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America Attacked:
Britain's Response
With Martin Kettle
U.S. Bureau chief for The Guardian (United Kingdom)
Thursday, Sept. 20, 2001; 10 a.m. EDT
Tuesday, Sept. 11, in a horrific series of events, hijacked planes hit
and destroyed the twin towers of the World Trade Center and crashed into
the Pentagon in what's being described as the single worst act of
terrorism on U.S. soil. The Bush administration and law enforcement
officials are actively seeking those responsible and have declared war
on terrorism.
Martin Kettle, U.S. Bureau chief for The Guardian (United Kingdom) will be online to discuss Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit to Washington, D.C. on Thursday and the effects the terrorist attacks are having in Britain.
The transcript follows.
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Thomaston, Ga.:
Are the British people in agreement with
Blair's position of support of America? Does
that commitment of support include potential
troops?
Martin Kettle: Polls here show around 70per cent support for US military action, with 20% opposed and 10% don't knows. Support for the UK to be involved is around the same level tho a bit lower. But there seems to be a sharper public debate here than in the US about aims and consequences.
Bradford, Yorkshire, U.K.:
The U.K. is known to harbor groups which support bin Laden's activities. A surprising number of Muslims have also expressed the opinion that they are Muslims in Britain NOT British Muslims, and that their first loyalty is to the Muslim world and not to Britain. As British citizens they are free to travel between the U.K. and the U.S.
When military action does take place, as it will, what should the British government do to protect us all against a potential fifth column?
Martin Kettle: A poll today in the UK showed 95% support for internment of "those who are aiding and abetting terrorists", but the UK government would be very cautious about taking such action because of the response in the UK's large Muslim community. The focus here at the moment seems to much more on trying to politically isolate any Muslim leaders or groups which are promoting support for terrorism. However we have very strong anti-terrorist laws here, a legacy of the Irish conflict, which could be and have been used.
Washington, D.C.:
What countries do you think are the most important in building a multilateral coalition in the war on terrorism, and what kind of combined response should this coalition have?
Martin Kettle: I think the most important countries are the Muslim countries, because they alone can provide the maximum political legitimacy for military or other action against terrorism. In military terms, probably Britain and France, with their expertise in special forces operations, are likely to play a direct role. Israel and Germany also have that sort of expertise but they eclude themselves for different but obvious reasons.
Minneapolis, Minn.:
Do you think Americans adequately understand British/European sentiment with regard to this tragedy? What is the one thing you think Americans should remember or realize in order to prevent something like this in the future?
Martin Kettle: Probably not. I spent four years in the US as a reporter (I only left in August) and I did not find much general US awareness of the European take on international affairs. I am speaking of the general public here rather than the policy makers. On your second question, I think America needs to know we stand with you, but we fear that you may make the situation worse by a badly calculated move that deepens the problems.
Tampa, Fla.:
After the election in June, Tony Blair jettisoned Robin Cook as Foreign Secretary and put Jack Straw in the position. Do you think Mr. Straw is handling the situation any differently from the way Mr. Cook would have handled it?
Martin Kettle: Not in any major way, no. Tony Blair is, in effect, his own foreign secretary in times like these, as his trip to the US today shows. It happened over Kosovo too.
Washington, D.C.:
Though British citizens are appalled by the tragic events that transpired here. What is their attitude in their support of a U.S. led attack that Pres. Bush proposes? Would they be willing to send their fellow countrymen to war for attacks that happened on American soil?
Martin Kettle: The polls say they would, but I think that in reality, it depends upon the mission. Having said that, I think it is important to be completely clear that British people are outraged by what happen and that they want the US to strike back effectively if it can.
Washington, D.C.:
How do you interpret the rather interesting statement today by Blair and Chirac that they would support "an appropriate and efficient" US response?
Martin Kettle: There is a lot of genuine anxiety here and in France that public feeling in the US and a Republican president could drive the US towards a reaction that would be counter-prodcutive in the long run. In reality, they want the US to succeed in getting Osama Bin Laden and taking out his camps, but they do not want mass boming of Afghan towns or of civilians. And there is a well-founded fear that a mishandled operation could make things worse in Pakistan and elsewhere.
Philadephia, Pa.:
What kind of role will Britain play in the war on terrorism?
Martin Kettle: Most likely limited to special forces and air cover in the short term. But you must remember that we have suffered for many years from well-funded terrorism - so there is a huge willingnes to use international law and law enforcement to go after the insfrastructure of terrorism - something that the US has only recently become committed to.
