The World Power: What has the foreign policy of the United States since 9 11 taught us about the nature of power in the contemporary world?
In the history of each country there is a moment which is called a moment of grief, a memorial day. It is the day that nation never forgets. The whole world never forgets. It has become a black page in the book of their history. Such black page in the Book of American Nation we may call the 9th of September 2001. It was the day when many people died, because of the terroristic act:
The September 11 attacks killed 3,000 people and caused an estimated $10billion of damage.
Four passenger airliners were hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists and two of those planes – American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 – were crashed into the North and South towers of the World Trade Center complex.
Within two hours, both towers had collapsed. (Gareth Roberts. Dramatic picture of 9/11 terror attack taken from grounded plane revealed for first time. Nov 24, 2014)
Indeed, that day was another stroke for the United States and so for the world also. This tragedy event appeared in the Breaking News and was broadcasting all over the world. Many political analytics have changed their minds about next steps in the foreign policy of their countries. The flight of the three of the four jets into Pentagon and the World Trade Center complex caused this massive explosion of the famous Two Towers gave the whole world a
great lesson for the future. (9-11 Research An Attempt to Uncover the Truth About September 11th, 2001. (n.d.)) But, still, what do we know about the al-Qaeda? According to the Laura Hayes, Borgna Brunner, and Beth Rowen:
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda (or al-Qa'ida, pronounced al-KYE-da) surpassed the IRA, Hamas, and Hezbollah as the world's most infamous terrorist organization. Al-Qaeda—"the base" in Arabic—is the network of extremists organized by Osama bin Laden The death of bin Laden, who was killed in a joint operation by U.S. troops and CIA operatives in May 2011, complicated the future of al-Qaeda.( Laura Hayes, Borgna Brunner, and Beth Rowen. Al-Qaeda Osama bin Laden's Network of Terror. 2007)
This terroristic act was more than not expectable. But, it was an answer – warning for the USA foreign policy. As in the June, the USA officials confirmed, al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan has been seriously weakened. It happened because of the US counterterrorism operations, which were undertaken in Pakistan ( Laura Hayes, Borgna Brunner, and Beth Rowen. Al-Qaeda Osama bin Laden's Network of Terror. 2007).
Originally, this terroristic organization was created on the 11th August 1988 to fight against the Soviet Occupation in the Afghanistan. When Soviets’ troops were withdrawn from there, the al-Qaida’s next main aim, another big enemy has become the USA – as an “Imperia of Evil” with its way of life, social and economic state and, of course, both – Internal and Foreign Policies. Since 9/11, the U.S. has been fighting “evil” – to adopt a very Bushian expression – with evil. (Maxime H.A. Larivé. The making of American foreign policy in the post-9/11 world. (6th May, 2014))
When the President George W. Bush, at 9 p.m. returned back to the White House after being shuttled around the country all day, he delivered a televised appeal to the United States
Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them. (History. 9/11 Attacks. (n.d.))
According to the Maxime H.A. Larivé, together with the polarization of American democracy and political system, the creation of the foreign policy is nowadays more about avoiding a political crisis, which is triggered by a failure to stop an attack than actually making the homeland safer. (Maxime H.A. Larivé. The making of American foreign policy in the post-9/11 world. (6th May, 2014))
Indeed, how can be the national safety established if its main powers are sprayed on issues of the second plan? A political crisis, a national crisis must be eradicated on their, so-called, state of the embryo when they are just beginning to evolve. According to this, appears one well known fact that the Foreign Policy cannot be established and so, exist without fully conducted internal policies, taking into account all its relevant aspects. Same food for thoughts is giving us Maxime H.A. Larivé, Ph. D, a Research Associate at the EU Center of Excellence at the University of Miami:
How can foreign policy be made given that, in the case that an attack occurs after restricting the power of the intelligence community and cutting the defense and intelligence budgets, there could be serious consequences for the political legitimacy and the future of a party and/or individual politicians? (Maxime H.A. Larivé. The making of American foreign policy in the post-9/11 world. (6th May, 2014))
All above said is absolutely right. According to the Nicolas J.S. Davies – the author of "Blood On Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq." Robert Parry noted recently, that there's an "old woman who swallowed a fly" quality to neoconservative U.S. foreign policy. (Nicolas J.S. Davies. Since 9-11 America's Insane Foreign Policy -- Continued Under Obama -- Has Killed a Million and Created ISIS. (n.d.))
