Less than five days after the Tsunami in South Asia , the images of Hercules transport planes landing in the affected areas with food and first necessities , as well as the American army helicopters and servicemen reaching inaccessible spots to jettison food , popped on all TV screens .Beyond the tragedy suffered by the people of the region and the sorrow reflected on their faces , the TV images also evinced indirectly the present situation of the world and the preeminent place of America in it .
Indeed , despite all the anti-American rethoric aired by most of the media and activists in developed as well as third world countries , only U.S. intervention could bring rapid relief to the stricken countries . Let's not be mistaken by the visit of Colin Powel to the United Nations' Secretary-general and the interviews given by some UN's bigshots . Washington chose to use the world organization unbrella in order to fend off criticism of unilateralism . Let's also not be over-impressed by the pledges of contribution by many states in Europe and elsewhere . All expressions of solidarity and help are certainly welcome and necessary . But logistics remains essential in natural disaster cases . Without the immediate use of American power , hundreds of thousands more people would have perished .
In other words , it has taken an unprecedented natural catastrophe to underline the essential role of the only superpower in our global world . Because of its power and many possibilities America can and must help nations facing difficulties . And it has always done so, despite the baseless adverse comments of the media and governments of many countries around the planet .
Moreover f rom all directions , commentators are asking questions : why scientists and technicians did not warn of the coming danger . The U.S. has a modest system in place on its Western coast . This is not a national security secret . Nobody asked America's help in that area . Actually the shortcoming of local governments is rather due to the fact that anti-Americanism , does not allow them to address the real problems …
In that perspective , 9/11 has brought to the fore the danger of Arab-Islamist terrorism which threatens the entire world with human-provoked disasters . America was a victim of terrorist attacks . It responded by an all-out war against terrorism . Despite its
mistakes , the rest of the world should join in that war in order to get rid once and for all of bin Laden and his ilks .
America was not born as a superpower : it became what it is thanks to its democratic institutions and the tireless efforts of its people over many years . It would welcome the rise of other nations . In any case anti-American rethoric does not solve the many problems of our planet .
Fereydoun Hoveyda, senior fellow National Committee on American Foreign policy, author of : The Broken Crescent : the Threat of Militant Islamic Fundamentalism (2001) and in French : Que Veulent les Arabes ? (Paris, 2004). He's a member of Benador Associates.
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