{ முகநூல் கருத்துக்கள்}{ட்விட்டர் கருத்துக்கள்}

The problems that Muslims face world over in countries and regions such as India, Middle East, former Soviet Union countries, China etc - have considerable local factors - influencing them. However, for nearly two decades, the alleged threat Al Qaeda poses has given an additional global impetus to those problems. Will that change in the near future? Given some recent developments, some are dreaming it would.

When the Soviet Union came apart in the late 1980s, there was a talk of peace dividend. Billions of dollars spent by countries such as the United States on arms buildup were expected to be diverted to social causes - like eradication of poverty. After all, with the end of Cold War, there were no reason for huge military budgets.

Came the First Gulf war - with the Saddam invasion of Kuwait and things started to change. Osama Bin Laden gained or was given the prominence. Peace dividend vanished as a new enemy was discovered (or invented - as some would say). Rest is history.

Cutting the long story short, the 1990s saw many attacks - primarily on western interests and the interests of those sympathising with the West. All of them were blamed on Al Qaeda or its inspirational clones. The new decade, century and the millennium saw the September 11 (2001) attacks in the US. The things took a decisive turn for the worst. Afghanistan - and soon Iraq invasions followed.

As the decade approaches its end, things are looking a little mixed. The US and the West have exhausted their goodwill in much of the world. Supremacy of the US in terms of military and economic powers is now being challenged by the resurgent Russia, China and at regional levels - by many countries. Some are even suggesting a re-run of the Cold War - with Russia asserting its power in the neighbourbood (Georgia, Ukraine).

The collapse of Soviet Union - many say - was triggered by its high military expenditure. That is - arms race with the West bankrupted the Soviet Union. Recent turmoil in the Global markets - though ostensibly linked to US lending practices - have severely damaged the US economy. What was true of the Soviet Union (huge military expenditure) could well be true today with the US (Iraq and Afghanistan wars are bleeding the US economy).

Given the inter-dependence rest of the world economy has with the economy of the US, the World will not let the US down. Expect soft/turbulent landing, not the crash landing of the soviet type.

The Economic shock to which the US has been subjected - some hope - would greatly control the US appetite for more adventures abroad. Issues such as Palestine have reached a point where they cannot get anymore worse. The American expedition to Iraq is coming to an end - one way or the other. The attack on Iran is effectively off the table now. Osama Bin Laden is either dead, dying, may soon get killed or may die of old (nay, middle) age soon. Even better, some pray, if Barack Obama is elected, there would be a course correction to US foreign policy. That may be wishful thinking, but not totally inconceivable.

The US and the west could take two courses: revive the Cold War with Russia (leaving the Muslim world aside) - which by itself is not a good prospect or take a more peaceful approach to world's problems. In either route, there is more than a glimmer of hope. The spotlight would be off the muslims. Just may be.