When American president Barack Obama stood in the White House last week to announce solemnly the death of Osama bin Laden, there was one word that peppered his speech: “nation”. Little surprise there, you might think. The events of 9/11 were widely perceived by Americans to be an attack on their “nation”, which duly forced that “nation” to pull together. And last week’s dramatic killing rallied the “nation” once again – albeit this time in celebration. Or as Obama declared: “On September 11 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together … we were also united in our resolve to protect our nation.”
“The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al-Qaeda,” he added, standing next to the nation’s flag (what else?). “We can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible.
Such fist-pumping rhetoric sounds powerful. However, this repeated use of “nation” leaves a certain irony hanging in the air. The events of 9/11, a decade ago, prompted the west to go into Afghanistan, supposedly to crush al-Qaeda. But in recent years, the policy goal has shifted to the vaguer concept of “nation building”, or trying to create a peaceful country.