Intercultural dialogue or clash
of civilizations?
• A small group of Islamist extremists launched terrorist attacks on the World
Trade Center and the Pentagon.
• Instead of reacting with de-escalation and police measures against
the terrorists, the US government and its allies responded with a massive military
reaction against other countries.
•
“Preventive wars”, first against Afghanistan (overthrow
of the Taliban regime) for its alleged support of the al-Qaida terror network,
then against Iraq (overthrow of Saddam Hussein) for its alleged
possession of weapons of mass destruction.
• The result is a worldwide controversial discussion
of the justification and prospects of these on-going wars.