Washington, D.C.:
What precautionary measures are taking place in Britain in response the the Sept. 11 attacks?
Martin Kettle: I ask that question myself every day. London gives little impressiojn of being a city that is braced for an attack. My paper is mounting a big investigation into preparedness and precautions today - so read the Guardian online tomorrow (www.guardian.co.uk). Sorry about the ad.
New York:
Does European opinion believe that this is a true war?
Martin Kettle: Yes and no. Yes in that it was a monstrous aggressive act against the US. No in that war against an ill-defined target like terrorism (or drugs) is a misuse of the term.
Hollywood, Fla.:
Isn't the attack on WTC the most serious terrorist incident in History regardless of time and place, and wouldn't the USA cause be helped by emphasizing the International aspect of the crime by naming the countries that lost citizens? God bless us all.
Martin Kettle: Yes absolutely. To underline your point, the WTC bombing is the worst terrorist attack on British people ever. The same is true for many countries. I totally agree that it was an attack on all of us.
Milwaukee, Wis.:
Has the UK offered any expertise on the fighting of terrorism to the US government due to their experience with the IRA?
Martin Kettle: Yes. There are UK advisers in Washington as we speak, though bear in mind that the WTC attack killed more people than all the attacks in the whole of the last 30 years in Northern Ireland (and related to NI). It's on a scale that dwarves the IRA.
Dublin, Ireland:
Isn't it true that although EU nations stand behind America, EU citizens are not prepared to back a war on all Afghanistan, or even all countries harboring terrorists, as that includes all gulf states?
Martin Kettle: Yes. That's true. The polls do not show support for a wider war of that kind. There are many reasons of course, including the fear of an oil crisis. But not just that.
Tampa, Fla.:
You say that the British public is outraged by what happened. But isn't there a large faction that is saying, "They had it coming"? Certainly some of the pieces I've read in The Guardian (by Seumas Milne, Martin Amis, and others) would so indicate.
Martin Kettle: Yes, but a minority. Take this morning 's UK Gallup Poll question: "Some people are saying that the Americans brought these attacks on themselves because of their p[olicies on the Middle east. Do you agree or disagree?"
Agree 23%
Do not agree 66%
Don't know 11%.
Interesting figures, I think you will agree. Don't assume that all the 23% are on the left, because they are not.
Silver Spring, Md.:
I have actively read the Guardian online, BBC, and yahoo.co.uk reports in order to observe how some other parts of the world were receiving this information and find myself a bit dismayed over some "slant" that I have seen in the coverage. There have been photographs of pick up trucks with "nuke-em" spraypainted on a sign in the back and of people -- more typical of a Jerry Springer guest than a "typical" American -- wearing shirts that say things such as "the only good terrorist is a dead terrorist." I don't believe that this accurately portrays the views of the typical American.
Is the Guardian doing anything to safeguard against sensationalizing the public belief in Britain that Americans are gun toting aggressive individuals?
Martin Kettle: Big question. My short answer is that there is a widespread view in the British media that Americans are crazier than they really are. From my experience I certainly know that America is an amazingly diverse place. yes, there are many crazies, but there are also millions of the finest, nicest and best people you could ever hope to meet. Including the staff of the Washington Post.
Washington, D.C.:
How has Britain's economy reacted since Sept. 11?
Martin Kettle: Much the same as the US. Big layoffs in the aerospace industry. Cutbacks in airlines. Interest rate cuts to help demand. The one difference is that the stock market seems to have held its value better here than in NY.
New York City:
I heard that on a BBC talk show last week, anti-American hecklers shouted down a former American ambassador and nearly drove him to tears. Does this show any hidden resentment of the US in Britain or was it a complete anomaly? How should we, as average Americans, respond to this sort of hate from our greatest ally?
Martin Kettle: The BBC apologised for the programme. It was incredibly insensitive, especially so soon after the event. Much of the hostility came from Muslims, though not all of it. I think there is some hostility to the US, in many parts of our society here, but the majority, especially the majority of ordinary people, is very strongly supportive of the US in general - and now especially.
Little Rock, Ark.:
Do EU people belive that America has any culpability in the amount of hatred directed towards it?
Martin Kettle: Big generalisations about Europe are always dangerous. But here goes. I think many people here feel that Americans are not sufficiently sensitive to the feelings, traditions and ways of life of other cultures. Only in rare cases can that be called hatred, though. Most of us have a love-hate relationship with America, but the love far outweighs the hate. I think that's normal, really.
Charlottesville, Va.:
Under what circumstances do you see popular British support for American military action begin to weaken? Are the British people prepared to accept a certain number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan or elsewhere?
