While I don't frequent Tim Blair's site, I received notice of an excellent question that was asked ;

You are the President of the United States on September 11, 2001. How do you respond to the attack?

I left off the bit about Iran, North Korea and Iraq; as they were constructs of Bush Administration's axis of evil approach to terror. It is better to leave the question open as to what the response should be. I thought Afghanistan was justified, and the invasion of Iraq an action of monumental stupidity. Since my opinions vary from the tribalist view of the Australian Liberals and American Republicans, I consider this a good question to respond to. Rather than write an essay as a response, I thought it would be better to answer this question through a speech by President Cam at Ground Zero on September 12th.

September 12th

Yesterday we were targeted in a viscous attack by Wahabi Extremists. We were taken unawares by their methods, and consequently we, as a nation, suffered a larger loss of life, disturbance and damage than we could have prevented.

This nation has lived thirty years under the threat of nuclear attack from a rival super-power - this attack on our nation is an example of extremists getting lucky. It is aberration, that will be difficult if not impossible to repeat.

If this is the best they can throw at us, then the extremists are in trouble. This has brought us together, not divided us. This has made us stronger, not weaker. This has increased the bonds of community, not torn us apart.

The well-wishers overseas, with their wondrous and heartfelt display of sympathy and empathy, reminds us that we are one world, opposed to violence; opposed to the criminal activities of extremists; and united in our desire to bring these criminals and their supporting organizations to justice.

We, along with the other countries of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania, have demanded from the Taliban Government of Afghanistan the hand-over of Osama Bin Laden. As a group of nations, we have sufficient information, courtesy of FBI questioning of his family, on Osama Bin Laden to bring him to justice for his crimes. In a world court, not only in for this dreadful attack, but numerous other attacks in the United States, the Middle East and Africa.

Prosecutors from numerous nations, with equal desires to see this criminal brought to justice are at this moment building an impenetrable case against this terrorist. Bin Laden will be tried, in the same manner as any other individual accused of murder, and the hand of law will be as even, as the result will be just.

The Taliban need not think that our only response is lawyers. Every request, from every government, that Bin Laden be turned over for trial is backed, not only by our Air Force, Navy, Army and Marines, but the militaries of every nation on this globe. For the Taliban to refuse, it will not be denying us, but the world, and will suffer the consequence as the world's military power is focused upon it.

Civil Response

The terrorists who died in the suicide attacks came from nations, who we have called allies in the past. They were extremists, who were well educated, but who predominantly came from Saudi Arabia. We expect the full compliance of the Saudi Arabian government in prosecuting the eradication of Wahibist extremism in Saudi Arabia, as well as other parts of the globe.

Our European allies are already conducting police operations to eradicate sleep cells throughout their continent. Asia and the Middle East are also increasing their police operations to do the same. The Al Queda operations thrive as a decentralised network, that hides timidly. Police operations are targeting the disruption and eradication of such terror networks.

This is a global operation, in which all nations who adhere to the rule of law, and believe in the right for an individual to live their life free from the violence of the extremists, are co-operating. In a multi-national environment, defence treaties are being updated as we speak, from the old Cold War language, to one of multi-lateral and multi-national police treaties. Individual extremists, rather than war between nation-states is the new challenge that faces this globe and its ongoing pursuit of liberty, equity and prosperity for all.

As the world's hyper-power who has been disproportionately targeted by Al Queda, we will naturally take the lead in destroying this Wahabist Extremist group who pollute the religion of Islam. Every attack against us, and other nations, by this group, will result in their being brought to justice, and their crimes against humanity made clear. They will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

New World Order

The Cold War was an economic war, that ended up with the benefit of Europe democratizing. Several former Soviet Nations remain no the verge of democratization, with autocratic regimes hanging on by their finger tips. We are giving full access to our overseas media for the democratic groups within those remaining countries, such as Georgia and Ukraine. This will enable these democratic groups to counter the state run media organizations within those countries.

The Cold War was dominated by power politics, and the pragmatic view that dictatorships and despots were to be tolerated as long as they advanced our interests. This was summed up as, "He may be a bastard, but at least he is our bastard." This will no longer be tolerated. If a government does not have the confidence of their leader they will be treated as if they are a temporary government until they can be replaced with a democratically elected one.

