Iden Wetherell, then editor of the Zimbabwe Independent, said he hoped judgement on the terrorists who had attacked the Pentagon would come soon because terrorist everywhere deserved the same robust response.
He was commenting on the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on 11 September 2001 which left scores of United States citizens dead.
“No doubt there will be the usual apologists for extremism who argue that these events and the attack on the Pentagon were retribution for US support for Israel – the same people who branded Israel a racist state in Durban when it was the only country to take in African refugees in the 1980s.
But whatever happens, the US will be scarred by the events of Tuesday. September 11, 2001 is surely a day that will live in infamy. And the world will never be the same again as the battle with increasingly sophisticated terrorist organisations intensifies,” he said.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 01HARARE2716, TFUSO1: MEDIA REACTION TERROR ATTACKS IN THE
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
170524Z Sep 01
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ7420
PAGE 01 HARARE 02716 01 OF 02 170541Z
ACTION SS-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00
DS-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01
VCE-00 DCP-01 NSAE-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 TEST-00 USIE-00
IIP-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /004W
——————2024CF 170541Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9720
INFO NSC WASHDC
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY GABORONE
AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
AMEMBASSY LONDON
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 002716
SIPDIS
AF/PD FOR COX, ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT, AF/P,
INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
E.O. 12958: N/A
SUBJECT: TFUSO1: MEDIA REACTION TERROR ATTACKS IN THE
U.S.; HARARE
¶1. SEPTEMBER 14 EDITORIALS IN THE ZIMBABWEAN PRINT
MEDIA FOCUS ON THE TERRORIST ATTACKS IN THE U. S. THE
NEWSPAPERS ALSO CARRY LENGTHY OPINION PIECES ABOUT THE
DISASTER. EXCERPTS FOLLOW:
¶2. UNDER HEADLINE “TERROR, VIOLENCE WON’T END WORLD’S
CONFLICTS,” THE INDEPENDENT DAILY “THE DAILY NEWS”
COMMENTS:
“TUESDAY’S ATTACKS ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IN
NEW YORK AND THE PENTAGON IN WASHINGTON MUST HAVE
INDUCED IN MOST ZIMBABWEANS A SENSE OF GENUINE
HORROR, OUTRAGE AND A CERTAIN HELPLESSNESS.
WHATEVER POLITICAL DIFFERENCES THE MASTERS OF THE
PERPETRATORS OF THE SAVAGE ATTACKS HAD WITH THE
UNITED STATES ADMINISTRATION COULD NEVER JUSTIFY
THE COLD-BLOODED MURDER OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS
GOING ABOUT THEIR DAILY BUSINESS IN A FREE AND
DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY. . . THE
¶U. S. GOVERNMENT HAS NOT ALWAYS ACQUITTED ITSELF
WELL AS WHAT ITS ENEMIES HAVE CALLED ‘THE WORLD
POLICEMAN.’ THERE HAVE BEEN MISTAKES AND SOME OF
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RESORTED TO VIOLENCE AGAINST
UNCLE SAM HAVE NOT BEEN FOREIGNERS, LIKE THE SAUDI
DISSIDENT, OSAMA BIN LADEN, THE NUMBER ONE SUSPECT
IN THE LATEST OUTRAGE. THE OKLAHOMA BOMBING IN
1995 WAS INITIALLY BLAMED ON ARAB TERRORISTS,
UNTIL IT TRANSPIRED THAT THIS WAS A
HOME-GROWN ATROCITY. . . IN THE MIDDLE EAST,
SUCCESSIVE U. S. ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE GRAPPLED IN
VAIN WITH THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TWO COMBATANTS,
THE ARABS AND THE JEWS. . . SOME OF WASHINGTON’S
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 HARARE 02716 01 OF 02 170541Z
PRESCRIPTIONS HAVE BEEN SO NAVE THEY HAVE NOT
HELPED TO COOL TEMPERS IN JERUSALEM OR THE WEST
BANK. BUT GEORGE W. BUSH’S ‘HANDS OFF’ POLICY HAS
PROBABLY MADE PEACE MORE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE.
