THE ISSUE:

The brutality of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington failed in al Qaeda’s intent to undermine democratic order, and instead created a righteous backlash among the international community. Five years later, the world has been turned upside down. The war on terrorism as conducted by the US Government and its allies has compromised cherished traditions based on the respect for human dignity. In many parts of the world, the perception of Western values has been damaged beyond Osama bin Laden’s wildest dreams.

International media sources, such as CNN and the BBC, report that many Lebanese civilians – Muslims, Christians and Druze -- victimized by a month of brutal bombing by Israel are championing Hezbollah as heroes. Many Lebanese are refusing to accept US and other Western humanitarian assistance; instead they welcome aid from Iran distributed by Hezbollah. The New York Times and Washington Post are reporting that governments installed by the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan are increasingly chastising the conduct of American and European military forces.

World attention stays focused on the tragic images of carnage in the Middle East. As a result, the crumbling of the US, British and Israeli political- military campaigns in the have obscured an increase of repression inside of Russia and China against local democratic activists. The loss of prestige caused by US policies and conduct of war have undermined its image of being a Beacon Hope. It has also created a rising instability as non-democratic nations believe that the time is right to fill the void with an Alternative World Order, not dominated by the United States which has surrendered its most potent strength – its humanistic values and noble principals.

Emboldening Potential Adversaries:

On August 21, 2006 the official China People’s Daily featured a major editorial titled: “The US Army Seems Weak and Frail.” The articles states, in part: “In early August, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld acknowledged at a news conference in the Pentagon that the US military has reported a shortage of equipment and a declining capacity of combat readiness after prolonged war engagement. The United States has launched wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in the name of "anti-terrorism.” Regional fighting and conflicts are still around. The loss of US military personnel and the depletion of military equipment have been depleted beyond expectation. United States' military spending in the wars of Afghanistan and Iraq is expected to top the $450 billion mark this year. Although the US military shows its weakness, it does not seem to abandon its military presence in Afghanistan, Iraq and other strategically vital places, let alone giving up its hegemonistic strategies.”

Testifying before the U.S. Senate on February 28, 2006, General Michael Hayden, Deputy Director of National Intelligence, stated: One of China’s top military priorities is to “strengthen its strategic nuclear force by increasing its size, accuracy and survivability.” The March 1, 2006 Washington Times reported that Gen. Maples added: Chinese missile expansion “will enhance their coercion and deterrence value and overcome ballistic missile defense. The Times added, China is building and will soon have operable the submarine-launched JL-2 ballistic missile with a range of 8,000 miles and a multiple warhead capability.

China and Russia are also working on space-warfare and information weapons that can attack US satellites and disrupt anti-missile defense systems. The August 23, 2006 official People’s Liberation Army Daily newspaper described successful military exercises in “close to real war conditions” that involved a new type of Chinese-developed submarine. The state of the art vessel can “skillfully shake off enemy tracking technologies to rapidly seize the attacking position, including stealth attack against enemy ship formation.”

The Chinese perception of diminished US military capability – whether or not accurate –and its enhanced development of strategic weapons sets a dangerous precedent that can lead to a major confrontation. History-changing wars have occurred when a Rising Power believes a Reigning Power is over-extended or can no longer assert its forces effectively.

Degrading Human Rights:

America and its allies’ loss of military prestige is accompanied by the simultaneous loss of the moral high ground on vital issues of democracy and human rights. The war against terror began with the assertion that the democratic Forces of Good would overcome the Axis of Evil. However, by its conduct in Iraq and Afghanistan and its support of the devastation of Lebanon, the US political leadership has forfeited its moral high ground. Official policies have violated civil liberties provisions in the U.S. Constitution as well as the Geneva Convention on torture and the conduct of war. These abuses, highly publicized throughout the world, have spoken louder than words. Tragically, an immoral equivalence with non-democratic governments and extremist organizations is now a view of the United States prevalent among much of the world’s population.

Ecological and Economic Warfare:

The indiscriminate loss of human life caused by Israel’s month-long bombing campaign, which turned numerous non-combatant areas of Lebanon into rubble, has had an equally devastating consequence on the ecology and environment of the Mediterranean nation. The targeting of Lebanon’s economic infrastructure and eco-system has opened the Pandora’s Box of environmental warfare. “They are annihilating the environment,” the Lebanese environmental group Green Line warned the New York Times on July 29. Up to 15,000 tons of oil spilled into the sea when Israeli jets bombed the coastal Jiyyeh power plant. The massive oil slick is polluting more than 100 miles of the Lebanese coast, as well as the shorelines of neighboring nations.
On August 22, BBC News reported that the United Nations, European Union and International Maritime Organization are conducting an urgent meeting to seek a way to stop the spread of the massive oil slick that has moved deeper into the Mediterranean. Environmentalists say the spill poses a direct threat to regional biodiversity and marine life. It also poses a direct threat to humans through the food chain. It could take up to ten years for the coastline to recover. International media reports that cleanup of the oil slick is being hampered by an ongoing Israeli naval blockade of Lebanon.

Recommendation:

Despite international criticism of US military policy, it is equally important to not forget that there are far more ruthless and increasingly dangerous nations and violent movements that make the United States pale in comparison. Perceived weakness in US military capabilities and national will could lead to a devastating international conflict, with little difference between the suffering endured by winners and losers.

International mistrust and hatred of the United States caused by the war on terrorism may take an unforeseeable time to heal. However, time is at premium. The noble values of the people of the United States and their democratic traditions have regenerative power that can still be reclaimed. It is not too late to correct the damage caused by official conduct at home and abroad. But to succeed, political arrogance and force-driven tactics must be replaced with a more nuanced approach. In addition to an awareness of culture and historical grievances, balancing economic development and diplomacy should be given equal weight when considering military options. Ultimately, there is truth to the notion that great strength and leadership always require a touch of humility.