The American elections

By Naguib Mahfouz

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The recent American presidential elections in the United States proved that the American people were only concerned with the problem of security. President Bush had successfully distracted the voter from taking any other issue into consideration, such as the war in Iraq and the ever-growing number of American victims, with his claim that there was a threat looming over American society that must be dealt with in a decisive manner. Osama Bin Laden's latest video, aired only a few short days before the elections, proved to the American people that the danger was still there, and could descend on them at any moment.

In the face of this, the Democratic candidate John Kerry saw his argument evaporate, an argument he had tried to disseminate amongst the electorate especially over Iraq and what is known as the "War on Terror". The only issue of any urgency has become that of self-defence and countering the danger.

Despite this, there can be no doubt that Bush senses the atmosphere of revenge that afflicted American society and that can only grow more bitter following the clamour of the American elections and the continuing feeling of being under threat, an atmosphere that exceeded his own expectations. Eventually, he must work to reunite the American people, or this time his failure will be assured.

Based on an interview by Mohamed Salmawy.