YET THAT IS STILL NOT A GOOD REASON TO BLOW UP
BUILDINGS AND KILL THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE – IF IT IS
PROVED THIS OUTRAGE WAS SPURRED BY ARABS INCENSED
BY THE ADMINISTRATION’S PERCEIVED
PRO-ISRAELI BIAS. FOR THE WORLD, THE LATEST
DISPLAY OF HUMANKIND’S OWN INHUMANITY TO HUMANKIND
MUST REMIND PEOPLE THAT TERROR AND VIOLENCE MAY
HAVE ONLY
SHORT-TERM ADVANTAGES, BUT IN THE END THEY WILL
NOT SOLVE CONFLICTS. THE UNITED STATES WILL
SURVIVE TUESDAY’S HORROR. . . THE PEOPLE WHO SENT
THE SUICIDE PILOTS HURTLING INTO THE TWIN TOWERS
OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND THE PENTAGON MOST
CERTAINLY DESERVE SEVERE PUNISHMENT, AS DO THE
COUNTRIES WHICH AIDED AND ABETTED THEM. BUT IF
THE RETALIATION CAUSES THE SAME MASSIVE LOSS OF
CIVILIAN LIFE THAT WAS WITNESSED ON TUESDAY, THEN
THE WORLD WILL NOT HAVE LEARNT ANYTHING FROM THE
UNBRIDLED USE OF POWER. . . RESTRAINT IS CALLED
FOR AS ANY EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE MIGHT TURN
SYMPATHY INTO THE SAME OUTRAGE THAT GREETED
TUESDAY’S INSANITY.”
¶3. UNDER HEADLINE “U. S. REACTION TO ATTACK WELCOME,”
THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DAILY “THE HERALD” COMMENTS:
“TUESDAY’S ATTACK ON THE U. S. HAS GALVANIZED THE
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 HARARE 02716 01 OF 02 170541Z
WORLD
TO COPE WITH A NEW THREAT: THE ABILITY OF A SMALL
WELL-ORGANIZED GROUP OF FANATICS TO KILL THOUSANDS
OF INNOCENT PEOPLE WITH A SINGLE BLOW. . . IT HAS
BEEN DIFFICULT TO COMPREHEND HOW SUCH A SMALL
GROUP – AND THE U. S. FEDERAL BUREAU OF
INVESTIGATION HAS ESTIMATED THAT THERE WERE AROUND
A DOZEN SUICIDAL HIJACKERS BACKED BY ABOUT 50
OTHERS – COULD HAVE MURDERED SO MANY. THE U. S.
HAS NOT – AS SOME MAY HAVE EXPECTED – LASHED OUT
WITH MILITARY FORCE AT VAGUE SUSPECTS FOR THE
MURDERS. INSTEAD IT HAD CONCENTRATED A MAJOR
DIPLOMATIC EFFORT ON CREATING A VAST COALITION FOR
A MAJOR WAR ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM THAT WILL
INVOLVE THE POLICE, INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY
AGENCIES IN MANY COUNTRIES. THIS IS WELCOME. .
.THE WORLD IS DANGEROUS ENOUGH WITH SOVEREIGN
STATES ABLE TO WAGE WAR. BUT IT BECOMES FAR MORE
DANGEROUS WHEN ANY SMALL GROUP OF FANATICS CAN
MURDER THOUSANDS IN NEAR ANONYMITY AND WHO ARE
RESPONSIBLE TO NO ONE. THE U. S. SECRETARY OF
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ7421
PAGE 01 HARARE 02716 02 OF 02 170541Z
ACTION SS-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00
DS-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01
VCE-00 DCP-01 NSAE-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 TEST-00 USIE-00
IIP-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /004W
——————2024D6 170541Z /38
P 170524Z SEP 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9721
INFO NSC WASHDC
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY GABORONE
AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
AMEMBASSY LONDON
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 002716
SIPDIS
AF/PD FOR COX, ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT, AF/P,
INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
E.O. 12958: N/A
SUBJECT: TFUSO1: MEDIA REACTION TERROR ATTACKS IN THE
U.S.; HARARE
STATE, RETIRED GEN. COLIN POWELL, A FAR MORE
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 HARARE 02716 02 OF 02 170541Z
SOPHISTICATED PERSON THAN MOST OF THOSE ADVISING
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH ON FOREIGN AND DEFENSE
POLICY. . .HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT THERE IS NO
QUICK FIX. A SINGLE BOMBING RAID WILL NEITHER BE
AN EFFECTIVE NOR CORRECT RESPONSE. HE FORESEES,
PROBABLY CORRECTLY, THAT THE RESPONSE MUST HAVE
DIPLOMATIC AND POLITICAL ELEMENTS AS WELL AS
POTENTIAL MILITARY ACTIONS. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A
WELCOME APPEAL FROM THOSE AT THE TOP OF THE
AMERICAN LEADERSHIP TO ESCHEW HATRED OF ARABS AND
MUSLIMS. . . SO LONG AS ALL IN AUTHORITY,
ESPECIALLY IN THE MAJOR POWERS ABLE TO PROJECT
DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY MIGHT FAR BEYOND THEIR
FRONTIERS, CONTINUE TO BEHAVE RATIONALLY THEN
THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT THIS BOMBING WILL
ENHANCE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGAINST CRIMINAL
GROUPS. . . .”
