The September 11th attack
Adm. Blair calls for new Asia-Pacific cooperation

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

Navy Adm. Dennis Blair, commander in chief of U.S. military forces in the Pacific, called yesterday for a new level of Asia-Pacific cooperation to fight terrorism.

"For years we have been speaking of shared interests in countering 21st-century challenges such as transnational terrorism, drug trafficking and piracy, and how no nation can effectively deal with these challenges alone," Blair said. "We now clearly see the effects of allowing traditional security approaches and historic animosities to stand in the way of serious cooperation on shared interests."

Now is the time, he said, to establish enduring security arrangements between Asia-Pacific nations.

"Unfortunately, it takes tragedies like the events of 11 September to change thresholds for effective action," the Pacific commander said.

Blair said past terrorism was met with action by individual nations and some regional cooperation.

The United States increased protection for its embassies. The Shanghai Cooperative Forum, an organization that includes China, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and other nations, seeks to stem terrorism and extremism. Contingencies were developed to manage the consequences of biological and chemical attacks, including the Aum Shinrikyo 1995 sarin gas attack that killed 12 people in Tokyo subways.

But on Sept. 11, "we realized how inadequate our response had been."

Blair, whose military post is widely known as CinCPac, said the campaign to come will involve many fronts. Multiple nations have offered to participate in a Malacca Straits patrol to ensure that terrorists cannot attack shipping, Blair said.

He said the United States is increasing efforts to help the Philippines "vanquish" the Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf, thought to have ties to Osama bin Laden, and has "increased dialogue with key Asia-Pacific nations on measures to increase the capability of their armed forces and security services to deal with terrorists."

After the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Singapore and Thailand offered over-flight permission and other support, and China is sharing information, the Pacific Command said.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.