本拉登

Why this nation fixation?

When American president Barack Obama stood in the White House last week to announce solemnly the death of Osama bin Laden, there was one word that peppered his speech: “nation”. Little surprise there, you might think. The events of 9/11 were widely perceived by Americans to be an attack on their “nation”, which duly forced that “nation” to pull together. And last week’s dramatic killing rallied the “nation” once again – albeit this time in celebration. Or as Obama declared: “On September 11 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together … we were also united in our resolve to protect our nation.”

“The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al-Qaeda,” he added, standing next to the nation’s flag (what else?). “We can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible.

Such fist-pumping rhetoric sounds powerful. However, this repeated use of “nation” leaves a certain irony hanging in the air. The events of 9/11, a decade ago, prompted the west to go into Afghanistan, supposedly to crush al-Qaeda. But in recent years, the policy goal has shifted to the vaguer concept of “nation building”, or trying to create a peaceful country.

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