9/11 and Oct 7: Author Questions Power-Driven Global Policies

The author, lawyer Zaki Kamal, draws a parallel between the September 11, 2001 attacks and the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault on Israel, suggesting both events underscore a global tendency to prioritize force and war.

Kamal posits that 9/11 fundamentally reshaped the international order and U.S. foreign policy, raising enduring questions about intelligence failures and conspiracy theories. He notes that despite prior warnings, the attacks were not prevented, a failure he likens to the intelligence shortcomings preceding the October 7th events.

He critiques the subsequent U.S.-led "war on terror," arguing it has often been driven by political considerations and alliances rather than security needs. Kamal questions why the U.S. did not target Saudi Arabia, a country with historical ties to Al-Qaeda's origins and funding, but instead invaded Afghanistan and Iraq.

The article further contends that the U.S. has increasingly used the fight against terrorism as a tool for geopolitical and economic dominance, shifting from direct military interventions to more covert operations and drone strikes. This strategy, he suggests, has inadvertently empowered adversaries like Iran and created power vacuums.

Kamal highlights a book by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Rot Yovell, which claims that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about an impending large-scale Hamas operation approximately ten days before October 7th. According to the book, Netanyahu did not sufficiently heed this warning, similar to how former U.S. President Bill Clinton allegedly downplayed intelligence regarding Al-Qaeda's plans before 9/11.

The author concludes by reflecting on the human tendency to fear the "other" and how politicians can exploit this fear to maintain power, citing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as an example. He laments that force remains the dominant language in a world increasingly at risk, even from emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.