Sept. 11th's significance

[Field Marshal]

Hey guys, my little brother has to write an essay for his final about the (in his opinion) most significant event in American History. He chose Sept. 11th, but he isn't as politcal as most of us are. He needs more to write about. If you guys could help me and him out and elaborate on themes such as the imbalance of power, new world order, the old way of thinking (retaliation), the monarchy created within the government, and whatever you can think about.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it, I want my brother not only to impress his teacher, but also to learn about the world around him.

[peaccenicked]

Sept 11th is the culmination of the history of American Imperialism. After the second world war, the USA became the major super power, and the cold war brought polarity to the world. Poorer nations were able to some extent play one of the big powers off the other.
The collapse of Stalinism brought american militarism into a crisis.
Richard Kluger in his article "U.S military strategy and force posture for the 21st century" for the America’s National Defence Research Unit speculates the American capacity needed for the future.
50% - Global harmony
75% - Reduced regional tensions
110% - Enhanced regional tensions
125% - Fascist Russia
135% - Unstable multi-polar world "
The lack of an enemy as demonised as 'communism' led to the shifting of focus to the Arabs who also control much of the worlds oil. Isreal was militarised by the west and the middle east was a big arena for the cold war. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was defeated by CIA money and the Afghani resented their abandonment by the west. The Palestininians resented the major western power financing of Isreal. The genocide of the Iraqis and the placing of American troops in Saudia Arabia, along with the westernising influences of globalisation. Have all lead to a great resentment in the Arab world for the USA.
Yet Sept 11th remains a mystery. The official version of the Al qiada suicide bombers motivated by pan arab nationalism has been questioned. There has been questions raised about it by a former German minister, and many journalists.
The question of who benefits still cause major doubts in the Arab world. The main conspiracy theory is that it was the Isreali secret service. There has been a spate of stories about intelligence beforehand knowledge.
The war on terrorism has looked ridiculous in the light of the way Bin Laden has avoided escape. The war on terror has seemed liitle more than a cover for American expansionism.
The state of emergency in America has served the interests of Bush and rolled back human rights. The CIA has moved its status of a defensive organisation to that of an attacker.(Congress had its powers in check to an extent)
The really odd thing about Sept 11 was that there has been no follow up to it. Terrorists are usually capable of mounting sustained attacks.
This has also increased speculation that there was intelligence communities involved. There has been wide speculation about the CIA's role in making money out of the atrocity. There are still questions unanswered.
There was evidence produced that Military intelligence in the 70's was considering a terrorist attack on the american people and blaming it on the cubans.
Sept 11th has also held back the struggle for a multi polar world as nations such as Russia and India have taken advantage of America's military adventurism by seeking military aid in return for supporting 'anti terror' program.
All in all, the world plummeted a giant step backward to the right, delaying yet again the left backlash that is merely brewing in the background.




(Edited by peaccenicked at 7:43 am on June 7, 2002)

[Reuben]

Great post peacenicked. You explain everything so brilliantly.

CHomsky believes that even before the end of the cold war, the main threeat to U.S. imperialism has come from the Radical Nationalism in the world, although they have always tried to publicallly lay any threats at the door of the kremlin.

Maybe you could say that september the Eleventh was significant, because, while countless other wars have been fought, often at great human cost, to protect Americas interests, this was the first time that America experienced having a war fought on their territory, with the threat to American civilians.

[Angie]

Merely reiterating - fantastic post, peaccenicked. :)