The scope and pace of change has been truly breathtaking. It has come so fast that what was previously unthinkable is now routine. In the face of difficult challenges, it is easy to forget how dramatically the peace process has already transformed the landscape of the Middle East. As we move forward, we must remember the enormous progress we have made. None of the challenges we now face is more pressing than the fight against terrorism.
Terrorism destroys innocent lives.
President Clinton has rightly identified terrorism as one of the most important security challenges we face in the wake of the Cold War. As he said in his address to the United Nations in October 1995, terrorism today is a world-wide phenomenon. And, unfortunately, neither is America, where terrorists have struck from lower Manhattan to Oklahoma City. Last year's nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system was a grim omen, as well as a wake-up call for the world. The threat is real, and we must act now to meet it.