Nato enters uncharted waters as it adapts to new environment

The US State Department's special co-ordinator of counter-terrorism, Frank Taylor, met with Nato's 19 ambassadors on 2 October 2001, to present evidence proving that the individuals who carried out the terrorist attacks in the US on 11 September 2001 were part of the worldwide terrorist network of al-Qaeda, headed by Osama bin Laden. Nato insisted, on 12 September 2001, that article 5 of the Nato Treaty could only be invoked if the US could prove the attack was directed from abroad. The article states that an armed attack on one or more of the allies in Europe or North America 'shall be considered an attack against them all'. Lord Robertson, Nato secretary-general, said 'the facts are clear and compelling'. It is now up to Washington to decide if it wants to ask Nato for military assistance.

http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2001/1001/e1002a.htm http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2001/1001/e1002a.htm

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