'THE PROBLEM OF TERRORISM WILL NOT DISAPPEAR IF WE RUN FROM IT'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000505400001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 28, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

? Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/09 :CIA-RDP90-005 28000505400001-8 STAT
ARTICLfi APPEARED
ON PAQE_ A - /;, WASHINGTON POST
28 December 1983
`T ~,e ~i~oblem of Terro~~sm L o
disappear if ~e Run From It'
UnlteA Press ]nternatlonal
President Reagan's statement on the Bei-
rut bombing:
I received the report of the Long commis-
sion last Friday and reviewed it thoroughly.
The report draws the conclusion that the
United States and its military institutions
are by tradition and training inadequately
equipped to deal with the fundamentally
new phenomenon of state-supported terror-
ism. Iwholeheartedly agree.
The thrust of the history of this country is
that we've' recognized the clear distinction
between being at peace with other states and
being at war.
We have never before faced a situation in
which others routinely sponsor and facilitate
acts of violence against us while hiding be-
hind .proxies and surrogates which claim,
they claim they do not fully control.
This problem is not unique to Lebanon.
We've seen the ugly manifestation in Ku=
wait, the terrorist bombing in Rangoon, .the
senseless murder of Turkish diplomats, the
attack on the pope, the bombing of our own
Capitol and on the streets of London.
In the days ahead, we need to systemat-
ically redevelop an approach to this problem,
recognizing that the worst outcome of all is
one in which terrorists succeed in transform-
ing an open democracy into a closed fortress.
Now one fact, though it ig already obvious,
the problem of terrorism will not disappear if
we run from it.
This is not to say that we are not working
as urgently as possible to create political con-
ditions in Lebanon that will make it possible
for us to remove our forces. But we must not
delude ourselves into believing that terrorism
will vanish on the happy dap that our forces
come home.
For terrorists t.o be curbed, civilized coun-
tries must. begin a new effort to work togeth-
er, to share intelligence, to improve our
training and security and our forces to deny
a haven or legal protection for terrorist
groups. And most important of all, to hold
increasingly accountable those countries
which sponsor terrorism and terrorist activ-
ity around the world.
The United States intends to be in the
forefront of .this effort. For the near term,
corrective action is being urgently taken tc)
ensure the maximum. possible security of ~~c;r
forces.
Nearly alI the measures .identified by f hc~
distinguished members of the commis~il,n
have :implemented, or have already been
been implemented, I should say, and those
that have not will be very quickly.
The commission report also notes that the
mission of the Marines is extremely difficult.
And with this, too, there can be no dispute.
We recognized the fact at the beginning and
were painfully reminded of it today.
But the point is that our forces have al-
ready contributed to achievements that lay
the foundation for a future peace, the res-
toration of a central government and the es-
tablishment of an effective national Leba-
nese army.
We do not expect Utopia, but I believe we
are on the verge of new progress. toward na-
t.ionul reconciliation and the withdrawal of
forr?isn forces.
A;;d ?et me finally say that I have soberly
contii:?c~red the commission's word about ac-
coun';,,ility and responsibility of authorities
up ,:nc clown the chain of command. And ev-
er~~,aherP more should be done to anticipate
anc? prepare for a dramatic terrorist assault.
?%e have to come to grips with the fact
that today's termris>ng are better armed and
financed. They are more sophisticated. They
are possessed by a fanatical intensity that in-
dividuals of a democratic society can only
barely comprehend.
I do not believe, therefore, that the local
commanders on the gorund-men who have
already suffered quite enough-should be
punished for not fully comprehending the
nature of today's terrorist threat. If there is
to be blame, it properly rests here in this of-
fice and with this president. And I accept the
responsibility for the bad as well as the good.
In this holiday season our minds are
drawn more than ever to the Middle East,
and while the violence of this region has
been the cause of much of our anguish cer-
tainly over the recent years, it is also worth
recalling that the three great religions in the
mcxlern world have their roots in this ancient
and austere soil
From this paradox we can take hope, and
I intend to bend every effort to ensure that
those who died in this tragedy can claim as
their ultimate legacy the mantle of peace-
maker over this troubled and vital land.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/09 :CIA-RDP90-005528000505400001-8