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From the
December 2001 issue of
World Press Review
(VOL. 48, No. 12)
Globalization by Another
Name
War Erases Differences
Gerard
Dupuy, Libération (left-wing), Paris, France,
Sept. 26, 2001.
The vise is tightening
on a still-elusive quarry. Vast military resources are being
deployed, quietly and at the deliberate pace proper to heavy
weaponry. Meantime, the American government is doggedly pursuing
the diplomatic isolation of the Taliban. Saudi Arabia had to
give in, at least in appearance, and break off relations with
the Islamic warriors of Kabul. And Russia has opened its airspace
to the offensive and is offering real cooperation with the Americans.
Rarely has the maneuvering that precedes a war been carried
out with such concern for maintaining a united front. Perhaps
the United States is soliciting the approval of almost every
other nation only in order to remain free to do exactly as it
decides. But even if that turns out to be the case, it’s
clear that this prelude to war is already acting as a strong
influence for globalization.
The United States has already forgiven India and Pakistan for
their nuclear follies, a British minister has for the first
time in ages stepped onto Iranian soil, and in Israel, Ariel
Sharon’s diplomatic yo-yoing betrays the pressure that
is finally, privately, being put on him. The clampdown on the
bank accounts of Islamic movements implies a demand for transparency
in international finance that may have other applications in
the future. And the specter of recession is pulling various
economic actors to take better advantage of the relationships
among them.
It’s impossible to know whether this kind of minimum solidarity
will survive once U.S. armed forces get down to combat. Terrorism’s
global reach—clearly shown by the attacks of Sept. 11—has
triggered a counterreaction that the United States is now riding
for all it’s worth but that Washington will have to consider
in the future. Thus the United States is reinventing, involuntarily
perhaps, something very like the United Nations. Which brings
to mind: Didn’t Congress just vote to pay America’s
debt to the United Nations? 
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