Are we Going Over the Top? (Attacks on America)

Member Name: Alindrail

Product:	Attacks on America
Date:	24/09/01 (27 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Recession is now likely, War is very costly, More lives will be lost

I watched the events of the 11th of September unfold in disbelief, much as everyone else. Shock, horror, the works. There's not much need to go into this. We've been riddled with such descriptions for nearly two weeks (no doubt tomorrow will feature another heart-wrenching series of features on 'That Day').

I had been in both he WTC and the Pentagon less than two months before the incident, so I did understand the magnitude of what was going on. What has subsequently occured however has even further thrown my beliefs into sharp relief.

I mourned for the people in those buildings much as everyone else has, and will continue to. I feel however that enough is simply enough! This was a terrible crime, but to call this event a 'declaration of war' is to completely misunderstand first of all war, and secondly the reasons behind the attack. The result of this misunderstanding has led to a problem which will only compound the immediate effect of the attack; the virtual assurance of recession not only in America, but possibly worldwide.

America's demands have done nothing but assure generations of resentment due to its bumbling, hypocritical foreign policy. One would think that they were the first to ever suffer from a terrorist attack. They are not, nor will they be the last (despite their naive protestations, they are simply victims of one of the most dramatic and costly acts.

Their hurt, anger, bitterness and desire for revenge is perfectly understandable, and in other circumstances could be tolerated. These are not other circumstances. America has responsabilities and too much power to react in retribution. Sadly, it is doing so.

There are procedures in place to handle these kind of circumstances. The UN was designed to deal with such crises, however it has been at best ignored by the USA. This can only be read as an open admission that they do not believe that it is capable of handling such problem
s. One can hope that one good thing to come out of this crises will be recognition of this fact, and an attempt to resolve the problem of the UN's inadequacies.

America should certainly try to capture the culprits and bring them to justice. Bombing Afghanistan is unlikely to do so. I do not see how we can justify this immediate jump to military action. The need to bring the alleged mastermind Bin Laden to justice is urgent, but diplomatic efforts have been cursory not to mention simply veiled threats. Diplomacy THEN military action if it can be justified.

The after shocks of the incident are still reverbrating in the global economy. Recession is now not merely hinted at, but virtually assured. Is this really the time to embark on costly military campaigns, wasting not just cash, but lives? I think a serious review of the inherent costs needs to be addressed.

Finally the changed in US foreign policy are shocking. We need India and Pakistan on board? Fine, we will ditch all our moral concerns and values, and remove the sanctions put in place due to their nuclear testing. Shocking how America simply disregards what it now views as 'problematic'. I think any nations who believe that acting in concordance with the US in these attacks should keep that fact in mind, rather than expecting (as I am sure most do) rewards when it is all finsihed with.

As for the revised security procedures. Well they are, I suppose, inevitable. Ultimately I think they will prove ineffective. Even with the crashed air travel is still the safest form of long distance travelling, and if someone is truly intent on re-creating what occured, there are always means around security. Those who fear flying should be reminded that the likelihood of this re-occuring is small. Not travelling is simply acceding to the terrorists.

Finally. I am saddened that this has only given the Americans a hardened sense of what they see as right and good: themselv
es. It is crucial that America reviews its foreign policy, anbd re-examines why it has been attacked. Do they really think that these acts have no reason beyond mindless fanatiscism? Someone else saw their cause as just and good. I think it is about time America stops thinking about itself and starts considering its effect on others.

Summary: