When I was interviewed immediately after the September 11 terrorist attacks, I expressed my sympathy and condolences to the US government and people. At the same time, I raised the question: why it is the US who was seriously attacked again? I think it is necessary to raise this question once more on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Ten years have passed, but the US is still living in the shadow of the attacks. In order to try and address some of the problems, most US citizens elected Barack Obama president, following his promises to withdraw troops and implement reforms. However, the US government, along with the majority of the American people, still lacks the courage to find the root of the attacks. The response from the US after the 9/11attacks has had profound impacts in three key areas: conflicts between countries and nations; judicial justice in global communities; and the readjustment of the international order.

Within two years of the 9/11 attacks, the US started wars with Afghanistan and Iraq. The former was somewhat authorized by the United Nations, but the latter was based on inaccurate intelligence. The US made gains and losses. The Iraq war overturned the Iraqi government, but at the same time hurt both the Iraqi and American peoples. In the past 10 years, 6,000 American soldiers have died in battle and the US has lost trillions of dollars. These are both major reasons for the US' huge debts as well as its global decline.

Mainstream American society is still trying to avoid asking why the US still faces persistent and serious terrorist threats. In addition, the US, along with other countries, has adopted the rather simple policy of "opposing terrorism in all its forms". It is right to oppose all terrorism. But it is also necessary to analyze the causes of terrorism; otherwise terrorism will never be uprooted completely.

In this regard, the US is going in the wrong direction. At the same time it fights terrorism, the US opposes the building of a Muslim cultural center near the 9/11 site in New York. It also opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state, based on the boundaries determined before the Arab-Israeli War in 1967. President Obama has met with continual opposition from both domestic conservative groups and Israel in his attempts to promote Muslim culture, or raise the Palestinian question. President Obama has always chosen to retreat in the face of such opposition. The US decision in September to veto any UN recognition of a Palestinian state will hamper communication between the US and the Muslim worlds. As a result, Muslim extremists will probably continue to challenge America. Therefore, the war against terrorism will likely last for a long time, especially in Middle East, and South and Middle Asia.

Furthermore, America's actions in fighting terror over the last decade have often ignored international law, thereby weakening its position and standing. With NATO backing, the US sent troops to Afghanistan in the name of anti-terrorism. But its subsequent overthrowing of the Iraqi government, which it also claimed was in the name of anti-terrorism, had no such UN backing, and was fiercely criticized by the US' main allies. Following the war in Iraq, which killed some 110,000 people, the US failed to apologize to the international community or pay any kind of compensation. This lack of accountability is contrary to the US principles of law and democracy, as well as international justice, world peace and security.

According to the late Senator Edward Kennedy, the first half of the first decade in this century was the darkest time in US diplomacy in its 200-year history.

The results are complicated. There is now improved international cooperation with regards to anti-terrorism policies., But there is also added tension following the US policy of pursuing regime change in other, often innocent, countries. Some countries have even accelerated their nuclear weapons programs, probably as a result of the US invasion of Iraq.

In the ten years following 9/11, Sino-US relations have steadily developed. The two countries have enhanced political and functional cooperation with regard to anti-terrorism measures, and also increased the opportunity to completely stabilize bilateral relations. Such cooperation is conducive both to China and world peace. Tensions still exist, however. The US still sells weapons to Taiwan and never stops playing the "Dalai Lama card." Accordingly, China has remained vigilant in the past 10 years of anti-terrorism cooperation. In fact, China's military modernization has been rapid over the course of the past decade. No matter whether it faces challenges from terrorism or from other countries, China will develop its own advanced national defense forces and uphold the state's core interests.

It is necessary for the US to launch anti-terrorism actions. But sometimes, it makes wrong strategic decisions and wastes resources, both of which result in terrible aftereffects. The US' anti-terrorism measures have cost the country trillions of dollars. Furthermore, during the Republican administration, the country's finances were was hit by a long-term deficit. The development of the country is slowing down despite an increase in its GDP. Now, new economies are emerging in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Among them, China and India have, and continue to, narrowed the gap with the US. History may tell us that the reason why America lost its dominant global position was because it took the wrong course of action following the 9/11 attacks.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn For more information please visit http://www.h5a3.com/opinion/shendingli.htm

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