Therefore when the Twin Tower in New York or the Night Club in Bali, is bombed and destroyed it affects the citizens of the world not just the Americans or Balinese. When a country is ruled by a dictator who is hell bound to unleash terror it affects all of us. When a country implements draconian regulations against its citizens it affects all of us. When one country invades or declares war on another it affects everyone's life. In other words we have all become 'global citizens'. Therefore we see more of global initiatives to build awareness focusing our responsibilities to make a better world.

Today the global village is in turmoil, the kind that has not been witnessed by us before. We are at the crossroads of trying to understand and deal with the increasing unilateralist USA making much of the fact that it is the only superpower in the universe. The show of power by Bush administration in Baghdad that has 'shocked and awed' many is intended not only for Saddam and his cronies but the rest of the world. The rest of the world including its old allies may have turned against the US but it is evident they are all nervous and scrambling to find ways to contain it.

On the other hand the US is beginning to see the world in a new light. After a decade of disintegration of the USSR and the newfound affluences of China with new markets for its products in the west, the USA finds itself more self-assured as capable of showing its muscle. The trans-Atlantic alliance between US and Europe has become outdated since the end of cold war, institutions like the United Nations have become useless bodies tangled in their own bureaucratic red tapes. America would rather find its allies through 'coalitions of the willing' to further its interest.

The alliances and institutions built after the Second World War have become useless in the New World of the new millennium. The major players are grappling to find new friends and alliances, as America is content with its 'coalition' of 'diehards'. No one is willing or dares to challenge or confront America in its new role to become its enemy. Russia, eager to preserve its old glory opposes just enough to make a political point but not enough to be counted as its enemy. China, the rising power is for the moment focusing on growing faster and faster as that economic and military gravity will tilt the global power in its favour. Therefore for the time being it's not concerned or wants to tackle with USA.

On the other hand, USA is keeping an eye on the possibility of China becoming a challenge to its 'superpower' role in the near future. As a result USA is courting India as an ally to balance Chinese influence in the region. USA is seeking new strategic partners who are willing to accept it as the sole superpower and enter into a long-term relationship to fight the 'War against Terrorism.' These partners must be willing to use military power even preemptively against those regimes who are 'rogue, undemocratic, support or shelter terrorist groups, stock weapons of mass destruction and are tend to proliferate and are blamed for ethnic cleansing.'

The profile that would fit the set of new partners in this 'alliance' would seem to be of nations who firmly believe in 'life, liberty and pursuit of happiness'. It would be most interesting to see when the new alliance or 'coalition of the willing' comes into shape.

In the new world, USA being the sole superpower has its share of obligation and responsibilities it can't overlook. She cannot be reckless and gun toting 'overseer' of democracy. USA must prove to the skeptic world that she has the vision and capability to lead the nations of the world in the right direction of making a better world for all. A generation grew up with the belief that USA truly stood for 'life, liberty and pursuit of happiness' of all; the US constitution written over 240 years ago guarantees a 'citizen of the USA' that security. That generation not only in the USA but elsewhere, too, believed in that guarantee (in their own constitution) and it would be a shame if the American leadership fails and alienates them. The vision that the fathers of that constitution had is highly commendable and American leadership can do justice to them and to their newfound role as the sole superpower by practicing that constitution for all the people of the world irrespective of class, creed, gender or religion.

The recent visit by US Secretary of State Colin Powel to Bangladesh might have been a part of seeking 'coalition of the willing'. There seems to be no coercion or arm-twisting to be a part of the coalition. As stated earlier each nation state must look at the pros and cons from its own national and economic interest to be a partner of the new world the USA wishes to head. Although its too early to predict or foresee the resilience of USA to withstand the opposition to its leadership, the present trend of global politics looks like the alliance against American unipolarisation has not succeeded in gaining momentum. To survive in the 'new world' we need to do what will benefit our people to live not only as better human beings but also in a better world. It's a judgment our leaders must make with a clear vision of what lies ahead. It's not an easy call because history will judge from what lies in the future.