¶4. THE SAME NEWSPAPER ALSO CARRIED AN OPINION PIECE
AUTHORED BY TIM CHIGODO ON PAGE 11 UNDER HEADLINE
“U. S. TERRORIST ATTACKS: TRAGEDY FOR ENTIRE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.” EXCERPTS:
“THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON THE U. S. ON TUESDAY. .
.HAVE DEVASTATED THE WHOLE WORLD AND SHOULD BE
CONDEMNED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. THE
UNPRECEDENTED ATTACKS HAVE WIDE IMPLICATIONS AND
ARE A DEVELOPMENT WHICH NEEDS QUICK ACTION. ALL
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD STAND UP AND
CONDEMN ALL FORMS OF TERRORISM. . . AS THE WORLD
MOURNS WITH RELATIVES OF PEOPLE WHO DIED IN THE
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 HARARE 02716 02 OF 02 170541Z
ATTACKS ON TUESDAY, OTHER STATES SHOULD ACCEPT
THAT THE TRAGEDY IS NOT FOR AMERICANS ONLY BUT FOR
THE WHOLE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. . . THE
TUESDAY ATTACKS SHOULD BE TAKEN AS A POINTER TO
THE 21ST CENTURY IN WHICH ORTHODOX WAR BETWEEN
STATES IS REPLACED BY PROXY TERRORIST ATTACKS THAT
KILL INDISCRIMINATELY. . .”
¶5. UNDER HEADLINE “A DAY IN INFAMY,” IDEN WETHERELL,
EDITOR OF THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY “ZIMBABWE
INDEPENDENT,” WROTE THE FOLLOWING PIECE UNDER THE
“EDITOR’S MEMO” COLUMN IN THE SEPTEMBER 14 EDITION:
“. . .I WATCHED NUMBLY THE SHOCKING PICTURES
BEAMED FROM NEW YORK. . . IT WAS A TERRIBLE,
UNFORGETTABLE SIGHT MADE WORSE BY THE KNOWLEDGE
THAT THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT VICTIMS WERE CAUGHT
INSIDE. . . WE SHALL SOON KNOW WHICH FANATICS
SENT THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE TO THEIR DEATHS.
AND HOPEFULLY JUDGEMENT WILL BE QUICK IN COMING.
TERRORISTS EVERYWHERE DESERVE THE SAME ROBUST
RESPONSE BY SOCIETY. NO DOUBT THERE WILL BE THE
USUAL APOLOGISTS FOR EXTREMISM WHO ARGUE THAT
THESE EVENTS AND THE ATTACK ON THE PENTAGON WERE
RETRIBUTION FOR U. S. SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL – THE
SAME PEOPLE WHO BRANDED ISRAEL A RACIST STATE IN
DURBAN WHEN IT WAS THE ONLY COUNTRY TO TAKE IN
AFRICAN REFUGEES IN THE 1980S. BUT WHATEVER
HAPPENS, THE U. S. WILL BE SCARRED BY THE EVENTS
OF TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 IS SURELY A DAY
THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY. AND THE WORLD WILL
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 HARARE 02716 02 OF 02 170541Z
NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN AS THE BATTLE WITH
INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS
INTENSIFIES. . . OUR THOUGHTS WILL BE WITH THE
VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES THIS WEEK. . .”
ROTH
UNCLASSIFIED
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