Hari
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FROM STRATFOR MAGAZINE
This is the one of best answer selected by STRATFOR Magazine for the above question
If the 9/11 attacks had not occurred, U.S. foreign policy would still be focused on the Middle East and Southwest Asia, but in much different ways. This area would still be the current and future tinderbox of the world, due to the importance of the free flow of oil, as well as the potential for conflagrations that could draw many countries into a regional war. With no 9/11, the U.S. would not have invaded Iraq, and in many respects that would have given us a freer hand in this and in other areas. Saddam Hussein would still be in power, and while he would continue to bluster and threaten his neighbors, and skirt the boundaries of UN sanctions, Iraq would serve as a constraint on Iran's growing power. If our foreign policymakers were clever, and I think that Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice would have been up to this task, they would have been able to play Saddam and Ahmadinejad against each other. Iran would concentrate on protecting itself against Iraq, rather than fomenting as much trouble in Syria, Lebanon, and other areas as it's been doing the past several years.
Pakistan would be a primary concern. A relatively unchecked Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan would have had grown even more powerful and influential in Waziristan, and would have threatened the stability of the Pakistan government even more than now. That is, the 9/11 attacks enabled us to direct Pakistan's attention to the threat of Islamic extremism within their own country. If that had not been the case, fundamentalist elements might have been able to gain control of Pakistan's government by now, along with its military and even its nuclear weapons. At that point, it might have been too late for the West to take action to prevent these weapons from falling into the hands of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. If that occurred or if it was close to occurring, the West may have responded with a limited invasion of Pakistan in an attempt to secure its nuclear arms and other nuclear materials. However, given recent history, the West probably would have negotiated to allow the Taliban to control Pakistan as long as they didn't export their influence or threaten their neighbors.
In summary, if the 9/11 attacks had not occurred, U.S. foreign policy would still be focused on activities in Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan, but on Afghanistan only as much as it impacted Pakistan.
@Mods: The title of the thread should be What would be the thrust of U.S. foreign policy today if the 9/11 attacks had never occured can u pls edit it
This is the one of best answer selected by STRATFOR Magazine for the above question
If the 9/11 attacks had not occurred, U.S. foreign policy would still be focused on the Middle East and Southwest Asia, but in much different ways. This area would still be the current and future tinderbox of the world, due to the importance of the free flow of oil, as well as the potential for conflagrations that could draw many countries into a regional war. With no 9/11, the U.S. would not have invaded Iraq, and in many respects that would have given us a freer hand in this and in other areas. Saddam Hussein would still be in power, and while he would continue to bluster and threaten his neighbors, and skirt the boundaries of UN sanctions, Iraq would serve as a constraint on Iran's growing power. If our foreign policymakers were clever, and I think that Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice would have been up to this task, they would have been able to play Saddam and Ahmadinejad against each other. Iran would concentrate on protecting itself against Iraq, rather than fomenting as much trouble in Syria, Lebanon, and other areas as it's been doing the past several years.
Pakistan would be a primary concern. A relatively unchecked Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan would have had grown even more powerful and influential in Waziristan, and would have threatened the stability of the Pakistan government even more than now. That is, the 9/11 attacks enabled us to direct Pakistan's attention to the threat of Islamic extremism within their own country. If that had not been the case, fundamentalist elements might have been able to gain control of Pakistan's government by now, along with its military and even its nuclear weapons. At that point, it might have been too late for the West to take action to prevent these weapons from falling into the hands of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. If that occurred or if it was close to occurring, the West may have responded with a limited invasion of Pakistan in an attempt to secure its nuclear arms and other nuclear materials. However, given recent history, the West probably would have negotiated to allow the Taliban to control Pakistan as long as they didn't export their influence or threaten their neighbors.
In summary, if the 9/11 attacks had not occurred, U.S. foreign policy would still be focused on activities in Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan, but on Afghanistan only as much as it impacted Pakistan.
@Mods: The title of the thread should be What would be the thrust of U.S. foreign policy today if the 9/11 attacks had never occured can u pls edit it
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