U.S. attacks take center stage at global tech meet

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By Jennifer Tan

(IDG) -- For almost half a day on Wednesday, a global technology conference in Singapore became an impromptu platform to discuss how the United States will deal with last week's attacks on New York and Washington.

Technology, business leadership and entrepreneurship in the 21st century took a back seat at the Forbes Global CEO Conference as participants mulled over the devastation and its fallout.

From the opening remarks by Forbes' management to speeches by former U.S. defense secretary Caspar Weinberger, Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and ambassador-at-large Tommy Koh, one theme prevailed -- the fight against terrorism.

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Steve Forbes, chief executive officer and editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine, called it "a battle against evil, nihilism." He labeled Afghanistan, where Washington's prime suspect Osama bin Laden is a guest of the ruling Taliban, a "rogue state."

Forbes warned the campaign would be a drawn-out battle and that "these psychological wounds would never fully heal."

Weinberger stresses resolve

"We are at war," Weinberger said, telling delegates the United States would identify the perpetrators with certainty and accuracy.

"It's not going to do any good, it's going to do a great deal more harm, to go bomb somebody blindly because of the natural feelings of revenge and fury that are welling up in the American people now," he said.

The feisty 84-year-old, who is also the Forbes chairman, struck a note of resolve that the United States would be able to make the necessary sacrifices.

"The will of the American people once aroused...is capable of accomplishing all the things that have to be done," he said.

"This will not be an easy task. We are fully embarked on it, we are not embarked on it to go half-way, we are embarked on it to win," Weinberger said, stressing that Washington would count on its allies.

Singapore voices support

Lee condemned the attacks and expressed Singapore's support.

"The United States will not be alone in its efforts to ferret out the criminals who planned and executed the vicious crimes," he said. "Singapore will do its part to support the global anti-terrorism effort."

Ambassador Koh called on Washington's Asian allies to have "the courage to stand up and be counted" and help by supporting its "right to act in self-defense in accordance with the United Nations charter and international law."

Koh urged the Bush administration to continue to consult its allies and friends "to pursue its just cause by just means."

"The U.S. must act wisely so as not to lose its moral high ground and the sympathy and support of the people of the world," he said.