The steep decline in America's image and standing after 9/11 is a direct reflection of global distaste for the instruments of American hard power: the Iraq invasion, Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, torture, rendition, Blackwater's killings of Iraqi civilians.
Interpretation
The quote highlights how America's actions post-9/11 negatively affected its global reputation.
Shashi Tharoor's quote emphasizes that the decline in America's global image after the events of September 11, 2001, is largely due to its use of military force and controversial methods in dealing with terrorism, which have stirred distrust and resentment in the international community. The mention of specific actions like the invasion of Iraq and the abuses at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib illustrates how these measures have tainted perceptions of American power, suggesting that military might does not equate to moral authority or respect in the eyes of the world.
In practice
In a discussion about the impact of foreign policy on national reputation, one might use this quote to illustrate a point.
Foreigners have a complex set of associations in their minds when they think of America - from Iraq to 9/11, certainly, but also from Coke to jeans. It is entirely possible for people around the world to love American products, American books, American movies, American music, and dislike the policies of the government of America.
The roots of India's soft power run deep. India's is a civilization that, over millennia, has offered refuge and, more importantly, religious and cultural freedom, to Jews, Parsis, several varieties of Christians, and Muslims.
Much of the conventional analysis of India's stature in the world relies on the all-too-familiar economic assumptions. But we are famously a land of paradoxes, and one of those paradoxes is that so many speak about India as a great power of the 21st century when we are not yet able to feed, educate and employ all our people.
I believe in an India of pluralism and diversity, not of religious bigotry and caste politics. I believe in an India that is secure in itself and confident of its place in the world, an India that is a proud example of tolerance, freedom and hope for the downtrodden.
I returned to India because I believe in an India of honesty and hard work, not of corruption and crookedness. I believe in an India of openness and straightforwardness, not of hypocrisy and double-dealing. I believe in an India where opportunities are available to all, and not just to a chosen few.
There is not a thing as the wrong place, or the wrong time. We are where we are at the only time we have. Perhaps it's where we're meant to be.
Political leaders still think things can be done through force, but that cannot solve terrorism. Backwardness is the breeding ground of terror, and that is what we have to fight.
Democracy relies on free speech. Yes, say anything you want, but it relies even more on the speech being truthful. It is the truth, after all, that sets us free.
Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.
When you have armed militants, aided and abetted by a major country like Russia, able to use surface-to-air missiles to bring down a commercial airline, that is a form of terrorism.
In the United States large corporations control some members of Congress. All this does is delay the corporation’s funeral at our expense.
The rule of law should be respected so that the basic structure of our democracy is maintained and further strengthened.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.