20 years ago today, the world was behind the USA like never before. I think about the possibilities that could have come from that tragedy if the good will it generated wasn’t squandered to gain more power.
How 9/11 forged an age of political turmoil
America went into battle on September 11, 2001, united in defense of its values and way of life. Twenty years on, it is at war with itself, its democracy threatened from within in a way Osama bin Laden never managed.
www.cnn.com
It was just squandered with no power gained, as if that might have justified what the US did. We lost goodwill during the years of endless war and lost trust by foisting false intelligence to justify it. Lumping Afghanistan with Iraq to justify invading a second country pretty much ended support and credibility from our allies.
Their use of fear mongering (terrorists are coming FOR YOU!!!), their use of torture, the way they smeared anybody who tried to tell the truth (French surrender monkeys). It all amounts to loss of trust and influence for the US. For good reason we lost power. We abused it and didn't deserve to keep it.
Then there is also Obama's campaign of drone strikes. We kept using force and guess what? Our enemies were more resolved than ever to make the US pay for its crimes.
I don't think I'm a pacifist but I don't see how violence solved anything. How about if we stop threatening people? You know, the old saying. If you find that you are digging yourself deeper into a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.