SIX YEARS AFTER 9/11:PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

BY HENRY CHUKWUEMEKA ONYEAMA

''Where were you when the world stopped turning?'' wailed the top American country music star, Alan Jackson, following the terrorist attacks on USA on September 11, 2001. The attacks shook USA to her boots. For the attacks revealed that Uncle Sam, in spite of her colossal might, was can even be vulnerable to a small and ostensibly weak group of people.

Six years have passed since 9/11. Although USA went on to triumph in Afghanistan and unseat Saddam Hussein of Iraq.It is necessary for every one on this planet to face these uncomfortable questions: have the seeds that sprouted 9/11 been uprooted from the soil of our skewered international system? USA and her allies may some day catch Osama bin Laden, even destroy Al Qaeida, but is there any assurance that even now, a much more terrible monster is not steadily and stealthily growing to take their place?

Must the aspirations of the Palestinians be sacrificed for the security of the Israelis? Are the Israelis undeserving of survival? How can the extremist forces on both sides - and their globally dispersed sympathizers, many who are eager to do battle against real and perceived foes - be contained when the voices of reason are drowned in seas of oil just to please USA and her friends? What of the disequilibrium that rocks Africa? May I be proved wrong, but unless the developed world addresses Africa' s woes in a spirit of enlightened self-interest, the continent might spawn something no smart bomb may stop.

Before 9/11, terrorism was no stranger to USA. But some pundits believe that the audacious challenge of 9/11 suggest that USA will soon join the league of ex-world powers. President George Bush Jr. ' s adventurism since that fateful day may only hasten the doomsday predictions.

Probably they have a point, but few sane people want USA to drag innocent and not so innocent bystanders along with her if she falls off the world stage. That is why the war on terror should matter to all countries. The war, by the way, is not the type spelt out by Bush in his infamous 'Axis of Evil' doctrine; the type defined by an American agenda. Bombs cannot blow off the human spirit, and it is what all who want to save our world from terrorism should focus on.But how?

Justice for the oppressed everywhere is part of the answer. Addressing the awful imbalances of our unipolar, globalized world will help. Vigorous efforts against chauvinisms and fundamentalisms of all evil kinds will help. So will an acceptance by USA that the world must not necessarily be forged in her image.

Not every one will accept these supposedly utopian suggestions. For quite a few folk, it is either USA or Israel join the extinct dinosaurs or their war goes on. Such groups deserve no appeasement or containment. However, the West, especially USA, must start redesigning their foreign policies. The inherent selfishness and myopia that guide their global conduct must be confronted with the cold realities of our world. Remember that Osama Bin Laden and Saddam used to be Uncle Sam' s beloved sons not too long ago.

For Africa, the crippled member of our unipolar world, both her governments and citizens should face up to her contradictions. Or else they just might spawn something that can turn the world on its head: the poverty, misgovernance, corruption, and external-controlled rape of human and material resources cannot go on ad infinitum. For example, Nigeria must address the madness in the Niger Delta decisively.

May the souls of the victims of 9/11 and every terrorist attack worldwide rest in peace.

Onyeama,is a Lagos-based writer and teacher.

Henry' s address:
PO BOX 3799,
Mushin, Lagos State.