Martin Kettle: I think people here want to feel that the goals are good and clear and achievable. I think they do not want to get bogged down in a land war without clear prospects of success. They will accept some casualties - both among the allied troops and among Afghan (or other civilians) but only if they think the operation is focused.
York, UK:
There has been criticism in British rightist broadsheets (notably the Daily Telegraph) of the stance of the left leaning Guardian. What is the position of your newspaper?
Martin Kettle: Our editorial position is that a US military response is understandable and legitimate (morally and legally) and that we would support it if it satisfies a number of criteria (mainly that it is focused and that it does not make the situation worse instead of better). Broadly speaking, we stand behind the Blair government in its approach of trying to use international alliances to isolate terrorism. We are not a pacifist paper. The Daily Telegraph's attacks on the Guardian tell you more about the DT than about the truth.
Washington, D.C.:
You mentioned that Europeans fear America will make the situation worse, how in God's name can it get worse that the murder of 5500 innocent people in one day? And if we do not act aggressively, is there anyone that thinks it won't happen again?
Martin Kettle: This is a huge question. I can only give one or two answers. (1) What happens if there is a fundamentalist coup in Pakistan which means the world faces an islamic revolutionary regime with nuclear weapons? (2) What happens if - as some aid organisations fear - between 1 and 6 million Afghans die of hunger in the next year? (3) Turning your question around: If you do act aggressively, is there anyone who thinks that it won't happen again. I don't in any way belittle the murder of 5500 innocent people in saying these things, but they have to be taken into account.
New York, N.Y.:
What is the level of confidence the British and European public have in this administration now compared to 9/10/01 and before? In Mr. Bush himself? I'm not talking about polls, but your sense from conversations, the media, etc.
Martin Kettle: I think Bush is felt to have done well, mainly because of his restrained response so far. People feared he might lash out to gratify American feelings (legitimate) of outrage. His use of language continues to be a problem for a lot of people here, though, but his ratings here have gone up, just as they have in the US - though not to the same stratospheric levels.
Madison, Wis.:
Do you think Britain and other European countries are more or less at risk for future terrorism than the US? Is there fear that if military action begins, the terrorists will start to target supporters of the US in order to attempt to weaken the coalition?
Martin Kettle: I think we feel more at risk than you do, in spite of September 11. The polls taken since that date show that this is the case.
Washington, D.C.:
In regard to the 23 percent saying that the US basically brought this on by their own policies, I'm curious -- how do the UK's policies differ from the US's in the Middle East? I had thought them rather closely aligned.
Martin Kettle: The UK, like the EU, is generally more critical of Israel and more supportive of the Palestinians. It's a difference of emphasis, rather than a completely different stance. The big difference is that the US has the money,
Illinois:
Do Europeans see any truth in the notion that America must adjust its foreign policy to avoid more attacks of this kind, not simply go to war with terrorists?
Martin Kettle: They certainly do. There are some signs that this is happening - eg in the Middle East - and this is felt here to be very necessary.
Arlington, Va.:
I have a comment, not a question. I know that the British people grieve with us over our loss. I hope they know that we are aware that they too lost people in the attacks last week and that we grieve with them over their loss.
Martin Kettle: Thank you. These mutual expressions of caring are incredibly important in both directions. I think that is part - part of what Muslims sometimes feel is missing - an awareness of how badly they feel that they are treated (eg the Palestinians).
Milwaukee, Wis.:
Is the impression in Europe that the US looks like it is engaging in a war against Islam, or has the administration and press gotten the point of a war against terrorist groups and not the average citizen is our goal. If the people of Afghanistan realized that we were not targeting them or their religion would this have any bearing on their call for Jihad?
Martin Kettle: I think many people here want the US to have justice after the events of September 11, but they are asking questions about how this can best be done. I know that it is difficult for Americans to ask such questions at such a time, but I think it has to happen eventually in the US too, especially in Congress.
washingtonpost.com:
That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the
discussion.
Stay tuned to Live Online:
The
Garden Plot at 11 a.m. EDT
Derrick
Dortch: How Federal Workers Can Cope at 11 a.m. EDT
Combatting
Terrorism: William Hartung at 11 a.m. EDT
Marc
Fisher's Potomac Confidential at Noon EDT
Vernon
Loeb on National Security at 1 p.m. EDT
Got
Plans? at 1 p.m. EDT
America
Attacked: Civil Liberties in Danger? at 1 p.m. EDT
Dirda
on Books at 2 p.m. EDT
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Attacked
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