The Day That Didn't Change the World, Part III

The real question we should ask ourselves is, "Why did anyone think the world would change?" This is not to dismiss the enormity of the acts -- or of the aftermath. It merely raises the question of what people's expectations were.

Immediately after the attacks, we saw an outpouring of support from throughout the entire world: America's traditional allies, Arab countries, and even the French! There was a great opportunity for the United States to step back from their self-described "hyper-power" politics and re-integrate themselves into international co-operation. Unfortunately, the response of the U.S. government was, "You are either for us or against us", as if other countries do not have their own self interests.

Instead of rooting out the causes of disaffection that led to the attacks, we saw a traditional pattern of punitive expeditions. The imperium initiated regime change in Afghanistan -- whose Taliban government had direct ties to Bin-Laden and Al-Quaeda -- and in Iraq -- despite the lack of ties between Saddam Hussein and the Bin-Laden bunch -- but has done nothing to address the inequity between rich and poor that, I feel, lies at the root of religious extremism and terrorism.

And so life goes on.

And so life will go on.