Editorial Music & Art Reflections Humour Guest Column Fitness Buzz Book Review Culture Poetry Prev Issue Next Issue

World Trade Center Attacks - All smoke and no fire - By- Sunanda Vashisht Sunanda was born in the beautiful valley of Kashmir, India when Kashmir was known for its unparalleled natural beauty and not as a cauldron of fear and terror. She did most of her schooling in Delhi and dabbled with several professions before moving to U.S last year. she is currently pursuing higher studies here. she likes to introduce herself as an explorer because she wants to spend all her time in this world exploring unknown. Writing for her is a cathartic experience. She can't remember when she began writing first but she does know that writing has always helped her to be at peace with herself and with the world around her.

It has been three weeks since the ghastly terrorist attack on World Trade Center. The initial shock that lent itself to immense anger is slowly giving way to deep-rooted frustration. Frustration at how the situation is being handled and how humanity is again being held ransom by few terrorist organizations and the inept handling of situation by the inefficient leaders.

As a world citizen my heart bled for America on September 11. I was one with their grief and so were most Indians partly because we have known terrorist attacks from very close quarters. Whether during erstwhile Punjab Militancy days or now when Kashmir is bleeding we know what it means to lose your loved ones to such attacks. The world saw it as a global tragedy and all like-minded countries immediately offered their assistance. Citizens of twenty-five countries lay buried under the rubble of World Trade Center. Therefore we saw it as an assault on all humanity. Today, three weeks after the attack, the tragedy unfortunately remains just an American tragedy much less a global tragedy.

Although the enormous sympathy for victims remains, there seems to be no sympathy outside America for American leadership. In my last editorial written immediately after the tragedy I had hoped for some paradigm shift in the American foreign policy. Although the enormity of the crisis demanded that we do not discuss the causes of the attack and rise of Islamic Terrorism, we had hoped that America would realize that it is time to work with the rest of countries and not ignore the world while framing its response. However, three weeks after the attack, the world feels let down because America is once again playing favorites, and is once again ignoring the rules of good Diplomacy. The fact that it is ready to bed with Pakistan means that America still believes in good Terrorism and bad terrorism. When America said that it would wipe out terror from the face of world we were with them because we believed that they would not differentiate between militants. After all Militants are militants. But the fact that it is ready to bomb Afghanistan and ignore Pakistan, the breeding ground of Taliban, makes me doubt their intention. Two Weeks ago America was looked upon as world leader in the global fight against terrorism. Today the fight remains solely American where American interests will be kept in mind at the cost of global interests.

It is sad to note that these attacks have brought out the worst of America. The fact they are obsessed with themselves and the rest of the world does not exist for them. Three weeks ago the sanctions on Pakistan were completely justified but immediately after the attack the sanctions were lifted simply because America now needs Pakistan. Therefore it will overlook their past. The American leadership very brazenly declared that the sanctions are not in American Interests anymore. Of course the sanctions on India were also lifted, but this makes me wonder the arbitrariness of American policy.

I think America has once again succeeded in alienating the world and make more enemies in the process. After all one cannot ignore America's Middle East policy where it has installed puppet regimes who do not enjoy any public support. I think it is time for America to stop being the international Policeman and work with the world rather than alienate them. Although under the leadership of President Bush junior this seems to be a far-fetched dream.

When he was contesting for the presidential elections he was widely regarded as someone who understands very little of foreign policy. This comes across very clearly when we see him addressing the nation with well-written speeches full of rhetoric but accompanied with no action. He does very well on the domestic front. Opinion polls have given him very high rating in the U.S but outside the country he hardly comes across as the leader of free world. At best he comes across as an angry Cowboy who lacks vision to lead the world in this fight against Terror.

I don't know how the situation will unfold in coming days. But I do hope that American leadership pauses to think about its past actions and decides that it is time to abandon the role of the Policeman and work with the world in the interest of the world. After all we are all citizens of earth. America needs other countries as much as they need America. This is the perfect opportunity for the American leadership to rise to the occasion and lead the world in what could be the most dangerous war of this century. Unfortunately, I am saddened to admit that this plea will once again fall on deaf ears.

Until we connect again....

View and Post comment on this article