End of American influence

When Christopher Columbus (1440-1504) discovered America, it heralded the beginning of the spread of American influence -- or civilization, if you wish -- politically and culturally in the first place, to the rest of the world.

At a later stage, history was marked by the freedom of speech and individual and communal rights to pursue happiness as guaranteed under American democracy.

Respect for human life and tolerance for dissenting opinions became the striking feature of this American culture. The U.S. membership of the United Nations reflected America's aspiration to protect world peace at any cost in the future.

But when George Walker Bush won the presidential race and "discovered" Saddam Hussein, his handling of the encounter disappointed and dismayed millions of world citizens. American leaders ignored global opinion when Bush declared he would go it alone on the Iraq war campaign, even if the rest of the world refused to follow.

Anti-Americanism has manifested itself in almost all capital cities of the world, with the burning of American flags and leaders' effigies. Suddenly, American ideals, thinking and aspirations disappeared from the minds and hearts of the millions who had previously admired American ideals and leaders.

Politically, Bush may feel justified on the ground of strategic economic considerations to bypass the UN Security Council. Morally, he will commit an unforgettable sin if he does so.

With its intense military might, the U.S. does not need to prove that it can win any armed confrontation. What the world was looking for was the ability of George Bush and his advisors to win peace through their diplomacy and statesmanship. Bush would then be remembered as a valiant (not a villain) of world peace and humanitarian principles, besides being assured of being re- elected at home.

Before the international moral court, George Bush stands alone in facing charges of tarnishing America's international image and wreaking havoc upon the economies of the Third World.

The end of American influence and culture, luckily, does not mean the end of the world, and the sea will continue to come into shore.

GANDHI SUKARDI, Jakarta