As a new year begins, scholars are poring over international trends. To determine the direction the world is moving in, we need a clear understanding of the biggest problems that the United States is currently facing.

There is an old saying that the problems of the United States are the world's problems.

The US is the world's most powerful country and globally has the most significant impact in the political, economic and cultural fields. If the US is in trouble, this will either directly or indirectly cause problems for other countries and regions.

Just look at the change in global patterns after 9/11.

What is the main problem facing the US since 9/11? Not Afghanistan, not Wall Street, but Osama bin Laden.

Former US President George W. Bush said in his memoirs that what keeps him awake at night is the fear of another terrorist attack. We don't know what causes Obama to lose sleep, but we can be sure that Osama bin Laden casts a disturbing shadow.

A recently released survey by Pew Research Center confirms what everyone already knew - 9/11 was the biggest news event in the US over the past decade.

Another survey conducted by British King's College shows that what worries Americans most is the threat of terrorist attacks and war. US government officials recently said that Al Qaeda cells in the US constitute their biggest threat.

Although no one knows whether Osama bin Laden is dead or alive, one thing is sure. Terrorists are still active and they are becoming more cunning and dangerous.

There has been no major terrorist incident in the United States in recent years, but the alarm still sounds from time to time - crotch bombs, car bombs, the list goes on and on. 2010 ended with a warning that Al Qaeda terrorist organizations were planning to plant poison in US restaurants and hotels.

It was said that terrorists would choose one weekend and add ricin or cyanide to food in dozens of restaurants to create a panic. People who eat the toxic food will fall ill and die within a few days.

After nearly 10 years of the anti-terror war, Americans are more psychologically mature.