Mitch Fox/The Hoya Peter Goldmark discussed the future of the war on terrorism and its impact on global society and environment Monday in Copley Formal Lounge

The world must address the two major threats facing our planet: the permanent threat of mass destruction and the progressive threat of the destabilization in the global environment, Chief Executive Officer of the International Herald Tribune Peter Goldmark said on Wednesday.

“The war against terrorism must be won in the hearts and minds of the people in the world,” Goldmark told the audience. His presentation in Copley Formal Lounge was entitled “Getting it together: Terrorists, the Environment and the Gap between the Rich and the Poor,” that was sponsored by the Georgetown Public Policy Institute. In World Wars I and II, the United States was compelled to join the Allied forces. Today, in the case of Iraq, the U.S. is the one instigating war, Goldmark said. He opposes a U.S. unilateral action in the war on terror

Goldman said there are three types of force: force for personal gain, force used without any accepted moral rational (i.e. “Might Makes Right”) and force used collectively.

“The United States’ war on terrorism has failed to identify between the second and third types of force,” Goldman said. “Moral challenges to the United States are particularly acute. If they cannot establish moral legitimacy, then they will be isolated.”

The isolation, Goldman continued, will give Europe the opportunity to lead the world in this moral balance of power. Europe is the only part of the world that has successfully created a coalition of cooperation between regional governments. Finally, as an example of the region’s apparent moral legitimacy, there is little international fear that Europe will bomb or invade an individual country, he said.

“Europe has the moral legitimacy to lead this war against terrorism. For example, Germany is against attacks in Iraq,” Dave Ragone (COL ’06), who attended the speech, said. He said he agreed with Goldmark that Germany believes there are no moral grounds to launch an attack against Iraq.

Goldmark reiterated that the U.S. has not addressed the fundamental problem of terrorism.

“Suicide terrorists only exist if [they] believe that [they] will be a martyr or hero,” Goldmark said. “Terrorism can be contained if most people reject it.”

While the United States says “We are strong, and we will do what is right, it is heard by some as: We are strong, and we will do as we please,” he said.

Goldman believes, however, that countries can be proactive in preparing for possible terrorism. A new system of ground and air protection, food stocks, power and energy generators and cargo is essential to being ready for a chemical or biological attack. Goldmark also said countries must create intrusive systems of identification, from fingerprinting to DNA. He said a drastically tighter control of all chemical, biological, nuclear weapons and advanced equipment must also be enacted to ensure international security.

“Even after Sept. 11, there are still chemical and biological weapons being sold in the underground markets,” Goldmark said. “If weapons inspectors can investigate all sites for weapons of mass destruction, it could truly tip the odds in our favor.” In dire circumstances, Goldmark condones preemptive action. “In extreme application, legitimate morally compelling preemptive action may be needed.”

Goldmark warned the audience that more attacks will probably take place.

“Despite [the fact that] Sept. 11 was so horrible, it was not an attack by weapons of mass destruction. We must accept that future attacks will occur . by anthrax through vents or other means.”

Georgetown Public Policy Institute student Madeleine Bayard (GRD GM) found it interesting that the speaker addressed these issues. “The environment and weapons of mass destruction are very important and not talked about enough,” Bayard said.