Overreaction to 9-11 is Major Reason for American Decline
"The subsequent chaos and moral
lesson of 9/11 is that looking at others with suspicion and brandishing an 'ideal'
as the U.S. has done, is foolish. This is a lesson that also applies to Islamic
fundamentalist groups that try to blend religion and state by means of
terrorism and civil war."
Ten years have passed since
the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States shocked the world. Will
the chain of hate that gave birth to this terror and the wars that followed ever
be severed? Looking out on the growing confusion in the world since 9-11, we can
see that hatred and animosity remain deeply rooted and in some cases have
further intensified.
We live in a globalized world
in which terrorism is only one of a variety of risks that surround us. Problems
like the incident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the spread of nuclear
material across borders and the international financial backlash that followed the
spread of harmful rumors about the accident aren't problems that are limited to
Japan.
The path will not be an easy
one if we are to tackle these problems with international cooperation. Sincere and
steady global cooperation must be reinforced.
The world has changed
dramatically since 9/11. The U.S., the sole superpower in the closing years of
the 1990s, can't hide the fact that its $15 trillion deficit has damaged its
influence around the world. And the biggest reason for this decline is America's
overreaction to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the start of the "War on
Terror."
According to an American
university research team, an estimated 250,000 people were killed in the War on
Terror over the last ten years, including American troops, insurgents and
civilians. In that time, the U.S. government spent upwards of $4 trillion on war
and national security measures.
President Obama decided to
withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. And while the situation is
reminiscent of the way attempts were made to conceal the setback of the Vietnam
War during the 1970s, the path to stability seems far more precipitous today.
Meanwhile, the Middle East
has suffered its own earthquake. It is clear that the poverty and feeling of
helplessness in the region cannot be resolved by terrorist attacks against the United
States. It has become clear that the people's "real enemies" are the region's
dictatorships.
The democratization movement
dubbed the “Arab Spring” has begun, but realizing democratization is no easy
task. For those areas where political systems have been toppled but where
conflict continues, such as Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Syria, the next step in
the march toward democracy is a chaotic one
Hostility and confrontation
in Europe is growing. Europe, who grumbled in disagreement with America's post-9/11
unilateralism, turned its attention to regional cohesion when in 2002 it began
circulating its common currency, the euro. However, this created a chasm
between the wealthier countries of northern Europe and the poorer states of
southern Europe. Linking the economies of Europe with a common currency
ultimately led to the financial crisis now plaguing southern Europe
In July, in the normally
peace-loving nation of Norway, a young man who was part of an anti-immigrant
faction conducted a hideous terrorist attack. Meanwhile, youth riots in Great Britain
underscored the depth of the conflict now confronted by European society. And
even though countries like China and India enjoy growing economies, behind the
scenes they continue to face hostility and conflict due to disparities of
wealth and problems with minorities.
The subsequent chaos and moral
lesson of 9/11 is that looking at others with suspicion and brandishing an "ideal"
as the U.S. has done, is foolish. This is a lesson that also applies to Islamic
fundamentalist groups that try to blend religion and state by means of
terrorism and civil war. If put into action, this lesson will lead the world on
a path of coping with the current disorder and greater international
cooperation marked by tolerance and compromise, in which each country puts
itself in the shoes of others.
A terrorist attack like the
one that took place on September 11 will not happen again. As a result of international
cooperation, the terrorist group al-Qaeda has been weakened and no longer has
the capacity to conduct large-scale terrorist acts. But worldwide risks like
that of global warming, disease, piracy at sea, failed states, and more
recently, nuclear accidents, are emerging in quick succession.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
When it comes to competitive
currency devaluations that are now taking place, national policies and the
spirit of global cooperation are pulling in opposite directions. Much like ten
years ago, the capacity of international society to overcome conflict is being
tested.
