9/11 Revisited

Thomas S. Ball

This week marks the Eighth anniversary of a day that has defined this decade. On Sept. 11, 2001 the United States was attacked for only the third time in 225 years.

In the days and weeks that followed, our nation was united in a manner un-parallel since the assassination of  president John F. Kennedy.

In streets and cities across America, fear gripped our country.

Citizens who had become jaded and disinterested in government suddenly yearned for leadership from the new administration of President George W. Bush.

While some critics have complained about Bush’s slow response to the events on Sept. 11 2001, such a crisis could confound the greatest of presidents.

In the aftermath the Bush administration launched a war on terrorism.

However after eight years are we any closer to defeating Islamic extremism?

I talked to to professor Afshin Marashi who has been in the field of Middle Eastern studies for 20 years.
Marashi said,“what you notice is that an event such as 9/11 happens and then there is an intense interest in a region like the Middle East for a while and then that interest fades.” Marashi also said “my position was created as a response to 9/11.”

For example “after 9/11 Sac St expanded the teaching of Arabic but because of the budget crisis 2^nd year Arabic has been cut.” Marashi says, “a professor in religious studies who taught Islam has not been replaced and without a full time instructor it will be hard to maintain the minor (in Middle Eastern Studies).”

Through out much of our history with the Middle East policy makers have taken a shortsighted approach.

When asked what the United States can do to combat Muslim Extremism Marashi said, “There isn’t anything the United States can do” according to Marashi “ what needs to take place in the Middle East is an internal discussion … this is a long historical process.”

In the weeks that followed 9/11 hate crimes against Muslim-Americans increased.

Basim Elkarra the executive director of the Council of American Islamic Relations in Sacramento, Ca. said, “According to C.A.I.R.'s civil rights reports there was a significant increase in hate related cases nationwide. The cases kept increases until last year where they have come down. Unfortunately civil rights abuses continue to increase. In 2006, there were over 1900 cases, in 2007 over 2400 cases, and in 2008.”

Elkarra said, “These include cases of employment and government discrimination.”

Since 9/11 the United States has spent over $1trillon in Iraq.

Elkarra said, “Many in the Muslim world believed that the two wars were wars against Islam itself.

At first some saw the justification at the war against Afghanistan in retaliation for 9/11 but after the U.S. attacked Iraq many felt that Islam was now under attack because Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.”

Since the election of President Barack Obama many in the Muslim community are hopeful that change in the region is possible.

According to experts such as Masarhi “ Obama has an opportunity that no other President has…” , Marashi says “He (Obama) symbolically undermines the history of colonialism…it is profoundly important that his middle name is Hessian; Because it makes it difficult for people like Bin Laden to demonize him and the United States."

For the United States to effectively combat Islamic fundamentalists such as Osama Bin- laden, policy-makers in Washington D.C. must stop trying to deny the effects of centuries of Imperial influence in the Arab world. This requires a sustained commitment to fostering relationships based not on the acquisition of resources but the development of opportunities for people in these impovershed nations.