I POLL

The iPoll is a synergy between Malta Today, the Internet and you the readers.

Every week the web sites www.maltatoday.com.mt and www.maltamag.com will feature an opinion poll on a particular issue. The results of this Internet poll will then be published in Malta Today the following Sunday along with opinion articles arguing both sides of the case.

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Today’s issue concerns the dramatic moments we are living through at present. Almost two weeks after the attacks in New York and Washington the world is bracing itself for a new conflict. America has declared a ‘new war’ and in the past days we have seen military manoeuvres in preparation for retaliatory strikes. The US has also embarked on a diplomatic effort to forge a broad coalition in support of its fight against terrorism. Different countries have been voicing their support for the military effort. What role should neutral Malta play? Is this somebody else’s war? How can Malta participate in this coalition?

We asked a former US embassy media officer his opinion on what role Malta should play in the fight against terrorism, if any.

What part for Malta in a new war?

 By Joe Mercieca

The terrorist strike against the United States on September 11 killed over 6,000 innocent people from 62 different nations. It was not merely a barbaric strike at the US but a heinous crime against humanity.

The repercussions of the event and very possible further terrorist acts of aggression in the future, will once again expose the intrinsic immorality of the concept of neutrality. Malta, like every other country, has come one step closer to the time when it will have to choose between saying that it wants to stay on the fence preaching peace and pontificating on Quixotic bridges between two continents, or stand up to be counted.

History has repeatedly shown that neutrality may be convenient for a time, albeit at a sovereign and heinous price, but untenable when put on test. Those who play Pontius Pilate for ideological reasons, mercenary convenience or repayment for past services received, will one day find they too are prey to predators. Terrorism has in the past been shown to have no respect for the so-called neutral states. The massacre at the OPEC meeting in Vienna and the downing of a Swissair passenger jet in the mid-1970s are two of the many episodes which prove the point.

It is too early to say to what extent Malta should participate in the long-drawn fight against terrorism. The declarations made in Parliament by the Prime Minister and the response, albeit with ‘prima facie’ reasonable caveats by the Leader of the Opposition, are a good start.

The question of whether Malta should or should not accept its strategic facilities being used for direct military action is at this stage hypothetical. With the Sigonella airbase only 90 miles away, as the crow flies and 12 other bases in Italy alone, the United States or conceivably a United Nations force have no need for Malta's facilities. The fact that India, a prominent member of the defunct and superfluous non-aligned movement has made its bases available to America is significant.

But Sigonella is and will remain a target in many scenarios. And Malta has to ensure that terrorists do not use our island as a springboard against it. At this stage Malta can and has the moral duty to contribute to the war against terrorism. For starters Malta could start by doing those things which, unless leaked by irresponsible persons including existing moles in the police force, can be done without supplying fodder for those who have a dirty agenda or those who are willing to barter their soul for pecuniary profit by scoring a headline here or overseas. One sensationalist news item can ruin this country.

As things stand when putting these words to paper one should expect Malta to honour its moral and political obligations by taking a pro-active role in diplomatic efforts aimed at defeating terrorism with the least collateral damage. Malta could give access to silent terrorist hunters; share intelligence and establish a reputation for security. It should also be watchful on movements to and from countries which have a blemished record. One has to remember that diplomacy has an elephant's memory and a number of unsavoury cases linking Malta with terrorism in the past can raise doubts among the anti-terrorism fighters but also temptations among perpetrators of terrorism.

In the long term, Malta has to bear in mind that it cannot continue to play ostrich and expect assistance when one day it could need help. And that time will come. In the meantime one yearns to see whether Switzerland will freeze Bin Laden's huge assets in Swiss banks. Nor would it be futile to investigate whether his bloodstained millions of dollars are floating in some Malta registered financial operation.Mr Mercieca is a lecturer in journalism at the University of Malta and a former US embassy media officer.