A note: A number of people strongly objected to the original version of this, saying it was an attack against the United States at an inopportune time. This was not my intent, and the present comments are revised.

Returning to Cosa Bolle, I usually write about what's happening in Italy. This time, however, the major news is from the US; I was flipping through channels after lunch on September 11 and saw the second plane strike the World Trade Center. Like most everyone else in Italy, I spent the rest of the afternoon in front of the TV, and the evening was very quiet. So was the next day, and since then people who know I'm from the US have been coming up to say how horrified they are by what happened. So am I, but I've also been thinking a lot about the why of it all.

It's easy to say it was the doing of Muslim fanatics and lay it all at the feet of Osama Bin Laden. However, I don't think it's that simple. 50 years ago the United states was perhaps the most loved country in the world -- we had contributed decisively to defeating the Axis and were in the process of helping almost everyone rebuild through the Marshall plan. Now, on the other hand, anti-American sentiments ranging from dislike to virulent hatred are extremely widespread, and one can find them among non-Americans of almost any political leaning. Why?

In my experience, if one person among many dislikes you it may be a random thing, but if many people dislike you, then it may not be just them, but you as well. Difficult as it is at a time like this, I think we have to take a look at ourselves. A hard look, from a non-American standpoint, and since we are dealing with non-Americans, look at our foreign policy. There is good, but there are also many things that we would object to, were they done to us. Iraq provides a good example. Few objected to the war to evict Saddam from Kuwait. However, since the end of the war the UN, because of US pressure, has maintained strict sanctions against Iraq in order to keep Saddam Hussein from rearming. A side effect of these sanctions has been the collapse of the Iraqi health system, which has resulted in the death of a half million children. 500,000 is not a misprint, and Madeline Albright said she thought it was an acceptable price to pay. The remark was picked up on by Arab newspeople and commented upon extensively; it certainly doesn't foster good will towards the US in the area, and much as I am horrified by the destruction in New York and Washington, I think I would understand if a relative of one of those dead children cheered on September 11, 2001. For that matter, who can say some of those children's relatives didn't help plan the attacks?

The problem is that the sanction side effects and fallout from a politician's remark are not just an isolated incident. Quite the contrary, there are dozens more like them across the globe, each of which creates anti-American feelings that may push those who feel them most strongly to act. At which point, having dealt with Osama Bin Laden, someone else will appear to take his place, and the next time it could be a crop duster spreading anthrax over LA. If we want to prevent further horrors from happening, we have to understand where the other people are coming from. This means putting ourselves in their place and looking at ourselves honestly. Is everything we see good, or do we need to fix some things? One of the great things about being Americans is that we can, because we are free to.

Some further reading:

• What war in Afganistan would really mean. By an Afghani who lives in the US but knows his homeland very well. Quite sobering.
• World Trade Center Pics. Carefully assembled shots of it all.
• They just don't get it. An English view of why terrorists strike the US.

A presto,
Kyle Phillips
Webweaver, About Italian Cuisine

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