Recognizing humanity

The fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks looms over the conscience of a nation already wrought by an emotional burden that any prolonged war brings upon its people. Cable media continues to chronicle the months of 2006, and for rational men and women, it becomes increasingly apparent that the starry eyed visions of the commander-in-chief, which at one time filled our idealistic nation with possibility, have become mutilated in a series of bad decisions on and off the battlefield.

The tragedy of 9/11 was not only our nation's failure to crush the now resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan. The prime tragedy of 9/11 was that America failed to do the obvious. The attacks were messages to Americans that we urgently needed to recognize the dangers that would materialize if the oppressed were left to linger. When the attacks first occurred, it seemed as if President Bush understood this to be so.

Bush's original message was that ousting the Taliban regime in Afghanistan would stifle the activities of Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda terrorist network. A massive number of Afghan civilians were destined to die in the process of this global confrontation, but Americans believed that these were necessary losses for the sake of progress. But as we reflect five years later, millions of young men all over the world continue to be twisted by fundamentalist Islam. Often out of work, these men search for a life with meaning in a world where naked American aggression, hostile toward most sincere diplomacy, dictates the lives of millions across the globe.

When the Israelis first launched their offensive against Hezbollah shortly after a border skirmish, we all looked to the United States to speak up and end the rampant bloodshed that appeared to have little connection to the original premise for attack. While the entire world agreed that a ceasefire was the appropriate maneuver to pursue, the United States stuck to its policy of defiance. Saying that Syria needed to pressure Hezbollah to end their interference with the affairs of the Lebanese state, Bush made no effort in his private conversation with British PM Tony Blair to differentiate between the organization behind the disruption and the innocent Lebanese people.

Bush's failure to condemn the crimes committed against Lebanon paired with his indifference toward the plight of impoverished Americans back home (forever captured by his administration's slow response to the plight of the black and brown victims of Hurricane Katrina) must be viewed within a larger context.

News organizations like al-Jazeera have been successful in showing the consequences of American policy, both foreign and domestic, which seem to reflect Bush's confidence in the fact that some lives are far more valuable than others. When belief becomes policy and the world watches the American military target houses for destruction based on unreliable information, each death becomes another victory for the enemy.

From New Orleans to the shores of Palestine, the challenge of the 21st century will be for the United States to finally recognize the humanity of those who populate the dark corners of the world. This monumental struggle, which like all struggles has its roots at home, will not be tackled overnight. There are, however, many things that can immediately be done: Engaging in dialogue with the government of Iran, forcing Israel to engage in a true discussion with their Palestinian neighbors about the future of their embattled region and making a commitment to tackle the issues of poverty and healthcare right here in the United States.

These moves are only a presidential phone call away, but it will take a courageous man to make the first move. For Bush, taking the initiative will be tantamount to admitting previous error, and in politics, admitting to a mistake is usually seen as a sign of weakness. Even with the consequence of inaction so costly, Bush will most likely wait out the Congressional elections to see whether or not a change in his philosophy is necessary. But he has an opportunity now to take the initiative and leave more than a legacy of miscalculation as he prepares to make his exit. If he chooses to stay the course, we will have to sit back and wait out the tail end of the Bush presidency. Unless the Democrats take back Congress, all we'll be able to do is watch our tragic figure destroy himself. David Smart is a sophomore from Los Angeles, Calif. He can be reached at dsmart@princeton.edu.