Day That Changed The World?

I'm sure that we will soon see a raft of articles about the fifth anniversary of 9/11. Most will refer to it as the day that changed everything. Foreign Policy has a different take: The Day Nothing Much Changed.

In the lead article, William Dobson, Managing Editor, argues that the real day that changed the world was December 31, 1991, the day the Soviet Union dissolved making the US the superpower in the world. In Dobson's view things are pretty much the same (and in most cases better) after 9/11 as they were before that date. Globalization keeps moving along. We talk about much the same things. Our foreign policy is no clearer. The economy has grown. Even tourism is stronger. Fourteen buildings taller than the Twin Towers are in some stage of construction around the world. More worker visas were granted and more foreigners naturalized in 2005 than in 1998. He attributes the current anti-Americanism to a fear becoming reality. Before 9/11 many feared America would become the sole dominant power. Well, it has.

Juan Cole, whose blog is Informed Consent, seconds Dobson's argument. China and Taiwan are still dueling over the same issues. The fate of Kashmir remains a bone of contention between India and Pakistan. The Middle East is still the same boiling pot.

Both Dobson and Cole make strong arguments. Certainly, September 11, 2001, has had less an effect on this country than December 7, 1941. On that December day this nation - and I mean the very vast majority - joined the world in fighting evil. We were all aware of the stakes and supported our country in the last just war. Now who is sacrificing to make the world better?