Languages

USA: Alert as USA hints at attacks on other countries

After three days of the U.S. bombing campaign in Afghanistan, the United States has informed the Security Council
that attacks against other organisations and other countries may be necessary, a
move that would be a drastic stretch of the international law concept of self-defence and would serve to further intensify and escalate the ongoing violence.

The Women's Caucus for Gender Justice suggests actions and gives contact information for your governments in the capitals and at the permanent missions to the United Nations in New York.

The statement was made in a letter from the United States' UN ambassador, John Negroponte, to the Security Council. According to different news reports, the letter from Negroponte stated: "Our inquiry is in the early stages. We may find
that our self-defense requires further actions with respect to other
organizations and other countries."

"One sentence which
has caused some anxiety amongst the membership which I've also asked about was
the question that they may find it necessary to go after other organizations and
other States. The US has indicated that this is not a predictor of any intention
that it intends to take but basically it is a statement that they are at the
early stages and keeping their options open."

The UN Charter allows for
the exercise of the right of self-defense until the Security Council takes
action to restore international peace and security. Self-defense can be
exercised when the need is immediate and overwhelming and when there are no
other options available. In the absence of Security Council action, countries
which have been threatened or attacked can make the claim of self-defense in
determining the nature and scope of their military response, which must still be
within the parameters of humanitarian law.

Since the adoption of Security
Council resolution 1373 on September 28th, the Security Council has appeared
content to let the U.S. and any other countries willing to opt into its
multilateral campaign against terrorism determine the means necessary to respond
to the September 11th attacks.

However, a response that is United
Nations-led and adheres to international law is even more urgent given the rapid
escalation of the cycle of violence and retaliation and the possible spread of
this violence into other countries and regions. Three days into the bombing
campaign by British and U.S. forces, UN aid workers and civilians have fallen
victim while the alleged perpetrators of the September 11th attack are still in
hiding.

It is imperative at this moment that the Security Council assert
its authority in this matter, as the U.S. has indicated the possibility of
widening the scope of its military action to other organizations and other
countries which could further threaten international peace and
security.