25 Years Since US 9/11 Attacks: We Must Make the Effort To Overcome Division

Today marks 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the U.S., which claimed the lives of approximately 3,000 victims, including Japanese nationals. The hijacking of four airliners and attacks on the World Trade Center's twin towers in New York and the Department of Defense outside of Washington, D.C., shocked the world.

The international terrorist organization al-Qaida committed crimes that intensified prejudice and discrimination against Islam inside and outside of the U.S., and the U.S. government began its “war on terrorism.” However, the terrorism stems from a deep-rooted division between the U.S., Europe and the Islamic world. A sustained effort to dispel mutual distrust is an indispensable and basic principle of anti-terrorism.

In October 2001, the administration of then President George W. Bush launched military attacks on Afghanistan, which was ruled by the al-Qaida-backed Islamic fundamentalist Taliban organization. Furthermore, the U.S. promoted a policy to wipe out radical Islamism throughout the world, and in 2003, invaded Iraq, on the pretext that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. However, the battle against terrorism ended in failure.

Although the regime of Iraq's leader, Saddam Hussein, was toppled, it created a power vacuum that allowed the radical Islamic State to gain power and strengthened the influence of the anti-American Shia Muslim Iran. In Afghanistan as well, the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2021 was an opportunity for the Taliban to rise again.

Instead of cleaning up radical organizations, the result has been the spread of terrorism in Africa, among other places. Using the strategy of controlling the targets of hatred by force has exposed its limitations.

In the last two years, President Donald Trump's administration has attacked Iran, forgetting the lessons of the past. The fighting has already gone on for half a year without implementing the regime change the administration expected, and there is no path to an end in sight.

The rift between the U.S. and Europe and the Islamic world had deepened before 9/11. One primary factor was Palestine. Israel has repeatedly established illegal settlements in Palestinian territory and launched attacks under the guise of a right to self-defense. Even though Israel has disregarded the Oslo Accords, which provide for the parties to coexist, the U.S. and Europe continue to look the other way. Developed nations should bear in mind the key point that this policy confers a “moral justification” for armed organizations that are hostile to the U.S. and Israel.

Nevertheless, there are also movements that show signs of overcoming division. In New York, a pro-Palestinian Muslim, Zohran Mamdani, was elected mayor. We should make an effort to promote reconciliation that transcends religion and origin.

Japan cannot remain indifferent to division, either. Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's administration followed in the footsteps of fighting terrorism, deploying Japan Self-Defense Forces to Iraq without meeting the requisite conditions for a ceasefire. We must not forget that since Japan took that action, the collective right of self-defense and the ability to attack enemy bases have become gradually acceptable.

In recent years, there has been a rise in xenophobia among certain Japanese citizens, and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration has pushed for stricter immigration controls. We must reconsider whether government policies, and our words and actions, are intensifying divisions.