Welcome to BASE21

By Cho Jong-woon, Reporter
joddi1983@hanmail.net

September 11th came to us the way it used to, but this one was quite different. It has been one year since the strongest empire of the world, the US, was attacked. In the heart of New York, two buildings that represent the US economy, The World Trade Center, collapsed by two hijacked planes. Also the symbol of US power, The Pentagon was attacked, too. More than 3000 innocent people were killed by this terror. Also after this terror, America suffered from anthrax for quite a long period. They could not even open their mail boxes easily, and they wore gas masks. It was not just a shocking moment for the US, but the whole world was shocked, even more than the US.
On this year's September 11th, all of America remembered the terror that happened one year ago. People gathered at the place where the TWTC had stood. Everything was cleaned up. Because of the impact from the collision, the ground sank down about the height of on eight story building. People prayed for the victims of the terror, and they said that they will never forget what they had gone through. The site became a memorial place.
President Bush once again declared that he would win this war that started in America. They won the war in Afghanistan, but nothing seem to be changed practically. The US do not have bin Laden, and it doesn't even know whether he is alive or not. All of America believe and are confident that they will win this war. But how, and when?

Situation of the US
Now we should see what has been changed since the terror. Economically, even though it has been a year, investors are not sure, or never will be sure, of their method to of investment. Still, stock prices did not bounce back the way it used to one year ago. The problem is not what the US has been through for a year, but the future which will come. Investor will never know what is going to happen when bin Laden is found dead, or war against Iraq occurs. And many other problems occurred such as increased unemployment, lack of investment, the greatest deficit in history. The US economy has lost it's pride.
So the government of the US is trying to treat every matter pertaining to it's people and companies. This means that the government's intervention has increased since then. It has to care for national security from every aspect that might harm it's people. Also, it's estimate of the national defense expenditure for the preparation of GDP has increased dramatically, since 1982. But the US should realize that the power of the government should be balanced. Too much power and intervention will create side effects. Companies will feel much more pressure, and great on expenditure on national defense will damage national economy.
However, the problem which caused all these problems, from the start of the terror up till now, is the neo-hegemonism of US. Since the end of cold war, the US has been the greatest empire of the world, and the 9.11 terror made it's power more solid. Bush plainly declared to all that if somebody did not help US, they are enemies of the US. And now, the US called Iraq, Iran, and North Korea it's enemy, and axis of evil.
At the beginning of his term, most nations of the world were shocked by Bush's policies toward the Middle East. Former president, Clinton, established many policies which helped the peace of Middle East. But suddenly Bush, let everything go and eventually Israel took the position of dominance of Middle East. No wonder the Arab got angry, and blewed the TWTC. After the terror, many people believed that Bush might give up some of his stubbornness but he did not stir an inch. Pro-Israel policy is still stable, and it seems to have incited trouble between Israel and Palestine. And now, the US is preparing for war with Iraq. Anti-America sentiment is spreading fast and aggressively among all Arabs.
Moreover, not just some countries of Middle East, but countries of Western Europe are turning their back on the US, too. The most certain allies of the US, Germany and England, also have raised their voices against it. The Prime Minister of Germany said that Germany will not be involved in attacking Iraq, and Germany will not offer any financial support. He also said that America's one-sided attack will harm world peace. France also does not like what the US is doing. Noticing American's one-way traffic, its sentiments have worsened, and it is also against US policy toward Iraq.
But Bush is still looking only at one side. He declared war, and it is quite certain that this war will occur. He is also trying to make this war without the decision of the UN. It is not "war" or "no war". It is war "with or without" the help of other nations. It even might ignore congressional agreement. Iraq and the UN is trying to end this situation peacefully as Iraq has requested the investigation of it's weapons. This makes Bush all alone.
Ironically, it seems that there is no certain reason for Bush to attack Iraq so desperately. His reason for making a war is that Iraq has massive killing weapons, and it is supporting terrorists with those weapons. But there is no certain clue that the US has discerned. Some say Bush is trying to make a good base for the 2004 election. It is just some kind of vehicle to extend Bush's power, and to establish the US hegemony firmly in the world.

It is time to look at yourself
Even though it has been a year, some researches show that 54% of Americans still think it is not the way the US should be. Also, research of New York City even shows that firemen and policemen who went into action on 9.11, families of victims, and residents of New Yorkers(even children of near by school) are suffering from drug addiction, alcoholism and insomnia. Americans say, "Why us? Why did they attack our country? We are the one who are keeping world peace."
They have to see what they have done. Did the US really keep world peace? It seems that they are making tragedy because of "their peace" not for the world. They are preparing a war with Iraq right now, without the agreement of the UN. They have to think that the reason for the 9.11 terror might be themselves. Since the first war with Iraq, people of Iraq are still suffering from war ruins, and diseases, especially cancer caused by the use of depleted uranium has spread spreaded out because of US arms. (The US army used depleted uranium in the Gulf War to make their attack easily on tanks because the depleted uranium penetrates tanks very easily.) Is this the peace that the US insisted on? What they earned from the Gulf War is not world peace, but great anti-US sentiment from Arabs.
It might be their hegemony, and one-way policies that cause the 9.11 terror. The US has to see outside of their 50 states. Many other nations are suffering from its hegemony, including us Koreans. It says it is helping us to keep our peace. Then why do they call North Korea the axis of evil? That only makes us more tense.
Americans believe in "Pax Americana" so strongly. That could be right if their behavior changes the world. They are the strongest, but their belief might make them weaker.