Posted on: Thursday, September 13, 2001
America's bloodiest day
Attacks were against entire alliance, NATO says
Associated Press
BRUSSELS, Belgium — Washington's NATO allies declared yesterday that the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington can be considered an attack on the whole alliance if they were directed from abroad.
"An attack on one is an attack on all," NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson said after the alliance's 19 ambassadors decided to invoke Article 5 of the NATO charter for the first time in the alliance's history.
The decision obliges America's allies to provide support for any military operation against those responsible if Tuesday's attacks were committed by foreigners, he said.
"The country that is attacked has got to make the decision and has got to be the one that asks for help," Robertson said. "They have not reached that judgment as to who did it and why they did it."
Early today, Australia said it might implement part of a military treaty with the United States that would define Tuesday's terrorist attack as an attack on Australia. Prime Minister John Howard said that would allow the country to support and, if necessary, participate in any U.S. retaliatory strike against those found to be responsible. A decision was expected later today.
Shortly before the NATO announcement, Secretary of State Colin Powell said invoking the principle would not necessarily mean using NATO force against terrorists and their protectors.
It could include anything from opening up air space and providing intelligence to contributing troops and equipment.
Powell telephoned the leaders of the United Nations, NATO and the European Union yesterday in search of support for a coordinated response to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
He made two calls to Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and also spoke with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and top officials from Germany, Canada and Italy, among other countries.
In a separate show of allied solidarity, the European Union pledged yesterday to help U.S. authorities track down and "punish those responsible" for Tuesday's attacks.
They declared tomorrow a "day of mourning" in all 15 EU nations because the attacks were "not only on the United States, but against humanity itself and the values of freedom we all share."
