When terrorists stole global security on Sept. 11, it was hardly grinches’ work. No chance existed for the miscreants to repent or learn to coexist with the society that they despised, demonized and sought to disrupt.

Terrorism’s life-or-death challenge left the civilized world just one option: a protracted war requiring solidarity and cooperation in shoring up defenses and taking the fight to the enemy. In Afghanistan and beyond, the United States would need every ally, from the smallest friendly nation to powerful organizations such as NATO, which Secretary of State Colin Powell pressed for greater assistance in the counterterrorism struggle just last week.

Two years into the war against terrorism, battles rage on many theaters, including in Iraq. The U.S.-led intervention in that nation earlier this year deposed a brutal dictator but created a global magnet for terrorists. Violent extremists there and in other countries would eagerly swipe the holiday season from those who yearn to celebrate in peace. The U.S. Embassy in Indonesia recently alerted Americans about the possibility of attacks at clubs, hotels, schools, restaurants and places of worship in the weeks ahead. In truth, such horrors could happen anywhere.

It is, of course, impossible to protect every potential target against terrorists. But the United States and its allies could act more aggressively in taking the fight to the enemy, especially in Iraq.

Granted, various nations — including several in Europe — disagreed with the United States’ gung-ho approach to intervention. Some extend their discontent to the handling of postwar Iraq.

Only time, forgiveness and an ongoing commitment to statesmanship on all sides will blot up the diplomatic trail of tears and point the United States and its alienated allies toward a clear-eyed, collective vision for the future.

However, Europeans really should stop tossing peanuts from the sidelines.

The phenomenon of terrorists converging in Iraq should worry all neighboring regions — particularly Europe, which has suffered a disproportionate share of political violence originating from the Middle East.

If the U.S.-led intervention fails to secure and democratize Iraq, that country could develop into a wasp’s nest of terrorist activity, much like Afghanistan during its tumultuous Taliban days. Instead of the model state that U.S.-led forces aspire to establish, Iraq could metamorphose into a menace of unprecedented proportions.

Thus, NATO should act quickly on Powell’s request that the alliance take a direct role in stabilizing and reconstructing Iraq. Such a gesture would continue NATO’s solid tradition of working with the United States in the terrorism struggle.

Consider that within less than 24 hours of Sept. 11, 2001, NATO said that it viewed the terrorist attacks as an attack against all of the alliance’s member nations. NATO then backed the United States in launching the war against terrorism, from enhancing intelligence-sharing to monitoring shipping to participating in the Afghanistan intervention. All of those fronts in the war against terrorism still require NATO’s attention. So, too, does Iraq.

Although the public positions of NATO members appear to reflect an interest in considering Powell’s request, the crisis in Iraq cannot afford months of plodding discussions to select an ideal time for deploying a NATO mission, say, when sovereignty shifts from the U.S.-led forces to the Iraqi people.

It’s worth underscoring why the circumstances in Iraq warrant NATO’s immediate help.

First, if the well-being and security of the Iraqi people and the region surrounding Iraq matter so much — and they do — Europe should gladly lend a more robust hand.

Second, Europe cannot afford for Washington to fail in Iraq. While it’s not likely that the United States would withdraw and leave the job unfinished, Europe’s help would enhance the chances of success.

Third, aside from the remnants of Saddam Hussein’s regime and other disgruntled Iraqis, the opposition in Iraq largely wears a terrorist’s face.

To the extent that those troublemakers succeed in spreading fear, destruction and carnage, they erode the gains of the war against terrorism in which NATO has a prominent stake.

Finally, when the perpetrators attack U.S.-led forces in Iraq, they symbolically join the assailants of 9-11 in undermining NATO’s collective interests. NATO’s duty calls it to direct fury and force to Iraq without delay.

John C. Bersia, who won a Pulitzer Prize in editorial writing for the Orlando Sentinel in 2000, is also the special assistant to the president for global perspectives. His e-mail address is jbersia@orlandosentinel.com.