territory to launch any strikes.
Venezuela: The South American country has offered help in the form of oil resources, rescue teams and blood products.
Yemen: It said it will join an international coalition against terrorism but said that it must be led by the United Nations.
Afghanistan: The country officially expressed grief, but has refused to turn over suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden. The country's ruling Taliban leadership also said if the U.S. launches an attack, it will launch a "holy war" against the U.S.
Iran: The country, which has had an uneasy relationship with the United States, condemned the attacks and urged the United Nations to lead an international fight against terrorism. It also said U.S. planes could not use its airspace for possible retaliatory strikes. Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi also met with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, the first such visit in 22 years, to discuss the issue of terrorism. Kharazi repeated Iran's assertion that a coalition should be formed under the aegis of the United Nations and should address what Iran believes with one of the causes of terrorism -- the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Iraq: The opponent of the U.S. in the Persian Gulf war, Iraq is one of the few countries that has not extended an official message of sympathy and condolences to the U.S. after the September 11 attacks. In an open letter to other world governments, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein wrote: "Americans should feel the pain they have inflicted on other peoples of the world, so as when they suffer they will find the right solution and the right path."
Libya: Ruler Moammar Gadhafi called the attacks "horrifying" and urged Muslims to supply the United States with humanitarian aid.
North Korea: This country, long isolated and a traditional foe of the United States since the 1950s, called attacks "shocking" and "very regretful."
Somalia: It pledged to cooperate with the United States despite several anti-American protests in the country.
Syria: President Bashar al-Assad condemned the attacks, adding they
were as bad as attacks that he said Israelis carried out against Palestinians.