Japan and the World Need America to Recover from September 11
"In
the United States as a result of counterterrorism measures, airport security
has become much more aggressive, while prejudice against Muslims and Muslim
immigrants has spread. It seems that the great freedom and tolerance that
Americans once enjoyed has been lost. It has been a decade of struggle for the
United States."
Out of the ruins of the collapsed
World Trade Center site in New York, struck in the terrorist attacks of September
11, 2001, one can hear the echo of reconstruction.
Next to the September 11
memorial park stands a majestic-looking skyscraper, One World Trade Center,
which when completed will be the tallest building in America. While reminding people
of the tragedy, this also shows that nothing will stop the country's progress. It
is a scene that convinces one of the strength of the United States.
The September 11 terrorist
attacks had a tremendous impact on the United States and the world. After the
end of the Cold War, the
only superpower worthy of the name was attacked by four commercial airliners
hijacked by 19 terrorists. To forget the 3,000 people who died in those attacks
would be impossible.
Following the surprise
attacks by the global terrorist organization al-Qaeda, the George W. Bush Administration
responded by launching the so-called "war on terror." Given the
unprecedented nature of the attacks, Bush's response was understandable.
Ten years on, and the war in
Afghanistan is still going on. Osama bin Laden, mastermind of the 2001 terrorist
attacks, was recently tracked down and killed after many years as a fugitive,
and the battle to eliminate terrorism has spread to Pakistan.
In the Iraq War, which the United
States launched despite European opposition, no WMDs were discovered,
undermining the pretext for launching the war. As a result, the U.S. lost a significant
amount of prestige and learned a bitter lesson about resorting to the use of
force.
In the United
States as a result of counterterrorism measures, airport security has become
much more aggressive, while prejudice against Muslims and Muslim immigrants has
spread. It seems that the great freedom and tolerance that Americans once
enjoyed has been lost.
Over 6,000 members of the
U.S. armed forces have been killed in the wars. The economic cost of the wars -
$1.3 trillion (about ¥100 trillion) - has exacerbated the fiscal crisis occurring
alongside them. It has been a decade of struggle for the United States.
The United States has a
stubbornly high unemployment rate and consumption is stagnant. Americans are
focused on the economy and issues affecting their livelihoods, particularly with
issues like business conditions, taxes and employment.
U.S. President Barack Obama
has become increasingly inward-looking, saying for instance, "America. It
is time to focus on nation-building here at home." This shows concern that
the United States is in decline and reflects a sense of crisis.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
In contrast to the decline of
the United States, newly emerging countries have achieved high levels of
economic growth. China, which has shown remarkable growth, has surpassed Japan
to become the No. 2 economy in the world, and has been beefing up its military
strength.
Although trends toward a multipolar
world will continue, no country other than the United States can play such a
central role in dealing with threats like terrorism, which are aimed at
destroying the international order.
For the good of Japan and in
order to stabilize the region and ensure its prosperity, it is vital that Japan
deepen its alliance with the United States.
