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BBC.Wednesday, 12 September, 2001, 08:41 GMT 09:41 UK The US is
the world's foremost economic and military power. Ethnic
and racial diversity - the "melting pot" - is celebrated as a
core element of the American ideology. In practice, racial violence,
discrimination and segregation have been and continue to be a
feature OVERVIEW The US originated in a revolution which separated it from the British Crown. The constitution, drafted in 1787, established a federal system with a division of powers even at the central level which, uniquely among modern nation-states, has remained unchanged in form since its inception. The early settlers came predominantly from the British Isles. Slaves from Africa joined them involuntarily in a second wave. Millions of Europeans constituted a third stage of immigration. Today, Asians from the Pacific rim and Hispanics from the Americas are seeking what their predecessors wanted: political freedom and prosperity. This shift is reflected in America's interests abroad, which are now less European in focus than ever before. In the coming decades the US will continue to re-define its role as the world's only superpower and the obligations that role imposes. American foreign policy has always mixed the idealism of its "mission" with elements of self-interest. The latter is exemplified in its international record on the environment, which has attracted criticism, and the need to maintain energy supplies, in which the US is not self-sufficient. Despite relative prosperity in recent years, the gap between rich and poor is a major challenge. More than 30 million Americans live below the official poverty line, with a disproportionate percentage of these being African-Americans and Hispanics. Without the levels of social welfare enjoyed, for example, in western Europe, this wealth gap could translate into a potential for social unrest and become a real test of traditional American optimism for the future. FACTS
LEADERS Bush, a Republican, was inaugurated as president in January 2001 after what was one of the most controversial polls for the office ever. He fought the November 2000 election against the incumbent Vice-President, Al Gore of the Democrats. The final result hinged on the extremely close count in the state of Florida. Recounts and legal challenges right up to the Supreme Court meant that Gore only conceded to Bush in mid-December, several weeks after the votes were cast. Bush is the son of former President George Bush. He has described himself as a "compassionate conservative". His main domestic policies are likely to be tax cuts, tackling crime, and changes to the US education and health systems. Bush is a relative unknown on foreign policy issues and has appointed experienced advisers to help him. He is known to favour decreased US involvement in world "hotspots" and plans to reduce troop numbers in Bosnia, for example. The Bush administration is keen to point out however that this does not mean America will become isolationist, but rather that Washington will have a narrower view of US national interests than it did under Bush's predecessor, Bill Clinton. This
change in tack has caused concern among some of America's allies, Vice-President: Dick Cheney Secretary of State: Colin Powell Secretary of the Interior: Gale Norton Secretary of the Treasury: Paul O'Neill Secretary of Defence: Donald Rumsfeld National Security Adviser: Condoleeza Rice NEWS AGENCY Christian Science Monitor USA Today Wall Street Journal Los Angeles Times Washington Post Boston Globe New York Post New York Times Philadelphia Inquirer Baltimore Sun Newsweek - weekly news magazine Time - weekly news magazine Television ABC News CBS News CNN Fox News NBC Radio National Public Radio ABC Radio Networks Voice of America - external service Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - external service News Agencies |
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