Although “Abhorring war and accepting conflict only as a last resort,” the Free National Movement said Sunday, its stand with the United States in its fight against terrorism and the disarmament of Iraq by force, if necessary.
A press statement issued to The Guardian states that the FNM believes that The Bahamas has a historic opportunity to act in “pragmatic” and “enlightened” self-interest and to avoid a painful and lasting scar on a special and vitally important relationship.
“There are times when the issues at stake are of such fundamental importance, that our interest naturally coincides with those of the United States, as has been the case in the international war against the traffic and abuse of illicit narcotic drugs, the war against terrorism and now, the mandatory disarmament of a tyrant with weapons of mass destruction,” stated the release.
The release continues that the FNM felt obliged to release a statement on the U.S./Iraq issue, because of “the growing concern of the Bahamian people with the apparent deterioration in the tenor of Bahamas-United States of America relations.”
The press statement noted that there is no country with which The Bahamas shares greater economic and social interests than the U.S., as, “Our economies are inextricably linked, as was most dramatically demonstrated by the fall-out of the events of September 11, 2001. The people of the United States and the people of The Bahamas are linked by strong bonds of blood, friendship and commerce.
The U.S. has been, and is, the release went on, The Bahamas’ most important friend and ally in good times and in bad.
Using examples, the release noted that the U.S Coast Guard has readily responded to requests for assistance to counter drug trafficking, illegal migration or search and rescue for stranded or lost sailors in Bahamian waters. It further stated that all Bahamians remember the speedy response of the United States in support of The Bahamas, following the attack of the HMBS Flamingo by Cubans, in addition to Bahamians working in all branches of the United States military.
“The FNM recalls that The Bahamas has on any number of occasions, taken a separate position to that of our Caribbean brethren on international issues, whether in opposing the multilateral invasion of Grenada, the conclusion of Ship Rider Agreements, with the United States in joining the Caribbean Single Market and the Caribbean Court of Appeal,” the release documented.
Similarly, the release continued, The Bahamas, when its national interest has differed from that of the United States of America, has not hesitated to stand apart from that country on a number of international issues, whether in The Bahamas’ historic support of the fight of the Palestinian people for a homeland or in its opposition to the Apartheid government in South Africa.
“That has also been the case, more recently, in our independent stand in support for candidates for the post of Secretary General of the Organization of American States, our opposition to the continued U.S. economic blockage of Cuba, the U.S. withdrawal from the Kyoto Treaty on Climate Change, or the U.S. refusal to support the release of international aid and soft loans to Haiti,” the release said.
The Bahamas, as any other independent sovereign state, the release further noted, has an obligation to protect and guard the interests of all of its citizens. And toward this end, the release continued, successive Bahamian governments have sought to align the country with those nations or groups of nations which share with The Bahamas, not only common values and traditions, but economic, political and social interests.
“In this regard,” the FNM said, “The Bahamas has a natural affinity to the member states of the Commonwealth Caribbean (CARICOM) and to the United Kingdom of Great Britain, as well as to the United States of America, a country which shares both our Judeo-Christian heritage and a commitment to constitutional, representative democracy,” and “all previous Bahamian governments have generally pursued a policy of pragmatism in The Bahamas’ relations with America.”
United States Ambassador, J. Richard Blankenship on Feb. 20, said that if the United States decides to go to war with Iraq, it would be best for The Bahamas to side with that country rather than with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Mr Blankenship said the United States will always remember who lends them support and it does not “make sense” for The Bahamas to distance itself from its closest neighbour.
“It makes no sense why The Bahamas would want to turn its back on the United States and its biggest ally. American tourists make up the largest percent of revenue for the country. If terror is allowed to flourish and should some unforeseen remote and horrible event occur in The Bahamas, it will not be CARICOM who rushes to the Commonwealth’s side, it will be the U.S.A,” he said.
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
