Podcast Transcript

11 September 2006
Ambassador Robert H. Tuttle : Remembering September 11

Five years ago today, our world changed forever. In one awful morning, terrorists attacked the United States, killing 3,000 innocent civilians from more than 90 countries. In the five years since September 11, 2001, terrorists have attacked civilians in Madrid, Bali, Casablanca, Sharm-el-Sheikh, Istanbul, Mumbai, and right here in London.

But terrorism will not have the last word.

Where terrorists seek to destroy and disrupt the lives of ordinary people, courage, resilience, faith, and hope always rise from the wreckage. Rather than seeing just victims, we see survivors determined to rebuild their lives, their communities and their future. We see people working together to defeat the ideology of death and destruction.

The United Kingdom and the United States have forged counter-terrorism links on many fronts. We have tracked down terrorists, shut down terrorist financing, and shared information to prevent even more terror attacks. Our work together has made, not just our countries, but the world, safer. Last month's foiled terrorist plot is but one example of what lifesaving international cooperation can accomplish.

From my office on Grosvenor Square, I can see the beautiful memorial garden dedicated to the British victims of the September 11 attack. For their still-grieving families, the best, most lasting tribute we can offer is to make every effort to ensure that there is never another September 11, anywhere in the world.

Some say this goal is unrealistic. I believe it is not. We need to be vigilant, but we need to remember that vigilance must not be confused with intolerance. Intolerance is the terrorists' chorus, not ours. Terrorism is an outlaw tactic, condemned by all the world's religions.

We need to foster global cooperation to make it more difficult for terrorists to implement their deadly plans.

We need to confront the peddlers of hatred around the world who disseminate their poisonous message of death and destruction.

The United States has joined with its international partners to do just that. We have improved our border security, while maintaining our welcome for travelers, many of whom come from Britain. We have initiated new, more effective security measures in shipping and transportation. And, perhaps most importantly, we are confronting terrorism by providing security, development and educational assistance to countries where terrorists seek shelter.

We urgently need to counter the anger and despair that contribute to making young people vulnerable to extremist seduction. And we need to articulate and defend the values that animate a free society: justice, equality before the law, minority rights, democratic decision-making, freedom of expression, and freedom of conscience.

We need to defend ourselves by arms, but the war on terror will be won by our ideas. As we mourn those whose lives have been claimed by terrorism, and as we rebuild our communities, we must resolve that terrorism will be defeated by the triumph of the human spirit.

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