The USA was entering the third millennium, revelling in its own power and wealth. The superpower thought that it would always have superiority over other countries. However, the first year of the new millennium showed that America was just like any other country: it was as vulnerable as any other state. America has drawn the conclusions for itself, and the country started perceiving the world in a different way: the rest of the world became something closer to it and also more threatening at the same time. Other countries, even its allies, have not changed their attitude towards the USA for many reasons. They all still consider (some with envy and some with hatred) the United States to be the "lonely super-power."
The Christian Science Monitor newspaper wrote that when it comes to the security of the American citizens, America trusts only America: “The campaign in Afghanistan showed that the superpower was even more powerful than we thought.” Washington is in need of allies, but the cooperation must be “quiet," like, for example, the cooperation of intelligence services. The Europeans fear that the military superiority of the States over both its enemies and allies will strengthen the isolationist sentiments in the White House. What is so surprising here is that it was just the thing George Bush was talking about when he came to power. America's single-handed withdrawal from the ABM Treaty only confirmed its intention to go along its own way only. Everyone is again not happy about what America is doing, and people blame the USA for making economic profit its first priority and not environmental protection; the Arab people blame the Unite States for rendering help to Israel; Israel blames it for not pressing the Arabs; Russia blames it for the single-handed pull-out from the ABM treaty.
The USA’s allies rejoiced when they were invited to join the coalition against the Taliban. NATO claimed that the terrorist attack on America was an attack on all countries included in the Alliance. Three months earlier the coalition was like a diplomatic fig leaf, which allows America to take what it wants from its allies when it wants.
The Pentagon, for example, refused serious military help during the campaign in Afghanistan, because it wanted to be totally in charge of the course of the operation. As the Christian Science Monitor wrote, Washington blocked the deployment of the British contingent to Afghanistan under the UN flag for several weeks. America “gave its permission” after London promised that the British would absolutely obey the central headquarters, although there was no American within the contingent. The army actions in Afghanistan are not going to be over until the USA believes that it has achieved the goal it was pursuing. Neither the UN nor any other organization of that kind can dictate to the USA what it can or can not do.
The Americans are not getting much confidence in the world. Here are the results of the recent poll by the International Herald Tribune in 24 countries. Seventy percent of Americans believe that Washington had taken account of the partners’ interests during the counter-terrorist operation. Sixty-two percent of non-American people believe that America was acting for the sake of its own interests.
Sergey Borisov
PRAVDA.Ru
Translated by Dmitry Sudakov
Wall St. Journal : Did Americas fecklessness bring about the atrocity?
Washington Post : The Spirit in America
Los Angeles Times : Be Still, and Feel Americas Oneness
Christian Science Monitor : Americas ports vulnerable, even with more patrols | csmonitor.com
The Independent (UK) : World leaders call for tolerance to be legacy of terror attacks on America
The Independent (UK) : Lets roll...the catchphrase that captured America
Reuters : Bush Says America Grieves This Christmas
Washington Post : And Now He Loves America
The Economist : America the unready
USA Today : Whatever they think of America, people and nations the world over prefer the greenback
Read the original in Russian: http://pravda.ru/main/2001/12/28/35229.html
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