Soon after he came back to the White House in the evening of September 11, President George W. Bush spoke to the nation and the world.

After offering his sympathy to the American victims -in the USA, only the American victims are worth mentioning, the others are just statistics- the President said that all the military, financial, and diplomatic resources of the country would be mobilised to punish the terrorists responsible for the attacks, as well as the people and countries helping them. He went on to say that Osama bin Laden was the man responsible for the terrorist actions although he offered no proof for it at that stage.

The American people were traumatised but the Bush administration, by its decisions, actions, and words, did not do anything to at least reduce this unhealthy fear, quite the opposite. Security became the key word that justified any measures even the most exaggerated ones. All the foreigners became suspect and treated with diffidence. A summary of the measures taken to 'reinforce' security is given below:

- In October 2001 President Bush created a new department of 'Homeland Security' whose head will be a member of his cabinet.

- On Friday January 18, the US decided that all the travellers' bags must be checked for explosives at all US airports. Confusion and delays followed. The costs of the secondary measures taken after September 11 soon exceeded the direct cost of the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington DC.

- At the beginning of 2002 the FBI was given authority to carry surveillance in Mosques and other religious buildings in the USA, and to check the Internet for signs of criminal activities. The FBI was also in the process of being reorganised from a crime-solving organisation into a domestic intelligence agency aimed at preventing terrorist attacks.

- In June 2002 President Bush and the US Justice Department decided to photograph and fingerprint visitors from 'high-risk' countries to reduce the risk of terrorism. Of course, the visitors implied are those from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Cuba, North Korea, Syria and, probably, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan although they are Washington's allies. This measure applies to people wanting to stay more than 30 days. The State Department objected because this procedure, limited to the citizens of some countries, will tarnish the image of the US abroad, but to no avail. The American Muslim groups complained that this is a clear discrimination against the Muslins and Arabs, adding that they would accept the measure if it was applied to all the visitors to the US.

- On January 24, 2003, the USA admitted that the FBI was questioning as many as 50,000 Iraqis living in the US in a search for possible terrorist cells, spies, and people who could provide useful information. - September 11 had a tremendous effect on the American people. It also hit hard most of the people outside the USA, but they reacted in a more reasonable and balanced way. The American people saw the attacks as a threat to their way of life which they take for granted. Its aftermath opened the prospect of an entirely new world order based on progressive internationalisation of all the problems, crossing old ideological frontiers, and reviving old enmities. It also united most countries in the fight against terrorism. However, it was far from certain that those countries backing international actions against al-Qaida and terrorism would accept the broader plan of pre-emptive actions immediately suggested by the US.

There are powerful elements in the US that want to act in isolation from, rather than in cooperation with, other nations. President Bush is part of them. In which direction the near future would go was, to some extent, in the hands of all countries; but only if they understood the new global American politics. The countries that chose to sit back cynically, predicting gloom and doom, would miss this opportunity. The pieces of the new political world would soon begin to fall down into new configurations. During this time, people were living through a defining period; it was necessary to accept change, and even to ask for more of it, whatever the change will be. Being an ally of the US should not mean renouncing to its own views.

As an example we should look at Britain that developed good relations with Iran, Syria and Cuba, reopened its embassy in Libya, established diplomatic relations with North Korean, and backed the Kyoto treaty on climate change all of this against the wishes of the USA. However, there are certain risks, and each country must be careful not to become the servant of the USA. Here again the example of Britain is useful and clear. Later on Britain decided to join the USA in the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq without clarifying in advance the terms and the limits of its participation. The experience has shown that, in this case, Britain became subject to the US? will. The question is 'How can we improve international unity following September 11 in order to create a new world order shaped by our values -of democracy, human rights, environmental protection, equality and justice, solidarity and community improvement'?

The Western governments have been criticised for not doing more in every country where human rights are under attack. But because a country cannot do everything, it does not follow that it should do nothing. In the past, most nations tried to shape their economy and their society on their national scale. The aim was to make economic forces work for all their citizens, rather than simply for an elite; to establish high minimum standards of welfare and public services; and to entrench human rights and democracy. Now our task must be to shape the economy and society on a global international scale.

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