the validity - and – the dilemmas

the validity - and – the dilemmas

The essential change is in America, where politicians are ready to ask armed forces to risk their life to counter terrorism. This will make a fundamental difference. As far as the world itself is concerned I think there has been a rebalancing on the issue of terrorism, which is important. People who have hitherto thought it is not a problem have begun to face up to the realities, and those who just thought you could deal with terrorism by counter force are also starting to realise you defeat terrorism by dialogue as well as by intelligence and military action. We will have to address pretty much all the trouble spots in the world. http://tinyurl.com/ya6y3bz

I think there has probably been a permanent change in America. America's always been able to feel safe within its own boundaries and judging from my American friends - my daughter's in New York, and we lost a close friend at the World Trade Centre - you just feel the vulnerability is being exposed. With that may come some changes in attitude: they may be more ready to be involved, more ready to listen. Americans are more aware that outsiders have a distorted view of their democracy and they'll make more effort to explain their position. You can genuinely use the word God-fearing about America, and I think the element that's often been unattractive in its own religious fundamentalism will now think more globally and more sensitiviely.