Israel also has a large stake in the success of a
democratic Palestine. Permanent occupation
threatens Israel’s identity and democracy. So the
United States continues to challenge Israeli leaders
to take concrete steps to support the emergence of
a viable, credible Palestinian state. As there is
progress towards security, Israel forces need to
withdraw fully to positions they held prior to
September 28, 2000. And consistent with the
recommendations of the Mitchell Committee,
Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territo-
ries must stop. As violence subsides, freedom of
movement should be restored, permitting inno-
cent Palestinians to resume work and normal life.
The United States can play a crucial role but,
ultimately, lasting peace can only come when
Israelis and Palestinians resolve the issues and end
the conflict between them.
In South Asia, the United States has also
emphasized the need for India and Pakistan to
resolve their disputes. This Administration
invested time and resources building strong
bilateral relations with India and Pakistan.
These strong relations then gave us leverage to
play a constructive role when tensions in the
region became acute. With Pakistan, our bilateral
relations have been bolstered by Pakistan’s choice
to join the war against terror and move toward
building a more open and tolerant society. The
Administration sees India’s potential to become
one of the great democratic powers of the twenty-
first century and has worked hard to transform
our relationship accordingly. Our involvement in
this regional dispute, building on earlier invest-
ments in bilateral relations, looks first to concrete
steps by India and Pakistan that can help defuse
military confrontation.
Indonesia took courageous steps to create a
working democracy and respect for the rule of law.
By tolerating ethnic minorities, respecting the rule
of law, and accepting open markets, Indonesia may
be able to employ the engine of opportunity that
has helped lift some of its neighbors out of poverty
and desperation. It is the initiative by Indonesia that
allows U.S. assistance to make a difference.
In the Western Hemisphere we have formed
flexible coalitions with countries that share our
priorities, particularly Mexico, Brazil, Canada,
Chile, and Colombia. Together we will promote a
truly democratic hemisphere where our integra-
tion advances security, prosperity, opportunity,
and hope. We will work with regional institutions,
such as the Summit of the Americas process, the
Organization of American States (OAS), and the
Defense Ministerial of the Americas for the benefit
of the entire hemisphere.
Parts of Latin America confront regional
conflict, especially arising from the violence of
drug cartels and their accomplices. This conflict
and unrestrained narcotics trafficking could
imperil the health and security of the United
States. Therefore we have developed an active
strategy to help the Andean nations adjust their
economies, enforce their laws, defeat terrorist
organizations, and cut off the supply of drugs,
while—as important—we work to reduce the
demand for drugs in our own country.
In Colombia, we recognize the link between
terrorist and extremist groups that challenge the
security of the state and drug trafficking activities
that help finance the operations of such groups.
We are working to help Colombia defend its
democratic institutions and defeat illegal armed
groups of both the left and right by extending
effective sovereignty over the entire national
territory and provide basic security to the
Colombian people.
In Africa, promise and opportunity sit side by
side with disease, war, and desperate poverty. This
threatens both a core value of the United States—
preserving human dignity—and our strategic
priority—combating global terror. American
interests and American principles, therefore, lead
in the same direction: we will work with others for
an African continent that lives in liberty, peace,
and growing prosperity. Together with our
European allies, we must help strengthen Africa’s
fragile states, help build indigenous capability to
secure porous borders, and help build up the law
10 National Security Strategy