Five years after 9/11 the world is not safer, writes Jailan Halawi The fifth anniversary of the 11 September attacks on America's political and military might and their repercussions remained "the" topic of the week. To this effect, political analysts, writers and intellectuals wrote pages blaming the US administration for failing to rein in as promised the threat of terror on its territory and in the world. They blamed Washington for launching unjust wars and blindly supporting Israel in its aggressive policies in the Middle East, accomplishing no success, only further agitating anti-US sentiment around the world, and breeding a new generation of potential bombers willing to sacrifice their souls in return for seeing what they consider as justice prevail. Under the headline, "Five years from the 9/11 attacks; only Bush sees the world more secure" wrote Khaled Dawoud in the Monday edition of the daily Al-Ahram, reviewing how the Bush administration has so far used the September attacks as a "safety net and a pretext" to justify its policies and escape any internal or external crisis. This year, noted Dawoud, the Bush administration is doing its utmost to use the event in gaining public support to win the upcoming Congressional elections in November, at a time when surveys show that the ruling Republican Party is losing ground. "Despite Bush's claims that the world has become more secure, his supporters remain dismayed at the financial and humanitarian losses caused by the Iraqi war." On Sunday Yasser Rizk wrote in the daily Al-Akhbar, "when the twin towers of the New York World Trade Centre collapsed, no one thought that the US administration would fall in the aftermath as well [because of its policies] which tarnished its reputation as the guardian of freedom, democracy and human rights." Five years from 9/11, the US has become totally opposite from that promised by President George W Bush. Despite engaging in two wars, in Afghanistan and Iraq, the US administration failed to achieve security or reduce its enemies and feelings of hatred it earned from its policies. "Instead of spreading freedom and democracy among nations suffering despotism, the US [administration] circled democratically elected regimes and punished its people for their choice of leadership. The US did not safeguard human rights as it claimed, but committed the worst of violations against humanity through its practices and in its prisons like that of Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib and other secret camps in various countries affiliated to the CIA. The US neither won its war on terror nor smoked it out of its hole. Its unfair wars, biased policies and overwhelming desire to force its hegemony on the destiny of states and nations provided fertile soil for terrorism to grow and spread." Rizk further criticised the US for not learning from its mistakes. "Five years after the attacks, the US still follows a policy of double standards. While it blesses Israel's nuclear military programme and huge atomic arsenal, it threatens to launch war on Iran unless it dismantles its peaceful nuclear programme. It seems that President Bush, who started his term by the 9/11 attacks, will end his rule by a more vicious and destructive one." From the global war on terror to that of Egypt, the press was highly concerned with the number of militants at large who reportedly are planning to launch a spate of attacks on the Sinai Peninsula resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. A week after the Ministry of Interior announced it was in hot pursuit of a handful of fugitives believed to have illegally entered the country with the aim of carrying out attacks, the whereabouts and details of such elements remain obscure. Meanwhile, Minister of Interior Habib El-Adli in more than one statement, underlined his ministry's commitment to a pre-emptive strategy and air-tight security measures at all times. "While there is no crime-proof society," El-Adli said, "security bodies exert all possible efforts to ensure the safety of all its citizens and visitors year round." On another level and in a bid to reflect the efforts made to improve the condition of prison and prisoners, the Prison Department held a press conference on Sunday, honouring six of its inmates who obtained -- with honours -- their thanaweya amma (high school) certificate. Following the ceremony, Deputy Interior Minister Major General Mahmoud Wagdi denied reports issued by a human rights group that scores of detainees had gone on a hunger strike in protest against their prolonged imprisonment. While publishing the denial, some independent newspapers had articles confirming there was a strike, adding that in response the ministry had released a number of detainees and is expected to free more in what they described as "a positive sign". The independent Nahdat Masr dedicated its front page to a series of articles around what it described as "an old feud" between the Muslim Brotherhood and ex-deputy of the state security investigation department Fouad Allam. The stories initiated by the Brotherhood's deputy supreme guide, Mohamed Habib, accuse Allam of torturing to death leading Brotherhood figure Kamal El-Sanadiri while in detention 25 years ago. Allam denied the charge, claiming he has evidence that El-Sanadiri committed suicide while in prison. The attacks and counter-attacks continue but so far the feud has not escalated. As a new academic year nears, the Ministry of Education announced the opening of new schools which are recruiting a number of fresh graduates to make up for the shortage of school teachers as well as to reform the curriculum of some stages in response to complaints by parents and students.