Indeed, for the better foreign policy there should be a stable and effective basis, consisting of directions of the internal policy, which is aimed on the real improving of the internal state of the country. So, here is going the first lesson: do not expect to build an effective foreign policy without a developed internal policy. This statement contains and a solution to this issue.
Of course, the United States foreign policy has been changed in some very noticeable ways after September 11, 2001. But, on the other hand, this foreign policy after 9/11 has remained much the same. The main difference from that time was to fight against the terrorism. (Steve Jones. US Foreign Policy After 9/11Obvious Changes, Subtle Similarities. (n.d.)) This means not to conquer new territories, but first of all – to preserve the country you live in and its nation from the outside danger. In this case, it is a safety system, directed on the protection from terroristic organizations.
The bitter experience of the USA was gained on the 11th of September, 2001. It showed the whole world where can lead such directions of the foreign policy. Under putting the protection over the borders, and all of the people within them, must be understood the main point of the foreign policy.
When George W. Bush assumed the presidency in January 2001, his major foreign policy initiative was the creation of a "missile shield" over parts of Europe. In theory, the shield would give added protection if North Korea or Iran ever launched a missile
strike. In fact, Condoleezza Rice, then the head of Bush's National Security Council, was slated to give a policy speech about the missile shield on September 11, 2001.
Nine days later, on September 20, 2001, in a speech before a joint session of Congress, Bush changed the direction of American foreign policy. He made terrorism its focus. (Steve Jones. US Foreign Policy After 9/11Obvious Changes, Subtle Similarities. (n.d.))
So, what has the foreign policy of the United States since 9 11 taught us about the nature of power in the contemporary world? It gave us an understanding that this is not a childish game, and none of us is allowed to play with human lives, using them as an instrument to reach our aims. The al – Qaeda’s target was to change the world, through the choosing of one big “enemy”. That caused a war, and massive killings. The nature of power is unstable. Some people, once they are getting to it are totally changing their directions in policies.
It also taught that first of all it is important to protect the borders, whether they are air or terrestrial. This fact is known from the ancient history. How can we step into the war, knowing that our city is not protected by strong walls?
Reference list:
- Gareth Roberts. Dramatic picture of 9/11 terror attack taken from grounded plane revealed for first time. (Nov 24, 2014) http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/dramatic-picture-911-terror-attack-4683915 Accessed on the 25 November 2014.
- 9-11 Research An Attempt to Uncover the Truth About September 11th, 2001. (n.d.)
- Laura Hayes, Borgna Brunner, and Beth Rowen. Al-Qaeda Osama bin Laden's Network of Terror. 2007 http://www.infoplease.com/spot/al-qaeda-terrorism.html Accessed on the 25 November 2014.
- Maxime H.A. Larivé. The making of American foreign policy in the post-9/11 world. (6th May, 2014) http://foreignpolicyblogs.com/2014/05/06/the-making-of-american-foreign-policy-in-the-post-911-world/ Accessed on the 25 November 2014.
- History. 9/11 Attacks. (n.d.) http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks Accessed on the 25 November 2014.
- Nicolas J.S. Davies. Since 9-11 America's Insane Foreign Policy -- Continued Under Obama -- Has Killed a Million and Created ISIS. (n.d.) http://www.alternet.org/world/9-11-americas-insane-foreign-policy-continued-under-obama-has-killed-million-and-created-isis?page=0%2C5 Accessed on the 25 November 2014.
- Steve Jones. US Foreign Policy After 9/11Obvious Changes, Subtle Similarities. (n.d.) http://usforeignpolicy.about.com/od/defense/a/Us-Foreign-Policy-After-9-11.htm Accessed on the 25 November 2014.
