the w ill, either to close the border between Pakistan and Af ghan i stan or to stop
the groups in its territory from attacking Afghan forces within Af ghan i stan. If the
United States attempts to use its own resources to achieve its objectives, Pakistan will
vehemently resist. Thus, the “war on terror” poses tricky dilemmas for U.S. policy
makers.
Even after the economic downturns following the September 11 terrorist attacks
and the financial crisis of 2008, the U.S. military and economy remain the strongest
in the world. Yet despite this strength, citizens of the United States do not feel
secure. The global war against terrorism is far from over and appears no nearer to
victory. The issue of whether U.S. power will be balanced by an emerging power (or
co ali tion of powers) is also far from resolved. And although the U.S. military is stillKey Developments in the First two
De caDes oF the new millennium■ Al Qaeda terrorist network commits
terrorist acts against the homeland of
the United States and U.S. interests
abroad; U.S. and co ali tion forces
respond militarily in Af ghan i stan
and Iraq.
■ Terrorist attacks occur in Saudi
Arabia, Spain, Great Britain,
Nigeria, and France.
■ A financial crisis in the United States
in 2008 devastates its economy and
rapidly spreads to other countries.
■ n the spring of 2011, Tunisia becomes I
the first in a series of Arab countries
in which a popu lar uprising topples
a long- established dictator. The
outcome of this so- called Arab
Spring remains indeterminate.
■ n 2014, China’s military budI get
expands, making it the second
largest after the United States. China
also begins dredging operations tosupport its ambitious territorial
claims in the South China Sea.
Tensions between China, its
neighbors, and the United States
escalate.
■ In February 2014, soldiers in uniforms
with no national insignia begin
occupying key government and
communications facilities in
Crimea. In March, Crimea votes
overwhelmingly to rejoin Rus sia, a
move that is unsettling to Eu ro pe ans
and states bordering Rus sia.
■ n June 2014, the Islamic State I
declares itself to be a worldwide
caliphate with Abu Bakr al- Baghdadi
as its caliph and lays claim to
territory containing more than ten
million people in Iraq and Syria. The
United States and a co ali tion of Arab
partner states have so far failed to
defeat the IS or seriously impair its
territorial control.i n Focus
62 CHAPTER Two ■ h istorical context oF international relationsESSIR7_CH02_020_069_11P.indd 62 6/14/16 10:02 AM