Under such a foreign policy, our military hegemony, must remain, but not as a static force. Our military will be restructured. There will be increased programs and expenditure for aerospace and blue water projection. Static bases in the Middle East, Asia and Europe will be wound down and removed. We are no longer in the Cold War, and there is no reason to maintain bases that were for the purpose of containment of the Soviet Union.

There remains unstable, and expansionist regimes in this world. They have more bark than bite. Our blue water projection is more than sufficient to destroy the command and control infrastructure of these nations, as well as any aerospace, or missile capability. Our policy toward these nations is containment, with our end-goal being the removal of undemocratic regimes through internal elections.

International Electoral Commission

A central component of democracy is the ability to say no. Too often, dictators rig elections to give themselves the appearance of popular legitimacy. To counter this abuse of power, we will establish an International Electoral Commission (IEC). This will be backed by the diplomatic and military power of the democratic nations of this world.

The IEC can be requested by oppositions, and will;

• ensure a secret ballot
• ensure voters are free from intimidation
• ensure minority parties are free from persecution
• ensure ballot counting is free from fraud

This will give the people of the world, the security that they can have open democratic elections, such that their popular will can be reflected in their choice of government.

The attacks by Wahibi Extremists are encouraged in their home nations by the very undemocratic nature of those countries. Due to the dictatorships, or hereditary governments, the majority is denied a choice of government, as are the extremists. While the majority remains disappointed - the extremists turn to repugnant violence.

The Wahibi Extremists are unpopular with the majority, but the majority in these nations have no way of showing the extremists this fact through their choice of government. By denying the majority their chance to have a say in their government, we are also denying the majority the ability to punish the extremists at the electoral booth by denying them any political legitimacy.

The Wahibi Extremists seek to give themselves political legitimacy through our blood, they are only capable of this because, there are no genuine ballot papers for the people of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Palestine; to say, the extremists are politically repugnant. These nations will be the first on our list to have elections overseen by the IEC.

Israel and Palestine

Israel and Palestine continues to disappoint. Our roadmaps to peace are constantly destroyed by political brinkmanship from both sides, and our support of both often misplaced. Israel has persisted in expanding into Palestinian territory, and Palestinian groups have ensured that both Israeli's and Palestinian's suffer at the hands of random acts of violence.

Our support for both shall cease. Israel and Palestine will be treated in the same manner as other Middle East nations. Our intelligence services are aware that Yasser Arafat is suffering ill-health, and is in the twilight of his ability to maintain power. Both Israel and Palestine must take this opportunity to make peace, and agree to a process that will ensure prosperity and harmony for the people of both nations.

Indonesia

The currency contagion event of 1999 had one unusual and unexpected result. The people of Indonesia threw out a dictator, and established a genuine democracy. Since then the Indonesian people and Indonesian government have been making remarkable strides toward liberal democracy, the rule of law, the civil control of the military and a market economy.

Too long has the military in Indonesia controlled government policy, civil order, and government budgets. In the past, the military has been automatically granted seats in the Indonesian parliament. This is changing, and the military control of Indonesia government is being broken.

Indonesia faces its own problems with the extremists of Jemaah Islamiah, but we have been assured that any criminal actions by extremist groups will be prosecuted to the full extend of the Indonesia law. Indonesia stands as young nation, and an example to the peoples of nations that wish to transition from the ulcer of dictatorships, to the flower of democracy.

Our Fallen Shall Be The Last

Democracy and trade bring benefits of prosperity and interdependence. Democracy, to have the full power of its promise, must come from internal consensus, not be coerced from an external force. While our suffering remains the fresh, we are not the only aggrieved people who are scarred by the attacks of yesterday.

We stand as one nation, among many, who must choose to not take the sacrifices of the people in the New York and Washington DC in vain. Their deaths must not be the first of many headstones that will litter this world in an ongoing orgy of violence. Instead the dead of September 11th must be the last ones lost to political extremism and violence.

(el Presidente`) cam