End of the Cold War

During the Cold War, America had a known, visible enemy — the former Soviet Union and communism. When the Cold War ended, all of a sudden major intelligence gathering institutions like the FBI and CIA perhaps lost purpose and sense of direction. For almost 60 years they had a single purpose to reinforce the American way of life that promoted democracy, freedom and a free economy. Their main purpose was to break the communist mindset. When they were successful in that, all systems became more relaxed and complacency set in.

In a bipolar world there were checks and balances. In the unipolar world, the U.S. came in to focus as the only global leader with global responsibilities. Expectations were high and hopes were raised the world over to promote democracy and development.

Meanwhile, the U.S. was busy pushing its own agenda at many global forums including the UN, even though it did not pay its due on time. As a leader of the unipolar world, U.S. priorities on environment, trade, the Middle East, and other issues, came into even sharper focus and criticism. A few saw it as unilateral domination, and at times even arrogant.

Information Revolution
Before the information revolution, U.S. lifestyle, policies and programs were not visible and accessible to millions of people. But now, images of America are available to everybody, everywhere in their living rooms. American events became local around the world – to discuss and debate. All over the developing world, people saw American affluence, lifestyle and freedom as something to aspire for. At the same time, those images reinforced America’s awesome power all over the world.

American Prosperity
America witnessed unprecedented economic prosperity in the last decade. The story of each of us in America is the story of America itself. Many of us came here with a few hundred dollars in our pockets, and moved on to build substantial wealth. America used investments in technology and IT to build a new economy for all its citizens. In spite of all the good America has done for the world, it became the envy of a few.

Poverty of Petro-dollars
On the other hand, in the Islamic world, the petro-dollar that came into the Middle East didn’t get properly used to uplift the masses.

In these parts of the world, there are predominantly non-democratic forms of government. Petro-dollars created affluence for a handful of people. Take Brunei, for example. Prince Jefri has frittered away $15 billion in building palaces, apartment complexes and marinas, buying luxury hotels, six hundred cars and dozens of aircraft, and supporting a large, jet-setting retinue of wives, mistresses and 35 children. Very little of this money was put into education, technology, human resource development and infrastructure in the Middle East. In fact, to build infrastructure they imported engineers and professionals lock stock and barrel.

In this environment, U.S. policies in the Middle East were seen as biased. As a result when people in the Islamic world felt alienated, both from their own rulers and the U.S., they saw U.S. as the target. It is unfortunate that they turned to terrorism to make a point.

Both Sides Will Learn

Similarly, Islam will also change as a result of Sept. 11. The debate on what Islam is has already started. People living in the modern world perhaps hold a different view of it than the fundamentalists.

The U.S. and its allies have rightfully made it clear that this war is not against Islam, but against terrorism. In the process, terrorism the world over including in India will hopefully get global attention & support.

Sam Pitroda is chairman and CEO of WorldTel. He has been a founder of several companies in Europe and North America and the first chairman of India’s Telecom Commission. To exchange ideas with him, write to pitroda@corp.siliconindia.com. This article is based on a telephone conversation with Mr. Pitroda. si