Infinite Justice (Sept 21)
The US and its allies have decided to launch a frontal attack on terrorism, in an operation code-named
"lnfinite Justice." The singleness of purpose with which the George Bush administration is pressing the issue and the way it is being backed by the American public is admirable. Although voices that call for caution within the US, like that of film maker, Woody Allen, is extremely marginalized, it does seem they have had the desired effect on the US
admimistration.
Bush has still not wavered on his intent, but he took some pains to soften his earlier jingoistic belligerence in a televised speech yesterday. The war, he now says is not to be just on the military front, neither does he expect every country to participate totally. It would on the other hand be a war in which each country contributed according to its ability and disposition. An unconventional war fought on the military, diplomatic, intelligence, economic and myriad other fronts. A new type of war, as Bush labored to explain, and maybe that is also why it eludes easy comprehension. There can be nothing more paralyzing than terror, the most vivid demonstration of this was there for the world to witness on September 11.
lnspite of all the stated resolve of the American people as well as the world not to be cowed down, there can be no mistaking that the consumer confidence of the world's richest consumers have been terribly shaken. The report that the airlines industry has already been plunged into the red and many of the top airlines companies will be resorting to drastic job cuts to be able to absorb the impact, can very well be only the tip of the proverbial iceberg of the economic recession the world is likely, to see in the months ahead. The aftershock, it is also reported, is also Iikely to hit the information technology market, a prospect which will be felt resoundingly in India. The oil industry is expected to be another victim, and the ramification for this is beyond anybody's doubt.
The ongoing buildup for war is not going to help rebuild this lost confidence either. But since terror is such a universal phenomenon, we suppose the world ought to be prepared for all the consequences. The only hitch is, we hope the definition of terrorism is not allowed to be America or even West specific. For then, there is every likelihood that after the initial adrenaline flow has subsided, rifts will emerge among those waging this war. There is even the danger that the war will come to be viewed as another manifestation of the clichéd East-West or North-South divide. That will be unfortunate, and hence to prevent it, it is important for the NATO countries to define in non-ambiguous
terms how they define terrorism. No double standard on the issue can do anybody any good.
For most of us in Manipur the whole horrific episode have been more of a tinsel nightmare. It all seem so unreal as yet, but this is unlikely to remain so for long. The economic impact will begin to be felt here too sooner than later. But there is already Jupiter Yambem to pinch us awake to the full horror of the attacks. The
NRI, the only Indian confirmed dead in the attacks so far, inspite of 21 years in the US, still keeps his Indian passport. It would have been so graceful for the government, state more than the Center, to have said a word on his death.
(Courtesy:
Imphal Free Press)
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