Condoleezza Rice: The Goal of the War on Terrorism is Not Just to Secure the World, but to Create a Better World - April 30, 2002

Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor to President Bush, states that the goal of the U.S.-led war on terrorism is not only to secure the world but also to create a better one. Regarding Iran, she mentioned that Iran's support for terrorism and its efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction place the country at the center of evil. In a report by Jim Mellon of Voice of America, the White House National Security Advisor asserts that the terrorist attacks of September proved what he described as 'the fundamental difference between forces of chaos and forces of order.' He argues that the Bush administration's war on terrorism has a goal that goes far beyond targeting terrorists and their supporting regimes. He said, 'We are not just seeking to make the world safe; we want to make it a better world as well. A world that allows all men and women to experience joy and happiness and the challenge of freedom.' In light of September 11, such a mission—creating a safer and better world—is of far greater importance. Rice delivered these remarks to students and faculty at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Washington. She stated that the Bush administration is committed to speaking and acting in a manner she referred to as 'moral clarity' when dealing with countries that pose a threat to the U.S. She noted, 'America cannot impose its vision on the world. However, we will continue to use our influence in favor of freedom. There are indeed right and wrong choices, as well as right and wrong actions. We must keep in mind that truly evil regimes will never reform, and we must know that we must deal with such regimes, not treat them with gentleness.' Referring to Iran, she said, 'Our problem with Iran lies in its policies, which play a very destructive role in international politics, from supporting terrorism around the world to supporting terrorism in the Middle East. It must be stated clearly that our problem is with an unelected minority in Iran that continues to turn the hopes of its people into despair. We are simply stating the truth about the nature of the Iranian regime.' She also mentioned that despite the many dangers in the current world, there are also great opportunities for the U.S. and its allies to establish what she calls 'a new balance of power in favor of freedom.' When one student expressed the opinion that it is hypocritical for the U.S. to push its non-democratic allies toward a war on terrorism, Rice responded that the government continues to urge some of those countries that offer help to undertake economic and political reforms.